RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE ATTRIBUTES ON THE LESOTHO–DRAKENSBERG ESCARPMENT EDGE, SOUTHERN AFRICA     

WERNER NEL  PAUL SUMNER 《Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography》2008,90(1):97-108

Located near the southeastern limit of Africa, the Lesotho‐Drakensberg and associated escarpment is the highest range of African mountains south of the massifs in Tanzania. At the escarpment summit and on the adjacent high peaks, the climate is generally interpreted as marginal periglacial yet few data, specifically rainfall and temperature, exist on record at these altitudes. Climatic data from two temporary field stations on the escarpment edge, one of which is the highest rainfall station yet on record in southern Africa, provide contemporary surface‐climate conditions. Mean annual rainfall recorded between 2001 and 2005 averages 767.8 mm at Sani Pass summit (three complete years), and 753.2 mm on Sentinel Peak (two complete years); these values are less than those recorded for the same period in the mountain foothills. Even though rainfall is slightly below long‐term rainfall averages for the area due to a marginally dry spell, the data show that earlier estimates of between 1000 mm and 2000 mm rainfall per annum on the escarpment are too high. A measured mean air temperature of 5.8°C at Sani Pass, however, falls within the range estimated for the escarpment summit. Frost cycles in air and at the soil surface are frequent in winter, but absent in soil for summer, and no long‐duration surface‐soil freeze was measured. Temperatures thus confirm the marginal periglacial nature as postulated for previously, but precipitation data indicate a dryer environment than anticipated. Palaeoenvironmental scenarios, notably arguments for former glaciation based on extrapolations from somewhat exaggerated contemporary precipitation values, thus require re‐consideration.  相似文献   

Vegetation cover variation in the Qilian Mountains and its response to climate change in 2000–2011     

Shao-fu Deng  Tai-bao Yang  Biao Zeng  Xi-fen Zhu  Hao-jie Xu 《山地科学学报》2013,10(6):1050-1062

An understanding 0f variati0ns in vegetati0n c0ver in resp0nse t0 climate change is critical f0r predicting and managing future terrestrial ec0system dynamics. Because scientists anticipate that m0untain ec0systems will be m0re sensitive t0 future climate change c0mpared t0 0thers, 0ur 0bjectives were t0 investigate the impacts 0f climate change 0n variati0n in vegetati0n c0ver in the Qilian M0untains （QLM）, China, between 2000 and 2011. T0 acc0mplish this, we used linear regressi0n techniques 0n 250-m MODIS N0rmalized Difference Vegetati0n Index （NDVI） datasets and mete0r0l0gical rec0rds t0 determine spati0temp0ral variability in vegetati0n c0ver and climatic fact0rs （i.e. temperature and precipitati0n）. Our results sh0wed that temperatures and precipitati0n have increased in this regi0n during 0ur study peri0d. In additi0n, we f0und that gr0wing seas0n mean NDVI was mainly distributed in the vertical z0ne fr0m 2,700 m t0 3,600 m in elevati0n. In the study regi0n, we 0bserved significant p0sitive and negative trends in vegetati0n c0ver in 26.71% and 2.27% 0f the vegetated areas. C0rrelati0n analyses indicated that rising precipitati0n fr0m May t0 August was resp0nsible f0r increased vegetati0n c0ver in areas with p0sitive trends in gr0wing seas0n mean NDVI. H0wever, there was n0 similar significant c0rrelati0n between gr0wing seas0n mean NDVI and precipitati0n in regi0ns where vegetati0n c0ver declined thr0ugh0ut 0ur study peri0d. Using spatial statistics, we f0und that veeetati0n c0ver freauentlvdeclined in areas within the 2,500-3,100 m vertical z0ne, where it has steep sl0pe, and is 0n the sunny side 0f m0untains. Here, the p0sitive influences 0f increasing precipitati0n c0uld n0t 0ffset the drier c0nditi0ns that 0ccurred thr0ugh warming trends. In c0ntrast, in higher elevati0n z0nes （3,900-4,500 m） 0n the shaded side 0f the m0untains, rising temperatures and increasing precipitati0n impr0ved c0nditi0ns f0r vegetati0n gr0wth. Increased precipitati0n als0 facilitated vegetati0n gr0wth in areas experiencing warming trends at l0wer elevati0ns （2,000-2,400 m） and 0n l0wer sl0pes where water was m0re easily c0nserved. We suggest that spatial differences in variati0n in vegetati0n as the result 0f climate change depend 0n l0cal m0isture and thermal c0nditi0ns, which are mainly c0ntr0lled by t0p0graphy （e.g. elevati0n, aspect, and sl0pe）, and 0ther fact0rs, such as l0cal hydr0l0gy.  相似文献   

南海北部海底沉积物在温度变化下的三种声速类型          下载免费PDF全文

邹大鹏  卢博  阎贫  吴百海 《地球物理学报》2012,55(3):1017-1024

研究南海北部海底沉积物温度变化状态下声速性质,得出以下结论:(1) 南海北部海底沉积物具有声速温度正增长(STPIK)、声速温度负增长(STNIK)和声速温度波动(STWK)三种类型,后两种类型在世界其他范围内海域未见报道.(2) 声速温度正增长类型和声速温度负增长类型沉积物的温度变化对声速影响都具有十分显著的线性关系,但是原状样品由于组成不均匀性,增大了声速的非线性变化.(3)南海北部海底沉积物的孔隙度、密度等主要物理参数差异不明显,难以直接解释三类样品的温度-声速性质的不同.(4)对于STPIK类型沉积物,理论分析与实验结果的统一性,可以运用海底沉积物与海水声速比进行校正不同温度状态下的海底沉积物的声速.(5)对于STNIK和STWK类型沉积物,需要深入研究,从理论和实验角度揭开其机理和成因.海底沉积物声速-温度特性研究将为提高南海北部海域天然气水合物声学探测精度和准确度提供声速性质依据.  相似文献   

中国热浪事件的大气扰动结构及其稳定性分析   总被引：4，自引：3，他引：1       下载免费PDF全文

钱维宏  丁婷 《地球物理学报》2012,55(5):1487-1500

利用对流层至平流层大气变量的物理分解,本文发现400 hPa上的天气尺度温度扰动正值和250 hPa上的天气尺度高度扰动正值能够指示地面上的高温和热浪事件.理论和观测分析发现,当扰动静止波中心出现在40°N-45°N时,准静止波波长较长,影响范围大,持续时间久,容易在中国形成区域持续性热浪事件.在江南-华南、长江沿江及河套-华北的区域,干热浪事件静止波的稳定时间在6.5天以上.对流层大气天气尺度扰动波动在垂直方向具有倾斜特征,250 hPa高度上,静止波稳定位置比地面热浪区域中心普遍偏北6~12个纬距.在低纬度(副热带高压带南侧),大气中向西北方向移动的天气尺度扰动,只有到达副高脊线以北的西风带后,才能形成静止波.  相似文献   

广东信宜1、2号井水温的同震响应及机理初步探讨     

林云存 《华南地震》2012,(2):133-137

介绍了信宜1、2号井水文地质环境,总结了近年来两井水温的同震响应现象,并对其机理进行了初步的探讨。认为两口井的同震响应虽然形态不一致,但机理是相近的,主要是由于地震波的扰动,随着振动效应的作用,加大了不同含水层间的垂直运动速率,而产生水温上升或下降现象,震后一段时间随着混合通道的闭合或运动速率的恢复,2号井的水温逐渐恢复到原有的水平上。  相似文献   

一种地温传感器及其在大地震临震前兆监测中的应用     

王腾  王新安  雍珊珊  谢峥  郭朝阳  林科 《华南地震》2014,(1):33-37

介绍了地球内部温度异常与地震孕育和发生的关系以及地温异常在地震预测中的应用,分析了现有的地温测量传感技术,提出了一种用于大地震临震前兆监测的深层地温传感器,描述了基于该传感器进行大地震临震前兆监测的方法和系统架构,使得结合其他手段进行地震三要素预测成为可能。  相似文献   

近磁尾TC-1观测到伴随有高速流的ULF波及不稳定性分析   总被引：2，自引：2，他引：0       下载免费PDF全文

马玉端  曹晋滨  符慧山  杨俊英  吕浩宇  杨建  王志强 《地球物理学报》2014,57(11):3754-3765

2004年8月3日近地TC-1卫星在磁尾X_GSM~－12R_E的等离子体片内,观测到了伴随着高速流的低于离子回旋频率的波,即超低频波(ULF,Ultra Low Frequency).该波垂直分量的振幅在高速流及其振荡减速期间大致相当;而平行分量振幅在高速流时明显大于其振荡减速时. 利用一个扰动双流模型对完全磁化离子横场漂移驱动的电磁不稳定性计算后,预测结果表明:(1)对于垂直分量来说,横场漂移速度与Alfvén速度的比值影响不稳定性增长率和激发波频率,随其比值增加,增长率变大,激发波频率从负值增加到正值.(2)对于平行分量来说,温度各向异性时等离子体热速度与Alfvén速度比值只影响不稳定性增长率和激发波频率,未改变不稳定性模类别;而温度各向同性时离子横场漂移速度与Alfvén速度比值既影响不稳定性模的种类及其分支,又影响激发波频率.进一步将卫星观测到的等离子体密度、温度、整体流速和磁场代入模型方程,进行数值计算与上述预测结果对比后发现:卫星观测中垂直分量的功率谱密度(PSD,Power Spectrum Density)增强时间和频段与理论模型中由β_//、β_⊥和v_⊥/V_A引起不稳定性激发的波一致;卫星观测中平行分量的功率谱密度增强时间与理论模型基本相符,但是前者的频率明显地低于后者.因此,除了需考虑平行磁场的离子整体流速对不稳定性激发波频率的可能影响,还需要统计上进一步核实伴随有高速流的ULF波与不稳定性的相关性.  相似文献   

钠多普勒激光雷达回波光子数仿真及大气参数反演   总被引：4，自引：2，他引：2       下载免费PDF全文

徐丽  胡雄  程永强  郭商勇  闫召爱  Xinzhao Chu 《地球物理学报》2010,53(7):1520-1528

钠多普勒激光雷达利用中层顶区域的钠原子作为示踪物,探测中层顶区域大气风场和温度剖面.本文主要分析钠多普勒激光雷达的探测原理和大气参数反演算法.利用MSISE和HWM93等大气模型给出背景大气温度、密度及风场,并给定钠原子数密度剖面,从激光雷达方程出发,模拟计算了激光雷达的瑞利散射和钠共振荧光散射回波光子数.利用模拟的回波光子数剖面数据,反演得到大气温度、视线风速和钠原子数密度剖面,反演结果与模拟计算用的背景参数符合很好,验证了这一反演方法的正确性.分析了激光频率偏移和激光线宽变化对反演精度的影响.  相似文献   

Modeling patterns of coral bleaching at a remote Central Pacific atoll     

Gareth J. Williams  Ingrid S. Knapp  Simon K. Davy 《Marine pollution bulletin》2010,60(9):1467-1476

A mild bleaching event (9.2% prevalence) at Palmyra Atoll occurred in response to the 2009 ENSO, when mean water temperature reached 29.8-30.1 °C. Prevalence among both abundant and sparse taxa varied with no clear pattern in susceptibility relating to coral morphology. Seven taxon-specific models showed that turbidity exacerbated while prior exposure to higher background temperatures alleviated bleaching, with these predictors explaining an average 16.3% and 11.5% variation in prevalence patterns, respectively. Positive associations occurred between bleaching prevalence and both immediate temperature during the bleaching event (average 8.4% variation explained) and increased sand cover (average 3.7%). Despite these associations, mean unexplained variation in prevalence equalled 59%. Lower bleaching prevalence in areas experiencing higher background temperatures suggests acclimation to temperature stress among several coral genera, while WWII modifications may still be impacting the reefs via shoreline sediment re-distribution and increased turbidity, exacerbating coral bleaching susceptibility during periods of high temperature stress.  相似文献   

Salt water infiltration in two artificial sea inlets in the Belgian dune area     

A. Vandenbohede  L. Lebbe  Stefaan Gysens  Kevin Delecluyse  Peter DeWolf   《Journal of Hydrology》2008,360(1-4):77-86

In the dune area of the Westhoek Nature Reserve, situated in the western Belgian coastal plain, two artificial tidal inlets were made aiming to enhance biodiversity. The infiltration of salt water in these tidal inlets was carefully monitored because a fresh water lens is present in the phreatic dune aquifer. This forms an important source of fresh water which is for instance exploited by a water company. The infiltration was monitored over a period of two years by means of electromagnetic borehole measurements (EM39) and by measurements of fresh water heads and temperature using a large number of observation wells. EM39 observations point to aquifer heterogeneity as a determining factor in the movement of the salt infiltration water. It is shown that part of the infiltration water moves further in the dunes instead of towards the sea. On the long term run, possibility exists that salt water enters the extraction’s capture zone. This issue needs further monitoring and study. Fresh water head and temperature data illustrate that the main period of infiltration is confined to spring tide when large amounts of salt water enter the tidal inlets.  相似文献