Earthquake mechanisms of the Adriatic Sea and Western Greece: implications for the oceanic subduction-continental collision transition

We present 21 focal solutions (magnitude > 5.5) reliably computed by body-wave modelling for the western Hellenic arc from Yugoslavia to the southern Peloponnese. Mechanisms located within the Aegean show normal faulting, the T-axis trending N-S in the centre and parallel to the active boundary in the external part. Mechanisms associated with the Keffalinia fault are consistent with dextral strike-slip motion. Reverse mechanisms located along the active boundary are remarkably consistent and do not depend on the nature of the active boundary (continental collision or oceanic subduction). The consistency in azimuth of the slip vectors and of the GPS velocity relative to Africa, all along the active boundary, suggests that the deformation is related to the same motion. The discrepancy between seismic-energy release and the amount of shortening confirms that the continental collision is achieved by seismic slip on faults but the oceanic subduction is partially aseismic. The northward decrease in velocity between continental collision and oceanic subduction suggests the continental collision to be a recent evolution of the active subduction.     

Livelihood diversification of farmers and nomads of eastern transect in Tibetan Plateau

Livelihoods of farmers and nomads in Tibetan Plateau are severely affected by grassland and herbal resources degeneration. How to help them achieve livelihood diversification is a key sustainable development issue. This paper examines livelihood assets, livelihood diversification level and livelihood strategies of farmers and nomads in 3 regions of eastern transect in Tibetan Plateau. The results show that livelihood diversification is a popular strategy. From high mountain gorge region to mountain plateau region and plateau region, livelihood diversification level is reduced, and livelihood activities and proportion of extended livelihood also decrease. Livelihood assets and livelihood diversification level decrease with the increase of elevation, mainly shown in human assets and natural assets. Livelihood diversification level is highly correlative with livelihood assets, mainly shown in natural assets, human assets and social assets. Livelihood improvement strategies of farmers and nomads are still based on existing livelihood assets, mainly raising livestock and digging herbs, and less farmers and nomads consider off-farm employment or doing business. Nomads in plateau region should learn much from experiences of extended livelihoods of people in high mountain gorge region and mountain plateau region. Therefore, aids of governments should focus on relieving restricted factors of livelihood diversification and help them improve their abilities to build up extended type livelihoods.     

Livelihood diversification of farmers and nomads of eastern transect in Tibetan Plateau

Livelihoods of farmers and nomads in Tibetan Plateau are severely affected by grassland and herbal resources degeneration. How to help them achieve livelihood diversification is a key sustainable development issue. This paper examines livelihood assets, livelihood diversification level and livelihood strategies of farmers and nomads in 3 regions of eastern transect in Tibetan Plateau. The results show that livelihood diversification is a popular strategy. From high mountain gorge region to mountain plateau region and plateau region, livelihood diversification level is reduced, and livelihood activities and proportion of extended livelihood also decrease. Livelihood assets and livelihood diversification level decrease with the increase of elevation, mainly shown in human assets and natural assets. Livelihood diversification level is highly correlative with livelihood assets, mainly shown in natural assets, human assets and social assets. Livelihood improvement strategies of farmers and nomads are still based on existing livelihood assets, mainly raising livestock and digging herbs, and less farmers and nomads consider off-farm employment or doing business. Nomads in plateau region should learn much from experiences of extended livelihoods of people in high mountain gorge region and mountain plateau region. Therefore, aids of governments should focus on relieving restricted factors of livelihood diversification and help them improve their abilities to build up extended type livelihoods.     

青藏高原东北部冷空气次数和强度变化的特征研究

利用青藏高原东北部68个国家气象站的气象资料,统计了1961—2015年的全区月、季、年冷空气次数、强度和强降温综合强度资料,应用气候诊断方法分析了冷空气次数、强度和强降温综合强度的变化特征及其成因。结果表明：在年尺度上,1961—2015年青藏高原东北部全区冷空气年平均出现次数为49.6次,冷空气次数气候变化倾向率每10 a减少0.600次,减少趋势不显著;全区冷空气年平均强度为0.39,气候变化倾向率每10 a降低0.022,减弱趋势显著;全区冷空气年强降温综合平均强度为0.67,气候变化倾向率每10 a降低0.005,减弱趋势不显著。在季节尺度上,冷空气次数夏季减少的趋势显著,而春季减少的趋势和秋季、冬季增加的趋势不显著;冷空气强度冬季减弱的趋势显著,而其他季节减弱的趋势不明显;强降温综合强度春季增强趋势和其他季节减弱的趋势不显著。1961—2015年大西洋欧洲区极涡面积指数等因子减小以及热带北大西洋海温指数等因子增大是导致全区年冷空气次数减少的主要成因之一,而西藏高原指数等因子增强和热带印度洋海温偶极子指数等因子减弱是导致年冷空气强度减弱的主要原因之一。     

青藏高原高寒草原生态系统CO2过程研究

In this paper, the CO2 concentrations profile from 1.5 m depth in soil to 32 m height in atmosphere were measured from July 2000 to July 2001 in an alpine grassland ecosystem located in the permafrost area on the Tibetan Plateau, which revealed that CO2 concentrations varied greatly during this study period. Mean concentrations during the whole experiment in the atmosphere were absolutely lower than the CO2 concentrations in soil, which resulted in CO2 emissions from the alpine steppe soil to the atmosphere. The highest CO2 concentration was found at a depth of 1.5 m in soil while the lowest CO2 concentration occurred in the atmosphere. Mean CO2 concentrations in soil generally increased with depth. This was the compositive influence of the increasing soil moistures and decreasing soil pH, which induced the increasing biological activities with depth. Temporally, the CO2 concentrations at different layers in air remained a more steady state because of the atmospheric turbulent milking. During the seasonal variations, CO2 concentrations at surface soil interface showed symmetrical patterns, with the lowest accumulation of CO2 occurring in the late winter and the highest CO2 concentration in the growing seasons.     

CO2 processes in an alpine grassland ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau

In this paper, the CO2 concentrations profile from 1.5 m depth in soil to 32 m height in atmosphere were measured from July 2000 to July 2001 in an alpine grassland ecosystem located in the permafrost area on the Tibetan Plateau, which revealed that CO2 concentrations varied greatly during this study period. Mean concentrations during the whole experiment in the atmosphere were absolutely lower than the CO2 concentrations in soil, which resulted in CO2 emissions from the alpine steppe soil to the atmosphere. The highest CO2 concentration was found at a depth of 1.5 m in soil while the lowest CO2 concentration occurred in the atmosphere. Mean CO2 concentrations in soil generally increased with depth. This was the compositive influence of the increasing soil moistures and decreasing soil pH, which induced the increasing biological activities with depth. Temporally, the CO2 concentrations at different layers in air remained a more steady state because of the atmospheric turbulent milking. During the seasonal variations, CO2 concentrations at surface soil interface showed symmetrical patterns, with the lowest accumulation of CO2 occurring in the late winter and the highest CO2 concentration in the growing seasons.     

青藏高原东部山地农牧区生计与耕地利用模式

This study examined livelihood diversification and cropland use pattern in Keerma village, located in Jinchuan County, eastern Tibetan Plateau. Through stratified random sampling survey, participatory rural appraisal, investigation of households＇ plots and statistical methods, 63 households and 272 cropland plots were systemically investigated and sampled. The results show： （1） Different types of household have variety livelihood strategies, portfolio and income. Livelihood diversification and introducing and expanding off-farm activities can be the future trend, whereas, adverse natural environment, socio-economic conditions and peasants＇ capabilities together affect sustainable livelihood and land use. （2） Each livelihood strategy has its own impact on land use, mainly affecting land use type and land use intensi- fication level. （3） Diversification into off-farm activities could be the key of building sustainable livelihood and the essential approach of realizing sustainable land use in the region.     

Biodiversity and conservation in the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau (Qinghai-Xizang Plateau) is a unique biogeographic region in the world, where various landscapes, altitudinal belts, alpine ecosystems, and endangered and endemic species have been developed. A total of 26 altitudinal belts, 28 spectra of altitudinal belts, 12,000 species of vascular plant, 5,000 species of epiphytes, 210 species of mammals, and 532 species of birds have been recorded. The plateau is also one of the centers of species formation and differentiation in the world. To protect the biodiversity of the plateau, about 80 nature reserves have been designated, of which 45 are national or provincial, covering about 22% of the plateau area. Most of the nature reserves are distributed in the southeastern plateau. Recently, the Chinese government has initiated the “Natural Forests Protection Project of China,” mainly in the upper reaches of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers. “No logging” policies have been made and implemented for these areas.     

Biodiversity and conservation in the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau (Qinghai-Xizang Plateau) is a unique biogeographic region in the world, where various landscapes, altitudinal belts, alpine ecosystems, and endangered and endemic species have been developed. A total of 26 altitudinal belts, 28 spectra of altitudinal belts, 12,000 species of vascular plant, 5,000 species of epiphytes, 210 species of mammals, and 532 species of birds have been recorded. The plateau is also one of the centers of species formation and differentiation in the world To protect the biodiversity of the plateau, about 80 nature reserves have been designated, of which 45 are national or provincial, covering about 22% of the plateau area. Most of the nature reserves are distributed in the southeastern plateau. Recently, the Chinese government has initiated the “Natural Forests Protection Project of China,” mainly in the upper reaches of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers. “No logging” policies have been made and implemented for these areas.     

青藏高原东部山地农牧区生计与耕地利用模式

利用分层随机抽样、参与式农村评估及其工具、地块调查、数理统计等方法,对63个农户、272个地块进行了系统的调查与取样,研究了青藏高原东部山地农牧区金川县克尔马村的生计多样化与耕地利用模式。结果表明:①不同类型农户的生计策略选择、组合及收入不同,生计多样化,引入并扩大非农活动是当地生计策略的发展趋势,但不利的自然环境和社会经济条件以及农户自身素质共同影响了生计和土地利用的可持续性;②各种生计策略对土地利用的影响不同,主要影响土地利用类型和土地利用集约化水平;③以非农活动为主的生计多样化可能是该区构建可持续生计的核心,同时也是实现土地可持续利用的根本途径。     

An off-line simulation of land surface processes over the northern Tibetan Plateau

In order to further understand the land surface processes over the northern Tibetan Plateau, this study produced an off-line simulated examination at the Bujiao site on the northern Tibetan Plateau from June 2002 to April 2004, using the Noah Land Surface Model （Noah LSM） and observed data from the CAMP/Tibet experiment. The observed data were neces- sarily corrected and the number of soil layers in the Noah LSM was changed from 4 to 10 to enable this off-line simulation and analysis. The main conclusions are as follows： the Noah LSM performed well on the northern Tibetan Plateau. The simulated net radiation, upward longwave radiation, and upward shortwave radiation demonstrated the same remarkable annual and seasonal variation as the observed data, especially the upward longwave radiation. The simulated soil temperatures were acceptably close to the observed temperatures, especially in the shallow soil layers. The simulated freezing and melting processes were shown to start from the surface soil layer and spread down to the deep soil layers, but they took longer than the observed processes. However, Noah LSM did not adequately simulate the soil moisture. Therefore, additional high-quality, long-term observations of land surface-atmosphere processes over the Tibetan Plateau will be a key factor in proper adiustments of the model parameters in the future.     

应对青藏高原东部的草地退化:政府和当地牧民有何差异(英文)

In the last decade, there has been increasing interest in climate change, pasture degradation and its driving forces, and innovations in nomadic pastoralism on the Tibetan Plateau. However, little is known of indigenous strategies of adaptation to pasture degradation, which limits the effectiveness of adaptation strategies planned by local government. This paper analyzes nomads’ strategies of adaptation to pasture degradation on the basis of a field survey of three townships of Dalag County in the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers. Pastures there have evidently degraded, with pastures in Wasai mainly in a state of slight or medium degradation and those in Manzhang and Jianshe in a state of medium or severe degradation. With the degradation of pasture, the grazing time is reduced, which affects the livelihoods of nomads. Although the Four-Package Project has commenced in this region, there is still severe fodder shortage in winter and spring. The traditional hay storage strategy does not work because of pasture degradation, and few nomads establish fenced and artificial pastures. Therefore, nomads have employed other strategies, such as renting pasture, providing supplementary feed, and diversifying their livelihoods. Local strategies taken by nomads can provide valuable insights into ecological restoration and livelihood improvement in the region and suggest changes to means promoted by local government. It is necessary to seek new means that combine the best aspects of nomadic pastoralism with modern stockbreeding technologies to help nomads adapt to pasture degeneration and improve their livelihoods.     

Analysis on mechanisms of anomalous variations of tropopause pressure over the Tibetan Plateau during summer in Northern Hemisphere

Using the monthly mean data from NCEP–NCAR reanalysis, through building tropopause pressure index, we investigated the mechanisms of anomalous variations of tropopause pressure over the Tibetan Plateau during summer in Northern Hemisphere. For comparative analysis we selected representative years of 1992 and 1998 to study, and they were respectively the highest and the lowest year of tropopause pressure anomaly over the Tibetan Plateau. The results are summarized as follows: (1) Over the Tibetan Plateau, the variations of tropopause pressure are well correlated respectively with anomalous temperature and geopotential height in both troposphere and stratosphere. Besides, the anomalous tropopause pressure has also close relation with anomalous surface temperature in the Tibetan Plateau. In 1992, the surface temperature was anomalously low, correspondingly, the tropopause pressure over the Tibetan Plateau was anomalously high; but in 1998, the opposite was the case. (2) Over the Tibetan Plateau, the correlation of tropopause pressure and OLR (Outgoing Longwave Radiation) is found to be positive. Furthermore, by further diagnosing the circulation fields between 850 hPa and 200 hPa levels and the whole troposphere vapour field, we found out that the anomalously high tropopause pressure in 1992 corresponded to the anticyclonic divergence of low level wind fields and the cyclonic convergence of high level wind fields, and coupled with divergence of the whole troposphere vapour fields along with the South Asian High weakened at the same time. While in 1998, the case was opposite to that in 1992. These facts indicated that the anomalous convection resulted in the significant difference of tropopause pressure in 1992 and 1998 over the Tibetan Plateau. (3) The vertically integrated heat budget anomalies were responsible for explaining tropopause pressure anomalies in 1992 and 1998 over the Tibetan Plateau.     

青藏高原的气候植被模型研究进展

气候植被研究是全球变化研究的重要内容, 而模型研究是气候植被研究的重要手段。青藏 高原以其特殊的自然环境特点, 形成了气候与植被独特的适应机制, 为许多通用气候植被模型所 不能反映, 加之所受到人类活动的干扰相对较少, 决定其为植被气候研究的重要实验场地。本文 回顾了气候植被模型发展的相关历程, 评述了每类模型的特点及其不足。从植被格局研究和植被 生产力研究两个方面, 对青藏高原的气候植被研究进行了总结和分析, 认为模型研究是气候植被 研究的重要手段, 而青藏高原的研究在这方面还比较落后, 同时对青藏高原气候植被模型研究中 存在的一些问题, 如数据精度、模型的适宜性和结果验证等进行了讨论。认为今后青藏高原气候 植被模型研究的重点应是进一步明晰气候植被的关键过程, 立足高原环境特点开发有高原特色 的气候植被模型。     

论青藏高原范围与面积

长期以来 ,种种因素导致学者们对青藏高原确切范围的认识和理解存在差异。根据青藏高原相关领域研究的新成果和多年野外实践 ,从地理学角度 ,充分讨论了确定青藏高原范围和界线的原则与涉及的问题 ,结合信息技术方法对青藏高原范围与界线位置进行了精确的定位和定量分析。得出 :青藏高原在中国境内部分西起帕米尔高原 ,东至横断山脉 ,横跨 31个经度 ,东西长约 2 94 5km ;南自喜马拉雅山脉南缘 ,北迄昆仑山 -祁连山北侧 ,纵贯约 13个纬度 ,南北宽达 15 32km ;范围为 2 6°0 0′12″N～ 39°4 6′5 0″N ,73°18′5 2″E～ 10 4°4 6′5 9″E ,面积为 2 5 72 4× 10 3km2 ,占我国陆地总面积的 2 6 8%。     

Residents&rsquo|perspectives and responses to environmental degradation in the upper Dadu River, eastern Tibetan Plateau?

1. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China; 2. College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; 3. Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, CAS, Beijing 100085, China)     

青藏高原中东部水热条件与NDVI的空间分布格局

青藏高原受大气环流和地势格局的共同作用,水热条件及植被空间分布呈现独特的三维地带性特征。但是青藏高原范围广、地势起伏大,水热条件及植被空间分布具有明显区域差异。本文利用青藏高原中东部100个气象站1982²000年的降水、气温资料以及同期NO-AA AVHRR植被指数产品（NDVI）,分析水热条件及植被的空间分布特征。首先,设置经向、纬向海拔渐变样带,考察海拔对水热条件及NDVI空间分布的影响;然后,按500米海拔间隔进行站点分组,分析约束了海拔高差后的经纬位置对水热条件及NDVI空间分布的影响。研究表明:在青藏高原中东部由于海拔高差大,热量条件分布首先受海拔递减规律控制,其次才表现出因太阳辐射差异的纬度地带性;而降水分布则主要受水汽通道位置和方向的影响,北上水汽和东部偏南走向山脉是研究区降水经向特征的主要成因;指示植被状况的年均NDVI,则受水热组合的控制,其分布格局是二者的叠加与综合。     

青藏高原湖泊沉积研究及其进展

青藏高原湖泊沉积研究主要围绕青藏高原隆升和全球变化响应开展的。研究揭示了青藏高原隆升具有整体性、阶段性和后期加速性。中晚更新世以来和末次间冰期-冰期气候演化过程得到重建,并能够与冰芯和深海氧同位素记录对比;同时也存在M IS3阶段强烈暖湿和末次冰盛期冷湿等区域特征;新仙女木事件在湖泊沉积物也有明显记录。全新世研究表明青藏高原早期暖湿并经历冷事件,大暖期普遍出现高水位,后期气候向干冷化方向发展。湖泊沉积环境定量化重建也得到研究。青藏高原湖泊沉积应在高分辨率纹层沉积和环境指标定量分析基础理论方面加强研究。