Sensitivity evaluation of the flash flood warning system introduced to ungauged small mountainous basins in Korea

This study evaluates the uncertainty involved in the determination of the flash flood guidance(FFG) of the flash flood warning system(FFWS) for a small mountainous region(FFWS_MR)in Korea. The sensitivity is evaluated both at each step to determine the FFG and for all steps together. The results show that the relative difference of the FFG is about 50% of the current system, most of which involves the channel width. Especially, the use of some specific empirical equations to estimate the major parameters results in a considerable amount of the relative difference of the FFG. In addition, though only four basins were field-surveyed, it is found that the indirect estimation of the major parameters always introduces some amount of additional uncertainty. In conclusion, accurate estimation of the major parameters must be the most important procedure to derive an accurate FFG, among which the channel cross-section at the exit of the basin lies at the center.     

Dynamic changes in lakes in the Hoh Xil region before and after the 2011 outburst of Zonag Lake

Zonag, Kusai, Hedin Noel and Yanhu Lakes are independent inland lakes in the Hoh Xil region on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In September2011, Zonag Lake burst after the water level had increased for many years. Floods flowed through Kusai and Hedin Noel Lakes into Yanhu Lake; since then, the four small endorheic catchments merged into one larger catchment. This hydrological process caused the rapid shrinkage of Zonag Lake and continuous expansion of Yanhu Lake. In this study,based on satellite images, meteorological data and field investigations, we examined the dynamic changes in the four lakes and analyzed the influencing factors. The results showed that before 2011, the trends in the four lake areas were similar and displayed several stages. The change in the area of Zonag Lake corresponded well to the change in annual precipitation(AP), but the magnitude of the change was less than that of a non-glacier-fed lake. Although increased precipitation was the dominant factor that caused Zonag Lake to expand, increased glacier melting and permafrost thawing due to climate warming also had significant effects. After the 2011 outburst of Zonag Lake, due to the increasing AP and accelerating glacier melting, the increases in water volume of the three lakes were absorbed by Yanhu Lake, and Yanhu Lake expanded considerably. According to the rapid growth rates in water level and lake area, Yanhu Lake is likely to burst in 1-2 years.     

Impact of polymer mixtures on the stabilization and erosion control of silty sand slope

Silty sand can be prone to erosion because it is short of stability cementation materials. In recent years, various emerging soil stabilizers, especially natural organic substance and polymer, have been used to improve soil strength, water stability and ability of erosion resistance. In this study, a new type of soil stabilization additive modified carboxymethyl cellulose(M-CMC), consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose(CMC) and polyacrylamide(PAM), was developed for stabilization treatment of silty sand. A series of laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of M-CMC application on shear strength, permeability, water susceptibility and microstructure of the silty sand soil treated with additive concentration range of 0%-1.3%. Moreover, rainfall simulation experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of M-CMC on the erosion control of silty sand which compacted soil in a large-sized runoff(1 m~2) plots. Test plot which treated with 1.1% concentration of soil stabilizer and control plot which treated with same amount of water were cured outdoor for 50 days before rainfall simulation test. Rainfall intensity was applied at 120 mm·h-1 for 60 min. Finally, a field test is performed in order to assess the practical application effect of silty sand with 1.1% M-CMC. In general, the results showed that an increase of the concentration of M-CMC resulted in an improvement in water susceptibility and shear strength but a decrease in the infiltration rate. Internal friction angle of the treated soil remarkably increased under a low M-CMC concentration(less than 0.7%), while cohesion of them sharply increased under a relatively high M-CMC concentration(larger than 0.7%). Water susceptibility of the treated samples was improved remarkably under a relatively high M-CMC concentration(larger than 0.7%). Permeability coefficient of them decreased significantly when the M-CMC concentration was increased from 0 to 0.5% and, then, from 0.9% to 1.3%. Based on the images obtained from a scanning electron microscopy(SEM), the "coating" and "netting" effects were attributable to the observed improvement of the treated soil. When a plot was protected by a thin layer of soil treated with 1.1% MCMC, its erosion resistance was greatly improved, infiltration rate of water and soil loss yield of plot decreased greatly and even though under a rainfall intensity of 120 mm·h-1. The field test with long-term monitoring(three years) confirmed the M-CMC can effectively control erosion of silty sand slopes for a prolonged period of time.     

Relationship between stand characteristics and soil properties of two typical forest plantations in the mountainous area of Western Sichuan,China

There is uncertainty and limited knowledge regarding stand characteristics and soil properties of middle-aged pure forest plantations in the mountainous area of Western Sichuan. Plantation forests are almost exclusively planted as monocultures in the Pengzhou forest farm in the western mountainous area of Sichuan Province. This study aimed to assess the spatial and ecological characteristics of middle-aged Cunninghamia lanceolata(Lamb.) Hook. and Cryptomeria fortunei Hooibr. in the Pengzhou forest farm. The relationships and differences between stand growth characteristics and forest soil composition were assessed on the two forests planted simultaneously within the same area and exposed to the same environmental conditions. Cr. fortunei grew sparse, and slower than Cun. lanceolata. Principal component analysis indicated that the soil properties in the Cr. fortunei plantation were better than those in the Cun. lanceolata plantation. Redundancy analysis revealed that the differences in stand structure were affected significantly by the total nitrogen content and pH value. Thus, we propose that Cr. fortunei is planted for priority consideration in the subtropical high mountain area. Further, tending operations and application of fertilizers need to be conducted in Cun. lanceolata forests. Based on theoretical and experimental data, the present study explains why local farmers are more willing to plant Cr. fortunei, and thus provides a useful theoretical reference for the development of sustainable plantations in the future.     

Spatial variation of the relationship between transport accessibility and the level of economic development in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China

As an important component of China' transportation systems, for a long time, the insufficient performance of transport in QinghaiTibet Plateau(QTP) was a bottleneck restricting the economic growth and social development in this area. Nevertheless, the implementation of the western development strategy has accelerated the preliminary construction of comprehensive transport network since 2000. Due to the large area and significant geographical heterogeneity, there is a growing need to understand the relationship between transportation and economic development based on the perspective of spatial difference. By using GIS-based raster analysis and Geographically Weighted Regression(GWR) model, we investigated the spatial-temporal distribution of highway, railway and airport accessibility, respectively, and estimated the correlation and heterogeneity between transport accessibility and the level of economic development. Results revealed that:(1) Transport accessibility in the QTP improved by 53.38% in the past 15 years, which is specifically embodied in the improvement of both highway and railway.(2) Accessibility presented prominent differentiation in the space, increasing from west to east and reducing with the rise of elevation, specifically, the best accessibility area of the highway is below 4000 m above sea level, while the area with an altitude of over 4000 m has the lowest aviation time cost.(3) In general, the long weighted average time cost to critical transport facilities posed significantly negative effect on county economic growth in QTP, more positively, the adverse effect gradually weakened over time.(4) Obvious heterogeneity exists at the influence of different transport accessibility factors on the level of economic development, reflecting both in the horizontal space and altitudinal belt. Therefore, region-specific policies should be addressed for the sustainable development of transport facilities as well as economy in the west mountain areas.     

Soil erosion of unpaved loess roads subjected to an extreme rainstorm event: a case study of the Jiuyuangou watershed on the Loess Plateau,China

Rainfall can cause serious soil loss in the Loess Plateau hilly and gully region, but little focus has been placed on the extreme rainstorm effects on unpaved loess road soil erosion. A field survey method was used to investigate the erosional effects of the "7·26" heavy rainfall event on unpaved loess roads in the Jiuyuangou watershed of the Loess Plateau, China. The results showed that the average and maximum widths of the eroded gullies that formed on the unpaved roads were 0.65-1.48 m and 1.00-3.60 m, respectively. The average and maximum depths of theeroded gullies were 0.42-1.13 m and 0.75-4.30 m, respectively. The average width-to-depth ratio was 1.31, indicating that the widening effect was greater than the downcutting effect in the eroded gullies. In addition, the gully density ranged from 0.07 to 0.29 m m~(-2), and the road surface dissection degree ranged from 0.03 to 0.41 km~2 km~(-2). Eroded gullies generally developed at the slope toe of the cut bank side. The average eroded gully width and depth at turns in the road were 1.47-2.64 times and 1.30-3.47 times greater, respectively, than those in other road sections. The road erosion modulus increased from the upper section to the lower section of the roads. The average road erosion modulus of the study catchment was 235,000 t km~(-2). Turns in the road were associated with collapses, sinkholes and other gravitational erosion phenomena. The amount of road erosion under extreme rainfall conditions is mainly related to the interactions among road length, width, slope and soil bulk density. Our results provide a useful reference for developing further measures for preventing road erosion on the Loess Plateau.     

潜流带生物地球化学特征研究进展

潜流带(即地表水-地下水交互作用带)是位于地表水和地下水之间发生物质和能量交换的,具有物理、化学、生物梯度的饱和含水带。潜流带内发生着强烈的生物地球化学过程,在改善水环境质量和维持水生态系统稳定中发挥着重要作用。潜流带生物地球化学特征主要受河床沉积物结构特征、水文特征、环境特征、生物群落格局、物质输入等因素的影响,潜流带内C、N、P元素以及有毒金属元素(Fe、Mn、As、Hg等)会发生氧化-还原、吸附与解吸、沉淀与溶解、生物催化等生物地球化学过程。原位监测、数值模拟、原位培养和地球物理探测等技术是潜流带中生物地球化学过程研究中常用的研究手段。未来针对潜流带的研究可以从监测和数值模拟技术、河床沉积物变化特征以及微生物生态系统的结构和功能等方面进一步开展。     

2000—2015年柴达木盆地植被覆盖度时空变化及其与环境因子的关系

基于MODIS-NDVI、DEM和气象数据,分析柴达木盆地2000—2015年植被覆盖度(FVC)时空变化特征,并与降水、温度、日照时数、相对湿度、蒸散量和海拔进行相关、偏相关或叠加分析,探讨FVC与各环境因子的关系。结果表明:FVC整体自东南向西北内陆呈半环状递减,FVC集中在20%以下,人类活动及径流等打破植被地带性规律;2000—2015年FVC明显改善,广泛分布于盆地中西部地区,2001—2002年年际变化最显著;FVC与降水、相对湿度以正相关为主,与温度关系不显著,与日照时数和蒸散量主要为负相关,降水对FVC贡献最大,温度通过影响蒸散量等间接影响FVC,而土壤蒸发对蒸散量的影响大于植物蒸腾;FVC与等高线空间分布较吻合,FVC在2 800~2 900 m和4 600~4 700 m出现两个峰值,4 700 m以上FVC迅速降低。     

西藏定结地区爬坡沙丘粒度特征分析

通过对西藏定结地区典型爬坡沙丘表层沉积物的形态参数、粒度组成和粒度参数等进行分析,揭示其粒度特征。结果表明：（1）爬坡沙丘表层沉积物以细砂和中砂为主,极细砂含量较少,同时含有少量粉砂和粗砂,不含粘土成分。（2）沙丘平均粒径范围1.98~2.41 Ф,分选系数变化范围为0.45~0.75,属中等分选,偏度变化范围为0.01~0.12,呈近对称至正偏分布,峰度变化范围为0.94~1.01,呈中等尖锐峰态。（3）从样品PPSQ1~PPSQ6,随着高度和距离的增加,沙丘表层沉积物平均粒径先变细后变粗,分选不断变好。（4）爬坡沙丘表层沉积物主要来源于河漫滩。（5）与雅鲁藏布江、东昆仑山地区爬坡沙丘对比可知,定结地区的沙丘粒径较粗,分选较好,主要是物源及风力分选作用的共同结果。     

安徽省温泉旅游区的品牌建设与营销策略研究

安徽省温泉旅游区以它独有的特色和文化的魅力赢得社会广泛的关注,也吸引更多的人对温泉旅游区的品牌建设与营销策略的研究。阐述了安徽省温泉旅游资源赋存状况,并分析安徽省温泉旅游区的品牌建设与营销策略现状。得出如下主要结论:(1)安徽省温泉多数位于隆起的大别山区、长江沿岸的巢湖—和县一带以及皖南地区;(2)产品开发利用层次不一,大多处于中程度利用;(3)温泉相关的旅游区品牌建设与营销策略相对滞后。最后在此基础上,提出现阶段安徽省温泉旅游区的品牌建设与营销策略的对策。