Selection and quality assessment of Landsat data for the North American forest dynamics forest history maps of the US

Using the NASA Earth Exchange platform, the North American Forest Dynamics (NAFD) project mapped forest history wall-to-wall, annually for the contiguous US (1986–2010) using the Vegetation Change Tracker algorithm. As with any effort to identify real changes in remotely sensed time-series, data gaps, shifts in seasonality, misregistration, inconsistent radiometry and cloud contamination can be sources of error. We discuss the NAFD image selection and processing stream (NISPS) that was designed to minimize these sources of error. The NISPS image quality assessments highlighted issues with the Landsat archive and metadata including inadequate georegistration, unreliability of the pre-2009 L5 cloud cover assessments algorithm, missing growing-season imagery and paucity of clear views. Assessment maps of Landsat 5–7 image quantities and qualities are presented that offer novel perspectives on the growing-season archive considered for this study. Over 150,000+ Landsat images were considered for the NAFD project. Optimally, one high quality cloud-free image in each year or a total of 12,152 images would be used. However, to accommodate data gaps and cloud/shadow contamination 23,338 images were needed. In 220 specific path-row image years no acceptable images were found resulting in data gaps in the annual national map products.     

Determination of the factors governing soil erodibility using hyperspectral visible and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Soil erodibility, which is difficult to estimate and upscaling, was determined in this study using multiple spectral models of soil properties (soil organic matter (SOM), water-stable aggregates (WSA) > 0.25 mm, the geometric mean radius (D_g)). Herein, the soil erodibility indicators were calculated, and soil properties were quantitatively analyzed based on laboratory simulation experiments involving two selected contrasting soils. In addition, continuous wavelet transformation was applied to the reflectance spectra (350–2500 nm) of 65 soil samples from the study area. To build the relationship, the soil properties that control erodibility were identified prior to the spectral analysis. In this study, the SOM, D_g and WSA >0.25 mm were selected to represent the most significant soil properties controlling erodibility and describe the erodibility indicator based on a logarithmic regression model as a function of SOM or WSA > 0.25 mm. Five, six and three wavelet features were observed to calibrate the estimated soil properties model, and the best performance was obtained with a combination feature regression model for SOM (R² = 0.86, p < 0.01), D_g (R² = 0.79, p < 0.01) and WSA >0.25 mm (R² = 0.61, p < 0.01), respectively. One part of the wavelet features captured amplitude variations in the broad shape of the reflectance spectra, and another part captured variations in the shape and depth of the soil dry substances. The wavelet features for the validated dataset used to predict the SOM, WSA >0.25 mm and D_g were not significantly different compared with the calibrated dataset. The synthesized spectral models of soil properties, and the formation of a new equation for soil erodibility transformed from the spectral models of soil properties are presented in this study. These results show that a spectral analytical approach can be applied to complex datasets and provide new insights into emerging dynamic variation with erodibility estimation.     

Analysing the relationship between drought and soil erosion using vegetation health index and RUSLE models in Godavari middle sub-basin,India

Drought is a natural phenomenon posing severe implications for soil, groundwater and agricultural yield. It has been recognized as one of the most pervasive global change drivers to affect the soil. Soil being a weakly renewable resource takes a long time to form, but it takes no time to degrade. However, the response of soil to drought conditions as soil loss is not manifested in the existing literature. Thus, this study makes a concerted effort to analyze the relationship between drought conditions and soil erosion in the middle sub-basin of the Godavari River in India. MODIS remote sensing data was utilized for driving drought indices during 2000–2019. Firstly, we constricted Temperature condition index (TCI) and Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) from Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) derived from MODIS data. TCI and VCI were then integrated to determine the Vegetation Health Index (VHI). Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was utilized for estimating soil loss. The relationship between drought condition and vegetation was ascertained using the Pearson correlation. Most of the northern and southern watersheds experienced severe drought condition in the sub-basin during 2000–2019. The mean frequency of the drought occurrence was 7.95 months. The average soil erosion in the sub-basin was estimated to be 9.88 t ha^?1 year^?1. A positive relationship was observed between drought indices and soil erosion values (r value being 0.35). However, wide variations were observed in the distribution of spatial correlation. Among various factors, the slope length and steepness were found to be the main drivers of soil erosion in the sub-basin. Thus, the study calls for policy measures to lessen the impact of drought and soil erosion.     

强夯置换软土中碎石墩形成过程的试验研究

强夯置换工程要求保证夯沉量、置换墩长度等设计指标,通常通过试夯确定必要夯击次数。研究置换墩形成机制,确定夯锤能量释放时间、填料运动规律、锤底动压力等因素,对优化强夯置换工艺有重要作用。目前有关置换墩形成机制的研究较少,往往套用强夯工程的基本参数或机制来解决。针对这一问题设计了一种模型试验方法,研究强夯冲击下填料、软土与夯锤之间的相互作用过程。试验研究表明：每次夯击中夯锤的运动加速度曲线可以分为4个阶段,分别代表了夯锤作用下土体-填料的不同运动过程;通过分析夯锤的动态力-位移曲线,阐述各阶段随夯击和填料次数变化而发生的变化及原因;随填料次数的增加,在相同夯击能下,每次夯击中夯锤的能量释放时间减小,峰值动态力增加,这反映了随着夯击次数增加,软土基础中碎石墩逐渐形成的过程。     

地质系统的复杂性--地质科学的基本问题(Ⅱ)

笔者根据其所提出的“地质作用与时空结构是一切地质现象的本质与核心”的自然哲学理念将地质科学的学科体系划分为地球物质的成分与结构、地质作用、地质学场与地质系统的演化等四大基本领域,它与9个重大基础地质问题以及与其相关的基础理论问题相对应（表2）,笔者将其已发表的地质科学的复杂性理论“地质作用的临界过程动力学－地质系统在混沌边缘分形生长”应用于研究9个重大基础地质问题,着重对于其中所包含的主要基础理论问题的实质及其理论与研究方法作较深入而简要的剖析。目的是通过将地质系统的复杂性作为地质科学的基本问题的新视角对古老而常新的地质科学进行再认识,将重大基础地质问题的研究提高到非线性科学和复杂性理论的层次,并实现地质科学向精确科学的跨越,取得突破性进展。     

陆面模式中土壤冻融过程参数化研究进展

土壤冻融过程在寒区水文和气候系统中有着重要作用。陆面模式中土壤冻融过程的参数化对模式的设计和模拟结果有着关键作用。通过对广泛应用的Bucket，SIB，BATS，VIC，BEAS， LSM等几种主要的陆面模式中的冻融过程参数化方案进行了总结和比较。首先，详尽地描述了土壤冻融与气候变化的数值模拟研究，总结和评述了土壤冻融过程对气候变化的作用。其次，对几种主要的陆面过程模式在土壤水热参数化方案中对冻融过程的考虑及其特点进行了比较和讨论。还对冻结深度和冻结周期的预报模式进行了简介，最后对该领域当前面临的主要研究问题进行了探讨和阐述。     

软流层静压推力及其板块动力学意义

地幔软流层之上漂浮着地球板块,软流层对板块存在流体静压——软流层静压推力。对海洋板块而言,软流层静压推力在物理意义上与传统的分布力型洋脊推力没有差别。假定板块内部的应力场在水平和竖直方向上互相解耦,可利用二维球壳有限单元模型计算板内应力场的水平分量,并根据重力均衡理论计算其竖直分量,进而计算其差分应力场。利用软流层静压推力的概念,在研究有关的板块动力学问题时,能够充分利用观测资料中的应力状态信息作为约束条件,简明有效地解释部分海洋与大陆过渡区域及重力非均衡区域的复杂应力场图象。     

关于秦岭造山带

纪念老一代地球科学家李四光先生,思考地球科学与大地构造学的创新发展。文章以秦岭造山带为例思考大陆复合造山及其动力学,认知概括秦岭造山带基本属性与特质,探索认识中小多板块多期洋陆俯冲造山-陆-陆板块俯冲碰撞造山的板块复合造山,并又强烈叠加复合陆内造山,造成复杂组成与结构,形成立交桥式四维流变学分层的多层非耦合动态演化的大陆复合造山带模型,及其新的演化趋势动态和构成国家人类需求的成矿成藏物质财富与宜居的地表系统环境等,期望前瞻探索认知地球发展的未来。文章还就秦岭造山带几个有争议的问题,进行简要讨论,共求新的探索研究发展。期盼学习李四光先生学术理论精华,尤其在深化发展板块构造,探索认知大陆构造与动力学方面,创新发展地质力学,以宇宙太阳系视野探索地球动力学,推动大地构造新发展。      

Timings of early crustal activity in southern highlands of Mars:Periods of crustal stretching and shortening

Extensional and compressional structures are globally abundant on Mars. Distribution of these structures and their ages constrain the crustal stress state and tectonic evolution of the planet. Here in this paper, we report on our investigation over the distribution of the tectonic structures and timings of the associated stress fields from the Noachis-Sabaea region. Thereafter, we hypothesize possible origins in relation to the internal/external processes through detailed morphostructural mapping. In doing so, we have extracted the absolute model ages of these linear tectonic structures using crater size-frequency distribution measurements, buffered crater counting in particular. The estimated ages indicate that the tectonic structures are younger than the mega impacts events(especially Hellas) and instead they reveal two dominant phases of interior dynamics prevailing on the southern highlands, firstly the extensional phase terminating around3.8 Ga forming grabens and then compressional phase around 3.5-3.6 Ga producing wrinkle ridges and lobate scarps. These derived absolute model ages of the grabens exhibit the age ca. 100 Ma younger than the previously documented end of the global extensional phase. The following compressional activity corresponds to the peak of global contraction period in Early Hesperian. Therefore, we conclude that the planet wide heat loss mechanism, involving crustal stretching coupled with gravitationally driven relaxation(i.e.,lithospheric mobility) resulted in the extensional structures around Late Noachian(around 3.8 Ga). Lately cooling related global contraction generated compressional stress ensuing shortening of the upper crust of the southern highlands at the Early Hesperian period(around 3.5-3.6 Ga).     

Selenium content in soils from Murcia Region (SE,Spain)

The objective of this study was to determine the selenium content in soils from the Region of Murcia (SE, Spain) and to study the possible relationship between mineralogical composition, soil properties and selenium content. In addition, generic reference level (GRL) for selenium was determined according to Spanish legislation. For this study, 490 samples were selected in areas subjected to agricultural activity or abandoned agricultural soils with natural vegetation. Five different zones were established in order to study selenium variability. Four different mineralogical groups were established, based on significant relationship with the mineralogical composition, and each sample was included in one mineralogical group. The results showed that the concentration of selenium is correlated with the electrical conductivity, sulphate content and with the mineralogical composition, particularly positively with quartz and in a negative way with calcite percentage. In addition, selenium level was positively correlated with the phyllosilicate content. Established GRL for selenium varies with the mineralogical group, having a great transcendence from the legal and economic points of view.