Satellite image analysis of human caused changes in the tundra vegetation around the city of Vorkuta,north-European Russia

In this paper we present what kind of human impacted changes can be found in dwarf birch (Betula nana) dominated shrub tundra vegetation around the large industrial complex of Vorkuta in the north-European Russian tundra. Using fieldwork data and Landsat TM satellite image we could identify two impact zones: (1) Pollution zone (150-200 km2). In this zone most of the lichen species are absent. Changes in vegetation communities' species composition in all main plant groups are obvious. Willows especially are more dominant than in the unpolluted sites. (2) Slight pollution/disturbance zone (600-900 km2). Here vegetation changes are mainly similar but less so than the changes in the first zone. Particularly, the amount of herbs and grasses is increased when compared to unpolluted areas. The pollution zones are spatially connected to the main emission sources in the area. Zones spread furthest to the northeast, matching the prevailing winds during winter.     

Long-range transport potential of semivolatile organic chemicals in coupled air-water systems

Ongoing deliberations on the regulation of semivolatile organic chemicals require the assessment of chemical transport in atmospheric and marine systems. The characteristic travel distance was proposed as a measure for the transport potential in air and water. However, the existing definition treats the transport processes separately. It is shown that combined transport in coupled air-ocean systems can accelerate the overall transport into remote regions. Concentration ratios in air and water change with distance from sources depending on the initial concentration ratio and on the difference between the transport velocities. A measure is suggested facilitating the chemical screening with respect to transport potentials in such air-ocean systems. A case study for alpha and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane shows that the suggested measure qualitatively reveals the transport potentials of these chemicals and exemplifies possible concentration patterns.     

红壤丘陵区LAI与土壤侵蚀分布特征的关系

叶面积指数(LAI)是常用的一个用于描述植被覆盖的方面指数,土壤侵蚀的分布又与植被的覆盖状况息息相关,这就意味着LAI与土壤侵蚀有一定的相关性,目前有关这二者的相关性研究还鲜有文献报道。基于这此,本研究首先利用2000年的遥感影像(TM)解释出该年度的土壤侵蚀强度图,再利用该遥感影像通过图像的代数运算得出该地区的NDVI栅格图,通过实测该县不同典型植被条件的LAI值,得出实测的LAI与图像NDVI值之间的函数关系式,由图像的代数运算把NDVI图转换成LAI图,即实现了遥感图像的实测LAI纠正。在GIS软件的帮助下,通过将LAI栅格图与土壤侵蚀强度图的空间叠加分析,得到不同LAI条件下的土壤侵蚀分布。结果表明,LAI与土壤侵蚀的分布表现为:大致以LAI=2为分界线,当LAI<2时,土壤侵蚀并未随LAI的增加而迅速减少,LAI>2时,土壤侵蚀的分布随植被指数的增加而减少,当LAI=2左右时,土壤侵蚀的面积最大。这种情况对于轻度、中度及强度土壤侵蚀的影响是类似的,都呈类正态分布的曲线形式,但在曲线的两侧土壤侵蚀类型是有本质区别的,在曲线的左侧土壤侵蚀类型的分布是中度和强度为主,而在曲线右侧则以轻度为主。表明LAI这个指标与土壤侵蚀有很好的相关性,可以用于土壤侵蚀方面的相关研究工作。     

Marine macroalgae in polar regions as natural sources for volatile organohalogens

Marine macroalgae species from the polar regions were investigated for their importance as natural sources of volatile halogenated compounds released into the biosphere. Several different halogenated C1 to C4 hydrocarbons were identified and their release rates determined. The compounds contained mainly bromine and iodine, and form was the dominant compound released. Although an annual atmospheric input of approximately 10(8)-10(10) g bromine and 10(7)-10(8) g iodine was calculated from the release rates, marine macroalgae are apparently not the major source on a global scale, as the release is up to four orders of magnitude lower than a presumed annual flow from the oceans. Despite this, macroalgae may be more important on a local scale due to their occurrence at a high biomass in the coastal regions. The present paper gives an overview about studies done on the release of volatile halocarbons by macroalgae from polar regions. Furthermore, the function of these compounds in the macroalgal metabolism is discussed.     

Earth system analysis and management

A research strategy based upon models of intermediate complexity addressing crucial aspects of global environmental change is presented. The key idea behind that strategy is to compress system complexity either by formal techniques such that first-order aspects are preserved, or to employ semi-qualitative schemes to describe and simulate the dominant dynamical patterns identified by panoramic inspection.Specific realizations of the overall heuristic philosophy are introduced as elements of a comprehensive research program on global change. Topics encompass global climate modeling, a decision analysis framework for managing the global warming problem by balancing adaptation and mitigation efforts, a generic approach to integrated regional climate impact assessment and its implementation in specific regions, as well as a new technique to link regional and global patterns of environmental change by using advanced modeling tools.     

Syndromes of Global Change: a qualitative modelling approach to assist global environmental management

A novel transdisciplinary approach to investigate Global Change (GC) is presented. The approach rests on the decomposition of the intrigue dynamics of GC into patterns of civilization–nature interactions (syndromes) by an iterative scientific process of observations, data and system theoretical analyses, and modelling attempts. We illustrate the approach by a detailed analysis of the Sahel Syndrome, which describes the rural poverty driven overuse of natural resources. The investigation is performed by (i) identifying relevant symptoms and interlinkages which are characteristics for this pattern, and (ii) a qualitative model representing the internal dynamics of the essential flywheel. The geographical patchwork of the regions affected by the syndrome which is obtained by global data analysis, proves the high global relevance of this pattern. The qualitative model is employed for an evaluation of basic policy strategies debated in the context of rural poverty driven environmental degradation. It turns out that a mixed policy of combating poverty and introducing soil preserving agricultural techniques and practices is most promising to tackle the syndrome dynamics.     

Informing global environmental policy‐making: A plea for new methods of assessment and synthesis

Practice and research in assessment of global environmental change are dominated by two conventional assessment methods, formal models and expert panels. Models construct a representation of biophysical and socioeconomic components of a policy issue, to project future trends or consequences of interventions. Panels articulate consensus views of policyrelevant knowledge through deliberations among selected experts. These methods make valuable contributions, but are weak in addressing certain kinds of knowledge needs that are typical of globalchange issues. To address these needs, a set of novel assessment methods is proposed that combine elements of representation and deliberation. These methods, of which policy exercises, simulationgaming, and scenario exercises are examples, involve human participants in structured relevant decision and task settings. Relative to models and panels, these methods can more readily incorporate diverse perspectives, can integrate across broader collections of knowledge domains, and can both encourage creative insights and innovations, and provide tests of their relevance and practicality. Risks of bias, and of overconfident generalization from unique experiences, are effectively mitigated by critical debriefings, and appear no more severe than corresponding risks in conventional assessment methods, or in policymakers generalizations from historical experience. While serious development and implementation challenges remain, early experience suggests that these methods can offer useful ideas and insights for policymaking that are not available through other means.     

我国西南地区喀斯特森林树木年轮对气候变化的响应

利用贵州省2个典型喀斯特地区与1个非喀斯特地区的6个优势树种(化香树Platycarya strobilacea为重复树种)的树轮宽度资料,建立了6个树轮宽度年表,研究了不同地区不同树种的树木年轮对近50年来气候变化的响应异同,探讨了影响6个优势树种生长的气候限制因素。结果表明,季风期前的水热条件是喀斯特地区针叶树和阔叶树径向生长的最主要的气候限制因素。季风期前降水减少、月均温升高,导致土壤水分蒸发加快,加强了水分胁迫,不利于喀斯特地区针叶树和阔叶树的生长。帕尔默干旱指数虽表明喀斯特地区未达到干旱胁迫程度,但实际上水分渗漏加剧了喀斯特地区针叶树和阔叶树生长的水分胁迫。非喀斯特地区采样点的高海拔导致的低温,减少了春冬季节土壤水分蒸发。并且非喀斯特地区土壤和地形有利于水分涵养,同时,较高海拔的地形改变了季风期前的降水格局,消除了季风到来前树木生长的降水限制,因此,降水并不是喀斯特地区树木生长的限制因子;但其针叶树的径向生长受到上一年12月的温度控制,产生正响应信号,阔叶树径向生长仅受到生长季温度、降水增加带来的较小促进。     

不同地域4种常用树种滞尘和吸滞重金属能力比较研究

为评估常见树种叶片滞尘及吸滞重金属的能力,本研究收集了4种常见绿化树种在多个城市的滞尘及吸滞重金属数据,用数理统计、区划分析等方法,探讨不同树种叶片在多城市环境滞尘和吸滞重金属的差异及其影响因素。结果表明,女贞、悬铃木和广玉兰的平均滞尘量差异不大,香樟滞尘量略低于其他3树种,但女贞叶片的滞尘潜能最大;女贞、广玉兰叶片滞尘量表现为南方城市大于北方城市,悬铃木叶片滞尘量表现为北方城市大于南方城市;在季节滞尘上,女贞叶片滞尘量表现为夏季低于秋季,悬铃木、广玉兰和香樟则是夏季高于秋季;多城市树种吸滞重金属分析显示,对Pb、Cd、Cu和Zn具有最大吸滞量的树种均是香樟,对Pb、Cd、Cu和Zn具有最大吸滞潜能的树种分别是女贞、悬铃木、香樟和香樟;香樟叶片对Pb、Cd的吸滞量受地域环境变化的影响较小,在中国南方城市比其他3树种更具有应用普适性;女贞叶片对Cu、Zn的吸滞量受地域环境变化的影响较小,比其他3树种具有普适性。     

中国臭氧时空分布特征及与社会经济因素影响分析

本文根据2015～2017年中国大陆338个城市空气质量监测站臭氧(O_3)浓度数据,综合利用空间插值法、全局自相关法和地理加权回归模型(GWR),探讨了O_3浓度的时空变化特征及其与社会经济因素的关系。结果表明,2015～2017年中国大陆338个城市的O_3日最大8小时浓度为2～300μg/m~3,其中超标天数比例为5. 9%,323个城市达标率在85%以上; O_3月均值变化曲线基本呈"单峰状",5月达到峰值,12月最低; O_3浓度季节变化为夏季春季秋季冬季; O_3日变化特征为夜间到清晨O_3浓度很低,上午8∶00左右开始升高,下午16∶00达到峰值;中国华北地区、华东地区和华中地区O_3污染严重,华南地区、西南地区、西北地区和东北地区整体污染较低。O_3浓度在全国尺度上的集聚性呈上升趋势,GWR表明,人口密度、人均私家车保有量与O_3浓度显著正相关,第一产业占比与O_3浓度显著负相关。