Impact of Climate Change on Maize Potential Productivity and the Potential Productivity Gap in Southwest China

The impact of climate change on maize potential productivity and the potential productivity gap in Southwest China(SWC) are investigated in this paper.We analyze the impact of climate change on the photosynthetic,light-temperature,and climatic potential productivity of maize and their gaps in SWC,by using a crop growth dynamics statistical method.During the maize growing season from 1961 to 2010,minimum temperature increased by 0.20℃ per decade(p 0.01) across SWC.The largest increases in average and minimum temperatures were observed mostly in areas of Yunnan Province.Growing season average sunshine hours decreased by 0.2 h day~(-1) per decade(p 0.01) and total precipitation showed an insignificant decreasing trend across SWC.Photosynthetic potential productivity decreased by 298 kg ha~(-1)per decade(p 0.05).Both light-temperature and climatic potential productivity decreased(p 0.05) in the northeast of SWC,whereas they increased(p 0.05) in the southwest of SWC.The gap between lighttemperature and climatic potential productivity varied from 12 to 2729 kg ha~(-1),with the high value areas centered in northern and southwestern SWC.Climatic productivity of these areas reached only 10%-24%of the light-temperature potential productivity,suggesting that there is great potential to increase the maize potential yield by improving water management in these areas.In particular,the gap has become larger in the most recent 10 years.Sensitivity analysis shows that the climatic potential productivity of maize is most sensitive to changes in temperature in SWC.The findings of this study are helpful for quantification of irrigation water requirements so as to achieve maximum yield potentials in SWC.     

Evaluation of CMIP5 Earth System Models in Reproducing Leaf Area Index and Vegetation Cover over the Tibetan Plateau

The abilities of 12 earth system models (ESMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase5 (CMIP5) to reproduce satellite-derived vegetation biological variables over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) were examined. The results show that most of the models tend to overestimate the observed leaf area index (LAI) and vegetation carbon above the ground, with the possible reasons being overestimation of photosynthesis and precipitation. The model simulations show a consistent increasing trend with observed LAI over most of the TP during the reference period of 1986-2005, while they fail to reproduce the downward trend around the headstream of the Yellow River shown in the observation due to their coarse resolutions. Three of the models: CCSM4, CESM1-BGC, and NorESM1-ME, which share the same vegetation model, show some common strengths and weaknesses in their simulations according to our analysis. The model ensemble indicates a reasonable spatial distribution but overestimated land coverage, with a significant decreasing trend (-1.48% per decade) for tree coverage and a slight increasing trend (0.58% per decade) for bare ground during the period 1950-2005. No significant sign of variation is found for grass. To quantify the relative performance of the models in representing the observed mean state, seasonal cycle, and interannual variability, a model ranking method was performed with respect to simulated LAI. INMCM4, bcc-csm-1.1m, MPI-ESM-LR, IPSL CM5A-LR, HadGEM2-ES, and CCSM4 were ranked as the best six models in reproducing vegetation dynamics among the 12 models.     

China's Recent Progresses in Polar Climate Change and Its Interactions with the Global Climate System

During the recent four decades since 1980, a series of modern climate satellites were launched, allowing for the measurement and record-keeping of multiple climate parameters, especially over the polar regions where traditional observations are difficult to obtain. China has been actively engaging in polar expeditions. Many observations were conducted during this period, accompanied by improved Earth climate models, leading to a series of insightful understandings concerning Arctic and Antarctic...     

Opportunities to search for extraterrestrial intelligence with the FAST

The discovery of ubiquitous habitable extrasolar planets,combined with revolutionary advances in instrumentation and observational capabilities,has ushered in a renaissance in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence(SETI).Large scale SETI activities are now underway at numerous international facilities.The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope(FAST)is the largest single-aperture radio telescope in the world,and is well positioned to conduct sensitive searches for radio emission indicative of exo-intelligence.SETI is one of the five key science goals specified in the original FAST project plan.A collaboration with the Breakthrough Listen Initiative was initiated in 2016 with a joint statement signed both by Dr.Jun Yan,the then director of National Astronomical Observatories,Chinese Academy of Sciences(NAOC),and Dr.Peter Worden,Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation.In this paper,we highlight some of the unique features of FAST that will allow for novel SETI observations.We identify and describe three different signal types indicative of a technological source,namely,narrow band,wide-band artificially dispersed and modulated signals.Here,we propose observations with FAST to achieve sensitivities never before explored.For nearby exoplanets,such as TESS targets,FAST will be sensitive to an EIRP of 1.9×1011 W,well within the reach of current human technology.For the Andromeda Galaxy,FAST will be able to detect any Kardashev type II or more advanced civilization there.     

Characteristics of Authigenic Pyrite and its Sulfur Isotopes Influenced by Methane Seep—Taking the Core A at Site 79 of the Middle Okinawa Trough as an Example

<正>Objective Authigenic pyrite often develops extensively in marine sediments,which is an important product of sulfate reduction in an anoxic environment.It has a specific appearance and complicated sulfur isotopic properties,and acts as important evidence of methane seep in marine sediments.Strong AOM(anaerobic oxidation of methane)     

A New Potential Caledonian–Indosinian Ore Concentration Area: Evidence from Diagenesis and Mineralization Ages of the Miao'ershan–Yuechengling Region

<正>Objective The Miao’ershan–Yuechengling composite granite,located in northern Guangxi at the western section of the Nanling Range,is a multi-period and multi-stage composite pluton with an exposed area of more than 3000km2(Fig.1).Paleozoic and Proterozoic strata are exposed around it,and magmatic activities mainly occurred during     

Magma Mixing of the Late Paleozoic Tayuan Complex in the Xing’an Block

Mesozoic ophiolites crop out discontinuously in the Indo‐Myanmar Ranges in NE India and Myanmar, and represent the remnants of the Neotethyan oceanic lithosphere. These ophiolites in the Indo‐Myanmar Ranges are the southern continuation of the Neotethyan ophiolites occurring along the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone in southern Tibet farther northwes, as indicated by their coeval crystallization ages and geochemical compositions. The Kalaymyo ophiolite is located in the central part of the Indo‐Myanmar Ranges (Myanmar). The Kalaymyo ophiolite are composed of olivine (Fo = 89.8–90.5), orthopyroxene (En86‐91Wo1‐4Fs8‐10; Mg#=89.6–91.9), clinopyroxene (En46‐49Wo47‐50Fs3‐5; Mg# = 90.9–93.6) and spinel (Mg# = 67.1–78.9; Cr# = 13.5–31.5), and have relatively homogeneous whole‐rock compositions with Mg# of 90.1–90.8 and SiO2 (41.5–43.65 wt.%), Al₂O₃ (1.66–2.66 wt.%) and CaO (1.45–2.67 wt.%) contents. They display Light Rare Earth Element (LREE)‐depleted chondrite‐normalized REE patterns and show a slight enrichment from Pr to La. The Kalaymyo peridotites are characterized by Pd‐enriched chondrite‐normalized PGE patterns with superchondritic (Pd/Ir)_CN ratios (1.15–2.36). Their calculated oxygen fugacities range between QFM–0.57 and QFM+0.90. These features collectively suggest that the Kalaymyo peridotites represent residual upper mantle rocks after low to moderate degrees (5–15%) of partial melting at a mid‐ocean‐ridge environment. The observed enrichment in LREE and Pd was a result of their reactions with enriched MORB‐like melts, percolating through these already depleted, residual peridotites. The Kalaymyo and other ophiolites in the Indo‐Myanmar Ranges hence represent mid‐ocean ridge–type Tethyan oceanic lithosphere derived from a downgoing plate and accreted into a westward migrating subduction–accretion system along the eastern margin of India.     

Oxidative stress in the mussel Mytella guyanensis from polluted mangroves on Santa Catarina Island,Brazil

Digestive glands of the mangrove mussel Mytella guyanensis, collected at one non-polluted site (site 1) and two polluted sites (sites 2 and 3), were analysed for different antioxidant defenses, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine levels were enhanced at the polluted sites. With the exception of superoxide dismutase, the activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase were also higher at the polluted sites. Greater increases were observed in glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase and etoxyresorufine-O-deethylase activities at the polluted sites. Conversely, reduced glutathione content was higher at the control site. Trace metal contents in mussels collected at polluted sites were increased compared to the control site, and there were strong positive correlations between TBARS and Cu and Pb contents. M. guyanensis is routinely exposed to an oxidative stress condition at both polluted sites, and considering xenobiotic bioaccumulation in bivalve molluscs, the mangrove mussel represents an excellent bioindicator for environmental monitoring studies.