Land use and disturbance effects on the dynamics of natural ecosystems of the Monte Desert: Implications for their management

The complex interactions between human activity and natural processes determine non-linear dynamics in ecosystems that can difficult their management. Human settlements in arid lands contribute to the modification of disturbance regimes, including the introduction of new disturbances and the elimination of others. In consequence, they can alter the functional mechanisms that allow systems to overcome limiting factors, leading to desertification. In this revision, we evaluated the effects of the changes on disturbance regimes produced by the different forms of land transformation on the structure and function of ecosystems of the Monte Biogeographical Province, in Argentinean arid west. Two approaches were used: the analysis of land use history and the analysis of the effects of the main disturbances on the dynamics of different communities. We concluded that throughout the history of the Monte Desert, the joint action of natural and anthropic agents has resulted in complex dynamics that lead most area of the Monte to a moderate to severe status of desertification. The modification of the disturbance regime had strong consequences for several aspects of the dynamics of communities, such as species composition and diversity, water dynamics, soil conditions, trophic structure and productivity of Monte Desert ecosystems. However, disturbance regimes could be managed to promote favorable transitions in ecosystems and, therefore, could be a tool for optimizing productivity of agro-ecosystems, and recovering and conserving natural ecosystems.     

The Geology and Petroleum Resources of Kansas: A Review From Alpha to Omega or From the Pleistocene to the Precambrian

The geological story of Kansas is told through the rocks that are present. It is a simple story in generalities but complex in detail. Knowing the story, gives insight into understanding the occurrence and location of possible economic valuable minerals, such as petroleum. This is a brief review of Kansas geology with respect to the known occurrence of oil and gas. Kansas is part of the Midcontinent oil province with oil having been discovered 150 years ago and commercial production commencing in 1873. Although many prospects remain in Kansas, the state has gone from the number 1 producer in the U.S. in 1916 to 8th today. Exploration for new oil and gas production therefore is going to have to be more imaginative and utilize new approaches and techniques to find the elusive petroleum. There are possibilities however for the prospector who can search diligently. Although the big fields probably have been discovered, the prospects today are deeper, in more undetectable traps, and in essentially untested places.     

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Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Das mittlere meridionale Temperaturprofil in der Troposphäre als Effekt von vertikalen und horizontalen Austauschvorgängen und Kondensationswärme

Summary A theoretical account is given for the mean meridional temperature profile in the troposphere (up to 11 km) by the aid of the theorem of turbulent heat conduction introducing the vertical and horizontal coefficients of exchange (Austausch) which show a different order of magnitude. It is necessary, however, to take into consideration the heat of condensation, liberated by condensation of the mean yearly precipitation on the earth and thereby supplied to the troposphere in the different latitudes, in order to obtain a theoretical solution capable of completely explaining the mean meridional temperature profile deduced from former observations in the free atmosphere. The mean temperature distribution on ground has been assumed to be known as it is established by the radiation balance of the ground showing the determined and wellknown zonal distribution. Furthermore, some noticeable details resulting from the theory and concerning the vertical structure of temperature in the troposphere and its state of equilibrium are derived. It is made clear how a temperature gradient <1° C/100 m comes about. Thus the mean meridional temperature profile is shown to be a determined state of equilibrium between vertical and horizontal exchange (Austausch) phenomena and processes of condensation taking place in the troposphere. These latter ones being confined to a certain layer of the lower atmosphere are of essential importance for the upper limitation of the troposphere.

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Résumé On donne une explication théorique du profil méridien moyen de température dans la troposphère (jusqu'à 11 km.) en s'appuyant sur le théorème de la conductibilité turbulente et en introduisant les coefficients d'échange turbulent dont l'ordre de grandeur n'est pas le même dans la verticale et dans l'horizontale. Il faut tenir compte de la chaleur de condensation libérée par les précipitations annuelles moyennes et qui est fournie à la troposphère aux différentes latitudes; alors seulement on arrive à une solution en accord complet avec le profil méridien de température, tel que le fournissent les observations aérologiques. On a considérée comme connue la distribution moyenne de la température au niveau du sol, celle-ci étant déterminée par le bilan radiatif du sol et présentant la répartition zonale bien connue. On expose ensuite thermique verticale de la troposphère et son équilibre, ainsi que l'établissement d'un gradient inférieur à un degré par cent mètres. Le profil méridien moyen de température apparaît alors comme le résultat d'un équilibre entre les processus d'échange turbulent verticaux et horizontaux et des phénomènes de condensation se produisant dans la troposphère. Le fait que ces derniers sont limités à une certaine couche basse de l'atmosphère est une des raisons pour lesquelles la troposphère présente une limite supérieure.

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Mit 4 Textabbildungen.     

A Lee wave cloud climatology for pincher creek,Alberta

Abstract

The annual, monthly and diurnal frequencies and durations of wave clouds are summarized from twelve years of observations at Pincher Creek, Alberta. Wave clouds occur on an average of 141 days annually. There is a distinct winter maximum anda summer minimum of occurrence. Wave clouds occur on 50% or more of the days during October and February, the most active months. Wave clouds persist for longer periods in the cooler half of the year. There appears to be a marked diurnal variation in wave cloudfrequency with maxima in the afternoon, however, this may be due to decreased visibility at sunrise and sunset.     

Numerical simulation of the development of vortices over the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau

Summary Some of the vortices which develop over the Tibetan plateau during summer give rise to severe weather over eastern China. These weather developments can be difficult to forecast, but have been simulated successfully in a recently developed numerical model. It will be shown that different vortices respond differently to topographic effects, to nonlinear processes and to sensible and latent heating in their formation, maintenance, and motion. Elevated terrain appears to enhance the influence of thermodynamic processes, block airflow, and increase frictional dissipation.Sensible heating sometimes collaborates with topography in blocking cold air intrusions and is not only a function of terrain elevation but also of the synoptic situation. Without the input of latent heating, vortices over the eastern part of the Tibetan plateau tend to degenerate.

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Numerische Simulation von Wirbelbildungen über dem Hochland von Tibet

Zusammenfassung Einige der sich im Sommer über dem Hochland von Tibet entwickelnden Wirbel verursachen Unwetter in Ostchina. Die Vorhersage dieser Entwicklung kann schwierig sein, sie werden aber von einem kürzlich vorgestellten numerischen Modell erfolgreich simuliert. Es wird gezeigt, daß verschiedene Wirbel verschieden auf die Orographie, auf nichtlineare Vorgänge sowie auf fühlbare und latente Wärme in ihrer Entstehung, Erhaltung und Bewegung reagieren. Ein Hochland scheint den Einfluß thermodynamischer Vorgänge zu verstärken, Strömungen zu blockieren und die Reibungsdissipation zu steigern.Die fühlbare Wärme verhindert manchmal gemeinsam mit der Topographie Kaltlufteinbrüche, hängt aber nicht nur von der Hochland-sondern auch von der synoptischen Situation ab. Ohne latente Wärme neigen Wirbel über dem Ostteil des Hochlandes von Tibet zur Degeneration.

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With 22 Figures     

Basin organization of nature management for solving hydroecological problems

Presented are the development of the concept and projects of the basin nature management and the organization of their implementation in the whole region using the basin-administrative approach. Based on the multidimensional analysis and forecast of river runoff variations using the artificial neural networks, the typification of catchments is carried out mainly defined by such factors as its area, order of the river, and degree of anthropogenic load. Depending on the hydrological functioning type, the adapted complexes of Hydroecological activities are determined. The need in the integration of the geodata for each river basin with the inherent morphological and process characteristics as well as of the results of Hydroecological monitoring enables to recommend the structure of the database of the basin organization of nature management in the regions of Russia based on the European experience in the river network monitoring in the context of the EU Water Framework Directive and of the creation of the single infrastructure of the spatial data.     

Preface

Climate change is one of the most challenging issues faced by human beings. Although many remarkable achievements have been made in climate change research,there is still a tremendous amount of uncertainty in