Effects of topography and land use on woody plant species composition and beta diversity in an arid Trans-Himalayan landscape,Nepal

Distribution patterns of plant species are believed to be impacted by small-scale habitat heterogeneity. However, there have been few comparative studies examining how woody vegetation composition and diversity varies with aspects of different orientations in the Trans-Himalayan region at a local scale. Here, we examined the effects of incoming solar radiation on variation in woody species composition and compared the diversity between the northeast- and southwest-facing slopes in a Trans-Himalayan valley of Nepal. We also examined the implicit interactions between slope orientation and land use in determining the compositional variations between the slopes. We selected two pairs of northeast- and southwest-facing slopes where the first pair has a similar land use and differs in exposure only（Pisang site） while the other pair has clear differences in land use in addition to slope exposure（Braka site）. In each site, we sampled 72 plots（36 on each slope） in which the presence and absence of woody species, environmental variables, and disturbance were recorded. Correspondence Analysis（CA） results suggested that the woody species composition significantly varied between northeast- and southwest-facing slopes at both sites, and was significantly correlated with measured environmental variables such as radiation index, altitude, and canopy openness. In the Braka site,mean alpha diversity was significantly higher on southwest-facing slopes. In contrast, beta diversity and gamma diversity were greater on northeast-facing slopes at both sites. Our results suggest that topographic variables（e.g., radiation index） affect species composition between the slopes, likely due to their influence on small scale abiotic environmental variables. However, the effects of land use, such as livestock browsing/grazing may interact with the effects of slope exposure, effectively reducing differences in species composition within slopes but enhancing the differences in beta diversity between contrasting slopes in the Br     

Assessment of pollution risk ascribed to Santa Margarida Military Camp activities (Portugal)

Santa Margarida Military Camp (S.M.M.C.) is the only one Portuguese military training area, including firing ranges for tactical military manoeuvres of mechanised divisions. For this reason, various negative effects on the environment were expected due to the military activities, as the Military Camp’s area is classified as a high vulnerability area to pollution of its multilayer porous aquifers. The aim of this study was to identify and characterise local/regional geochemical impacts caused by the continuing military training activities performed at S.M.M.C. in the course of 52 years. An overview of the geochemical research issues as a basis for risk assessment is presented. A special attention has been put on the quality of local and regional surface waters, shallow groundwaters and groundwaters. Local soils and sediments as well as fragments of shells and bullets were sampled and analysed. The results so far obtained, indicated that none pollution effects were a consequence of the military training activities. Till now, the geochemical signatures such as, high levels of K, Cl and NO₃ in waters, detected in particular sites, should be faced as tracers of diffuse pollution ascribed to urban waste disposal and cattle breading.     

利用小波分析研究近地空间高能电子的周期变化特征

利用小波变换对GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites)系列卫星(GOES 10/11) 1999年3月至2010年12月和风云2号系列卫星(FY 2C/2D) 2004年10月至2012年5月记录的2 MeV高能电子通量变化情况进行了相关研究,发现GOES卫星观测到的高能电子通量存在明显的13.9 d、 27.7 d、 187.0 d和342.9 d周期, FY卫星观测到的高能电子通量存在明显的13.9 d、27.7 d、222.3 d和374.0 d周期,在某些年份GOES和FY卫星均存在9 d的周期,与地磁Dst (赤道环电流指数)、 AE (极光电射流指数)指数周期高度相似.将高能电子通量和Dst、AE指数进行交叉小波分析,并利用该算法的多分辨率特点以及时域、频域局部化分析方法,将数据按不同频率进行分解,从低频系数重构图像和交叉小波谱图可以清楚看出高能电子通量和地磁指数的关系.基于FY和GOES卫星高能电子通量良好的相关性,对多卫星高能电子通量变化短周期相同、中长周期不同进一步研究,对比发现不同地磁扰动引起的GOES和FY卫星高能电子通量变化存在各向异性,小磁暴也可以对高能电子通量造成和强磁暴一样的效果,并且某些时候存在地方时一致的24 h周期.这一结果表明对地磁宁静期高能电子研究至关重要,同时对理解太阳活动,预报高能电子能谱和预警深层充电事件以及验证预测磁暴、亚暴等事件具有重要意义.     

南通市主要环境岩土工程问题初探

随着南通经济的飞速发展和城市化进程的加快,引发了一系列环境岩土工程问题,主要有地面沉降、江岸坍塌、软土变形、砂土液化、水土污染等,影响了南通市社会和经济的可持续发展。分析了南通市的主要环境岩土工程问题,提出了相应的防治对策建议。     

The geochemistry of gossans associated with Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper deposit,Rafsanjan, Kerman,Iran: Implications for exploration and the environment

The Sarcheshmeh copper deposit is one of the world's largest Oligo-Miocene porphyry copper deposits in a continental arc setting with a well developed supergene sulfide zone, covered mainly by a hematitic gossan. Supergene oxidation and leaching, have developed a chalcocite enrichment blanket averaging 1.99% Cu, more than twice that of hypogene zone (0.89% Cu). The mature gossans overlying the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper ores contain abundant hematite with variable amounts of goethite and jarosite, whereas immature gossans consist of iron-oxides, malachite, azurite and chrysocolla. In mature gossans, Au, Mo and Ag give significant anomalies much higher than the background concentrations. However, Cu has been leached in mature gossans and gives values close or even less than the normal or crustal content (< 36.7 ppm). Immature gossans are enriched in Cu (160.3 ppm), Zn (826.7 ppm), and Pb (88.6 ppm). Jarosite- and goethite-bearing gossans may have developed over the pyritic shell of most Iranian porphyry copper deposits with pyrite–chalcopyrite ratios greater than 10 and therefore, do not necessarily indicate a promising sulfide-enriched ore (Kader and Ijo). Hematite-bearing gossans overlying nonreactive alteration halos with pyrite–chalcopyrite ratios about 1.5 and quartz stringers have significant supergene sulfide ores (Sarcheshmeh and Miduk). The copper grade in supergene sulfide zone of Sarcheshmeh copper deposit ranges from 0.78% in propylitized rocks to 3.4% in sericitized volcanic rocks, corresponding to the increasing chalcopyrite–pyrite or chalcocite–pyrite ratios from 0.3 to 3, respectively. Immature gossans with dominant malachite and chrysocolla associated with jarosite and goethite give the most weakly developed enrichment zone, as at God-e-Kolvari. The average anomalous values of Au (59.6 ppb), Mo (42.5 ppm) and Ag (2.6 ppm) in mature gossans associated with the Sarcheshmeh copper mine may be a criterion that provides a significant exploration target for regional metallogenic blind porphyry ore districts in central Iranian volcano–plutonic continental arc settings. Drilling for new porphyry ores should be targeted where hematitic gossans are well developed. The ongoing gossan formation may result in natural acidic rock drainage (ARD).     

Hydrologic and sediment modelling studies in the environmental impact assessment of a major tropical dam project

A computer-based study of the impact of the proposed Wabo hydroelectric scheme on the Purari River, Papua New Guinea was carried out. The HEC-6 model, Scour and Deposition in Rivers and Reservoirs developed by the Hydrologic Engineering Centre was used to simulate the effect of the dam on sediment transport and erosion in the lower Purari. Two runs with the model were carried out. The first one was used to establish baseline conditions and the second modelled dam impact. Before the study was carried out, data had to be collected on channel geometry, sediment input, river bed material size composition and hydraulic conditions in the river. Supplementary models also had to be developed to fill in gaps in runoff records and to describe flow in the river during power generation. Results of the investigation indicate that limited erosion will occur because of bed-armouring and the river will adjust towards a new equilibrium condition quite rapidly. The sediment output of the river into the Purari delta will change, load in the clay, silt and sand/gravel fractions decreasing by 22, 53 and 78 per cent respectively.     

Uranium and Thorium Isotope Distribution in an Offshore Bottom Sediment Core of the Selenga Delta, Lake Baikal, Siberia

Distribution of uranium and thorium isotopes in a short sediment core obtained offshore of the Selenga Delta in Lake Baikal, Siberia, was investigated to establish their sedimentary behaviors and to look for a linkage to paleoenvironmental changes. The sediments were composed of dominantly fine detrital materials (70–85%) and a relatively high sedimentation rate (ca. 0.03 cm y⁻¹). The depth profile of ²³⁸U content in bulk sediment samples showed a large variation of 70–123 Bq kg⁻¹, while ²³²Th profile showed a relatively narrow range from 36 to 56 Bq kg⁻¹. The observed ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratios revealed a marked disequilibrium ranging from 1.53 to 1.84 with a mean value of 1.71 ± 0.07, demonstrating the presence of 50–80% authigenic ²³⁸U in the bulk sediments. The distribution of this authigenic ²³⁸U did not display any clear correlation with variations in sediment composition (organic, carbonate, Bio-SiO₂ and mineral contents) including grain size median. The profile of terrigenous ²³⁸U showed a relatively similar pattern to that of ²³²Th. Results of sequential leaching indicate that ²³⁸U in Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides fractions were responsible for the distribution of authigenic ²³⁸U rather than in Bio-SiO₂ fraction. The distribution of authigenic ²³⁸U in the bottom sediments may be explained by the fluctuation of U adsorption capacity on particles including organic matter and Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides before they entered the lake. This study highlights the potential use of authigenic and terrigenous U (Th) signatures in sediments to trace the behavior of U (Th) and to reconstruct environmental (e.g., hydrological) changes in the lake catchment area.     

我国三稀矿产资源遥感调查综述

遥感技术具有宏观、经济、快速、准确等技术优势,特别是近年来高空间分辨率、高光谱、雷达等遥感技术的发展十分迅速,为三稀矿产资源调查提供了一种全新的技术手段。遥感技术应用于三稀矿产资源调查尚处于起步阶段,目前主要在稀土矿产资源调查中应用较多,在稀有稀散金属调查中应用非常欠缺,主要应用方向包括地质找矿、矿产资源开采现状调查、环境监测等。通过分析三稀矿产资源的成矿规律,建立相应的遥感找矿模型,可以缩小找矿靶区,为三稀矿产资源的找矿调查提供快捷有效的技术支撑;此外,高空间分辨率遥感数据可以提取矿山的地表开采信息,通过与矿权信息的叠加分析,实时动态地监测三稀矿产资源的开采现状,为矿政管理提供依据;最后,遥感技术可以提取三稀矿山在开采过程中造成的地表环境变化信息,如植被破坏、土地压覆、水体污染、地质灾害等,获取环境变化的面积、强度等要素信息,为三稀矿产资源环境监测提供准确评估。今后应加强多源遥感数据在三稀矿产资源调查中的技术方法研究,建立不同类型三稀矿产资源的遥感找矿模型,并推进全国三稀矿产资源开采现状与环境监测的广度与力度,建立星-空-地一体化的三稀矿产资源调查体系。     

双黑洞系统的不同起源及其参数分布

双黑洞组成的近密双星系统并合是激光干涉仪引力波天文台等地基引力波探测器的主要探测对象。随着探测器灵敏度的提高,大量该类信号的探测将成为进一步研究黑洞物理的有效工具。但是目前对双黑洞系统的起源机制和内禀参数分布等物理问题的研究还不够深入,例如由引力波探测得到的黑洞质量分布与X射线双星观测的结果存在较大差异,还未有很好的理论模型可解释该结果。目前普遍认为双黑洞系统主要有两种起源:大质量双星演化机制和动力学起源机制。基于这两类起源的双黑洞系统在质量、自旋分布等方面存在差异。因此可在贝叶斯理论框架下,利用引力波信号携带的波源质量和自旋等信息,推断波源起源,计算不同起源的双黑洞系统所占比例,以及检验质量自旋等参数分布的差异。     

Alternatives of strategic environmental assessment for road traffic development planning—Case of Changchun City, China

On analyzing the achievement of the goal in the modern urban road traffic development planning, the alternative of Strategic Environmental Assessment for urban traffic planning should include the basic scheme, the extended scheme and the environmental protection scheme. This study from different perspectives designed the alternatives for Changchun's county-level road and urban road system planning, and used the method of System Dynamics to simulate, optimize and analyze those alternatives. Thereafter, some methods including the correlation function method were used to comprehensively assess and rank those alternatives for recommending two best alternatives with the consideration to the indicators, such as the total emission amount of CO, the total emission amount of nitrogen oxides, the noise value, the road construction cost, the fossil oil consumption and the traffic capacity. The result showed that the study would provide substantial supports for decision-makers to make more scientific decisions and promote the sustainable urban traffic in Changchun City.