A Bayesian network approach to modelling land-use decisions under environmental policy incentives in the Brazilian Amazon

ABSTRACT

Deforestation driven by agricultural expansion is a major threat to the biodiversity of the Amazon Basin. Modelling how deforestation responds to environmental policy implementation has thus become a policy relevant scientific undertaking. However, empirical parameterization of land-use/cover change (LUCC) models is challenging due to the high complexity and uncertainty of land-use decisions. Bayesian Network (BN) modelling provides an effective framework to integrate various data sources including expert knowledge. In this study, we integrate remote sensing products with data from farm-household surveys and a decision game to model LUCC at the BR-163, in Brazil. Our ‘business as usual’ scenario indicates cumulative forest cover loss in the study region of 8,000 km² between 2014 and 2030, whereas ‘intensified law-enforcement’ would reduce cumulative deforestation to 1,600 km² over the same time interval. Our findings underline the importance of conservation law enforcement in modulating the impact of agricultural market incentives on land cover change.     

森林土地利用变化及其对碳循环的影响

由于人口剧增，人类活动的影响不断加大，在过去100年全球土地利用／土地覆被发生了巨大的变化。最常见的土地利用变化是由森林转变为农业用地。森林砍伐使森林生态系统地上部生物量大大减少，砍伐后作农业用地，降低了植被生产力，减少了土壤有机质的输入，增强了腐殖质的矿化作用，有机质分解速率增加，有机碳贮量随之降低，从而影响到森林生态系统的碳循环，使大量碳元素释放到大气中，引起温室效应，导致全球变暖。另一个常见的土地利用变化是植树造林和森林恢复，这一过程可以增加森林生态系统的碳储量，从而减缓大气CO2体积分数的上升。     

土地利用和土地覆盖变化研究模型综述

本文综述了全球变化研究中土地利用和土地覆盖变化（ＬＵＣＣ）的主要模型,重点介绍了植被模型和引入社会驱动力的ＬＵＣＣ模型,并归纳出ＬＵＣＣ模型的以下发展趋势：①新一代的ＬＵＣＣ模型应该能够模拟ＬＵＣＣ的主要社会经济和自然驱动力,包括从ＬＵＣＣ到驱动力和全球变化的主要反馈关系；②具有明确的空间关系,能够以适当的空间分辨率,比较好地预测长期的（５０～１００ａ）土地利用和覆盖变化及有关的生物物理参数,如植被特征、资源的积聚和退化等；③能够更好地认识ＬＵＣＣ与其主要驱动力之间的关系在局地、区域和全球尺度上的动态和后果；充分考虑土地利用和覆盖变化对政策、技术进步、人口增长、经济发展、市场变化等社会变量的灵敏性,此外,还应注意意识、信仰等文化因素的影响；④发展新的ＬＵＣＣ建模方法,使ＬＵＣＣ模型能够与其它类型的全球变化模型,特别是气候模型建立联系。     

侧联式球磨机的噪声控制

介绍了侧联式球磨机噪声产生原理及其噪声控制方法,选择了制作局部式隔声罩的噪声控制设计和装置结构.在中国铝业中州分公司热电厂球磨机上应用,取得了很好的隔声效果.     

华北地区大气细颗粒物(PM2.5)年际变化及其对土地利用/覆被变化的响应

大气细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))是大气污染的重要组成成分,对其影响因素进度探讨具有重要的意义.但目前来看,多数的研究都聚焦于PM_(2.5)与气象要素以及经济因素之间的关系,分析土地利用/覆被变化对PM_(2.5)影响的研究相对较少,需要进一步的深入探讨.基于PM_(2.5)空间分布数据及土地利用/覆被数据,对华北地区PM_(2.5)变化特征及土地利用/覆被变化特征进行了系统分析,并利用地理加权回归、GIS空间分析等手段探讨了PM_(2.5)变化与土地利用/覆被变化的响应关系,结果表明:①华北地区PM_(2.5)浓度整体呈现东南高、西北低的空间格局,且18a均保持这一态势没有变化.时间上来看,在2006年达到污染最大值,之后虽有波动但一直居高不下.多数城市PM_(2.5)浓度超标,整体环境污染形势严峻;②2000～2015年研究区土地利用类型/覆被以耕地、林地和草地为主,土地利用/覆被变化趋势主要表现为耕地的大量减少以及建设用地的持续增加,水域和未利用地面积略有减少,林地和草地转入转出面积接近,因而总量变化不大;③地理加权回归模型计算结果表明,Local R~2(衡量局部拟合度)较低的区域为土地利用/覆被未发生变化的区域,而在土地利用/覆被变化明显的区域,Local R~2较高,说明PM_(2.5)变化对土地利用/覆被变化有着显著的响应作用;④对于不同土地利用/覆被状况而言,PM_(2.5)分布特征表现出建设用地耕地水域草地林地未利用地的趋势.对于不同土地利用/覆被转换方式而言,当自然用地向人工用地转换时PM_(2.5)浓度上升,而人工用地向自然用地转变时PM_(2.5)浓度降低.     

Groundwater conditions under a reconstructed prairie chronosequence

Chronosequences are useful to evaluate long-term changes in ecosystem services but assessing groundwater quality changes using this approach has rarely been done. In this study, groundwater level and quality comparisons were made in a watershed-scale reconstructed prairie chronosequence that extended back in time approximately 13 years at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge (NSNWR) near Prairie City, Iowa. Our objectives were to determine whether groundwater conditions varied significantly across the chronosequence and quantify the rate of nitrate concentration reduction when row crop fields are replaced by prairie. We installed 19 groundwater wells at upland locations selected to provide similar soil type, landscape position and slope. Water samples were collected on five occasions in 2006 and 2007 and analyzed for field parameters, anions and NO₃-N, NH₄-N and PO₄-P. Significant groundwater changes were primarily associated with groundwater levels, and groundwater nitrate and chloride concentrations. The groundwater was deeper under the older prairie plantings but fluctuated similarly among all well sites. Groundwater nitrate and chloride concentrations decreased 0.58 and 0.52 mg/l per year over the 13-year chronosequence, respectively. Results are seen to provide some guidance to land managers regarding possible nitrate concentration reductions achievable from converting cropland to perennial land cover in similar geomorphic settings.     

呼伦贝尔草原植被覆盖时空动态变化监测定量方法研究

开展植被动态监测与评价,是评估生态保护措施、环境管理政策和全球变化研究的重要基础。论文以呼伦贝尔草原为例,基于1998—2008年间SPOT_VGT NDVI旬数据,通过分析生长期间的植被年均NDVI值、年NDVI最大值、年NDVI最小值、季节性动态性与物候的变化状况及其趋势,反映研究区植被覆盖空间特征,监测植被覆盖动态变化情况。结果表明:研究区植被覆盖区域特征为:以林地为主的区域草地-耕地-林地过渡区以耕地为主的区域以草地为主的区域;11 a来,研究区植被覆盖呈减弱趋势,植被覆盖最佳期提前,以林地为主的区域、草地-耕地-林地过渡区和以耕地为主的区域植被覆盖季节性动态变化较小,植被覆盖稳定性较强,而以草地为主的地区植被覆盖最小值日期推后,其季节性动态变化较大,生态环境稳定性较差。     

Changes in Hydrology of the Ganges Delta of Bangladesh and Corresponding Impacts on Water Resources

The Ganges Delta in Bangladesh is an example of water‐related catastrophes in a major rural river basin where limitations in quantity, quality, and timing of available water are producing disastrous conditions. Water availability limitations are modifying the hydrologic characteristics especially when water allocation is controlled from the upstream Farakka Barrage. This study presents the changes and consequences in the hydrologic regime due to climate‐ and human‐induced stresses. Flow duration curves (FDCs), rainfall elasticity, and temperature sensitivity were used to assess the pre‐ and post‐barrage water flow patterns. Hydrologic and climate indices were computed to provide insight on hydro‐climatic variability and trend. Significant increases in temperature, evapotranspiration, hot days, heating, and cooling degree days indicate the region is heading toward a warmer climate. Moreover, increase in high‐intensity rainfall of short duration is making the region prone to extreme floods. FDCs depict a large reduction in river flows between pre‐ and post‐barrage periods, resulting in lower water storage capacity. The reduction in freshwater flow increased the extent and intensity of salinity intrusion. This freshwater scarcity is reducing livelihood options considerably and indirectly forcing population migration from the delta region. Understanding the causes and directions of hydrologic changes is essential to formulate improve water resources management in the region.     

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.     

Modeling Hydrological and Environmental Consequences of Climate Change and Urbanization in the Boise River Watershed,Idaho

The potential impacts driven by climate variability and urbanization in the Boise River Watershed (BRW), located in southwestern Idaho, are evaluated. The outcomes from Global Circulation Models (GCMs) and land use and land cover (LULC) analysis have been incorporated into a hydrological and environmental modeling framework to characterize how climate variability and urbanization can affect the local hydrology and environment at the BRW. The combined impacts of future climate and LULC change are also evaluated relative to the historical baseline conditions. For modeling exercises, Hydrological Simulation Program‐Fortran (HSPF) is used in parallel computing and statistical techniques, including spatial downscaling and bias correlation, are employed to evaluate climate consequences derived from GCMs as well. The implications of climate variability and land use change driven by urbanization are then observed to evaluate how these overall global challenges can affect water quantity and quality conditions at the BRW. The results show the combined impacts of both climate change and urbanization can lead to more seasonal variability of streamflow (from ?27.5% to 12.5%) and water quality, including sediment (from ?36.5% to 49.3%), nitrogen (from ?24% to 124.2%), and phosphorus (from ?13.3% to 21.2%) during summer and early fall over the next several decades.