A simulation study of the role of raindrop erosion in the formation of desert pavements

A simple model of raindrop erosion—the combined effects of the detachment of sediment by raindrops and its transport by splash or by overland flow—is developed to examine the role of this process in the formation of desert pavements. Application of the model to soils in areas of existing pavement initially simulates the formation of pavements, but the changing sediment size distributions lead to the subsequent destruction of these modelled surfaces. An improved model that accounts for the feedback effects of the changing size distributions on infiltration and microtopography is then developed. Incorporating these effects allows simulated pavements to be maintained over longer periods. The model yields desert pavements whose particle size compositions differ in response to differences in initial soil characteristics, slope and rainfall intensity. This model is tested against empirical data from a site where there is intershrub pavement and associated mounds of fines beneath desert shrubs. The results successfully predict the accumulation of fines under shrubs but underestimate the development of the pavement between shrubs. These findings suggest that the raindrop erosion mechanism on its own cannot account for the development of the pavement and that some other mechanism leading to the surface concentration of coarse particles must also be operating.     

Geography Deserts: State and Regional Variation in the Formal Opportunity to Learn Geography in the United States, 2005–2015

The formal opportunity to learn geography in the United States is unevenly distributed across space, creating possible geography deserts. Data on the number of exams taken in Advanced Placement Human Geography (APHG) and bachelor’s degrees earned in geography are mapped at the state and regional scales. Normalized rates are ranked and grouped into quintiles. For APHG exams, states in the southeastern region of the United States are in the uppermost quintiles while states in the northeastern region are in the lowermost quintiles. The pattern for bachelor’s degrees in geography is somewhat the spatial inverse of that for APHG.     

荒漠绿洲湿地土壤水热盐动态过程及其影响机制

以甘肃临泽荒漠绿洲湿地为研究对象,通过对土壤温度、含水量、电导率及蒸散量的野外观测,在植物生长期和冻融期分别深入分析水热盐耦合运移过程及其影响因素,探讨水热梯度对盐分运移及其分布格局的控制作用。结果表明：土壤温度整体呈现出春夏季逐渐升高、秋冬季降低趋势。在冻结期,土壤表现为脱盐状态,表层电导率由2.8 mS·cm^-1降到1.2 mS·cm^-1;而在消融期为积盐状态,表层电导率由1.2 mS·cm^-1升到3.7 mS·cm^-1。在生长期,土壤含水量和电导率波动较为剧烈,表层含水量27%~43%,表层电导率3~5.5 mS·cm^-1,土壤脱盐、积盐反复出现。全年蒸散量总体呈单峰变化趋势,年蒸散量507 mm;土壤电导率与蒸散量呈正比关系,与地下水位呈负相关关系;蒸散发作用是土壤表层积盐的主要驱动力,而地下水波动影响着湿地脱盐、洗盐过程。因此,荒漠绿洲湿地土壤盐分累积过程是水分运移和热量传输过程发生变化的结果。     

苔藓生物结皮层腐殖质组成变化特征研究

腐殖质组成是表征土壤化学性质的主要指标之一,在某种程度对评价风沙土的发育过程具有意义。采集了不同气候区沙地沙漠苔藓生物结皮层样品,采用重铬酸钾容量法和光密度法测定了苔藓结皮层腐殖质组成含量和胡敏酸吸光特性。结果表明：随着干燥指数的增加,苔藓结皮层有机质含量由14.93 g·kg^-1降低到9.89 g·kg^-1,腐殖酸总量由5.1 g·kg^-1降低到2.0 g·kg^-1,胡敏酸含量由2.9 g·kg^-1降低到 0.7 g·kg^-1,富里酸含量由2.2 g·kg^-1降低到1.3 g·kg^-1,胡敏酸与富里酸比值（HA/FA）由1.32降低到0.54,E₄/E₆比值则由4.28增加到5.83。苔藓结皮层腐殖质组成含量及胡敏酸吸光特性具有地带性变化趋势,并影响着生物结皮层及流动风沙土的发育演变过程。     

How changes of groundwater level affect the desert riparian forest ecosystem in the Ejina Oasis,Northwest China

Groundwater is a key factor controlling the growth of vegetation in desert riparian systems. It is important to recognise how groundwater changes affect the riparian forest ecosystem. This information will not only help us to understand the ecological and hydrological process of the riparian forest but also provide support for ecological recovery of riparian forests and water-resources management of arid inland river basins. This study aims to estimate the suitability of the Water Vegetation Energy and Solute Modelling(WAVES) model to simulate the Ejina Desert riparian forest ecosystem changes,China, to assess effects of groundwater-depth change on the canopy leaf area index(LAI) and water budgets, and to ascertain the suitable groundwater depth for preserving the stability and structure of desert riparian forest. Results demonstrated that the WAVES model can simulate changes to ecological and hydrological processes. The annual mean water consumption of a Tamarix chinensis riparian forest was less than that of a Populus euphratica riparian forest, and the canopy LAI of the desert riparian forest should increase as groundwater depth decreases. Groundwater changes could significantly influence water budgets for T. chinensis and P. euphratica riparian forests and show the positive and negative effects on vegetation growth and water budgets of riparian forests. Maintaining the annual mean groundwater depth at around 1.7-2.7 m is critical for healthy riparian forest growth. This study highlights the importance of considering groundwater-change impacts on desert riparian vegetation and water-balance applications in ecological restoration and efficient water-resource management in the Heihe River Basin.     

Assessment of Desert Ecological Assets and Countermeasures for Ecological Compensation

Can deserts be transformed into resources, into assets, and further into cash? It is necessary to scientifically assess desert ecological assets and incorporate them into the national economic accounting system and the current evaluation system for socio-economic development. This study will provide a scientific basis and robust data for establishing a target system that is compatible with both ecological civilization and an associated reward and punishment mechanism, as well as for designing and implementing effective compensation policies for desert ecosystems. This paper first defines desert ecological assets, and then develops a framework for assessing them based on the evaluation of desert ecological resources and desert ecosystem services. This framework paves the foundation for quantitatively assessing desert ecological assets and preparing balance sheets of desert ecological assets. Finally, this paper analyzes current policies relating to desert ecological compensation, discusses how to design compensation policies based on assessment of desert ecological assets, and puts forward suggestions for improving current policies.     

极端干旱荒漠区典型晴天大气热力边界层结构分析

利用极端干旱区敦煌野外观测试验资料,分析了极端干旱荒漠区夏季典型晴天位温、风速、比湿等主要物理要素的垂直结构特征及其地表热力和近地层大气运动特征的日变化规律。发现在极端干旱地区夏季晴天大气热力边界层结构十分独特。在夜间,贴地逆温层最低在900 m以上,最厚可以达到1 750 m,逆温层上面的残余层一般能达到4 000 m左右的高度。在白天,位温超绝热递减层高达1 000 m,超绝热递减层上面的混合层最高达3 700 m,混合层顶上还有大约450 m甚至更厚的夹卷层。当白天对流层发展达到残余层以后,混合层的发展明显加快。风速和比湿垂直廓线特征很好地印证了大气热力边界层独特的结构特征,地表热力和近地层大气运动特征也为这种独特的大气热力边界层结构提供了较好的物理支持。     

沟谷型沙漠泥流堆积体起动过程中的孔压变化特性

以黄河上游宁蒙段典型风水复合侵蚀流域为研究区域,重点针对堆积体堵塞沟道极端条件下的沟谷型沙漠泥流,从堆积体起动成灾的环节入手,开展直槽概化模型试验,并采用基于有效应力原理的流固耦合模型,概化模拟上游暴雨洪水入渗条件下堆积体内孔隙水压力变化特性及其起动过程,从微观角度揭示其成灾机理。结果表明：堆积体起动过程中孔隙水压力与时间呈指数为0.5的幂函数关系;流固耦合作用下堆积体内经历了应力场→体积应变→孔隙率→孔隙水压力→渗流场→塑性应变→屈服破坏的复杂非线性变化过程。     

内蒙古荒漠草原沙生针茅(Stipa glareosa)、碱韭(Allium polyrhizum)和骆驼蓬(Peganum harmala)叶形态性状对土壤水氮耦合的响应

研究降水和氮沉降对荒漠草原植物叶形态性状的影响,对于预测未来全球变化下荒漠草原植物的生态适应具有重要意义.对增减雨(±50％)和氮添加(10 g·m-2.a-1)及其交互作用对乌拉特荒漠草原区优势植物叶形态性状的影响研究结果表明:(1)沙生针茅(Stipa glareosa)、碱韭(Allium polyrhizum)...     

生物土壤结皮固沙理论与实践

生物土壤结皮是由土壤微生物、藻类、地衣和苔藓等孢子植物类群与土壤颗粒形成的有机复合体,在全球干旱区地表广泛分布,是干旱地表生物覆被层的主要构建者.生物土壤结皮是荒漠植物群落演替的先锋类群,能够提高荒漠地表的稳定性,固定碳和氮等营养元素,增加土壤肥力,并在保持土壤水分方面发挥重要作用,因此在干旱区受损地表的生态修复方面具...