Terrain Pattern Recognition and Spatial Decision Making for Regional Slope Stability Studies

A terrain partition scheme is presented that allows the identification of regions with high landslide risk in natural terrain zones on the basis of geomorphometric criteria from moderate resolution DEMs. The key factor being the terrain segmentation to aspect regions (regions formed by points preserving the same aspect direction) instead of using an artificial regular-grid terrain partition scheme. The study area is in western Greece (NW Peloponnesus) whereas a moderate resolution digital elevation model with spacing 75 m is used. Landslide inventory analysis and knowledge conceptualization identified that the landslide susceptibility of a particular aspect region is high, if the mean elevation is low and the mean gradient is high. Each aspect region was parametrically represented on the basis of its mean gradient and elevation. The domain of each parameter was divided to seven slices (classes) on the basis of the observed density. Subsequent knowledge based mapping identified aspect regions with high landslide susceptibility for the following spatial rule: (a) “mean slope in class 6 or 7” and (b) “mean elevation in class 1 to 5”. Alternatively the rule is expressed as mean slope to be equal or greater than 15^∘ whereas mean elevation to be in the range 0 to 750 m. These identified zones correspond to regions where historical landslides occurred (populated coastal areas in the North) as well as to south regions (natural terrain zone) where no landslide record is available, because of the limitations posed by the natural terrain landslide mapping program in Greece. The presented terrain segmentation technique combined to the spatial decision-making process, provided both an object framework for integrating geomorphometric parameters and a method for landslide risk analysis in natural terrain zones.     

A Study of Surface Humidity Changes in China During the Recent 50 Years

This paper analyzes in detail the characteristics of surface humidity changes in China under the background of global warming in the recent 50 years by using the observation data compiled by the National Meteorological Information Center of China. The results reveal that (1) with the increase of temperature,surface saturation specific humidity (qs) shows basically an exponential growth, according to the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. The nationwide average moistening rate in winter is obviously less than the annual average rate and the summer rate. There are some regional differences in qstrends in different regions of China. For example, qsin central and eastern parts of China exhibits a reducing trend in summer, consistent with the weakening trend of temperature in these areas; (2) except parts of South China and Jianghuai Region in eastern China, unanimously increasing trends of annual and winter specific humidity (q) are found in most of China, especially in western China. In summer, except parts of Northeast China, Northwest China, and some areas over the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the decreasing and drying trends are significant in most of China, which is not consistent with the global mean situation; (3) the surface relative humidity(RH) in most of China shows a reducing trend. One of the major reasons for the reduction of RH is that the increasing rates of q are smaller than those of qs. Nonetheless, upward trends of RH in central and eastern China mainly due to the cooling temperature and rising q in these regions are observed in summer, leading to more precipitation. From about 2003 or so, qshas remarkably increased while q has sharply decreased in most parts of China; therefore, RH has reduced to a great extent. This may be closely related to the persistent growth of drought areas in China in the recent 10 years.     

中巴地球资源卫星数据反演地表温度产品设计

利用CBERS IRMSS/IRS传感器红外通道数据,基于MODTRAN4和查找表算法,根据地表数字高程和全球/区域一体化数值预报模式,建立相应高度和气象条件下温度反演配套系数,利用CBERS可见/近红外通道和地表比辐射率数据库最终生成地表温度/地表发射率产品。最后介绍了温度产品的验证工作,并对温度反演中存在的参数敏感性和不确定性问题进行了分析。     

Channel response to a dam-removal sediment pulse captured at high-temporal resolution using routine gage data

In this study, we captured how a river channel responds to a sediment pulse originating from a dam removal using multiple lines of evidence derived from streamflow gages along the Patapsco River, Maryland, USA. Gages captured characteristics of the sediment pulse, including travel times of its leading edge (~7.8 km yr⁻¹) and peak (~2.6 km yr⁻¹) and suggest both translation and increasing dispersion. The pulse also changed local hydraulics and energy conditions, increasing flow velocities and Froude number, due to bed fining, homogenization and/or slope adjustment. Immediately downstream of the dam, recovery to pre-pulse conditions occurred within the year, but farther downstream recovery was slower, with the tail of the sediment pulse working through the lower river by the end of the study 7 years later. The patterns and timing of channel change associated with the sediment pulse were not driven by large flow or suspended sediment-transporting events, with change mostly occurring during lower flows. This suggests pulse mobility was controlled by process-factors largely independent of high flow. In contrast, persistent changes occurred to out-of-channel flooding dynamics. Stage associated with flooding increased during the arrival of the sediment pulse, 1 to 2 years after dam removal, suggesting persistent sediment deposition at the channel margins and nearby floodplain. This resulted in National Weather Service-indicated flood stages being attained by 3–43% smaller discharges compared to earlier in the study period. This study captured a two-signal response from the sediment pulse: (1) short- to medium-term (weeks to months) translation and dispersion within the channel, resulting in aggradation and recovery of bed elevations and changing local hydraulics; and (2) dispersion and persistent longer-term (years) effects of sediment deposition on overbank surfaces. This study further demonstrated the utility of US Geological Survey gage data to quantify geomorphic change, increase temporal resolution, and provide insights into trajectories of change over varying spatial and temporal scales.     

Soil erosion and sediment transport in Tanzania: Part I – sediment source tracing in three neighbouring river catchments

Water bodies in Tanzania are experiencing increased siltation, which is threatening water quality, ecosystem health, and livelihood security in the region. This phenomenon is caused by increasing rates of upstream soil erosion and downstream sediment transport. However, a lack of knowledge on the contributions from different catchment zones, land-use types, and dominant erosion processes, to the transported sediment is undermining the mitigation of soil degradation at the source of the problem. In this context, complementary sediment source tracing techniques were applied in three Tanzanian river systems to further the understanding of the complex dynamics of soil erosion and sediment transport in the region. Analysis of the geochemical and biochemical fingerprints revealed a highly complex and variable soil system that could be grouped in distinct classes. These soil classes were unmixed against riverine sediment fingerprints using the Bayesian MixSIAR model, yielding proportionate source contributions for each catchment. This sediment source tracing indicated that hillslope erosion on the open rangelands and maize croplands in the mid-zone contributed over 75% of the transported sediment load in all three river systems during the sampling time-period. By integrating geochemical and biochemical fingerprints in sediment source tracing techniques, this study demonstrated links between land use, soil erosion and downstream sediment transport in Tanzania. This evidence can guide land managers in designing targeted interventions that safeguard both soil health and water quality.     

1979-2016年我国东北地区空中水汽状况及变化趋势分析

水汽是形成云和降水的物质基础,与全球水分循环和能量平衡密切相关,对天气和气候具有重要影响。基于NCEP/NCAR月值再分析资料,综合分析我国东北地区上空不同高度层位比湿的气候学特征和长期趋势变化,同时分析了整层积分水汽通量的季节变化。结果表明：东北地区空中水汽集中分布于500 hPa以下,1979年至20世纪末低层比湿呈增加趋势,2000年后转为缓慢下降,但2012年以来波动回升。此外,东北地区比湿及水汽通量季节差异明显,夏季水汽含量最多,冬季最少,秋季多于春季;东北地区水汽含量最大值出现于7月,最低值出现在每年12月至次年1月。水汽来源受东亚季风系统影响明显,夏季水汽源地主要为南海,渤海和黄海对东北地区夏季水汽也有一定贡献;其他季节水汽主要来源于西风带输送。     

Development of a diatom-based specific conductivity model for the glacio-isostatic lakes of Truelove Lowland: implications for paleoconductivity and paleoenvironmental reconstructions in Devon Island lakes, N.W.T., Canada

Diatoms are identified and enumerated from the surface sediments of 100 lakes of Truelove Lowland, Devon Island, N.W.T., Canada. These lakes range from large oligotrophic lakes, to small tundra ponds, to coastal marine lagoons which are diverse in terms of ionic concentration and composition. The relationship between diatoms and 15 limnological variables is examined using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Specific conductivity is identified as the most important variable influencing the distribution of diatoms in the Truelove lakes. A Weighted Averaging (WA) calibration model is developed to predict diatom-inferred specific conductivity. The reliability of the model is tested by evaluating the correlation between observed and diatom-inferred values and determining the error of prediction by bootstrapping. The applicability of the predictive conductivity equation is demonstrated by reconstructing the paleoconductivity history of Fish Lake.     

Temporal and spatial trends of lake acidity in northern Sweden

Changes in lake-water pH, alkalinity and colour were inferred from diatoms in surface sediment samples and sediment samples from pre-industrial times from 118 northern Swedish lakes. This palaeolimnological study does not support the hypothesis that there is a large-scale modern acidification in the two northernmost counties of Sweden; pH had decreased significantly in eight lakes, while five had a significant increase. Partial least-squares regression of changes in water chemistry in relation to catchment characteristics was performed to evaluate the causes of the acidity status. Furthermore, temporal trends were assessed from long sediment cores from five acidic lakes. The results suggest that the presently acid lakes have faced a long-term acidification trend over several thousand years due to soil-forming processes and vegetation development. However, due to the acid sensitivity of the region, future acidification trends in northern Swedish lakes should be carefully observed and assessed.     

区域形象系统探索

从阐释区域形象系统的有关概念着手,全面探讨了区域形象系统的基本特性和研究内容,并就区域形象系统理论进行了有益研究。