Ecological effect of the plantation of Sabina vulgaris in the Mu Us Sandy Land,China

Vegetation restoration through artificial plantation is an effective method to combat desertification,especially in arid and semi-arid areas.This study aimed to explore the ecological effect of the plantation of Sabina vulgaris on soil physical and chemical properties on the southeastern fringe of the Mu Us Sandy Land,China.We collected soil samples from five depth layers(0-20,20-40,40-60,60-80,and 80-100 cm)in the S.vulgaris plantation plots across four plantation ages(4,7,10,and 16 years)in November 2019,and assessed soil physical(soil bulk density,soil porosity,and soil particle size)and chemical(soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),available nitrogen(AN),available phosphorus(AP),available potassium(AK),cation-exchange capacity(CEC),salinity,p H,and C/N ratio)properties.The results indicated that the soil predominantly consisted of sand particles(94.27%-99.67%),with the remainder being silt and clay.As plantation age increased,silt and very fine sand contents progressively rose.After 16 years of planting,there was a marked reduction in the mean soil particle size.The initial soil fertility was low and declined from 4 to 10 years of planting before witnessing an improvement.Significant positive correlations were observed for the clay,silt,and very fine sand(mean diameter of 0.000-0.100 mm)with SOC,AK,and p H.In contrast,fine sand and medium sand(mean diameter of 0.100-0.500 mm)showed significant negative correlations with these indicators.Our findings ascertain that the plantation of S.vulgaris requires 10 years to effectively act as a windbreak and contribute to sand fixation,and needs 16 years to improve soil physical and chemical properties.Importantly,these improvements were found to be highly beneficial for vegetation restoration in arid and semi-arid areas.This research can offer valuable insights for the protection and restoration of the vegetation ecosystem in the sandy lands in China.

高寒矿区人工建植草地和自然草皮移植生态修复效应

高寒高海拔矿山经过多年开采后生态系统破坏严重,生态修复困难重重,本文以地处青藏高原东南缘海拔高于4300 m的西藏某铜矿为例,探讨高海拔矿产开发工程人工建植和自然草皮移植生态修复效应。结果表明:1)高寒草甸矿区排土场采取生态修复后,人工建植草地草本层平均高度增加,植物盖度下降,植物丰富度指数、多样性指数和均匀度指数均降低,与天然植被相比,人工建植植被群落出现自我更新现象,移植自然草皮植被群落出现退化现象。2)高寒矿区天然草地土壤有机质、全氮、有效磷和速效钾含量较高,矿区生态修复后土壤中各养分含量指标下降。与天然草地相比,人工建植草地土壤有机质、全氮、有效磷和速效钾含量分别下降39.67%、31.56%、67.83%和14.40%,自然草皮移植草地土壤中各指标分别下降72.30%、72.29%、61.62%和6.77%。3)天然草地土壤为中性,矿区土壤重建生态修复后土壤呈碱性,人工建植草地和自然草皮移植草地土壤pH分别增加15.71%和11.43%。4)与天然草地相比,自然草皮移植草地土壤重金属汞(Hg)、砷(As)、铅(Pb)、锌(Zn)和镍(Ni)含量均显著增加,而人工建植草地各重金属元素含量没有显著变化,表明草皮移植生态修复措施,加大了土壤重金属元素污染的风险。

柴达木盆地巨型沙波纹条带表层沉积物粒度和地球化学元素组成特征

巨型沙波纹条带(Megaripple stripes,MRS)是一种巨型沙波纹在来流方向上呈条带状分布的纵向风成地貌,包括巨型沙波纹尺寸较大的巨型沙波纹走廊(Megaripple corridor,MRC)和尺寸相对较小的微床面形态走廊(Smaller bedform corridor,SBC)。采集柴达木盆地MRS表层沉积物样品共112个,对其物理性质(粒度特征)和化学性质(常量元素和微量元素)进行分析。结果表明:(1)柴达木盆地MRS表层沉积物中MRC的优势粒级为砾石(44.24%~50.19%)和极细沙(15.91%~20.42%),粒度分布呈双峰型;SBC的优势粒级为极粗沙(26.00%~35.90%)和细沙(14.80%~20.47%),粒度分布呈三峰型。(2)MRS分选很差,偏度以正偏为主,峰态为宽到很宽。(3)MRC和SBC各元素含量差异不大。常量元素以SiO2和Al2O3为主,含量分别在63%和10%左右;微量元素以Cr、Co、Mo和Ba为主。除Cr和Mo外其余元素均为迁移淋失的状态。(4)柴达木盆地MRS为寒冷干燥环境下的低等化学风化,处于大陆风化初期,化学风化侵蚀相对稳定。

Grain-size characteristics of linear dunes on the northern margin of Qarhan Salt Lake, northwestern China

In order to clarify the formation mechanism of linear dunes on the northern margin of Qarhan Salt Lake, northwestern China, we analyzed the grain-size and sorting parameters of the dune and interdune sands. The surface sands （0-30 ram） from the dune base to the crest of both flanks and interdune corridors were sampled along transects from upwind to downwind through the dune field. The results indicated that the grain-size distribution differed at different positions between and within the dunes. The frequency curve for dune sands mainly showed a bimodal distribution, while the interdune sediments showed a trimodal distribution. The grain size distribution of the linear dunes showed a finer crest pattern, i.e. the crests were composed of sands that were generally finer, better sorted than those of base sands. In addition, at the dune field scale, the dune crest sands were tending to become much finer but sorting became worse along the downwind transects. However, the grain-size parameters of sediments in the interdune corridors showed no clear pattern. The results demonstrated that the grain size and sorting parameters exhibited a systematic change not only at the individual scale but also at the dune field scale. Our results quantitatively estimate the limited role of cohesive sediments on the formation of linear dune under unidirectional wind regime. More attention should be paid to a long-term wind regime observation, internal sedimentary structures and their formation ages.

人工固沙措施对沙丘沉积物特征及土壤养分的影响

为探明人工铺设尼龙网状固沙措施对风沙危害的影响,以腾格里沙漠东南部人工固定沙丘、两类自然流动沙丘以及防护林的地表沉积物和结皮为研究对象,研究沙丘不同位置、不同深度沉积物的颗粒组成、土壤有机质、有效氮、有效磷、有效钾含量等养分特征。结果表明:(1)人工固定沙丘和自然流动沙丘粒度组成和土壤养分含量都存在显著差异(P<0.5),沙障的防风,固沙和土壤改良作用明显。(2)人工固定沙丘各个地貌位置沉积物粒度频率曲线均出现三峰,反映了沙障对粉尘沉积物的拦截作用,体现了沙障对土壤理化性质的改良过程;分选性随风向逐渐变差,随着粒径变细而好;偏度和峰度明显高于其他。(3)整个研究区沉积物偏碱性,影响着土壤养分含量。人工固定沙丘养分含量最高,有效氮和有机质含量均为最大,有效磷和有效钾含量略低于对比林,其粉沙物质含量与养分含量成正比。(4)人工固定沙丘的沙丘迎、背风坡均有植被分布,并覆有土壤物理结皮,沉积物粒级分配较自然发育的流动沙丘分散,养分含量增加。由此可见,沙障对沙区的土壤环境和生态环境改善具有重要的影响。

Optically stimulated luminescence dating of sandy deposits from Gulang county at the southern margin of the Tengger Desert, China

Aeolian deposits from the deserts in northern China have been used for palaeoenvironmental research to understand aeolian sedimentology and its dynamic connection to past climate conditions. The Tengger Desert in China is sensitive to the waxing and waning of the monsoonal system. In response to past climate change, the southern margin of the Tengger Desert has evolved significantly since the last glacial period. However, previous attempts to date aeolian deposits in this region were mainly based on radiocarbon dating, which has problems when applied to aeolian deposits. Moreover, sedimentary records are limited. Accordingly, past aeolian activity in this desert remains poorly understood. In the present study, we dated sand samples from Gulang county at the southern margin of the Tengger Desert using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) to understand the history of aeolian activity in this region. Our samples represented well-sorted aeolian sands and sandy loess. Aeolian sands are evidence of dune field buildup and sparse vegetation cover whereas sandy loess is evidence of improved stabilization of sand dunes resulting from ameliorated vegetation cover. Certain samples showed a decline in the equivalent dose (D e ) values when successive integration intervals were applied, which resulted from unstable OSL signals from non-fast components in the initial part of the decay curve. In order to obtain reliable D e estimates, we investigated component-resolved and different background subtraction approaches, and compared the resultant D e estimates. We adopted the early background subtraction method to derive D e values. Luminescence chronologies and sedimentary records indicated that sand dunes accumulation occurred before 10 ka, and sandy loess developed between 9.5 and 7.6 ka when sand dunes were stabilized as a result of increased effective moisture levels. The transition between sand dune mobilization and stabilization emphasizes the significance of an effective moisture threshold in controlling aeolian activity. Mobilization of sand dunes at ~2.3 ka might be related to an increased aridity during the Late Holocene.

沙地柏人工林和天然林风沙土特性研究

为了深入了解固沙植被恢复对土壤理化性质的影响,以毛乌素沙地东南缘沙地柏人工林和天然林为研究对象,通过收集灌丛下5个土层(0-100 cm)的土壤样品,分析其土壤颗粒组成及8个理化指标,探讨了沙地柏生长对风沙土特性的影响。结果表明:研究区土壤粒度组成以砂粒(体积分数97.09%)为主,其次是粉粒和黏粒,并形成以中砂(50.26%)为主的单峰,土壤弱碱性,其养分含量整体水平低,且具有明显表层聚集现象。土壤养分含量与土壤粒度之间存在良好的相关性,表现为土壤有机质、速效钾和盐分含量与细沙物质(粒径<100μm)含量呈线性正相关,与粗砂物质(100~500μm)呈线性负相关。沙地柏生长对风沙土改良效果呈现出人工林16 a树龄优于7 a树龄,天然林地迎风坡优于背风坡。整体上,造林时间增加土壤颗粒的粗细分配趋于良好态势发展,土壤结构优化,土地荒漠化进程减缓。因此,沙地柏可作为毛乌素沙地生态恢复工程的优良灌木。

Near-surface wind environment in the Yarlung Zangbo River basin,southern Tibetan Plateau

Aeolian processes have been studied extensively at low elevations,but have been relatively little studied at high elevations.Aeolian sediments are widely distributed in the Yarlung Zangbo River basin,southern Tibetan Plateau,which is characterized by low pressure and low temperature.Here,we comprehensively analyzed the wind regime using data since 1980 from 11 meteorological stations in the study area,and examined the interaction between the near-surface wind and aeolian environment.The wind environment exhibited significant spatial and temporal variation,and mean wind speed has generally decreased on both annual and seasonal bases since 1980,at an average of 0.181 m/(s•10a).This decrease resulted from the reduced contribution of maximum wind speed,and depended strongly on variations of the frequency of sand-driving winds.The drift potential and related parameters also showed obvious spatial and temporal variation,with similar driving forces for the wind environment.The strength of the wind regime affected the formation and development of the aeolian geomorphological pattern,but with variation caused by local topography and sediment sources.The drift potential and resultant drift direction were two key parameters,as they quantify the dynamic conditions and depositional orientation of the aeolian sediments.Wind affected the spatial variation in sediment grain size,but the source material and complex topographic effects on the near-surface wind were the underlying causes for the grain size distribution of aeolian sands.These results will support efforts to control aeolian desertification in the basin and improve our understanding of aeolian processes in high-elevation environments.

Wind regime for long-ridge yardangs in the Qaidam Basin, Northwest China

Yardangs are typical aeolian erosion landforms,which are attracting more and more attention of geomorphologists and geologists for their various morphology and enigmatic formation mechanisms.In order to clarify the aeolian environments that influence the development of long-ridge yardangs in the northwestern Qaidam Basin of China,the present research investigated the winds by installing wind observation tower in the field.We found that the sand-driving winds mainly blow from the north-northwest,northwest and north,and occur the most frequent in summer,because the high temperature increases atmospheric instability and leads to downward momentum transfer and active local convection during these months.The annual drift potential and the ratio of resultant drift potential indicate that the study area pertains to a high-energy wind environment and a narrow unimodal wind regime.The wind energy decreases from northwest to southeast in the Qaidam Basin,with the northerly winds in the northwestern basin changing to more westerly in the southeastern basin.The strong and unidirectional wind regime for the long-ridge yardangs in the northwestern Qaidam Basin results from the combined effects of topographic obstacles such as the Altun Mountains and of the interaction between the air stream and the yardang bodies.Present study suggests that yardang evolution needs such strong and unidirectional winds in high-or intermediate-energy wind environments.This differs from sandy deserts or sandy lands,which usually develop at low-or intermediate-energy wind environments.Present study clarifies the wind regime corresponding to the long-ridge yardangs'development,and lays firm foundation to put forward the formation mechanisms for yardangs in the Qaidam Basin.

Different Responses of Vegetation to Frozen Ground Degradation in the Source Region of the Yellow River from 1980 to 2018

Frozen ground degradation under a warming climate profoundly influences the growth of alpine vegetation in the source region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.This study investigated spatiotemporal variations in the frozen ground distribution,the active layer thickness(ALT)of permafrost(PF)soil and the soil freeze depth(SFD)in seasonally frozen soil from 1980 to 2018 using the temperature at the top of permafrost(TTOP)model and Stefan equation.We compared the effects of these variations on vegetation growth among different frozen ground types and vegetation types in the source region of the Yellow River(SRYR).The results showed that approximately half of the PF area(20.37%of the SRYR)was projected to degrade into seasonally frozen ground(SFG)during the past four decades;furthermore,the areal average ALT increased by 3.47 cm/yr,and the areal average SFD decreased by 0.93 cm/yr from 1980 to 2018.Accordingly,the growing season Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)presented an increasing trend of 0.002/10 yr,and the increase rate and proportion of areas with NDVI increase were largest in the transition zone where PF degraded to SFG(the PF to SFG zone).A correlation analysis indicated that variations in ALT and SFD in the SRYR were significantly correlated with increases of NDVI in the growing season.However,a rapid decrease in SFD(<-1.4 cm/10 yr)could have reduced the soil moisture and,thus,decreased the NDVI.The NDVI for most vegetation types exhibited a significant positive correlation with ALT and a negative correlation with SFD.However,the steppe NDVI exhibited a significant negative correlation with the SFD in the PF to SFG zone but a positive correlation in the SFG zone,which was mainly limited by water condition because of different change rates of the SFD.

Influence of salinity and moisture on the threshold shear velocity of saline sand in the Qarhan Desert, Qaidam Basin of China: A wind tunnel experiment

Determination of the threshold shear velocity is essential for predicting sand transport,dust release and desertification.In this study,a wind tunnel experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of salinity and moisture on the threshold shear velocity of saline sand.Saline sand samples(mean particle size of 164.50–186.08μm and the total silt,clay and salt content of 0.80%–8.25%)were collected from three saline sand dunes(one barchan dune and two linear dunes)in the Qarhan Desert,Qaidam Basin of China.Original saline sand samples were placed in two experimental trays for wet and dry processing to simulate deliquescence and desiccation,respectively.Surface moisture content ranging from 0.30% to 1.90% was generated by the steam method so that the saline sand can absorb water in a saturated water vapor environment.The motion of sand particles was determined by the observers with a solid laser.The laser sheet(0.80 cm thick),which was emitted by the solid laser,horizontally covered the sand surface and was bound to the sand.Results show that the cohesion of saline sand results from a combination of salt and water.The threshold shear velocity increases exponentially with the increase in crust thickness for the linear sand dunes.There is a positive linear correlation between the original moisture content and relative threshold shear velocity.The threshold shear velocity of dewatered sand is greater than that of wet sand with the same original moisture content.Our results will provide valuable information about the sand transport of highly saline soil in the desert.

Sand particle lift-off velocity measurements and numerical simulation of mass flux distributions in a wind tunnel

Lift-off velocity of saltating sand particles in wind-blown sand located at 1.0 mm above the sand bed surface was measured using a phase Doppler particle analyzer in a wind tunnel. The results show that the probability distribution of lift-off velocity can be expressed as a lognormal function, while that of lift-off angle follows an exponential function. The probability distribution of lift-off angle conditioned for each lift-off velocity also follows an exponential function, with a slope that becomes steeper with increasing lift-off velocity. This implies that the probability distribution of lift-off velocity is strongly dependent on the lift-off angle. However, these lift-off parameters are generally treated as an independent joint probability distribution in the literature. Numerical simulations were carried out to investigate the effects of conditional versus independent joint probability distributions on the vertical sand mass flux distribution. The simulation results derived from the conditional joint probability distribution agree much better with experimental data than those from the independent ones. Thus, it is better to describe the lift-off velocity of saltating sand particles using the conditional joint probability distribution. These results improve our understanding of saltation processes in wind-blown sand.

Contribution of underlying terrain to sand dunes: evidence from the Qaidam Basin, Northwest China

Underlying terrain strongly influences dune formation.However,the impacts of underlying terrain on the dune formation are poorly studied.In the present research,we focused on dunes that formed in the alluvial fans and dry salt flats in the Qaidam Basin,Northwest China.We quantified the dunes'sediment characteristics on different types of underlying terrain and the terrain's effects on the surface quartz grains by analyzing grain-size distribution,soluble salt contents and grain surface micro-textures.Results showed that barchan dunes were dominated by medium sands with a unimodal frequency distribution,whose peak corresponded to the saltation load.Linear dunes were mainly composed of fine sands with a bimodal frequency distribution,whose main peak represented the saltation load,and whose secondary peak represented the modified saltation or suspension load.Sand was transported from source area by running water(inland rivers)over short distances and by wind over relatively longer distances.Thus,quartz grains had poor roundness and were dominated by sub-angular and angular shapes.Surface micro-textures indicated that dune sands were successively transported by exogenic agents(glaciation,fluviation and wind).Soluble salt contents were low in dunes that developed in the alluvial fans,which represented a low-energy chemical environment,so the grain surface micro-textures mainly resulted from mechanical erosion,with weak micro-textures formed by SiO2 solution and precipitation.However,soluble salt contents were much higher in dunes that developed in the dry salt flats,which indicated a high-energy chemical environment.Therefore,in addition to micro-structures caused by mechanical erosion,micro-textures formed by SiO2 solution and precipitation also well developed.Our results improve understanding of the sediment characteristics of dune sands and the effects of underlying terrain on dune development in the Qaidam Basin,China.

Pattern analysis of a linear dune field on the northern margin of Qarhan Salt Lake,northwestern China

In terms of formation mechanisms of linear dunes,there are open arguments for their widespread distribution and multi-morphological diversities.In order to clarify the formation mechanism of linear dunes of Qarhan Salt Lake,we used pattern analysis method to analyze the statistical characteristics and spatial variation of their pattern parameters.Except at the west-northwest margin,the pattern parameters showed regular spatial variation from the up-middle part towards the downwind end of the dune field.Based on the cumulative probability plots for inter-crest spacing and crest length,we divided the linear dunes into three groups,which corresponding to the three evolution stages of these dunes.The first group comprises erosional relics,with shorter crests,smaller inter-crest spacing and more random dune orientation.The second group comprises dunes whose sand supply is just sufficient to maintain stability and these dunes are approaching the net erosion stage.The crest length and inter-crest spacing of these dunes are much larger than those of the first group,and dune orientation is closer to the resultant drift direction （RDD） .The last group comprises linear dunes that are still undergoing vertical accretion and longitudinal elongation,which follows the RDD of the modern wind regime.The presence of regular spatial variation of pattern parameters and a similar geometry with the vegetated linear dunes suggest that deposition and erosion coexist in the development and evolution of linear dunes of Qarhan Salt Lake,i.e.deposition predominates at the downwind end of linear dunes in the vertical accretion and longitudinal elongation stage,whereas erosion mainly occurs at the upwind end of linear dunes in the degradation stage.Therefore,the formation mechanism of linear dunes in Qarhan Salt Lake can be reasonably explained by the combination of depositional and erosional theories.

Geomorphologic patterns of dune networks in the Tengger Desert,China

Dune networks are widely distributed in the world＇s deserts,which include primary ridges and secondary ridges.However,they have not been sufficiently studied in a systematic manner and their origins and spatial and morphological characteristics remain unclear.To provide information on the geomorphology of dune networks,we analyze the software geomorphologic patterns of the dune networks in China＇s Tengger Desert using matrix and laboratory to process remote-sensing images.Based on analysis of image features and their layout in a topographic map,we identify two types of dune networks （square and rectangular dune networks） with different size and morphological structures in the Tengger Desert.Four important geomorphic pattern parameters,ridge length,spacing,orientation and defect density,are analyzed.The length of primary ridges of dune networks decreases from northwest of the desert to the southeast,resulting an increasing spacing and a transition from rectangular dune networks to square dune networks.Wind regime and sediment supply are responsible for the variation in pattern parameters.We use the spacing and defect density data to estimate the construction time of dune networks and found that the dune networks in the Tengger Desert formed since about 1.3 ka BP.

Fetch effect on the developmental process of aeolian sand transport in a wind tunnel

As the sand mass flux increases from zero at the leading edge of a saltating surface to the equilibrium mass flux at the critical fetch length,the wind flow is modified and then the relative contribution of aerodynamic and bombardment entrainment is changed.In the end the velocity,trajectory and mass flux profile will vary simultaneously.But how the transportation of different sand size groups varies with fetch distance is still unclear.Wind tunnel experiments were conducted to investigate the fetch effect on mass flux and its distribution with height of the total sand and each size group in transportation.The mass flux was measured at six fetch length locations(0.5,1.2,1.9,2.6,3.4 and 4.1 m)and at three free-stream wind velocities(8.8,12.2 and 14.5 m/s).The results reveal that the total mass flux and the mass flux of each size group with height can be expressed by q=aexp(–bh),where q is the sand mass flux at height h,and a and b are regression coefficients.The coefficient b represents the relative decay rate.Both the relative decay rates of total mass flux and each size group are independent of fetch length after a quick decay over a short fetch.This is much shorter than that of mass flux.The equilibrium of the relative decay rate cannot be regarded as an equilibrium mass flux profile for aeolian sand transport.The mass fluxes of 176.0,209.3 and 148.0μm size groups increase more quickly than that of other size groups,which indicates strong size-selection of grains exists along the fetch length.The maximal size group in mass flux(176.0μm)is smaller than the maximal size group of the bed grains(209.3μm).The relative contribution of each size group to the total mass flux is not monotonically decreasing with grain size due to the lift-off of some small grains being reduced due to the protection by large grains.The results indicate that there are complex interactions among different size groups in the developmental process of aeolian sand transport and more attention should be focused on the fetch effect because it has different influences on the total mass flux,the mass flux profile and its relative decay rate.

Bacterial diversity in the sediment of Crescent Moon Spring,Kumtag Desert,Northwest China

Desert lake, a unique oasis in desert ecosystems, harbours different bacterial communities. Thus, it is considered as a hub of bacterial diversity. In this study, bacterial diversity in the sediment of Crescent Moon Spring, Kumtag Desert, Northwest China was analyzed using high-throughput amplicon pyrosequencing analysis. The sequences of the most abundant OUTs （Operational Taxonomic Units） in the sediment of Crescent Moon Spring were compared with the sequences of those most abundant OUTs of various origins from NCBI GenBank database to detect the origins of bacteria in the sediment of Crescent Moon Spring. Also, bacterial compositions between sediment of Crescent Moon Spring and other desert and lake ecosystems （including desert lakes） worldwide were compared using cluster analysis to determine the possible factors affecting bacterial compositions. In total, 11,855 sequences were obtained and 30 phyla were identified. At the phylum level, the dominant phylum was Proteobacteria with α-Proteobacteria being the first dominant class and the second dominant phylum was Planctomycetes. Our finding that α-Proteobacteria being the first dominant class of Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes being the second dominant phyla are somewhat contradictory with reports from other desert lake sediments. This difference could be resulted from water hydration and conductivity, as well as oligotrophic conditions of Crescent Moon Spring. At the genus level, Rhodobacter, Caldilinea, Planctomyces, and Porphyrobacterwere the dominant genera in the sediment of Crescent Moon Spring. Comparisons on sequences of the most abundant OUTs （including OTU3615, OTU6535, and OTU6646） between sediment of Crescent Moon Spring and various origins from NCBI GenBank database indicate that the origins of bacteria in the sediment of Crescent Moon Spring are likely from the underground water. Furthermore, cluster analysis on comparisons of bacteria compositions between sediment of Crescent Moon Spring and other desert and lake ecosystems （including desert lakes） worldwide shows that at regional scales, bacterial compositions may be mainly affected by geographical patterns, precipitation amounts, and pH values. Collectively, our results provide new knowledge on the bacterial diversity in desert lake ecosystems.

An improved particle tracking velocimetry(PTV) technique to evaluate the velocity field of saltating particles

Velocity is a key parameter characterizing the movement of saltating particles. High-speed photography is an efficient method to record the velocity. But, manually determining the relevant information from these photographs is quite laborious. However, particle tracking velocimetry（PTV） can be used to measure the instantaneous velocity in fluids using tracer particles. The tracer particles have three basic features in fluids： similar movement patterns within a small region, a uniform particle distribution, and high particle density. Unfortunately, the saltation of sand particles in air is a stochastic process, and PTV has not yet been able to accurately determine the velocity field in a cloud of blowing sand. The aim of the present study was to develop an improved PTV technique to measure the downwind（horizontal） and vertical velocities of saltating sand. To demonstrate the feasibility of this new technique, we used it to investigate two-dimensional saltation of particles above a loose sand surface in a wind tunnel. We analyzed the properties of the saltating particles, including the probability distribution of particle velocity, variations in the mean velocity as a function of height, and particle turbulence. By automating much of the analysis, the improved PTV method can satisfy the requirement for a large sample size and can measure the velocity field of blowing sand more accurately than previously-used techniques. The results shed new light on the complicated mechanisms involved in sand saltation.

A field investigation of wind erosion in the farming–pastoral ecotone of northern China using a portable wind tunnel: a case study in Yanchi County

The farming-pastoral ecotone in northern China is an extremely fr@e ecological zone where wind erosion of cropland and rangeland is easy to occur. In this study, using a portable wind tunnel as a wind simulator, we conducted field simulated wind erosion experiments combined with laboratory analysis to investigate wind erosion of soils in trampled rangeland, non-tilled cropland and tilled cropland in Yanchi County, China. The results showed that compared with rangeland, the cropland had a higher soil water holding capacity and lower soil bulk density. The wind erosion rate of trampled rangeland was much higher than those of non-tilled cropland and tilled cropland. For cropland, the wind erosion rate of the soil after tilling was surprisingly less than that of the soil before tilling. With increasing of wind speed, the volume mean diameter of the eroded sediment collected by the trough in the wind tunnel generally increased while the clay and silt content decreased for all soils. The temporal variation in wind erosion of the trampled rangeland indicated that particle entrainment and dust emission decreased exponentially with erosion time through the successive wind erosion events due to the exhaustion of erodible particles.

植被盖度对风沙流结构及输沙率的影响

土壤风蚀是全球干旱和半干旱地区生态环境安全的重要威胁。植被通过降低风速和捕获土壤颗粒能够有效地降低土壤风蚀发生的风险。目前,人们对于植被控制土壤风蚀的最优格局和盖度的理解仍然有待深入。借助野外移动风洞,测量了地表输沙率和风沙流结构对草本植物沙打旺(Astragalus adsurgens)盖度的响应程度。结果表明:(1)当植被盖度较小时,风沙流结构的分布曲线遵循指数函数分布规律,随着植被盖度增大,其曲线形态变化差异大。(2)植被覆盖能够有效地降低土壤输沙率并抬高风沙输移发生的高度。(3)地表空气动力学粗糙度与植被盖度服从对数函数变化规律,其增长率随植被盖度的增大而逐渐减小并最终趋于零,下垫面空气动力学粗糙度存在阈值现象。(4)沙打旺控制土壤风蚀的最佳盖度约为30%,能够有效地抑制20 cm高度以下约90%的风蚀量。