土地利用/土地覆被变化(LUCC)模型研究进展

土地利用/土地覆被变化(LUCC)是全球环境变化的重要原因,LUCC模型研究始终是土地变化科学研究的重点.论文系统总结了近10年来国内外LUCC模型在理论、方法、实践应用等方面取得的新进展.指出了亟待解决的问题,并对今后的发展方向进行了展望.研究发现,①LUCC模型的功能和作用呈现多样化趋势,是了解、认识和解释土地利用系统的动态变化特征、过程和效应的有效工具,可以服务于土地利用管理和政策的制订.②模型的核心内容是研究LUCC时空变化格局,模型发展正经历从单一的非空间模型向非空间模型和空间模型融合的演进过程,但多数模型只重视空间变化机制研究,而对时间机制考虑不足.③反馈机制是LUCC系统的一个重要特征,现有模型在反馈机制方面的研究尚十分薄弱,研究不同时空尺度的反馈机制必将是末来LUCC模型的新焦点.④LUCC研究本质上是"人类-环境"关系研究,以往模型多为局部均衡分析模型,未来LUCC模型发展趋向应从系统观和整体观角度来综合考虑"人类-环境"相互作用机制,这也是LUCC模型的最高更次的科学难点问题.⑤多尺度、多层次的综合研究是LUCC模型的必然要求,模型空间尺度已经从早期的单一空间尺度转变到现今的多空间尺度,但尺度推移仍是模型研究中值得深入探讨的问题.⑥尽管LUCC模型验证方法趋于多元化,但目前还没有一个模型验证的统一标准和规范,参考数据的不足也大大限制了模型验证效果,如何对LUCC模型的可靠性和科学性进行合理验证始终是LUCC模型所面临的关键挑战之一.     

Post‐orogenic evolution of the southern Pyrenees: constraints from inverse thermo‐kinematic modelling of low‐temperature thermochronology data

The late‐stage evolution of the southern central Pyrenees has been well documented but controversies remain concerning potential Neogene acceleration of exhumation rates and the influence of tectonic and/or climatic processes. A popular model suggests that the Pyrenees and their southern foreland were buried below a thick succession of conglomerates during the Oligocene, when the basin was endorheic. However, both the amount of post‐orogenic fill and the timing of re‐excavation remain controversial. We address this question by revisiting extensive thermochronological datasets of the Axial Zone. We use an inverse approach that couples the thermo‐kinematic model Pecube and the Neighbourhood inversion algorithm to constrain the history of exhumation and topographic changes since 40 Ma. By comparison with independent geological data, we identified a most probable scenario involving rapid exhumation (>2.5 km Myr^?1) between 37 and 30 Ma followed by a strong decrease to very slow rates (0.02 km Myr^?1) that remain constant until the present. Therefore, the inversion does not require a previously inferred Pliocene acceleration in regional exhumation rates. A clear topographic signal emerges, however: the topography has to be infilled by conglomerates to an elevation of 2.6 km between 40 and 29 Ma and then to remain stable until ca. 9 Ma. We interpret the last stage of the topographic history as recording major incision of the southern Pyrenean wedge, due to the Ebro basin connection to the Mediterranean, well before previously suggested Messinian ages. These results thus demonstrate temporally varying controls of different processes on exhumation: rapid rock uplift in an active orogen during late Eocene, whereas base‐level changes in the foreland basin control the post‐orogenic evolution of topography and exhumation in the central Pyrenees. In contrast, climate changes appear to play a lesser role in the post‐orogenic topographic and erosional evolution of this mountain belt.     

Origin of the Blue Ridge escarpment along the passive margin of Eastern North America

The Blue Ridge escarpment is a rugged landform situated within the ancient Appalachian orogen. While similar in some respects to the great escarpments along other passive margins, which have evolved by erosion following rifting, its youthful topographic expression has inspired proposals of Cenozoic tectonic rejuvenation in eastern North America. To better understand the post‐orogenic and post‐rift geomorphic evolution of passive margins, we have examined the origin of this landform using low‐temperature thermochronometry and manipulation of topographic indices. Apatite (U–Th)/He and fission‐track analyses along transects across the escarpment reveal a younging trend towards the coast. This pattern is consistent with other great escarpments and fits with an interpretation of having evolved by prolonged erosion, without the requirement of tectonic rejuvenation. Measured ages are also comparable specifically to those measured along other great escarpments that are as much as 100 Myr younger. This suggests that erosional mechanisms that maintain rugged escarpments in the early post‐rift stages may remain active on ancient passive margins for prolonged periods. The precise erosional evolution of the escarpment is less clear, however, and several end‐member models can explain the data. Our preferred model, which fits with all data, involves a significant degree of erosional escarpment retreat in the Cenozoic. Although this suggests that early onset of topographic stability is not required of passive margin evolution, more data are required to better constrain the details of the escarpment's development.     

CHILDREN'S PERCEPTION OF A DOWNTOWN SHOPPING CENTER

This paper offers an exploratory investigation of the effects of a child's age on three behavioral constructs (awareness space, activity space, and attitude) concerning a downtown shopping center in Bristol, England. The data are elicited from three samples of Bristol school children defined according to age and are analyzed using statistical inferential procedures. The results disclose that awareness space and activity space consistently increase with age. In addition, attitudinal responses to specific features of the shopping center exhibit a gradual change over a long-term period.     

THE SUPERIORITY OF LOW-GRADE IRON ORE*

At the mine, pelletized low-grade taconite iron ore requires more energy and labor than rich hematite. In blast furnaces, however, taconite pellets are much more efficient than hematite. Overall, pellets save energy and labor. Attempts to pelletize hematite have not worked well. Therefore, many hematite mines have closed and miners have relocated to taconite plants. Also, some jobs, capital investments, and pollution have decreased at steel mills while increasing in the sparsely populated mining regions as a result of pelletizing.