塔克拉玛干沙漠辐射平衡研究

本文对塔里拉玛干沙漠辐射平衡实测值与计算值进行了对比，分析了辐射平衡不同季节的日变化及年变化特征，并分析了影响辐射平衡的各主要因子，得到了沙漠辐射平衡研究的一些新认识。     

Status of an endangered subspecies: the peninsular pronghorn at Baja California

During November 1993, we traversed by ground and by air the Vizcaíno Desert, the last redoubt of the peninsular pronghorn (Antilocapra americana peninsularis). A total of 29 h of aerial census was performed and a total of 1900 km²were covered by ground, totalling 400 man hours of survey. At present the peninsular pronghorn population consists of 175 individuals, and inhabits an area of approximately 5000 km². Because of the impossibility of controlling its activities over such an area and because of the present small population size, we propose to manage part of the population in semi-captivity at Mesa de la Choya island, with the objective of assuring the survival of this subspecies, the most endangered mammal in Mexico.     

Six years of dew observations in the Negev Desert, Israel

Dew measurements taken at the desert site of Sede Boker for nearly 6 years are analysed. The instrument used is a Hiltner-type dew balance. Several parameters describing various aspects of dew formation are discussed. The total monthly amount of dew and the distribution of the number of dew nights per month shows two maxima (in September and in December–January) and two minima (in April and November). The average dew deposit per dew night behaves differently: the most striking feature of this quantity is the appearance of distinct summer and winter regimes, with the winter having more dew per dew night. With respect to the total monthly dew hours, the year appears to be divided in half: first, the 6 months from August to January, with an average of 145 h per month, and second, the 6 months from February to June, with 80 h per month. The average duration of dew per dew night appears to follow very closely the length of the night: there is a clear maximum of dew duration in December (9·7 h) and a clear minimum in July (5·5 h). Finally, the rate of dew accumulation is found to have a distinct dry season regime and a winter, rainy season regime.     

SOLAR ECLIPSE EFFECTS OBSERVED IN THE PLANETARY BOUNDARY LAYER OVER A DESERT

Boundary-layer meteorologicalmeasurements were made before, during, and after theMay 10, 1994 partial (94%) solar eclipse over thedesert at the Atmospheric Profiler Research Facilityat White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, U.S.A. A largenumber of sensors were located in the middle of theTularosa Basin to measure mean and turbulentquantities and the refractive index structureparameter (Cn2). This event permitted a rareopportunity to measure, examine, and document theeffects upon the atmospheric boundary layer of asudden cut-off and subsequent turn-on of the sun'sradiant energy. At the peak of the eclipse, whichoccurred for more than three hours, all of the heatexchange parameters were affected, the turbulentprocesses were diminished, and the refractive indexstructure parameter decreased dramatically. A time-heightdisplay from the FM-CW radar shows a Kelvin–Helmholtzwave that developed during theeclipse. The results of several analyses arepresented to document and characterize the eclipse-modifiedboundary layer.     

塔克拉玛干沙漠盐土荒漠形成演变及对沙丘性状的影响

本文着重研究了塔克拉玛干沙漠盐土荒漠的形成演变，表明了盐土荒漠多形成于地下水位较高的区域。在盐土荒漠形成初期，盐分含量低，表聚性不明显；在中期阶段，盐分已有明显的表聚性，但盐壳厚度不大；到了高级阶段，它已形成坚硬的盐壳，盐分含量很高。在盐土荒漠与沙丘形成的复区内沙丘的含盐量较高，同时在盐土荒漠的演变中，坚硬的盐壳减缓了地表侵蚀和沙丘的形成。     

《中国沙漠植物志》柳属（SalixL．）增订

通过对中国沙漠地区植物标本鉴定和文献考证，认为中国沙漠地区柳属植物有２５个种、２个变种和３个变型。乌柳（ＳａｌｉｘｃｈｅｉｌｏｐｈｉｌａＳｃｈｎｅｉｄ．）、黄线柳（Ｓ．ｌｉｎｅａｒｉｆｏｌｉａＥ．Ｗｏｌｆ）和二色柳（Ｓ．ａｌｂｅｒｔｉＲｇｌ．）沙区有分布。锯齿柳（Ｓ．ｓｅｒｒｕｌａｔｉｆｏｌｉａＥ．Ｗｏｌｆ）和细穗柳（Ｓ．ｔｅｎｕｉｊｕｌｉｓＬｅｄｅｂ．）为不同的２个种。对小穗柳（Ｓ．ｍｉｃｒｏｓｔａｃｈｙａＴｕｒｃｚ．ａｐｕｄＴｒａｕｔｖ．）、布尔津柳（Ｓ．ｂｕｒｑｉｎｅｎｓｉｓＣｈ．Ｙ．Ｙａｎｇ）、疏齿柳（Ｓ．ｓｅｒｒｕｌａｔｉｆｏｌｉａＥ．Ｗｏｌｆｖａｒ．ｓｕｂｉｎｔｅｇｒｉｆｏｌｉａＣｈ．Ｙ．Ｙａｎｇ）和龙爪柳（Ｓ．ｍａｔｓｕｄａｎａＫｏｉｄｚ．ｆ．ｔｏｒｔｕｏｓａ（ｖｉｌｍ．）Ｒｅｈｄ．）的名称做了订正。     

Threshold relations for the transport of sediment by overland flow on desert hillslopes

Although the Shields relation was developed for rivers, it has been applied to sediment transport by overland flow. According to the Shields relation, where the critical boundary Reynolds number Re_*c exceeds 40, the critical Shields number F_*c is independent of both Re_*c and the ratio of the critical flow depth to particle diameter d_c/D. Analyses of data collected from runoff plots in southern Arizona reveal that F_*c is positively correlated with both Re_*c and d_c/D. Thus the Shields relation does not apply to overland flow on debris-covered desert hillslopes. Multiple regression analysis is employed to develop alternative threshold relations in which critical boundary shear stress τ_c is related to D and d_c/D (R² = 0.782) and to D and S_c (critical gradient) (R² = 0.625). The computed R² values derive in large part from the spurious correlations of d_c/D and S_c with τ_c. Nevertheless, the relations may be utilized to predict τ_c. In this regard, the latter relation is likely to prove more useful than the former because S_c is generally known, whereas d_c is not. An investigation of the functional relation between τ_c and D reveals that τ_c varies approximately with D² for overland flow on the desert hillslopes under study, whereas the Shields relation predicts a linear relation (i.e. a D exponent of 1). This result is consistent with Cheng's data which show that F_*c varies with (d_c/D)^?1 where 0.4 < d_c/D < 2 and may be explained in terms of increased energy dissipation both in separation zones downslope of particles and in distortion of the water surface as d_c/D decreases. Consequently, larger values of τ_c, and hence F_*c, are required to initiate the transport of particles of a given size D as d_c decreases.     

A comment on ‘a note on the characteristics and possible origins of desert varnishes from Southeast Morocco’ by Drs. Smith and Whalley

This note queries the discussion of the origins of ‘desert varnishes’ (Smith and Whalley, 1988), with particular reference to manganese-rich conditions. The case for a biotic model of varnish development is proposed and illustrated as opposed to the abiotic model put forward by Smith and Whalley.     

Dunes of the Gran Desierto Sand-Sea,Sonora, Mexico

The Gran Desierto Sand-Sea contains dunes of crescentic and star form in simple, compound, and complex varieties. The dunes have developed in bimodal to complex wind regimes of intermediate energy. Transitions from simple through compound to complex crescentic dunes are associated with regional changes in wind regimes. Growth of large star dunes takes place by merging of smaller crescentic and reversing dunes from southerly directions and reworking of sand by northerly and westerly winds. Although wind regimes appear to be the major control of dune morphology in this sand-sea, there is a close correlation between the spacing of simple crescentic dunes and the grain size of the coarse 20th percentile.