Spatial and seasonal patterns of flood change across Brazil

Brazil has some of the largest rivers in the world and has the second greatest flood loss potential among the emergent countries. Despite that, flood studies in this area are still scarce. In this paper, we used flood seasonality and trend analysis at the annual and seasonal scales in order to describe flood regimes and changes across the whole of Brazil in the period 1976–2015. We identified a strong seasonality of floods and a well-defined spatio-temporal pattern for flood occurrence. There are positive trends in the frequency and magnitude of floods in the North, South and parts of Southeast Brazil; and negative trends in the North-east and the remainder of Southeast Brazil. Trends in the magnitude (frequency) were predominant in the winter (summer). Overall, floods are becoming more frequent and intense in Brazilian regions characterized by wet conditions, and less frequent and intense in drier regions.     

Culture,demography and biogeography of sponge science: From past conferences to strategic research?

Perceived changes in the culture of sponge science and sponge conferences served as motivation for an evaluation of the sponge science community and research, over time and at present. Observed changes included a decrease in proceedings publications on sponge fossils and freshwater sponges, sponges from temperate environments, review papers and data syntheses, frequency of aquarium studies, and number of species investigated per publication. Publications on recent sponges, hexactinellids, calcareans, marine, Indo‐Pacific and warm‐water sponges increased, as well as the number of authors per publication and the proportion of field studies. Studies at the level of specimens and ultrastructure were gradually replaced by molecular approaches, but studies at the community level remained stable. The five sub‐disciplines morphology/taxonomy, phylogeny/evolution, physiology, ecology and faunistics also retained about equal proportions over time. Conference publications related to taxonomy, phylogeny and biodiversity prevailed, whereas those on management and conservation were rare, possibly because studies on sponge recovery, survival and mortality were also scarce. The community of sponge scientists has grown and become more diverse over time, presently representing 72 nations. The gender distribution evened out since the first sponge conference and presently favours women at early and men at late career stages. Although stated research interests are generally dominated by physiology and ecology, taxonomy and evolution are favoured after retirement. Sponge science has become more dynamic, but maybe also more competitive and less inclusive. We now face the dual challenge of safeguarding against the loss of some sub‐disciplines, and fostering the collaborative, helpful culture characteristic of sponge science.     

The discard ban policy,economic trends and opportunities for the Portuguese fisheries sector

In this paper the discard ban policy within the Portuguese fisheries sector is discussed and the opportunities and impact in the fisheries economy that arise from sales of unwanted fish under the new landing obligation are evaluated. The decadal mean price of fish (€/kg, adjusted for inflation) rose from the 1940s until the 1970s, dropping thereafter. The yearly averaged economic income estimated for discards sales between 1969 and 2009 ranged from 419345€ to 2164379€. Discard ban sales could contribute from 10% to 53% of the total landed value and 9–34% of the total catches (landings + discards). Under a discard ban policy, the fishing sector with the largest economic contribution for total discards sales would be multispecies (54%), followed by trawl (26%) and seine (20%). On average, fishing sales contributed with 0.63% to gross domestic production (GDP) between 1938 and 2009. Discard sales can increase 1.07–1.46 times more than the fish landing contribution to GDP. After 1983 the average landings/imports economic ratio was 0.28:1, which means that fish imports surpassed landings economic value 3.57 fold. The discard ban policy can create economic opportunities in the national context thus helping to revitalize some specific fisheries sectors.     

21世纪以来青藏高寒草地的变化特征及其对气候的响应

利用遥感数据和气象观测资料探索气候因子对区域植被变化的驱动作用具有重要意义。以1980-2012年气象数据和2000-2012年MODIS-NDVI数据为数据源,借助线性回归和相关分析分别分析了青海和西藏两个地区21世纪以来气候变化对青藏高寒草地的影响机制。结果表明：（1）1980-2012年,青海和西藏地区均呈暖湿化的发展趋势。但21世纪以来,西藏地区降水呈不显著的减少趋势;整个青藏高原中部和西部地区增温趋势明显（>0.05 ℃·a-1）。（2）在年际尺度（2000- 2012年）上,青海地区NDVI呈显著增加的趋势,增长率为0.003·a-1（P<0.05）;西藏地区NDVI无变化趋势,区域尺度统计中植被退化与改善相互抵消。在空间上,青藏高原东北部地区NDVI呈良性趋势,部分区域增长斜率超过0.01·a-1。青藏高原南部地区NDVI呈变差趋势,变化斜率为0.008·a-1。（3）区域上的相关分析显示,在青海地区,降水量的增加和温度的升高共同促进了该区域植被的良性发展趋势;在西藏地区,降水量的减少和温度的升高可能是南部地区植被变差的重要原因。     

Spatial–temporal variability in water quality and macro-invertebrate assemblages in the Upper Mara River basin,Kenya

Tropical rivers display profound temporal and spatial heterogeneity in terms of environmental conditions. This aspect needs to be considered when designing a monitoring program for water quality in rivers. Therefore, the physico-chemical composition and the nutrient loading of the Upper Mara River and its two main tributaries, the Amala and Nyangores were monitored. Initial daily, and later a weekly monitoring schedule for 4 months spanning through the wet and dry seasons was adopted. Benthic macro-invertebrates were also collected during the initial sampling to be used as indicators of water quality. The aim of the current study was to investigate the physico-chemical status and biological integrity of the Upper Mara River basin. This was achieved by examining trends in nutrient concentrations and analyzing the structure, diversity and abundance of benthic macro-invertebrates in relation to varying land use patterns. Sampling sites were selected based on catchment land use and the level of human disturbance, and using historical records of previous water quality studies. River water pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity (EC), temperature, and turbidity were determined in situ. All investigated parameters except iron and manganese had concentration values within allowable limits according to Kenyan and international standards for drinking water. The Amala tributary is more mineralized and also shows higher levels of pH and EC than water from the Nyangores tributary. The latter, however, has a higher variability in both the total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations. The variability in TP and TN concentrations increases downstream for both tributaries and is more pronounced for TN than for TP. Macro-invertebrate assemblages responded to the changes in land use and water quality in terms of community composition and diversity. The study recommends detailed continuous monitoring of the water quality at shorter time intervals and to identify key macro-invertebrate taxa that can be used to monitor changes of the water quality in rivers of the Mara basin as a result of anthropogenic changes.     

广西防城港海域沉积物特征及输运趋势

通过对2010―2011年在广西防城港海域表层沉积物所取样品进行粒度实验,并利用二维沉积物粒径趋势分析模型进行了粒径输运趋势分析。结果表明,研究区海域底质沉积物类型主要为砂、粉砂质砂、砾石质砂、砂-粉砂-黏土、黏土质粉砂和砂质粉砂等6种。粒度参数在空间分布上,沿岸和西部海域中值粒径较粗,分选中等或较好,偏态呈正偏或极正偏,在海湾口处呈负偏或极负偏;东南部海域粒径较细,分选系数差,偏态呈负偏或近对称。根据沉积物输运趋势方向不同,将研究海域分为3个区：沿岸海域主要离岸输送,方向由北向南;东南部海域的沉积物输运趋势向中间汇聚,形成一个沉积中心;西南部海域,沉积物输运方向偏北。     

国际及中国地球科学发展态势文献计量分析

以SCI、ESI（基本科学指标数据库）、GEOREF等数据库为统计分析源,对1993—2003年国际及中国地球科学的发展现状和发展态势从文献计量学的角度进行统计分析,分析了国际地球科学论文产出的主要领域、国家、机构、科学家和期刊,对中国地球科学论文产出的主要领域进行比较分析,并通过论文产出、被引频次、篇均被引频次和国际1%顶尖论文数量对比反映中国的科学影响力。结果表明,国际环境科学和生态学研究论文增长很快,占地球科学相关主题领域论文的比例也比较大,但中国生态学研究论文无论从占国内22个学科论文产出的比例,还是从占全球该领域的比例来说都有较大差距;中国地质科学领域研究重点在地球化学、金属矿产和能源的经济地质学,但在环境地质学领域研究相对较少,而国际上环境地质学研究论文的发展已经大大高于传统的地质学论文。     

地理信息系统的发展现状和趋势

当前,在世界范围内,一个以GIS技术为核心,集遥感、GPS等技术为一体的新产业——地理空间信息产业——正在形成,并积极推动着传统测绘、地理和制图等产业向现代数字、知识经济产业发展。文章首先介绍当前地理信息系统研究中的几个热点研究领域;然后对GIS软件业界的现状进行详细分析,指出了我国测绘软件业存在的七个方面的问题,提出了“集约型、跨越式”发展我国GIS自主产权技术的具体政策和措施;最后介绍了GIS应用系统的发展及特点。     

全球变暖背景下新疆地区近45 a来最大冻土深度变化及其突变分析

利用覆盖新疆大部分地区资料完整的93个站点资料,对1961-2005年新疆地区最大冻土深度进行了分析. 结果表明：新疆地区月最大冻土深度有明显的季节变化,低海拔区域(海拔<1 800 m)最大值出现在1月份,而高海拔区域(海拔≥1 800 m)的最大值出现在2月份,比低海拔区域要滞后. 新疆地区最大冻土深度的地理分布特征表现为北疆深于南疆,山区深于平原,且与气温的分布有很好的一致性. 全年和冬、春季最大冻土深度与气温场的空间相关系数分别为-0.795、-0.736和-0.848. 年际变化表明,近45 a来的最大冻土深度出现了较为明显的下降. 高海拔区域与低海拔区域年最大冻土深度的倾向率分别为-15.65 cm·(10a)^-1和-9.48 cm·(10a)^-1,且与气温的相关系数分别为-0.51和-0.69,均通过了0.001的信度检验. 同时发现,高海拔区域冬季下降多,而低海拔区域春季下降多. 新疆地区年最大冻土深度在近45 a有明显的突变现象,高海拔区域和低海拔区域突变发生年份分别为1996/1997年度和1978/1979年度,说明新疆地区高海拔区域的年最大冻土深度对气温变化的响应比低海拔区域要滞后. 突变年后高海拔区域与低海拔区域年最大冻土深度比突变年前的平均值分别降低了61.12 cm和26.67 cm.     

新疆塔里木河三源流径流量变化趋势分析

运用非参数检验、R/S分析和小波分析等方法对塔里木河三源流的年径流序列进行了分析。结果表明:阿克苏河与叶儿羌河的突变点在1993年,而和田河在1978年;阿克苏河径流呈显著增加趋势而叶儿羌河增加不显著,结合其Hurst指数可知,在未来阿克苏河仍将保持增加走势而叶尔羌河将转变为减少;和田河径流呈轻微的减少趋势,其Hurst指数接近于0.5,具有随机性,不可做长程预测;阿克苏河在6、18、22 a周期性明显,和田河主周期为9和17 a,而叶尔羌河在3、9、13和17 a处周期性明显。