Using a simulation analysis to evaluate the impact of crop mapping error on crop area estimation from stratified sampling

ABSTRACT

To analyze the efficiency of area estimations (i.e. estimation accuracy and variation of estimation) impacted by crop mapping error, we simulated error at eight levels for thematic maps using a stratified sampling estimation methodology. The results show that the estimation efficiency is influenced by the combination of the sample size and the error level. Evaluating the trade-offs between sample size and error level showed that reducing the crop mapping error level provides the most benefit (i.e. higher estimation efficiency). Further, sampling performance differed based on the heterogeneity of the crop area. The results demonstrated that the influence of increasing the error level on estimation efficiency is more detrimental in heterogeneous areas than in homogeneous ones. Therefore, to obtain higher estimation efficiency, a larger sample size and lower error level or both are needed, especially in heterogeneous areas. We suggest that existing land-cover maps should first be used to determine the heterogeneity of the area. The appropriate sample size for these areas then can be determined according to all three factors: heterogeneity, expected estimation efficiency, and sampling budget. Overall, extending our understanding of the impacts of crop mapping error is necessary for decision making to improve our ability to effectively estimate crop area.     

A late Holocene paleoenvironmental reconstruction from Agua Caliente,southern Belize,linked to regional climate variability and cultural change at the Maya polity of Uxbenká

We report high-resolution macroscopic charcoal, pollen and sedimentological data for Agua Caliente, a freshwater lagoon located in southern Belize, and infer a late Holocene record of human land-use/climate interactions for the nearby prehistoric Maya center of Uxbenká. Land-use activities spanning the initial clearance of forests for agriculture through the drought-linked Maya collapse and continuing into the historic recolonization of the region are all reflected in the record. Human land alteration in association with swidden agriculture is evident early in the record during the Middle Preclassic starting ca. 2600 cal yr BP. Fire slowly tapered off during the Late and Terminal Classic, consistent with the gradual political demise and depopulation of the Uxbenká polity sometime between ca. 1150 and 950 cal yr BP, during a period of multiple droughts evident in a nearby speleothem record. Fire activity was at its lowest during the Maya Postclassic ca. 950–430 cal yr BP, but rose consistent with increasing recolonization of the region between ca. 430 cal yr BP and present. These data suggest that this environmental record provides both a proxy for 2800 years of cultural change, including colonization, growth, decline, and reorganization of regional populations, and an independent confirmation of recent paleoclimate reconstructions from the same region.     

土壤地球化学测量在博茨瓦纳中部地区的应用

通过在博茨瓦纳中部区Tonota-Foley一带的找矿勘查,探讨土壤地球化学测量方法在博茨瓦纳热带干旱草原景观区的应用效果。利用该方法,在Tonota-Foley一带圈定出化探综合异常17处,通过对典型异常的查证工作,运用槽探工程,查明了异常源为方解石蛇纹岩体,说明土壤地球化学测量方法适用于博茨瓦纳中部地区的景观条件,圈定的异常准确、有效,该方法可在博茨瓦纳同类地区推广使用。     

山西王莽岭国家地质公园地貌景观特征及其成因研究

王莽岭国家地质公园位于太行山南段,地质遗迹资源丰富、类型多样,具有重要的美学及科学价值。本文以王莽岭地质公园为研究区,通过野外调查并依据地质遗迹的成因、形态及规模、自然属性及分布特征,将地质遗迹资源划分为地貌景观、沉积构造、构造形迹、古生物化石四类,系统地研究了峡谷、岩溶、夷平面、河流阶地、瀑布等地貌的成因,为太行山的形成演化研究提供了资料,对提升研究区地质遗迹资源的科学价值具有重要意义。     

The post-glacial landscape evolution of the North German Basin: morphology, neotectonics and crustal deformation

The recent evolution of the north German Basin (NGB), which is presently a low-seismic area, was partly affected by glacial loading and unloading of the ice masses. Major stresses acting within the NGB are induced by the North-Atlantic ridge push, the ongoing Alpine collision, and the post-glacial rebound of Fennoscandia. Present-day horizontal stresses within the NGB are directed generally NW–SE, but fan and bend north of 52°N towards NNE. Major basement faults are directed NW–SE, minor faults NE–SW and NNE–SSW, and are clearly detectable in geomorphological and satellite lineaments. Furthermore, the drainage pattern and the distribution of lakes in northern Germany follow exactly block boundaries and, hence, mark zones of present-day subsidence. The understanding of the post-glacial morphology and reactivation of faults requires a view into the very heterogeneous crust and upper mantle below the NGB. The re-adjustment of the individual fault blocks during post-glacial relaxation of the lithosphere leads to differential, crust-dependent uplift and, probably, to the formation of Urstrom valleys. The Urstrom valleys and terminal moraines in northern Germany appear to parallel the major tectonic lineaments and lithospheric “block” boundaries. The lithospheric memory is expressed in the post-glacial landscape evolution of the NGB.     

How a wet tropical rainforest copes with repeated volcanic destruction

The Holocene Period for the province of West New Britain, Papua New Guinea, is characterised by periodic catastrophic volcanism. The region is mantled in dense wet tropical rainforest, and has been occupied by people since the Pleistocene. Analyses of peat from two nearby sites within a lowland rainforest environment provide us with a macro-level landscape account of the periodic destruction and recovery of the coastal forests during seven periods of volcanic activity in the latter part (2900 yr ago to present) of the Holocene. Radiocarbon dating shows the very close correlation of the peat and tephra layers at both sites, yet the pollen analysis reveals different vegetation communities. These initial results allow us to begin identifying the processes of recovery, and to recognise different ecological pressures placed on vegetation at these neighbouring sites. Evidence of hydrological changes are observed beginning with a marine incursion recorded at Garu Site 3 1360 ¹⁴C yr B.P. The distinct differences in the vegetation re-establishment and community regeneration rates suggest the greater level of disturbance at Garu Site 1 could be related to the depth of the ashfall, although the proximity of a known human settlement may also be a contributing factor. Of note, palynologically, we found that the fern spore flora is particularly rich and believe it will be useful for ecological interpretation.     

Sulfur speciation with high performance liquid chromatography as a tool for El Chichón volcano,crater lake monitoring

The monitoring of sulfur species in crater lakes has proven to be useful for forecasting episodes of volcanic unrest in certain active volcanoes, including Poás, Costa Rica; Kusatsu-Shirane, Japan; and Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand. In this study, we have improved the current geochemical monitoring of El Chichón volcano through the setting of optimal high-performance liquid chromatography conditions (HPLC) for the analysis of S²⁻, SO₃²⁻, S₂O₃²⁻, S₄O₆²⁻ and SO₄²⁻ using a common chromatographic system. The procedure was applied to the analysis of lake samples taken in March, July and October of 2014 and April of 2015. The results were promising, since nearly all species were detected (with the exception of S₂O₃²⁻) in measurable amounts, including S²⁻ (<0.85–5.05 mg/L), SO₃²⁻ (<2.77–26.1 mg/L), S₄O₆²⁻ (108.27–303.82 mg/L) and SO₄²⁻ (489.58–676.26 mg/L). The spatial distribution of these species along the lakeshore showed zones of increased concentrations to the east and southeast of the lake, which provides information on the distribution of faults or cracks that feed hydrothermal fluids to the lake. This method thus provides additional information linked to the volcanic and hydrothermal activity of the volcano.     

The imprinting of aridity upon a lateritic landscape: an illustration from southwestern Australia

The southwestern region of Australia contains the Yilgarn Craton that has been exposed to subaerial weathering since mid-Proterozoic. The gently undulating landscape experienced lateritic weathering so that today variably dissected, deep in situ isovolumetrically weathered regolith is widespread. Imposition of a more arid climate since the Miocene with the cessation of effective external drainage has resulted in substantial geochemical modification of the highly porous regolith. This vast pore volume acts as a reservoir for complex solutions that may be highly saline, extremely acid to alkaline and reducing. Diverse precipitates have formed in the regolith including widespread occurrence of silcrete, calcrete, dolocrete, ferricrete and gypcrete together with localised occurrences of pyrite, alunite, jarosite, barite, halite and other salts. Clearing of bush land for agriculture in the 20th century increased recharge so that rising chemically active groundwaters are damaging farmland and infrastructure throughout the region. To cite this article: B. Gilkes et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

黑河流域典型景观植被带陆面过程同步观测研究

为了解内陆河流域不同尺度内与水循环及生态过程有关的水分、热量分布规律,在黑河流域上中下游选取3个典型植被景观带建立观测场,并布设环境观测系统(ENVIS)进行环境要素的同步观测.结果表明,山区森林草地灌丛复合生态区陆面是冷性湿润的下垫面,中游绿洲荒漠接触带是干性、较湿润的下垫面,下游荒漠河岸林景观带是干热性的下垫面.     

伊通县放牛沟地区早古生代岩浆演化特征及其与矿产关系

伊通县放牛沟早古生代岩浆活动较为强烈,其发展演化与放牛沟多金属硫化物矿床关系极为密切。岩浆活动特点是先喷发后侵入,先期形成钙碱系列的火山—沉积岩系,后期为Ⅰ型中酸性岩浆侵入。该矿床既有火山沉积特征,又有后期岩浆热动力改造特点,其形成受控于岛弧构造环境、火山活动形成的矿源层、后期热动力改造等因素。