The climate of the coast and fog zone in the Tarapacá Region, Atacama Desert, Chile

In the Atacama Desert, the narrow littoral plain and the adjacent mountain range have a unique climate. This area is locally called the “coastal desert with abundant cloudiness”, and extends from the coastline up to an elevation of 1000 m. The climate is designated as being BWn according to Köppen's Climate Classification as adapted for Chile. In the original classification the acronym (Bn) is used for foggy environments. Toward the east a “normal desert” climate (BW) is found. This is known as one of the most extreme deserts of the world. In the BWn areas there are meteorological differences between low and high elevation zones. The climate of the coastal plains and the mountains is described in this paper in order to show that there is an area where the climate differs from those classified as BWn and BW in the Chilean Climate Classification. This area is located between 650 and 1200 m a.s.l. and contains several fog oases or lomas vegetation, rich in biodiversity and endemism.The weather is warmer near sea level, with an annual average temperature of 18 °C. At high elevation sites like Alto Patache, the temperature decreases at a rate of 0.7 °C for every 100-m increase in altitude. The average annual minimum temperature often approaches 1 °C in winter, while the mean annual temperature range is significant (8.3 °C in Los Cóndores). The mean monthly relative humidity in Alto Patache is over 80%, except during the summer months. During autumn, winter and spring high elevation fog is present in the study area at altitudes ranging from 650 m up to 1060 m, giving annual water yields of 0.8 to 7 L m^− 2 day^− 1. If vegetation is used as an indicator, the foggy zone lies between 650 m a.s.l. and 1200 m a.s.l. About 70% of the mountain range experiences the foggy climate, as opposed to the coastal plains that are characterized by a cloudy climate.     

The spatial and temporal variability of fog and its relation to fog oases in the Atacama Desert, Chile

Fog has been studied in the Atacama Desert of Chile for the past ten years. This paper analyzes its temporal and spatial variability, relying in part on satellite images (GOES) to analyze the frequent orographic fog and the low cloud deck (stratocumulus, Sc) that generates advective fog in the area. Fog water fluxes were measured with Standard Fog Collectors (SFC). Field trips and observers provided information on cloud top and base and the presence of fog. Vegetation in fog oases were used to confirm the results of these surveys.The Sc moves onshore into the continent with different intensities depending on season and time of day. The maximum spatial extent occurs during winter and at night. Fog is frequent in the coastal cliffs, where fog water fluxes of 7.0 L m^− 2 day^− 1 were measured using a SFC. It is less frequent 12 km inland, where the collection rates were less than 1 L m^− 2 day^− 1. The height of the fog collector above the ground affected the collection rate. The highest fog water fluxes were recorded at Alto Patache at altitudes of between 750 and 850 m a.s.l. The growth or thickness of the cloud is important in the collection of fog water. The information that GOES provides on the altitude of the top of low clouds is used to analyze this factor. Fog oases are described and analyzed in relation to how the geographical location of fog influences the growth of vegetation.     

Hydrological and climatic changes in deserts of China since the late Pleistocene

Large areas in western China were wetlands or less arid between 40 and 30 ka, corresponding to the “Greatest Lake Period” on the adjacent Tibetan Plateau. During the last glacial maximum, some of these western Chinese deserts again experienced wetter conditions; however, at the same time the sandy lands in the eastern Chinese desert belt experienced an activation of aeolian dunes. While interpretations of the mid-Holocene environment in the deserts of China are controversial, it is quite likely that it was more humid not only in the eastern areas influenced by monsoon climate systems but also in the western deserts where moisture is currently associated with westerlies. Evaluation of lacustrine records in the lakes recharged by dryland rivers and the complex interactions of these systems, as well as other paleoenvironmental proxies such as the Artemisia/Chenopodiaceae ratio, should be interpreted with greater caution. Facing the highlighted uncertainties in our understanding of climate changes in Chinese deserts, it is hoped that this special issue will improve our knowledge considerably.     

新疆伊犁塔克尔莫乎尔沙漠全新世晚期沉积微量元素反映的古气候变化

在新疆伊犁塔克尔莫乎尔沙漠腹地,选择可克达拉剖面(TKP)进行光释光(OSL)测年、微量元素含量测定,通过不同化学性质微量元素含量变化以及元素比值的相关分析与因子分析,探讨微量元素迁移的气候环境意义,结合粒度参数和碳酸盐含量变化特点,重建了研究区3.71 ka BP以来的气候变化序列.结果表明:晚全新世以来研究区古气候...     

Mineralogy,geochemistry and age dating of shear zone-hosted Nb-Ta-, Zr-Hf-, Th-, U-bearing granitic rocks in the Ghadir and El-Sella areas,South Eastern Desert,Egypt

The rare metal minerals of mineralized altered granites within the Ghadir and El-Sella shear zones, are represented by betafite, U-minerals (uraninite and uranophane), zircon, monazite, xenotime, and rutile in the Ghadir shear zone. While they are columbite-tantalite minerals as ferrocolumbite, pyrochlore, and fergusonite, Th-minerals (cheralite, uranothorite, and huttonite monazite), Hf-zircon, monazite and xenotime in the El-Sella shear zone. Hf-zircon in the El-Sella and Ghadir shear zones (increasing from the core to the rim) contains high inclusions of U-Th, and REE minerals such as cheralite, uranothorite, huttonite monazite and xenotime especially in the El Sella shear zone. The rare-metal minerals, identified from peralkminous granites of the shear zones are associated with muscovite, quartz, chlorite, fluorite, magnetite, and biotite that are restricted to the two shear zones. Uraninite (low Th content) occurring in the Ghadir shear zone indicates the hydrothermal origin, but there are thorite, uranothorite, cheralite, and Hf-zircon in the El Sella shear zone, also indicating the hyrothermal proccess after magmatic origin. Compositional variations of Ta/(Ta+Nb) and Mn/(Mn+Fe) in columbite from 0.07-0.42 and 0.04-0.33, respectively, and Hf contents in zircon are so high as to be 12%, especially in the rim in the El Sella shear zone. This feature re-flects the extreme degree of magmatic fractionation. Four samples from the altered granites of the Ghadir shear zone also are very low in TiO2 (0.04 wt%-0.17 wt%), Sr [(82-121)×10-6], and Ba [(36-380)×10-6], but high in Fe2O3T (0.46 wt%-0.68 wt%), CaO (0.64 wt%-1.23 wt%), alkalis (8.59 wt%-8.88 wt%), Rb [(11-203)×10-6], Zr [(98-121)×10-6], Nb [(9-276)×10-6], Ta [(2-139)×10-6], U [(14-63)×10-6], Th [(16-105)×10-6], Pb [(13-32)×10-6], Zn [(7-8)×10-6], Y [(15-138)×10-6], Hf [(3-9)×10-6], and ∑REE [(81-395)×10-6, especially LREE [(70-322)×10-6]. They are very high in Zr/Hf (15.07-85.96) and Nb/Ta (7.17-21.48), and low in Rb/Sr (2.56-3.36) and Th/U (0.096-3.36). Four samples of the altered granites from the El Sella shear zone are very low in TiO2 (0.23 wt%-0.38 wt%), Sr [(47-933)×10-6], and Ba [(82-175)×10-6] , with high Fe2O3T (1.96 wt%-2.87 wt%), CaO (0.43 wt%-0.6 wt%), alkalis (4.46 wt%-10.7 wt%), Rb [(109-313)×10-6], Zr [(178-1871)×10-6], Nb [(11-404)×10-6], U [(56-182)×10-6], Th [(7-188)×10-6], Ta [(0.5-57)×10-6], Pb [(12-28)×10-6], Zn [(1-13)×10-6], Y [(62-156)×10-6], Hf [(3-124)×10-6], and ∑REE [(101-184)×10-6], especially HREE [(7-139)×10-6]. This is consistent with the very fractionated, fluorine-bearing granitic rocks that were altered and sheared in the El Sella shear zone. Zr/Hf (14.23-39.79) and Nb/Ta (1.98-7.01) are very high, and Rb/Sr (0.14-1.7) and Th/U (0.25-2.5) are low in the Ghadir shear zone. Field evidence, textural relations, and the composi-tion of ore minerals suggest that the main mineralizing event was magmatic (615+/-7 Ma, and 644+/-7 Ma CHIME monazite), especially in the El Sella shear zone, with later hydrothermal alteration and local remobilization of the high-field-strength elements.     

Analysis on the temporal-spatial distribution character and effect factors of PM10 in the hinterland of Taklimakan Desert and surrounding area

In recent years, the physical and chemical properties of dust aerosols from the dust source area in northern China have attracted increased attention. In this paper, Thermo RP 1400a was used for online continuous observation and study of the hinterland of Taklimakan, Tazhong, and surrounding areas of Kumul and Hotan from 2004 to 2006. In combination with weather analysis during a sandstorm in the Tazhong area, basic characteristics and influencing factors of dust aerosol PM₁₀ have been summarized as below: (1) The occurrence days of floating dust and blowing dust appeared with an increasing trend in Kumul, Tazhong and Hotan, while the number of dust storm days did not significantly change. The frequency and intensity of dust weather were major factors affecting the concentration of dust aerosol PM₁₀ in the desert. (2) The mass concentration of PM₁₀ had significant regional distribution characteristics, and the mass concentration at the eastern edge of Taklimakan, Kumul, was the lowest; second was the southern edge of the desert, Hotan; and the highest was in the hinterland of the desert, Tazhong. (3) High values of PM₁₀ mass concentration in Kumul was from March to September each year; high values of PM₁₀ mass concentration in Tazhong and Hotan were distributed from March to August and the average concentration changed from 500 to 1,000 g/m³, respectively. (4) The average seasonal concentration changes of PM₁₀ in Kumul, Tazhong and Hotan were: spring > summer > autumn > winter; the highest average concentration of PM₁₀ in Tazhong, was about 1,000 g/m³ in spring and between 400 and 900 g/m³ in summer, and the average concentration was lower in autumn and winter, basically between 200 and 400 g/m³. (5) PM₁₀ concentration during the sandstorm season was just over two times the concentration of the non-sandstorm season in Kumul, Tazhong and Hotan. The average concentrations of sandstorm season in Tazhong were 6.2 and 3.6 times the average concentrations of non-sandstorm season in 2004 and 2008, respectively. (6) The mass concentration of PM₁₀ had the following sequence during the dust weather: clear day < floating dust < floating and blowing dust < sandstorm. The wind speed directly affects the concentration of PM₁₀ in the atmosphere, the higher the wind speed, the higher the mass concentration. Temperature, relative humidity and barometric pressure are important factors affecting the strength of storms, which could also indirectly affect the concentration change of PM₁₀ in the atmosphere.     

库姆塔格沙漠研究：进展与成果

库姆塔格沙漠,地跨新疆、甘肃2省区;东起敦煌鸣沙山、西临罗布泊、南依阿尔金山、北抵阿奇克谷地;面积超过2万km^2。境内气候极端干旱,地貌类型复杂、沙丘类型多样,是＂羽毛状沙丘＂在我国的唯一分布区。受自然条件和技术装备等制约,一直是我国八大沙漠中综合科考的最后空白。2006年,＂库姆塔格沙漠综合科学考察＂被列为首批国家科技基础性工作专项重点项目,历时4年,取得了丰硕成果,填补了多项沙漠科考和研究空白。主要包括：（1）首次发现、命名并定义了＂沙砾碛＂这一库姆塔格独特的地貌类型;初步探明了该沙漠独有的＂羽毛状＂沙丘的形态学特征及形成过程;（2）基本探明了库姆塔格沙漠地表沉积物的矿物组成及2个主要物源端元,揭示了晚新生代沉积物特征和地层序列;（3）初步确定了库姆塔格沙漠地区古风成砂的形成时代,并阐明了该沙漠的成因和演化过程;（4）初步查清了库姆塔格沙漠地区现代水系分布及水文特征,绘制完成中更新世晚期、汉、唐、清、民国、现代6个时期的水系演变图;（5）首次确认了库姆塔格沙漠土壤类型及其发育过程和区域分布特征;（6）首次建立了全方位、全天候、全覆盖的库姆塔格沙漠气象观测场,实现了基于卫星传输的气象数据实时采集,初步摸清了羽毛状沙丘形成的动力条件及周边气候演变趋势;（7）基本查清了库姆塔格沙漠野生动植物种群、数量和分布区域,特别是发现了沙生柽柳、白花柽柳、侧花沙蓬等6种植物的分布新区;（8）系统调查了国家一级保护动物双峰野骆驼种群及其生境,对野骆驼的行为生态学进行定位观测研究;（9）完成了沙漠及其周边地区的生态经济功能分区,提出了＂大敦煌＂区域可持续发展的战略对策,为拯救敦煌绿洲、保护敦煌文化遗产提供了重要科学依据。     

Body mass and water economy in the South American olivaceous field mouse along a latitudinal gradient: Implications for climate change

We compared geographic trends in body mass in a number of populations of the olivaceous field mouse (Abrothrix olivaceus,) along a latitudinal gradient in Chile, and tested the expected neutral tendency resulting from the opposite influences of environmental temperature and aridity across the gradient. Also, we studied water economy through physiological measurements of total evaporative water loss and urine osmolality in individuals from populations inhabiting two contrasting habitats (northern semiarid shrubland and southern temperate rainforest) and acclimated during six months to the same conditions. No change in male body mass with latitude was found across 39 populations. Evaporative water loss in rodents from the semiarid shrubland was significantly lower than that of individuals from the temperate rainforest, and urine osmolality was significantly higher in rodents from the semiarid habitat. We found a better tolerance of water shortage in the rodent population from the xeric habitat, thus suggesting the occurrence of local adaptation to the prevailing habitat conditions. The mechanisms by which rodents regulate their water economy in face of spatial and temporal fluctuations in environmental conditions constitute an essential component of the physiological flexibility that is necessary to cope with challenging climate change scenarios.     

Patterns of diversity of the Monte Desert small mammals across multiple spatial scales

The relationship between spatial scale and biodiversity patterns is a highly debated topic in ecology. We evaluated the partition of small mammal diversity at multiple spatial scales and analyzed protected areas in order to evaluate their role of protecting biodiversity at the regional scale. Diversity of small mammals in the Monte Desert was quantified at the regional biome scale (96,000 km²) (γ) and partitioned at three spatial scales: aridity range (α₃,n = 6,16 000 km²), locality level (α₂,n = 18,2-3 ha), and habitat patch (α₁,n = 51,0.6 ha). We estimated their diversity using an additive approach with three indices (richness, Shannon-Weiner, Simpson). Diversity was higher than expected at the “between aridity range (β₃)” scale, but lower at the “within-habitat scale (α₁)”. Alpha was higher than beta diversity for most spatial scales; and at the regional scale protected areas preserved a higher biodiversity than unprotected ones. Our results are the first to partition the diversity of desert small mammals at multiple spatial scales and to support the hypotheses of an irregular scale dependence of alpha and beta diversity when increasing the spatial scales. They also highlight that a better understanding of biodiversity patterns is gained when several tools are integrated and combined at different spatial scales.     

未来气候变化对7种荒漠植物分布的潜在影响

利用CART(classification and regression tree,分类和回归树)模型,采用A2和B2气候情景,分析了气候变化对百花蒿、红砂、灌木亚菊、灌木小甘菊、戈壁藜、瓣鳞花和白梭梭分布范围及空间格局的影响.结果显示:气候变化下,就目前适宜分布范围,这些植物都呈现缩小趋势;就新适宜及总适宜分布范围,...