Stable isotopic signatures of the modern land snail Eremina desertorum from a low-latitude (hot) dry desert—A study from the Petrified Forest,New Cairo,Egypt

This study was conducted on recent desert samples—including (1) soils, (2) plants, (3) the shell, and (4) organic matter from modern specimens of the land snail Eremina desertorum—which were collected at several altitudes (316–360 m above sea level) from a site in the New Cairo Petrified Forest. The soils and shell_{E. desertorum} were analyzed for carbonate composition and isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C). The plants and organic matter_{E. desertorum} were analyzed for organic carbon content and δ¹³C. The soil carbonate, consisting of calcite plus minor dolomite, has δ¹⁸O values from −3.19 to −1.78‰ and δ¹³C values −1.79 to −0.27‰; covariance between the two values accords with arid climatic conditions. The local plants include C3 and C4 types, with the latter being dominant. Each type has distinctive bulk organic carbon δ¹³C values: −26.51 to −25.36‰ for C3-type, and −13.74 to −12.43‰ for C4-type plants.The carbonate of the shell_{E. desertorum} is composed of aragonite plus minor calcite, with relatively homogenous isotopic compositions (δ¹⁸O_mean = −0.28 ± 0.22‰; δ¹³C_mean = −4.46 ± 0.58‰). Most of the δ¹⁸O values (based on a model for oxygen isotope fractionation in an aragonite-water system) are consistent with evaporated water signatures. The organic matter_{E. desertorum} varies only slightly in bulk organic carbon δ¹³C values (−21.78 ± 1.20‰) and these values suggest that the snail consumed more of C3-type than C4-type plants. The overall offset in δ¹³C values (−17.32‰) observed between shell_{E. desertorum} carbonate and organic matter_{E. desertorum} exceeds the value expected for vegetation input, and implies that 30% of carbon in the shell_{E. desertorum} carbonate comes from the consumption of limestone material.     

Groundwater recharge through an alluvial fan in the Atacama Desert,northern Chile: mechanisms,magnitudes and causes

The Chacarilla fan in the Atacama Desert is one of several formed in the Late Miocene at the foot of the Pre‐Andean Cordillera overlying the large, complex, Pampa Tamarugal aquifer contained in the continental clastic sediments of the fore‐arc basin. The Pampa Tamarugal aquifer is a strategic source of water for northern Chile but there is continuing doubt over the resource magnitude and recharge. During January 2000 a 1 in 4 year storm in the Andes delivered a 34 million m³ flash flood to the fan apex where c. 70% percolated to the underlying aquifers. Groundwater recharge through the fan is calculated to be a minimum of 200 l/s or 6% of the long‐term catchment rainfall. These figures are supported by hydrochemical data that suggest that recharge may be 9% of long‐term rainfall. Isotopic data suggest groundwater less than 50 years old is transmitted westward through the permeable sheetflood sediments of the fan overlying the main aquifer. Analysis of this and other events shows that the hydrological system is non‐linear with positive feedback. The magnitude of groundwater recharge is dependent on climatic variations, antecedent soil moisture storage and changes in channel characteristics. Long‐term declines in groundwater level may partly result from climatic fluctuations and the causes of such fluctuations are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The extent of desertification on Saudi Arabia

Desertification is the process that turns productive deserts into non-productive deserts as a result of poor land-management. Desertification reduces the ability of land to support life, affecting wild species, domestic animals, agricultural crops and humans. The reduction in plant cover that accompanies desertification leads to accelerated soil erosion by wind and water. South Africa is losing approximately 300–400 million tons of topsoil every year. As vegetation cover and soil layer are reduced, rain fall impact and run-off increases. This paper discusses the extent of desertification, its potential threat to sustained irrigated agriculture and possible measures adopted to control ongoing desertification processes to minimize the loss of agricultural productivity in an arid country such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.     

巴丹吉林沙漠湖泊与地下水的补给来源及化学组成(英文)

Based on the analysis of ion chemical composition of lake water and shallow groundwater in the Badain Jaran Desert, this paper discussed the characteristics of ion chemical composition, spatial variation of lake water, and possible supply sources of lake water and groundwater in the desert areas. The results show that the pH, salinity, TDS and electrical conductivity of the lake water are greater than those of groundwater. The ion con-tents of water samples are dominated by Na+ and Cl?. Most of the higher salinity lakes are Na (K)-Cl-(SO4) type, and a few of low salinity lakes belong to the Na-(Mg)-(Ca)-Cl-(SO4)-(HCO3) type. Most of the groundwater is Na-(Ca)-(Mg)-Cl-(SO4)-(HCO3) type, attributed to subsaline lake, and only a few present the Na-Cl-SO4 type, flowing under saline lake. The pH, salinity, TDS and electrical conductivity in the southeastern lakes are relatively low, and there are slightly alkaline lakes. The pH, salinity, TDS and electrical conductivity in the northern lakes are much greater than those of the southeastern lakes, and the northern lakes are moderately alkaline and saline ones. In the southeastern part of the Badain Jaran Desert, the ion chemical characteristics of the lake water from south to north show a changing trend of sub-saline →saline→hypersaline. The changing trend of chemical compositions of ions in recent 9 years indicates that most of the ion contents have a shade of reduction in Boritaolegai, Badain, Nuoertu and Huhejilin lakes, which state clearly that the amount of fresh water supply is increasing in the 9-year period. The ion chemical composition of the lake water reveals that the flow direction of lake water is from southeast to northwest in the Badain Jaran Desert. The ion chemical composition, moisture content of sand layer water level height and hierarchical cluster analysis of the lake water and groundwater demonstrate that the lake water is mainly supplied by local rainfall and infiltration of precipitation in Yabulai Mountains and Heishantou Mountain, and the supply from the Qilian Mountains is almost impossible.     

Analysis of mass concentration of atmospheric particulate matter in a sandstorm course and its affecting factors in the Taklimakan Desert

During the course of a major sandstorm from April 17 to April 23, 2008 in the Taklimakan Desert, data pertaining to the mass concentrations of different-sized atmospheric particulate matter were observed continuously with Grimm 1.108, Thermo RP 1400a, TSP, and CAWS-600 instruments. The results showed that: (1) during the entire sandstorm process there were some differences between the daily mean particle concentration peaks and the hourly mean particle concentration peaks because the actual sandstorm lasted for only about 4 hr, whereas more particles were accumulated in the floating dust days before and after the actual sandstorm; (2) the intensity of the sandstorm was enhanced with the increase of wind speed, and this was related to the peak mass concentrations of atmospheric particulate matter; the wind speed directly affected the concentration of atmospheric particulate matter: the higher the wind speed, the higher the mass concentration (>0.23 μm was 39,496.5 μg/m³, and >20.0 μm was 5,390.7 μg/m³); (3) the concentration changes of PM₁₀ and TSP were also related to the course and intensity of the sandstorm; and (4) the mass concentration of atmospheric particulate matter had the following sequence during the dust weather: clear day < floating dust < floating and blowing dust < sandstorm. Temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure are important factors affecting the strength of storms, which could also indirectly affect the concentration change of atmospheric particulate matter.     

库姆塔格沙漠春季近地面风场、温度场特征

 利用中尺度区域预报模式系统对库姆塔格沙漠及其周边地区春季近地层风场与温度场分布特征进行了模拟和分析。结果发现,受青藏高原地形影响,偏北气流向南运行在途经库姆塔格沙漠的过程中发生3个分支:①在沙漠东部气流逐渐转变为西北风吹向甘肃省;②中西部气流以较强的东北风流向塔克拉玛干沙漠;③另一部分气流继续顺势南下流入青海省。沙漠区域温度从北向南逐渐降低,在青海省的边界上出现一个低温带,然后温度又开始增加。     

沙尘暴过程中气象要素响应及输沙分析

通过野外监测系统获取的试验数据,对拐子湖地区2011年4月份一次强沙尘暴过程中贴地层微气象要素和输沙进行分析,得出如下结论：大气高温干燥,地表高温低湿、气压下降,风速增大是沙尘暴来临的前兆;沙尘暴过程中风向和风速相对稳定,气压、水汽压和相对湿度都会明显下降;地温下降速度较慢,土壤湿度略有上升;输沙量主要集中于距地表50cm以内高度层,在0-20cm高度层里输沙量呈增大趋势,20cm以上随着高度升高含沙量逐渐下降;跃移沙粒输沙量的空间分布与风向频率既有相似性,又有差异性;蠕移输沙量的方向分布比较复杂,同风向分布有显著的差异。这些结果对沙尘暴预报和沙源区的防风治沙有指导意义。     

Land reclamation in Egypt: A study of life in the new lands

For decades, Egypt has tried to increase its agricultural area through reclamation of desert land. The significance of land reclamation goes beyond the size of the reclaimed area and number of new settlers and has been important to Egyptian agricultural policies since the 1952-revolution. This paper examines from a micro-perspective, the life of Egyptians resettled in the new lands. The first part of the paper provides an introduction to the discourses of land reclamation, to the policies of reclaimed land distribution, and to the background of the settlers. The second part is based on fieldwork in a village in the new lands; it is inhabited by graduates who have received land under the Mubarak Project. The analysis shows that they move there in hope of making a better life especially for their children. Nevertheless, the settlers have difficulties building a sense of belonging to the new villages, and lack of good schools and other public services may cause families to split up. For some, however, resettlement in the new lands entails new social and economic possibilities. The paper concludes that while land reclamation may not be ecologically or economic sustainable, the new lands provide settlers with new opportunities.     

消光法反演腾格里沙漠地区沙尘气溶胶谱分布

对腾格里沙漠4～9月份的整层大气气溶胶的光学遥感观测结果进行了分析。结果表明,由于消光因子对大粒径粒子消光效应的不敏感性,决定了消光法仅可较好地反演粒径在0.1～5μm之间的气溶胶谱分布特征,特别是对0.1～1μm的大粒子谱分布的反演结果更为稳定;腾格里沙漠气溶胶粒度谱分布基本符合Junge谱;浮尘天气的谱分布同干洁晴好天气的谱分布有着很大的差异,浮尘天气下粒径在0.1～1.0μm的大粒子以及粒径>1.0μm的巨粒子数有明显的增加,浓度要比干洁天气下的大几个量级。在干洁晴好天气下,腾格里沙漠的气溶胶是均一的、稳定的,而且>1μm的大粒子浓度很小;气溶胶的谱分布几乎是一致的,谱形大致为Junge谱,在粒度0.4～1.0μm范围内有一明显峰值。     

古尔班通古特沙漠生境对植物群落格局的影响

This paper reports a geomorphologic landscape investigation, vegetation survey and soil sampling at 14 sites across the Gurbantunggut Desert between 87°37′09"-88°24′04"E and 44°14′04"-45°41′52′Nl. The study encountered 8 species of low trees and shrubs, 5 of perennial herbs, 8of annual plants and 48 of ephemeral and ephemeroid plants. These species of plants represent one-third of the species found in the Gurbantunggut Desert, and their communities make up a large proportion of desert vegetation with great landscape significance. In the investigation we found that the plant communities are accordingly succeeded with the spatial variation of macro-ecoenvironment.Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Correlation Analysis (CA) we found that the micro-ecoenvironment heterogeneity of aeolian sandy soil′s physical and chemical properties such as soil nutrient, soil moisture, soil salt, pH etc. only impacted the diversity of herb synusia (PIEherb) of the desert, with a negative correlation. Meanwhile, the impact of microhabitat on the plant community pattern with an antagonistic interaction made vegetation′s eco-distribution in a temporary equilibrium.