Priority sites and conservation gaps of wintering waterbirds in the Yangtze River floodplain

The Yangtze River floodplain is critical for migratory waterbirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway(EAAF). Greater awareness of its global importance is urgently needed to ensure waterbird populations remain in favourable conservation status, as well as the enhancement of wider wetland biodiversity within this region. The designation of protected wetland areas and building a green ecological corridor in the Yangtze floodplain is now becoming a critical issue of interest to the Chinese government. Priority sites in this area were identified based on the criteria used to identify sites that qualify as Wetlands of International Importance(Ramsar Sites) and Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas(IBAs) by using multi-source data. The results show that 140 of the sites surveyed are priority sites. The Importance Index(I) for the whole floodplain decreased slightly from 2001–2005 and an unbalanced distribution pattern is evident with Jiangxi and Hunan provinces significantly higher than the other provinces in the floodplain. Although more than 60% of the priority sites are currently located outside protected areas, the average Conservation Effectiveness Index(C) of the whole floodplain is 75.6%, which suggests the coverage of protected areas for most wintering waterbird population is reasonable. Conservation of the Yangtze River floodplain needs to be further strengthened due to declining waterbird abundances and the mismatch between the distribution of protected areas and their importance for wintering waterbirds. A comprehensive system for priority site identification and protection and scientific review is needed. Multi-sourced data from regular, systematic and coordinated monitoring of waterbird distribution and abundance across the EAAF, as well as national scale citizen science programmes are also critically important.     

组合表面Bragg散射模型共极化SAR海表面风速反演

组合表面布拉格散射模型CSBS（Composite Surface Bragg Scattering）由布拉格（Bragg）散射模型和几何光学模型组成，是海洋微波散射的经典模型，可用于星载合成孔径雷达SAR（Synthetic Aperture Radar）海表面风场反演。研究指出，Bragg散射模型仅适用于中等入射角条件，几何光学模型则更适用于小入射角情形。然而，如何确定中等和小入射角的阈值，即CSBS模型最优入射角的选取目前尚无定论。基于142景成像于美国东西海岸和中国东海的RADARSAT-2精细四极化SAR影像数据和海洋浮标数据，本文提出了一种最优局地入射角查找算法，分别对VV和HH极化SAR数据进行最优入射角阈值的选取。结果显示，局地入射角14°和16°分别为VV和HH极化影像CSBS模型反演风速最优入射角。基于最优入射角的选取，本文在0—15 m/s海况区间内利用CSBS模型对VV和HH极化SAR影像开展风速反演实验，并将反演风速与浮标风速进行对比。结果显示，基于VV和HH极化数据的CSBS模型反演风速与浮标风速均方根误差分别为2.15 m/s和2.32 m/s，相关系数分别为0.79和0.75，两者具有良好的一致性。本文研究结论表明基于最优入射角设置后的CSBS模型在海面风速小于15 m/s条件下具有良好的应用性，后续研究将更加关注CSBS模型在高海况以及交叉极化SAR数据情况下的应用。