Estimation of rainfall fields using commercial microwave communication networks of variable density

The use of commercial microwave radio networks which are a part of cellular communication infrastructure for mapping of the near-the-ground rainfall is challenging for many reasons: the network geometry in space is irregular, the distribution of links by frequencies and polarizations is inhomogeneous, and measurements of rain-induced attenuation are distorted by quantization. A non-linear tomographic model over a variable density grid is formulated, and its applicability and performance limits are studied by means of a simulated experiment using a model of a real microwave network. It is shown that the proposed technique is capable to accurately measure integrated near-the-ground rainfall amounts over the area of 3200 km² with a bias smaller than 10%. In urban area, where the density of microwave links is high, the average correlation in space between the simulated model and reconstructed rainfall fields reaches 0.89 over the variable density grid with average cell size of 5.7 km² and 0.74 when interpolated into the rectangular grid with pixel size 0.775 × 0.775 km², for the quantization interval of 0.1 dB.     

基于DGT和化学提取法研究浙西北地质高背景区土壤镉生物有效性

地质高背景区相较于人类活动引起的土壤镉污染影响范围更广,在区域尺度上对生态系统和人类健康构成危害。土壤镉生物有效性是决定其生物可利用性、生物毒性的关键因素,因此探寻可行的土壤镉生物有效性评价方法对污染农用地安全利用和风险管控具有重要的理论和实际意义。DGT技术、单一提取法、连续提取法和土壤溶液法常用于测定土壤有效镉,但已有研究成果主要基于同种土地利用类型土壤的室内盆栽实验,难以代表自然污染土壤中的复杂情况。为探明各土壤重金属有效态提取技术对地质高背景区不同土地利用类型土壤Cd生物有效性评估效果,本文以浙江西北部土壤Cd高地质背景区水田土壤-水稻籽实和旱地土壤-小白菜样品为研究对象,实验应用DGT技术、单一提取法（0.01mol/L氯化钙提取）、连续提取法（七步连续提取）和土壤溶液法评价土壤中镉生物有效性。结果显示：①研究区水田和旱地土壤Cd平均含量分别为1.07mg/kg和0.73mg/kg,显著高于浙江和全国土壤平均水平,Cd的异常富集主要与浙西北地区广泛分布的黑色岩系有关。②相较于碳酸盐岩区,黑色岩系区土壤中Cd的生物有效组分占比较高,水田和旱地土壤Cd的活动系数（MF）高达59.9%和51.8%,Cd易在土壤-作物系统中发生迁移富集;③植物体内镉含量Cd-P与不同方法测定的有效镉含量均呈显著正相关,但Cd-P与DGT技术测定的有效镉含量相关性优于其他三种方法,水田土壤测得的有效Cd与水稻籽实相关关系：$ {{C}}_{\text{soln}} $>CDGT>$ {{C}}_{{\text{CaCl}}_{\text{2}}} $>$ {{C}}_{{\text{F}}_{\text{1}}\text{+}{\text{F}}_{\text{2}}\text{+}{\text{F}}_{\text{3}}} $,旱地土壤测得的有效Cd与小白菜相关关系：CDGT >$ {{C}}_{{\text{CaCl}}_{\text{2}}} $>$ {{C}}_{{\text{F}}_{\text{1}}\text{+}{\text{F}}_{\text{2}}\text{+}{\text{F}}_{\text{3}}} $>$ {{C}}_{\text{soln}} $。综合比较不同土壤有效Cd测定方法的优缺点,DGT技术可以模拟植物体对Cd的动态吸收过程,更能准确地反映土壤Cd生物有效性,预测作物Cd含量水平,这与已有研究成果一致。此外,本文研究成果表明DGT技术评价土壤Cd生物有效性,不仅适用于人为污染区,也可应用于地质高背景区。     

ISO14000环境管理系列国际标准简介

本文概述ＩＳＯ１４０００环境管理系列国际标准的产生背景、国际环境管理标准化技术委员会、已发布的五项环境管理国际标准以及宣传贯彻该系列标准的建议。     

The non-independence of rainfall erosivity and soil erodibility

Three high erosivity conditions (50 mm hr^?1, 100 mm hr^?1, and 200 mm hr^?1) were generated in a laboratory using a rainfall simulator and coherent soil block samples from fourteen different soil erodibility conditions. The data acquired supports the theoretical contention that soil loss should not increase as a simple linear function of storm intensity. Rather, a variable relationship is caused by the rupturing of surface seals and the changing relative significance of splash, wash and rainwash processes. Slope angle appears to influence soil loss at the higher erosivity conditions of 100 mm hr^?1 and 200 mm hr^?1 on slopes that were either very steep (> 20°) or very shallow (< 3°), but on moderate slopes the relationship is unclear. Examination of the variation of soil loss with erosivity when soil loss for a specific high erosivity condition is known revealed that conversion and power factors are of doubtful value and little generality. A satisfactory predictive equation, a power curve, is seen to be of value only when comparing rainwash soil loss between the higher erosivity conditions. The relationship is most safely considered as soil and site specific. Where the influence of slope and soil erodibility are disregarded, a strong association between soil loss and rainfall intensity is found. That soil loss, and hence, soil erodibility varies non-uniformly with erosivity is clear. The findings indicate caution is required when comparing conclusions drawn from studies based upon different erosivity conditions.     

A data‐based mechanistic modelling (DBM) approach to understanding dynamic sediment transmission through Wyresdale Park Reservoir,Lancashire, UK

This paper outlines the application of a new data‐based mechanistic (DBM) modelling methodology to the characterization of the sediment transmission dynamics in a small upland reservoir, Wyresdale Park, Lancashire. The DBM modelling strategy exploits advanced statistical procedures to infer the dynamic model structure and its associated parameters directly from the instrumented data, producing a parametrically efficient, continuous time, transfer function model which relates suspended sediment load at the reservoir inflow to the outflow at the event scale. The associated differential equation model parameters have physical attributes which can be interpreted in terms of sediment transmission processes and associated reservoir trap efficiency. Sedigraph analysis suggests that wind‐induced resuspension episodically supplies an additional load to the reservoir outlet. The stochastic nature of the DBM model makes it ideal for evaluating the effects of uncertainty through Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) for discharge and sediment transmission. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Paleolimnological assessment of human impacts in Lake Blanca, SE Uruguay

Paleolimnological techniques were used to assess human impacts onLake Blanca, a small (0.6 km²), coastal fresh waterbodyin southern Uruguay, which is the drinking water source for 100,000 localresidents. We retrieved a core that extends to about 1100 ¹⁴Cyr BP. ²¹⁰Pb ages, organic mater, CO₃, totalcarbon, nutrients, fossil pigments and diatoms allowed us to establishlimnological conditions before and after cultural impacts. Soil removal(1880–1960) and intensive cattle and sheep grazing (1943–1966) ledto gully formation in the catchment. This watershed erosion resulted inincreased sedimentation rates. The aquatic system appeared to be mesotrophicwith dominance of epibenthic diatoms until 1966, at which timeeutrophication intensified with forestry activities. Increases in nutrients, aswell as blooms of planktonic diatoms, were observed. During the last decade,tourist/urban development as well as high drinking water demand caused areduction in lake area. Subsequent marked increases in rainfall led to furtherphytoplankton blooms and macrophyte proliferation.     

Characteristics of precipitation in northern Mauritania and its links with sea surface temperature

This paper deals with the periodic fluctuation of precipitation at three meteorological stations (Atar, Chenguitti, and Akjoujt) in the Adrar and Inchiri provinces in northern Mauritania and its links with sea surface temperature (SST). Trends for these three meteorological stations were evaluated using the Mann–Kendall (MK) nonparametric test, regression analysis, and autocorrelation for persistence analysis. The MK test showed a significant decreasing trend for Akjoujt and an insignificant trend for the other rainfall time series. However, the decreasing linear regression trends were highly significant for the different time series. On the other hand, persistence analysis indicated the presence of a linear Markov type. The cycles found by power spectrum analysis ranged from 0.5 years to about 11 years. The possibility of a connection between precipitation in this region and sunspot numbers was suggested. SST of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea have significant cross-correlations with precipitation in the study area. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation effect was found to be marginal.     

Storm rainfall conditions for floods and debris flows from recently burned areas in southwestern Colorado and southern California

Debris flows generated during rain storms on recently burned areas have destroyed lives and property throughout the Western U.S. Field evidence indicate that unlike landslide-triggered debris flows, these events have no identifiable initiation source and can occur with little or no antecedent moisture. Using rain gage and response data from five fires in Colorado and southern California, we document the rainfall conditions that have triggered post-fire debris flows and develop empirical rainfall intensity–duration thresholds for the occurrence of debris flows and floods following wildfires in these settings. This information can provide guidance for warning systems and planning for emergency response in similar settings.Debris flows were produced from 25 recently burned basins in Colorado in response to 13 short-duration, high-intensity convective storms. Debris flows were triggered after as little as six to 10 min of storm rainfall. About 80% of the storms that generated debris flows lasted less than 3 h, with most of the rain falling in less than 1 h. The storms triggering debris flows ranged in average intensity between 1.0 and 32.0 mm/h, and had recurrence intervals of two years or less. Threshold rainfall conditions for floods and debris flows sufficiently large to pose threats to life and property from recently burned areas in south-central, and southwestern, Colorado are defined by: I = 6.5D^− 0.7 and I = 9.5D^− 0.7, respectively, where I = rainfall intensity (in mm/h) and D = duration (in hours).Debris flows were generated from 68 recently burned areas in southern California in response to long-duration frontal storms. The flows occurred after as little as two hours, and up to 16 h, of low-intensity (2–10 mm/h) rainfall. The storms lasted between 5.5 and 33 h, with average intensities between 1.3 and 20.4 mm/h, and had recurrence intervals of two years or less. Threshold rainfall conditions for life- and property-threatening floods and debris flows during the first winter season following fires in Ventura County, and in the San Bernardino, San Gabriel and San Jacinto Mountains of southern California are defined by I = 12.5D^−0.4, and I = 7.2D^−0.4, respectively. A threshold defined for flood and debris-flow conditions following a year of vegetative recovery and sediment removal for the San Bernardino, San Gabriel and San Jacinto Mountains of I = 14.0D^−0.5 is approximately 25 mm/h higher than that developed for the first year following fires.The thresholds defined here are significantly lower than most identified for unburned settings, perhaps because of the difference between extremely rapid, runoff-dominated processes acting in burned areas and longer-term, infiltration-dominated processes on unburned hillslopes.     

江西省交通区位演变与区域发展效应

选择江西省作为典型研究区域,采用历史分析与空间分析方法,基于长时间序列研究不同交通运输阶段交通区位的动态演变过程,并对其所引致的区域发展特征进行分析.结论是:在传统交通运输阶段向近代化及现代化交通运输阶段转变过程中,江西省宏观交通区位分别表现为国家南北交通控扼中枢,铁路建设的滞后区与周边发达地区间的交通过境区,可达性演变特征则由南北方向可达性的优势区逐步演化为滞后区.不同时期相对应的区域发展特征表现为,从传统运输阶段的区域商贸全面繁荣,走向近代工业化进程滞后及当前经济发展边缘化.在总结典型案例基础上,尝试从成因层,演变层,作用层,效应层和反馈层五个层面探讨交通区位与区域发展的内在作用关系.     

Dynamics of mule deer forage in the Sonoran Desert

Forage availability for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Sonoran Desert depends on plant biomass, which is influenced by rainfall. We determined how rainfall, temperature and plant characteristics affected biomass of deer forage. We measured forage biomass, rainfall and temperature every 3 months from April 2000 to December 2002. Quarterly rainfall ranged from <1 to 57 mm, and forage biomass in desert washes fluctuated between 6 and 34 g m⁻². There was a positive relationship between forage biomass and rainfall the previous six months (p<0.001), and a negative relationship between biomass and average temperature the previous 3 months (p<0.001). Quarterly forage growth was positively influenced by rainfall (p<0.001) and negatively influenced by forage biomass (p<0.001). The relationships between deer forage and environmental factors established here will be useful in understanding population ecology of mule deer as part of an interactive model of plant–herbivore dynamics in arid environments.