Assessment of desertification in Eritrea: land degradation based on Landsat images

Remote sensing is an effective way in monitoring desertification dynamics in arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, we used a decision tree method based on NDVI(normalized difference vegetation index), SAVI(soil adjusted vegetation index), and vegetation cover proportion to quantify and analyze the desertification in Eritrea using Landsat data of the 1970 s, 1980 s and 2014. The results demonstrate that the NDVI value and the annual mean precipitation declined while the temperature increased over the past 40 a. Strongly desertified land increased from 4.82×10~4 km~2(38.5%) in the 1970 s to 8.38×10~4 km~2(66.9%) in 2014: approximately 85% of the land of the country was under serious desertification, which significantly occurred in arid and semi-arid lowlands of the country(eastern, northern, and western lowlands) with relatively scarce precipitation and high temperature. The non-desertified area, mostly located in the sub-humid eastern escarpment, also declined from approximately 2.1% to 0.5%. The study concludes that the desertification is a cause of serious land degradation in Eritrea and may link to climate changes, such as low and unpredictable precipitation, and prolonged drought.     

沙质荒漠化土地评价指标体系研究

本研究根据我国沙质荒漠化 (亦称沙漠化 )土地现状评价与监测工作的需求 ,在实地调查的基础上 ,依据地表形态、植被、土壤三大特征 9项指标 (裸沙占地百分比、地表结皮、植被盖度、植被生物量、土壤有机质、全氮量、速效磷、速效钾、土壤物理粘粒含量 ) ,应用多元回归方法筛选评价指标 ,采用多因素综合指标分级数量化法建立了地方、区域、国家 3种尺度的沙质荒漠化土地现状监测评价指标体系。经三个不同气候区野外实地验证 ,结果表明 ,地方、区域、国家 3种评价尺度的判对率分别为 81 .0 3%、84.48%、89.66%。该指标体系具有实用性、可操作性、准确性高、简便易行、便于推广等特点 ,适用于我国各层次的沙漠化土地监测与评价 ,并有利于与国际接轨     

塔里木河下游荒漠化多元回归模型分析

塔里木河下游是新疆荒漠化最严重区域之一,近50a来,塔里木河流域在以水资源开发利用为核心的大强度人类经济、社会活动的作用下,流域自然生态过程发生了显著变化,特别是以天然植被为主体的生态系统和生态过程因人为对自然水资源时空格局的改变而受到严重影响,环境恶化、天然植被全面衰败、荒漠化加剧。本文根据近两年来对塔里木河下游荒漠化的大量野外考察、取样和室内样品分析及微机处理,以塔里木河下游地下水的变化为主导因子,通过SPSS分析软件对引起塔里木河下游荒漠化的一些主要环境因子进行多元回归分析,建立了荒漠化初步评价的回归模型。该模型显示在塔里木河下游地区,地下水位和土壤含水率是影响塔里木河下游荒漠化过程的两个重要限制因子。     

Dieback intensity but not functional and taxonomic diversity indices predict forest productivity in different management conditions: Evidence from a semi-arid oak forest ecosystem

The relationships between different aspects of diversity(taxonomic,structural and functional)and the aboveground biomass(AGB)as a major component of global carbon balance have been studied extensively but rarely under the simultaneous influence of forest dieback and management.In this study,we investigate the relationships between taxonomic,functional and structural diversity of woody species(trees and shrubs)and AGB along a gradient of dieback intensity(low,moderate,high and no dieback as control)under two contrasted management conditions(protection by central government vs.traditional management by natives)in a semi-arid oak(Quereus brantii Lindl.)forest ecosystem.AGB was estimated and taxonomic diversity,community weighted average(CWM)and functional divergence indices were produced.We found that the aerial biomass was significantly higher in the intensively used area(14.57(±1.60)t/hm²)than in the protected area(8.70(±1.05)t/hm²)due to persistence of some large trees but with decreasing values along the dieback intensity gradient in both areas.CWM of height(H),leaf nitrogen content(LNC)and leaf dry matter content(LDMC)were also higher in the traditional managed area than in the protected area.In contrast,in the protected area,the woody species diversity was higher and the inter-specific competition was more intense,explaining a reduced H,biomass and LDMC.Contrary to the results of CWM,none of the functional diversity traits(FDvar)was affected by dieback intensity and only FDvar values of LNC,leaf phosphorus content(LPC)and LDMC were influenced by management.We also found significantly positive linear relationships of AGB with CWM and FDvar indices in the protected area,and with taxonomic and structural diversity indices in the traditional managed area.These results emphasize that along a dieback intensity gradient,the leaf functional traits are efficient predictors in estimating the AGB in protected forests,while taxonomic and structural indices provide better results in forests under a high human pressure.Finally,species identity of the dominant species(i.e.,Brant’s oak)proves to be the main driver of AGB,supporting the selection effect hypothesis.     

Biomass and carbon stocks in three types of Persian oak (Quercus brantii var. persica) of Zagros forests in a semi-arid area,Iran

Persian oak (Quercus brantii var. persica) is a dominant tree species of Zagros forests in a semi-arid area, western Iran. However, the capacity of biomass and carbon stocks of these forests is not well studied. We selected three types of oak, i.e., seed-originated oak, coppice oak and mixed (seed-originated and coppice) oak of Zagros forests in Dalab valley, Ilam Province, Iran to survey the capacity of biomass and carbon stocks in 2018. Thirty plots with an area of 1000 m² were systematically and randomly assigned to each type of oak. Quantitative characteristics of trees, such as diameter at breast height (DBH), height, crown diameter and the number of sprouts in each plot were measured. Then, aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB), aboveground carbon stock (AGCS) and belowground carbon stock (BGCS) of each tree in plots were calculated using allometric equations. The litterfall biomass (LFB) and litterfall carbon stock (LFCS) were measured in a quadrat with 1 m×1 m in each plot. One-way analysis of variance and Duncan's test were performed to detect the differences in biomass and carbon stocks among three types of oak. Results showed that AGB, BGB and BGCS were significantly different among three types of oak. The highest values of AGB, AGCS, BGB and BGCS in seed-originated oak were 76,043.25, 14,725.55, 36,737.79 and 7362.77 kg/hm², respectively. Also, the highest values of LFB and LFCS in seed-originated oak were 3298.33 and 1520.48 kg/hm², respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the other two types of oak. The results imply the significant role of seed-originated oak for the regeneration of Zagros forests. Further conservation strategy of seed-originated oak is an important step in the sustainable management of Zagros forests in Iran.     

中国北方沙尘天气原因探讨

我国是沙尘暴易发的国家,进入20世纪90年代以来,强沙尘暴有频率增加、强度加大、范围扩展、危害程度加剧的趋势。沙尘暴的发生危害范围亦逐渐从西北干旱经济落后区扩展到经济发达的北京、天津及华北平原区,近年来的沙尘暴造成了社会经济和人民生命财产的重大损失。受大气环流场和季风气候类型影响,中国冬、春盛吹西北风,强劲而干燥。发生沙尘暴的天数与大风日数和地面热力稳定程度相关,3-5月中国西北内陆地表增温大,是风力场和热力场极不稳定的季节,地表气候容易发生蠕动,沙尘暴便由此启动并易发。除自然要素外,不合理的人类活动也将诱发沙尘暴天气的发生,有些情况下还起到比自然要素更重要的作用。从生态地理区域的角度看,沙尘暴的源地在干旱和半干旱地区,由于大气环流的作用,影响到下风向的半湿润甚至湿润地区。无论何地干旱、半干旱地区都将存在沙尘暴发生的自然条件,而其下风向必将受到不同程度的影响,只是因为中国的季风气候,决定西北干旱、半干旱地区发生的沙尘暴必然影响东南部地区。在现有的科学技术条件下,人类所能做的就是调节自身的行为。因此,在沙尘暴源地实施生态建设是减缓沙尘暴发生的最重要措施,也是消除东部城市沙尘天气的主要途径。根据生态地理区域的特征,沙尘暴源地的干旱区、半干?     

干旱半干旱地区地下水问题

对干旱半干旱地区地下水资源的特征，地下水的水文地质条件及相关的水文地质问题进行了分析，阐述了干旱半干旱地区地下水资源的利用现状及地下水资源管理的内容和意义。     

西北干旱内陆区废水利用与生态环境建设

西北干旱区内陆河流域水资源紧缺 ,而流域内空间水资源分配不均 ,加之人类生产活动所需水量在逐年增加 ,致使生态环境用水大量减少 ,造成了地下水位下降、植被退化、土地荒漠化、耕地盐渍化、沙尘暴频发等一系列的生态环境问题 ,因此如何保证生态环境用水成为目前人们普遍关心的问题。本研究从人类经济生产活动产生的废水出发 ,探讨在西北干旱区废水的产生量及其危害 ,以及如何有效地利用废水 ,并且特别探讨了废水在生态环境建设中的巨大作用。提出废水不但可以增加生态环境建设的供水量 ,同时还减轻其对城市环境、水资源环境和土壤生态环境造成的危害 ,放大水资源总量。     

我国北方土地荒漠化成因与草业发展研究

土地荒漠化是当今世界重要的生态环境问题 ,也是脆弱生态系统失去平衡而急需治理的国土整治问题。笔者认为 ,土地荒漠化的发生虽然是自然因素和人类活动共同作用的结果 ,但非可持续性的人类活动是加剧土地荒漠化的主导因素。从分析荒漠化发生的社会经济原因入手 ,阐述发展草业在保护生态与环境、发展西部经济中的重要地位。以此为突破口 ,提出完善软环境体系、创新草业发展机制、加强管理和强化目标责任制对策措施。     

塔里木盆地沙漠化防治措施及其效益

土地沙漠化是干旱,半干旱地区普遍存在的一个重大环境问题。塔里木盆地是我国沙漠化危害最严重的地区之一,但干旱多风的自然条件引起的沙漠化,仅占现代沙漠化面积的１５．１３％,说明沙漠化土地是可以治理的,本文概述了农田林网,林网内农林复合经营,防沙林带,灌草带,造林固沙等沙漠化防治措施及其效果。     

西藏参考作物蒸散量时空变化特征与影响因素

为深入认识西藏参考作物蒸散量(ET_0)的变化特征,采用联合国粮农组织1998年推荐的Penman-Monteith公式计算西藏37个气象站点32 a(1981—2012年)的逐日ET_0,通过联合国防治荒漠化公约提出的全球干旱指数(UNEP)进行气候评价,利用空间插值及Mann-Kendall趋势检验法对西藏及各气候区ET_0时空变化特征进行分析,并通过偏相关分析法对其主要影响因素进行探讨,结果表明:西藏共分为特干旱、干旱、半干旱、干旱半湿润、湿润半湿润和湿润气候区,主要为半干旱气候区。近32 a参考作物蒸散量整体呈减小趋势,变化趋势为-1.508 mm·a~(-1),可将32 a分为3个时段,1981—1989年处于高蒸散阶段,1989年后处于低蒸散阶段,2005年起又持续回升。西藏西部到东部,年际ET_0呈减小趋势。各气候区气象因子的影响基本符合平均气温日照时数平均风速相对湿度,且平均气温、日照时数及平均风速在干旱区的影响较湿润区更为显著。     

Effects of grazing intensity on seed production of Caragana stenophylla along a climatic aridity gradient in the Inner Mongolia Steppe,China

As the increases of climatic aridity and grazing intensity,shrubs play an increasingly important role in grassland ecosystem in arid and semi-arid regions,and its abundance also generally increases.However,the effects of climatic aridity and grazing intensity on sexual reproduction of shrubs in grassland remain largely unclear.In order to understand the effects of grazing intensity and climatic drought stress,and their interaction on seed production of shrub species,we examined the seed number,seed weight and seed yield of Caragana stenophylla under three grazing intensities(fenced,mild grazing and severe grazing) across a climatic aridity gradient(semi-arid,arid,very arid and intensively arid zones) in the Inner Mongolia Steppe,northern China during 2012–2013.The seed number,seed weight and seed yield gradually increased from the semi-arid to the very arid zones,but decreased from the very arid to the intensively arid zones in fenced plots.The seed number and seed yield decreased from the semi-arid to the intensively arid zones in mild and severe grazing treatment plots,therefore,grazing enhanced the suppression effect of climatic aridity on seed production of C.stenophylla.The seed number and seed yield gradually decreased as grazing intensity increased.The seed weight was highest in severe grazing plots,followed by the mild grazing plots and then the fenced plots.Precipitation varied interannually during the study period.We observed that the seed number,seed weight and seed yield were lower in the low precipitation year(2013) than in the high precipitation year(2012).As climatic drought stress increased,the negative effects of grazing on seed production of C.stenophylla also gradually increased.Our results indicated that climatic drought stress may contribute to the encroachment of C.stenophylla shrub in arid zones by promoting its seed production.However,grazing had negative effects on sexual reproduction of C.stenophylla,and the combined effects of drought stress and grazing seriously suppressed sexual reproduction of C.stenophylla in the intensively arid zone.     

干旱区沙漠化逆转过程中优势种群及其根系特征研究

根系是植物群落演替的重要内容,对植被演替过程具有十分重要影响作用。采用时空替代法,选择不同恢复阶段,研究了干旱荒漠区植被恢复演替不同阶段优势种群及其根系生态特征。结果表明:沙漠化逆转过程中,优势种群更替过程为:沙米-沙蒿-油蒿-紫婉木、针茅;在恢复演替初期(初始阶段,先锋阶段)植被根系浅(平均<50 cm)而水平分布范围广,侧根数量少但生长旺盛;随着恢复时间的加长,优势种群根系分布深度增加,侧根数量增加但水平生长受到一定的抑制,根幅逐渐减小;优势种群根冠比的变化趋势为沙米(初始阶段)<沙蒿(先锋阶段)<油蒿(发展阶段)<针茅(原生群落)。研究同时发现,同一种群在不同的演替阶段具有不同的根系分布特征和规律。对于沙蒿种群来说,根冠比是发展阶段(0.56)>先锋阶段(0.36),而地上、地下生物量却是先锋阶段(360.83g,161.33g)>发展阶段(32.8g,16.81g);而油蒿根冠比则是发展阶段(0.61)>相对稳定阶段(0.21)。各演替阶段根系和土壤环境因子之间存在相互影响,优势种群根系生物量及生物量分布与土壤颗粒组成、土壤水分的空间分布有着密切的关系。     

全球变化下的绿洲生态学研究

本文从生态学的角度给出了绿洲的定义,绿洲分布于干旱区,强烈依赖于水源（地表水与地下水）,以中生、旱中生植物为优势类群所构成的隐域性绿色景观;提出了绿洲生态学的主要研究方向,认为绿洲生态学应以景观以上水平的生态学过程的研究为重点,将自然和人为因素造成的绿洲水文过程和土壤盐分运移变化对绿洲生态系统结构和功能的影响及生态系统对环境变化的反馈关系作为研究的主要内容。文章还初步探讨了全球变化下绿洲生态学研究的四个主要方面,即：全球变化与绿洲荒漠化;全球变化与绿洲土地利用／土地覆被变化;全球变化与干旱区生物多样性;以及全球变化与绿洲生态系统模型的研究     

A drought resistance index to select drought resistant plant species based on leaf water potential measurements

The water deficit in arid and semi-arid regions is the primary limiting factor for the development of urban greenery and forestation. In addition, planting the species that consume low levels of water is useful in arid and semi-arid regions that have poor water management measures. Leaf water potential (Ψ) is a physiological parameter that can be used to identify drought resistance in various species. Indeed, Ψ is one of the most important properties of a plant that can be measured using a pressure chamber. Drought avoiding or drought resistant species have a lower Ψ than plants that use normal or high levels of water. To determine drought resistance of species that are suitable for afforestation in arid urban regions, we evaluated twenty woody species in the Isfahan City, central Iran. The experimental design was random split-split plots with five replications. The species were planted outdoor in plastic pots and then subjected to treatments that consisted of two soil types and five drip irrigation regimes. To evaluate the resistance of each species to drought, we used the Ψ and the number of survived plants to obtain the drought resistance index (DRI). Then, cluster analysis, dendrogram, and similarity index were used to group the species using DRI. Result indicates that the evaluated species were classified into five groups: (1) high water consuming species (DRI>-60 MPa); (2) above normal water consuming species (-60 MPa≥DRI>-90 MPa); (3) normal water consuming species (-90 MPa≥DRI>-120 MPa); (4) semi-drought resistant species (-120 MPa≥DRI>-150 MPa); and (5) drought resistant species (DRI≤-150 MPa). According to the DRI, Salix babylonica L., Populus alba L., and P. nigra L. are high water consuming species, Platanus orientalis L. and Albizia julibrissin Benth are normal water consuming species, and Quercus infectoria Oliv. and Olea europaea L. can be considered as drought resistant species.     

Predicting of dust storm source by combining remote sensing,statistic-based predictive models and game theory in the Sistan watershed,southwestern Asia

Dust storms in arid and desert areas affect radiation budget, air quality, visibility, enzymatic activities, agricultural products and human health. Due to increased drought and land use changes in recent years, the frequency of dust storms occurrence in Iran has been increased. This study aims to identify dust source areas in the Sistan watershed (Iran-Afghanistan borders)-an important regional source for dust storms in southwestern Asia, using remote sensing (RS) and bivariate statistical models. Furthermore, this study determines the relative importance of factors controlling dust emissions using frequency ratio (FR) and weights of evidence (WOE) models and interpretability of predictive models using game theory. For this purpose, we identified 211 dust sources in the study area and generated a dust source distribution map-inventory map-by dust source potential index based on RS data. In addition, spatial maps of topographic factors affecting dust source areas including soil, lithology, slope, Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), geomorphology and land use were prepared. The performance of two models (WOE and FR) was evaluated using the area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve. The results showed that soil, geomorphology and slope exhibited the greatest influence in the dust source areas. The 55.3% (according to FR) and 62.6% (according to WOE) of the total area were classified as high and very high potential dust sources, while both models displayed acceptable accuracy with subsurface levels of 0.704 for FR and 0.751 for WOE, although they predict different fractions of dust potential classes. Based on Shapley additive explanations (SHAP), three factors, i.e., soil, slope and NDVI have the highest impact on the model's output. Overall, combination of statistic-based predictive models (or data mining models), RS and game theory techniques can provide accurate maps of dust source areas in arid and semi-arid regions, which can be helpful for mitigation of negative effects of dust storms.     

水资源在河西走廊生态环境建设中的作用

地处干旱、极干旱区被沙漠包围的河西走廊绿洲,是发源于祁连山的内陆河水资源养育的结果,其规模和分布具有典型的流域特征,河流是土地沙漠化的重要防线,有限的水资源是绿洲生态的主导因素。要搞好生态环境建设,首要的是要做好流域水资源的统一规划、统一管理和合理开发利用,保护水环境、维护水资源的动态平衡是保证沙漠绿洲生态良性循环的关键。     

吉林省不同地区亚洲玉米螟发生世代的变化

为明确吉林省不同地区亚洲玉米螟发生世代的变化,对吉林省东部、中部和西部3个生态区28个县(市)的亚洲玉米螟成虫产卵时期、幼虫发育和化蛹等情况进行了系统调查。结果显示,东部生态区大部分地区亚洲玉米螟只有1个落卵高峰期,未发现第1代幼虫化蛹,仍为1代发生区,而在伊通县和集安市有部分幼虫化蛹,已由1代发生区变为1代为主兼1.5代发生区;中部生态区大部分地区有2个落卵高峰期,未发现第2代幼虫化蛹,已由1.5代发生区变为完全2代发生区,而在双辽市和梨树县出现第3代低龄幼虫,已变为2代为主兼2.5代发生区;西部生态区大部分地区有2个落卵高峰期,未发现第2代幼虫化蛹,仍为2代发生区,而在通榆县出现第3代低龄幼虫,已由2代发生区变为2代为主兼2.5代发生区。表明随着全球气候变暖,吉林省亚洲玉米螟的世代发生数有增加的趋势。     

基于EMD的我国受旱面积波动的多时间尺度的分析

我国是一个干旱及旱灾频繁发生的国家,近年来干旱已成为影响我国社会经济可持续发展的重要制约因素。文中应用经验模态分解(EMD)方法分析了1950-2006年全国干旱灾害受灾面积波动情况。结果表明:(1)干旱灾害受灾面积存在准3年、准8.5年、准14年左右特征时间尺度的周期性波动;(2)各时间尺度的周期性振荡的贡献率中以准3年时间尺度的受灾面积振荡的贡献最大,说明干旱灾害受灾面积波动以准3年时间尺度为主;(3)从各时间尺度的振荡来看,大致分三个阶段,80年代中期以前,干旱灾害受灾面积的波动频率较慢,周期长,振幅大;80年代中期以后,波动频率变快,周期缩短,振幅减小;而90年代中期之后,振幅又有所增加。从各时间尺度振荡的趋势看,干旱灾害受灾面积仍处在增加阶段;而且近年来干旱灾害受灾面积振荡的幅度增大,说明干旱灾害强度加剧,频度增加。因此,应认识和了解旱灾发生和发展规律,并进行有效的防治,尽可能减小旱灾对社会经济发展造成的损失。     

生态脆弱区土地利用变化与沙漠化响应研究——以宁夏中部干旱带为例

以宁夏中部干旱带1978年MSS及1987、1996和2007年Landsat TM/ETM遥感影像为信息源,在3S技术支持下,对不同时期土地利用与沙漠化与沙漠化变化响应关系进行了分析。结果表明：耕地和草地是该地区的主要土地利用类型,分别占总面积的27.7%,24.7%。近30a来,耕地、城镇用地面积增幅较大,分别增加...