Variations in aeolian landform patterns in the Gonghe Basin over the last 30 years

Wind erosion, or the transportation and deposition of sand into desert dunes and aeolian loess, is one of the most important aeolian activities. The progression of aeolian landforms expands arid and barren landscapes, leading to the degradation of adjacent areas. The Gonghe Basin, as a typical plateau with abundant sand sources, is highly sensitive to changes in the local climate conditions. In order to quantify the spatial-temporal variations in the aeolian landforms in the Gonghe Basin, we conducted field surveys and also analyzed twelve remote sensing(Landsat5 TM and Landsat8 OLI) images that sample the Gonghe Basin from 1989 to 2019. In the Gonghe Basin, we identified aeolian landforms such as climbing dunes on the windward slopes of the foothills, checkerboard dunes in the southeastern part of the basin, flat dunes, parabolic dunes and crescent dunes on the east and west sides of Longyangxia Reservoir, shrubby sandbanks on the valley slope in Shazhuyu, Tanggemu, and Indel, and sandy thickets at the bottom of the valley near the Dalian Sea, the Longyangxia Reservoir, and the tributaries of the Yellow River. From 1989 to 2005, the area of theaeolian regions expanded by 816.7 km~2, with an annual conversion rate of 0.05%. From 2015 to 2019, the area of the aeolian regions shrunk by 2411.9 km~2, with an annual conversion rate of-0.15%.The number and size of the fixed and semi-fixed dunes(e.g. the shrubby sandbanks on the valley slope and the sandy thickets at the bottom of the valley) were more stable than those of the mobile dunes(e.g. the checkerboard dunes, the flat dunes, the crescent dunes, the parabolic dunes, and the climbing dunes). The fixed and semi-fixed dunes were arranged in an irregular ring shape, and the location of the center of gravity of this ring did not change significantly from 1989 to 2019; in this time, the mobile dunes migrated to the northwest.     

Review of China's scientific research progress in polar meteorology in the last 30 years

The Antarctic and Arctic are sensitive to global climate change; therefore, they are key regions of global climate change research. This paper, the progress in scientific investigations and research regarding the atmosphere in the polar regions over the last 30 years by Chinese scientists is summarized. Primary understanding of the relationship between the polar regions and global change, especially, the variations in time and space in the Antarctic and Arctic regions with respect to climate change is indicated. Operational weather forecasts for investigation of the polar regions have also been established. Moreover, changes in sea ice and their impact on the atmosphere of polar regions have been diagnosed and simulated. Parameterization of the atmospheric boundary layer of different underlying layers and changes in the atmospheric ozone in the polar region has also been experimented. Overall, there has been great progress in studies of the possible impact of changes in the atmospheric environment of polar regions on circulation in East Asia and the climate of China.     

Application of homotopy parameter inversion method in Miyun Reservoir

The large-scale convergence of homotopy parametric inversion method on the water quality model parameters calculated was used, with application in parametric inversion calculation of total phosphorus of Beijing Miyun Reservoir. Through calculated and compared the error of sedimentation rate by homotopy parametric inversion method and genetic inversion calculation method, the results indicate that homotopy parametric inversion method has good stability, calculating speed, and even if the initial selection away from the objective function, the solution still has a good convergence.     

Application of homotopy parameter inversion method in Miyun Reservoir

The large-scale convergence of homotopy parametric inversion method on the water quality model parameters calculated was used, with application in parametric inversion calculation of total phosphorus of Beijing Miyun Reservoir. Through calculated and compared the error of sedimentation rate by homotopy parametric in- version method and genetic inversion calculation method, the results indicate that homotopy parametric inversion method has good stability, calculating speed, and even if the initial selection away from the objective function, the solution still has a good convergence.     

A SYSTEM DYNAMICS APPROACH FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE MIYUN RESERVOIR AREA，CHINA

Miyun Reservoir was designated as the water source of Beijing City in 1982.Since that time ,so-cio-economic development in Miyun Area has been slowing due to the restriction of severe environmental standards.More and more attention from the public and government has been paid to the regional sustainable development.And an effect-tive planning for the local society management system is urgently desired.In this study,a regional sustainable develop-ment system dynamics model,named MiyunSD, is developed for supporting this planning task.MiyunSDconsists of dynamo-ic simulation models that explicitly consider information feedback that governs interactions in the system.Such models are capable of simulating the systemˊs behavior and predicting its developing situation of the future.For the study case,interact-tions among a number of system components within a time frame of fifteen years are examined dynamically.Three plan-ning altermatives are carefully considered.The base run is based on an assumption that the existing pattern of human active-ties will prevail in the entire planning horizon,and the other altermatives are based on previous and present planning stud-ies.The different alternatives will get different systemˊs environmental and socio-economic results.Through analyzing these dynamic results,local authorities may find an optimal way to realize the objectives that the regional environment will be well protected and at the same time the economy will be rapidly developed.     

CLIMATIC VARIATIONS IN CHINA OVER THE LAST 2000 YEARS

1 INTRODUCTIONIn the last years, evidence for climate changes showed that the timing of the two great climatic events of “Medieval Warm Period” (MWP) and “Little Ice Age” (LIA) differed geographically (HUGHES et al., 1994, JONES and BRADLEY, 1992). In other words, the cold or warm periods in one region were often not coincident with those in other regions. The Northern Hemisphere warmth degree in the Middle Ages was lower than or at most comparable to that in the mid-20…     

Rainfall and inflow effects on soil erosion for hillslopes dominated by sheet erosion or rill erosion in the Chinese Mollisol region

Erosion agents and patterns profoundly affect hillslope soil loss characteristics. However, few attempts have been made to analyze the effects of rainfall and inflow on soil erosion for hillslopes dominated by sheet erosion or rill erosion in the Chinese Mollisol region. The objective of this study was to discuss the erosive agent(rainfall or inflow), hillslope erosion pattern(sheet erosion or rill erosion) and slope gradient effects on runoff and soil losses. Two soil pans(2.0 m long, 0.5 m wide and 0.5 m deep) with 5° and 10° slopes were subjected to rainfall(0 and 70 mm h–1) and inflow(0 and 70 mm h–1) experiments. Three experimental combinations of rainfall intensity(RI) and inflow rate(IR) were tested using the same water supply of 70 mm by controllingthe run time. A flat soil surface and a soil bed with a straight initial rill were prepared manually, and represented hillslopes dominated by sheet erosion and rill erosion, respectively. The results showed that soil losses had greater differences among treatments than total runoff. Soil losses decreased in the order of RI70+IR70 RI70+IR0 RI0+IR70. Additionally, soil losses for hillslopes dominated by rill erosion were 1.7-2.2 times greater at 5° and 2.5-6.9 times greater at 10° than those for hillslopes dominated by sheet erosion. The loss of 0.25 mm soil particles and aggregates varying from 47.72%-99.60% of the total soil loss played a dominant role in the sediment. Compared with sheet erosion hillslopes, rill erosion hillslopes selectively transported more microaggregates under a relatively stable rill development stage, but rills transported increasinglymore macroaggregates under an active rill development stage. In conclusion, eliminating raindrop impact on relatively gentle hillslopes and preventing rill development on relatively steep hillslopes would be useful measures to decrease soil erosion and soil degradation in the Mollisol region of northeastern China.     

Biomarker evidence for paleoenvironmental changes in the southern Yellow Sea over the last 8200 years

Previous studies have indicated that the Yellow Sea underwent significant environmental changes during the Holocene, but many questions remain concerning the timing of the establishment of the modern circulation system, which would have major implications for the Yellow Sea ecosystem and carbon cycle. In this study, marine and terrestrial biomarkers were analyzed in Core YE-2 from a muddy area in the southern Yellow Sea to reconstruct Holocene environmental and phytoplankton community change. The content of three individual marine phytoplankton biomarkers (alkenones, brassicasterol and dinosterol) all display a similar trend, and their total contents during the early Holocene (362 ng/g) were lower than those during the mid-late Holocene (991 ng/g). On the other hand, the contents of terrestrial biomarkers (C27+C29+C31n-alkanes) during the early Holocene (1 661 ng/g) were about three times higher than those during the mid-late Holocene (499 ng/g). Our biomarker results suggest that the modern circulation system of the Yellow Sea was established by 5-6 ka, and resulted in higher marine productivity and lower terrestrial organic matter inputs. Biomarker ratios were used to estimate shifts in phytoplankton community structure in response to mid-Holocene (5-6 ka) environmental changes in the Yellow Sea, revealing a transition from a dinoflagellate-diatom dominant community structure during the early Holocene to a coccolithophore-dominant community structure during the mid-late Holocene.     

Assessment of soil erosion by compensatory hoeing tillage in a purple soil

This study explores the role of a traditional tillage method,i.e.,compensatory hoeing,for sustainable agro-ecosystem management in the hilly areas of the Chongqing municipality,south-western China.To validate the effects of compensatory tillage on the terraced slopes,the tillage method of noncompensatory hoeing was conducted on a linear slope.To acquire information about 137 Cs inventories and soil texture,soil samples were collected by a core sampler with a 6.8-cm diameter at 5.0-m intervals along the toposequence and the linear slope in the dry season(March) of 2007.Meanwhile,a tillage erosion model was used for evaluating the spatial pattern of tillage erosion.The 137 Cs data showed that on the terraced slope,soil was lost from the upper slope,and soil deposition occurred at the toe slope positions on each terrace.As a result,abrupt changes in the 137 Cs inventories of soil were found over short distances between two sides of terrace boundaries.Results obtained from the tillage erosion model and the 137 Cs data indicate that soil redistribution mainly results from tillage erosion in the terraced landscape.Consecutive non-compensatory tillage caused soil redistribution on the linear slope,resulting in thin soil profile disappearing at the top and soil accumulating at the bottom positions of the linear slope.This result further validates that compensatory tillage could avoid the complete erosion of the thin soil layer at the summit position.Therefore,this traditional tillage.method,i.e.,compensatory tillage,has maintained the soil quality at the summit of the slope in the past decades.     

Study on the model for predicting soil erosion and its application in arid area

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Gully erosion regionalization of black soil area in northeastern China

Gully erosion is the frequent and main form of soil erosion in the black soil area of the northeastern China, which is one of the most important commodity grain production bases in China. It is encroaching upon the fertile farmland there. Regionalization of gully erosion can reveal the spatial distribution and regularity of the development of gully erosion. Based on the eco-geographical regional background features of the black soil area, this study combined the regionalization with influencing factors of the development of gully erosion. GIS spatial analysis, geostatistical analysis, spatial statistics, reclassification, debris polygon processing and map algebra methods were employed. As a result, the black soil area was divided into 12 subregions. The field survey data on type, length, volume and other characteristics indicators of gully erosion were used to calibrate the results. Then the features of every subregion, such as where the gully erosion is, how serious it is, and why it happens and develops, were expounded. The result is not only an essential prerequisite for gully erosion surveys and monitoring, but also an important basis for gully erosion prevention.     

Regime shift in Lake Dianchi(China) during the last 50 years

Lake Dianchi has undergone accelerated alternations resulting from human activities during the last 50 years, and provides an exceptional example for the study of regime shift in a shallow lake. Focusing on regime shift, we systematically studied and analysed alternations of key components of its ecosystem, including water parameters, phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass, macrophyte composition and fish populations. We found that the shifting course of Lake Dianchi went through three major phases, corresponding to three distinct states: Phase I clean, stable state during the 1950 s; Phase II transitional state during the 1970 s–1980 s; and phase III stable, turbid state since 1993. We analysed all data and samples, identifying the threshold concentrations at which regime shift occurred: total nitrogen(TN) and phosphorus(TP) reaching 1.2 mg/L and 0.13 mg/L, respectively. Results from this study strongly suggest that the increasing input of external nutrients, reclaiming land from the lake and foreign fish invasion were major inducements to the accelerated shift of Lake Dianchi to its turbid, stable state. These findings provide valuable guidelines for potential efforts to reverse this unnatural process in Lake Dianchi. The restoration may need to:(1) thoroughly and accurately identify pollution sources to control and reduce excessive external nutrients flowing into the lake;(2) return reclaimed land to the lake and recover the littoral zone to its natural state to facilitate increased restoration of macrophytes; and(3) strategically adjust fish populations by reducing benthivorous and filter-feeding fish populations that prey on zooplankton, while enlarging zooplankton populations to control phytoplankton biomass.     

Effects of gully erosion and gully filling on soil degradation in the black soil region of Northeast China

Gully erosion has caused soil degradation and even reduced soil productivity.However,only few studies on the effects of gully erosion and artificial controlling measures on soil degradation in the Black Soil Region of Northeast China are available.Thus,this study explores the relationships between gully erosion,gully filling and soil parameters.Two sets of soil samples were collected in the field at:(1) 72 sample points in the gully erosion study area,60 sample points in the ephemeral and classical gully erosion area(3,518 m2),12 sample points in the deposition zone(443 m2),(2)10 reference points along a slope unaffected by gully erosion representing the original situation before the gully was formed.All soil samples were analyzed for gravel content(GC),soil organic matter(SOM),total nitrogen(TN),available nitrogen(AN),available phosphorus(AP),and available potassium(AK).The soil property values on unaffected slope were fitted by the polynomial curves as the reference values in no gully erosion area.The interpolated soil property values in gully eroded study area were compared with these polynomial curves,respectively,and then,changes of soil property values were analyzed.Gully erosion caused an increase in GC and a decrease in SOM,TN,AN,AP and AK.The change of GC,SOM,TN,AN,AP,AK was 8.8%,-9.04 g kg-1,-0.92 g kg-1,-62.28 mg kg-1,-29.61 mg kg-1,-79.68 mg kg-1.The soil property values in the study area were below optimal values.Thus,we concluded that gully erosion and gully filling caused both on-site and off-site soil degradation.Soil degradation area was 0.65 % of the cultivated land.In addition,it was proved that gully filling were an improper soil and water conservation measure,which seems to exacerbate the problem.Thus,it is suggested that soil where soil is deep is moved to fill the gully,and then the area around the filled gullies should be covered by grass for preventing the formation and development of the gully.     

Deep-sea coral evidence for dissolved mercury evolution in the deep North Pacific Ocean over the last 700 years

The ocean is an important inventory of anthropogenic mercury(Hg),yet the history of anthropogenic Hg accumulation in the ocean remains largely unexplored.Deep-sea corals are an emerging archive of past ocean chemistry,which take in sinking or suspended particulate organic matter as their food sources.Such organic matter would exchange Hg with the local seawater before being consumed by the deepsea corals.As such,the organics preserved in the coral skeleton may record the Hg evolution of the ambient seawater during the time of coral growth.Here,we report the first data on Hg concentrations variability of a deep-sea proteinaceous coral in the oligotrophic North Pacific at the water depth of 1 249 m,in attempt to understand the transfer of anthropogenic Hg into the deep Pacific ocean over the last seven centuries.We find that the Hg concentrations of different coral growth layers have remained relatively constant albeit with considerable short-term variability through time.The overall stable Hg concentration of the last seven centuries recorded in our sample suggests that anthropogenic pollution is not yet a clearly resolvable component in the deep oligotrophic North Pacific waters,in agreement with rece nt estimation from modelling works and observational studies of modern seawater profiles.As there is hardly an unambiguous way to separate anthropogenic Hg from the natural background based on recent seawater profiles,our historical data provide valuable information helping to understand the oceanic cycle of Hg through time.     

QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF SOIL EROSION AND ELEMENT RUN-OFF IN THE SONGHUA LAKE VALLEY

Under the condition of different precipitation intensities, different gradients, different land-use types and different vegetation coverage, the soil erosion and transference of element (or pollutant) are studied by simulating and analyzing the surface run-off of experimental plots in the catchment area of Songhua Lake, with an area of about 43 370.8km^2. And the influencing factors that produce the spatial difference are analyzed and assessed. It is put for-ward that the irrational land utilization is the reason of soil erosion and pollutant run-off. The gradient of farmland,the growing season of vegetation and the vegetation coverage are chiefly restricting factors that lead to the soil ero-sion and pollutant run-off. This study can provide the fundamental data for comprehensive planning and harnessing of the non-noint source t3ollution in the valley.     

ECO-ENVIRONMENT CHANGE AND SOIL EROSION PROCESS IN THE RECLAIMED FORESTLAND OF THE LOESS PLATEAU

1INTRODUCTIONSerioussoilerosionhasmadetheeco-environmentfragileintheLoessPlateau.InthemodernsoilerosionoftheLoessPlateau,theman-madeerosionwasthedominanterosionpattern (TANGetal.,1993a,1993b).Manyhumanactivitiesacceleratesoilerosion,butthemostinfluentialactivitiesaretodestroyforestandgrass,eventodestroyallvegetation.Reclamationbydestroyingforestlandandgrasslandartificiallycouldrapidlyincreasesoilerosionintensityinshorttimeandenlargeerosionspacegradually,evenchangeerosiondirectionandwor…     

Characteristics of soil erosion and sediment size distribution for different land uses in the Chinese Mollisol region

Soil erosion is currently a major contributor to the degradation of global soil resources. The characteristics of sediment size distribution affect soil erosion processes. However, few studies have quantitatively explored soil erosion processes and sediment size distributions on natural hillslopes for different land uses, especially in the Chinese Mollisol region. The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of land uses(corn, fallow, buffer strip and bare hillslopes) under 5° and 10° slope gradients on total runoff, runoff rates, soil losses, sediment concentration processes, and sediment size distributions. Natural runoff plots(20 m long and 5 m wide) were subjected to inflow scour experiments(1 L min~(–1) m~(–2), lasting 40 min). The results showed that the total runoff varied from 2.62 to 6.40 L m~(–2) and from 8.36 to 20.39 L m~(–2) on hillslopes at 5° and 10°, respectively. The changes in runoff rates versus run time exhibited gradual increasing trends at 5°, but exhibited initial rapidly increasing trends and then relatively stable trends at 10°. Fallow hillslopes produced the lowest soil losses, which were 45.34%-45.92%, 2.74%-6.72% and 1.68%-3.44% for the corn, buffer strip and bare hillslopes, respectively. Most sediment concentrations were very small and stabilized between 0.5-2.0 g L~(–1) on the fallow hillslopes and 1.5-3.0 g L~(–1) on the corn hillslopes at 5°, but the changing trends in sediment concentration versus run time for the four land uses generally decreased at 10°. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the proportion of sediment 0.25 mm was the largest in comparison with the other sediment size fractions, and 0.25 mm soil particles and aggregates played a dominant role in soil aggregate loss under different land uses. Thus, protecting these precious soil particles and aggregates by applying proper soil conservation measures especially for the relatively gentle hillslopes was particularly important. Additionally, the fallow hillslope with greater soil and water conservation capacities was very suitable for the Mollisol hillslopes.     

Long-term monitoring revealed fish assemblage zonation in the Three Gorges Reservoir

Reservoirs are important artificial ecosystems that modify the hydrological and ecological characteristics of a river.Knowledge of the basic characteristics of fish assemblages in reservoirs is a first step toward the development of effective conservation policies.We used the information collected over a10-year period(2006-2015)to assess the structure of the fish assemblages in the Three Gorge Reservoir(TGR)in a river-dam gradient.Three fish zones were detected in TGR.Species richness was the highest in the upper zone and lowest in the lower zone.The riverine zones were dominated by rheophilic species Coreius guichenoti and Pelteobagrus vachelli.The transitional zones were dominated by Coreius heterodon and Rhinogobio cylindricus.The lacustrine zones were dominated by eurytopic species Hypophthalmichthys molitrix,Aristichthys nobilis,Hemiculter bleekeri and Cyprinus carpio.For the functional characteristics,fish assemblages in riverine and transitional zones were dominated by insectivorous species,equilibrium strategists and rheophilic species(e.g.,Coreius heterodon and Coreius guichenoti).In lacustrine zones,the fish assemblage was dominated by habitat generalists common to lakes and reservoirs(e.g.,Hemiculter bleekeri,Hypophthalmichthys molitrix,Aristichthys nobilis).Moreover,18 exotic species(e.g.,Protosalanx hyalocranius,Ictalurus punctatus,Megalobrama amblycephala,Tilapia)were collected in TGR,most of which only existed in the lacustrine zone.The results highlight the importance of freely flowing riverine reaches for conserving native fish in the upper Changjiang River and adaptive management strategies for fisheries in TGR.     

大伙房库区近30年来植被覆盖变化分析

根据像元二分模型原理,利用1983年、2000年、2011年大伙房库区遥感影像数据提取植被覆盖遥感信息,结合植被指数计算植被覆盖度,分析比较大伙房库区不同时期植被覆盖的变化,研究大伙房库区这三个时期植被覆盖动态变化规律,为大伙房库区的生态建设和可持续发展提供决策支持。结果显示:1近30年以来,大伙房库区植被覆盖等级分布不均衡,高植被覆盖区过分集中在北部地带,西部则多为低植被覆盖区;2大伙房库区高植被覆盖面积在减少、低植被覆盖面积在增加;3大伙房库区植被覆盖总面积在下降,库区的生态环境已经遭到了破坏;4政策建议:加强监测与监管力度,合理开发利用矿产资源,积极响应国家"退耕还林、退耕还草"号召。     

Assessment of soil organic carbon stock in the upper Yangtze River basin

Soil organic carbon is of great importance to terrestrial ecosystems.Studies on the amount and spatial distribution of soil organic carbon stock in various types of soil can help to better understand the role of soil in the global carbon cycle and provide a scientific basis for the assessment of the magnitude of carbon stored in a given area.Here we present estimates of soil organic carbon stock in soils in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River based on soil types as defined by Chinese Soil Taxonomy and recently compiled into a digital soil database.The results showed that the total soil organic carbon stock of the upper Yangtze River to a depth of 100 cm was 1.452×1013kg.The highest soil organic carbon stock was found in felty soils(2.419×1012kg),followed by dark brown soils(1.269×1012kg),and dark felty soils(1.139×1012kg).Chernozems and irrigation silting soils showed the lowest soil organic carbon stock,mainly due to the small total area of such soils.The soil organic carbon density of these major soil types ranged from 5.6 to 26.1 kg m-2.The average soil organic carbon density of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River was 16.4 kg m-2,which was higher than that of the national average.Soil organic carbon density indicated a distinct decreasing trend from west to east,which corresponds to the pattern of increasing temperature from cold to subtropical.