Development and application of a spatially‐distributed Arctic hydrological and thermal process model (ARHYTHM)

A process‐based, spatially distributed hydrological model was developed to quantitatively simulate the energy and mass transfer processes and their interactions within arctic regions (arctic hydrological and thermal model, ARHYTHM). The model first determines the flow direction in each element, the channel drainage network and the drainage area based upon the digital elevation data. Then it simulates various physical processes: including snow ablation, subsurface flow, overland flow and channel flow routing, soil thawing and evapotranspiration. The kinematic wave method is used for conducting overland flow and channel flow routing. The subsurface flow is simulated using the Darcian approach. The energy balance scheme was the primary approach used in energy‐related process simulations (snowmelt and evapotranspiration), although there are options to model snowmelt by the degree‐day method and evapotranspiration by the Priestley–Taylor equation. This hydrological model simulates the dynamic interactions of each of these processes and can predict spatially distributed snowmelt, soil moisture and evapotranspiration over a watershed at each time step as well as discharge in any specified channel(s). The model was applied to Imnavait watershed (about 2·2 km²) and the Upper Kuparuk River basin (about 146 km²) in northern Alaska. Simulated results of spatially distributed soil moisture content, discharge at gauging stations, snowpack ablations curves and other results yield reasonable agreement, both spatially and temporally, with available data sets such as SAR imagery‐generated soil moisture data and field measurements of snowpack ablation, and discharge data at selected points. The initial timing of simulated discharge does not compare well with the measured data during snowmelt periods mainly because the effect of snow damming on runoff was not considered in the model. Results from the application of this model demonstrate that spatially distributed models have the potential for improving our understanding of hydrology for certain settings. Finally, a critical component that led to the performance of this modelling is the coupling of the mass and energy processes. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Advanced studies on adaptation of desert shrubs to environmental stress

The combined stress of drought, high temperature and excessive light characterizes the desert area. In order to survive the desert habitat, desert shrubs have evolved a number of special eco-physiological mechanisms to resist environmental stress during long-term evolution. In this paper, adaptation mechanisms of desert shrubs to environmental stress are reviewed in terms of morphological structure, water potential, photosynthesis and water use efficiency, transpiration and stomatal conductance, osmotic adjustment and anti-oxidation protection. In addition, some suggestions for future research are proposed.     

Dwarf galaxies in Clusters

The equilibrium of a self gravitating cylindrical polytrope with a general magnetic field and rotation has been discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

干旱半干旱地区草原灌丛荒漠化及其生物地球化学循环

干旱和半干旱地区草地生态系统木本植物入侵及其导致的草原灌丛化已经成为全球范 围普遍发生的现象, 是草地沙化和荒漠化的一个重要标志。干旱生态系统中, 此种类型的植被变 化将对区域和全球生物地球化学循环产生显著影响。过度放牧、区域气候干旱化和自然火过程是 导致灌丛入侵和发展的主要控制因子。草原灌丛化过程中, 草地生态系统分布较为均匀的土壤养 分及相关元素在水平和垂直方向发生分异, 关键生命元素C、N、P 、S 生物地球化学循环的变化 将对全球气候变化产生显著作用。全球气候变化与草原灌丛荒漠化之间存在潜在的反馈机制, 人 类扰动的影响将使这种反馈作用变得更加迅速和灵敏。     

拉萨河谷灌丛草原与农田水热平衡及植被水分利用特征

以青藏高原的拉萨河谷下游的灌丛草原和农田为研究对象,在中国科学院拉萨高原生态试验站的农田与附近的灌丛草原开展实验.利用SHAW模型模拟了2004年10月-2005年9月灌丛草原与农田水热平衡以及根系吸水过程.模拟结果经分析得出,(1)农田所接收的净辐射比灌丛草原要多,农田接收的能量大部分以潜热形式支出,全年的波文比为0.29;而灌丛草原的波文比为0.89.灌丛草原全年的潜热通量是农田的53%,具有一定的抑制蒸散发的功能.(2)农田耗水量是灌丛草原的1.8倍.农田由于大量的灌溉造成较大的渗漏损失,同时也增加了土壤蒸发这一无益损耗.(3)深层土壤水向上的补给与根系吸水两方面的模拟都表明,灌丛草原的植被比农田能更大程度地利用深层土壤水.     

Growth, ionic and osmotic relations of an Allenrolfea occidentalis population in an inland salt playa of the Great Basin Desert

Variation in growth, physiology and ionic relations patterns of Allenrolfea occidentalis, a perennial halophyte of dry habitats, was studied under field conditions from May 1996 to November 1997. An A. occidentalis community has a characteristic soil pH of 7·3–8·3. During the two years, the population was exposed to great variations in soil salinity, from 29 to 146 dS m⁻¹, and soil moisture, ranging from drought (9·2%) to wet (19%). The salt concentrations were significantly higher in the surface soil layers than in the subsurface layers. Seasonal changes in dry weight are directly related to soil salinity stress. Allenrolfea occidentalis had greater growth and biomass production under saline conditions. Na⁺and Cl⁻ions were accumulated in plant tissues in much greater amounts than K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺. Soil salinities were significantly reduced at the end of the growing season. Water potentials of the shoots decreased significantly with increasing salinity. The plant (F_v/F_mratio) was more affected by salinity and irradiation levels during the summer period.     

霸王(Sarcozygium xanthoxylon)灌木年轮记录的1902—2015年阿拉善荒漠中部气候干湿变化

基于阿拉善荒漠中部的4个霸王(Sarcozygium xanthoxylon)样点建立的区域轮宽年表,探讨了霸王径向生长对气候变化的响应及阿拉善荒漠中部区域1902—2015年的干湿变化。结果表明:霸王的径向生长主要受到生长季及前期降水(当年4—7月和前一年10—12月降水)影响。年代际尺度上,区域年表共记录了1920s初—1930s初、1940s初以及1970s末—1980s末3个干旱时段和1900s末—1920s初、1930s、1960s中—1970s中以及1980s末—至今4个湿润时段。区域气候干湿变化以2~8、11、16~32a周期最为明显,在1970s末发生了周期性震荡。本研究所揭示的区域百余年来气候干湿变化波动状况,可为区域环境演变和荒漠化防治提供气候背景代用资料和决策依据。