A new approach of dynamic monitoring of 5‐day snow cover extent and snow depth based on MODIS and AMSR‐E data from Northern Xinjiang region

Taking the Northern Xinjiang region as an example, we develop a snow depth model by using the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer‐Earth Observing System (AMSR‐E) horizontal and vertical polarization brightness temperature difference data of 18 and 36 GHz bands and in situ snow depth measurements from 20 climatic stations during the snow seasons November–March) of 2002–2005. This article proposes a method to produce new 5‐day snow cover and snow depth images, using Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) daily snow cover products and AMSR‐E snow water equivalent and daily brightness temperature products. The results indicate that (1) the brightness temperature difference (Tb_18h–Tb_36h) provides the most accurate and precise prediction of snow depth; (2) the snow, land and overall classification accuracies of the new images are separately 89.2%, 77.7% and 87.2% and are much better than those of AMSR‐E or MODIS products (in all weather conditions) alone; (3) the snow classification accuracy increases as snow depth increases; and (4) snow accuracies for different land cover types vary as 88%, 92.3%, 79.7% and 80.1% for cropland, grassland, shrub, and urban and built‐up, respectively. We conclude that the new 5‐day snow cover–snow depth images can provide both accurate cloud‐free snow cover extent and the snow depth dynamics, which would lay a scientific basis for water management and prevention of snow‐related disasters in this dry and cold pastoral area. After validations of the algorithms over other regions with different snow and climate conditions, this method would also be used for monitoring snow cover and snow depth elsewhere in the world. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

TROUBLING FIELDS: THE OPIUM POPPY IN EGYPT

ABSTRACT. Probably domesticated in Asia Minor, the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) may have reached Egypt by 1500 b.c.e. Egyptian opium was important historically for medicinal uses, but increasing recreational use led to eradication efforts by the early twentieth century. With the closure of Lebanon's Bekáa Valley as a source of raw opium, poppy cultivation began in the Sinai Peninsula after 1990. Unemployment attracts bedouin men to this dangerous occupation. A heroin epidemic in Egypt is attributed to them, but their very modest opium production suggests wrongly so. A package of development activities with emphasis on backcountry tourism is proposed as an alternative to poppy farming.     

内蒙古扎鲁特旗土地利用方式及强度对草原群落的影响

内蒙古扎鲁特旗位于北方农牧交错带区域，近期对其草原植被的调查分析表明：人类不合理的土地利用方式及过大的土地利用强度对该地草原植被造成严重影响，草原面积缩小、植被退化严重，草场质量下降。人口激增引发的土地利用方式由牧向农的转化（垦草为粮）以及草地利用强度的加大（超载过牧）是造成该区草原植被退化的主要原因。改变土地利用方式、围栏禁牧是实现退化草原植被恢复演替的有效措施。     

Globalisation and the Livestock Industry in Botswana

The expansion of Botswana's livestock industry in recent years is partly a result of moves towards integration into the global economy. In the colonial period, livestock raising was the backbone of the national economy and in the post-colonial period remains the mainstay of the rural economy. Botswana's export-driven cattle industry has led to the establishment of a well-equipped infrastructure such as marketing and veterinary services, which rank among the most developed in Africa. The industry has much support from the government; hence, the cattle population continues to grow. Even though globalisation has generally had positive impacts on the development of Botswana's economy through beef exports, it has also generated some socioeconomic and environmental problems. Most serious are the continuing skewness of livestock holdings, increasing income disparities between the rich and poor, and accelerated overgrazing of rangelands due to overstocking of cattle by both communal and commercial farmers. The erection of veterinary cordon fences associated with the prevention of diseases and expansion of the cattle industry to meet export demands have decimated large numbers of migratory wildlife species in the country, with deleterious effects on the burgeoning tourist industry. As a result, globalisation is having both positive and negative impacts on the economy of Botswana.     

草原牧区旅游发展对牧户生计的影响 ——以内蒙古希拉穆仁草原为例

草原牧区旅游发展是牧区实现乡村振兴的重要引擎。以内蒙古希拉穆仁草原旅游地牧户为研究案例,分析草原牧区旅游发展对牧户生计的影响。研究结果：① 草原旅游使牧户生计模式分化为纯牧户、务工主导型、旅游主导型、旅游专营型,且呈现纯牧户向务工主导型牧户过度,务工主导型牧户向旅游主导型牧户过度,旅游主导型牧户向旅游专营型牧户过度的一般演替规律;② 草原旅游发展总体上提高了牧户的生计资本存量,但不同类型牧户生计资本存量具有显著差异,生计资本存量由高到低排序为：旅游专营型牧户、旅游主导型牧户、务工主导型牧户、纯牧户;③ 牧户参与草原旅游,准则层因子障碍度由大到小排序为：人力资本、金融资本、物质资本、社会资本、自然资本;障碍度指数前6位的指标层因子分别是：成人受教育程度、成人劳动力人数、借债情况、社团网络、生产生活设备、社会参与;④ 不 同类型牧户参与草原旅游发展的首要障碍因素不同,纯牧户是受教育程度,务工主导型牧户是家庭人均收入,旅游主导型与旅游专营型牧户是借债情况。     

The geography of pastoral mobility: A spatio-temporal analysis of GPS data from Sahelian Senegal

The aim of this paper is to show the contribution of geography to the study of pastoral mobility. While pastoralists of Ferlo, Senegal, have become semi-sedentary, little is known about the mobility of their livestock. In this paper, pastoral mobility is analysed using GPS measurements of cattle movements made by a pastoralist from 1997 to 2000. Based on data from 3 years, a quantification of the extent of movements and mappings of the patterns are made. The results show that cattle walk about 5000 km on an annual basis, and while a great deal of the mobility can be characterised as daily circular movements between the camp and watering points, occasional transhumance is still used to make the most of variable resources.     

西藏农牧区家庭生活用水特征及其影响因素

农村家庭用水结构调查与影响因素分析是分析农村用水情况,保障用水安全的基础。采用问卷调查和实测的方式获取西藏自治区9个县（市、区）的84个家庭的用水数据,对比分析不同家庭的用水量及用水结构,总结了西藏农村家庭用水的影响因素。研究表明：农村家庭人均生活用水量在33~38 L/d之间,家庭差异显著,主要集中在洗衣、洗菜、洗碗用水三项,家庭生活用水的主要用水项是卫生用水和厨房用水;生产方式与文化风俗习惯影响家庭用水水平,人口组成影响用水结构,常住人口数和家庭收入水平与家庭人均用水量呈现显著负相关。     

Riparian protection and on‐farm best management practices for restoration of a lowland stream in an intensive dairy farming catchment: A case study

Abstract

Poor water quality (high concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), suspended solids (SS), and faecal bacteria) in Waiokura Stream, southern Taranaki, New Zealand, is attributed to diffuse and point source (PS) inputs from dairy farming. Trend analysis of concentration time‐series data (2001–2008) and annual yields (i.e., stream load divided by catchment area) showed that significant improvements occurring since 2001 may be attributed to changes in farming practices and riparian management. Yields of filterable reactive P, total P and SS declined by 25–40% as a result of increased riparian protection, a reduction in dairy shed effluent (DSE) pond discharges from 8 to 6 with conversion to land irrigation, and a 25% reduction in the average application rate of P fertiliser. Median annual Escherichia coli concentrations declined at a rate of 116 per 100 ml per year, as a result of fewer PS discharges and improved riparian management. Thus, improvements in stream water quality were attributed to adoption of on‐farm best management practices, fewer DSE discharges and riparian management involving permanent livestock exclusion from stream banks and riparian planting to mitigate runoff from pasture. During 2001–06, N fertiliser use increased by 30% and, with a 130% increase in supplementary cattle feed during 2003–08, led to an increase in average milk solids production 1021 to 1262 kg ha^?1 during 2001–06 with the increased production likely associated with increased N leaching losses. Total N and nitrate‐N concentrations and yields increased during 2001–07 as a result of the intensification in land use and increased N cycling. Stream invertebrate surveys using the macroinvertebrate community index (MCI) metric showed little improvement in MCI during 2002–07, probably because of the relatively short timeframe of this study and because water temperatures were not a limiting factor for invertebrate communities. The absence of native forest streams in the proximity of Waiokura Stream that might act as sources of sensitive species to recolonise the restored stream should also be considered as a constraint to improvements in biological community structure.     

史前生业模式的环境考古学观察——以新疆温泉阿敦乔鲁遗址为例

新疆地处欧亚大陆的中部,是古代东西方文化交流的重要通道。新疆西部的温泉县阿敦乔鲁遗址的发现为早期东西方文化交流研究提供了重要的证据,其中多隔间的长方形房址和几个不规则形扩间的构造十分特殊。这种房址不同于以往发现的以农业经济为主的史前居址的构造。阿敦乔鲁遗址位于准噶尔盆地的西南缘,自然环境干旱,少雨,海拔相对较高。草场分布远多于可耕作土地。通过对阿敦乔鲁周围的环境科学的宏观分析,包括对古环境与现代环境的比较后发现,3600年前的阿敦乔鲁遗址的环境资源与现代十分相近。新疆温泉的现代居民的传统生业多以牧业为主,从事季节性转场的游牧经济。阿敦乔鲁的房址的隔间、扩间的特点与当地牧民的季节性居址,以及欧亚大陆的现代牧民的居址都很相近。根据阿敦乔鲁房址的地理位置及其出土物,并参考现代牧民居址的构造,确定了阿敦乔鲁遗址的人们当是以牧业为主。这一推论为今后其他科技考古对阿敦乔鲁遗存的微观分析提供了重要的参考。     

Adaptive evolution of the rural human–environment system in farming and pastoral areas of northern China from 1952–2017

The theory on the cyclic adaptation between society and ecosystems sheds new light on the evolution and internal structure of human–environment systems. This paper introduces the risk index(RI) and adaptation capacity index(ACI) to evaluate the rural human–environment system. An evaluation index system for the adaptability of rural human–environment systems is configured in the context of climate change and policy implementation. On this basis, the stages, features, dominant control factors, and evolution mechanism were examined vis-à-vis the adaptability of the rural human–environment system in Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner from 1952 to 2017. The main results are as follows:(1) The evolution of the rural human–environment system can be divided into three stages, namely, the reorganization and rapid development stage(1952–2002) with population, cultivated land, livestock and degraded grassland increasing by 260%, 13%, 134% and 16.33%, respectively. The rapid to stable development stage(2003–2010) with population increasing by 2.8%; cultivated land, livestock and degraded grassland decreasing by 2.3%, 13.6% and 10.7%, respectively. The stable to release stage(2011–2017) with population, cultivated land, livestock and degraded grassland decreasing by 2.6%, 0.2%, 10.6% and 3.8%, respectively.(2) With the passage of time, the ACI of the rural human–environment system first increased slightly(–0.016–0.031), followed by a slight decline(0.031–0.003), and culminating in a rapid increase(0.003–0.088). In terms of spatial patterns, adaptability is high in the middle, moderate in the north, and low in the south.(3) The evolution of adaptability in the rural human–environment system was mainly controlled by the per capita effective irrigation area(22.31%) and the per capita number of livestock(23.47%) from 1990 to 2000, the desertified area(25.06%) and the land use intensity(21.27%) from 2000 to 2005, and the per capita income of farmers and herdsmen(20.08%) and the per capita number of livestock(18.52%) from 2010 to 2007.(4) Under the effects of climate change and policy interventions, the cyclic adaptation of the rural human–environment system was propelled by the interactions between two kinds of subjects: farmers and herdsmen on the one hand and rural communities on the other hand. The interaction affects the adaptive behavior of the two kinds of subjects, which in turn drives the cyclic evolution of the system. As a result, the system structure and functions developed alternatively between coordinated and uncoordinated states. Small-scale adaptive behaviors of farmers and herdsmen have a profound impact on the evolution of the rural human–environment system.