第四纪地质环境的人工再造作用与土地荒漠化

第四纪地质环境的人工再造作用是一个新概念。文章在回顾人类文明历史发展的基础上,重点阐述了近50年来全球土地荒漠化发展的严重趋势。人工再造作用是人类过量的经济活动对岩石圈与生物圈接触介面产生的一种破坏作用,其动力是不断增长的世界人口及其巨大的物质需求。可将人工再造作用看作是第四纪中最新的一个地质事件。研究发现,这一破坏作用过程符合Logistic曲线的变化规律,因此可以采用Logistic数学模型开展深入研究。第四纪地质学家、环境地质学家对资源、环境、人口和可持续发展问题应给以更多的关注。     

Spatiotemporal dynamics of land cover and their impacts on potential dust source regions in the Tarim Basin,NW China

Human-driven dynamics of land cover types in the Tarim Basin are able to affect potential dust source regions and provide particles for dust storms. Analyses about dynamics of potential dust source regions are useful for understanding the effects of human activities on the fragile ecosystem in the extremely arid zone and also provide scientific evidence for the rational land development in the future. This paper therefore selected the Tarim Basin, NW China, as a representative study area to reveal spatiotemporal dynamics of land cover and their impacts on potential dust source regions. The results showed that farmland, desert and forest increased by 28.63, 0.64 and 29.27%, while grassland decreased by 10.29% during 1990–2010. The largest reclamation, grassland loss and desertification were 639.17 × 10³, 2350.42 × 10³ and 1605.86 × 10³ ha during 1995–2000. The relationship between reclamation and grassland loss was a positive correlation, while a highly positive correlation was 0.993 between the desertification and grassland loss at different stages. The most serious dust source region was the desertification during 1990–2010 (1614.58 thousand ha), and the serious region was stable desert (40,631.21 thousand ha). The area of the medium and low dust source region was 499.08 × 10³ and 2667.27 × 10³ ha. Dramatic reclamation resulted in the desertification by destroying natural vegetation and breaking the balance of water allocation in various regions.     

中国草地植被地上和地下生物量的关系分析

草地生物量大部分集中在地下,地下生物量对于估算草地生态系统碳储量及其碳固持效应都至关重要。由于草地地下生物量数据缺乏,利用地下与地上的根冠比（R/S）或者地下与地上生物量的关系对草地地下生物量进行估算,是目前最常用的方法。本文在综述草地生物量研究进展的同时,利用2004~2010年已发表文献的草地生物量数据对中国不同类型草地的根冠比进行了探索,同时分析了不同类型草地的地上与地下生物量的相关关系（高寒草甸、高寒草原、山地草甸、温性草甸草原、温性草原和温性荒漠草原）。分析结果表明：不同类型草地的根冠比存在显著差异（F=3.524,ppR2=0.67）>温性荒漠草原（R2=0.36）>高寒草甸（R2=0.13）,其他3种类型草地几乎不存在地上与地下生物量的相关关系。这为以后估算地下生物量提供依据,即地下生物量估算应该综合考虑根冠比和地下与地上生物量关系。     

The effect of desertification on carbon and nitrogen status in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Environmental degradation resulting from desertification often accelerates biodiversity loss and alters carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks within grassland ecosystem. In order to evaluate the effect of desertification on plant diversity and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks, species compositions and C and N contents in plants and soil were investigated along five regions with different degrees of desertification in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (control, light, moderate, severe and very severe stages). The study showed: (1) species composition and richness changed significantly with the development of grassland desertification; (2) the aboveground biomass C and N contents in the control were 101.60 and 4.03 g m^?2, respectively. Compared to the control, the aboveground tissue C and N contents significantly decreased from light, moderate, severe to very severe stages. (3) The root C and N contents in the control in 0–40 cm depth are 1,372.83 and 31.49 g m^?2, respectively, while the root C and N contents in 0–40 cm were also declining from the control, light, moderate, severe to very severe stages. (4) Compared to the plant, the soil made a greater contribution for C and N distribution, in which the soil organic C and total N contents in 0–40 cm depth in the control are 20,386.70 and 3,587.89 g m^?2, respectively. At the same time, soil organic C and N contents also decreased significantly from the control to very severe stages. These results suggest that grassland desertification not only alters species compositions and leads to the loss of plant diversity, but also results in greater loss of organic C and N in alpine meadow, in which there is a negative effect on reducing greenhouse gas emission.     

Horizontal sighting range and Secchi depth as estimators of underwater PAR attenuation in a coastal lagoon

Attenuation of photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) measured using a light meter, was related to Secchi disk, horizontal black disk and horizontal sighting ranges observed in a coastal lagoon of the Southern California Current System. Vertical attenuation coefficient (K_PAR) was calculated from radiometric PAR profiles. Vertical (Z_D) and horizontal (HS) sighting ranges were measured with white (Secchi depth or Z_SD, HS _W ) and black (Z _BD, HS _B ) targets. Empirical power models for the K_PAR-Z_SD (K_PAR=1.47 Z_SD ^−1.13), K_PAR-Z _BD (K_PAR=0.98 Z _BD ^−1.26), K_PAR-HS _W (K_PAR=1.22 HS _W ^−1.14) and K_PAR-HS _B (K_PAR=0.73 HS _B ^−1.07) relationships were developed. The parameters of these models may not apply to other water bodies because their values depend on the range of water reflectance in each case, as reported in the literature. This is the first contribution reporting K_PAR-HS empirical relations in an estuarine environment but their application may be limited to this coastal lagoon. While this approach may be universal, more data are needed to explore the variability of the parameters between different water bodies.     

Relations between load and settlement of circular foundations on or in a dense sand expressed by a function of diameter and depth

When load acts on a circular foundation on or in a dense sand, average contact pressure on the lower surface of the foundation is q and settlement of the foundation is s. Diameter and depth of the foundation are B and D_f. When the sand, B and D_f are given, we can know the relation between q and s/B by, e.g. a loading test, i.e. the relation is determined by B and D_f for the sand. Using the results of numerical analyses, we express a relation between q and s/B up to s=0.1B by functions of a single variable which is a linear combination of B and D_f. Consequently when two foundations have different B's and different D_f's but have the same value of the variable, the relations are the same. Then we examine whether the functions can express the results of eleven tests of model foundations of wide range of B and/or D_f. In all the tests, the relations are expressed with sufficient accuracy. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distribution and evolution of water chemistry in Heihe River basin

Surface- vs. ground-water chemistry in the Heihe River basin, assessed through field sampling of precipitation, surface water and groundwater, allowed geographical zones and chemical types to be differentiated. The geographical zones included: alpine ice-snow (>3,900 m), alpine meadow (3,400–3,900 m), mountain forest and shrub (2,600–3,400 m), mountain grassland (1,900–2,600 m) and desert grassland (1,500–1,900 m). Groundwater chemical types included: (1) mountain fissure and piedmont gravel, bicarbonate, (2) piedmont diluvial, alluvial and lacustrine plain, sulphate, and (3) desert salt-accumulating depression, chloride. Since the 1960s, large volumes of river water diverted for irrigation have been found to re-emerge as spring water at the edge of alluvial fans and then reintegrate the Heihe River. After a number of reuses and re-emergences in the middle reaches, the rivers level of mineralization has doubled. Hydrological changes have resulted in the marked degradation of aquatic habitats, and caused substantial, and expanding, land salinization and desertification. Solving these largely anthropogenic problems requires concerted, massive and long-term efforts.     

Change trends for desertified lands in the Horqin Sandy Land at the beginning of the twenty-first century

The dynamics of desertification in the Horqin Sandy Land between 2000 and 2005 were analyzed using Landsat TM/ETM images and the data-processing function of geographical information software. The results showed that the extent of desertified land decreased at a rate of slightly more than 0.1 km² year⁻¹, from 22,423.1 km² in 2000 to 22,422.4 km² in 2005, indicating that desertification has been controlled in this area and that desert areas may be approaching a steady state. The dynamics of desertification differed among land types. Desertification decreased most obviously in areas of previous desert land. The area in which desertification was ameliorated was higher than the area that underwent further degradation, but non-desertified land (113.3 km²) deteriorated at a rate of 22.7 km² year⁻¹ during this period. This significant change requires careful attention by managers in the study area.     

Application of the <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs tracer technique to study soil erosion of alpine meadows in the headwater region of the Yellow River

The ¹³⁷Cs tracer technique was used to study soil erosion of alpine meadow grassland in two small river basins in the headwater region of the Yellow River. The results show that the levels of ¹³⁷Cs in soil samples from this alpine meadow vegetation zone exhibit an exponential distribution, generally within a depth of approximately 20 cm. Due to strong winds, freeze-thaw cycles and water, soil erosion was found to be stronger on the upper slope than on the lower slope, and except for the slope crest, the intensity of soil erosion at other sites was as follows: upslope < midslope < downslope. There was a significant negative correlation between the intensity of soil erosion and the extent of alpine meadow vegetation cover (P < 0.01). The mean soil erosion modulus exhibited a linear reduction trend with an increase in vegetation cover, and the correlation coefficient R ² was ≥ 0.997. The higher the degradation degree of the alpine meadow grassland, the greater is the soil erosion. The mean erosion modulus in the severely degraded meadow zone was 2.23 times greater than the one in the slightly degraded zone, and the maximum erosion modulus reached 2.96 × 10⁶ kg/km²/a.     

西北荒漠草甸植被光谱反射特征研究

选取位于西北干旱内陆地区的安西荒漠草场为观测试验区,分别对盐生低地草甸、极旱荒漠草甸和荒漠灌丛三类草地进行了地面反射光谱测定,并分析了主要荒漠草甸植被光谱反射的一般特征和红边参数特征,进而探讨了形成草地光谱特征差异的主要内在原因和影响因素。结果表明:在近红外波段,由于荒漠植被类别间叶片内部结构变化大,因此冠层光谱反射率差异较大;同一植被冠层光谱反射率的大小主要受植被长势的影响;受沙地背景的影响,在近红外波段,植被冠层的光谱反射率要明显小于叶片的光谱反射率;荒漠植被冠层光谱的红边也具有“双峰”现象,红边特征的参数表现为:沙地植被>绿洲植被>沙漠植被。对安西荒漠植被光谱特征的分析研究,对于研究干旱区荒漠植被的理化性能、遥感反演、植被分类、植被调查等都具有重要的意义。     

Bearing capacity of a strip foundation on a sand layer overlying a smooth rigid stratum

The effect of a smooth rigid stratum, located beneath a dense sand layer, on the bearing capacity and settlement of surface and shallow strip footings is investigated using an advanced experimental model. A theoretical analysis is presented for the bearing capacity of surface footings. The results indicate that the bearing capacity reaches a minimum value at a specific sand-layer thickness. Any increase in the layer thickness above this value causes an increase in the bearing capacity up to that corresponding to a continuous media.Notation H= thickness of the sand layer - B= foundation width - N _q and N = bearing capacity factors for a semi-infinite layer - N _qs and N _s= bearing capacity factors for a finite layer - H _o /B= limiting depth - D _r= relative density - = angle of soil internal friction - M= model width - D= depth of surcharge - q= bearing stress, pressure applied on the footing - q _u= bearing capacity - = unit weight of sand     

Vegetation pattern variation,soil degradation and their relationship along a grassland desertification gradient in Horqin Sandy Land,northern China

The Horqin Sandy Land is one of the most severely desertified regions in northern China. Plant communities and soil conditions at five stages of grassland desertification (potential, light, moderate, severe and very severe) were selected for the study of vegetation pattern variation relating to soil degradation. The results showed that vegetation cover, species richness and diversity, aboveground biomass (AGB), underground biomass, litter, soil organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus (P), electrical conductivity, very fine sand (0.1–0.05 mm) content and silt (0.05–0.002 mm) content decreased with the desertification development. Plant community succession presented that the palatable herbaceous plants gave place to the shrub species with asexual reproduction and sand pioneer plants. The decline of vegetation cover and AGB was positively related to the loss of soil organic C and total N with progressive desertification (P < 0.01). The multivariate statistical analysis showed that plant community distribution, species diversity and ecological dominance had the close relationship with the gradient of soil nutrients in the processes of grassland desertification. These results suggest that grassland desertification results in the variation of vegetation pattern which presents the different composition and structure of plant community highly influenced by the soil properties.     

Contrasting pressure–temperature–deformation history across a vestigial craton–mobile belt boundary: the western margin of the Eastern Ghats Belt at Deobhog, India

At Deobhog, migmatitic gneisses and granulites of the Eastern Ghats Belt are juxtaposed against a cratonic ensemble of banded augen gneiss, amphibolite and calcsilicate gneiss, intruded by late hornblende granite and dolerite. In the migmatitic gneiss unit, early isoclinal folds (syn‐D_1M and D_2M) are reoriented along N–S‐trending and E‐dipping shear planes (S_3M), with (S_1M–S_3M) intersection lineations having steep to moderate plunges. The near‐peak P–T condition was syn‐D_3M (≥900 °C, 9.5 kbar), as inferred from syn‐D_3M Grt+Opx‐bearing leucosomes in mafic granulites, and from thermobarometry on Grt (corona)–Opx/Cpx–Pl–Qtz assemblages. The P–T values are consistent with the occurrence of Opx–Spr–Crd assemblages in spatially associated high‐Mg–Al pelites. A subsequent period of cooling followed by isothermal decompression (800–850 °C, c. 7 kbar) is documented by the formation of coronal garnet and its decomposition to Opx+Pl symplectites in mafic granulites. Hydrous fluid infiltration accompanying the retrograde changes is manifested in biotite replacing Opx in some lithologies. The cratonic banded gneiss–granite unit also documents two phases of isoclinal folding (D_1B & D_2B), with the L_2B lineation girdle different from the lineation spread in the migmatitic gneiss unit. Calcsilicate gneiss (Hbl–Pl–Cpx–Scap–Cal) and amphibolite (Hbl–Pl±Grt±Cpx) within banded gneisses record syn‐D_2B peak metamorphic conditions (c. 700 °C, 6.5 kbar), followed by cooling (to c. 500 °C) manifested in the stabilization of coronal clinozoisite–epidote. The D_3B shear deformation post‐dates granite and dolerite intrusions and is characterized by top‐to‐the‐west movement along N–S‐trending, E‐dipping shear planes. Deformation mechanisms of quartz and feldspar in granites and banded gneisses and amphibole–plagioclase thermometry within shear bands in dolerites document an inverted syn‐D_3B thermal gradient with temperature increasing from 350 to 550 °C in the west to ≥700 °C near the contact with the migmatitic gneiss unit. The thermal gradient is reflected in the stabilization of chlorite after hornblende in S_3B shears to the west, and post‐D_2B neosome segregation along D_3B folds and shears to the east. The contrasting lithologies, early structures and peak metamorphic conditions in the two units indicate unconnected pre‐D₃P–T –deformation histories. The shared D₃ deformation in the two units, the syn‐D₃ inverted thermal gradient preserved in the footwall cratonic rocks and the complementary cooling and hydration of the hanging wall granulites across the contact are attributed to westward thrusting of ‘hot’ Eastern Ghats granulites on ‘cool’ cratonic crust. It is suggested that the Eastern Ghats migmatitic gneiss unit is not a reworked part of the craton, but a para‐autochthonous/allochthonous unit emplaced on and amalgamated to the craton.     

The relationship of vegetation and soil differentiation during the formation of black-soil-type degraded meadows in the headwater of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

In alpine meadow ecosystems, considerable spatial heterogeneity in forb-dominant vegetation exists as a result of severe grassland degeneration; however, there is limited quantitative information on the vegetative differences between degenerated and pristine grasslands. Therefore, a field study, which seeks to identify the edaphic factors driving the variation in plant composition and distribution, was conducted in a severely degraded alpine meadow located in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, NW China. Five meadows, an original meadow and four degraded meadows, were used to determine the differentiation and relationships between the vegetation and soil of degraded alpine meadows. The dominated species of these degraded meadows are Ligularia virgaurea–Artemisia gmelinii (LA), Oxytropis ochrocephala–Leontopodium nanum (OL), Aconitum pendulum–Potentilla anserina (AP) and Stellera chamaejasme–Artemisia nanschanica (SA), respectively. The results indicate that vegetation cover, grass biomass, species number and diversity indices clearly decrease from the original to the degraded meadow. Soil water, clay and nutrient content are also reduced with grassland degradation in surface and subsoil layers. The joint study of floristic and edaphic variables confirms that the soil features, especially the bulk density, sand content, pH, salinity, N and K, mainly determine the establishment of vegetation in the severely degraded fields of this study. These results may be useful for alpine grassland ecosystem restoration and management.     

天山托木尔峰国家级自然保护区垂直自然带景观特征分析

根据实地考察和相关参考资料,运用历史文献和统计分析的方法,对托木尔峰国家级自然保护区垂直自然带景观特征进行分析,结果显示：对托木尔峰自然保护区垂直自然带的形成,地形地貌因素起着主导作用,纬度起着次要作用,受地形地貌因素制约的水热条件是形成各垂直自然带景观特征的最重要的物质和能量来源,随着水热条件的垂直变化,从低山带至高山带有规律的出现暖温带荒漠带、温带荒漠草原带、山地草原带、亚高山草甸带、高山草甸带、高山垫状植被带和高山冰雪带.东西走向的天山山脉,南北向深切的冰川和流水地貌,对来自北大西洋和北冰洋的湿润气流起了显著地屏障作用,致使托木尔峰南、北坡具有不同的气候特点,南坡形成了暖温带半干旱和干旱气候.自然景观以温带荒漠、荒漠草原和草原为主,植物种类贫乏,具有耐旱特点,随着海拔高度的增加,植物的荒漠成分逐渐减少,草原和草甸成分逐渐增加,土壤的有机质含量提高,碳酸盐的淋溶作用增强.     

冰消期以来宣化盆地的植被与环境

在河北省宣化盆地黄家堡附近,作者通过对具有放射性碳测年支持的孢粉剖面的研究,揭示了该区14000aBP以来的植被和气候变化。在14000aBP~9000aBP间,宣化盆地是以油松为主的针阔混交林草原景观,海拔较高的山上还有云杉、冷杉组成的暗针叶林生长,推测当时的气候条件温凉湿润;至9000aBP~2400aBP间,宣化盆地的古植被演变成以蒿为主的草原景观,在水分、土壤条件较好的地方生长着由柳、榆、栎、桦等组成的落叶阔叶林,推测当时的气候温和湿润;2400aBP以后,宣化盆地的植被演变成以藜科为主的荒漠化草原景观,气候以凉干为特征。      

草原农垦区土地沙质荒漠化过程的生物学机制

以沙质荒漠化正处在发展过程的河北坝上地区和沙质荒漠化严重的科尔沁沙地流沙治理区为例,结合国内外已有的研究成果,探讨草原沙质荒漠化的主要生物学机制。指出在草原农垦区开垦和过度放牧引起的土壤细颗粒物质、养分损失,促进了灌木侵入。灌木侵入又加剧了土壤养分、水分空间格局的改变,在灌丛周围形成一个包括微生物在内的土壤肥力富集区,即灌丛"土壤肥岛",而在丛间发生土壤风蚀和水蚀,导致斑块状流沙甚至大面积流沙的出现。诱发荒漠化的不合理耕作、灌溉、盐渍化、过度放牧等过程同样影响菌根菌的密度和接种成功率,从而降低草地生产力。在草原地区的流沙上建立各种固沙植被不仅使流沙地土壤养分、水分异质性加强,而且使沙地景观异质性增加。还提出用土壤颗粒分形维数来表征土地沙质荒漠化的程度,以空间上不同样点土壤属性变异系数（方差与平均值之比）作为沙质荒漠化土壤属性异质性的测度。     

Hydrochemical and hydrological processes in the different landscape zones of alpine cold region in China

Investigation of water sources and flow pathways is crucial to understand and evaluate the characteristics of surface water and groundwater systems. This article aims to identify the hydrochemical and hydrological processes in different landscape zones based on hydrochemical analyses of various samples, including samples from glacier, snow, frozen soil meltwater, surface water, groundwater, and precipitation, in the alpine cold region of China. Hydrochemical tracers indicated that chemical compositions are characterized by the Ca-HCO₃ type in the glacier-snow zone; the Mg-Ca-SO₄ type in the alpine cold desert zone; the Ca-HCO₃-SO₄ type in the marsh meadow zone; the Ca-Mg-HCO₃ type in the alpine shrub zone; and the Ca-Na-SO₄ type in the mountain grassland zone. An end-member mixing model was used for hydrograph separation. The results showed that the Mafengou River in the wet season was recharged by groundwater in the alpine cold desert and alpine shrub zones (67%), surface runoff in the glacier-snow zone (11%), surface runoff in the alpine cold desert zone (8%), thawed water from frozen soil in the marsh meadow and mountain grassland zones (9%), and direct precipitation on the river channel (5%). This study suggests that precipitation from the whole catchment yielded little direct surface runoff; precipitation was mostly transformed into groundwater or interflow and was then concentrated into the river channel. This study provides a scientific basis for evaluation and management of water resources in the basin.     

Determination of diffusion coefficients associated with the transport of210Pb radionuclides in lake bed sediments

An iterative least-squares optimization technique is utilized in conjunction with a one-dimensional representation of the mass transport equation to generate theoretical²¹⁰Pb concentration/depth profiles beneath the water-sediment interface that are best-fit approximations to directly measured²¹⁰Pb concentration/depth profiles at various locations within the Great Lakes system. The outputs of such an optimization analysis are the diffusion coefficientsD _M (molecular) andD _B (bioturbation) associated with the transport of²¹⁰Pb radionuclides in lake bed sediments. For all stations studied, the estimated values ofD _B are consistently larger than the estimated values ofD _M , emphasizing the importance of accounting for the effects of bioturbation in the modelling of contaminant transport through lake bed sediments.     

Root biomass distribution in alpine ecosystems of the northern Tibetan Plateau

The root biomass distribution in alpine ecosystems (alpine meadow, alpine steppe, desert grassland and alpine desert) was investigated along a transect on the northern Tibetan Plateau in 2009. The results showed that roots were mainly concentrated in the 0–20 cm layer, and root biomass decreased exponentially with increasing soil depth. Root biomass was estimated to be 1,381.41 ± 245.29 g m⁻² in the top 20 cm soil, accounting for 85% of the total root biomass. The distribution pattern of the root biomass proportion along the soil profile was similar in different alpine ecosystems. The root biomass density varied with different alpine ecosystems and the total average root biomass was 1,626.08 ± 301.76 g m⁻². Root biomass was significantly correlated with average relative humidity, annual precipitation and soil organic matter. This indicates that precipitation and soil organic matter might be crucial for plant growth in the study area, while temperature is not an important factor controlling root growth.