Terrestrial surface-area increment: the effects of topography,DEM resolution,and algorithm

The area increment of land surface compared with its projected area is an effect of topographic relief and is also a source of environmental variations. To examine the effects of topography and data resolution on surface area calculation, we calculated incremental area coefficients (IACs), based on two different algorithms, for a DEM of China at a series of spatial resolutions. Sampling the DEM with a regional network of 50?km?×?50?km cell size, we explored the relationships among the two IACs and topographic features. Both IACs studied were exponential functions of resolution. At 30-m resolution, the IACs were 4.31 and 4.89% over China, respectively. The largest increment for a 50?km?×?50?km cell was >45%. Between the IACs there was a linear relationship that varied with DEM resolution. Hierarchical variation partitioning revealed that the factors included contributed in a very similar percentage composition to the two IACs, mean slope (37.5 or 38.7%) and standard deviation of slope (22.3 or 19.6%) at local scale dominated the area increment, followed by regional elevation range. Data resolution contributed about 10%, while the deviation of slope exposure only had minimal (1.4 or 1.7%) impact on surface-area increment. For a specific type of geomorphology, a threshold resolution of DEM can be determined, below which the surface-area increment (i.e., IAC) is negligible. Our results provided the first comprehensive estimate of the contributions of the topographic features, DEM resolution, and algorithms for the surface-area increment, and indicated the scale-related properties and potential environmental consequences of topographic heterogeneity in various estimates of natural resources and ecosystem functions when area needs to be taken into account.     

Ecological Modernization or Aristocratic Conservation? Exploring the Impact of Affluence on Carbon Emissions at the Local Level

Social scientists have debated how affluence impacts carbon emissions at the national level. We conduct an exploratory study at the subnational level to expose another dimension of the affluence–emissions debate. Based on the notion of aristocratic conservation, we hypothesize that affluence is positively related to carbon emissions from consumption activities but negatively related to emissions from production activities. We test these hypotheses using county-level data in the United States for the year 2002. A spatial regression analysis demonstrates that median household income is positively associated with consumption-based emissions; nevertheless, we find evidence of an environmental inequality Kuznets curve in the relationship between median household income and production-based emissions. This finding suggests that the wealthiest counties are able to displace certain types of emissions, specifically those related to energy and industrial production. We discuss the theoretical and political implications of these results.     

Hog Daddy and the Walls of Steel: Catch Shares and Ecosystem Change in the New England Groundfishery

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration implemented market-based fishery management in the New England groundfishery as catch shares, controlling aggregate harvests through tradable annual catch quotas allocated to fishing groups called sectors. Policy supporters assert that resulting markets raise conservation incentives. In compliance with the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, species assessments permit catch shares to replace more spatially and temporally specific constraints on fishing gear, time, areas, and daily harvest limits. Qualitative evidence from field interviews and participant observation questions the efficacy of catch shares. Fishing industry members observe that increased presence of large trawl vessels in previously protected areas damages fish subpopulations and benthic habitat. Regulatory bioeconomic models fail to consider these lay observations. The consequent inability of quota markets to recognize the materiality of human–environment relationships at the spatiotemporal scales of fishing activity, and to internalize associated externalities, may have devastating consequences for the fishery.     

Water Flows Toward Power: Socioecological Degradation of Lake Urmia,Iran

Water is an invaluable resource, and equitable access to it is a fundamental human right. Disenfranchised groups often lose access to water resources because their interests are not well represented by decision makers. Excluding these groups from resource management policy often results in myopic decisions that contribute to further ecosystem damage. We describe the ecological degradation of Lake Urmia in Iran, which has recently experienced increased salinity and declining water quantity. The lake is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar site, and supports unique biodiversity in the region. The lake's decline is driven by the destruction of Zagros forests and the government's water policies, which diverted water to more politically connected agricultural land users, increasing social inequity and prompting more deforestation. The most straightforward restoration solution is to discontinue the diversions and allow critical inflows to recharge Lake Urmia, preserving the lake and wetlands for migratory birds, tourists, and local communities.     

工业污染与恩格尔系数的库兹涅茨分析——基于面板数据的联立方程模型

基于2000—2010年中国31个省份的工业废水排放总量、工业废气排放总量、工业固体废物排放总量三类指标,适当添加人均可支配收入解释变量。利用面板数据的联立方程个体固定效应模型分析了城镇和农村恩格尔系数分别与污染物排放量之间的环境库兹涅茨曲线(EKC)双向反馈作用关系。由EC-EKC-IP方程的结果表明,工业三废的排放与城镇、农村恩格尔系数之间的关系未必都符合环境库兹涅茨倒U型曲线。因此,必须协调好环境治理与经济增长两者的均衡发展,以达到降低恩格尔系数和减少工业污染的双赢目标。     

2000年以来广东省经济极化时空演变

选择崔-王指数、变异系数和空间自相关等3种方法,以地级市为基本评价单元,对2000年以来广东省的经济极化的时空演变进行了分析。研究表明：（1）广东省经济极化程度呈上升趋势;（2）2000以来,广东省极化现象明显,但是经济总量的极化现象大于人均经济总量;（3）广东省人均GDP和GDP的Moran＇s I均为正值且呈现增大趋势,经济空间集聚程度呈增大趋势,但是人均GDP的空间集聚程度大于GDP;（4）从局部空间自相关关系来看,广东省经济极化格局2000年以来处于稳定状态。     

基于地块图斑单元的湖南省土地生态承载力评价

从人口、资源、环境、发展之间的关系入手,充分利用土地调查、地质调查、水文地质、环境地质调查、土壤普查、农业普查等成果和资料信息,以地块图斑为分析单元,以地理信息系统、遥感技术以及数学模型分析为手段,采用层次分析法和综合指数法对湖南省土地生态承载力进行分析和评价.研究表明,湖南省土地生态承载力地域差异明显,整体处于由低层次的不均衡逐渐向高层次的均衡方向发展.     

南极半岛周边海域表层沉积物粒度分布特征及其环境指示意义

基于南极半岛周边海域表层沉积物调查以及收集的资料,并通过分析表层沉积物粒度数据研究沉积物类型和分布特征,探讨沉积物的变化规律。南极半岛周边海域的沉积物类型比较丰富,主要分为四大类:砾质、砂质、粉砂质以及泥质沉积物;根据不同的水深和地貌单元可分为陆架(或岛架)碎屑沉积物、陆坡(或岛坡)沉积物和深海沉积物。研究区沉积物属于冰海沉积物,并可划分为残副冰碛物和混合副冰碛物。沉积物的搬运介质以冰川、冰筏为主,海流对沉积物的影响较为明显,沉积物类型随地形变化而呈有规律的分布。     

环境因子对敦煌莫高窟洞窟水分蒸发的影响

环境因子对洞窟水分蒸发有重要影响.在敦煌莫高窟72窟蒸发水分的收集过程中,通过对窟内温度和湿度的控制,分析窟内温湿度对水分蒸发的影响及作用机理,并根据围岩水分蒸发机理,探讨影响水分蒸发的外部环境因子.结果表明,洞窟2.0℃的温度变化即可对水分蒸发产生显著影响,短期内蒸发量可增大1倍以上.温度高、蒸发量大,可导致窟内相对湿度增加,因此目前全球性的气温升高对洞窟文物将产生不利影响.敦煌地区降雨量的增加增大了空气潮湿过程激活壁画盐分的可能.莫高窟所处的地理位置、地热、地形结构、围岩孔隙度和洞窟结构本身对围岩水分蒸发有重要影响.本文从环境因素揭示了莫高窟壁画能够保存至今的关键原因,为今后洞窟文物的更好保护提供了新思路.