Tracking embodied carbon flows in the Belt and Road regions

In the past few decades, economic globalization has driven rapid growth of cross-border trade and a new international division of labor, leading to increasing inter- country embodied carbon flows. Multi-region input-output (MRIO) analysis is used to identify embodied carbon flows between major world regions, including seven regions along the Belt and Road (BR), and the spatial distribution of production- and consumption-based carbon intensities. The results show that current embodied carbon flows are virtually all from BR regions to developed countries, with more than 95% of world net embodied carbon exports coming from BR regions. Consumption in the United States and European Union countries induce about 30% of the carbon emissions in most BR regions, indicating that the former bear a high proportion of consumers’ responsibility for the carbon emitted in the latter. For this reason, measuring environmental responsibilities from consumption rather than a production- based perspective is more equitable, while developing countries should be given a louder voice in the construction through dialogue and cooperation, in part in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, of an inclusive global climate governance system.     

Primary investigation of statistical correlation between changes in ice volume and area of glaciers

This study makes an attempt to investigate through statistical analysis the correlation between changes in ice volume and area of glaciers. Using data from nine sample glaciers in the Tian Shan, the results show that a linear relation exists between changes in ice volume and area, with a correlation coefficient of 0.700. However, the accuracy estimation is difficult due to the limited number of samples. The correlation was not improved after adding eleven glacier samples in other mountains. Two reference glaciers are then analyzed in more detail. The linear correlation coefficient is higher than 0.800 when using the observed changes in ice volume and area during different periods on Urumqi Glacier No. 1, which suggests that the linear relation is valid for one glacier for different periods if its shape does not change noticeably and also for other glaciers of the same shape during the same period. The relation between changes in ice volume and area of Qingbingtan Glacier No. 72 is different during different periods due to change in the shape of the glacier tongue and the influence of the debris cover. Moreover, errors in glacier-change monitoring and-volume estimation have an important influence on the correlation results. Therefore, further study needs to focus not only on the distinction between glacier types and between different periods but also on the accuracy of volume estimation.     

A discrete global grid system for earth system modeling

To support Earth system modeling, we propose a discrete global grid system that expresses multi-resolution spatial data. Specifically, a unified coding model that expresses a grid of nodes, edges, and cells is constructed for a triangular discrete global grid system. To fulfill the requirements of practical applications, we design a code-based topological query method for this grid system and an algorithm to transform between grid codes and geographic coordinates. We evaluate the Global Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (Global-FVCOM) on the triangular discrete global grid system in the proposed uniform coding model. The ocean tidal waves simulated by the Global-FVCOM running on the coded grid are then compared with results obtained using a traditional irregular spherical grid system, and the results display comparable accuracy. The uniform coding model proposed in this paper provides a triangular discrete global grid system that can represent multi-resolution spatial data and can be used in Earth system models. This unified coding model can also be applied to the geographic coordinate system made up of latitudes and longitudes, as well as diamond and hexagonal grids.     

Synchronising geometric representations for map mashups using relative positioning and Linked Data

Map mashups, as a common way of presenting geospatial information on the Web, are generally created by spatially overlaying thematic information on top of various base maps. This simple overlay approach often raises geometric deficiencies due to geometric uncertainties in the data. This issue is particularly apparent in a multi-scale context because the thematic data seldom have synchronised level of detail with the base map. In this study, we propose, develop, implement and evaluate a relative positioning approach based on shared geometries and relative coordinates to synchronise geometric representations for map mashups through several scales. To realise the relative positioning between datasets, we adopt a Linked Data–based technical framework in which the data are organised according to ontologies that are designed based on the GeoSPARQL vocabulary. A prototype system is developed to demonstrate the feasibility and usability of the relative positioning approach. The results show that the approach synchronises and integrates the geometries of thematic data and the base map effectively, and the thematic data are automatically tailored for multi-scale visualisation. The proposed framework can be used as a new way of modelling geospatial data on the Web, with merits in terms of both data visualisation and querying.     

Capacity of soil loss control in the Loess Plateau based on soil erosion control degree

The capacity of soil and water conservation measures, defined as the maximum quantity of suitable soil and water conservation measures contained in a region, were determined for the Loess Plateau based on zones suitable for establishing terraced fields, forestland and grassland with the support of geographic information system (GIS) software. The minimum possible soil erosion modulus and actual soil erosion modulus in 2010 were calculated using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE), and the ratio of the minimum possible soil erosion modulus under the capacity of soil and water conservation measures to the actual soil erosion modulus was defined as the soil erosion control degree. The control potential of soil erosion and water loss in the Loess Plateau was studied using this concept. Results showed that the actual soil erosion modulus was 3355 t?km^-2?a^-1, the minimum possible soil erosion modulus was 1921 t?km^-2?a^-1, and the soil erosion control degree was 0.57 (medium level) in the Loess Plateau in 2010. In terms of zoning, the control degree was relatively high in the river valley-plain area, soil-rocky mountainous area, and windy-sandy area, but relatively low in the soil-rocky hilly-forested area, hilly-gully area and plateau-gully area. The rate of erosion areas with a soil erosion modulus of less than 1000 t?km^-2?a^-1 increased from 50.48% to 57.71%, forest and grass coverage rose from 56.74% to 69.15%, rate of terraced fields increased from 4.36% to 19.03%, and per capita grain available rose from 418 kg?a^-1 to 459 kg?a^-1 under the capacity of soil and water conservation measures compared with actual conditions. These research results are of some guiding significance for soil and water loss control in the Loess Plateau.     

民勤绿洲-荒漠过渡带典型固沙植物生殖物候对气候变化的响应

通过对民勤绿洲-荒漠过渡带典型固沙植物多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)、梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)、白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)1974-2009年开花及结实物候的观测,结合同步观测的气象资料,分析了3种植物生殖物候特征对气候变化的响应规律。结果表明:(1)研究区年平均气温、年平均空气相对湿度呈增加趋势; 年降雨量波动,变幅不大; 20世纪90年代以来蒸发量呈显著下降趋势。(2)3种植物始花期提前,花期延长; 3种植物结实始期先延迟后缩短,结实期延长; (3)3种植物生殖物候与年降雨量、气温、空气相对湿度及前期累计降雨量、累计平均气温、累计空气相对湿度之间的相关性不一致; (4)3种植物始花期与前期累计降雨量、累计平均气温、累计空气相对湿度的相关性总体上表现为大于年降雨量、年均气温、年均空气相对湿度的相关性; 除空气平均相对湿度对结实始期影响大于前期累计降雨量、累计平均气温和累计空气相对湿度外,其他与开花物候相似,表明植物开花物候和结实物候与前期气象因子有着密切的关系,尤其是物候发生前期累计气象指标。     

基于PPT战略的广东省乐昌市生态旅游扶贫模式探讨

以贫困人口受益为出发点,基于有利于贫困人口发展的旅游(Pro-Poor Tourism,PPT)战略,以广东省乐昌市为例,开展适用于中国南方林区生态旅游扶贫开发的发展模式和旅游扶贫产业的发展路径研究.结果表明:1)政府部门、旅游企业、乡村社区和非营利社会组织都应在提升贫困人口参与度、减轻贫困和生态保护方面承担责任,具体...     

由“撤县建区”引起对中国城市郊区化的思考

江苏省最近一轮的城镇体系规划中提出的“撤县建区”方案,这一方案引起了笔者对有中国郊区化的思考。在本文中作者主要阐述了四个方面的内容,首先指出中国的大城市已经进入了郊区化阶段;其次将中外郊区化进行了系统比较;接着论述了郊区化的利与弊,最后,在前文基础上,提出了走中国特色的城市郊区化道路需采取的一系列措施。     

低山丘陵区土地利用方式对土壤质量的影响—以河北省遵化市为例

通过调查河北省遵化市低山丘陵区油松林、板栗、草地和坡耕地等典型土地利用方式对土壤养分和土壤容重的影响，土地取样取土壤表层0-20cm，结果表明，森林的砍伐以及随后的耕种显著增加了土壤容重并降低了大部分土壤养分。和林地相比，草地、当年开垦的农地、板栗和耕种3年的农地容重分别增加了13.3%，14.2%,27.5%,39.7%。除全磷外，板栗和耕种3年的农地土壤养分有显著下降，和林地相比，板栗有机质减少了60.7%，全氮减少了35.6%，全钾减少了21.3%，速效钾减少了57%；耕种3年的农地土壤有机质、全氮、全钾和速效钾则分别减少了62.9%,52.6%,31%和60%。土壤退化指数的计算结果表明板栗和耕种3年的农地土壤发生了较为严重的退化。     

乌梁素海湿地环境演变

The environment evolution of Wuliangsuhai wetland since 1986 is analyzed based on the remote sensing principle. The total water area of Wuliangsuhai lake has been increased during the past 17 years. The open water area had an increasing trend before 1987, and the trend was decreasing up to 1996, then the trend has increased again since 2000; the variation of the water area with dense aquatic weed is basically contradictory to the variation of open water area. The natural reed area had been decreased before 1987, and then it has been increased. The areas of shallow water and swamp have been slightly increased, in fact, the variations are quite steady. The artificial reed area has been increased since the reed plantation was started in 1988. The relationships of the water environment, the climate, hydrology and different types of areas are discussed, and then the technological measures for sustainable development and utilization of Wuliangsuhai lake water environment are proposed.