Variations of monsoonal precipitation over the last 16,000 years in the eastern Nanling Mountains,South China

A 350-cm-long sediment core was recovered from Dahu Swamp in the eastern Nanling Mountains in south China for paleoclimatic investigation. Twelve ¹⁴C dates determined on organic-rich bulk samples establish a chronological sequence for this core and yield a bottom age of ~16,000 cal years BP. Multiproxies including dry bulk density, magnetic susceptibility, organic carbon isotope, median grain size, silt-size fraction and total organic matter content were used to study variations of precipitation in relation to the East Asian monsoon. The core sediments are characterized by shifts between the lacustrine sediments and marshy sediments, implying hydrological variations between expansion and shrinkage of the water body in the swamp, and suggesting relatively wetter and drier conditions, respectively. Two relatively wetter episodes lasting from ~15,000 to 14,000 cal years BP and from ~13,500 to 12,800 cal years BP were revealed, possibly corresponding to the Bølling and the Allerød warming events, and three relatively drier phases occurred between ~16,000 and 15,000 cal years BP, between ~14,000 and 13,500 cal years BP and between ~12,800 and 11,500 cal years BP. The three events synchronize with the Oldest Dryas, the Older Dryas and the Younger Dryas cooling events, respectively. A distinctly humid period lasted from ~10,000 to 6,000 cal years BP in the early- and mid- Holocene was interpreted as the Holocene Optimum period. Several short dry events were revealed, including the most pronounced one at ~8,100 cal years BP that coincides with the “8,200 year” cooling event. Multiproxies indicate an evidently dry climate prevailing in the mid-Holocene (from ~6,000 to 3,000 cal years BP), reflecting a weakening of the East Asian summer monsoon. The general trend of Holocene climate shows agreement with the 25°N summer solar insolation, suggesting that the orbitally induced insolation have played a key role in the Holocene climate in south China.     

Lake Area Changes and the main causes in the hinterland of Badain Jaran Desert during 1973–2010,China

Lake area information in the Badain Jaran Desert in 1973, 1990, 2000, and 2010 was obtained by visual interpretation and water index analysis of remote sensing images, based on the spatial and temporal characteristics of lake area changes during 37 years. Results indicated that the nttmber of lakes declined from 94 to 82 and the total surface area was reduced by 3.69 km2 during 1973-2010. The desert lake area reduced by different degrees in different periods, but this occurred most rapidly during 1973-1990. According to the statistics of lake area changes, lake area decreases mainly occurred in the lakes with areas less than 0.2 km2, while the areas of lakes greater than 0.9 km2 only fluctuated. The changes of lake areas were probably due to changes in the quantity of underground water supplies rather than the effects of local climate change or human factors.     

Transmutation of ancient settlements and environmental changes between 6000–2000 aBP in the Chaohu Lake Basin,East China

Based on the temporal-spatial distribution features of ancient settlement sites from the middle and late Neolithic Age to the Han dynasty in the Chaohu Lake Basin of Anhui Province, East China, using the methods of GIS combined with the reconstructed paleoenvironment by the records of lake sediment since Holocene, the transmutation of ancient settlements with response to environmental changes in this area has been discussed. Studies show that the main feature of transmutation of ancient settlements from the middle and late Neolithic Age to the Han Dynasty was that the distribution of settlements in this area changed from high altitudes to low ones and kept approaching the Chaohu Lake with the passage of time. These could be the response to the climate change from warm-moist to a relatively warm-dry condition during the middle Holocene, leading to the lake level fluctuations. The large area of exposed land provided enough space for human activities. These indicate that the above changes in geomorphologic evolution and hydrology influenced by climate conditions affected the transmutation of ancient settlements greatly. The distribution pattern of settlement sites was that the number of sites in the west was more than in the east. This pattern may be related to the geomorphologic conditions such as frequent channel shifting of the Yangtze River as well as flood disasters during the Holocene optimum. Therefore, climate change was the inducement of the transmutation of ancient settlements in the Chaohu Lake Basin, which exerted great influence on the distribution, expansion and development of the ancient settlements.     

Spatiotemporal characteristics,patterns and causes of land use changes in China since the late 1980s简

Land-use/land-cover changes （LUCCs） have links to both human and nature inter- actions. China＇s Land-Use/cover Datasets （CLUDs） were updated regularly at 5-year inter- vals from the late 1980s to 2010, with standard procedures based on Landsat TM／ETM＋ im- ages. A land-use dynamic regionalization method was proposed to analyze major land-use conversions. The spatiotemporal characteristics, differences, and causes of land-use changes at a national scale were then examined. The main findings are summarized as fol- lows. Land-use changes （LUCs） across China indicated a significant variation in spatial and temporal characteristics in the last 20 years （1990-2010）. The area of cropland change de- creased in the south and increased in the north, but the total area remained almost un- changed. The reclaimed cropland was shifted from the northeast to the northwest. The built-up lands expanded rapidly, were mainly distributed in the east, and gradually spread out to central and western China. Woodland decreased first, and then increased, but desert area was the opposite. Grassland continued decreasing. Different spatial patterns of LUC in China were found between the late 20th century and the early 21st century. The original 13 LUC zones were replaced by 15 units with changes of boundaries in some zones. The main spatial characteristics of these changes included （1） an accelerated expansion of built-up land in the Huang-Huai-Hai region, the southeastern coastal areas, the midstream area of the Yangtze River, and the Sichuan Basin; （2） shifted land reclamation in the north from northeast China and eastern Inner Mongolia to the oasis agricultural areas in northwest China; （3） continuous transformation from rain-fed farmlands in northeast China to paddy fields; and （4） effective- ness of the ＂Grain for Green＂ project in the southern agricultural-pastoral ecotones of Inner Mongolia, the Loess Plateau, and southwestern mountainous areas. In the last two decades, although climate change in the north affected the change in cropland, policy regulation and economic driving forces were still the primary causes of LUC across China. During the first decade of the 21st century, the anthropogenic factors that drove variations in land-use pat- terns have shifted the emphasis from one-way land development to both development and conservation. The ＂dynamic regionalization method＂ was used to analyze changes in the spatial patterns of zoning boundaries, the internal characteristics of zones, and the growth and decrease of units. The results revealed ＂the pattern of the change process,＂ namely the process of LUC and regional differences in characteristics at different stages. The growth and decrease of zones during this dynamic LUC zoning, variations in unit boundaries, and the characteristics of change intensities between the former and latter decades were examined. The patterns of alternative transformation between the ＂pattern＂ and ＂process＂ of land use and the causes for changes in different types and different regions of land use were explored.     

Spatiotemporal variations of maximum seasonal freeze depth in 1950s–2007 over the Heihe River Basin, Northwest China

Investigation on spatiotemporal variations of maximum seasonal freeze depth （MSFD） over the Heihe River Basin is of great importance for systematic understanding of regional climate and environmental change, ecological-hydrological processes, water resources assessment, construction and resource development. Based on soil and air temperatures at the meteorological stations of the China Meteorological Administration （CMA） over the Heihe River Basin, MSFDs time series are structured into a composite time series over the 1960-2007 period. Evaluating the averaged MSFD time series for 1960 2007 reveals a statistically significant trend of 4.0 cm/decade or a net change of-19.2 cm for the 48-year period over the basin. The MSFD had significantly negative correlation with mean annual air temperature （MAAT）, winter air temperature, mean annual ground surface temperature （MAGST）, degree days of thawing for the air （DDTa） as well as for the surface （DDTs）, and degree days of freezing for the surface （DDFs）. While there was significantly positive correlation between DDF,. and MSFD time series, MSFD was deeper and changed greatly in the Heihe River source area. It was shallower in the east-central basin and gradually deepened in other sections of the basin. The MSFD distribution pattern in 2003-2005 is consistent with that of averaged degree days of freezing for air （DDFa） in 1960-2007. However, the maximum of MSFD may not be accurate, because there is no long term observation data in the deep seasonally frozen ground regions near the lower boundary of permafrost. With increasing elevation, averaged DDFa increased at a rate of 51.6 ℃-day/100m, therefore, the MSFG and the date reaching MSFG became deeper and later, respectively.     

Lake Area Changes and the main causes in the hinterland of Badain Jaran Desert during 1973–2010, China

Lake area information in the Badain Jaran Desert in 1973, 1990, 2000, and 2010 was obtained by visual interpretation and water index analysis of remote sensing images, based on the spatial and temporal characteristics of lake area changes during 37 years. Results indicated that the number of lakes declined from 94 to 82 and the total surface area was reduced by 3.69 km² during 1973–2010. The desert lake area reduced by different degrees in different periods, but this occurred most rapidly during 1973–1990. According to the statistics of lake area changes, lake area decreases mainly occurred in the lakes with areas less than 0.2 km², while the areas of lakes greater than 0.9 km² only fluctuated. The changes of lake areas were probably due to changes in the quantity of underground water supplies rather than the effects of local climate change or human factors.     

Spatio-temporal analysis of land-use conversion in the eastern coastal China during 1996–2005

Based on the acquaintance of the regional background of urban-rural transformational development and investigations on the spot,this paper discusses the holistic situation, dominant factors and mechanism of arable land loss and land for construction occupation in the coastal area of China over the last decade,with the aid of GIS technology.Conclusions of the research are summarized as follows：（1）the arable land had been continuously decreasing from 1996 to 2005,with a loss of 1,708,700 hm^2 and an average decrement of 170,900 hm^2 per year;（2）land for construction increased 1,373,700 hm^2 ,with an average increment of 153,200 hm^2 per year;（3）total area of encroachment on arable land for construction between 1996 and 2005 was 1,053,100 hm^2 ,accounting for 34.03%of the arable land loss in the same period,the percentages of which used for industrial land（INL）,transportation land（TRL）,rural construction land（RUL）and town construction land（TOL）are 45.03%,15.8%,15.47%and 11.5%,respectively;and（4）the fluctuation of the increase of construction land and encroachment on arable land in the area were deeply influenced by the nation＇s macroscopic land-use policies and development level of regional economy.The growth of population and advancement of technology promoted the rapid industrialization, construction of transportation infrastructures,rural urbanization and expansion of rural settlements in the eastern coastal area,and therefore were the primary driving forces of land-use conversion.     

Natural capital accounting in Xi’an City of western China during 1995–2011

As one of the most important metropolitan areas in China, Xi＇an City plays a leading role in the development of the western regions. To impede the decision and policy prefer- ences for environmental and ecological factors, this paper took account of the natural capital depletion of Xi＇an City during 1995-2011, considered in terms of constant 1990 price levels. The results are as follows. （1） Natural capital depletion in Xi＇an City consistently increased from1995 to 2011, increasing from 14.31x108 yuan to 42.28x108 yuan, with an average an- nual growth rate of 12.22%. The primary component of natural capital depletion in Xi＇an City was the cost associated with fossil fuel resource depletion, while the cost associated with ecological services contributed the least to the total cost. （2） During 1995-2011, the proportion of natural capital depletion to Xi＇an City in Yanta and Lianhu districts dropped, whereas in counties such as Gaoling County, Chang＇an District and Lintong District, it increased. In 2011, the proportion of natural capital depletion varied between the different counties： Yanta District （15.75%）, Weiyang District and Lianhu District （10%-15%）, Huxian County, Xincheng District, Beiling District, Chang＇an District, Baqiao District, and Gaoling County （5%-10%）, and in Lintong District, Lantian County, Zhouzhi County and Yanliang District, it was 〈5%. （3） The spatial pattern of natural capital depletion varied with different perspectives, for example, from a total value perspective, a nuclear pattern around the administrative center of Xi＇an City was evident, whereas from a density per capita of natural capital depletion perspective, a bi-nuclear spatial distribution visible in 1995 had become a poly-nuclear distribution by 2011. Conversely, from a density per hectare perspective, a ＂core-edge＂ pattern characterized by three circles was observed. （4） The natural capital depletion relative to GDP curve was in accordance with the environmental Kuznets curve, while the proportion of natural capital de- pletion to GDP was the highest in circle III and the lowest in circle I.     

The effect of environmental factors on spatial variability in land use change in the high-sediment region of China’s Loess Plateau

In areas with topographic heterogeneity, land use change is spatially variable and influenced by climate, soil properties, and topography. To better understand this variability in the high-sediment region of the Loess Plateau in which soil loss is most severe and sediment diameter is larger than in other regions of the plateau, this study builds some indicators to identify the characteristics of land use change and then analyze the spatial variability as it is affected by climate, soil property, and topography. We build two indicators, a land use change intensity index and a vegetation change index, to characterize the intensity of land use change, and the degree of vegetation restoration, respectively. Based on a subsection mean method, the two indicators are then used to assess the spatial variability of land use change affected by climatic, edaphic, and topographic elements. The results indicate that： 1） Land use changed significantly in the period 1998-2010. The total area experiencing land use change was 42,302 km2, accounting for 22.57%of the study area. High-coverage grassland, other woodland, and forest increased significantly, while low-coverage grassland and farmland decreased in 2010 compared with 1998.2） Land use change occurred primarily west of the Yellow River, between 35 and 38 degrees north latitude. The four transformation types, including （a） low-coverage grassland to medium-coverage grassland, （b） medium-coverage grassland to high-coverage grassland, （c） farmland to other woodland, and （d） farmland to medium-coverage grassland, were the primary types of land use change, together constituting 60% of the area experiencing land use change. 3） The spatial variability of land use change was significantly affected by properties of dryness/wetness, soil conditions and slope gradient. In general, land use changed dramatically in semi-arid regions, remained relatively stable in arid regions, changed significantly in clay-rich soil, remained relatively stable in clay-poor soil, changed dramatically in steeper slopes, and remained relatively stable in tablelands and low-lying regions. The increase in vegetation coincided with increasing changes in land use for each physical element. These findings allow for an evaluation of the effect of the Grain to Green Program, and are applicable to the design of soil and water conservation projects on the Loess Plateau of China.     

Variations in the starting date of the pre-summer rainy season in South China, 1736-2010

The starting dates of the pre-summer rainy season during historical times (1736-1911) in Fuzhou and Guangzhou of South China, were determined and reconstructed on the basis of historical documents in the Yu-Xue-Fen-Cun archive, together with observed features of precipitation during the pre-summer rainy season. In addition, starting dates of the pre-summer rainy season from 1953 in Fuzhou and from 1952 in Guangzhou were reconstructed for the instrumental period. These data allowed for analyses of inter-annual and inter-decadal changes in the starting dates of the pre-summer rainy season in South China over the past 300 years. Results show that the mean starting date of the pre-summer rainy season in South China was the first pentad of May; in addition, periodicities in the starting dates of 2-3 years, 10 years, and 40 years were detected during the period 1736-1911, and of 2-3 years, 10 years, and 22 years during the instrumental period. From 1736 to 1911, the earliest starting dates at Fuzhou and Guangzhou both occurred at the fourth pentad of April, while the latest starting dates were at the sixth pentad of May in Fuzhou and the first pentad of June in Guangzhou. During the instrumental period, the earliest and latest starting dates were at the fourth pentad of April and the first pentad of June, respectively, in both Fuzhou during 1953-2010 and Guangzhou during 1952-2010. The maximum difference between neighboring decades during 1736-1911 was 2.2 and 1.6 pentads in Fuzhou and Guangzhou, respectively, and during the instrumental period it was 2.5 and 2.4 pentads in Fuzhou and Guangzhou, respectively.     

1736-2010年华南前汛期始日变化

根据清代华南雨雪分寸记载的内容、特点,参照华南地区前汛期降水特征,提出了利用雨雪分寸记载重建华南前汛期开始时间的方法,重建了1736-1911 年福州与广州前汛期开始日期变化序列;并利用福州与广州（分别始于1953 和1952 年）逐日降水观测记录辨识了器测时期两地前汛期的逐年开始时间;据此分析了过去300 年华南前汛期开始日期的年-年代际变化特征。结果表明：1736-2010 年间,福州、广州两地前汛期开始时间平均为5 月第1 候;但存在显著的年际和年代际波动,其中重建时段（1736-1911 年）的主周期为2~3 年、准10 年和准40年,器测时段的主周期为2~3 年、准10 年和准22 年。在年际尺度,重建时段福州和广州前汛期开始时间最早的年份均为4 月第4 候,最晚的年份则分别为5 月第6 候和6 月第1 候;而器测时段两地前汛期开始时间的最早年、最晚年均为4 月第4 候和6 月第1 候。在年代际尺度,重建时段福州和广州相邻年代最大变幅分别为2.2 候和1.6 候;器测时段福州和广州相邻年代最大变幅则分别为2.5 候和2.4 候。     

1736–2010年华南前汛期始日变化(英文)

The starting dates of the pre-summer rainy season during historical times(1736– 1911) in Fuzhou and Guangzhou of South China, were determined and reconstructed on the basis of historical documents in the Yu-Xue-Fen-Cun archive, together with observed features of precipitation during the pre-summer rainy season. In addition, starting dates of the pre-summer rainy season from 1953 in Fuzhou and from 1952 in Guangzhou were reconstructed for the instrumental period. These data allowed for analyses of inter-annual and inter-decadal changes in the starting dates of the pre-summer rainy season in South China over the past 300 years. Results show that the mean starting date of the pre-summer rainy season in South China was the first pentad of May; in addition, periodicities in the starting dates of 2–3 years, 10 years, and 40 years were detected during the period 1736–1911, and of 2–3 years, 10 years, and 22 years during the instrumental period. From 1736 to 1911, the earliest starting dates at Fuzhou and Guangzhou both occurred at the fourth pentad of April, while the latest starting dates were at the sixth pentad of May in Fuzhou and the first pentad of June in Guangzhou. During the instrumental period, the earliest and latest starting dates were at the fourth pentad of April and the first pentad of June, respectively, in both Fuzhou during 1953–2010 and Guangzhou during 1952–2010. The maximum difference between neighboring decades during 1736–1911 was 2.2 and 1.6 pentads in Fuzhou and Guangzhou, respectively, and during the instrumental period it was 2.5 and 2.4 pentads in Fuzhou and Guangzhou, respectively.     

Reconstruction of the starting time series of rainy season in Yunnan and the evolvement of summer monsoon during 1711–1982

According to the textual research into the historical documents dominated by ar-chives yearly, as well as the verification with several other kinds of data, the later or earlier starting time of the rainy seasons in Yunnan during 1711–1982 has been reconstructed. The analysis indicates that there are obvious fluctuations in the starting date of the rainy seasons in Yunnan in a year or years, and long fluctuation on the decadal scale. The rainy season comes earlier in the early 18th century, later in the 19th century and earlier again in the 20th century. This reflects to a certain degree the gradual change of the summer monsoon in Yunnan. There exists an obvious quasi-3 years cycle, which is related to El-Nino’s quasi-3 years cycle, and a 11.3-year cycle which is notably related to the 11-year cycle of the solar activity of starting date of the rainy seasons in Yunnan. Meanwhile, the dissertation finds that the El-Nino is very important to the starting date of the rainy seasons in Yunnan. The starting date of the rainy seasons in Yunnan often comes later or normally in the year of El-Nino. However, there is an obvious imperfect period in such influence, which in turn may mean that there is a certain fluctuation in the effect of ENSO on Asian summer monsoon.     

华南前汛期起讫日期的年际变化及与前汛期降水的关系

根据国家气候中心最新颁布的华南前汛期业务监测标准,采用小波分析、合成分析、相关分析等统计方法研究了1961~2014年华南前汛期入汛日期、出汛日期、持续时间及前汛期累计降水量异常的变异特征。结果表明：华南前汛期入汛日期的年际变化特征主要表现为7~8 a及准2 a周期,年代际变化特征主要表现为20世纪60至70年代入汛偏晚,80年代入汛偏早;华南前汛期出汛日期的年际变化特征主要表现为6~7 a周期,年代际变化特征表现为20世纪60年代中期前出汛偏早,70年代中期以来出汛偏早。华南前汛期入汛早晚对其持续时间及累计降水量有很好的指示意义,表现为入汛越早,华南前汛期持续时间偏长的可能性越大,对应前汛期累计降水量偏多。     

1796-2015年成都雨季降水量序列重建与特征分析

利用清代雨雪分寸记录和现代器测资料,重建了成都1796—2015年分辨率为年的雨季降水量序列。结果表明,过去220 a间成都的平均雨季降水量为838 mm,19世纪20~40年代、80年代到20世纪10年代、20世纪30~40年代降水偏多,19世纪初到20年代、50~70年代、20世纪20年代、50年代到21世纪初降水偏少,并在1879—1880年发生了由少到多的明显突变;降水最多的10 a为1832年、1896年、1898年、1899年、1903年、1907年、1915年、1921年、1937年和1947年,最少的10 a为1814年、1838年、1865年、1868年、1869年、1872年、1930年、1939年、1970年和2002年。成都雨季降水量存在显著的50~75 a周期,和太平洋年代际振荡（Pacific Decadal Oscillation, PDO)指数在50~70 a信号上存在较强的负相关,且与上一年冬季至当年秋季北印度洋的全球海表温度（SST）及当年夏秋季赤道太平洋的SST也存在较强的负相关,SST偏暖（冷）时,雨季降水量往往偏少（多）。     

东南沿海前汛期降水极值变化特征及归因分析

选取东南沿海五省(市)(上海,浙江,福建,广东和海南)79个站点1960-2012年前汛期(4-6月)的降水极值序列,将广义可加模型(GAMLSS)引入非平稳降水频率分析中,分析了降水极值的变化特征;运用主成分分析法分别构建综合气候指数和以温室气体排放量为代表的人类活动指数,同时考虑两类指数对降水极值序列变化特征的影响,运用贡献分析法和GAMLSS模型分析了气候因子和人类活动因子对降水极值变化的影响机制.结果表明:① 东南沿海降水极值增加趋势显著,变异性明显增强的区域主要集中在浙江东北部,广东中北部和西部沿海,福建东部等地区;② 人类活动的加剧与降水极值的变化显著相关,尤其在社会经济发达地区,在社会经济快速发展阶段(1986-2012年)人类活动对极端降水的贡献要明显大于发展缓慢阶段(1960-1985年),浙江和广东两省尤为突出;③ 浙江省东北部,福建省大部,广东西部沿海以及中北部地区是极端降水的高风险区,需加强对极端降水及其次生灾害的风险防范.     

海河流域雨季气候特征及监测分析

论文采用日降水量和NCEP/NCAR(美国国家环境预报中心/美国国家大气研究中心)再分析环流资料,针对华北(海河流域)雨季监测困难问题,通过对比分析和合理性分析,建立了基于连续气象变量的海河流域雨季监测比湿副高法(简称QSH),并分析了海河流域雨季变化,以期改进该区域雨季监测技术.主要结论为:①采用比湿副高法QSH监测...     

2012年4月华南地区降水异常事件及成因诊断分析

基于实时、历史观测资料和NCEP/NCAR 再分析资料,采用气候统计和气候事件机理诊断分析方法,对2012 年4 月华南地区降水异常事件及其成因机制开展总结分析。结果表明:2012 年4 月华南大部地区降水异常偏多,强降水频发。华南地区降水异常事件的主要成因为:异常的高低纬环流形势配合,为华南地区降水异常偏多提供有利的环流背景,利于北方冷空气南下与西南暖湿气流在华南地区交汇;同期华南地区为异常偏强的上升气流控制,高低空辐散、辐合环流配置利于华南地区降水异常偏多;源自孟加拉湾、南海和西太平洋的异常水汽输送为华南地区提供良好的水汽条件,是华南地区降水异常事件的重要影响因子。     

西北地区东部汛期降水季节内分布特征分析

基于西北地区东部1961-2015年54个台站汛期（5~9月）逐日降水资料,通过表征时间分配特征的参数-降水集中度和集中期,对西北地区东部5~9月逐旬降水的季节内非均匀性分布特征进行分析,结果表明：西北地区东部5~9月降水集中度和集中期的平均空间分布存在明显差异,从集中度来看,其东北部降水较集中,西南部较分散,而集中期主要在7月中旬到8月上旬,相比较甘肃陇东地区集中期较晚;从降水集中度与集中期的异常特征来看,第一模态均表现为全区一致性,第二模态均表现西北和东南反向变化特征,而集中度第三模态表现为东北和西南反向变化特征,集中期第三模态表现为东西反向变化特征;从降水集中度与集中期的变化趋势来看,近50 a来降水集中度越来越小,而降水集中期越来越早;另外从汛期降水量同同期降水集中度与集中期的关系来看,其与两者均存在正相关,其中集中度与降水的显著相关区在内蒙古西部以及陕西和宁夏北部,而集中期与降水的显著相关区在陕西和甘肃南部。另外利用前期大气环流指数对降水集中度和集中期建立的预报模型具有一定的预测能力,从而为西北东部汛期降水的季节内非均匀性分布特征的短期气候预测提供参考依据。