Representing environments in flux: case studies from East Africa

The dominant view in the ecology and anthropology of the 1950s saw populations harmoniously interacting in self-regulating systems; climax forests and stable societies were the ruling hypotheses. Now, however, ecology and social sciences are investigating nature and culture in flux. The flux paradigms of nature and culture describe a human–ecological relationship that is non-equilibrial, historically contingent and constantly negotiated at both material and ideological levels by unequal actors. In this paper, we examine the effect of changing ecological and cultural paradigms on interpretations of environmental change in three areas of East Africa: the North Pare Mountains, Tanzania, the Mkomazi Game Reserve, Tanzania and the Tsavo National Park, Kenya. We explore how discursive and materialist approaches can complement one another, by expanding the domains of ecological inquiry and demanding that analysts cross-check their data for unquestioned assumptions regarding stability, variability and spatial and temporal scales. Rather than testing a ruling hypothesis, we suggest that ecologists and social scientists work with multiple hypotheses, with the aim of understanding the interplay between ecological, environmental and social influences.     

Exploring some relationships between biological soil crusts, soil aggregation and wind erosion

A portable wind tunnel was used to test the contribution of biological and physical elements to overall soil aggregation on a soil dominated by biological soil crusts in south-eastern Australia. After moderate disturbance and simulated wind erosion, 90% of surface aggregates on the loamy soil and 76% on the sandy soil were dominated by biological elements (cryptogams). Lower levels of biological bonding were observed on the severely disturbed treatment. Linear regression indicated a significant positive relationship (r²=0·72) between biological soil crust cover and dry aggregation levels greater than 0·85mm. To maintain sediment transport below an erosion control target of 5gm⁻¹s⁻¹ for a 65kmh⁻¹ wind at 10m height, a crust cover of approximately 20% is required. When a multiple regression model which sequentially fitted biological crust cover and dry aggregation greater than 0·85mm was applied to the data, dry aggregation accounted for more of the variation in sediment transport rate than biological crust cover. These data were used to develop a conceptual model which integrates crust cover and dry aggregation, and provides a useful framework within which to predict the likely impacts of changes in soil crust cover and aggregation.     

地中蒸渗计水分运移机理及其监测误差分析

对地中蒸渗计与自然潜水水分运移机理存在的差异及误差进行了分析。结果表明：地中蒸渗计与自然潜水在水位动态、水分存储、水分运移等方面存在一定的差异，使得利用地中蒸渗计监测的潜水蒸发量、降雨入渗补给量与自然潜水的实际情况产生了一定的误差，这种误差随着潜水埋深的变化而变化，潜水埋深越浅，误差越大，潜水埋深越深，误差越小。特别对于潜水埋深小于1．5m的地中蒸渗计，使用其资料时一定要作适当的技术处理，如果直接引用，将会给计算成果带来较大的误差。     

Monitoring volcanic hazard using eddy covariance at Solfatara volcano, Naples, Italy

An eddy covariance (EC) station was deployed at Solfatara crater, Italy, June 8–25, 2001 to assess if EC could reliably monitor CO₂ fluxes continuously at this site. Deployment at six different locations within the crater allowed areas of focused gas venting to be variably included in the measured flux. Turbulent (EC) fluxes calculated in 30-min averages varied between 950 and 4460 g CO₂ m⁻² d⁻¹; the highest measurements were made downwind of degassing pools. Comparing turbulent fluxes with chamber measurements of surface fluxes using footprint models in diffuse degassing regions yielded an average difference of 0% (±4%), indicating that EC measurements are representative of surface fluxes at this volcanic site. Similar comparisons made downwind of degassing pools yielded emission rates from 12 to 27 t CO₂ d⁻¹ for these features. Reliable EC measurements (i.e. measurements with sufficient and stationary turbulence) were obtained primarily during daytime hours (08:00 and 20:00 local time) when the wind speed exceeded 2 m s⁻¹. Daily average EC fluxes varied by ±50% and variations were likely correlated to changes in atmospheric pressure. Variations in CO₂ emissions due to volcanic processes at depth would have to be on the same order of magnitude as the measured diurnal variability in order to be useful in predicting volcanic hazard. First-order models of magma emplacement suggest that emissions could exceed this rate for reasonable assumptions of magma movement. EC therefore provides a useful method of monitoring volcanic hazard at Solfatara. Further, EC can monitor significantly larger areas than can be monitored by previous methods.     

青藏铁路管道通风试验路基地温变化及热状况分析

基于青藏铁路北麓河试验段管道通风路基在2个冻融循环周期内的地温监测资料，分析了路基温度的发展、温度场分布特征及多年冻土的热流量变化．结果表明：通风管埋设于路堤中部的路基温度变化和发展情况与一般路基类似，路基在施工后的2个冻融周期内仍处于整体升温的过程；通风管埋设于路堤下部的路基，虽然前2个冻融循环周期内土体温度与原始状态相比同样有所升高，但开始出现逐渐降低的趋势，同时地温场的分布在横向上的对称性也比较好，在热交换方面，一般填土路基和通风管位于路堤中部的路基在施工后的前2个冻融循环周期内一直处于吸热过程，而通风管位于路堤下部的路基在经历了第1个周期的持续吸热过程后，在第2个冻融循环周期内已经开始放热。     

重塑非饱和粘土抗剪强度参数与饱和度的关系研究

土的饱和度是基于水分状态和密度状态的一个衍生变量。存在因应水分状态变化和因应密度状态变化的两类饱和度变化过程。根据23组不同水分状态和密度状态的UU三轴压缩试验结果,讨论了重塑非饱和粘性土抗剪强度参数与饱和度的关系。数据分析表明:粘聚力与水分状态相关的饱和度的关系是强非线性的,与密度状态相关的饱和度的关系是准线性的。内摩擦角与水分状态相关的饱和度的关系是强非线性的,与密度状态相关的饱和度的关系是弱非线性的。     

Global thermal and dynamical perturbations due to Cretaceous mantle avalanche

The numerical models of mantle convection agree to depict avalanches behaviour according to the level of endothermicity of the spinel → perovskite phase change. Their potential effects on the global thermal and dynamical states of the mantle have been computed thanks to a numerical code, which takes into account both the 400-km exothermic and the 660-km endothermic phase changes. The cycle followed by the avalanches is: local layering, destabilization of the 660-km thermal layer, travelling and spreading on the core, and reappearing of the local layering. Therefore, mantle convection is characterized by quiet periods of partial layering embedded in catastrophic events. During the avalanche, the amplitude of the surface velocity is multiplied by two, which would imply an enhanced plate tectonic and ridge activities. The global thermal effects of the avalanche are compatible with a high mantle temperature and an acceleration of Earth's rotation during the Cretaceous. They also offer a coherent explanation to locate the origin of mantle plumes both within the CMB and just below the transition zone.     

西北地区东部春季土壤湿度变化的初步研究

利用中国西北地区东部 (包括宁夏、内蒙古西部以及甘肃、陕西两省 35°N以北地区 )农业气象站近 2 0年固定地段旬土壤湿度资料 ,对该地区春季土壤湿度的变化进行了初步分析。结果表明 ,中国西北地区东部土壤湿度的变化具有 3年左右的周期 ,而且 2 0世纪 90年代以来呈下降的趋势 ,这与该地区的降水和气温变化有关系 ;西北地区东部的土壤湿度变化对该地区群发性沙尘暴的爆发有一定影响     

农田生态系统大气硫沉降通量的观测研究

1998年 11月～ 1999年 10月间在中国科学院红壤站 (江西鹰潭 )农田小气候站进行了大气二氧化硫 (SO2 )、硫酸盐粒子 (SO2 -4)浓度采样和雨水样本收集 ,利用阻力模式和全年逐时气象资料计算 SO2 和 SO2 -4的干沉降速度 ,估算干沉降通量 ,利用降水资料和雨水中硫酸根离子浓度估计大气硫的湿沉降 ,从而定量研究大气硫沉降输入农田生态系统的通量 ,结果表明 :农田下垫面上 SO2 和 SO2 -4干沉降速度的年平均值分别是 0 .373± 0 .170 cm· s-1(月均值 0 .16 1～ 0 .5 45 cm·s-1)、0 .198± 0 .12 3cm· s-1(月均值 0 .15 2～ 0 .2 6 9cm· s-1)。农田下垫面硫年总沉降量为 10 .3g· m-2 ,其中干沉降占总沉降的 83.3%。硫的干沉降又以 SO2 的干沉降为主 ,占年干沉降总量的 92 .2 %。大气硫沉降输入占农田生态系统输入总量的 90 %以上 ,是农田生态系统获取硫素的一个重要途径