From vulnerability to immunization—A genealogy of early attempts to deal with the climate

In an age of anthropogenic climate change, risk and vulnerability have become common parlance. Yet the histories of both concepts are bound up in the colonial project. This article attempts to give a brief genealogy of these concepts by considering their evolution within early colonial attempts to deal with the dangers and threats posed by a tropical climate. This article argues that British and French colonial writers and administrators began to understand the dangers associated with colonizing distant lands as distinct risks associated with living in a tropical climate. Tropical fevers, ecological devastation, famine and revolt in particular spurred on the development of new knowledge, which advanced understandings of the effects of the tropical climate both on European health and long‐term colonial ambitions. In turn the concept of a pernicious tropical climate that posed a biological threat to the health of Europeans came to play a major role in configuring prevailing notions of race, health and morality. Risk and vulnerability have been key discursive features of new knowledges and governmental technologies crafted in the context of colonialism to secure European rule over distant lands and people.     

食物浓度对模糊秀体溞生长和繁殖的影响

模糊秀体潘是热带水体中枝角类的主要优势种,它在竞争及对热带水体的适应方面的优势尚不清楚。本文以模糊秀体潘为研究对象,观察不同食物浓度下其生长和繁殖的特点,探讨模糊秀体潘成热带水体优势种的原因。以蛋白核小球藻为食物,浓度梯度设为0.05mg／L、0.1mg／L、0.3mg／L、0.6mg／L和1.0mg／L小球藻浓度为0.05mg／L的培养液中,模糊秀体潘存活率很低且未观察到繁殖现象其它4个浓度小球藻喂养的模糊秀体潘体长生长率和最大体长均随食物浓度的升高而增加,最大体长分别达到1.087mm、1.125mm、1.225mm、1.313mm;食物浓度对模糊秀体溢的胚胎发育时间,平均寿命,个体累计产幼数无显著影响：随着食物浓度的升高,模糊秀体滏初次怀卵体长显著增加,繁殖前期的历时相应缩短,平均每胎产幼数增加：内禀增长率随食物浓度升高而增大,达到0.6mg／L后比较稳定。浓度为0.6mg／L时,模糊秀体潘的净生殖率也达到最大值。1.0mg／L组的世代时间最短,内禀增长率接近最大值。0.6mg／L和1.0mg／L为模糊秀体潘生长比较适宜的食物浓度。热带自然水体中,模糊秀体潘相对其它浮游动物个体小和怀卵率低的现象并非食物不足所致;食物充足条件下的最大成体的个体大小与野外样品接近,也说明自然水体中捕食并没有显著影响成体的个体大小。模糊秀体潘体型较小、身体透明、行动敏捷,容易逃避鱼类的捕食,可能是模糊秀体潘能在食物丰富的热带水体中,特别是透明度较低的富营养化湖泊中能够成为枝角类中优势种的主要原因。     

Slopewash,surface runoff and fine-litter transport in forest and landslide scars in humid-tropical steeplands,luquillo experimental forest,Puerto Rico

Rainfall, slopewash (the erosion of soil particles), surface runoff and fine-litter transport steepland sites in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico (18° 20’ N, 65° 45’ W) were measured from 1991 to 1995. Hillslopes underlain by (1) Cretaceous tuffaceous sandstone and silstone in subtropical rain (tanonuco) forest with vegetation recovering from Hurricane Hugo (1989), and (2) Tertiary quartz diorite in subtropical lower mantone wet (colorado and dwarf) forest with undisturbed forest canopy were compared to recent landslide scars. Monthly surface runoff on these very steep hillslopes (24° to 43°) was only 0·2 to 0·5 per cent of monthly rainfall. Slopewash was higher in sandy loam soils whose parent material is quartz diorite (averaging 46 g m⁻² a⁻¹) than in silty clay loam soils derived from tuffaceous sandstone and siltstone where the average was 9 g m⁻² a⁻¹. Annual slopewash of 100 to 349 g m⁻² on the surfaces of two recent, small landslide scars was measured initially but slopewash decreased to only 3 to 4 g m⁻² a⁻¹ by the end of the study. The mean annual mass of fine litter (mainly leaves and twigs) transported downslope at the forested sites ranged from 5 to 8 g m⁻² and was lower at the tabonuco forest site, where post-Hurricane Hugo recovery is still in progress. Mean annual fine-litter transport was 2·5 g m⁻² on the two landslide scars. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling infiltration enhancement in a tropical urban catchment for improved stormwater management

To mitigate the impacts of impervious surfaces in urban areas, structures such as bioretention systems and permeable pavements have been installed to enhance infiltration in many countries. However, relatively little knowledge is available regarding the performance of such infiltration‐based structures in humid tropical and highly urbanized areas. This study investigates the feasibility of enhancing the infiltration of stormwater in tropical urbanized areas using Singapore as a case study. It first shows that the rainfall depth and intensity are both high, but the time interval between consecutive rainfall event is long in Singapore. It then numerically simulates single‐event local infiltration and finds that the fraction of infiltrated rainfall is actually high. It finally performs catchment‐scale simulations and finds that bioretention systems can enhance infiltration and groundwater recharge particularly during wet periods. However, local mounding of groundwater can be significant and can hinder the performance of those structures. Furthermore, with 5% of catchment area being converted to such structures, the infiltration of the entire catchment is enhanced but still not yet up to the natural level. To increase the overall effectiveness, future studies can look into bioretention systems with underdrain systems. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sedimentological and ichnological signatures of changes in wave,river and tidal influence along a Neogene tropical deltaic shoreline

Analysis of Neogene cores from the Eastern Venezuela Basin along 65 km of a west–east trending shoreline allows characterization of the sedimentological and ichnological signatures of wave, river and tidal processes. The area displays deltas prograding northward from the Guyana Shield. Twenty‐three facies are defined and grouped into four categories (wave‐influenced, river‐influenced, tide‐influenced and basinal). Wave‐dominated deltaic deposits occur mostly in the Tácata Field. The delta plain was characterized by tide‐influenced distributary channels separated by interdistributary bays. Fluvial discharge in the delta front and prodelta was repeatedly interrupted by storm‐wave reworking and suspended sediment fallout. Delta‐front and prodelta deposits contain some ichnotaxa that typically do not occur in brackish water (for example, Chondrites and Phycosiphon). Amalgamated storm deposits are unburrowed or contain vertical Ophiomorpha. Lateral (especially on the updrift side) to the river mouths, waves caused nearly continuous accretion of the associated strandplains. These deposits are the most intensely bioturbated, and are dominated by the estenohaline echinoid‐generated ichnogenus Scolicia. River‐dominated deltaic deposits are present in the Santa Bárbara, Mulata, Carito and El Furrial Fields. Low‐sinuosity rivers characterized the alluvial plain, whereas the subaerial delta plain was occupied by higher‐sinuosity rivers. The subaqueous delta plain includes distributary channels and tide‐influenced interdistributary bays. Further seaward, successions are characterized by terminal distributary‐channel and distributary mouth‐bar deposits, as well as by delta‐front and prodelta deposits showing evidence of sediment gravity‐flow and fluid‐mud emplacement. Delta‐front and prodelta deposits are unbioturbated to sparsely bioturbated, suggesting extreme stress, mostly as a result of high fluvial discharge and generation of sediment gravity flows. Tidal influence is restricted to interdistributary bays, lagoons and some distributary channels. From an ichnological perspective, and in order of decreasing stress levels, four main depositional settings are identified: river‐dominated deltas, tide‐influenced delta plains, wave‐dominated deltas and wave‐dominated strandplain–offshore complexes.     

中国热带第四纪动物群与气候波动

About 70 examples of Quaternary fauna in China‘s tropics are enumerated in this paper. Of which about 40% of the examples can be found even in cooling stages, showing the smaller amplitude of climatic fluctuation during Quaternary. According to the temporal and spatial distribution of tropical faunas, the following characters of climate variation can be evidenced: two main cycles in Early Pleistocene, three main cycles in Middle Pleistocene, two main cycles in Late Pleistocene and Holocene Megathermal. The drop in temperature during the Latest Glacial Period and Neoglaciation has not endangered the existence of tropical faunas. With influence of cooling fluctuation during historical period, some faunas have removed southwards progressively, but disappearance of these animals in China‘s tropics was mainly the result of artificial factors.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book Reviewed in this article: Introduction to Climatology for the Tropics . J. O. Ayoade. Conservation and Management of Natural Resources in the United States . Charles F. Bennett. The Keeping of Animals: Adaptation and Social Relations in Livestock Producing Communities . Riva Berleant-Schiller and Eugenia Shanklin, ed. The Evolution of Geographic Thought in America: A Kentucky Root Wilford A. Bladen and Pradyumna P. Karan, eds. Latin America: Geographical Perspectives , 2nd ed. Harold Blakemore and Clifford T. Smith, ed. The Rural Real Estate Market. Department of Geography Publication Series, No. 18 . Chris Bryant. Urban Geomorphology in Drylands . R. U. Cooke, D. Brunsden, J. C. Doornkamp, and D. K. C. Jones with contributions by J. Griffiths, P. Knott, R. Potter, and R. Russell. Italian Geography, 1960–1980. Meeting of the Status of the Geographic Research in Italy, 1960–1980. Treated under the auspices of Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche and organized by Istituto di Geografia Umana della Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia dell'Università degli Studi di Milano , Giacomo Corna Pellecrini and Carlo Brusa, eds. The Changing Fenland . H. C. Darby. The Future for the City Centre . R. L. Davies and A. G. Champion, eds. Saudi Arabia, Energy, Developmental Planning, and Industrialization . Ragaei El Mallakh, Dorothea H. El Mallakh, eds. For We Are Sold, I and My People: Women and Industry in Mexico's Frontier . Maria Patricia Fernández-Kelly. The Great Lakes Forest: An Environmental and Social History . Susan L. Flader, ed. Regional Transformation and Industrial Revolution: A Geography of the Yorkshire Woolen Industry . Derek Gregory Crime in City Politics . Anne Heinz, Herbert Jacob and Robert L. Lineberry, eds. Revitalizing Cities . H. Briavel Holcomb and Robert A. Beauregard. Cartographic Relief Presentation . Eduard Imhof. H. J. Steward, Trans. Soviet Union: A Geographical Survey . S. V. Kalesnik and V. F. Pavlenko, ed. Cognition and Environment . Stephen Kaplan and Rachel Kaplan. Environmental Protection: The International Dimension . David A. Kay and Harold K. Jacobsen, eds. Mathematical Programming Methods for Geographers and Planners , James Killen. Gentrification Amid Urban Decline: Strategies for America's Older Cities . Michael H. Lang. The North Atlantic Sulphur System . Risto Laulajainen. The Jerusalem Cathedra: Studies in the History, Archaeology, Geography and Ethnography of the Land of Israel, Vol. 2 . Lee I. Levine ed. Jerusalem and Detroit: Recreation Planning and Management . Stanely R. Lieber and Daniel R. Fesenmaier, eds. Heartland and Hinterland: A Geography of Canada . L. D. McCann, ed. Scarborough Where We Live: The Residential Districts of Minneapolis and St. Paul . Judith A. Martin and David A. Lanegran. California: The Geography of Diversity . Crane S. Miller and Richard S. Hyslop. Palo Alto The Dilemma of Amazonian Development . Emilio F. Moran, ed. Boulder Nuclear Waste: Socioeconomic Dimensions of Long-Term Storage . Steve H. Murdock, F. Larry Leistritz, and Rita R. Hamm, eds. Boulder Communism and the Politics of Inequalities . Daniel N. Nelson, ed. The Los Angeles Metropolis . Howard J. Nelson. Dubuque An Historical Geography of Urban System Development: Tidewater Virginia in the 18th Century . James O'Mara. Procedures and Standards for a Multipurpose Cadastre . East Asia: Geographical and Historical Approaches to Foreign Area Studies . Clifton W. Pannell, ed. Dubuque Mackinder: Geography as an Aid to Statecraft . W. H. Parker. Beyond the Urban Fringe: Land Use Issues of Nonmetropolitan America . Rutherford H. Platt and George Macinko, eds. Recreation Geography of the USSR . V. S. Preobrazhensky and V. M. Krivosheyev, eds. Missouri: A Geography . Milton D. Rafferty The Invisible Farmers: Women in Agricultural Production . Carolyn E. Sachs. Cayman Islands Seashore Vegetation: A Study in Comparative Biogeography . Jonathan D. Sauer. Hillslope Materials and Processes . Michael J. Selby. Housing in Britain: The Post-War Experience . John R. Short The Study of Population: Elements, Patterns and Processes . George A. Schnell and Mark Stephen Monmonier. Columbus The Soviet Union: A Systematic Geography . Leslie Symons, ed. The Ottoman Slave Trade and Its Suppression . Ehud R. Toledano. The Impact of Recession on Industry, Employment and the Regions, 1976–1981 . Alan R. Townsend. Landslides and Their Control , 2nd ed. Quido Záruba and Vojtech Mencl. Translated from the Czech by H. Zárubová and V. Mencl.     

High resolution radio refractive index studies in India using airborne microwave refractometers

We discuss high resolution measurements on radio refractive index, in the boundary layer and above the atmosphere in the Indian sub-continent spread over a period of more than a solar cycle by making use of airborne microwave refractometers, operating around 9 GHz. Some atmospheric turbulence parameters comparable with earlier results have also been derived. The results demonstrate sharp gradients of radio refractive index, layer structures and the variability of the boundary layer in time and space. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Unravelling evapotranspiration controls and components in tropical Andean tussock grasslands

The study of the environmental factors that control evapotranspiration and the components of evapotranspiration leads to a better understanding of the actual evapotranspiration (ET) process that links the functioning of the soil, water and atmosphere. It also improves local, regional and global ET modelling. Globally, few studies so far focussed on the controls and components of ET in alpine grasslands, especially in mountainous sites such as the tussock grasslands located in the páramo biome (above 3300 m a.s.l.). The páramo occupies 35 000 km² and provides water resources for many cities in the Andes. In this article, we unveiled the controls on ET and provided the first insights on the contribution of transpiration to ET. We found that the wet páramo is an energy-limited region and net radiation (Rn) is primarily controlling ET. ET was on average 1.7 mm/day. The monthly average evaporative fraction (ET/Rn) was 0.47 and it remained similar for wet and dry periods. The secondary controls on ET were wind speed, aerodynamic resistance and surface resistance that appeared more important for dry periods, where significantly higher ET rates were found (20% increase). During dry events, transpiration was on average 1.5 mm/day (range 0.7–2.7 mm/day), similar to other tussock grasslands in New Zealand (range 0.6–3.3 mm/day). Evidence showed interception contributes more to ET than transpiration. This study sets a precedent towards a better understanding of the evapotranspiration process and will ultimately lead to a better land-atmosphere fluxes modelling in the tropics.     

热带地区云量日变化的气候特征

利用国际卫星云气候计划（ISCCP）1984—2003年共20年云量资料,统计分析了热带地区的云量日变化特征,研究结果表明,云量峰值时间和变化幅度在全球的分布都较为均匀,而海陆差异明显。高云和低云在变化机制上相对独立,其云量日变化并非同步。全球云量日变化由4类基本形式组成,分别为洋面高云型、陆面高云型、洋面低云型和陆面低云型。高云日变化与地表辐射加热状况密切相关,其形式在洋面和陆面类似,均为早晨出现云量最小值而午后到达云量峰值。相比于洋面,陆面高云的峰值在夜间持续时间较长,可发展至更为稳定深厚的云系。低云多在局地5时附近出现云量峰值,18时左右达到云量极小值,其中陆面低云在12时出现第二峰值。