The progress on remote sensing technology in identifying tropical forest degradation: a synthesis of the present knowledge and future perspectives

Since the launch of the first satellite in 1972, ecologists have been equipped with new tools to address the degradation of tropical forests, previously limited by field-based methods. This article is a review of the state of remote sensing technology in characterizing the degradation of tropical forest. The factors responsible for the structural and functional degradation of the tropical forest and its likely impacts are described in view of generating remote sensing based inputs. In order to assess the degradation and utility of geo-informatics tools, 32 parameters are identified. The research developments at different levels of information extraction from the historic to recent periods are elaborated, and future challenges are predicted. The article concludes that an additional momentum of research is required to answer many unresolved questions of tropical forest degradation.     

Study on projection of water resources of Dongting Lake catchment based on emission scenarios assumptions

ABSTRACT

With global climate change and impacts of human activity, the water cycle, which has a close relationship with local water resources, has changed rapidly. Based on different greenhouse gas emission scenarios, five relatively independent global climate models are selected from 47 CMIP5 models to simulate future climatic conditions. Data are downscaled to the local projection, with bias neutralized before applying them to the hydrological models, by which availability of future water resources are calculated for the Dongting Lake basin. The results show that the water resources of the Dongting Lake basin are likely to increase in the future, but be distributed more unevenly. All scenarios indicate that water availability will increase during the flood season and decrease during the dry season, with a prominent increase in annual discharge. The scenarios also predict that the greater the greenhouse gas emissions, the more uneven the water distribution becomes. Overall, the water resources of the Dongting Lake catchment show the same increasing and unevenly distributed trend in the future, which could be further accelerated by human activities.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor Q. Zhang     

Memories of Fire: Eduardo Galeano and the Geography of Guatemala

In Memory of Fire, a poetic narration of the history of the Americas from pre-Columbian times to the late 20th century, Eduardo Galeano furnishes readers with over 1200 of his trademark vignettes, some 35 of which pertain to Guatemala. Galeano evokes disparate aspects of the geography of Guatemala, past and present, in grounded miniatures of time, place, and episode. His sketches of the experiences of Maya peoples allow us to see them as survivors of three cycles of conquest: (1) conquest by imperial Spain; (2) conquest by local and international capitalism; and (3) conquest by state terror. Composed in the literary mode of creative non-fiction, Memory of Fire serves as an inspirational classroom text, exposing students not only to factual detail but also a powerful artistic imagination.     

地质调查信息化建设成果及思路

一、地质调查信息化建设工作概况地质调查信息化建设是新一轮国土资源大调查中数字国土工程的重要组成部分。六年来,总计安排工作项目141项,投入工作经费24330万元。在国土资源部的正确领导下,地质调查信息化建设工作,按照“一条主线,两个支撑,一个目标”的建设思路,在扎实地逐步推进。     

Advances in the Research of Impact of Decadal Solar Cycle on Modern Climate

Role of solar activity on modern climate change, particularly in the decadal scale is an important scientific issue. This paper reviews the recent observation of decadal solar signal in earth’s climate, with focus on the mechanism of solar radiation, ultraviolet radiation and cosmic rays on climate system ,and its validation. The paper points out that the assessment of uncertainty in observations, amplification process of the climate system, as well as possible future impact of solar extreme events are challenges in the present study. Finally, the keys of breakthrough are pointed, to provide a reference for future research.     

四川盆地及周缘五峰组-龙马溪组钾质斑脱岩特征及其地质意义

四川盆地及周缘五峰组-龙马溪组黑色页岩地层中斑脱岩广泛分布,蕴含着丰富的地球化学信息。开展相关矿物学（XRD）、主量元素（XRF）,以及微量元素（ICP-MS）等分析,结合野外露头观察,对四川盆地及周缘五峰组-龙马溪组黑色页岩地层中斑脱岩进行了分析。研究结果表明：1）斑脱岩主要由伊利石、斜长石、石英等矿物组成;2）主量元素以SiO₂、Al₂O₃、Fe₂O₃、K₂O 为主,其中K₂O/Na₂O介于15.54～270之间;3）微量元素富集Th、U、Pb、Zr、Hf、Ta等高场强元素（HFSE）和Rb、Cs、Ba等大离子亲石元素,亏损La、Ce、Sr、Sm、Eu等元素;4）稀土元素∑REE介于19.58×10^-6～383.88×10^-6之间,平均值为105.43×10^-6,LREE/ HREE介于0.74～12.67之间,平均值为3.93,总体表现为轻稀土（LREE）富集,而重稀土（HREE）亏损,轻、重稀土元素分异明显,Eu表现出一定的负异常,而Ce未出现明显异常。综合分析认为：1）四川盆地及周缘五峰组-龙马溪组斑脱岩具有高钾低钠的特点,与钾质斑脱岩特征相符,且五峰组与龙马溪组斑脱岩特征相似,火山灰物质来源相近;2）原岩构造环境主要为岛弧环境,同时也存在板内环境,火山灰主要来源于北部秦岭地区;3）火山灰可以提高海洋表层初级生产力,为优质页岩有机质形成提供物质基础。     

厦门同安西柯对虾养殖池的细菌数量动态

本文研究了对虾养成期间养殖池生态系中细菌的数量动态,探讨其变化规律与虾病的关系。结果表明,总细菌、弧菌和发光细菌在水体、底质和虾体中的数量变化各异。在水体各菌数与其环境因子的关系中,除了总菌数与COD存在着正相关外,其它的不存在相关性。虾体的总细菌、弧菌和发光细菌的数量（以细胞计）可以用来预报虾病,三者的阅值分别为107个　／g（湿重）、105个／g（湿重）和104介／g（湿重）。通过对对虾的细菌学跟踪监测,可以及时采取有效的应急防治措施。     

Kuroshio extension variability explored through assimilation of TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data into a quasi-geostrophic model

Mesoscale features in the eastward extension of the Kuroshio were investigated using assimilation of TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) data into a three-layer quasi-geostrophic model. The T/P data exhibited an elongated state of the southern recirculation gyre in 1993–95 and 1997, between whose two periods the gyre had a contracted state in 1995–96. A few stationary eddies were located in the southern gyre during the contracted state. The baroclinic instability, which was indicated by the phase shift from the uppermost-to the lowest-layer anomalies toward the downstream side, was evident near the Kuroshio Extension (KE) path. Since the instability never appeared in the artificial model without bottom topography, the topographic barrier for the eastward flow in the lowest layer was a necessary condition for the instability. The instability synchronized with the transition in the western region of the KE axis from the elongated to the contracted states. This evolution was interpreted as if the baroclinic instability played some part in the KE states and was a trigger for the transition from the elongated to the contracted states.     

Investigation of Cycle Time Segments of Dragline Operation in Surface Coal Mine: A Statistical Approach

Dragline is highly capital intensive equipment to procure, operate and maintain in any surface mining operation. Given this, every second of operation of this capital intensive equipment is absolutely important. Improvement of even a single second in the total cycle time has a tremendous bearing on the overall performance of this equipment. In this light, the present paper is an endeavour to critically analyze the cycle time of dragline operations in a major surface coal mine in India. Rigorous statistical analysis has been performed on individual cycle time segments, of complete dragline cycle. The segmental cycle times have been found to be statistically significant and appear to be best represented by lognormal, normal and beta distributions. Furthermore, the mean time of the statistical distribution for segmental cycle time of dragline has revealed the dependence of cycle time on cut geometry and depth. Results have been illustrated in the form of figures, graphs and tables.