A comparative study of geothermal and meteorological records of climate change in Kamchatka

To reconstruct the recent climate history in Kamchatka, a series of repeated precise temperature logs were performed in a number of boreholes located in a broad east-west strip (between 52 and 54°N) in the central part of Kamchatka west of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski. Within three years more than 30 temperature logs were performed in 10 holes (one up to six logs per hole) to the depth of up to 400 metres. Measured temperature gradients varied in a broad interval 0 to 60 mK/m and in some holes a sizeable variation in the subsurface temperatures due to advective heat transport by underground water was observed. Measured data were compared with older temperature profiles obtained in the early eighties by Sugrobov and Yanovsky (1993). Even when older data are of poorer precision (accuracy of about 0.1 K), they presented valuable information of the subsurface temperature conditions existing 20–25 years ago. Borehole observations and the inverted ground surface temperature histories (GSTHs) used for the paleoclimate reconstruction were complemented with a detailed survey of meteorological data. Namely, the long-term surface air temperature (SAT) and precipitation records from Petropavlovsk station (in operation since 1890) were used together with similar data from a number of local subsidiary meteo-stations operating in Central Kamchatka since 1950. Regardless of extreme complexity of the local meteorological/climate conditions, diversity of borehole sites and calibration of measuring devices used during the whole campaign, the results of the climate reconstruction supported a general warming of about 1 K characteristic for the 20th century, which followed an inexpressive cooler period typical for the most of the 19th century. In the last three to four decades the warming rate has been locally increasing up to 0.02 K/year. It was also shown that the snow cover played a dominant role in the penetration of the climate “signal” to depth and could considerably smooth down the subsurface response to the changes occurred on the surface.     

Living with limits: growth,resources, and climate change

Is it possible for all of humanity to enjoy the standards of living of today's high-income countries? What would happen if these limits were reached, perhaps because of climate change or a shortage of natural resources essential to production? How would society manage – or fail to manage – such limits? Notwithstanding the current financial and economic crises, these are perhaps the biggest questions confronting our species (and of a host of other species, who are the victims of our decisions). The article begins by considering the biggest economic event of our lifetimes – the ‘great convergence’ and its implications for the demand for resources. The discussion then turns to a specific limit on our development, climate change, which is different from most other limits, because it involves a global public good: the atmosphere. What such limits might mean for our civilization is discussed. One can persuade people to tackle climate change only if those concerned with the dangers persuade ordinary people that action will not come at the expense of their prosperity.     

近50年气候变化对滦河上游径流的影响

为了解近50年滦河上游气温和降水气候的变化特征、趋势及其对该流域径流量的影响,利用1956-2009年滦河上游的实测气温、降水量和径流深资料,分析了该流域气温、降水和径流深的年均和季度变化的时间序列,并建立了该流域气候变化对径流影响的复相关回归模型。结果表明,年径流深随着年降水量的减少而减少,随着年平均气温的升高而减少;春、夏和秋季的径流深随着同期降水量和气温的变化趋势与年际变化趋势基本一致,但冬季径流深则相反,而且其变化幅度非常小。     

我国岩溶资源环境领域的创新问题

中国岩溶地区资源环境问题突出,制约着经济社会的发展。“十八大”以来国家大力推进科技创新和生态文明建设。科技创新不仅有助于解决和应对岩溶地区的资源环境问题,也将推动岩溶科学的发展,服务我国生态文明建设。今后的岩溶研究应当落实地球系统科学在岩溶学中的应用,发挥我国岩溶研究的地域优势,探索我国岩溶关键带的特征和重要过程;加强岩溶作用应对全球变化、岩溶碳汇速率和稳定性的研究,建立应对极端气候的长效机制;考虑古纬度和古气候对古岩溶形成的影响;深入探索微生物对深部碳酸盐岩岩溶形成的作用;系统梳理和总结我国第一期石漠化治理工程的经验和存在的问题,更好地指导下一步的治理工作;思考从南北方岩溶分界线的角度开展岩溶自然遗产地的申报工作;将现代大数据等技术运用到岩溶资源环境、水文地质研究中,做好地质灾害的预警预报和应对资源短缺问题的研究,服务国家需求。     

Land use change under conditions of high population pressure: the case of Java

A long history of increases in population pressure in Java has caused agricultural land use to expand and intensify. More recent land use changes caused the conversion of prime agricultural land into residential and industrial area. Results of a dynamic, regional-scale, land use change model are presented, defining the spatial distribution of these land use changes. The model is based on multi-scale modelling of the relations between land use and socio-economic and biophysical determinants. Historical validation showed that the model can adequately simulate the pattern of land use change. Future patterns of land use change between 1994 and 2010 are simulated assuming further urbanization. The results suggest that most intensive land use changes will occur in Java's lowland areas.     

Past,present and future vegetation-cloud feedbacks in the Amazon Basin

To begin exploring the underlying mechanisms that couple vegetation to cloud formation processes, we derive the lifting condensation level (LCL) to estimate cumulus cloud base height. Using a fully coupled land–ocean–atmosphere general circulation model (HadCM3LC), we investigate Amazonian forest feedbacks on cloud formation over three geological periods; modern-day (a.d. 1970–1990), the last glacial maximum (LGM; 21 kya), and under a future climate scenario (IS92a; a.d. 2070–2090). Results indicate that for both past and future climate scenarios, LCL is higher relative to modern-day. Statistical analyses indicate that the 800 m increase in LCL during the LGM is related primarily to the drier atmosphere promoted by lower tropical sea surface temperatures. In contrast, the predicted 1,000 m increase in LCL in the future scenario is the result of a large increase in surface temperature and reduced vegetation cover.     

2℃温升目标下中国排放配额分析

本文以国际社会当前所有主要分配方案为基础,研究了2℃温升目标下中国2011-2050年间排放配额,通过控制变量进一步分析了配额分配对于主要参数设置的敏感性。研究结果表明,在与2℃目标相兼容的RCP2.6路径下,到2050年中国CO₂累计排放配额范围为150～440 Gt CO₂,基于等人均排放的分配方式已经变得最不利于中国。为维护合理的排放权益,在气候谈判中中国必须坚持对历史排放的完整追溯。全球排放路径的设定对中国配额也有着非常显著的影响,当2050年全球配额比2010年排放减少40%～50%时,中国在2℃目标下CO₂累计配额范围为151～474 Gt CO₂,当减少50%～60%时为138～478 Gt CO₂,构成中国配额公平范围下限的方案受排放路径的影响更大。     

青藏高原多年冻土区地温监测结果分析

Ground temperatures monitored at four observation sites in permafrost regions on the Tibetan Plateau was analyzed. It was found that the ground temperature at the depth of 12～20 m increased 0.2～0.4 K and the permafrost thickness decreased 4～5 m from the base in Xidatan Site from 1975 to 1989; and the ground temperature at the depth of 6～15 m increased 0.2～0.4 K in Kunlun Pass Site from 1982 to 1997. Contrast observations show that a sand cover, 15～20 cm in depth, can result in a ground temperature decrease of 0.1～ 0.2 K in MS66 Site; and a removal of vegetation can result in a ground temperature decrease of some 0.2 K in Hoh Xil Site. The monitor demonstrates that many factors that control permafrost developing have duality, e.g., sand and vegetation are able to increase or decrease the ground temperature. These factors, in conjunction with permafrost behaviour, play different roles under different conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to study, understand and evaluate permafrost and its engineering geological properties taking the viewpoint of dynamic variation.     

基于CA模型的佛山市建设用地动态变化研究

元胞自动机具有能模拟复杂动态系统的强大能力,本文采用了多约束条件的元胞自动机模型,以广东佛山市2000年、2006年和2012年建设用地的变化为例,从自然、社会经济发展等方面综合考虑选取了高程、坡度、人口密度、道路交通、水系等对城市建设用地发展变化起决定作用的诸多因子,利用马尔科夫概率矩阵计算2000年~2006年建设用地变化,推算建设用地转移总量。结合Logistic-CA模型和决策树-CA模型,预测模拟了2012年的建设用地分布并与实际相比较,分析其整体精度和误差来源。结果显示基于CA模型的建设用地动态发展模拟具有良好的效果,可以为城市的发展规划,过程演变提供虚拟的实验手段和科学依据。     

基于土地利用变化的生态风险评价——以广西岑溪市为例

该文以1999年及2009年岑溪市土地利用数据为来源,在GIS的支持下,分析了10年来研究区内的土地利用变化的时空特点及其转化过程,结合土地利用综合指数、耕地垦殖指数、植被覆盖指数、景观破碎度指数评价了土地利用变化的生态风险。研究表明：研究区域内10年间土地利用类型发生了复杂的相互转换,其中林草地、建设用地和耕地为研究区内变化面积最大的3种土地利用类型;受经济快速发展和城市化进程加快的影响,土地利用的广度和深度不断增大,全市土地利用趋于破碎化,土地生态风险程度有所增加。