The equilibrium gravel coverage of the deflated gobi above the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, China

Blown sand has caused considerable damage to the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes of China. Controlling the blown sand requires a clear understanding of the processes that govern its production and movement. Experiments were conducted in a wind tunnel and in the field to define the relationships between sand production and gravel coverage in the gobi above the Mogao Grottoes. The gravel that covers the gobi’s surface controls wind erosion, irrespective of its shape and size. The equilibrium coverage by gravel over which no further sand is emitted due to wind erosion increases and the equilibration time that is taken to form the equilibrium gravel coverage decreases with increasing wind velocity. Gravel coverage has reached an equilibrium state in the portion of the gobi directly above the grottoes, but decreases towards the Mingsha Mountains. Drifting sand from these mountains is the main source of sand damage at the Mogao Grottoes. If no additional sand from the mountains were supplied to the gobi, gravel pavements would reach an equilibrium level of coverage and prevent further production of blowing sand. Sand blown from the gobi represents secondary reactivation of sediments originally produced in the Mingsha Mountains. Therefore, to control the blowing sand above the Mogao Grottoes, emphasis should be placed on controlling erosion from the Mingsha Mountains rather than local erosion of sand in the gobi.     

Wind tunnel experiments on the turbulent transmission over the near surface layer of different surfaces

To understand the generation and development mechanism of soil erosion, data of the wind profile from wind tunnel experiments were used, and the characteristics of the turbulent transmission with free stream velocity and the properties of the surfaces in arid and semi-arid regions were studied by the atmospheric aerodynamic method. The result showed that the turbulent momentum fluxes are proportional to the velocity and the roughness of the surfaces. In addition, they are closely related to the density of the roughness elements; the turbulent exchange coefficient over the near surface layer increases with height.     

内蒙古阿拉善左旗乌兰尚德地区志留系圆包山组笔石化石的发现及其地质意义

阿拉善盟阿拉善左旗杭乌拉山以北哈日奥布日格断凹陷盆地两侧,北东向出露770km2的哑地层,前人将其划为二叠系双堡塘组,但该套地层的岩性和岩石组合及层序特征,与内蒙古岩石地层所述的双堡塘组的现在定义和地质特征及区域变化完全相悖。采用现代沉积学理论和层序地层学方法,开展岩石组合、基本层序、沉积构造与沉积环境研究,划分出3个段级填图单元。根据发现的笔石化石和被晚泥盆世中粗粒黑云母花岗闪长岩侵入的关系,将地层时代确定为早志留世,改划为志留系圆包山组。泥盆纪区域变质变形作用使其发生浅变质和片理化变形,并形成轴向北东的复式向斜构造。后期叠加构造变形,形成紧闭倒转褶皱。志留系圆包山组的确定对本区地层划分和区域构造演化研究有重要意义。     

风蚀对土壤养分及碳循环影响的研究进展与展望

土壤风蚀是土壤颗粒在风力作用下的剥蚀、搬运和沉积的过程。风蚀使土壤中的大量营养物质损失，导致土地生产力下降，促使地表养分的再分配，促进碳（C）循环。土壤颗粒团聚体稳定状况、不同土地利用方式和人类活动都会影响土壤风蚀度的大小，从而进一步影响土壤中养分的分布及C在土壤圈、大气圈和生物圈中的循环。针对过去对土壤风蚀引起的土壤养分及碳循环研究的不足，提出今后的研究工作应当注重：（1）土壤风蚀环境效应；(2) 土壤的潜在风蚀微观机理；（3）风蚀物在土壤-植物-大气系统间的互馈机制研究。     

基于DEM的地球与火星格状沙丘对比分析

沙丘是柴达木盆地可类比火星的重要地貌类型,沙丘形态是类火星风沙地貌研究的重要内容。基于数字地形分析（DTA）的方法,采用高程、坡度、坡向及地表复杂程度4个地形计量学指标对火星（北极地区）和地球（柴达木盆地）格状沙丘的地貌形态特征进行定量对比分析。结果表明：（1）两个研究区的高程剖面、坡度、坡向的地理学空间分布格局具有较大相似性;（2）高程、高程梯度、坡度和坡向的直方图相似度指数均大于0.7;（3）不同尺度上的分形维数近似相等,即地表复杂程度相似。用数字地形分析与直方图相似度指数结合的方法,定量或半定量地分析两个研究区沙丘地貌形态的相似性,这对类火星风沙地貌研究中科学选择试验点是一种新的尝试,以期为反演火星风沙地貌的形成与演化提供科学依据。     

古尔班通古特沙漠沙丘主要灌木的种群数量动态

种群数量动态的研究是认识种群的生存现状及发展动态的前提。通过对古尔班通古特沙漠固定沙丘、半固定沙丘和流动沙丘上主要固沙灌木的样地调查,分析了固沙灌木的年龄结构,建立了3种沙丘上固沙灌木的静态生命表和存活曲线。结果表明：（1）固沙灌木的存活个体数呈逐级递减的趋势,幼龄个体占有很高的比例;固定沙丘上梭梭（Haloxylon ammodendron）呈现Ⅰ型存活曲线,种群退化,白梭梭（Haloxylon persicum）呈现Ⅱ型存活曲线,种群稳定;（2）半固定沙丘上白梭梭呈Ⅱ型存活曲线,种群相对稳定;沙拐枣（Calligonum mongolicum）和油蒿（Artemisia ordosica）均呈现Ⅰ型存活曲线,种群处于退化状态;（3）流动沙丘上沙拐枣呈现Ⅲ型存活曲线,种群有较大的增长潜力,白梭梭呈现出Ⅱ型存活曲线,种群相对稳定,油蒿呈现出Ⅰ型存活曲线,种群处于不稳定的退化状态。     

毛乌素沙地中部风成沙的组成与微形态特征

分析了毛乌素沙地中部流动沙丘与固定-半固定沙丘沉积物粒度、元素和微形态特征。结果表明：流动沙丘沙和固定-半固定沙丘沙均以细沙和中沙为主,流动沙丘沙的分选性较好,而固定-半固定沙丘沙的分选性较差,沙丘在频繁强烈的风沙活动环境下跃移搬运,且搬运方式一定,搬运动力稳定。与上部陆壳平均化学组成（UCC）相比,常量元素SiO₂和Na₂O富集,其余均亏损,而微量元素中,Co富集明显。沙丘沙物质CIA值与上部陆壳平均值接近,表明沙丘经历了低等的化学风化。流动沙丘和固定-半固定沙丘颗粒磨圆度普遍较差,大多呈现棱角状或次棱角状外形,真正圆状外形较少。风成环境的典型标志碟形撞击坑占比很大,推断毛乌素沙地中部气候相对干燥,机械作用占主导地位,化学风化作用甚微。     

巴丹吉林沙漠边缘沉积物粒度和微形态特征空间分异

为了探讨巴丹吉林沙漠风沙沉积物特征分异规律,采用野外实地采集和实验分析的方法,对沙漠边缘表层沉积物的粒度和微形态进行分析。结果表明：（1）巴丹吉林沙漠边缘地区整体以细沙为主,中沙与极细沙次之;从局部上看,东南部以中沙为主,北部以粉沙黏土为主,西部地区以粗沙和极粗沙为主,与主导风向（西风和西北风）的分选作用一致。（2）北部和南部分别受河流和山脉影响,平均粒径较小,其余地区无明显差异。分选性在东南部最佳。粒度参数关系表明分选性在南部地区随着粒径变小而变好,偏度值随粒径变小而降低,峰度值随粒径变小而变宽,而在其他地区并没有明显的规律。（3）石英沙颗粒形态多为长形和圆形。整体磨圆度适中,其中西北部磨圆度最好,西南部和南部磨圆度最差。表面特征标志以干旱风成环境下的机械沉积作用的坑状为主,西北和东南部出现大量硅质球和硅质鳞片表明除机械沉积作用外,还具备化学沉积作用。     

Driving forces responsible for aeolian desertification in the source region of the Yangtze River from 1975 to 2005

The Yangtze River is the China’s longest river and the third-longest river in the world. The river’s source region in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is especially sensitive to global environmental change because of its high elevation and cold environment. Under the influence of global warming, aeolian desertified land has expanded rapidly in this area. To assess the trends in aeolian desertification from 1975 to 2005, remote-sensing and GIS technology were used to monitor the extent of aeolian desertification in 1975, 1990, 2000, and 2005. The data sources included Landsat multi-spectral scanner images acquired in 1975, Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) images acquired in 2000, and Thematic Mapper (TM) images acquired in 1990 and 2005. Images recorded between June and October were selected, when vegetation grew well, because aeolian desertified land was more easily recognized during this period. Thematic maps, including land use and geomorphologic maps, were used as supplementary data. Aeolian desertification maps (1:100000) were produced for each year from the Landsat images through visual interpretation. The area of aeolian desertified land increased by 2,678.43 km² from 1975 to 2005, accounting for 8.8% of the total area of aeolian desertified land in 1975, an increase of 89.28 km² a⁻¹. Increasing mean annual temperature and the combination of a dry, cold, and windy climate in winter and spring were mainly responsible for the expansion of desertified land.     

Study of the windbreak effect of shrubs as a function of shrub cover and height

In sand-control engineering, it is difficult to predict the optimal shrub cover, and to determine the relationship between this shrub cover and shrub height. Based on analysis of the physical mechanisms responsible for wind erosion (specifically, the increase in the threshold friction velocity required to entrain particles), a model was developed for the optimal shrub cover to control wind erosion and the optimal configuration that combines the best shrub cover and height. The value of a shrub plantation for counteracting erosion increases with increasing shrub cover and height, but is more sensitive to shrub cover. The friction wind velocity increases with increasing shrub cover and height. The optimal shrub cover was 60–65%, which confirms the results of previous Chinese field research.