Regionale Meeresschutzkooperation und die EU-Gratwanderung der Helsinki-Kommission imOsterweiterungsprozess der EU

Ocean Dynamics - Der Vortrag bezweckt, die Rolle der regionalen Meeresschutzkooperationen im Gefüge der internationalen Zusammenarbeit zu beschreiben; es soll nachgewiesen werden, dass die...     

Tree Species Composition in European Pristine Forests: Comparison of Stand Data to Model Predictions

The degree of general applicability across Europe currently achieved with several forest succession models is assessed, data needs and steps for further model development are identified and the role physiology based models can play in this process is evaluated. To this end, six forest succession models (DISCFORM, ForClim, FORSKA-M, GUESS, PICUS v1.2, SIERRA) are applied to simulate stand structure and species composition at 5 European pristine forest sites in different climatic regions. The models are initialized with site-specific soil information and driven with climate data from nearby weather stations. Predicted species composition and stand structure are compared to inventory data. Similarity and dissimilarity in the model results under current climatic conditions as well as the predicted responses to six climate change scenarios are discussed. All models produce good results in the prediction of the right tree functional types. In about half the cases, the dominating species are predicted correctly under the current climate. Where deviations occur, they often represent a shift of the species spectrum towards more drought tolerant species. Results for climate change scenarios indicate temperature driven changes in the alpine elevational vegetation belts at humid sites and a high sensitivity of forest composition and biomass of boreal and temperate deciduous forests to changes in precipitation as mediated by summer drought. Restricted generality of the models is found insofar as models originally developed for alpine conditions clearly perform better at alpine sites than at boreal sites, and vice versa. We conclude that both the models and the input data need to be improved before the models can be used for a robust evaluation of forest dynamics under climate change scenarios across Europe. Recommendations for model improvements, further model testing and the use of physiology based succession models are made.     

Effect of N content and soil texture on the decomposition of organic matter in forest soils as revealed by solid-state CPMAS NMR spectroscopy

N has a controlling effect on litter biodegradation in the forest floor, while stabilization of organic matter in the mineral soil may be influenced by physical parameters related to soil texture. In this study, in order to understand the processes involved in soil organic matter (SOM) formation, the chemical composition of SOM was followed and evaluated with regards to N contents and soil texture. Samples were taken on sites covered with Norway spruce and displaying contrasting values of C/N ratios in the forest floor. The chemical structure of OM was characterized using solid-state CPMAS ¹³C and ¹⁵N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, along with Proton Spin Relaxation Editing (PSRE) sequences. Four groups of sampling sites were defined based on the NMR spectra of Oh and A horizons. In each group displaying similar NMR characteristics, N content and soil texture could be highly different among sites. Some Oh horizons with similar NMR spectra had very different N contents. Highly humified OM in Oh horizons were observed mainly on sites with low N contents. Some A horizons with different soil texture displayed similar OM chemical structure. High contents of O-alkyl C in some A horizons could originate from higher fresh root material input.     

Whose neighbourhood is it? Ethnic diversity in urban spaces in Germany

This article focuses on the reciprocal effects that exist between the physical environment and the social interactions between ethno-cultural groups in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Biographical narrative interviews and mental map analyses were carried out with German and Turkish residents in two disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Germany to define the resident's own experience of their physical surroundings.The findings of the research verify that the changes in the environment were not only physical and structural changes: they also led to changing identities having a symbolic meaning for the established German residents. As the Turkish residents work to create a sense of identity, the established residents view these changes more as a threat than as an enrichment. They do not so much feel threatened by the cultural differences between the groups, but they sense that their own `old-time' German socio-cultural position could be affected by the establishment of Turkisch residences and institutions in `their' neighbourhood. The empirical research revealed differences in the ethno-cultural perceptions between Duisburgh-Marxloh where there is a pronounced small-scale segregation between the groups, whereas there is a small-scale mix of different ethnic groups even at the block level in the other area investigated in Wuppertal-Osterbaum. Although both areas have a high percentage of ethnic minorities the small-scale mix in Wuppertal-Ostersbaum seems to have prevented a polarisation in the population.     

Temporal and spatial trends of precipitation and river flow in the Yangtze River Basin, 1961–2000

The suspected impact of climate warming on precipitation distribution is examined in the Yangtze River Basin. Daily precipitation data for 147 meteorological stations from 1961–2000 and monthly discharge data for three stations in the basin have been analyzed for temporal and spatial trends. The methods used include the Mann–Kendall test and simple regression analysis. The results show (1) a significant positive trend in summer precipitation at many stations especially for June and July, with the summer precipitation maxima in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin in the 1990s; (2) a positive trend in rainstorm frequency that is the main contributor to increased summer precipitation in the basin; and (3) a significant positive trend in flood discharges in the middle and lower basin related to the spatial patterns and temporal trends of both precipitation and individual rainstorms in the last 40 years. The rainstorms have aggravated floods in the middle and lower Yangtze River Basin in recent decades. The observed trends in precipitation and rainstorms are possibly caused by variations of atmospheric circulation (weakened summer monsoon) under climate warming.     

三峡工程影响的初步评价

全世界都在评论三峡工程的修建,这些评论经常是不太客观的.本文从正负两方面对三峡工程进行了讨论,重点在防洪工程和区域经济方面.作者认为修建三峡工程作为发电的功能远大于防洪的功能.尽管上游来的洪峰经过三峡水库调蓄后能够被削弱.但中游的洪水风险仍然很大.一般而言,中游地区的洪水是大降水事件的产物.三峡工程不可能完全控制中游的洪水.三峡水库发电对中国中部及周边地区经济的可持续发展将产生积极作用,也将能确保东部沿海地区尤其是上海市电能的供给.     

Mesoscale Heat Transport Over Complex Terrain By Slope Winds – A Conceptual Model And Numerical Simulations

Vertical heat fluxes induced by mesoscale thermally driven circulations maycontribute significantly to the subgrid-scale fluxes in large-scale models (e.g.,general circulation models). However, they are not considered in these modelsyet. To gain insight into the importance and possible parameterisation of themesoscale flux associated with slope winds, an analytical (conceptual) modelis developed to describe the relationship between the mesoscale heat flux andatmospheric and land-surface characteristics. The analytical model allows usto evaluate the mesoscale flux induced by slope winds from only a few profilemeasurements within a domain. To validate the analytical model the resultingheat flux profiles are compared to profiles of highly resolved wind and temperaturefields obtained by simulations with a mesoscale numerical model.With no or moderate synoptic wind the mesoscale heat flux generated by the slopewind circulation may be as large as, or even larger than, the turbulent fluxes at thesame height. At altitudes lower than the crest of the hills the mesoscale flux is alwayspositive (upward). Generally it causes cooling within the boundary layer and heatingabove. Despite the simplifications made to derive the analytical model, it reproducesthe profiles of the mesoscale flux quite well. According to the analytical model, themesoscale heat flux is governed by the temperature deviation at the slope surface, thedepth of the slope-wind layer, the large-scale lapse rate, and the wavelength of thetopographical features.     

Hazard assessment and runout analysis for an unstable rock slope above an industrial site in the Riviera valley, Switzerland

This paper presents a detailed field investigation and hazard assessment for an unstable rock slope above an industrial site in the Riviera valley in the Canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland. An integrated framework was used to counter issues of geological complexity and uncertainty, linking geological mapping and numerical modeling to develop an understanding of the acting instability mechanism to 2-D and 3-D dynamic runout simulations to predict the travel path and reach in the event of a large volume rockslide. The results from the numerical stability analysis provided a means to constrain failure volume estimates, whereas a series of calibration simulations were used to constrain the input parameters required by the rheological model used for the runout analysis. Results from this assessment suggest that current protection measures in place may not be sufficient, helping local authorities to define hazard zones and aid further development plans for the region.     

Tracking and orbit determination performance of the GRAS instrument on MetOp-A

The global navigation satellite system receiver for atmospheric sounding (GRAS) on MetOp-A is the first European GPS receiver providing dual-frequency navigation and occultation measurements from a spaceborne platform on a routine basis. The receiver is based on ESA’s AGGA-2 correlator chip, which implements a high-quality tracking scheme for semi-codeless P(Y) code tracking on the L1 and L2 frequency. Data collected with the zenith antenna on MetOp-A have been used to perform an in-flight characterization of the GRAS instrument with focus on the tracking and navigation performance. Besides an assessment of the receiver noise and systematic measurement errors, the study addresses the precise orbit determination accuracy achievable with the GRAS receiver. A consistency on the 5 cm level is demonstrated for reduced dynamics orbit solutions computed independently by four different agencies and software packages. With purely kinematic solutions, 10 cm accuracy is obtained. As a part of the analysis, an empirical antenna offset correction and preliminary phase center correction map are derived, which notably reduce the carrier phase residuals and improve the consistency of kinematic orbit determination results.