Exploration of remotely sensed forest structure and ultrasonic range sensor metrics to improve empirical snow models

Current methods to estimate snow accumulation and ablation at the plot and watershed levels can be improved as new technologies offer alternative approaches to more accurately monitor snow dynamics and their drivers. Here we conduct a meta‐analysis of snow and vegetation data collected in British Columbia to explore the relationships between a wide range of forest structure variables – obtained from Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), hemispherical photography (HP) and Landsat Thematic Mapper – and several indicators of snow accumulation and ablation estimated from manual snow surveys and ultrasonic range sensors. By merging and standardizing all the ground plot information available in the study area, we demonstrate how LiDAR‐derived forest cover above 0.5 m was the variable explaining the highest percentage of absolute peak snow water equivalent (SWE) (33%), while HP‐derived leaf area index and gap fraction (45° angle of view) were the best potential predictors of snow ablation rate (explaining 57% of variance). This study reveals how continuous SWE data from ultrasonic sensors are fundamental to obtain statistically significant relationships between snow indicators and structural metrics by increasing mean r² by 20% when compared to manual surveys. The relationships between vegetation and spectral indices from Landsat and snow indicators, not explored before, were almost as high as those shown by LiDAR or HP and thus point towards a new line of research with important practical implications. While the use of different data sources from two snow seasons prevented us from developing models with predictive capacity, a large sample size helped to identify outliers that weakened the relationships and suggest improvements for future research. A concise overview of the limitations of this and previous studies is provided along with propositions to consistently improve experimental designs to take advantage of remote sensing technologies, and better represent spatial and temporal variations of snow. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Suspended sediment and total dissolved solid yield patterns at the headwaters of Urumqi River,northwestern China: a comparison between glacial and non‐glacial catchments

In order to understand the differences in the suspended sediment and total dissolved solid (TDS) yield patterns between the glacial and non‐glacial catchments at the headwaters of Urumqi River, northwestern China, water samples were collected from a glacier catchment and an empty cirque catchment within the region, during three melting seasons from 2006 to 2008. These samples were analyzed to estimate suspended sediment and TDS concentrations, fluxes and erosion rates in the two adjoining catchments. There were remarked differences in suspended sediment and TDS yield patterns between the two catchments. Suspended sediment concentrations were controlled mainly by the sediment source, whereas TDS concentrations were primarily related to the hydrologic interaction with soil minerals. Generally, the glacial catchment had much higher suspended sediment and TDS yields, together with higher denudation rates, than the non‐glacial catchment. Overall, glacial catchment was mainly dominated by physical denudation process, whereas the non‐glacial catchment was jointly influenced by physical and chemical denudation processes. The observed differences in material delivery patterns were mainly controlled by the runoff source and the glacial processes. The melting periods of glacier and snow were typically the most important time for the suspended sediment and TDS yields. Meanwhile, episodic precipitation events could generate disproportionately large yields. Subglacial hydrology dynamics, glaciers pluck and grind processes could affect erodibility, and the large quantities of dust stored on the glacier surface provided additional sources for suspended sediment transport in the glacial catchment. These mechanisms imply that, in response to climate change, the catchment behaviour will be modified significantly in this region, in terms of material flux. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A rain on snow climatology and temporal analysis for the eastern United States

ABSTRACT

Rain-on-snow (ROS) has the potential to produce devastating floods by enhancing runoff from snowmelt. Although a common phenomenon across the eastern United States, little research has focused on ROS in this region. This study used a gridded observational snow dataset from 1960–2009 to establish a comprehensive seasonal climatology of ROS for this region. Additionally, different rain and snow thresholds were compared while considering temporal trends in ROS occurrence at four grid cells representing individual locations. Results show most ROS events occur in MAM (March-April-May). ROS events identified with rainfall >1 cm are more frequent near the east coast and events identified with >1 cm snow loss are more common in higher latitudes and/or elevations. Decreasing trends in DJF (December-January-February) ROS events were identified near the coastal areas, with increasing trends in the northern portion of the domain. Significant decreasing trends in MAM ROS are likewise present on a regional scale. Factors playing a role in snowpack depth and rainfall, such as movement of storm tracks in this region, should be considered with future work to discern mechanisms causing the changes in ROS frequency.     

Community‐Derived Standards for LA‐ICP‐MS U‐(Th‐)Pb Geochronology – Uncertainty Propagation,Age Interpretation and Data Reporting

The LA‐ICP‐MS U‐(Th‐)Pb geochronology international community has defined new standards for the determination of U‐(Th‐)Pb ages. A new workflow defines the appropriate propagation of uncertainties for these data, identifying random and systematic components. Only data with uncertainties relating to random error should be used in weighted mean calculations of population ages; uncertainty components for systematic errors are propagated after this stage, preventing their erroneous reduction. Following this improved uncertainty propagation protocol, data can be compared at different uncertainty levels to better resolve age differences. New reference values for commonly used zircon, monazite and titanite reference materials are defined (based on ID‐TIMS) after removing corrections for common lead and the effects of excess ²³⁰Th. These values more accurately reflect the material sampled during the determination of calibration factors by LA‐ICP‐MS analysis. Recommendations are made to graphically represent data only with uncertainty ellipses at 2s and to submit or cite validation data with sample data when submitting data for publication. New data‐reporting standards are defined to help improve the peer‐review process. With these improvements, LA‐ICP‐MS U‐(Th‐)Pb data can be considered more robust, accurate, better documented and quantified, directly contributing to their improved scientific interpretation.     

Automated Extraction of a Five‐Year LA‐ICP‐MS Trace Element Data Set of Ten Common Glass and Carbonate Reference Materials: Long‐Term Data Quality,Optimisation and Laser Cell Homogeneity

LA‐ICP‐MS is increasingly applied to obtain quantitative multi‐element data with minimal sample preparation, usually achieved by calibration using reference materials (RMs). However, some ubiquitous RMs, for example the NIST SRM 61× series glasses, suffer from reported value uncertainties for certain elements. Moreover, no long‐term data set of analyses conducted over a range of ablation and tuning conditions exists. Thus, there has been little rigorous examination of the extent to which offsets between measured and reported values are the result of error in these values rather than analytically induced fractionation. We present new software (‘LA‐MINE’), capable of extracting LA‐ICP‐MS data with no user input, and apply this to our system, yielding over 5 years of data (~ 5700 analyses of ten glass and carbonate RMs). We examine the relative importance of systematic analytical bias and possible error in reported values through a mass‐specific breakdown of fourteen of the most commonly determined elements. Furthermore, these data, obtained under a wide range of different ablation conditions, enable specific recommendations of how data quality may be improved, for example the role of diatomic gas, the effect of differential inter‐glass fractionation factors and choice of transport tubing material. Finally, these data demonstrate that the two‐volume Laurin ablation cell is characterised by no discernible spatial heterogeneity in measured trace element ratios.     

基于F-MCDM的冰川旅游游客满意度综合评价及敏感性分析

游客满意度是衡量旅游地竞争力的关键因素之一,已受到众多旅游研究者的关注。在其热点研究中,有关冰川旅游游客满意度及不同游客属性间满意度差异的研究鲜见。选取达古冰川与海螺沟冰川为研究区,通过对游客属性细分,运用模糊多准则决策法（F-MCDM）及引入需求弹性理论对冰川旅游游客满意度进行了综合评价和敏感性分析,探讨了提升冰川旅游游客满意度的对策建议。结果表明：达古冰川游客实际满意度总体高于海螺沟冰川,两地均以管理与服务的满意度最高,消费状况与交通的满意度最低。就游客属性的相对满意度而言,两地均呈现男性满意度高于女性,高消费游客满意度高于低消费游客,高忠诚度游客满意度高于低忠诚度游客;两地相对满意度的差异表现在年龄、受教育程度、客源地和到访次数方面。相较于达古冰川,海螺沟冰川满意度敏感性更高,同等改进力度下游客满意度的提高更为明显高效,就两地满意度敏感性最高的景观特色而言,达古冰川1%的改善将提升游客满意度0.30%,而海螺沟冰川可提升0.45%;对于不同游客属性的满意度敏感性,两地均以不愿推荐、不愿重游和未达到期望的游客最高。最后依据满意度敏感性分析结果,为两地冰川旅游发展提出了关键属性改进、营销策略创新和旅游产品开发等针对性建议。     

微束分析测试技术十年(2011~2020)进展与展望

现代地球科学研究的重大突破在很大程度上取决于观测和分析技术的创新。新世纪以来,我国地球科学领域引进了一批高性能新型微束分析仪器设备,建立了一批高规格的实验室。本文回顾了近十年来微束分析技术与方法的主要进展及其在地球科学研究中的应用实例,包括电子探针、扫描电镜、透射电镜、大型离子探针、纳米离子探针、飞行时间二次离子质谱、激光剥蚀等离子体质谱、激光诱导原子探针、原子探针技术、显微红外光谱、同步辐射等,这些分析技术的进步和广泛应用极大地提高了我们对地球和行星演化历史及许多地质过程的理解。今后,应加快微束分析的新技术、新方法和新标准的开发,特别是高水平人才队伍建设,提高创新能力并在国际学术舞台上发挥重要作用。     

Rapid U‐Pb Geochronology by Laser Ablation Multi‐Collector ICP‐MS

Detrital zircon (DZ) U‐Pb laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) has revolutionised the way geologists approach many Earth science questions. Although recent research has focused on rapid sample throughput, acquisition rates are limited to 100–300 analyses h^?1. We present a method to acquire zircon U‐Pb dates at rates of 120, 300, 600 and 1200 analyses h^?1 (30, 12, 6 and 3 s per analysis) by multi‐collector LA‐ICP‐MS. We demonstrate the efficacy of this method by analysing twelve zircon reference materials with dates from ~ 3465 to ~ 28 Ma. Mean offset from high‐precision dates increases with faster rates from 0.9% to 1.1%; mean random 1s uncertainty increases from 0.6% to 1.3%. We tested this new method on a sandstone sample previously characterised by large‐n DZ geochronology. Quantitative comparison shows increased correspondence among age distributions comprising > 300 dates. This new method holds promise for DZ geochronology because (a) it requires no major changes to hardware, but rather modifications to software; (b) it yields robust age distributions well‐suited for quantitative analysis and maximum depositional age calculations; (c) there is only a minor sacrifice of accuracy and measurement uncertainty; and (d) there is less burden to researchers in terms of time investment and analytical cost.     

天山乌鲁木齐河源1号冰川雪坑中pH值和电导率的季节变化及淋溶过程

自2002年9月14日至2004年9月28日,在天山乌鲁木齐河源1号冰川积累区雪坑中连续观测取样,频率为1次/周。对表层雪样品和粒雪坑样品的pH值和电导率进行了分析。结果表明,表层雪的pH值和电导率具有明显的季节变化趋势,与本区域的主导山谷风风向NE和ENE密切相关。在春季,由于尘暴发生频率的增加,表层雪的pH值呈现较强碱性,电导率达到最大值;在冬季,由于原生气溶胶向次生气溶胶的转化,pH值呈现较弱碱性,电导率达到最小值。在后沉积过程中（2003年10月4日至2004年9月8日）,雪坑中不同时期的pH值和电导率呈现不同的季节变化特征和淋溶过程。电导率的峰值P1进入粒雪冰的时间比与它相对应的大粒径（直径>10 μm）微粒的浓度峰值提前40天左右;在有的雪坑中,pH值和电导率的峰值出现在污化层附近,与污化层的位置有较好的一致性,说明污化层对可溶性离子的淋溶作用可能有一定的影响。相关分析表明,Ca2+是影响表层雪中pH值和电导率变化的最主要离子。     

ICP-MS及其联用技术在海洋地质研究中的应用前景

电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP—MS)具有灵敏度高、检出限低、选择性好、线性范围宽、能进行多元素和同位素比测定等优点,广泛应用于环境、地质、医药、食品和高纯物质等领域。ICP—MS与其他进样及分析技术的联用,大大地扩展了其应用范围。重点介绍了ICP—MS与激光烧蚀(LA)、高效液相色谱(HPLC)及气相色谱(GC)的联用技术,探讨了它们在海洋地质研究中的应用前景。