塔里木盆地TSP时空分布特征及影响因素分析

利用2004—2008年沙尘暴观测站网哈密、塔中与和田的TSP观测资料,同时结合铁干里克、民丰和喀什2007年4月开始的TSP、沙尘天气等相关资料,给出了塔里木盆地TSP时空分布特征及变化特征,同时分析了影响TSP质量浓度变化的主要因素。结果表明：①塔里木盆地东部TSP质量浓度最低,南缘最高,往盆地的西缘逐渐降低,塔中一直处于较高值。影响TSP质量浓度高低分布的主要因素是沙尘天气,沙尘天气日数越多,则浓度越高。②2004—2008年TSP年平均质量浓度哈密最低,其次为塔中,最高为和田。③2004—2007年哈密、塔中与和田TSP平均质量浓度春季最高,其次是夏季和秋季,冬季最低。④哈密、塔中与和田2005—2008年TSP质量浓度每年不同时间段各不相同。     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地沙尘气溶胶质量浓度垂直分布特征

 利用Grimm 1.108、Thermo RP 1 400 a以及TSP等仪器于2009年1月至2010年2月对塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地塔中不同高度沙尘气溶胶质量浓度进行连续观测,结合天气资料进行分析。结果表明:①80 m高度PM10质量浓度最高,80 m高度PM2.5和PM1.0质量浓度明显低于4 m高度PM10,80 m高度PM1.0质量浓度最低。频繁的沙尘天气是影响不同粒径的沙尘气溶胶浓度含量的主要因素。②夜间至日出,PM质量浓度逐渐降低,最低基本上出现在08:00,随后质量浓度逐渐增大,18:00前后浓度达到最高值,然后又逐步降低。其规律与风速的昼夜变化完全一致。③TSP月平均质量浓度高值主要集中在3—9月,其中4月和5月浓度最高,随后逐渐减低。3—9月也是PM月平均质量浓度的高值区域,4 m高度PM10月平均质量浓度最高发生在5月,其浓度为846.0 μg·m-3。80 m高度PM10浓度远高于PM2.5和PM1.0浓度,PM2.5和PM1.0浓度相差较小。风沙天气对大气中的不同粒径粒子的浓度含量影响较大,风沙天气越多,粗颗粒含量越高,反之则细颗粒越多。④沙尘天气过程中不同粒径沙尘气溶胶质量浓度变化具有晴天<浮尘天气<扬沙天气<沙尘暴天气的规律。各种沙尘天气中,PM10/TSP表现为晴好天气高于浮尘天气,浮尘天气远高于扬沙和沙尘暴天气。⑤沙尘天气过程中,沙尘气溶胶浓度随着粒径的减小,浓度逐渐降低。不同高度、不同粒径的沙尘气溶胶质量浓度每隔3~4 d形成一个峰值区,与每隔3~4 d出现沙尘天气强度增强过程直接相关。     

西宁地区污染气象特征与降水pH值的初步分析

西宁是我国空气污染最严重的城市之一,冬春季节尤为严重,特别是当春季受到强沙尘暴影响时,会产生5级以上的严重空气污染。这除了当地污染源过量排放和外来沙尘输送外,当地大气扩散条件也是主要原因之一。利用西宁市2000年1月至2002年12月的各种常规气象观测资料和降水pH值资料,计算分析了西宁地区月、季、年各种逆稳层日数和混合层厚度,结果表明,西宁地区月逆温平均日数和月平均混合厚度基本呈反位向。冬半年各种逆温出现的总日数一般在15~24d之间,而夏半年在7~12d之间,前后二者相差一半。月平均混合厚度夏半年高,而冬半年低;季节变化是冬季平均混合厚度最低,春、夏季较高,秋季平均混合厚度介于春季和冬季之间,年最低和最高混合层厚度的平均年变差为145m。月逆温平均日数多(少)、月逆温厚度平均偏高(低),而月平均混合厚度偏低(高)。pH值月、季平均值与月、季平均混合厚度的变化趋势基本一致。混合层厚度高(低),湍流运动强(弱),空气在垂直和水平方向交换时间短(长)、扩散能力强(弱),pH值大(小)。     

新疆和田绿洲大气降尘和PM_(10)浓度变化特征分析

通过分析2000-2012年新疆和田绿洲环境监测记录和气象观测数据,研究该地区大气降尘强度和可吸入颗粒物浓度的变化特点,阐明其主要影响因素。结果显示:2000年以来大气降尘强度在1 300~1 500 t·km-2·a-1水平上下波动变化,春、夏两季受沙尘天气影响导致高降尘量,月平均强度均150 t·km-2;环境PM10年平均浓度在0.2~0.25 mg·mg-3之间变化,有逐渐上升的趋势,沙尘暴期间颗粒物浓度快速上升,PM10浓度极值可达到2.52 mg·m-3;超过91%的空气污染日数是由大气颗粒物造成的。因此,颗粒物是和田绿洲区的首要空气污染物。降水量波动变化剧烈,年平均值50 mm·a-1,尽管和田绿洲春、夏两季降水量增加,但降水对抑制大气颗粒物污染的湿清除作用极为有限。春、夏两季大风日数占全年大风天气总日数的84.7%以上,风蚀沙土在西北风作用下传输到绿洲区,来自塔克拉玛干沙漠的风蚀沙尘颗粒物是和田地区大气降尘和颗粒污染物的主要来源。     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地及周边地区PM10时空变化特征及影响因素分析

利用Thermo RP 1400a对塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地塔中及周边的哈密与和田进行了长达6 a多的沙尘气溶胶PM10连续观测,结合气象资料,分析了该区域沙尘气溶胶PM10的基本特征及影响因素。其结果是:①在哈密、塔中与和田,浮尘、扬沙日数呈上升趋势,沙尘暴日数变化不明显,沙尘天气出现的频率和强度是影响沙漠地区沙尘气溶胶PM10浓度的主要因素。②PM10质量浓度具有明显的区域分布特征,塔克拉玛干沙漠东缘的哈密最低,其次为沙漠南缘的和田,最高的为沙漠腹地的塔中。③每年3—9月是哈密PM10质量浓度的高值时段;塔中与和田PM10质量浓度高值时段分布在3—8月,平均浓度分别在500~1 000 μg·m-3之间变化。④哈密、塔中与和田PM10季节平均浓度变化特征,春季>夏季>秋季>冬季;PM10平均浓度最高的塔中,春季在1 000 μg·m-3左右变化,夏季在400~900 μg·m-3之间,秋冬两季浓度较低基本上在200~400 μg·m-3之间变化。⑤哈密、塔中与和田沙尘暴季节PM10浓度远高于非沙尘暴季节,沙尘暴季节浓度基本上为非沙尘暴季节浓度的两倍以上;塔中2004年和2008年沙尘暴季节平均浓度分别是非沙尘暴季节的6.2倍和3.6倍。⑥沙尘天气过程中PM10质量浓度变化具有以下规律,晴天<浮尘天气<浮尘、扬沙天气<沙尘暴天气。⑦风速大小直接影响大气中PM10浓度,风速越大浓度越高。气温、相对湿度和气压是影响沙尘暴强度的重要因素,也间接影响大气中PM10浓度的变化。     

西安沙尘天气特征及其对空气质量的影响

利用1971-2003年西安市常规气象观测资料、2001-2003年西安市区主要污染物日均浓度资料和2002年3月一次重度污染事件逐时的PM₁₀浓度资料,分析了西安市沙尘天气的时间分布特征及其对主要空气污染物浓度的影响。结果表明:西安市沙尘天气近30多年来总体呈波动式明显减少的趋势,但2001-2002年有所增多,2003年又减少。沙尘天气主要出现在春季,4月最多,占全年天数的22.6%。沙尘天气对西安空气质量影响显著,可使3~4月PM₁₀月浓度平均提高12.1%,在分析的一次强沙尘暴个例中,一小时内PM₁₀浓度最高增加了0.585mg·m^-3,达到0.970mg·m^-3,从而造成严重的空气污染事件。     

甘肃河西沙尘暴对兰州市空气污染的影响

通过对1975-1997年甘肃河西沙尘暴发生日数和兰州市同期颗粒物污染资料进行统计分析,结果表明:两者有很好的正相关关系,其中,70年代后期和1986年前后甘肃河西沙尘暴的多发年份正好与兰州市同期TSP的高污染浓度相对应;在沙尘暴频繁发生的春季,两者的正相关性更显著(相关系数达0.706),其年际变化趋势几乎完全一致。甘肃河西4月份是全年沙尘暴发生日数最多的月份,使得兰州市在该月份的IP浓度也出现全年的次峰值,从而导致IP浓度的年变化成为双峰型(污染严重的12月份出现主峰值),这有别于SO₂等其它几种主要污染物均呈单峰型(12月份出现峰值)的年变化特征。春季河西大风沙尘暴发生期间,兰州市的TSP浓度会明显升高,此种天气过程结束后,TSP浓度迅速降低,这表明春季河西地区大风沙尘暴天气是影响兰州市区颗粒物污染浓度日变化的主要因素。总之,诸方面的分析结果均表明,甘肃河西沙尘暴对兰州市大气颗粒物污染所产生的重要影响是不可忽视的。     

2004年春季沙尘天气对和田市空气质量的影响

利用沙尘暴监测网数据、常规气象资料以及MICAPS系统环流形势资料,对和田市2004年春季沙尘天气产生的污染进行了详细的对比分析。研究结果表明：和田市春季污染相当严重,主要以沙尘污染为主。整个春季79％时间API（环境污染指数）指数均达到500,且45％时间可吸入颗粒物PM10在TSP巾的浓度比例达50％。不同天气系统对和田市空气的污染贡献不同。从东路影响和田市的天气系统、高压底部型地面系统和浮尘天气所造成空气污染相当严重。其余天气系统和天气现象所产生的污染较小。     

一次沙尘暴过程TSP质量浓度的连续观测和分析

采用大流量大气采集器对2001年4月6~7日特强沙尘暴期间内蒙古阿拉善左旗、包头、呼和浩特、四子王旗、集宁、化德、二连浩特、苏尼特右旗等地大气中TSP浓度进行了连续观测并结合天气资料进行了分析。结果表明,此次沙尘暴过程中,TSP浓度的绝对值大,变化幅度也大,最小值为1.896 mg·m-3,最大值为52.153 mg·m-3,平均值为13.399 mg·m-3。各地TSP浓度变化的时序反映了沙尘暴的影响范围和移动状况的变化,TSP浓度绝对值的变化反映了沙尘暴强度的变化,从开始的较小值逐渐增至最大值,最后再回落到较低水平。内蒙古西部沙尘暴主要源于蒙古国的远距离输送,局地起沙对中部沙尘暴形成具有重要贡献。本次过程TSP浓度最大值达到空气污染程度最为严重的城市冬季TSP浓度极值的10~50倍,表明沙尘天气导致的空气污染远大于一切人为排放源造成的污染。     

乌鲁木齐市不同区域PM_(10)的监测与分析

针对2007年5月~2008年3月乌鲁木齐市PM10(吸入颗粒物)冬、春季节的大气污染情况,应用乌鲁木齐市三个监测点的空气污染PM10监测资料,采用PM10国家《空气质量标准(GB3095-1996)》重量法数据处理方法,对乌鲁木齐市不同区域的空气污染PM10进行监测分析,结果表明:(1)在采暖期PM10浓度变化为天山区沙依巴克区(以下简称沙区)新市区,而在非采暖期天山区PM10浓度略高于新市区和沙区,三个采样点PM10浓度基本一致;(2)影响PM10的主要气象因素是降水,夏季降水对PM10粒子浓度清除影响较大,冬季微量降雪日,逆温、高湿对污染物聚集的加剧高于微雪的清除能力;(3)2001-2007年乌鲁木齐地区API(空气污染指数)趋于下降趋势,与PM10变化趋势一致,说明乌鲁木齐地区的环境污染有所改善。     

Journal of Resources and Ecology Total Contents of Volume 5, 2014

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BOOK REVIEWS

Books reviewed in this article: USA, Eine Geographische Landeskunde , Vol. I, Der Grossraum in Strukturellem, Wandel, 3rd Ed. Helmut Blume . Introduction to Remote Sensing . James B. Campbell . The Sounds of People and Places: Readings in the Geography of American Folk and Popular Music . George O. Carney , ED. Development and Underdevelopment . John Cole . Mobility and Employment in Urban Southeast Asia: Example from Indonesia and the Philippines . Michael A. Costello , Thomas R. Leinbach , AND Richard Ulack . Soviet Asia: Economic Development and National Policy Choices . Leslie Dienes . The Third World City . David Drakakis -Smith . Scholars' Guide to Washington, DC for Cartography and Remote Sensing Imagery (maps, charts, aerial photographs, satellite images, cartographic literature and geographic information systems). Ralph E. Ehrenberg . Population and Development in the Third World . Allan AND Anne Findlay . The Early Mapping of Hawaii . Gary L. Fitzpatrick . Energetics of Physical Environment: Energetic Approaches to Physical Geography . K. J. Gregory , ED. Wildland Recreation: Ecology and Management . William E. Hammitt and David N. Cole . Agricultural Commercialization and Government Policy in Africa . J. Hinderink AND J. J. Sterkenburg . The Dynamics of American Housing . James W. Hughes AND George Sternlieb . Thailand: Buddhist Kingdom as Modern Nation State . Charles F. Keyes . Resolving Locational Conflict . Robert W. Lake , ED. Lands at Risk in the Third World: Local-level Perspectives . Peter D. Little and Michael M. Horowitz , EDS. Nathaniel Southgate Shaler and the Culture of American Science . David N. Livingstone . Regions: The Economics and Politics of Territory . Ann R. Markusen . Wetlands . William J. Mitsch and James G. Gosselink . Historical Geography: Progress and Prospect . Michael Pacione , ED. Loess and Periglacial Phenomena . Marton P$eacsi and Hugh M. French , EDS. Regional Management of Metropolitan Floodplains, Experience in the United States and Abroad . Rutherford H. Platt , ED. Human Cartography: Mapping the World of Man . Janos Szegö . Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History . Helen H. Tanner , ED. The Botany of Mangroves . P. B. Tomlinson . Urban Spatial Traffic Patterns . Rodney Vaughan . The Night After … Climatic and Biological Consequences of a Nuclear War . Yevgeni Velikhov , ED. Industrial Geography . H. D. Watts . Dictionary of Quotations in Geography . James O. Wheeler and Francis M. Sibley . Vermont Townscape . Norman Wiliams , Jr. , Edmund K. Kellogg and Peter M. Lavigne .     

COMMENTS ON “SPATIAL VARIATION OF HILLSLOPE PROFILES IN THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU,KENTUCKY” BY EDMUND B. WOOOS

Book Reviewed in this article:

Main Street: Northeastern Oregon: The Founding and Development of Small Towns. Barbara Ruth Bailey.

Food Politics: The Regional Conflict. David N. Balaam and Michael J. Carey, eds.

The International Economy and Industrial Development: Trade and Investment in the Third World. R. Ballance, J. Ansari and H. Singer.

Neighborhoods in Urban America. Ronald H. Bayor, ed.

The English Heartland. By Robert Beckinsale and Monica Beckinsale.

Regional Dimensions of Industrial Policy. Michael E. Bell and Paul S. Lande, eds.

Tension Areas of the World. D. Gordon Bennett, ed.

Latin America: an Introductory Survey. B. W. Blouet and O. M. Blouet, eds.

Integration and Division: Geographical Perspectives on the Northern Ireland Problem. Frederick W. Boal and J. Neville H. Douglas, eds.

Energy and Land Use. Robert W. Burchell and David Listokin, eds.

Slopes and Weathering. Michael Clarke and John Small.

Alaska's Rural Development. Peter G. Cornwall and Gerald McBeath, eds.

The Politics of Park Design: A History of Urban Parks in America. Galen Cranz.

World Congress on Land Policy, 1980, Proceedings. Matthew Cullen and Sharon Woolery, eds.

Oregon Divided: A Regional Geography. Samuel N. Dicken and Emily F. Dicken.

Urban Food Marketing and Third World Rural Development. T. Scarlett Epstein.

South Africa: Spatial Frameworks for Development. T. J. D. Fair.

Institutions and Geographical Patterns. Robin Flowerdew, ed.

Industrialization of U.S. Agriculture, An Interpretive Atlas. Howard F. Gregor.

Planning Theory: Prospects for the 1980s. Patsy Healy, Glen McDougall and Michael J. Thomas, eds.

Neighborhood Mobilization: Redevelopment and Response. Jeffrey R. Henig.

The American Urban System: A Geographical Perspective. R. J. Johnston.

Climate, History and the Modern World. Hubert H. Lamb.

Climate and History: Studies in Past Climates and Their Impact on Man. T. M. L. Wigley, M. J. Ingram and G. Farmer.

China: Railways and Agricultural Development, 1875–1935. Ernest P. Liang.

A Desirable Energy Future—A National Perspective. Robert S. Livingston, T. D. Anderson, T. M. Besmann, M. Olszewski, A. M. Perry, and C. D. West.

Topothesia: Essays Presented to T. S. Ó Máille. B. S. Mac Aodha, ed.

Transportation for the Poor: Research in Rural Mobility. Hal S. Maggied.

Land Uses in American Cities. Harold M. Mayer and Charles R. Haves.

Industrial Organisation and Location. Philip McDermott and Michael Taylor.

Human Adaptability: an Introduction to Ecological Anthropology. Emilio F. Moran.

Regional Analysis and the New International Division of Labor. Frank Moulaert and Patricia W. Salinas, eds.

The Nuclear War Atlas. Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada:

Urbanization and Environmental Quality. Isao Orishimo.

The Garden of Eden: The Botanic Garden and the Re-Creation of Paradise. John Prest.

Earthfire, The Eruption of Mount St. Helens. Charles Rosenfeld and Robert Cooke.

Contest for the South China Sea. Marwyn S. Samuels.

The Future of the Wetlands: Assessing Visual-Cultural Values. Richard C. Smardon, ed.

Tucson: the Life and Times of An American City. C. L. Sonnichsen.

The Geography of Multinationals. Michael Taylor and Nigel Thrift, eds.

Impact of Marine Pollution on Society. Virginia Tippie and Dana Kester.

Reviving the Industrial City: the Politics of Urban Renewal in Lyon and Birmingham. Jerry A. Webman.

Andean Reflections: Letters from Carl O. Sauer While on a South American Trip under a Grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, 1942. Robert C. West, ed.

Cartographic Drawing with Computers. P. Yoeli.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book Reviewed in this article: Main Street: Northeastern Oregon: The Founding and Development of Small Towns . Barbara Ruth Bailey . Food Politics: The Regional Conflict . David N. Balaam and Michael J. Carey , eds. The International Economy and Industrial Development: Trade and Investment in the Third World . R. Ballance , J. Ansari and H. Singer . Neighborhoods in Urban America . Ronald H. Bayor , ed. The English Heartland . By Robert Beckinsale and Monica Beckinsale . Regional Dimensions of Industrial Policy . Michael E. Bell and Paul S. Lande , eds. Tension Areas of the World . D. Gordon Bennett , ed. Latin America: an Introductory Survey . B. W. Blouet and O. M. Blouet , eds. Integration and Division: Geographical Perspectives on the Northern Ireland Problem . Frederick W. Boal and J. Neville H. Douglas , eds. Energy and Land Use . Robert W. Burchell and David Listokin , eds. Slopes and Weathering . Michael Clarke and John Small . Alaska's Rural Development . Peter G. Cornwall and Gerald Mc Beath , eds. The Politics of Park Design: A History of Urban Parks in America . Galen Cranz . World Congress on Land Policy, 1980, Proceedings . Matthew Cullen and Sharon Woolery , eds. Oregon Divided: A Regional Geography . Samuel N. Dicken and Emily F. Dicken . Urban Food Marketing and Third World Rural Development . T. Scarlett Epstein . South Africa: Spatial Frameworks for Development . T. J. D. Fair . Institutions and Geographical Patterns . Robin Flowerdew , ed. Industrialization of U.S. Agriculture, An Interpretive Atlas . Howard F. Gregor . Planning Theory: Prospects for the 1980s . Patsy Healy , Glen Mc Dougall and Michael J. Thomas , eds. Neighborhood Mobilization: Redevelopment and Response . Jeffrey R. Henig . The American Urban System: A Geographical Perspective . R. J. Johnston . Climate, History and the Modern World . Hubert H. Lamb . Climate and History: Studies in Past Climates and Their Impact on Man . T. M. L. Wigley , M. J. Ingram and G. Farmer . China: Railways and Agricultural Development, 1875–1935 . Ernest P. Liang . A Desirable Energy Future—A National Perspective . Robert S. Livingston , T. D. Anderson , T. M. Besmann , M. Olszewski , A. M. Perry , and C. D. West . Topothesia: Essays Presented to T. S. Ó Máille . B. S. Mac Aodha , ed. Transportation for the Poor: Research in Rural Mobility . Hal S. Maggied . Land Uses in American Cities . Harold M. Mayer and Charles R. Haves . Industrial Organisation and Location . Philip Mc Dermott and Michael Taylor . Human Adaptability: an Introduction to Ecological Anthropology . Emilio F. Moran . Regional Analysis and the New International Division of Labor . Frank Moulaert and Patricia W. Salinas , eds. The Nuclear War Atlas. Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada : Urbanization and Environmental Quality . Isao Orishimo . The Garden of Eden: The Botanic Garden and the Re-Creation of Paradise . John Prest . Earthfire, The Eruption of Mount St. Helens . Charles Rosenfeld and Robert Cooke . Contest for the South China Sea . Marwyn S. Samuels . The Future of the Wetlands: Assessing Visual-Cultural Values . Richard C. Smardon , ed. Tucson: the Life and Times of An American City. C. L. Sonnichsen . The Geography of Multinationals . Michael Taylor and Nigel Thrift , eds. Impact of Marine Pollution on Society . Virginia Tippie and Dana Kester . Reviving the Industrial City: the Politics of Urban Renewal in Lyon and Birmingham . Jerry A. Webman . Andean Reflections: Letters from Carl O. Sauer While on a South American Trip under a Grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, 1942 . Robert C. West , ed. Cartographic Drawing with Computers . P. Yoeli .     

The 10th International Symposium on Permafrost Engineering——Challenge and adaption of permafrost engineering to a changing climate

Permafrost engineering has been developing rapidly in recent years. Many projects have been undertaken with the latest technologies and show their importance in supporting regional social and economical development. For example, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway has been a milestone project in permafrost engineering. However, when designing and building infrastructures in cold regions,     

Understandings of Relationships between Agriculture and Biodiversity in Kunisaki GIAHS

<正>1 Characteristics of Kunisaki GIAS and aims of this research Kunisaki GIAHS in the Kunisaki peninsula and Usa area,Oita,Japan,is a system where forestry,agricultural production,and fisheries are sustained by the strong connection between Sawtooth Oak forest,multiple interlinked irriga tion ponds,and Seto Inland Sea(Vafadari 2013a;2013b;Hayashi 2013).This area receive around 1,500 mm of annual precipitation with a     

The environmental history of a mountain lake (Lago Paione Superiore, Central Alps, Italy) for the last c. 100 years: a multidisciplinary, palaeolimnological study

A palaeoecological study of an oligotrophic alpine lake, Paione Superiore (Italy), provided a record of historical changes in water quality. Historical trends in lake acidification were reconstructed by means of calibration and regression equations from diatoms, chrysophycean scales and pigment ratios. The historical pH was inferred by using two different diatom calibration data sets, one specific to the alpine region. These pH trends, together with the record of sedimentary carbonaceous particles and chironomid remains, indicate a recent acidification of this low alkalinity lake.Concentration of total organic matter, organic carbon, nitrogen, biogenic silica (BSiO₂), chlorophyll derivatives (CD), fucoxanthin, diatom cell concentration and number of chironomid head capsules increased during the last 2–3 decades. When expressed as accumulation rates, most of these parameters tended to decrease from the past century to c. 1950, then all except P increased to the present day. A marked increase in sedimentary nitrogen may be related to atmospheric pollution and to the general increases in output of N in Europe. High C/N ratios indicate a prevailing allochthonous source of organic matter.Finally, the increase in measured air temperature from the mid-1800's appeared to be related to lake water pH before industrialization: cold periods generally led to lower pH and vice-versa. The more recent phenomenon of anthropogenic acidification has apparently decoupled this climatic-water chemistry relationship.     

A fishery in a changing lake environment: The naked carpGymnocypris przewalskii (Kessler) (Cyprinidae: schizothoracinae) in Qinghai Hu,China

Quinghai Hu is a large, high-altitude, saline lake in north-western China, and supports a fishery based on an endemic species of naked carp (snow trout). The fish take seven years to attain maturity and a marketable weight of 300 g, and have a lifespan of 14–21 years under the present fishery regime. They seasonally migrate from the lake to spawn over the gravel beds of inflowing rivers, but these areas have been reduced by weirs and irrigation diversions and recruitment may have declined. The population may have been affected also by a 1.85-m fall in the lake level over the past 30 years, and by associated changes in salinity. The fishery was opened to large-scale exploitation in 1958. Yields declined sharply (max. 28,523 tonnes, 1960) as the larger, older fish were removed, and then more slowly (min. 2523 tonnes, 1983). Since 1987 the fish factory has been limited to an annual quota of 1200 tonnes, taken by a fleet of four pair trawlers. Another 800 tonnes are taken by licensed fishermen, mainly using gill nets, and perhaps 1000 tonnes are taken illegally. The estimated total catch in 1992 was 3000 tonnes. New trawlers introduced in 1989–90 substantially increased the factory's catch per unit effort, and in 1990 the quota was virtually filled in one month in a zone within 20 km of the factory. Although this could suggest that the stocks will be conserved if the quota is retained, at least half of the catch in 1989–92 consisted of immature individuals. Trawling operations recently were suspended following a further decline in the catch after 1992. While the new trawlers are capable of a major increase in effort, neither the changing environment, the fish stocks or the present markets favour intensified pressure. Gillnets may provide better control over the minimum size limit and may cause less damage than trawling. Other options to improve the viability and profitability of the fishery include improvements in handling, processing and marketing. Failure to develop the fishery may encourage attempts to introduce exotic fish, at some risk to survival of the local species.