Climatic and geographic factors affect ecosystem multifunctionality through biodiversity in the Tibetan alpine grasslands

Ecosystem multifunctionality(EMF), the simultaneous provision of multiple ecosystem functions, is often affected by biodiversity and environmental factors. We know little about how the interactions between biodiversity and environmental factors affect EMF. In this case study, a structural equation model was used to clarify climatic and geographic pathways that affect EMF by varying biodiversity in the Tibetan alpine grasslands. In addition to services related to carbon, nitrogen, and water cycling, forage supply, which is related to plantproductivity and palatability, was included in the EMF index. The results showed that 72% of the variation in EMF could be explained by biodiversity and other environmental factors. The ratio of palatable richness to all species richness explained 8.3% of the EMF variation. We found that air temperature, elevation, and latitude all affected EMF, but in different ways. Air temperature and elevation impacted the aboveground parts of the ecosystem, which included plant height, aboveground biomass, richness of palatable species, and ratio of palatable richness to all species richness. Latitude affected EMF by varying both aboveground and belowground parts of the ecosystem, which included palatable speciesrichness and belowground biomass. Our results indicated that there are still uncertainties in the biodiversity–EMF relationships related to the variable components of EMF, and climatic and geographic factors. Clarification of pathways that affect EMF using structural equation modeling techniques could elucidate the mechanisms by which environmental changes affect EMF.     

Understanding the implications of the EU-LULUCF regulation for the wood supply from EU forests to the EU

Background

In June 2018, the European Parliament and Council of the European Union adopted a legislative regulation for incorporating greenhouse gas emissions and removals from Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (EU-LULUCF) under its 2030 Climate and Energy Framework. The LULUCF regulation aim to incentivise EU Member States to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and increase removals in the LULUCF sector. The regulation, however, does not set a target for increasing the LULUCF carbon sink, but rather includes a ‘no net debit’ target for LULUCF (Forests and Agricultural soils). For Managed Forest Land (MFL) an accounting framework with capped credits for additional mitigation against a set forest reference level (FRL) was agreed for 2021–2030. The FRL gives the projected future carbon sink in the two compliance periods 2021–2025 and 2026–2030 under “continuation of forest management practices as they were in the reference period 2000–2009”. This FRL was disputed by some Member States as it was perceived to put a limit on their future wood harvesting from MFL. Here we simulated with the EFISCEN European forest model the “continuation of forest management practices” and determined the corresponding wood harvest for 26 EU countries under progressing age classes.

Results

The simulations showed that under “continuation of forest management practices” the harvest (wood removals) in the 26 EU countries as a whole can increase from 420 million m³/year in 2000–2009 to 560 million m³/year in 2050 due to progressing age classes. This implies there is a possibility to increase absolute wood harvests without creating debits compared to the forest reference level. However, the manner in which ‘continuation of forest management’ developed with a progressing age class development over time, meant that in some countries the future harvesting exceeded 90% of the increment. Since this generally is considered to be unsustainable we additionally set a harvesting cut-off as max 90% of increment to be harvested for each individual country as a possible interpretation of sustainability criteria that are included in the regulation. Using this additional limit the projected harvest will only increase to 493 million m³/year.

Conclusions

The worry from Member States (MS) that the FRL will prevent any additional harvesting seems unwarranted. Due to differences between Member States concerning the state of their forest resources, the FRL as a baseline for harvesting works out very differently for the different Member States. The FRL may have other unforeseen consequences which we discuss. Under all scenarios the living forest biomass sink shows a decline. This can be counteracted through incentivising measures under Climate Smart Forestry.

     

Massive sedimentation of fine sediment with organic matter and enhanced benthic-pelagic coupling by an artificial dyke in semi-enclosed Chonsu Bay, Korea

To assess the impact of an artificial dyke in Chonsu Bay (CBD) on the organic carbon (C(org)) cycle, we measured excess (210)Pb activities, C(org) and nitrogen content in sediment cores. The C(org) oxidation rates (C(ox)) on the surface sediment and benthic nutrient fluxes were also quantified with an in situ benthic chamber. The higher excess (210)Pb inventory, C(org) and nitrogen in cores near the CBD indicated lateral transport and local, massive deposition of particulate matter due to tidal circulation altered by artificial dyke construction. The C(ox) in sediment near the CBD was about twice as high as that out of the bay, suggesting the importance of benthic remineralization of organic matter. The benthic fluxes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate were four to six times higher than those outside the bay, corresponding to 141% and 131% respectively, of the requirements for primary production.     

Analysis of spatial clustering optimization

Spatial clustering is widely used in many fields such as WSN (Wireless Sensor Networks), web clustering, remote sensing and so on for discovery groups and to identify interesting distributions in the underlying database. By discussing the relationships between the optimal clustering and the initial seeds, a clustering validity index and the principle of seeking initial seeds were proposed, and on this principle we recommend an initial seed-seeking strategy: SSPG (Single-Shortest-Path Graph). With SSPG strategy used in clustering algorithms, we find that the result of clustering is optimized with more probability. At the end of the paper, according to the combinational theory of optimization, a method is proposed to obtain optimal reference k value of cluster number, and is proven to be efficient.     

Automated mapping of rock slope geometry,kinematics and stability with RSS-GIS

A GIS-implemented, deterministic approach for the automated spatial evaluation of geometrical and kinematical properties of rock slope terrains is presented. Based on spatially distributed directional information on planar geological fabrics and DEM-derived topographic attribute data, the internal geometry of rock slopes can be characterized on a grid cell basis. For such computations, different approaches for the analysis and regionalization of available structural directional information applicable in specific tectonic settings are demonstrated and implemented in a GIS environment. Simple kinematical testing procedures based on feasibility criteria can be conducted on a pixel basis to determine which failure mechanisms are likely to occur at particular terrain locations. In combination with hydraulic and strength data on geological discontinuities, scenario-based rock slope stability evaluations can be performed. For conceptual investigations on rock slope failure processes, a GIS-based specification tool for a 2-D distinct element code (UDEC) was designed to operate with the GIS-encoded spatially distributed rock slope data. The concepts of the proposed methodology for rock slope hazard assessments are demonstrated at three different test sites in Germany.     

小波分析若干应用模型及在测绘中的应用和展望＊

小波分析是８０年代中期发展起来的应用数学理论,在众多学科领域取得了广泛的应用。文中首先对小波分析的发展作了简要概述,然后介绍了小波分析在测绘中的应用,对小波分析若干与测绘相关的应用模型进行了分析和讨论,并对小波分析在测绘中的应用前景作了展望。     

大比例尺卫片在土地利用动态变化监测中的应用——以黑龙江省阿城监测区为例

以黑龙江省阿城市为监测试验区,采用1:5万的TM假彩色合成图像,对该市土地利用现状进行解译调查,并与历史资料比较,对该市土地利用动态变化情况进行监测,同时对这种方法的可行性和该市地类变化情况以及监测结果进行了分析。     

模式识别在手腕骨自动识别中的应用研究

手腕骨自动识别是实现骨龄评定自动化的关键。以数字化仪采集数据为基础,研究了模式识别与模糊数学在手腕骨自动识别中的应用理论和方法。实验证明,模式识别的应用是成功的。     

联合时变重力数据与测高数据反演全球海平面变化及其分量贡献

理解全球海平面变化具有十分重要的意义,它间接反映了地球系统中气候性相关因素的变化。本文基于一组海平面指纹和比容经验正交函数,联合时变重力数据和卫星测高数据反演了2002年4月至2020年2月的全球海平面变化,将全球海平面变化分解成南极冰盖融化、格陵兰冰盖融化、陆地冰川融化、陆地水储量变化、冰川均衡调整和海水比容效应这6个分量的贡献。联合反演结果显示,全球平均比容海平面变化为1.08±0.05 mm/a,与相关文献的结果相吻合。研究发现,联合测高数据和时变重力数据的反演方法能够一定程度上减弱GRACE Follow-On卫星时期海水质量变化被低估的现象。本文利用联合反演的结果研究了区域海平面变化,在大部分近海区域反演效果较好,这表明该方法可用于区域海平面变化的研究。