Preliminary results of the study on wind erosion in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau using 137Cs technique

The worldwide fallout of caesium-137 (137Cs) associated with the nuclear weapon tests during the 1950s and 1960s has provided a valuable man-made tracer for studies of soil erosion and sediment delivery. But relatively few researchers have used it to estimate wind erosion. In this note, the 137Cs technique is introduced into the studies of wind erosion and its modern processes in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Two 137Cs reference inventories of 982.11 and 2 376.04 Bq·m-2 were established preminarily, distributed in the south and middle-north parts of the studied area respectively. By analyzing the patterns of 137Cs depth profiles from sampling sites, the aeolian processes of erosion and deposition in nearly 40 years have been revealed, i.e. the shrub coppice dunes (S1) and semi-fixed dunefields (S3) experienced the alternation of erosion and deposition, while the grasslands (S4, S6 and S7) and dry farmlands (S5) suffered erosion only. By using 137Cs model, the average wind erosion rates for shrub coppice dune (S1), semi-fixed dune fields (S3), dry farmlands (S5) and grasslands (S4, S6 and S7) were estimated to be 84.14, 69.43, 30.68 and 21.84 t·ha-1·a-1 respectively, averaging 47.59 t·ha-1·a-1 for the whole plateau, which can be regarded as of the medium erosion standard. These results derived from 137Cs for the first time have significant implications for the further research of wind erosion and desertification control in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.     

Estimation of wind erosion rates by using 137Cs tracing technique: A case study in Tariat-Xilin Gol transect, Mongolian Plateau

Wind erosion is one of the major environmental problems in semi-arid and arid regions. Here we established the Tariat-Xilin Gol transect from northwest to southeast across the Mongolian Plateau, and selected seven sampling sites along the transect. We then estimated the soil wind erosion rates by using the 137Cs tracing technique and examined their spatial dynamics. Our results showed that the 137Cs inventories of sampling sites ranged from 265.63=44.91 to 1279.54=166.53 Bq. m-2, and the wind erosion rates varied from 64.58 to 419.63 t. km-2. a-~ accordingly. In the Mongolia section of the transect （from Tariat to Sainshand）, the wind erosion rate increased gradually with vegetation type and climatic regimes; the wind erosion process was controlled by physical factors such as annual precipitation and vegetation coverage, etc., and the impact of human activities was negligible. While in the China section of the transect （Inner Mongolia）, the wind erosion rates of Xilin Hot and Zhengxiangbai Banner were thrice as much as those of Bayannur of Mongolia, although these three sites were all dominated by typical steppe. Besides the physical factors, higher population density and livestock carrying level should be responsible for the higher wind erosion rates in these two regions of Inner Mongolia.     

Using 137Cs tracing technique to estimate wind erosion rates in the typical steppe region,northern Mongolian Plateau

Wind erosion is one of the major factors of land degradation in the typical steppe region, northern Mongolian Plateau. Using ^137Cs tracing technique, we estimated the wind erosion rates of different pastures and abandoned farmland at Bayannur and Karakorum in Mongolia. The pastures and cutting grassland at Bayannur were slightly eroded by wind, with the rates of 64.58-169.07 t·km^-2.a^-1. The abandoned farmland in Karakorum, however, was strongly eroded by wind, with annual surface soil loss of 4.05 mm. a^-1, and wind erosion rates up to 6723.06 t· km^-2. a^-1. The total loss of surface soil due to wind erosion has been 17.4 cm since the cultivation of the steppe land in the 1960s. The wind ero- sion rate at the abandoned farmland was much higher than that at the typical steppe sites, showing that the cultivation led to serious wind erosion in the typical steppe region, northern Mongolian Plateau. By contrast, traditional livestock grazing resulted in less disturbance to the surface soil, and did not induce to devastating wind erosion, which plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the steppe ecosystem in the northern Mongolian Plateau.     

Estimation of wind erosion rates by using ~(137)Cs tracing technique:A case study in Tariat-Xilin Gol transect, Mongolian Plateau

Wind erosion is one of the major environmental problems in semi-arid and arid regions. Here we es- tablished the Tariat-Xilin Gol transect from northwest to southeast across the Mongolian Plateau, and selected seven sampling sites along the transect. We then estimated the soil wind erosion rates by using the ~(137)Cs tracing technique and examined their spatial dynamics. Our results showed that the ~(137)Cs inventories of sampling sites ranged from 265.63±44.91 to 1279.54±166.53 Bq·m~(-2), and the wind erosion rates varied from 64.58 to 419.63 t·km~(-2)·a~(-1) accordingly. In the Mongolia section of the transect (from Tariat to Sainshand), the wind erosion rate increased gradually with vegetation type and climatic regimes; the wind erosion process was controlled by physical factors such as annual precipitation and vegetation coverage, etc., and the impact of human activities was negligible. While in the China section of the transect (Inner Mongolia), the wind erosion rates of Xilin Hot and Zhengxiangbai Banner were thrice as much as those of Bayannur of Mongolia, although these three sites were all dominated by typical steppe. Besides the physical factors, higher population density and livestock carrying level should be responsible for the higher wind erosion rates in these two regions of Inner Mongolia.     

Using ~(137)Cs tracing technique to estimate wind erosion rates in the typical steppe region, northern Mongolian Plateau

Wind erosion is one of the major factors of land degradation in the typical steppe region, northern Mongolian Plateau. Using 137Cs tracing technique, we estimated the wind erosion rates of different pastures and abandoned farmland at Bayannur and Karakorum in Mongolia. The pastures and cutting grassland at Bayannur were slightly eroded by wind, with the rates of 64.58-169.07 t·km?2·a?1. The abandoned farmland in Karakorum, however, was strongly eroded by wind, with annual surface soil loss of 4.05 mm·a?1, and wind erosion rates up to 6723.06 t·km?2·a?1. The total loss of surface soil due to wind erosion has been 17.4 cm since the cultivation of the steppe land in the 1960s. The wind ero- sion rate at the abandoned farmland was much higher than that at the typical steppe sites, showing that the cultivation led to serious wind erosion in the typical steppe region, northern Mongolian Plateau. By contrast, traditional livestock grazing resulted in less disturbance to the surface soil, and did not in- duce to devastating wind erosion, which plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the steppe ecosystem in the northern Mongolian Plateau.     

Characteristics of 137Cs deposition in steppe area

Soil wind erosion in the semiarid steppe area was studied using the ¹³⁷Cs tracing technique. Comparisons of ¹³⁷Cs deposition characteristics between different soil profiles indicated that slight aeolian activities occurred on sandy grasslands and semi-fixed dunes with erosion/deposition rates of less than 0.108 cm/a, whereas they were intense on semi-shifting dunes with erosion/deposition rates of higher than 1.35 cm/a.     

A study on responses of soil erosion and sediment yield to closing cultivation on sloping land in a small catchment using 137Cs technique in the Rolling Loess Plateau, China

By comparison of volumes and ¹³⁷Cs contents of the deposited sediments before and after 1993, changes of specific sediment yields and relative sediment contributions from the gully area and from the inter gully area after closing cultivation on the later area on a small catchment of Zhaojia Gully, in the Rolling Loess Plateau, are analyzed in this paper. Closing cultivation in a large scale has not resulted in decrease but increase of specific sediment yield of the catchment, in sharp decrease of the sediment yield and the relative sediment contribution of the inter-gully area, and in increase of the sediment yield and the contribution of the gully area, for a short term. The mean specific sediment yield of 29650 t km⁻² a⁻¹ of 1994–1996 in the catchment was 2.2 times the average value of 13413 t km⁻² a⁻¹ for a long term. The specific sediment yield of the inter-gully area decreased from the 14335 t km⁻² a⁻¹ in 1994 to 7034 t km⁻² a⁻¹ in 1995 and 3517 t km⁻² a⁻¹ in 1996, while the yield of the gully area varied between 44944 and 62136 t km⁻² a⁻¹ during the period of 1994–1996 which was much greater than the value of 21118 t km⁻² a⁻¹ before 1993. The relative sediment contribution from the inter-gully area decreased from 23% in 1994 to 15% in 1995 and 6% in 1996, while the contribution from the gully area increased from 77% in 1994 to 85% in 1995 and 94% in 1996. It is suggested that compacting of ploughed soils resulted in increasing of the erosion resistance but in decreasing of the precipitation infiltration, therefore, the soil erosion reduced but the runoff amount increased on the inter-gully area. Increase of delivering runoff from the inter-gully area to the gully area should result in activeness of gully erosion and mass movements, consequently, in increase of the total sediment yield from the catchment.     

Distribution characteristics of ^137Cs in wind-eroded soil profile and its use in estimating wind erosion modulus

~~Distribution characteristics of ~(137)Cs in wind-eroded soil profile and its use in estimating wind erosion modulus1.Tamura, T, Jacobs, D. G, Structural implications in cesium sorp-tion, Health Physics, 1960, 6(2): 391-398. 2.Rogowshi, A. S., Tamura, T, Movement of 137Cs by runoff, erosion and infiltration on the alluvial captina silt loam, Health Physics, 1965, 11(12): 1333-3340. 3.Owens, P. N., Walling, D. E., He, Q. P., The behaviour of bomb-derived caesium-137 fallout in …     

Characteristics of 137Cs deposition in steppe area

Soil wind erosion in the semiarid steppe area was studied using the 137Cs tracing technique. Comparisons of 137Cs deposition characteristics between different soil profiles indicated that slight aeolian activities occurred on sandy grasslands and semi-fixed dunes with erosion/deposition rates of less than 0.108 cm/a, whereas they were intense on semi-shifting dunes with erosion/deposition rates of higher than 1.35 cm/a.     

Soil erosion rates and characteristics of typical alpine meadow using <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs technique in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Alpine meadow is the predominant ecosystem in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The firm turf of alpine meadow formed by sub-surface anfractuous roots can be effective in conserving water and soil.Alpine meadow is a primary contributor to the Chinese Water Tower.For quantitative assess anti-erosion ability of alpine meadow,this paper selected three typical meadow slopes with>60% vegetation coverage to evaluate soil erosion rates using 137Cs.The results showed that(1)soil erosion intensity of typical alpine meadow was slight to light.Erosion rates were 464 t km–2 a–1 in Malong Village,415 t km–2 a–1 in Yeniugou Town and 875 t km–2 a–1 in Zhenqin Town respectively;(2)soil erosion rates were correlated negatively with vegetation coverage,and the relationship was clearer at the slope scale than plot scale;(3)the relationship between soil erosion and vegetation coverage showed that vegetation coverage was a predominant factor in retaining soil and water on slopes.With complete turf and high vegetation coverage, alpine meadow was of great significance for soil conservation and prevention of soil erosion.     

137Cs应用于我国土壤侵蚀研究评述

^137Cs示踪法技术目前已被广泛应用于长期的土壤侵蚀估算中，但主要局限于水蚀研究领域，在风蚀方面进行的研究则较少。土壤风蚀是导致干旱半干旱地区土地退化和区域环境恶化的最重要原因之一。探讨、研究格进一步完善^137Cs技术在土壤侵蚀方面的研究，尤其是在我国西部风蚀地区土壤侵蚀中的应用，可以提供独立的土壤侵蚀和堆积的数据以及空间分布，对初步测算区域风蚀速率、风蚀时间序列和反映环境变化，为我国西部地区土地资源合理利用、环境整治以及生态建设提供定量的科学依据具有十分重要的意义。初步论述了^137Cs技术在我国土壤侵蚀研究中的进展，探讨了其在西部风蚀地区土壤风蚀研究现状、应用前景和需要注意的问题，并提出了一些建议。     

A study on responses of soil erosion and sediment yield to closing cultivation on sloping land in a small catchment using ^137Cs technique in the Rolling Loess Plateau, China

By comparison of volumes and ^137Cs Contents of the deposited sediments before and after 1993,changes of specific sediment yields and relative sediment contributions from the gully area and from the inter gully area after closing cultivation on the later area on a small catchment of Zhaojia Gully,in the Rolling Loess Plateau,are analyzed in this paper.Closing cultivation in a large scale has not resulted in decrease but increase of specific sediment yield and the relative sediment contribution of the inter-gully area,and in increase of the sediment yield and the contribution of the gully area,for a short term.The mean specific sediment yield of 29650 t km^-2a^-1 of 1994-1996 in the catchment was 2.2 times the average value of 13413 t km^-2 a^-1 for a long term.The specific sediment yield of the inter-gully area decreased from the 14335t km^-2a^-1 in 1994 to 7034 t km^-2 a^-1 in 1995 and 3517 t km^-1a^-1 in 1996 which was much greater than the value of 21118 t km^-2 a^-1 before 1993.The relative sediment contribution from the inter-gully area decreased form 23% in 1994 to 15% in 1995 and 6% in 1996,while the contribution from the gully area increased form 77% in 1994 to 85% in 1995 and 94% in 1996.It is suggested that compacting of ploughed soils resulted in increasing of the erosion resistance but in decreasing of the precipitation infiltration,therefore,the soil erosion reduced but the runoff amount increased on the inter-gully area.Increase of delivering runoff from the inter-gully area to the gully area should result in activeness of gully erosion and mass movements,consequently,in increase of the total sediment yield from the catchment.     

137 Cs在土壤中淋溶迁移的模拟试验

~(137)Cs作为示踪元素广泛应用于土壤侵蚀及泥沙沉积研究中,其在土壤中的稳定性是决定其能否用于示踪土壤沉积与侵蚀的前提条件.但也有学者对应用~(137)Cs示踪技术的重要假设提出质疑,认为被土壤颗粒吸附的~(137)Cs易解吸成Cs+离子,随水流失或被植物吸收.本文利用双层土柱模拟淋溶装置研究了~(137)Cs和土壤粒径组成在不同雨量条件下的淋失和垂直迁移特征.结果表明,在600~3 000mm降雨量内,土壤中~(137)Cs平均质量活度为10.9Bq·kg-1,略小于试验前的11.5Bq·kg~(-1),与雨量并无显著相关性,土壤中的~(137)Cs有向下垂直迁移现象,但并不显著;土壤中~(137)Cs质量活度与土壤中的黏粒含量有很好的正相关性,决定系数R2达到0.73;有待于增加模拟雨量,作进一步研究.     

137Cs tracing of lacustrine sediments in the Dalian Lake, Qinghai Province, China

Based upon the analysis of Cs and grain-size parameters, the total amounts of ¹³⁷Cs deposition by wind and water in the Dalian Lake of Gonghe Basin, Qinghai Province are defined. The vertical profile of ¹³⁷Cs in the lacustrine sediments exhibits three ¹³⁷Cs activity maxima and one minimum. The major maximum corresponds to the global ¹³⁷Cs fallout in 1963; the two secondary maxima correspond to the leakage of the Chernobyl reactor in 1986 and complete desiccation of the lake in 1994, respectively. The minimum corresponds to aeolian deposition caused by extensive reclamation in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The 137Cs data set was used to evaluate average sedimentation rate of the Dalian Lake since 1963. The deposition was stable in 1963-1986 and 1994-1998, and it was rapid during 1986-1994. This preliminary study reveals that l37Cs has the same potential to trace environmental changes introduce by human interference in arid/semiarid regions as in humid regions.     

青藏高原全新世气候变化研究进展

青藏高原是世界上最高、最年轻的高原，它对北半球的气候变化有重大影响。全新世是与人类进化、人类文明形成最密切的时期。分析、总结了青藏高原全新世的气候环境变化的研究成果，并对这些成果进行讨论。高原的全新世大暖期来临于10kaBP，鼎盛期为7—6kaBP，大暖期时，高原植被、森林扩大，泥炭发育，湖面上升，夏季风增强。大约在5kaBP，高原气候由暖湿向冷干转变。     

冻土退化过程中植被覆盖度的变化研究

在全球气候变暖的背景下,青藏高原的多年冻土出现了不断退化的现象.退化的多年冻土隔水作用减弱或消失,并导致依赖于冻结层上水的植被变化.在模拟高原多年冻土分布的基础上,分析了冻土的退化过程植被覆盖度的变化,结果表明,冻土的变化可分为3个阶段:冻土稳定段(80年代)、冻土快速退化段(90年代)和冻土缓慢退化段(最近十几年).同时,采用GIMMS(global inventory modeling and mapping studies)第3代NDVI数据(1982—2012年)分析青藏高原植被覆盖度的斜率变化特征,结果显示:在近31a来,青藏高原的植被覆盖度斜率整体上呈微弱增加趋势;植被覆盖在冻土退化的3个时段内的变化特征为:从20世纪80年代冻土相对稳定期到90年代的冻土退化期,比退化面积增大11%;近十几年来,冻土退化逐步减缓,植被退化的增幅减弱,面积比90年代增大了3%,但退化的区域更为集中.冻土退化与植被的变化机制复杂,本文的分析与发现对理解冻土对生态的影响有一定的意义.     

1975-2008年青藏高原冬季气温变化

利用青藏高原及周边地区89个气象台站33年冬季月平均地表气温观测资料以及NECP/NCAR再分析资料,用统计学方法对该地区冬季气温变化作了分析研究,得到其整体变暖的变化趋势,该区域升温的线性趋势是0.6℃/10a。此外,由于高原台站分布不均匀,又分别从垂直方向和水平方向对高原冬季气温变化做了初步的分析。结果表明:青藏高原冬季气温整体变化趋势在增暖的同时个别区域也存在降温的趋势,600 hPa温度以及温度梯度随纬度增加而增加,而且随海拔高度的增高,增温趋势减小,到达一定海拔高度出现降温趋势,高原海拔高度较低的近地面层气温变化最明显。     

磷酸盐水泥对137Cs的固化性能

以含95％MgO的重烧镁砂、磷酸盐和硼砂为原料,制备了磷酸盐水泥,研究其对137Cs的固化性能。通过XRD衍射分析、SEM电镜扫描等手段对固化体物相组成及显微结构进行分析,参照国家标准“放射性废物固化体长期浸出试验”（GB7023—86）对固化体进行抗浸出性能试验。结果表明,当以磷酸氢二铵为原料时,137Cs的加入会降低磷酸盐水泥固化体的抗压强度,137Cs的含量越多,强度损失越小;当以磷酸二氢铵为原料时,随着137Cs的加入,强度先减小后增大,掺量为1．6％时强度甚至超过了空白体系;以磷酸二氢钾为原料时,137Cs的加入会使强度减小,减小程度和掺量关系的规律性不明显。以磷酸二氢铵、磷酸二氢钾为原料的固化体抗压强度明显优于以磷酸氢二铵为原料的固化体。以磷酸二氢铵为原料的固化体,137Cs的42d浸出率和累计浸出分数低至2．1×10-4（em·d11）和7．74×10^-3cm,强度值和浸出率均优于国家标准相关要求,表明了磷酸盐水泥对137Cs有良好的固化效果。     

Recent change of the ice core accumulation rates on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Three ice cores recovered from the Himalayas (i.e. the East Rongbuk Glacier and the Far East Rongbuk Glacier at Mt. Qomolangma (Everest), and the Dasuopu Glacier at Xixiabangma) show a sharp decline in the accumulation rates since the 1950s, which is consistent with the precipitation fluctuation over India and the low northern latitude zone (5°-35°N). Correspondingly, an increasing trend is observed for the ice core accumulations from the central and northern Qingh ai-Tibetan Plateau (i.e. the Xiao Dongkemadi Glacier in the central Tanggula Mountains, the Guliya Ice Cap in the western Kunlun Mountains, and the Dunde Ice Cap in the Qilian Mountains) since the 1950s, which is consistent with the precipi tation fluctuation over the middle-high northern latitude zone (35°-70°N). However, the variation magnitude of the high-elevation ice core accumulations is more significant than that of precipitation at the low-eleva- tion places, suggesti ng its extra sensitivity of high-elevation areas to climatic change. The inter-d ecadal abrupt change of the African-Asian summer monsoon in the1960s may attribute to the recent ice core accumulation change during the recent decades.     

论青藏高原大气折射对地面精密测量的影响

首次提出了青藏高原大气折射对地面精密测量影响的特殊性问题，论述了开展高原大气折射研究的重要意义，分析了国内外研究现状，阐明了研究的目标和主要内容。