Climate and Land Use Effects on Hydrologic Processes in a Primarily Rain‐Fed,Agricultural Watershed

Anticipating changes in hydrologic variables is essential for making socioeconomic water resource decisions. This study aims to assess the potential impact of land use and climate change on the hydrologic processes of a primarily rain‐fed, agriculturally based watershed in Missouri. A detailed evaluation was performed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool for the near future (2020–2039) and mid‐century (2040–2059). Land use scenarios were mapped using the Conversion of Land Use and its Effects model. Ensemble results, based on 19 climate models, indicated a temperature increase of about 1.0°C in near future and 2.0°C in mid‐century. Combined climate and land use change scenarios showed distinct annual and seasonal hydrologic variations. Annual precipitation was projected to increase from 6% to 7%, which resulted in 14% more spring days with soil water content equal to or exceeding field capacity in mid‐century. However, summer precipitation was projected to decrease, a critical factor for crop growth. Higher temperatures led to increased potential evapotranspiration during the growing season. Combined with changes in precipitation patterns, this resulted in an increased need for irrigation by 38 mm representing a 10% increase in total irrigation water use. Analysis from multiple land use scenarios indicated converting agriculture to forest land can potentially mitigate the effects of climate change on streamflow, thus ensuring future water availability.     

A COMPARISON OF DELTA CHANGE AND DOWNSCALED GCM SCENARIOS FOR THREE MOUNTAINOUS BASINS IN THE UNITED STATES1

ABSTRACT: Simulated daily precipitation, temperature, and runoff time series were compared in three mountainous basins in the United States: (1) the Animas River basin in Colorado, (2) the East Fork of the Carson River basin in Nevada and California, and (3) the Cle Elum River basin in Washington State. Two methods of climate scenario generation were compared: delta change and statistical downscaling. The delta change method uses differences between simulated current and future climate conditions from the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research (HadCM2) General Circulation Model (GCM) added to observed time series of climate variables. A statistical downscaling (SDS) model was developed for each basin using station data and output from the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEPINCAR) reanalysis regridded to the scale of HadCM2. The SDS model was then used to simulate local climate variables using HadCM2 output for current and future conditions. Surface climate variables from each scenario were used in a precipitation‐runoff model. Results from this study show that, in the basins tested, a precipitation‐runoff model can simulate realistic runoff series for current conditions using statistically down‐scaled NCEP output. But, use of downscaled HadCM2 output for current or future climate assessments are questionable because the GCM does not produce accurate estimates of the surface variables needed for runoff in these regions. Given the uncertainties in the GCMs ability to simulate current conditions based on either the delta change or downscaling approaches, future climate assessments based on either of these approaches must be treated with caution.     

Matching the Multiple Scales of Conservation with the Multiple Scales of Climate Change

Abstract:  To anticipate the rapidly changing world resulting from global climate change, the projections of climate models must be incorporated into conservation. This requires that the scales of conservation be aligned with the scales of climate-change projections. We considered how conservation has incorporated spatial scale into protecting biodiversity, how the projections of climate-change models vary with scale, and how the two do or do not align. Conservation planners use information about past and current ecological conditions at multiple scales to identify conservation targets and threats and guide conservation actions. Projections of climate change are also made at multiple scales, from global and regional circulation models to projections downscaled to local scales. These downscaled projections carry with them the uncertainties associated with the broad-scale models from which they are derived; thus, their high resolution may be more apparent than real. Conservation at regional or global scales is about establishing priorities and influencing policy. At these scales, the coarseness and uncertainties of global and regional climate models may be less important than what they reveal about possible futures. At the ecoregional scale, the uncertainties associated with downscaling climate models become more critical because the distributions of conservation targets on which plans are founded may shift under future climates. At a local scale, variations in topography and land cover influence local climate, often overriding the projections of broad-scale climate models and increasing uncertainty. Despite the uncertainties, ecologists and conservationists must work with climate-change modelers to focus on the most likely projections. The future will be different from the past and full of surprises; judicious use of model projections at appropriate scales may help us prepare.     

CCSM4/WRF-CMAQ动力降尺度预估RCP8.5情景下京津冀地区空气质量的潜在变化

目前,针对气候变化对区域空气质量影响的研究相对较少,并且多采用统计降尺度方法对全球气候模式结果进行处理.采用WRF中尺度气象模式对CCSM4气候模式的CMIP5 RCP8.5情景预估结果进行动力降尺度处理,并为CMAQ空气质量模式提供气象场;在2012年清华大学MEIC大气污染物排放清单的基础上,选取2005年作为气候现状代表年、2049-2051年作为未来气候代表年,对京津冀地区典型月份（1月、4月、7月、10月）的气象及空气质量数值模拟结果进行对比,以此预估气候变化背景下京津冀地区空气质量潜在变化.结果表明,在排放情况不变及RCP8.5情景下,未来代表年与现状代表年相比,京津冀地区以典型月份为代表的年均气象因素整体呈现温度升高,风速、相对湿度及大气边界层高度均降低的趋势;年均大气污染物浓度整体呈现升高的趋势,其中,温度升高约0.8℃,风速降低约0.11 m/s,相对湿度降低约2%,大气边界层高度降低约8 m,ρ（PM_2.5）升高约2.4 μg/m3,ρ（SO₂）升高约1.8 μg/m3,ρ（NO_x）升高约1.0 μg/m3;此外,主要的气象条件（温度、风速、相对湿度、大气边界层高度）中,风速及大气边界层高度的降低可能是造成这些大气污染物浓度变化的主要气象因素,并且风速及大气边界层高度的降低与ρ（PM_2.5）降低的相关系数分别约为-0.44和-0.26.研究显示,气候变化会对京津冀地区造成污染物浓度升高的潜在风险,同时由于现阶段缺乏可用于空气质量模式的未来排放情景数据、在线耦合模式日臻完善,在我国气候-空气质量的研究领域亟待进行更深层次的研究.      

Social disruption,mine closure and housing policy: evidence from the Free State Goldfields,South Africa

The creation of mine settlements became a common practice between 1950 and 1980. These mining towns were seen as places of permanent settlement. This permanency, together with the privatisation of mine‐owned houses (mid‐1980s) increased place attachment. Mine decline thus brought with it some form of social disruption. Whereas mining companies in Australia have attempted to minimise the social disruption caused by mine closure by introducing fly‐in‐fly‐out arrangements, the post‐apartheid housing policy in South Africa has focused on asset building in mining areas. We completed 180 interviews with representatives of households. The survey formed part of a panel survey and further included a control group and 15 qualitative interviews. Our results indicate that though members of the mining community have housing units that are larger than those of the control group, incomes are lower in the mining community, real income is in decline, smaller numbers of household members are contributing to income, self‐assessments of wealth are characterised by lower ratings, household assets increase at a slower pace, and there is a stronger preference to continue to reside in the area. All of the above serves to illustrate the consequences of the asset‐based strategies embedded in South African housing policy. The social disruption associated with mine closure further tends to lock households into locations, and thus inhibits mobility.     

Evaluation of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Satellite Rainfall Products over the Lower Colorado River Basin,Texas

Quality of precipitation products from the Integrated Multi‐satellitE Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement mission (IMERG) was evaluated over the Lower Colorado River Basin of Texas. Observations of several rainfall events of a wide range of magnitudes during May 2015 by a very dense network of 241 rain gauges over the basin were used as a reference. The impact of temporal and spatial downscaling of different satellite products (near/post‐real‐time) on their accuracy was studied. Generally, all IMERG products perform better when the temporal and spatial resolutions are downscaled. The Final product shows relatively better performance compared to the near‐real‐time products in terms of basic performance measures; however, regarding rainfall detection, all products show nearly similar performance. When considering rainfall detection, IMERG adequately captures the precipitation events; however, in terms of spatial patterns and accuracy, more improvements are needed. IMERG products analysis results may help developers gain insight into the regional performance of the product, improve the product algorithms, and provide information to end users on the products’ suitability for potential hydrometeorological applications. Overall, the IMERG products, even the uncalibrated product at its finest resolution, showed reasonable performance indicating their great potential for applications such as water resources management, prevention of natural disasters, and flood forecasting.     

Impact of Climate and Land Use Change on Streamflow and Sediment Yield in a Snow‐Dominated Semiarid Mountainous Watershed

This study investigates the impact of climate and land use change on the magnitude and timing of streamflow and sediment yield in a snow‐dominated mountainous watershed in Salt Lake County, Utah using a scenario approach and the Hydrological Simulation Program — FORTRAN model for the 2040s (year 2035–2044) and 2090s (year 2085–2094). The climate scenarios were statistically and dynamically downscaled from global climate models. Land use and land cover (LULC) changes were estimated in two ways — from a regional planning scenario and from a deterministic model. Results indicate the mean daily streamflow in the Jordan River watershed will increase by an amount ranging from 11.2% to 14.5% in the 2040s and from 6.8% to 15.3% in the 2090s. The respective increases in sediment load in the 2040s and 2090s is projected to be 6.7% and 39.7% in the canyons and about 7.4% to 14.2% in the Jordan valley. The historical 50th percentile timing of streamflow and sediment load is projected to be shifted earlier by three to four weeks by mid‐century and four to eight weeks by late‐century. The projected streamflow and sediment load results establish a nonlinear relationship with each other and are highly sensitive to projected climate change. The predicted changes in streamflow and sediment yield will have implications for water supply, flood control and stormwater management.     

基于多层感知器模型的MODIS地表温度降尺度研究

LST（land surface temperature,地表温度）是一个极为重要的自然地理参数,能够表征地球表层系统的多个自然地理过程,同时与人类生产生活密切关联.为解决LST获取中时空分辨率不能自动互补的问题,以北京市为研究案例区,构建MLP（multilayer perceptron,多层感知器）模型,对MODIS（Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer）1 km LST数据进行降尺度研究.结果表明:预测白天LST的MLP模型的训练、测试和整体决定系数分别为0.810、0.796和0.807,预测夜间LST的MLP模型的训练、测试和整体决定系数分别为0.702、0.705和0.701,预测残差值均服从正态分布,构建的模型可靠性较高.与回归模型和支撑向量机等模型相比,MLP模型具有拟合优度高、误差小等优点,此外,MLP模型测试数据集的拟合度也较高,说明模型的泛化推广能力较强.MLP模型的LST降尺度结果能够清晰地反映下垫面地表热环境的空间异质性和昼夜差异.平原地区的建设用地区为LST的高值区,山区远郊县为LST的低值区,白天LST显著高于夜间LST.将TM影像反演的LST的空间分辨率聚合到250 m,使之与MLP模型的LST降尺度结果的空间分辨率相同,并通过随机采50 000个样点比较TM影像反演的LST和MLP模型的LST降尺度结果.检验结果表明,尽管二者在具体数值上有些差异,但其空间结构高度相似,协方差为正,相关系数可达0.730,误差呈现正态分布.研究显示,人工神经网络模型在LST降尺度方面具有较大的应用前景.      

天山山区TRMM降水数据的空间降尺度研究

山区降水是干旱区水资源的重要补给源,但由于山区地形复杂、监测困难造成资料缺乏,水文预报的误差较大。近年来,TRMM3B43降水数据得到了大量应用,但受其较低空间分辨率的影响,使得应用精度受到限制。论文以2001—2010年TRMM3B43数据为基础,结合提取的7个数字地形因子（经度、纬度、坡度、坡向、海拔、地形开阔度、地形起伏度）,构建了天山山区年、季的降水主成分-逐步回归降尺度模型。分析结果表明：主成分-逐步回归降尺度模型有效地将TRMM3B43数据的空间分辨率由0.25°×0.25°提高到1 km×1 km。通过站点实测降水数据对比验证,决定系数均在0.85以上,降尺度后的数据精度显著优于原始TRMM3B43数据。该方法对研究干旱区空间降水精细化具有一定参考意义。     

TRMM多卫星资料在黑河上游降水时空特征研究中的应用

论文利用数字高程模型(DEM),使用多元回归模型对黑河上游2000-2009年TRMM多卫星降水资料的月数据进行了降尺度研究,并用地面气象台站观测数据对降尺度的结果进行了检验,检验结果表明这种降尺度的方法能够在不降低(甚至提高)数据质量的情况下,得到空间精度更高的降水资料。在此基础上,基于降尺度后的月降水数据,对黑河上游2000-2009年降水10 a平均值年总量空间变化,以及年内降水分配、年内降水的空间差异进行了分析。结果表明:①降尺度之后的数据比原始数据能更加表现降水变化的细节和趋势;②坡向对降水的影响表明,在东西方向,东坡的降水要高于西坡,最高可以达到10%,而南北坡的降水差异变化较小;③黑河上游2000-2009年的年平均降水为344 mm,整个上游大多数地区的降水主要分布在250~400 mm之间;④在海拔3 800 m以下,降水随高程的增加而增加,而在3 800 m以上,降水总体平均略有减少,但是降水的最大值出现在这一带;⑤黑河上游的降水具有东南-西北的递减趋势,但递减趋势在不同的月份存在差异;⑥降水量的年内分配极不均匀,冬春季稀少,主要降水集中在6-9月。