Analytical solutions for water flow passing over a vegetal area

This study is aimed at investigating the vertical velocity profile of flow passing over a vegetal area by an analytical approach. The soil ground is considered as pervious and thus non-zero velocity at the ground surface can be estimated. The soil and vegetation layers are regarded as homogeneous and isotropic porous media. Therefore the solution of the flow can be obtained by applying the theory of turbulent flow and Biot’s theory of poroelasticity after dividing the flow field into three layers: homogenous water, vegetation and pervious soil. The velocity distribution is compared with the experimental data of [Rowiński PM, Kubrak J. A mixing-length model for predicting vertical velocity distribution on flows through emergent vegetation. J Hydrol Sci 2002;47(6):893–904] to show its validity. In addition, five dimensionless parameters denoting the variation of slope, permeability of soil, Reynolds stress, density of vegetation, and relative height of vegetation are proposed to reveal their effects on the surface water flow. The analytical solutions of flow velocity can also be simplified into simpler expressions to describe the flow passing over a non-vegetated area.     

Modeling the effects of historical vegetation change on near-surface atmosphere in the northern Chihuahuan Desert

Our goal was to evaluate effects of broad-scale changes in vegetation from grasslands to shrublands over the past 150 years on near-surface atmosphere over the Jornada Experimental Range in the northern Chihuahuan Desert, using a regional climate model. Simulations were conducted using 1858 and 1998 vegetation maps, and data collected in the field. Overall, the vegetation shift led to small changes in sensible heat (SH) and an increase in latent heat (LH). The impacts of shrub encroachment depended on shrubland type: conversion from grass to mesquite cools the near-surface atmosphere and from grass to creosotebush warms it. Higher albedo of mesquite relative to grasses reduced available energy, which was dissipated mainly as LH due to the deeper root system in mesquite. In creosotebush-dominated areas, a decrease in albedo, an increase in roughness length and displacement height contributed to the SH increase and warmer temperatures. Sensitivity simulations showed that an increase in soil moisture content enhanced shrub LH and a reduction in mesquite cover enhanced the temperature differences. The observed shift in vegetation led to complex interactions between land and surface fluxes, demonstrating that vegetation itself is a weather and climate variable as it significantly influences temperature and humidity.     

Younger Dryas to mid-Holocene environmental history of the lowlands of NW Transylvania, Romania

Pollen, micro-charcoal and total carbon analyses on sediments from the Turbuta palaeolake, in the Transylvanian Basin of NW Romania, reveal Younger Dryas to mid-Holocene environmental changes. The chronostratigraphy relies on AMS ¹⁴C measurements on organic matter and U/Th TIMS datings of snail shells. Results indicate the presence of Pinus and Betula open woodlands with small populations of Picea, Ulmus, Alnus and Salix before 12,000 cal yr BP. A fairly abrupt replacement of Pinus and Betula by Ulmus-dominated woodlands at ca. 11,900 cal. yr BP likely represents competition effects of vegetation driven by climate warming at the onset of the Holocene. By 11,000 cal yr BP, the woodlands were increasingly diverse and dense with the expansion of Quercus, Fraxinus and Tilia, the establishment of Corylus and the decline of upland herbaceous and shrubs taxa. The marked expansion of Quercus accompanied by Tilia between 10,500 and 8000 cal yr BP could be the result of low effective moisture associated with both low elevation of the site and with regional change towards a drier climate. At 10,000 cal yr BP, Corylus spread across the region, and by 8000 cal yr BP it replaced Quercus as a dominant forest constituent, with only little representation of Picea abies. Carpinus became established around 5500 cal yr BP, but it was only a minor constituent in local woodlands until ca. 5000 cal yr BP. Results from this study also indicate that the woodlands in the lowlands of Turbuta were never closed.     

Vegetation change,erosion risk and land management on the Nullarbor Plain,Australia

 Arid karst landscapes that have been degraded by human activities provide a challenge for rehabilitation and an opportunity to test ideas about the stability and resilience of limestone ecosystems. The Nullarbor Plain is the largest arid karst area in Australia (220 000 km²) and is divided into extensive closed karstic depressions separated by low rocky ridges, while the dominant vegetation is chenopod shrubland. Since European settlement there has been considerable change in the vegetation, with significant reduction in shrub and grass cover over large areas of the plain. These changes are related to a state and transition model of vegetation dynamics which incorporates climatic variability, fire history and grazing pressure from sheep, kangaroos and rabbits. A partial sediment budget using ¹³⁷Cs inventories reveals local and regional patterns of soil redistribution within this arid karst landscape. Rehabilitation of eroded soil in pastoral lands has been accomplished at several sites but is labour intensive and vulnerable to climatic fluctuations. Given the low stock numbers, limited number of people involved, and poor economic returns, it would be sensible to make pastoral activities on the Nullarbor secondary to conservation priorities. This would necessitate a change in land ethic to stewardship, with emphasis on rehabilitation and control of feral animals. Management of increased numbers of visitors to the caves and karst also requires that resource inventories and management plans for each area be drawn up and used. Received: 1 June 1995 · Accepted: 4 December 1995     

大光包滑坡工程地质研究

大光包滑坡是512汶川MS8.0级特大地震触发的规模最大的滑坡。滑坡位于汶川地震发震断裂上盘,距发震断裂直线距离3.0～4.5km,覆盖面积7.12km2,体积11.59108m3,是我国有史料记载以来规模最大的滑坡,也是目前世界上已知为数不多的几个10109m3以上的超大规模滑坡之一。本文作者自2011以来,在过去工作基础上,对该滑坡开展了1：2000滑坡工程地质测绘,结合物探、坑槽探及浅孔钻探等工作,编制了滑坡工程地质系列图件,从而进一步查明了大光包滑坡的平面和空间形态、滑体结构、滑面位置和堆积特征等,获得了较为完整的滑坡要素定量数据。研究成果还原了大光包滑坡发生时的真实场景;揭示了滑坡堆积地貌特征、植被分布、岩性分布以及堆积体结构特征等,认为大光包滑坡是受强震和特定地形条件、岩体结构条件（层间剪切断层和两组陡裂结构面）控制的楔形体失稳。在此基础上,根据滑坡的要素组成和运动堆积特征,对滑坡进行了分区,分为滑坡断壁区、主滑堆积区和次滑堆积区3个大区,进一步划分为10个小区,分析阐明了各区特征。最后,对大光包滑坡的发生过程和形成机理进行了概要分析,将其概括为5个主要阶段：即强震拉裂阶段、锁固段剪断及楔形体失稳阶段、高速滑动和急刹车运动堆积阶段、拆离滑动阶段、断壁崩滑阶段。研究还发现：强震作用下滑带的进一步碎裂化,以及可能出现的水击作用可能是滑坡骤然启动的主要原因。     

桓仁夕卡岩型多金属矿床分带研究

桓仁夕卡岩型多金属矿床受控于寒武纪灰岩与燕山期闪长杂岩体接触带之间的夕卡岩.矿物成分多样,结构构造复杂,围岩蚀变强烈,矿化分带明显.对桓仁矿床的空间分带特征进行了的探讨,并选取了不同深度的穿透岩体及矿体的典型穿脉作为研究对象.通过岩石类型的划分和金属元素的测试,并结合其他地质特征,分析讨论了矿体、岩体在水平及垂直方向上的分带规律.详细讨论了不同金属元素的空间赋存性,并在此基础上总结了该矿床的成矿规律,为今后在其的深部、边部找矿提供理论依据.     

Saline-alkali land in the Yellow River Delta: amelioration zonation based on GIS

Globally, an estimated land area of 9.55×108 ha is affected by salinity and sodicity[1]. In the Yellow River Delta, saline-alkali land covers more than 70% of the total area. Soil salinization is the key factor that influences sustainable agricultural development. Geographic information system (GIS) is a powerful tool for spatial data analysis, which can be used to analyze data from different sources for saline-alkali land monitoring. Based on GIS, zonation of saline-alkali land can provi…     

Skarn development from limestone adjacent to the Glenrock Granodiorite,Marulan Batholith,New South Wales,Australia

Skarns are developed over two temperature‐time intervals in calcite limestone adjacent to the southern extension of the Glenrock Granodiorite, a pluton of the Marulan Batholith, Southern Highlands, New South Wales. The initial volumetrically‐dominant prograde phase of skarn formation produced a suite comprising bimetasomatic skarn, including pyroxene endoskarn, potassic endoskarn and wollastonite‐bearing exoskarn, together with mineralogically‐zoned vein skarn, massive garnet‐pyroxene skarn and calcite‐vesuvianite skarn. Retrograde replacement is manifested by the development of hydrous silicate minerals, carbonate and cross‐cutting sulphide veinlets.

A genetic model is proposed to account for the development of bimetasomatic skarn in the deposit. Exoskarn geochemistry indicates addition of many components relative to an essentially pure limestone precursor, including Si, Al, Fe, Zr, Zn, S, Mn and Cu, negligible transfer of K, Na and Rb and loss of CO₂. Strontium and Ca loss from the parent limestone is indicated by mass balance calculations at constant volume.

Garnet and pyroxene compositions in the massive garnet‐pyroxene skarn range from Gr₃₀ to Gr₆₆ and Hd₆₁ to Hd₈₇, respectively. Compositions from Gr₆₇ to Gr₉₅ are typical of the vein skarn garnets. Chemical zonation patterns in garnet, pyroxene and vesuvianite are generally characterized by rim Fe depletion relative to cores of grains.

Prograde skarn probably formed at T = 500–580°C; P < 220 MPa. The massive garnet‐pyroxene skarn evolved under conditions of log fO₂ = ‐18.9 to ‐22.9 (assuming a constant fCO₂ of 20 MPa) within the fS₂ stability field of pyrrhotite. Retrograde skarn formed at T < 400°C, possibly under conditions of X_H2O < 0.01.

Vesuvianite plus wollastonite assemblages, present in exoskarn, probably attest to very water‐rich conditions. The marble wall rocks, isolated from the source of skarn‐forming fluids, probably evolved under conditions of minimum X_co2 >0.2. Low temperature CO₂ ‐rich fluid inclusions and prehnite (stable at X_co2 <0.01), present in the marble and skarn, respectively, suggest that substantial differences in X_co2: X_H2O were maintained during cooling.

Observed mineralogical and chemical zonation within the skarn reflects the complex interaction of T, P, fO₂, Xco₂ and other chemical variables such as a_SiO2 and a_Al2O3 throughout the skarn system. No single variable can account adequately for the mineralogical diversity observed in the skarn deposit.     

Analysing the relationship between drought and soil erosion using vegetation health index and RUSLE models in Godavari middle sub-basin,India

Drought is a natural phenomenon posing severe implications for soil, groundwater and agricultural yield. It has been recognized as one of the most pervasive global change drivers to affect the soil. Soil being a weakly renewable resource takes a long time to form, but it takes no time to degrade. However, the response of soil to drought conditions as soil loss is not manifested in the existing literature. Thus, this study makes a concerted effort to analyze the relationship between drought conditions and soil erosion in the middle sub-basin of the Godavari River in India. MODIS remote sensing data was utilized for driving drought indices during 2000–2019. Firstly, we constricted Temperature condition index (TCI) and Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) from Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) derived from MODIS data. TCI and VCI were then integrated to determine the Vegetation Health Index (VHI). Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was utilized for estimating soil loss. The relationship between drought condition and vegetation was ascertained using the Pearson correlation. Most of the northern and southern watersheds experienced severe drought condition in the sub-basin during 2000–2019. The mean frequency of the drought occurrence was 7.95 months. The average soil erosion in the sub-basin was estimated to be 9.88 t ha^?1 year^?1. A positive relationship was observed between drought indices and soil erosion values (r value being 0.35). However, wide variations were observed in the distribution of spatial correlation. Among various factors, the slope length and steepness were found to be the main drivers of soil erosion in the sub-basin. Thus, the study calls for policy measures to lessen the impact of drought and soil erosion.