Spatiotemporal variation in rainfall erosivity on the Chinese Loess Plateau during the period 1956–2008

Water resources and soil erosion are the most important environmental concerns on the Chinese Loess Plateau, where soil erosion and sediment yield are closely related to rainfall erosivity. Daily rainfall data from 60 meteorological stations were used to investigate the spatiotemporal variations in annual rainfall, annual erosive rainfall and annual rainfall erosivity on the Chinese Loess Plateau during the period 1956–2008. The annual rainfall, erosive rainfall and rainfall erosivity decreased over the past five decades, as determined by the Mann–Kendall test. A comparison of the annual averaged rainfall, erosive rainfall and rainfall erosivity from 1980 to 2008 with that from 1956 to 1979 revealed a remarkable spatial difference in the rainfall trends on the Loess Plateau. Regions of the plateau with major decreases in rainfall were primarily in the Hekouzhen-Longmen section of the middle Yellow River, especially in the Wuding River basin, the Fenhe basin and the northern-central Shanxi province, where the annual rainfall and erosive rainfall decreased by more than 10% and the annual rainfall erosivity decreased by more than 15%. The rainfall erosivity also decreased more than the annual rainfall. Because the annual rainfall has decreased significantly on the Chinese Loess Plateau over the past 50 years, it is important to better understand the ecological and hydrological processes affected by this climate change.     

Formation Process and Amelioration of the Loess Plateau in China

Abstract

Based on the formation process of the Loess Plateau, the characteristics comparison between loess and ancient soil and the located materials of spore- pollen, ancient stone artifact, history, geography and soil erosion, the analysis reveals that the present state serious soil erosion in Loess Plateau, instead of being a natural geologic course, is a consequence of destruction of vegetation, irrational land utilization and the direct destruction of soil permeability and anti-erosion ability, esp. anti-scourability. The water and soil conservation measures, with the twenty-eight-word amelioration principle as the core, are the basis for exploiting and improving water and soil resources of the Loess Plateau so as to harness the Huanghe (the Yellow River).     

Historical deforestation as a cause of alluviation in small valleys, subcarpathian loess plateau, Poland

The undulating loess Kanczuga Plateau, 250–270 m a.s.l., is located in the temperate climatic zone of Central Europe, within the northern foreland of the Carpathians. It is dissected by a network of valleys 30–60 m deep, infilled with several metres of complex minerogenic and organic deposits which started to accumulate during the early Holocene. The southern side of one of these valleys is dissected by several dry valleys. The mouth sections of these valleys have buried surface comprising peat and/or organic silts, overlain by sandy–silty alluvium. ¹⁴C dates indicate that the alluviation of these valley floors, which proceeded from the headwaters to the mouth sections, began in the 1100 ad. The gradual intensification of soil erosion in the upper part of the catchment and associated sedimentation probably encompassed only a few centuries, with greatest alluviation during the Little Ice Age. This plateau, which is under the influence of more continental climatic conditions than the low-mountain and upland regions of Western Europe, features more climatic contrasts. Here environmental changes triggered by land use were superimposed on climatic change. The most intensive processes of soil erosion and sediment transfer as well as alluviation, coincided with the first phase of cooling during the Little Ice Age. It was the final stage of the intensification of these processes, probably more intensive than its initial phase in the eleventh century, caused primarily by deforestation resulting from the development of agriculture.     

气候变化和人类活动对历史时期黄河决溢的影响

本文统计分析了历史时期黄河决溢的变化。并从自然和人为因素两方面探讨其原因和规律。认为在湿润的气候时期黄河决溢频率增高,其原因是本地区高强度的暴雨造成了黄土高原严重的水土流失,从而使黄河中下游大量的泥沙沉积。人类特别是小冰期以来加强了对黄土高原的开发,破坏了原先的植被,从而造成了严重的水土流失,这是小冰期以来黄河决溢次数远远高于其它时期的主要原因。作者还认为在下世纪高温环境到来之际,黄河决溢的危险性大大增加。     

长江中上游地区土壤侵蚀机制及过程试验研究

基于中国大陆水蚀地区土壤侵蚀的主要影响因子-土壤抗侵蚀性指标进行的35个一级控制性测点试验对比研究和野外人工降雨原位试验,重点讨论了长江中上游地区土壤侵蚀形成的机制和过程。结果表明长江中上游地区土壤侵蚀主要表现为在降雨和土壤蓄满壤中流参与下的重力侵蚀过程。在形成上表现为坡地上土壤体表层小范围的滑动和微型阵性泥石流过程,导致沟道河流泥沙输移比小并产生局部严重淤积,土壤侵蚀的危害首先表现为土层进一步变薄、退化和荒芜,其次表现为泥沙游积和洪害。长江中上游地区土壤保持的基本方针应该是“保土减水”,与黄土高原“全部降水就地入渗拦蓄”的方针有所不同。     

Past and future perspectives upon landscape instability in Cumbria, northwest England

Geomorphic and lacustrine evidence is used to identify phases of landscape instability in Cumbria, northwest England, British Isles. The temporal and spatial pattern of erosion is used alongside palaeovegetation data from across the region to elucidate the causes of landscape instability in the late Holocene. The lines of evidence include changes in sediment accumulation rate and provenance within the region’s lakes; the hillslope alluvial fan and gully incision record; the lowland fluvial geomorphic record; and pollen analytical data for the late Holocene vegetation history. The sediment supply driven hillslope and lacustrine records suggest that only the 1,200–800 BP and post 600–500 BP erosion episodes were both catchment-wide and directly affected upland hillslopes, with the earlier phases after 5,200 and 3,000–1,600 BP on a lower scale and more restricted spatially. These episodes coincide with major expansions or changes in anthropogenic activity during Neolithic, Iron Age and Romano-British, Norse and late Medieval times. The projected future trajectories of changes in both climate (UKCIP scenarios) and landuse (CAP reform and ESA status) appear unlikely to increase landscape instability, although a shift to greater incidence of storms and high magnitude flood events clearly could. The past shows that the largest increases in erosion and sediment movement occur in the wake of major intensifications in land pressure that primarily affect previously wooded or protected hillslopes, circumstances that land management strategists should mitigate against.     

长江上游地区土壤可蚀性空间分异特征

研究土壤可蚀性K值有助于宏观判断和定量分析长江上游地区土壤侵蚀的空间分布特征。利用第二次土壤普查资料建立了长江上游土壤的理化性质数据库，通过三次样条插值对土壤质地进行转换，采用EPIC模型计算出各土种的可蚀性K值，采用面积加权的方法，求得各亚类的可蚀性K值，将其链接至长江上游土壤图的属性表，得到土壤可蚀性空间分布图，进而探讨土壤可蚀性的分布特征。结果表明：长江上游土壤可蚀性以较低可蚀性、中等可蚀性和较高可蚀性为主，横断山区、云贵高原和三峡库区区域土壤可蚀性明显高于四川盆地地区；高可蚀性土壤主要分布在嘉陵江上游和横断山区的低海拔谷地；平均K值为0239 0，最大值041，最小值007土壤可蚀性高低与土壤侵蚀强度、海拔高度和坡度在空间分布上具有一定的规律性     

Holocene fire history from the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, New South Wales, Australia: the climate, humans and fire nexus

This study presents a reconstruction of the fire activity of the last ~14,200 cal. years BP (before AD 1950) from Gooches Crater Right, located on the Newnes Plateau, approximately 150 km to the west of Sydney (~33°27′S, 150°16′E) within the Blue Mountains National Park. Charcoal analysis and palynology were undertaken with the aim of untangling any inter-relationship between climate, humans and fire. A chronology of the site was provided by radiocarbon dating. The dominant control on fire in this environment during the Holocene appears to be climate. Periods of climate change, identified in previous studies, are associated with higher levels of fire activity. Fire was less ubiquitous between ~9,000 and 6,000 years BP, a period normally described as having a higher effective moisture in south-eastern Australia. The mid-Holocene fluctuations in charcoal may reflect anthropogenic fire, climate forcing or alternatively human responses to any climate change. Coeval changes in palaeoclimatic sequences elsewhere and palynology at the site support a climatic explanation or that Aboriginal people used fire within a climatic framework.     

黄土高原水土流失治理若干问题的反思

本文通过对黄土高原半个世纪治理的反思 ,认为区域产业结构的调整及城市化水平的迅速提高是解决水土流失加剧及环境恶化的根本。同时 ,文章对小流域综合治理模式进行了总结 ,并提出黄土高原水土流失治理在区域综合发展、机制创新、资金筹措等方面应遵循的原则     

黄河中游地区水土流失治理与经济发展战略选择

根治黄河中游地区严重的水土流失,恢复其昔日良好的生态环境状况,自然条件是具备的,技术上是成熟的。为实现上述目标,在经济上摆脱贫困是前提,选择发展战略是关键。基于上述看法,本文提出了黄河中游地区经济发展战略及农业生产结构调整的基本途径和政策措施。     

生态退耕对安塞县土地利用及其生态服务功能的影响

以生态系统服务价值作为衡量区域生态服务功能的指标,对安塞县1998-2006年间生态服务功能的变化进行了分析。根据黄土丘陵沟壑区耕地坡度与水土流失相关关系以及农户调查数据,对安塞县耕地扰动调节、水分调节、水供应、侵蚀控制以及不同坡耕地食物供应能力的生态服务价值指数进行了修正。在此基础上,分析了安塞县退耕还林还草政策对区域生态服务功能变化的影响。结果表明:生态建设措施使得安塞县生态恶化的趋势得到扭转,其生态服务功能在1998-2006年间增加了12%,其中缓坡耕地、中坡耕地和陡坡耕地的退出,对安塞县生态服务功能增强的贡献率分别为25%,48%,27%。文章还对生态建设的监督与投资进行了讨论,认为基于实验的生态系统功能监测与评估技术才是生态系统服务价值评估的基础;生态建设所带来的生态效益的主要获益者是更大空间范围的利益相关者甚至全社会,因此作为社会代表的政府应成为生态建设的主要投资主体。     

中国黄土高原的形成过程与整治研究

从黄土高原的形成过程,黄土-古土壤性征的对比,孢粉、石器、历史、地理以及水土流失的定位观测资料,说明目前黄土高原的严重水土流失是人类破坏植被,不合理利用土地和直接毁灭土壤透水和抗冲能力的结果,而不是一个天然的地质过程。以“28字方略”为中心的水土保持措施是开发整治黄土高原水土资源和治理黄河的根本。     

南水北调西线引水区近50年径流变化趋势对气候变化的响应

选取南水北调西线工程引水区5个水文站与相应气象站近50 a径流、降雨、温度、日照时间序列资料,首先对自相关性显著水平5%的序列进行去白化处理,运用Mann Kendall法进行趋势检验和突变分析,并通过Spearman法和双累积曲线图形法对结果进行验证。此外,运用Pearson方法分析径流与各气候因子间的相关性。结果表明：50 a来,引水区年径流量变化趋势总体不明显,但近10 a来,除直门达水文站外,其余4个站有进一步减少的趋势;雨量和日照时间变化趋势并不明显,温度有较显著升高。总体而言,气候变化是流域径流量变化的主要影响因素,未来径流量变化还需从气温、降水、径流、冰川等时空分布特性综合研究     

The ecological implications of land use change in the Source Regions of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, China

The alpine ecosystems in permafrost regions are extremely sensitive to climate change. The headwater regions of Yangtze River and Yellow River of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are on the permafrost area. Aerial photos of the Source Regions of the Yangtze and Yellow River taken in 1968 and three phases of TM images acquired from 1986, 2000, and 2008 were used to analyze the spatial alterations of the land cover and corresponding effects on the environment guided by landscape ecology theory. Firstly, land cover types were divided into three classes and 11 subclasses. Analysis results revealed the trends and magnitude of the eco-environmental changes in the regions over the past four decades and showed a continuous degradation of grasslands and the extension of desertification and salinization. Secondly, five landscape pattern indices (i.e., NP, MPS, PR, SHEI, CONTAG) commonly used in landscape ecological studies were calculated, and results showed that this region had become more centralized and diversified. Finally, the factors causing the degradation of alpine grasslands were analyzed. The regional climate exhibited a tendency toward significant warming and desiccation with the air temperature increased by 0.03 °C per year and relative stable precipitation over the last 40 years. And the temperature of permafrost in 0–20 cm soil layer obviously raised by 0.2–0.3 °C in the last 40 years. The combined effects of climate warming and permafrost variation were the major drivers for the changes of landscape in alpine ecosystems.     

Holocene dynamics of vegetation and ecological conditions in the southern Yamal Peninsula according to the results of comprehensive analysis of a relict peat bog deposit

A comprehensive analysis of samples from a frozen peat deposit in the upper reaches of the Khadytayakha River by palynological, carpological, entomological, and radiocarbon methods has been performed to reconstruct changes in the regional and local vegetation and climatic conditions during the Holocene. The results show that this peat deposit was formed from 8000 to 5000 years BP. During that period, the climate in the southern Yamal Peninsula was considerably warmer, and the present-day subarctic shrub tundra zone was occupied by plant communities of spruce, birch, and larch forests.     

汉江上游郧县段全新世特大洪水事件光释光测年研究

通过对汉江上游的野外考察,在湖北郧县段河谷发现了含有典型的古洪水滞流沉积物的全新世风成黄土土壤剖面。对该剖面采集样品,进行了沉积学分析,并且应用光释光技术中的单片再生剂量法（SAR）测定获得其OSL年龄,结合地层对比和文化层考古学断代,确定由古洪水滞流沉积层记录的特大洪水事件发生在距今1 800～1 700 a之间,对应于我国历史上的东汉至魏晋时期（A.D. 200～300）。通过与汉江上游地区、国内和世界各地的多种指标气候变化记录的对比分析,揭示出特大洪水事件发生在东汉至南北朝时期的气候恶化期。由于气候状态不稳定,降水变率大,致使严重地干旱和特大洪水皆有发生。该成果对我们深刻理解区域水文系统对于全球变化的响应规律具有重要意义     

基于InVEST模型的秦岭山地土壤流失及土壤保持生态效益评价

为了解秦岭山地土壤侵蚀及土壤保持生态服务功能的空间分布特征，采用InVEST 土壤保持模型，从研究区、流域、县域3个尺度，对其潜在与实际土壤侵蚀量进行计算，在此基础上进一步应用该模型量化研究区土壤保持生态服务价值，得到土壤保持服务价值空间分布图。研究结果表明：（1）2012年秦岭山地潜在与实际土壤侵蚀量分别为4588×108 t、152×108 t，五大流域和各县区以轻度侵蚀和中度侵蚀为主，较为严重的地区为汉江流域南部紫阳县6323 t/(hm2[DK]·a)[JP2]和岚皋县5869 t/(hm2[DK]·a)，属强烈侵蚀。（2）全区土壤保持总量4337×108 t，[JP]其中泥沙持留量143×108 t，单位面积土壤保持量为71979 t/(hm2[DK]·a)；减少泥沙疏浚工程和水质治理花费的土壤保持服务价值共计4184亿元。各县区土壤保持服务价值量在001亿元至475亿元不等，价值量在096~191亿元之间的县区占全区的4413%，其次为191~285亿元（2522%）。（3）对于秦岭山地土壤侵蚀的防治及其生态效益的建设，保证林地面积的绝对优势是首要条件；对于大于25°的坡耕地，应继续推行还林还草政策     

近40年阿克苏河流域径流变化特征及影响因素研究

利用1961—2000年近40a的气温、降水、冻土深度等逐月资料及年蒸发量资料和20世纪50年代初或中期建站起到90年代中期径流逐月实测资料．分析20世纪下半期阿克苏河流域径流变化特征及其与气候变化的关系．同时分析人类活动对径流变化的影响作用。研究表明：阿克苏河流域普遍存在升温的变化趋势，尤其是冬季升温明显；同时导致冻土层温度的升高和冻土退化；流域内降水增加趋势明显。1990年以后径流增加趋势更加明显．从年内变化分析来看。流域内各水文站春、夏季径流有明显的增大趋势；秋、冬季径流减少明显；分析径流的变化特点．主要还受到流域地表状况变化、大面积开荒及上游水库调节等人类经济活动作用的影响。     

长江源和黄河源的大型底栖动物群落特征研究

本研究于2009年8月和2010年7月对黄河源和长江源的大型底栖动物开展了系统调查。调查期间两区域共鉴定底栖动物66种，隶属于28科57属。其中，环节动物2科5属8种，软体动物2科2属5种，节肢动物23科49属52种，其它动物1科1属1种。长江源大型底栖动物种数、密度、生物量分别为29种、59 ind./m2、00 307 g dry mass/m2；黄河源大型底栖动物种数、密度、生物量分别为48种、369 ind./m2、04 520 g dry mass/m2。长江源动物资源量较低归因于泥沙含量较高和湿地退化。从生态环境的可持续发展角度出发，建设河源区生态屏障尤为重要，这需要实施天然林保护工程，因地制宜开展乔灌草植被建设，防止草地退化和沙化，减缓土壤侵蚀速率，减少河流输沙量，维系河流生态健康。     

汉江上游风成谷地黄土的重矿物组成特征及意义

汉江流域位于黄土高原南侧,属中国南北气候的过渡区域,其重矿物组成对区域沉积物物质来源与演化研究具有重要意义。运用强磁选、重液分离法等技术手段将汉江上游谷地黄土沉积物中的重矿物提取出来,在双目显微镜和偏光显微镜下测定其含量和特征。结果表明:(1)汉江黄土重矿物有22种,其中角闪石、磁铁矿、钛铁矿等矿物为优势矿物,占重矿物总量的60%以上;稳定矿物约占重矿物总量的47.95%,是汉江黄土最主要的矿物组合。(2)典型黄土和古土壤中重矿物种类相同,但含量有一定差异,马兰黄土(L1)相较古土壤(S0)不稳定矿物含量较高,稳定矿物含量较低;(3)汉江黄土与北侧黄土高原黄土相比重矿物种类相似,稳定性组合分布一致,但汉江黄土稳定性矿物含量较高,不稳定性矿物含量较低。这些特征说明:(1)汉江上游地区古土壤和黄土物质来源一致,古土壤S0在物质组成上继承了黄土,是黄土高度风化的产物;(2)汉江谷地黄土和黄土高原风成黄土两者的物源区一致,但汉江地区黄土受到较黄土高原地区强的风化成壤作用。