A simulation study of the role of raindrop erosion in the formation of desert pavements

A simple model of raindrop erosion—the combined effects of the detachment of sediment by raindrops and its transport by splash or by overland flow—is developed to examine the role of this process in the formation of desert pavements. Application of the model to soils in areas of existing pavement initially simulates the formation of pavements, but the changing sediment size distributions lead to the subsequent destruction of these modelled surfaces. An improved model that accounts for the feedback effects of the changing size distributions on infiltration and microtopography is then developed. Incorporating these effects allows simulated pavements to be maintained over longer periods. The model yields desert pavements whose particle size compositions differ in response to differences in initial soil characteristics, slope and rainfall intensity. This model is tested against empirical data from a site where there is intershrub pavement and associated mounds of fines beneath desert shrubs. The results successfully predict the accumulation of fines under shrubs but underestimate the development of the pavement between shrubs. These findings suggest that the raindrop erosion mechanism on its own cannot account for the development of the pavement and that some other mechanism leading to the surface concentration of coarse particles must also be operating.     

Analysis and results of cooperative magnetographic measurements III. Vertical gradients of the magnetic field in the sunspot photosphere

We compare vertical gradients of sunspot magnetic fields which were derived for the first time from nearly simultaneous vector magnetograms. The measurements were obtained in the photospheric lines Fe I 5250 and Fe I 5253 by the vector magnetographs of the Sayan-Observatory (Irkutsk) and the Solar Observatory “Einsteinturm”. The gradients derived from the different measurements show a good correspondence with respect to the numerical values as well as to the morphological structure of the distributions in the magnetograph's field of view. In the umbral region of the spot the vertical gradients amount to about 0.32 Gkm^-1 indicating that the umbral field can extend with strong field strengths into chromosphere and corona. A circle-like area with opposite sign to the umbral gradient was found on the boundary between penumbra and surrounding photosphere. The physical significance of this area should be the goal of further observations and interpretations. Wir vergleichen Vertikalgradienten des Magnetfeldes von Sonnenflecken, die erstmals aus fast simultan aufgenommenen Vektormagnetogrammen abgeleitet wurden. Die Messungen erfolgten unter Verwendung der photosphärischen Linien Fe I 5250 Å und Fe I 5253 Å mit den Vektormagnetografen des Sayan-Observatoriums (Irkutsk) und des Sonnenobservatoriums “Einsteinturm”. Die aus den verschiedenen Messungen ermittelten Gradienten zeigen sowohl hinsichtlich der numerischen Werte als auch bezüglich der morphologischen Struktur ihrer Verteilung im Bildfeld der Magnetografen eine gute Übereinstimmung. Im Kern des Flecks erreicht der Vertikalgradient 0,32 g kin^-1. Das weist darauf hin, daß sich das umbrale Feld mit hoher Feldstärke bis in die Chromosphäre und Korona erstrecken kann. Ein kreisförmiges Gebiet mit entgegengesetztem Vorzeichen zum umbralen Gradienten ist an der Grenze zwischen Penumbra und umgebender Photosphäre zu finden. Die physikalische Bedeutung dieses Gebietes soll durch weitere Beobachtungen und Auswertungen geklärt werden.     

陈国达的科学哲学思想与理论自主创新

对我国著名地质学家陈国达院士的科学哲学思想作了探讨,其主要内容有:历史动力法是复杂性哲学思想与地质科学思想相结合的产物;递进思想是辩证否定观在大地构造理论发展中的胜利;地洼学说的理论结构与发展纲领是与拉卡托斯科学哲学思想不谋而合的。研究陈国达科学哲学思想对指导科学研究无疑具有重大的理论意义和现实意义。     

Entrepreneurial causation and effectuation logics in a regional context: Assessing the importance of population density

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the article is to assess whether an entrepreneurial causation or effectuation logic is a function of geographical location in densely populated economic regions versus sparsely populated economic regions. A causation logic implies that the entrepreneur primarily focuses on a predefined goal and further aims to identify the means to reach that goal. By contrast, an effectuation logic implies that the entrepreneur to a larger extent focuses on the means at hand, which she or he aims at materialising into one or more goals that are not necessarily predefined. The empirical data for the study are based on an investigation and evaluation of Norwegian entrepreneurs in business incubation that are located in many different economic regions of the country. Multilevel regression analyses showed that geographical location in sparsely populated economic regions is associated with a causation logic, whereas a location in densely populated economic regions is associated with an effectuation logic. An implication of the article is that entrepreneurial stakeholders, such as policymakers, incubator managers, public and private partners, and entrepreneurs themselves should be aware of differences in causation and effectuation logics between entrepreneurs located in densely versus sparsely populated economic regions.     

Geography Deserts: State and Regional Variation in the Formal Opportunity to Learn Geography in the United States, 2005–2015

The formal opportunity to learn geography in the United States is unevenly distributed across space, creating possible geography deserts. Data on the number of exams taken in Advanced Placement Human Geography (APHG) and bachelor’s degrees earned in geography are mapped at the state and regional scales. Normalized rates are ranked and grouped into quintiles. For APHG exams, states in the southeastern region of the United States are in the uppermost quintiles while states in the northeastern region are in the lowermost quintiles. The pattern for bachelor’s degrees in geography is somewhat the spatial inverse of that for APHG.     

长江沿江地区化工产业空间格局演化及影响因素

基于企业数据和空间计量方法,探讨了长江沿江地区2000—2013年化工产业空间格局演化及影响因素。结果表明：化工产业主要分布在上海市和江苏沿江地区;中上游部分地区化工产业呈现明显的增长势头,由3个主要热点区发展到20余个不同规模大小的分布热点,成为化工产业新兴“增长极”;城市主城区化工产业减少而远郊区县增加,分布热点变化也反映了化工产业“郊区化”“园区化”的过程;相对低端基础的行业呈现集聚趋势,其中肥料业集聚明显;相对高端精细的行业呈现扩散趋势,其中合成材料业分散化明显;地区化工产业增长受到环境规制、外商投资、交通区位等因素显著影响,外商投资和交通区位具有显著的促进作用,而环境规制呈现显著的抑制效果。     

荒漠绿洲湿地土壤水热盐动态过程及其影响机制

以甘肃临泽荒漠绿洲湿地为研究对象,通过对土壤温度、含水量、电导率及蒸散量的野外观测,在植物生长期和冻融期分别深入分析水热盐耦合运移过程及其影响因素,探讨水热梯度对盐分运移及其分布格局的控制作用。结果表明：土壤温度整体呈现出春夏季逐渐升高、秋冬季降低趋势。在冻结期,土壤表现为脱盐状态,表层电导率由2.8 mS·cm^-1降到1.2 mS·cm^-1;而在消融期为积盐状态,表层电导率由1.2 mS·cm^-1升到3.7 mS·cm^-1。在生长期,土壤含水量和电导率波动较为剧烈,表层含水量27%~43%,表层电导率3~5.5 mS·cm^-1,土壤脱盐、积盐反复出现。全年蒸散量总体呈单峰变化趋势,年蒸散量507 mm;土壤电导率与蒸散量呈正比关系,与地下水位呈负相关关系;蒸散发作用是土壤表层积盐的主要驱动力,而地下水波动影响着湿地脱盐、洗盐过程。因此,荒漠绿洲湿地土壤盐分累积过程是水分运移和热量传输过程发生变化的结果。     

苔藓生物结皮层腐殖质组成变化特征研究

腐殖质组成是表征土壤化学性质的主要指标之一,在某种程度对评价风沙土的发育过程具有意义。采集了不同气候区沙地沙漠苔藓生物结皮层样品,采用重铬酸钾容量法和光密度法测定了苔藓结皮层腐殖质组成含量和胡敏酸吸光特性。结果表明：随着干燥指数的增加,苔藓结皮层有机质含量由14.93 g·kg^-1降低到9.89 g·kg^-1,腐殖酸总量由5.1 g·kg^-1降低到2.0 g·kg^-1,胡敏酸含量由2.9 g·kg^-1降低到 0.7 g·kg^-1,富里酸含量由2.2 g·kg^-1降低到1.3 g·kg^-1,胡敏酸与富里酸比值（HA/FA）由1.32降低到0.54,E₄/E₆比值则由4.28增加到5.83。苔藓结皮层腐殖质组成含量及胡敏酸吸光特性具有地带性变化趋势,并影响着生物结皮层及流动风沙土的发育演变过程。     

Bathymetry,substrate and fishing areas of Southeast Atlantic high-seas seamounts

Most of the Southeast Atlantic Ocean is abyssal, and global bathymetries suggest that only ～3.2% of the areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ; also known as the high seas, as defined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS]) are shallower than 2 500 m. This study mapped bathymetry and characterised substrates in selected seamount summit areas, including several that have been or may become fishing areas. The southernmost location, the Schmitt-Ott Seamount, has exposed volcanic bedrock with surrounding flats covered by thin biogenic sediments and/or coral rubble that appears ancient. At Wüst, Vema, Valdivia and Ewing seamounts the basaltic base appears to be overlain by coral caps and other coral substrates (sheets, rubble). Adjacent summit plains have biogenic sediments of varying thickness. Vema has a flat, roughly circular summit, <100 m deep, with the shallowest point being a 22-m-deep summit knoll; the upper slopes have ancient coral framework, but the summit has a mixture of coralline and volcanic rock and coarse sediments, including extensive areas with coralline algae and kelp forests. Valdivia Bank is a 230-m-deep, flat, rocky area (～11 × 5 km), protruding steeply from the extensive multi-summit Valdivia subarea of the Walvis Ridge. The distribution of past fisheries in the Convention Area of the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) was considered in relation to the new information on bathymetry and substrate.     

How changes of groundwater level affect the desert riparian forest ecosystem in the Ejina Oasis,Northwest China

Groundwater is a key factor controlling the growth of vegetation in desert riparian systems. It is important to recognise how groundwater changes affect the riparian forest ecosystem. This information will not only help us to understand the ecological and hydrological process of the riparian forest but also provide support for ecological recovery of riparian forests and water-resources management of arid inland river basins. This study aims to estimate the suitability of the Water Vegetation Energy and Solute Modelling(WAVES) model to simulate the Ejina Desert riparian forest ecosystem changes,China, to assess effects of groundwater-depth change on the canopy leaf area index(LAI) and water budgets, and to ascertain the suitable groundwater depth for preserving the stability and structure of desert riparian forest. Results demonstrated that the WAVES model can simulate changes to ecological and hydrological processes. The annual mean water consumption of a Tamarix chinensis riparian forest was less than that of a Populus euphratica riparian forest, and the canopy LAI of the desert riparian forest should increase as groundwater depth decreases. Groundwater changes could significantly influence water budgets for T. chinensis and P. euphratica riparian forests and show the positive and negative effects on vegetation growth and water budgets of riparian forests. Maintaining the annual mean groundwater depth at around 1.7-2.7 m is critical for healthy riparian forest growth. This study highlights the importance of considering groundwater-change impacts on desert riparian vegetation and water-balance applications in ecological restoration and efficient water-resource management in the Heihe River Basin.