Extreme events and environmental changes: Tracing sedimentary processes in Central Vietnam coastal lagoons

Sediment cores, obtained in 2004–2005 and in 2008 from seven coastal lagoons of Central Vietnam (Lang Co, Nuoc Man, Nuoc Ngot, Thi Nai, O Loan, Thuy Trieu and Dam Nai), were analysed to assess changes in ²¹⁰Pb, porosity, grain size, and depth distributions of selected major and trace elements (Al, As, Ni, and Zn). The aim was to trace sedimentary processes in areas periodically subject to extreme events. The occurrence of lateral sedimentary inhomogeneities has been hypothesised to explain the differences observed at depth for some tracer profiles, whereas topmost levels present evidence that accounts for the loss of a sediment layer (from 2.0 to 7.5 cm thick) between the two samplings. These losses might be attributed to major typhoons that impacted the coasts of Central Vietnam during the study period.     

环鄱阳湖浅层地下水水化学特征的时空变化

系统采集了鄱阳湖周边地下水,分析测定各单元的水化学参数.结果表明,环鄱阳湖浅层地下水整体偏酸性,呈低矿化度,局部地区出现微咸水.环鄱阳湖浅层地下水丰、枯水期的优势阴离子为HCO3-,阳离子为Ca2+和Mg2+.运用SPSS软件做离子相关性分析,各离子间均呈正相关性,说明可能有相同的来源.地下水的水化学类型整体表现为HCO3-Ca-Mg型,丰水期相对于枯水期出现较多的NO3-型和SO24-型水体,局部区域优势阴离子改变,出现了NO3-型、Cl-型地下水,可能受到农业化肥和工业废水排放的影响.整体上地下水的水化学类型受当地岩石类型的影响比较大,个别地区受人为的活动干扰较为强烈.     

Historical evidence of climatic variability and changes,and its effect on high-altitude regions: insights from Rara and Langtang,Nepal

ABSTRACT

Climatic variability and its effects have been experienced in the high-altitude regions of Nepal for some considerable time. Most of the studies on local people’s perception available so far in Nepal on climate include with respect to weather changes, and almost none have been verified with satellite imagery. This study thus attempts to combine meteorological and satellite imagery for comparing local people’s perception so that a more robust validation can be established. Both qualitative (transect walk, key informant interview, focus group discussion and institutional visit) and quantitative (meteorological and satellite image) data and techniques were employed. Local people from Rara and Langtang in Nepal shared their observations and perceptions on the changing climate for the last three decades and the effects on them and their local microclimate. Apart from temperature, rainfall and snowfall anomalies, locals observed changes in the water sources and increasing drought along with alteration in the phenology of tree and agricultural crops as well as vegetation range migration. Satellite image analysis also confirms a change in snow cover as notified by the local people. This study shows that local people’s knowledge could be considered as a complement to the observed scientific evidences of climate change science and their perceptions can be used reliably where scientific data are lacking. Finally, perceived climatic risks, current gaps and future opportunities are discussed and some recommendations are suggested.     

Environmental change,development and vectorborne disease: Malaysia’s experience with filariasis,scrub typhus and dengue

During Malaysia’s rapid economic development into becoming a middle income country in the past several decades, environmental changes resulted in altered land use patterns because of agricultural practices such as large scale rice, rubber and oil palm cultivation. The impact of environmental changes brought about by rice and rubber cultivation affected the breeding habitats of mosquito vectors which in turn affected the prevalence of two strains of lymphatic filariasis in different ways. With scrub typhus, the development of oil palm plantations affected the ecology of mite and rodent populations which resulted in very high incidence of the disease in affected populations. Malaysia’s relentless urbanization has resulted in increased incidence of dengue, as peridomestic mosquito vectors increasingly colonize urban habitats. This article discusses how ecological factors determine the way lymphatic filariasis, scrub typhus and dengue were spread in Malaysia. The nation’s experience with environmental changes due to rapid development provides lessons for other developing countries in control programs and public health policy.     

Climate changes in the past century and radial increment of pine in the Southern Ural steppe

Changes in the main climatic factors (air temperature and total precipitation) and their effect on the radial increment of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) over the period from 1933 to 2002 were studied in an insular pine forest growing in the steppe zone of the Southern Urals. Evidence for a significant increase in the amount of precipitation and air temperature in the second half of this period was obtained. Functions of response of radial increment indices to climatic parameters were analyzed. Relative contributions of air temperature and precipitation to variation in the radial increment of pine in different time intervals proved to differ in relation to climate changes during the past century.     

三峡调蓄过渡期长江河口地区不同水文年土壤水盐变化特征

通过布置土壤水盐动态监测网开展长江河口地区土壤水盐动态数据监测、采集和统计分析,研究该区不同水文年土壤水盐变化特征及水盐动态因子关系,结果表明该区不同水文年土壤水盐变化都有春秋季土壤积盐的季节性特点,但其枯水年份夏季土壤积盐更剧,土壤水盐动态各因子间存在明显相关性。针对三峡调蓄如何影响河口水情及土壤水盐动态这一问题,分析2003年6月三峡进入调蓄过渡期后河口土壤水盐实际动态情况及其影响因素,结果表明蓄水试运行后的3年,三峡调蓄对河口土壤水盐动态的影响尚不明显,气候因素对河口土壤水盐动态影响占主导地位,河口江水位偏低20 cm左右,河口咸潮入侵势头加强,雨季土壤和地下水积盐严重,影响作物生产,为此需采取各种水利农耕措施将不利影响降至最低。     

南通地区冰后期泥沙沉积量和环境变化的初步研究

南通地区位于长江三角洲北翼,其冰后期的环境变化以最大海侵时期为界,之前为海侵期,表现为海水入侵,陆地面积减少。之后海面趋于稳定,长江泥沙在河口地区持续沉积的作用下,表现为南通地区的逐渐成陆过程。利用收集的84个分布于南通地区及附近的钻孔剖面资料,将其按不同厚度的沉积相进行整理,结合前人研究成果,根据不同的数据基础运用IDW（Inverse Distance Weighted）插值对南通地区冰后期沉积厚度分布和环境变化过程分别进行了初步研究。结果表明：南通地区古河谷区是冰后期主要的泥沙沉积区,沉积物厚度、体积和重量大于北翼地区,北翼前缘沉积要大于后缘。冰后期古河谷区沉积泥沙4 8922×108 t,北翼地区沉积泥沙1 0453×108 t,二者之比约为47〖DK〗∶10,泥沙沉积强度之比约2〖DK〗∶1。从冰后期海侵初期到最大海侵时期,再到南通成陆的晚期,南通地区水域面积比例先由622%上升到95%,再缩减到331%,陆地面积比例先由378%缩减到5%,而后又上升至669%。尽管钻孔资料可以为南通地区有历史记载之前的时期提供宏观的环境变化框架,但由于钻孔资料在测年数据及沉积相的划分方面分辨率较低,在表现南通地区历史时期的环境变化方面存在不足,需要结合考古、文物等历史资料和土壤分布等自然地理信息进行更为详细的研究     

三峡工程蓄水后荆江河段河势变化及生态护岸研究

三峡工程蓄水以来,进入长江中下游河道的水沙过程发生明显改变,从而导致中下游河道尤其是荆江河段冲刷、崩塌,局部河段河势调整较为剧烈,并导致主流顶冲部位发生变化,可能会引起新的崩岸发生。分析了荆江河段河势变化特点,列举了各种传统护岸方法,分析了传统护岸的特点和适用性,针对传统护岸工程的不足,提出生态护岸理念,在满足整体性、稳定性、适应变形等要求下,采取工程措施与植物措施共同护岸,并为河道与河岸之间水分交换提供条件,建立了水生生态系统和陆地生态系统之间的联系,实现了河流原本完整的结构和作为生态廊道的功能,进而保证整个生态系统的稳定,有利于生态环境的保护和水土保持,实现生态理念,满足生态需要,达到人与自然和谐发展。     

Mechanisms of changes in population numbers of Caucasian red deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cervus elaphus maral</Emphasis>) in the northwestern Caucasus

Mechanisms of changes in the numbers of red deer in the Caucasian State Biosphere Reserve (the northwestern Caucasus) were studied from 1958 to 2004 using simulation models developed on the basis of concepts concerning the combined effect of density-dependent and density-independent factors. The results show that changes in population numbers are accounted for by larger (more numerous) local subunits, with small groups remaining relatively stable. In the periods of depression, such a mechanism provides for the maintenance of the spatial population structure.     

基于增强回归树的城市PM2.5日均值变化分析:以常州为例

利用2014年12月至2015年11月常州市区6个国控监测站空气污染物浓度逐时数据,分析了PM_(2.5)浓度季节变化特征,采用增强回归树模拟分析了PM10、4种气态污染物和7个气象因子对ρ(PM_(2.5))日变化的贡献.结果表明,常州市区PM_(2.5)污染季节差异明显,冬季污染严重且持续时间长,夏季污染较轻.四季ρ(PM_(2.5))空间分布特征存在一定差异,但各季内不同监测站差异较小.增强回归树对ρ(PM_(2.5))日均值进行模拟和验证得到,训练数据的相关性为0.981,交叉验证的相关性为0.957.此外,模拟值与实测值的标准化平均偏差为1.80%,标准化平均误差为10.41%,可见模型拟合效果较好.PM10、气态污染物、气象因子和区域输送及扩散这4种影响类型对全年ρ(PM_(2.5))日均值差异的贡献率分别为23.4%、28%、36.2%和12.6%,表明在对ρ(PM_(2.5))日均值差异的影响上,气象因子二次形成一次源区域输送及扩散.在对ρ(PM_(2.5))日均值差异贡献率大于5%的因子中,ρ(PM_(2.5))日均值与PM10、相对湿度、CO和O3正相关,与温度、SO2和混合层高度负相关,与大气压和NO2关系较复杂.区域输送及扩散方面,东南风向、偏西风向和偏北风向等上风向周边城市的污染物输送对常州市区PM_(2.5)污染存在较大的负面影响.