Stormflow threshold behaviour in a subtropical mountainous headwater catchment during forest recovery period

Forest ecohydrological feedbacks complicate the threshold behaviour of stormflow response to precipitation or wetting conditions on a long-term scale (e.g. several years). In this study, the threshold behaviours in an evergreen-deciduous mixed forested headwater catchment in southern China were examined during 2009–2015, when damaged vegetation was recovering after the great 2008 Chinese ice and snowstorm. The non-uniqueness of the thresholds and the slow and rapid responses of stormflow at the outlet of the catchment in different hydro-climate datasets with different maximum values of gross precipitation (P) and sums of precipitation and antecedent soil moisture index (P + ASI) were assessed. The thresholds of P and P + ASI required to trigger stormflows (i.e. ‘generation thresholds’) and the transition from slow to rapid responses of stormflow (i.e. ‘rise thresholds’) were compared both seasonally and annually. The results indicated significant differences in the analysed datasets, highlighting the need to compare thresholds with care to avoid misinterpretation. Seasonal variations in threshold behaviours in the catchment suggested that vegetation canopy interception contributed to higher rise thresholds, and wetter conditions resulted in higher runoff sensitivity to precipitation during the growing and rainy seasons. Furthermore, the generation thresholds were higher in the dormant season, possibly due to drier soil moisture conditions in the near-channel areas. During the vegetation recovery period, the annual generation thresholds increased, however the rise thresholds did not exhibit a similar trend. The rapid stormflow response above the threshold decreased, possibly due to transpiration and interception of the recovered vegetation. However, the slow stormflow response to small rainfall events below the thresholds was higher in wetter years but lower in drier years, suggesting that the total water input dominated the stormflow response during small rainfall events. In conclusion, the seasonal and annual variations in threshold behaviours highlight that vegetation recovery and hydro-climatic conditions had a notable impact on the stormflow response.     

Acceleration of vegetation dynamics in hydrologically connected wetlands caused by dam operation

The dynamic responses of wetlands to upstream water conservancy projects are becoming increasingly crucial for watershed management. Poyang Lake is a dynamic wetland system of critical ecological importance and connected with the Yangtze river. However, in the context of disturbed water regime in Poyang Lake resulting from human activities and climate change, the responses of vegetation dynamics to the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) have not been investigated. We addressed this knowledge gap by using daily water level data and Landsat images from 1987 to 2018. Landsat images were acquired between October and December to ensure similar phenological conditions. Object-oriented Artificial Neural Network Regression for wetland classification was developed based on abundant training and validation samples. Interactions between vegetation coverage and water regimes pre and post the operation of the TGD were compared using classification and regression trees and the random forest model. Since the implementation of the TGD in 2003, Poyang Lake has become drier, especially during the dry season. A more rapid plant growth rate was observed post TGD (44.74 km² year⁻¹) compared to that of the entire study period (12.9 km² year⁻¹). Average water level for the antecedent 20 days most significantly affected vegetation before 2003, whereas average water level for the antecedent 5 or 10 days was more important after 2003. The impoundment of the TGD after the flood season accelerated the drawdown processes of Poyang Lake, and the rapidly exposed wetlands accelerated vegetation expansion during the dry seasons, resulting in shrinkage and degradation of the lake area. This study deepens our knowledge of the influences of newly developed dams on lakes and rivers.     

An ensemble approach for the analysis of extreme rainfall under climate change in Naples (Italy)

In the present paper, an ensemble approach is proposed to estimate possible modifications caused by climate changes in the extreme precipitation regime, with the rain gauge Napoli Servizio Idrografico (Naples, Italy) chosen as test case. The proposed research, focused on the analysis of extremes on the basis of climate model simulations and rainfall observations, is structured in several consecutive steps. In the first step, all the dynamically downscaled EURO‐CORDEX simulations at about 12 km horizontal resolution are collected for the current period 1971–2000 and the future period 2071–2100, for the RCP4.5 and the RCP8.5 concentration scenarios. In the second step, the significance of climate change effects on extreme precipitation is statistically tested by comparing current and future simulated data and bias‐correction is performed by means of a novel approach based on a combination of simple delta change and quantile delta mapping, in compliance with the storm index method. In the third step, two different ensemble models are proposed, accounting for the variabilities given by the use of different climate models and for their hindcast performances. Finally, the ensemble models are used to build novel intensity–duration–frequency curves, and their effects on the early warning system thresholds for the area of interest are evaluated.     

Assessing basin storage: Comparison of hydrometric- and tracer-based indices of dynamic and total storage

Storage is a fundamental but elusive component of drainage basin function, influencing synchronization between precipitation input and streamflow output and mediating basin sensitivity to climate and land use/land cover (LULC) change. We compare hydrometric and isotopic approaches to estimate indices of dynamic and total basin storage, respectively, and assess inter-basin differences in these indices across the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) region of southern Ontario, Canada. Dynamic storage indices for the 20 study basins included the ratio of baseflow to total streamflow (baseflow index BFI), Q ₉₉ flow and flow duration curve (FDC) slope. Ratios of the standard deviation of the streamflow stable isotope signal relative to that of precipitation were determined for each basin from a 1 year bi-weekly sampling program and used as indicators of total storage. Smaller ratios imply longer water travel times, smaller young water fractions (F _yw, < ~2–3 months in age) in streamflow and greater basin storage. Ratios were inversely related to BFI and Q ₉₉, and positively related to FDC slope, suggesting longer travel times and smaller F _yw for basins with stable baseflow-dominated streamflow regimes. Inter-basin differences in all indices reflected topographic, hydrogeologic and LULC controls on storage, which was greatest in steep, forest-covered headwaters underlain by permeable deposits with thick and relatively uniform unsaturated zones. Nevertheless, differential sensitivity of indices to controls on storage indicates the value of using several indices to capture more completely how basin characteristics influence storage. Regression relationships between storage indices and basin characteristics provided reasonable predictions of aspects of the streamflow regime of test basins in the ORM region. Such relationships and the underlying knowledge of controls on basin storage in this landscape provide the foundation for initial predictions of relative differences in streamflow response to regional changes in climate and LULC.     

Prediction of vegetation anomalies over an inland river basin in north‐western China

Vegetation cover plays an important role in linking the atmosphere, water, and land and is deemed as a key indicator in the terrestrial ecological system. Therefore, it is of great importance to monitor vegetation dynamics and understand the mechanisms of vegetation change, including that driven by climate change. This study examines (a) the evolution of vegetation dynamics over the Heihe River Basin in the typical arid zone in north‐western China using nonparametric Mann–Kendall test and Thiel Sen's slope; (b) the relationships between remotely sensed vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI] and enhanced vegetation index [EVI]) and hydroclimatic variables based on correlation analysis; and (c) the prediction of vegetation anomalies using a multiple linear regression model. For the analysis, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer NDVI/EVI product and the gridded daily meteorological data at a spatial resolution of 0.125° over the period 2001–2010 are considered. The results indicate that vegetation cover improved over a large proportion during 2001–2010, with a significant trend towards warm and wet, characterized by an increase in average annual temperature and precipitation by 0.042 °C/year and 5.8 mm/year, respectively. We test the feasibility of NDVI and EVI in quantifying the responses of vegetation anomaly to climate change and develop a statistical model to predict vegetation dynamics in the basin. The NDVI‐based model is found to be more reliable than the EVI‐based model, partly due to the vegetation characteristics and geomorphologic properties of the study region. The proposed model performs well when there is no lag time between meteorological factors and vegetation indices for grassland and cropland, whereas 1‐month lead time prediction is found to be best for forest. The soil water content is introduced as an extra explanatory variable, which effectively improves the prediction accuracy for different land use types. In general, the predictive ability of the proposed model is stable and satisfactory, and the model can provide useful early warning information for regional water resources management under changing climate.     

吉林省村域尺度下居民点空间分布特征及优化重组模式

乡村聚落的空间优化与重构是提高土地资源利用效率,改善农村生产生活条件,促进乡村可持续发展的重要手段。以吉林省为例,采用核密度估计方法和景观形状指数分析了农村居民点空间分布特征,基于农户调查数据估算了吉林省不同区域的农村宅基地闲置情况,将农村居民点长期存在的“破碎化”和日益突出的“空心化”相结合,提出了在行政村尺度下农村居民点优化重组的“整小填大”新模式。结果表明：① 吉林省农村居民点规模小且零散分布,尤其中部呈破碎化分布,形态不规则,具有较大的整治潜力;② 吉林省农村宅基地平均闲置率为18.32%,西部地区最高（24.48%）,分别高于东部和中部地区约6%和12%;③“整小填大”模式可使农村居民点数量减少44.6%,增加有效耕地面积1 046.66 km²。     

北京城市空间形态对热岛分布影响研究

在城市尺度上探究城市空间形态布局对城市热岛（UHI）影响研究,对于城市规划中通风环境改善、生态宜居城市建设具有重要意义。以北京为例,利用2009—2018年高密度自动气象站逐小时气温资料和2018年NPP/VIIRS夜光卫星资料,分析了UHI时空分布特征;利用2017年1∶2000基础地理信息和Landsat8卫星资料,开展了北京主城区建筑高度（BH）、建筑密度（BD）、建筑高度标准差（BSD）、容积率（FAR）、迎风截面积指数（FAI）、粗糙度长度（RL）、天空开阔度（SVF）、城市分数维（FD）等8个空间形态参数和植被覆盖度（VC）、不透水盖度（IC）、反照率（AB）等3个陆表参数的提取,并在城市尺度上开展了这些参数与UHI之间空间相关性及对UHI变化影响研究。结果显示：2009—2018年北京主城区年均、四季以及夜晚02时UHI均存在一个较为固定的形态,年均、春、夏、秋、冬、白天14时和夜晚02时UHI分别为1.81 ℃、1.50 ℃、1.43 ℃、2.16 ℃、2.17 ℃、0.48 ℃和2.77 ℃;8个空间形态参数在一年中大部分时段与UHI存在明显空间相关性,这种相关性在冬季强于其他季节,在夜晚02时强于白天14时,排名前三的分别为SVF、FAR和BD。空间形态参数已超越陆表参数成为UHI变化的重要驱动因子,11种参数对UHI变化的单独贡献为13.7%~63.7%,其中夏季、冬季和全年时段贡献最大的空间形态参数分别是BD（43.7%）、SVF（63.7%）和SVF（45.4%）,贡献最大的陆表参数分别是VC（42.6%）、AB（57.1%）和VC（45.3%）;夏季、冬季和全年时段多个参数对UHI变化的综合贡献分别为51.4%、69.1%和55.3%,主导要素分别为BD、SVF和BD。     

蒙古国植被对干旱响应的敏感性研究

本文分析了蒙古国不同区域、不同土地覆被类型区的植被生长状况对干旱响应的敏感性特征,并探讨了成因。研究表明：① 2001—2019年,蒙古国虽然发生了3次较为严重的干旱事件,但整体上干旱程度呈轻微降低趋势,SPEI出现轻微上升,总体增速为0.001%/a;植被生长状况出现了好转,植被指数也呈上升趋势,总体增速为0.15%/a。② 蒙古国大部分区域植被生长受干旱影响较强,各植被指数与干旱指数呈较明显的正相关关系,在NDVI与SPEI-12的相关性分析中,正相关面积占比达76.36%;而在杭爱山脉和肯特山脉以北降水量丰沛的区域和阿尔泰山脉以南荒漠化严重和植被极为稀少区域,植被生长受干旱影响较弱,植被指数与SPEI相关性较小。③ 不同类型植被对干旱响应的敏感性也有差异,其中草地敏感性最强（0.22）,而森林敏感性最弱（-0.04）。④ 干旱持续时间长短,对植被生长影响有较大差异,蒙古国大部分区域的植被对延续3个月至半年的干旱最为敏感,而年内以7月份干旱对植被影响最强。⑤ 植被对干旱响应的敏感性实质是区域水分平衡的植被影响,对同种植被而言多年平均气温越高或降水量越少,植被对干旱响应的敏感性越强,反之则越弱。本文的研究结果对蒙古国因地制宜开展荒漠化防治具有重要参考价值。     

蒙古国植被物候特征及其对地理要素的响应

蒙古高原是中国重要的北方生态屏障。在全球气候变化的背景下,研究蒙古国植被物候变化特征对于认识蒙古国草地生态系统对气候变化的响应和促进区域畜牧业可持续发展具有重要意义。本研究利用非对称高斯拟合法对蒙古国2001—2019年MOD13Q1产品中的归一化植被指数（Normalized Differential Vegetation Index,NDVI）数据拟合,得到较为平滑的NDVI时间序列数据;基于TIMESAT平台,采用动态阈值法分析获得蒙古国连续19a植被物候数据。研究分析了蒙古国植被物候的空间分布及年际变化趋势,发现蒙古国植被返青期（Start of growing season,SOS）主要集中在110~150d,总体呈微弱推迟趋势,植被枯黄期（End of growing season,EOS）主要集中在270~310d,总体呈提前趋势,从而导致蒙古国生长季长度（Length of growing season,LOS）呈缩短趋势,且缩短时间最长可达2d以上。采用偏相关分析方法分析了植被物候对地形、降水、地表温度等地理要素的响应,表明蒙古国植被物候具有明显的空间异质性和海拔依赖性,不同植被物候对降水、地表温度（Land Surface Temperature,LST）的响应不同,SOS与日间LST呈显著正相关,EOS与夜间LST呈显著正相关,而LOS与年均降水呈显著负相关关系。     

Unraveling the multi-scalar residential segregation and socio-spatial differentiation in China: A comparative study based on Nanjing and Hangzhou

Residential segregation is a dual process of socio-spatial differentiation in residents and spatio-temporal heterogeneity in dwelling.However,most of the existing studies are es-tablished from the single perspective of urban residents based on demographic data,which is difficult to reveal the dynamics and complex spatial reconstruction within and between cities.With the characteristics of both stability and timeliness,the rapidly changing housing market is one of the processes and results of socio-spatial reconfiguration,and it is undoubtedly a better lens to observe residential segregation.This paper adopts methods such as multi-group segregation index,multi-scalar segregation profiles,and decomposition of segregation index,with Nanjing and Hangzhou as case cities,and establishes multi-scalar segregation profiles and comparative models based on three geographical scales of census tract,block and grid,and different residential types.A quantitative study was conducted on the degree and pattern of multi-scalar residential segregation in Nanjing and Hangzhou from 2009 to 2018.The pa-per found that the spatial segregation index is an improvement of the non-spatial segregation index.There are differences between Nanjing and Hangzhou in the evolution process of residential segregation.Nanjing has a higher degree of spatial differentiation as a whole,among which spatial components have a more significant impact.