Comprehensive analysis of changes to catchment slope properties in the high-sediment region of the Loess Plateau, 1978-2010

To control soil erosion and restore the degraded environment in the Loess Plateau, a large number of measures related to soil and water conservation have been employed that have profoundly affected catchment properties. This study constructed three indicators to characterize changes to the catchment slope, proposed both a method for a regression analysis of adjacent images and a sequence model, and applied multisource remotely sensed images and GIS spatial clustering analysis technologies to extract thematic information and comprehensively analyze the catchment change characteristics. The results indicate that the catchment slope properties changed significantly. At catchment scale, the average values of ARC, DVC and ART were 6.43%, 25.57% and 4.30%, respectively. There were six clustering types of catchment slope property changes. The maximum and minimum of the average similarities of the clustering types were 0.992 and 0.935. Each slope control measures had a distinct effect on catchment slope; the dominating factor of each clustering type was identified as: Type 1: D-VC, Type 2: D-VCLU, Type 3: D-LUVC, Type 4: D-TAVC, Type 5: D-TAC and Type 6: D-MFC. Type 5 and Type 1 covered the largest areas, respectively occupying 37.28% and 31.01%. Catchment slope property changes also had distinct types that depended on their geomorphological conditions. These findings provide a useful basis from which to further study catchment slope hydrological and soil erosion processes.     

Capacity of soil loss control in the Loess Plateau based on soil erosion control degree

The capacity of soil and water conservation measures, defined as the maximum quantity of suitable soil and water conservation measures contained in a region, were determined for the Loess Plateau based on zones suitable for establishing terraced fields, forestland and grassland with the support of geographic information system (GIS) software. The minimum possible soil erosion modulus and actual soil erosion modulus in 2010 were calculated using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE), and the ratio of the minimum possible soil erosion modulus under the capacity of soil and water conservation measures to the actual soil erosion modulus was defined as the soil erosion control degree. The control potential of soil erosion and water loss in the Loess Plateau was studied using this concept. Results showed that the actual soil erosion modulus was 3355 t?km^-2?a^-1, the minimum possible soil erosion modulus was 1921 t?km^-2?a^-1, and the soil erosion control degree was 0.57 (medium level) in the Loess Plateau in 2010. In terms of zoning, the control degree was relatively high in the river valley-plain area, soil-rocky mountainous area, and windy-sandy area, but relatively low in the soil-rocky hilly-forested area, hilly-gully area and plateau-gully area. The rate of erosion areas with a soil erosion modulus of less than 1000 t?km^-2?a^-1 increased from 50.48% to 57.71%, forest and grass coverage rose from 56.74% to 69.15%, rate of terraced fields increased from 4.36% to 19.03%, and per capita grain available rose from 418 kg?a^-1 to 459 kg?a^-1 under the capacity of soil and water conservation measures compared with actual conditions. These research results are of some guiding significance for soil and water loss control in the Loess Plateau.     

The δ18O in the Guliya shallow ice core during the prevailing summer monsoons and sea-air interactions

The correlations of the δ¹⁸O_max in the shallow ice core from the Guliya ice cap on the Tibetan Plateau with the global sea surface temperatures (SST) and height at the 500 hPa over the Northern Hemisphere were analyzed. The correlated regions on oceans that have a significant influence on the δ¹⁸O_max in the Guliya ice core are all located in ocean currents, or convergent regions of currents. They are the eastern Equatorial Pacific, the Northern Pacific Current, the Hot Pool in the eastern Indian Ocean, the Mozambique Current, the Northern Atlantic Current, the Canary Current and the Atlantic Equatorial Current. The δ¹⁸O_max in the Guliya ice core has negative correlations with the SST located in the lower latitudes, and positive correlations with the SST in the middle latitudes. The correlated areas at the 500 hPa that have a great impact on the δ¹⁸O_max are located in the subtropical highs over the mid-low-latitude oceans and the long-wave trough area over Balkhash Lake, where there are marked negative correlations between the heights in those areas and the δ¹⁸O_max. The influencing mechanism is displayed by the diversity of the vapor origins transported to the Guliya region. The strengths of the European ridge and the ridge over Baikal Lake have notable positive correlations with the δ¹⁸O_max. The two systems indirectly influence the vapor transportation towards the Guliya region by the adjustment of long-wave trough and ridge.     

Holocene-emerged notches and tectonic uplift along the Jalisco coast, Southwest Mexico

This paper presents the preliminary results from a study of Holocene-emerged shorelines, marine notches, and their tectonic implications along the Jalisco coast. The Pacific coast of Jalisco, SW Mexico, is an active tectonic margin. This coast has been the site of two of the largest earthquakes to occur in Mexico this century: the 1932 (Mw 8.2) Jalisco earthquake and the 1995 (Mw 8.0) Colima earthquake. Measurement and preliminary radiocarbon dating of emergent paleoshorelines along the Jalisco coast provide the first constraints upon the timing for tectonic uplift. Along this coastline, uplifted Holocene marine notches and wave-cut platforms occur at elevations ranging from ca. 1 to 4.5 m amsl. In situ intertidal organisms dated with radiocarbon, the first ever reported for the Jalisco area, provide preliminary results that record tectonic uplift during at least the past 1300 years BP at an average rate of about 3 mm/year. We propose a model in which coseismic subsidence produced by offshore earthquakes is rapidly recovered during the postseismic and interseismic periods. The long-term period is characterized by slow tectonic uplift of the Jalisco coast. We found no evidence of coastal interseismic and long-term subsidence along the Jalisco coast.     

Tectonic significance of the present relief of the Betic Cordillera

Tortonian calcarenites of the Betic Cordillera were deposited in coastal or very shallow marine environments and represent an ideal marker for estimating vertical movements from the late Miocene to the Present. A map showing the heights at which these Tortonian marine rocks are situated has a clear correlation with the present relief, indicating that today's relief has been formed since the Tortonian. There is also a good correlation between present relief and the Bouguer anomaly distribution in the Betic Cordillera, as well as with crustal thickness. Likewise, the present relief is directly related to the geodynamic setting of a horizontal N–S to NNW–SSE compression and an almost perpendicular extension, along with isostatic readjustment, existing in the Betic Cordillera from the Tortonian. As a result of these regional stresses, faults and folds have produced notable vertical movements. The highest rates of uplift of the Betic Cordillera coincide with large antiforms, in particular those of the Sierra Nevada and the Sierra Filabres. Several subsiding sectors also exist (for example, the Granada Basin or the Guadalquivir Basin). The foreland Guadalquivir Basin has a complex history because the uplift in its eastern sector and subsidence in the western sector coexisted during the late Tortonian. Today the whole Betic Cordillera is characterized by differential regional uplift, even in the aforementioned subsiding sectors.     

黄土高原发展过程中的五大转折

1 Introduction W hatim portanttransform ations have taken place during the form ation ofthe Loess Plateau in China? Research on this problem has especially im portantscientific significance forus to learn ofthe evolution oftheLoessPlateau and predictthe f…     

Efficient use of resources: urban waste ash and soil fertility on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria

Waste disposal constitutes an acute problem in numerous African cities. One solution could lie in the recycling of the nutrient-rich waste into agriculture taking place in and around cities. Farmers involved in vegetable production around Jos, Nigeria, have developed a sophisticated soil fertility management strategy combining inorganic fertilizers, manure and urban waste ash. This paper: (1) investigates the socio-economic constraints linked to obtaining scarce organic inputs, particularly urban waste ash and the health hazards (particularly heavy metal contamination of soil and crops) caused by using this ash and (2) suggests ways to improve use of this important resource.     

黄土高原西部植物耗水实验研究

针对兰州地区8种常见植物的盆栽试验,比较了其耗水量的变化特征,结果表明：在充分供水条件下,8种植物在试验期间内都能正常生长,植物耗水量从大到小排序为：柽柳＞柠条＞芨芨草＞侧柏＞甘蒙锦鸡儿＞紫穗槐＞红砂＞珍珠;在集雨条件下,植物耗水排序为：芨芨草＞珍珠＞柠条、侧柏、甘蒙锦鸡儿、＞红砂、紫穗槐＞柽柳,但柽柳和紫穗槐在集雨条件下生长出现干枝,生长不好。在雨养条件下,除红砂、甘蒙锦鸡儿、珍珠受到干旱胁迫不明显外,其余植物不同程度上有枯叶出现。紫穗槐死亡,柽柳接近死亡,其他植物耗水排序为：珍珠、芨芨草＞侧柏、甘蒙锦鸡儿、柠条＞红砂。     

2000-2012年陕甘宁黄土高原区地表蒸散时空分布及影响因素

分析陕甘宁黄土高原区地表蒸散变化特征及其影响因素,可以为区域水资源规划、生态环境改善提供依据。本文利用MOD16蒸散数据,统计分析了陕甘宁黄土高原区2000-2012年地表实际蒸散量的时空变化特征,并结合国家气象站点观测数据和基于像元的相关分析法探讨了其影响因素。结果表明:(1) 2000-2002年蒸散量迅速上升,在2003年达到最高值378.6 mm, 2003-2006年蒸散量呈下降趋势,2006年之后蒸散量呈现缓慢上升趋势。(2) 近13年来,陕甘宁黄土高原区多年平均蒸散量具有明显的空间差异,蒸散量自西北至东南递增,最南部的六盘山、子午岭、黄龙山地是3个主要的高值区;年蒸散量以夏季最多,其次是春季,秋季和冬季最少,且季节蒸散的分布与年蒸散的空间分布格局基本一致。(3) 陕甘宁黄土高原区蒸散量草地和耕地的贡献率最高,密灌丛、疏灌丛次之,常绿针叶林、森林草原贡献率则较小。(4) 陕甘宁黄土高原区动力因素对地表蒸散量影响以正相关为主,风速对该区影响较大;热力因素对地表蒸散量影响以负相关为主,其中气温与蒸散在空间上呈负相关的区域较大,日照时数与蒸散在空间上的负相关区域的面积次之;水分条件(降水量、相对湿度)对蒸散的影响也以正相关为主。