清代华北蝗灾时空分布及其与水旱灾害的关系*

利用《清史·灾赈志》中的历史灾害信息,重建清代(公元1644—1911年)华北蝗灾、水灾和旱灾的逐年频次序列,并以核密度估计法刻画3种灾害的空间分布,在此基础上展开时空对比分析。结果表明,蝗灾频次体现出一定的阶段性,1640s—1690s与1800s—1850s为2个多发时段,空间上主要分布于冀鲁豫三省的平原地区及山西的汾河谷地。年际尺度上蝗灾与旱灾呈显著正相关,干旱对于蝗灾的触发作用较为明显,但极端干旱会在一定程度上抑制蝗灾的规模;水灾对于当年灾区的蝗情有显著抑制,但灾后由涝转旱的气候背景可能诱发大面积蝗灾。在空间上,蝗灾与水旱灾害多发区有良好的对应,但水旱灾害的不同影响机制以及蝗虫的迁飞特性,使得3种灾害的极端多发区并不重合。蝗灾最集中的区域呈新月状分布于河北省西部,可能是蝗虫从孳生地(海河水系下游近水荒滩)迁飞于此,在太行山脉的阻隔之下形成。上述结论有助于推进对历史时期蝗灾发生机制的科学认识,以及指导气候变化背景之下的蝗灾防治工作。     

明清时期安徽省蝗灾时空演化、社会影响与响应*

自古以来,蝗灾与水灾、旱灾并称为中国农业社会的三大自然灾害。基于史料文献收集了明清时期安徽历史蝗灾记录,通过构建10 a尺度上的蝗灾频次序列和1 a尺度上的蝗灾县次序列,在县域尺度上绘制了蝗灾指数分布图,探讨了蝗灾演化时空动态过程。通过引入饥荒、米价以及疫灾序列分析了蝗灾对社会的影响以及古代社会对蝗灾的响应过程。结果表明: 明清时期安徽境内共发生181次蝗灾,每3.2次/10 a,累计653个受灾县次,平均3.6县/a;安徽地区发生了5次大蝗灾事件,这与同时期的干旱密切相关;安徽长江以北地区的蝗灾指数高于南部山区,地形、水旱灾害以及人类活动等因素是影响蝗灾指数分布差异的主要原因。蝗灾对社会产生了复杂深远的影响,是引发饥荒的重要因素,并间接导致瘟疫现象。蝗灾大范围出现后导致短期内米价暴涨,增加社会不稳定性。政府的捕蝗救灾的方式与能力直接影响群众的生存状况,是保障社会稳定的重要机制。综合看来,蝗灾会对农业子系统、经济子系统、社会子系统和技术子系统产生多重影响。     

明清时期京津冀地区蝗灾的时空特征及环境背景*

明清时期（公元1368—1911年）是中国的小冰期,也被称为方志时期,蝗灾等各种自然灾害频发且记录丰富。华北平原是中国历史蝗灾暴发的主要源地,对其开展研究具有特殊的意义。基于明清时期的文献资料,从灾害地理学的视角,借助数理统计与GIS空间分析方法,构建京津冀地区蝗灾等级、频数和县次序列,揭示蝗灾的时空分布特征,并解析其成因。结果表明： （1）明清时期京津冀地区蝗灾平均1.8 a一遇,年均受灾3县次;蝗灾主要发生在夏半年的三月至八月,其中六月和七月是蝗灾暴发的峰值月份,而冬半年的九月至次年二月较少;（2）蝗灾等级以Ⅱ级和Ⅲ级为主,平均等级为2.17;“十年蝗灾频数”和“十年蝗灾县次”整体上呈现波动上升趋势;（3）蝗灾代际县次变化,夏蝗县次多于秋蝗县次,且次年夏蝗的发生与上年暖冬并未良好对应;（4）小波分析指示蝗灾存在100a和30a的主周期和53 a、17 a和11a的次周期;（5）蝗灾空间分布具有一定的集中性,东南远多于西北,受地形起伏和水系格局的影响较大;（6）蝗灾的发生与温度关系不明显,但与旱涝关系密切,并与Nino3指数有良好的对应。     

遥感与GIS在蝗虫灾害防治研究中的应用进展

蝗虫是给农作物和草场造成严重危害的昆虫。长期以来,蝗虫的灭治一直依靠化学药剂喷洒,生物防治还处于刚刚起步阶段。从20世纪70年代起,就已在北非、澳大利亚等地,开始应用卫星遥感图像Landsat/MSS、TM及NOAA/AVHRR对蝗虫栖息、生长和繁殖的生境进行监测,研究蝗虫生境的绿度,以推断可能发生蝗灾的区域。进入20世纪90年代以来,遥感技术与地理信息系统(GIS)技术的结合,在蝗虫的监测中正得到日益广泛的应用。扼要论述了这些方面的研究进展。     

由我国历史飞蝗北界记录得到的古气候推断

本文利用我国古代有关飞蝗的文献记录,整理出近1000年来飞蝗记录地域北界变动资料,根据飞蝗的生态习性,推断出飞蝗发生在我国北纬41°以北地区的年份的气温条件指出1162～1177年、1265～1280年和1763～1773年是我国东北地区气候温暖的时段,这分别为南宋气候、中世纪温暖期和小冰期的回暖期提出新的佐证。     

Mapping of desert locust habitats in Africa using Landsat Thematic Mapper data

The results of the research at the Sudan Red Sea coast, which is part of the GTZ project Integrated Biological Control of Grasshoppers and Locusts will be presented. For detecting desert locust biotopes multitemporal Landsat Thematic Mapper data and ground truth information are analyzed. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) shows the areas covered with vegetation. These areas are masked and then classified with the maximum likelihood classifier. Rectification and ground truthing are carried out by means of a GPS (Global Positioning System). The results of the multitemporal classification are merged with an enhanced satellite scene. The final map shows the potential desert locust biotopes. The current desert locust breeding area can be demarcated by combining the classification results with up-to-date data from monitoring satellites, such as Meteosat and NOAA. Further research is carried out in Mali and Mauritania.     

Evaluation of Strength Characteristics of Tropical Black Clay Treated with Locust Bean Waste Ash

An expansive tropical black clay (also known as black cotton soil because the cotton plant thrives well on it) was treated with up to 15 % locust bean waste ash (LBWA) to assess its soil improvement potential. Samples were subjected to index, compaction using three energy levels (British Standard light, BSL, West African Standard, WAS or ‘Intermediate’ and British Standard heavy, BSH), shear strength (unconfined compressive strength, UCS), California bearing ratio, CBR and durability tests. Results obtained show that the natural soil is not suitable for road construction. The maximum dry density (MDD) and optimum moisture content (OMC) decreased and increased, respectively. Regardless of the compactive effort and curing period, strength and durability properties increased with higher LBWA content with the BSL effort recording the best improvement. However, based on durability results, the optimal 12.5 % LBWA treatment of black cotton soil did not satisfy criteria for its use in road construction as a stand alone additive. Also, significant improvement in soil properties was obtained using the BSL compactive effort, which is easily achieved in the field. The benefits of the application include reduction in the cost of soil improvement and the adverse environmental impact of locust bean waste.     

Effect of black locust (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis>) on soil chemical and microbiological properties in the eroded hilly area of China’s Loess Plateau

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) has been widely planted in the Chinese Loess Plateau for soil and water conservation as an important forest species. This study examined variations in topsoil organic C (OC), total N and P (TN and TP), available N, P and K (AN, AP and AK), and soil microbial biomass C, N and P (SMBC, SMBN and SMBP) contents and the activity of urease (URE), α-amylase (ALA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), catalase (CAT), saccharase (SAC), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and cellulase (CEL) in loessial soil of black locust with an age sequence of 5, 10 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50 years in Zhifanggou watershed (8.27 km²), Shaanxi Province, Northwest China. Also cultivated fields and 80-year Chinese arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) were selected for the comparison. The results showed that soil chemical properties, microbial biomasses and soil enzyme activities varied with the restoration age. After 50-year growth of black locust, OC, TN, AN, TP, AK, SMBC, SMBN, SMBP, URE, ALP, SAC and CEL in soil increased by 262, 193, 345, 22, 36, 210, 136, 85, 90, 108, 288 and 36%, respectively, while PPO decreased by 31%. Soil chemical properties of TN and soil microbial biomass of SMBC were linearly correlated with soil enzymes of URE, ALP and SAC. Moreover, nitrogen fixation of black locusts was not evident before it became mature, but more evident after it reached maturity. The results confirmed that black locusts have long-term benefits on the improvement of soil properties as exotic species on the Loess Plateau for the soil properties under black locusts were greatly improved compared to cultivated fields.     

太行山地区不同植被林冠截留降水的研究

通过穿透降雨和树干径流自动采集系统,对油松、侧柏、刺槐三种植被截留实验数据进行了分析。结果表明,三种植被林内穿透降雨与林外天然降雨都具极显著的正相关线性关系,林冠截留量与林外降雨量呈幂函数关系,平均截留率大小关系为油松>侧柏>刺槐。相同林外降雨量下产生的树干径流量大小关系为刺槐>侧柏>油松。     

Climate,disasters, wars and the collapse of the Ming Dynasty

Based on the historical records of natural disasters and human wars of the final 35 years in the late Ming Dynasty (1610–1644 AD) obtained using different spatial scales, a set of grading systems were established to classify, grade and present these records and their spatiotemporal characteristics. From natural and human perspectives to quantitative analyses of the direct causes of the collapse of the Ming Dynasty, the author draws conclusion regarding a total of six immediate factors, which were, according to the rate of contribution from high to low, internal rebellions, drought, inter-ethnic conflicts, locust, flood and external wars. Among these causes, human factors accounted for approximately 47%, while natural factors accounted for approximately 53%. Attribution analysis indicated that the basin areas in east China were sensitive to climate change during the Ming Dynasty. Severe drought and locusts in a cooling environment were the main natural causes, while frequent internal rebellions and inter-ethnic conflicts influenced by financial crisis were the major human factors. Although natural factors accounted for a greater percentage than human factors in the rate of contribution to the collapse of the Ming Dynasty, they were the only external factors impacting social development and changes.     

Influences of revegetation mode on soil water dynamic in gully slope of the Chinese Loess hilly–gully region

Gully slope is one of the most active areas of soil erosion in small watershed of the Chinese Loess hilly–gully region. Although its soil erosion has been effectively controlled with the implementation of the “Grain-for-Green Program” in this region, the soil water storage and distribution have been also impacted. In particular, unreasonable revegetation model has aggravated the water shortage, which may in turn threaten the health of ecosystems. However, yet little is known about the effect mechanism of vegetation on soil water in the gully slope. In this study, we examined the relationship between two revegetation modes, including afforestation (i.e. black locust forest) and natural revegetation (i.e. the grassland), and soil water in a depth of 0–120 cm of the gully slope, during the rainy season. The results showed that the effect of the vegetation to the soil water was smaller than that of the precipitation. Furthermore, the response of soil water to the environmental factors was higher in afforestation vegetation due to its lower soil water content, resulting in higher space dependence for soil water, compared to the natural revegetation. The lower soil water content of the black locust forest was mainly caused by its higher recession rate, not its supply. The soil water was deficient for a long time, caused by afforestation, with a shallower formation depth of the dried soil layer and stronger desiccation degree. However, this deficient could not be effectively relieved until in wet year. In comparison with the ridge slope, the effect of vegetation to soil water in gully slope was stronger, with greater water consumption in afforestation vegetation and the higher water storage in natural revegetation. From the aspect of water resources conservation on the water scale, the natural revegetation was the optimal revegetation mode in the gully slope of the loess hilly region.

     

Chemical element concentrations in black locust (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis> L.) and green ash (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fraxinus pennsylvanica</Emphasis> Marsh.) leaves at the reclaimed Green Valley coal Mine,Indiana, USA

The Green Valley Mine in Indiana was abandoned in 1963 after 15 years of coal mining. Reclamation began in 1994 and ended in 1999 with the dense planting of twelve different tree species. By 2006, only green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) had survived in any significant numbers. Given the acid mine drainage found at the site, we sought to determine whether element toxicity originating from mine waste was responsible for the extirpation of the trees. Leaf samples taken from 125 mine trees and 29 control trees were acquired and assayed for 41 element concentrations using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). Except for sodium, there was no compelling evidence to indicate that toxic elemental levels were responsible for the widespread tree deaths. In addition to sodium toxicity, we suspect that micronutrient deficiency was a primary factor explaining the extirpation of trees at the mine.     

Effects of vegetation restoration on soil physical properties of abandoned farmland on the Loess Plateau,China

To improve the ecological environment in China, the Chinese government implemented a country-wide ecological protection and reforestation project (namely the “Grain for Green Project”) in 1999 to return cultivated land with slopes of 25° or more to perennial vegetation. Vegetation restoration reduces soil erosion mainly by changing the soil physical properties. Different vegetation restoration methods might produce different impacts on soil physical properties. In this study, two vegetation restoration methods (i.e., natural restoration and artificial restoration) were compared on abandoned farmland in the typically hilly and gullied areas of the Loess Plateau of Northwest China. In the natural restoration method, the farmland was abandoned to natural vegetation succession without irrigation, fertilization or other artificial disturbances. In the artificial restoration method, the farmland was planted with black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and watered and cultivated for the first two years. Three soil physical properties (i.e., soil moisture, bulk density and aggregation) were investigated under the two vegetation restoration methods. The results showed that the soil moisture and soil bulk density were higher under artificial restoration than under natural restoration within the first three years of vegetation restoration. By the fourth year, the soil moisture and soil bulk density were higher under natural restoration than under artificial restoration. For the stability of soil aggregates?>?0.25 mm, the soil aggregates in the 0-20 cm soil layer were more stable under artificial restoration than under natural restoration, while the results were the opposite for the 40-60 cm soil layer. Overall, the soil physical properties were continuously improved during the restoration of vegetation on abandoned farmland. In choosing between vegetation restoration methods, natural restoration is preferable to artificial restoration, but artificial intervention is needed during the first three years.     

Livelihood diversification: continuity and change in the Sahel

Livelihood diversification can be crucial for poor rural households in the African Sahel. Migration is a common diversification strategy during the dry season, but there are also areas with significant strategies on the farm, such as incomes from gum and resins. Sudan is a country where the income from gum arabic, the gum from the Acacia senegal tree, has played a large economic role for smallholders for generations, but there are signs of a declining production which is detrimental if people have no alternative incomes. The results showed that in parts of the country, the 1984 drought caused an event-driven change resulting in a discontinuation of production. However, in other parts of the country, the agricultural system providing gum arabic proved to be more resilient to the drought and the incomes from gum arabic still play a large role. The results illustrated a complexity of driving forces, regional differences and a large variability in incomes between households. Some causes were indirect such as prices, drought, precipitation and locust, whereas the others were direct and hence more controllable by households. This study underlined the direct causes, such as how labour input is prioritised between livelihood activities, which have not been given as much attention in previous literature. Secondly, the need for a holistic view of livelihoods is underlined in order to understand the future of gum arabic production. Empirical data were collected from extensive fieldwork.

Tracing infiltration and recharge using stable isotope in Taihang Mt., North China

The groundwater in headwater region is an important recharge source for the adjacent mountain-front plain. In order to reveal the relationship among precipitation, soil water and groundwater, from June to September in 2004, stable isotopes (deuterium and oxygen-18) in precipitation and soil waters at the depths of 10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 90, and 110 cm were analyzed at two sites covered by black locust (Robinia Pseudoacia L.) (Site A) and grass predominated by Themeda triandra (T. japonica (Willd.) Tanaka) and Bothriochloa ischaemum (B. ischaemum (L.) Keng) (Site B) in an experimental catchment at Taihang Mt., North China, respectively. The δ¹⁸O of precipitation in daily rain events shows large variations (−13.3 to −4.3‰) with a mean of 8.1‰. The δ¹⁸O and δ D of soil waters along profiles in two sites suggest that the influence of canopy cover was just up to 10 cm in top soil water. The soil water moved over the zero flux plane at 70 cm in-depth is expected to escape the evaporative effect at the end of September in both sites. The results show that the stable isotope, instead of tritium as tradition, can be used to trace the soil water behaviors based on the movement of isotopic peak along the vertical profiles in this semi-arid and semi-humid mountainous region. The infiltration depths of soil water in Taihang Mt. are 12 and 10 mm/day from June to September in 2004 in Site A and Site B, respectively. Tracing by stable isotope, recharge fluxes of soil water to local groundwater are of 3.8 and 3.2 mm/day in Site A and Site B, respectively. The results provide desirable information for assessment of local groundwater resources. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Unity of the national and the international in the socio-cultural development of the peoples of the USSR

International unity is becoming ever stronger in this country owing to an increasing similarity in the development of the cultural environment. This comprises the provision of all the country's republics with a sufficient number of schools, theatres, and other institutions and cultural information media in accordance with the needs of the population. An important part is played by the rise in ‘the general educational level, as well as the level of professional qualifications and skills. Among all the Soviet nations and nationalities, this rise being more rapid among formerly backward peoples. Prominent among the factors of internationalization is the progressive development of the nationalities’ cultural resources, while professional culture is being increasingly brought within the reach of the masses.The implementation of the nationalities policy promotes the all-round development of all Soviet nations and nationalities, their drawing together, the upsurge of the individual capabilities of every Soviet citizen.     

Deviation of the major axis of the inertia ellipsoid of the Moon from the direction toward the Earth

It is known from observations that the center of mass of the Moon does not coincide with the geometric center of its figure, and the line connecting these two centers is not aligned with the direction toward the center of the Earth, instead deviating toward the Southeast. This stationary deviation of the axis of the inertia ellipsoid of the Moon to the South of the direction toward the Earth is analyzed. A system of five linear differential equations describing the physical libration of the Moon in latitude is considered, and these equations are derived using a new vector method taking into account perturbations from the Earth and partly from the Sun. The characteristic equation of this system is obtained, and all five oscillation frequencies are found. Special attention is paid to the fifth (zero) frequency, for which the solution of the latitude libration equations are stationary and represents a previously unknown additional motion of the rotational axis of theMoon in a cone with a small opening angle. In contrast to the astronomical precession of the Earth, the rotation of the angular-velocity vector is in the positive direction (counter-clockwise), with the period T ₃ = 27.32 days. On this basis, this phenomenon has been named “quasi-precession.” This quasi-precession leads to a stationary inclination of the major axis of the inertia ellipsoid of theMoon to the South (for an observer on Earth), making it possible to explain one component of the observed deviation of the center of mass of the Moon from the direction toward the Earth. The opening angle of the quasiprecession cone is approximately 0.834″.     

东濮凹陷北部沙河街组三段中亚段沉积环境分析

东濮凹陷北部沙三中亚段广泛发育盐岩和烃源岩,这两个看似不能共存的物质却在这里互层共生。该时期研究区沉积特征为多盐韵律与多层烃源岩互层共生、连续沉积,单个盐韵律厚度从几米到十几米,烃源岩有机质丰度高、类型好。平面上,两者在湖盆沉积沉降中心共生;垂向上,高有机质丰度、好干酪根类型与高盐度地层具有较好的对应关系。因而成为恢复古气候和古环境的重要研究对象。通过岩石学、古生物学以及Sr/Ba、B/Ga、(V+Ni+Mn)、Fe/Mn、Sr/Cu、Mg/Ca、V/(V+Ni)、稀土元素含量和氯同位素等方法对凹陷北部沙三中亚段的沉积环境进行研究。结果表明,凹陷北部沙三中亚段为深水沉积的还原环境,古盐度较高,达到半咸水-咸水沉积;微量元素和孢粉化石特征表明研究区沙三中亚段为温暖潮湿的环境。     

The Tendencies of the Development of the Mineral-Resources Sector at the Turn of the Century

Important tendencies in development of the world mineral-resources sector at the beginning of the 21st century were an increase in production and consumption of mineral materials differentiated by types of metals and nonmetallic mineral raw materials, by countries and regions, as well as the concentration of the production of mineral raw materials in a small number of countries, and a reduction in industrial reserves of minerals in the world economy, even at the current stage of their extraction. These tendencies should be taken into account in working out a strategy for development of the Russian mineral raw-material base.     

Causes of the famine among the rural population of the Sahelian zone of the Sudan

Taking the example of W Sudan, an analysis of the climatic incidents leading to the two recent famine disasters is made. On this natural background, the human side is investigated. Focus is directed towards the fragile economic structure of the famine-prone population groups. An early-warning system for famine in the Sahelian Zone is proposed taking grain production and storage, livestock development and the relationship between the prices of livestock and grain as major indicators.