Interannual Changes of Land Surface Radiation Components in Loess Plateau and Their Responses to Climate Change

In this paper,land surface observation data at semi-arid climate and environmental observation station（ SACOL station） of Lanzhou University during 2006- 2012 and the data of Yuzhong meteorological station were used to analyze the responses of land surface radiation budget components to climate fluctuation,study the interannual variability of surface albedo,and discuss the feedback of various land surface process parameters on the interannual fluctuations of temperature and precipitation in Loess Plateau. According to the type of precipitation in Loess Plateau,the year was divided into winter and summer in order to get more significant interannual variability and correlation. The results showed that the trends of temperature and precipitation during 2006- 2012 were consistent with the warming and drying total trend in recent years in Loess Plateau. Shallow surface soil moisture and temperature showed a good response to temperature and precipitation,and the annual variation of summer half year had greater impact on the trend in the whole year. Incident solar radiation increase was major reason for climate warming in the Loess Plateau region.The combined effect of climatic factors was the reason for the change of surface albedo. Through the distinguish inquiry by winter and summer data,it was obtained that most correlations between summer radiation components and climatic factors have been improved,and partial correlations between winter radiation components and climatic factors have been increased.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography dynamic changes and steroid response in multiple evanescent white dot syndrome

Dear Editor,Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome （MEWDS） was first described in 1984 as a rare, acute, unilateral,multifocal retinochoroidal disorder, typically affecting young myopic women. Previous studies with fluorescein angiography （FA） and electrophysiology suggested that MEWDS to be a disease in the retinal pigment epithelium （RPE） or outer retina, while recent studies with spectral- domain optical coherence tomography （SD-OCT） suggested it may be an outer retinal disease due to observation of hyperreflective material in outer retina and subtle disruptionsof the ellipsoid zone without RPE disruption.

CHINA'S VEGETATION/ECOSYSTEM RESPONSE TO GLOBAL CHANGE: RESEARCH PROGRESS & PROSPECTS

This paper presents the latest developments in the re search progress on mechanisms by which natural plants and crops respond to the doubled concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, resultant climatic change and the modeling of vegetation and eco-systems in China. In addition, it points out that the future study on global change and terrestrial ecosystems should stress m(?)iti-disciplinary teamwork and inter-discipline penetration. Finally, the paper emphasizes 10 research realms in the field to be enhanced in the future.

Response to climate changes in radial growth of Picea crassifolia in the Qilian mountains of northwestern China

In order to investigate the response to climate changes in radial growth of Picea crassifolia at the lower tree line in the middle Qilian mountains in northwestern China, relationships of standardized chronologies of annual ring, earlywood and latewood widths with mean monthly temperature and total monthly precipitation were analyzed by ways of correlation and pointer year analyses. The results show that annual ring, earlywood and latewood widths are significantly negatively correlated with mean monthly temperature in June and July. Annual ring and earlywood widths are significantly and positively correlated with total monthly precipitation in March, May and June and negatively correlated with total monthly precipitation in September. Latewood width is less sensitive to climate changes than the width of earlywood and insignificantly sensitive to precipitation. The results of pointer year analysis revealed that when summer temperatures are higher than the mean summer temperature synchronization and the summer precipitation lower than mean summer precipitation synchronization, narrow annual rings are formed. Wide annual rings are formed when summer temperatures are lower than the mean summer temperature synchronization and summer precipitation higher than mean summer precipitation synchronization. The results indicate that more precipitation in the spring and summer is helpful for radial growth while warmer summer restricts radial growth of P. crassifolia at the lower tree line in the middle Qilian mountains.

Response of Photosynthetic Plankton Communities to Late-Holocene Climate Change on the Tibetan Plateau

Sediment records from Tibetan lakes record dramatic climatic variability of the Tibetan Plateau in NW China during the Holocene.Here we investigated ancient communities of photosynthetic microbial communities in

Special Issue on "Response of Polar Organisms and Natural Environment to Global Changes"

High altitude and high latitude regions on Earth are experiencing rapid changes in climate, with impacts on polar organisms and the environment. The persistent cold and sometimes inhospitable conditions create unique ecosystems and habitats for polar organisms.

Inviting Contributions to a Special Issue on "Response of Polar Organisms and Natural Environment to Global Changes"

Dear Colleagues, We would like to invite you to submit manuscripts to a special issue of the journal Advances in Polar Science （APS） on ＂Response of Polar Organisms and Natural Environment to Global Changes＂.

Biological responses of small yellow croaker(Larimichthys polyactis) to multiple stressors: a case study in the Yellow Sea, China

Temporal changes in biological characteristics of small yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis in the Yellow Sea were examined for the period of 1960–2008. The body size and age of small yellow croaker decreased substantially, in particular, average length of fish in 2008 was reduced by ~85% than those occurring in 1985, and at that time ~93% of the total catch was dominated by one-year-old individuals. Correspondingly, growth parameters also varied significantly over the years, i.e., k（growth coefficient） and t_0（zero-length age） gradually increased from 0.26 and –0.58 year in 1960 to 0.56 and –0.25 year in 2008, respectively. Although, L∞（body length）sharply decreased from 34.21 cm in 1960 to 24.06 cm in 2008, and t_r（inflexion age） decreased from 3.78 year in1960 to 1.61 year in 2008. There was a great increase both in natural mortality coefficient and fishing mortality coefficient. However, according to the gray correlation analysis, changes in the biological characteristics of small yellow croaker were induced by different stressors ranked as： fishing vessel power〉feeding grade〉sea surface temperature. This study suggests that the active fishery management measures for biological characters of fish populations should be considered.

The Co-seismic Response of Underground Fluid in Yunnan to the Nepal MS8.1 Earthquake

In this paper,statistics are taken on the co-seismic response of underground fluid in Yunnan to the Nepal M_S8. 1 earthquake,and the co-seismic response characteristics of the water level and water temperature are analyzed and summarized with the digital data. The results show that the Nepal M_S8. 1 earthquake had greater impact on the Yunnan region,and the macro and micro dynamics of fluids showed significant co-seismic response. The earthquake recording capacity of water level and temperature measurement is significantly higher than that of water radon and water quality to this large earthquake; the maximum amplitude and duration of co-seismic response of water level and water temperature vary greatly in different wells. The changing forms are dominated by fluctuation and step rise in water level,and a rising or falling restoration in water temperature. From the records of the main shock and the maximum strong aftershock,we can see that the greater magnitude of earthquake,the higher ratio of the occurrence of co-seismic response,and in the same well,the larger the response amplitude,as well as the longer the duration. The amplitude and duration of co-seismic response recorded by different instruments in a same well are different. Water temperature co-seismic response almost occurred in wells with water level response,indicating that the well water level and water temperature are closely related in co-seismic response,and the well water temperature seismic response was caused mainly by well water level seismic response.

The influence of micro-climate, snow cover, and soil moisture on ecosystem functioning in high mountains

The dynamics of water and energy fluxes in the high mountains of central Norway was studied along micro-spatial topographic gradients in different altitudes and regions of the Scandes. Landscape ecological processes like sdow accumulation during winter, snow melting, evaporation, percolation, soil moisture variability and temperature variations were quantified. Combining spatio-temporal data on physical environment functioning and vegetation patterns resulted in a process-oriented characterisation of high mountain ecosystems. Extensive data from long-term measurements were synthesised illustrating the influence of micro-climate, snow cover, and soil moisture on high mountain ecosystem functioning. The results reveal that the micro-climatic impact on the vegetation is predominantly determined by snow cover overlaying soil moisture gradients. Water only becomes superior where near-surface water saturation and flooding occur. A lack of soil moisture availability was not found during any time of the year even under driest site conditions. Contrasting literature, the Norwegian mountain vegetation was found to be interpreted by environmental variable constellations excluding drought stress.

Changes of the Important Period of Strategic Opportunities and Our Response

Currently,the fundamental judgment that China remains in an important period of strategic opportunities for its development has not changed,however new changes have taken place in the nature and the conditions of this period.On a higher starting point of development,China is faced with unprecedented opportunities for development as well as challenges unknown before.

The spatiotemporal responses of Populus euphratica to global warming in Chinese oases between 1960 and 2015

Daily average temperature data from 48 meteorological stations in Chinese oases that are within the distribution area of Populus euphratica were analyzed to determine the spatiotemporal responses of this tree to climate change. Specifically, the start and end date as well as the number of days that comprised the growing season were analyzed with a multi-year trend line and using the Mann-Kendall mutation test, inverse distance weighted interpolation(IDW) in the software Arc GIS, a Morlet wavelet power spectrum, and correlation analysis. The results of this study show that, over the last 56 years, the start date of the P. euphratica growing season has advanced, while the end date has been postponed, and the number of days that comprise the growing season have gradually increased. The changing trend rates recovered in this analysis for these three time slices are –1.34 d/10 a, 1.33 d/10 a, and 2.66 d/10 a(α ≥ 0.001), respectively. Data show that while spatial disparity is extremely significant, it is nevertheless the case that along a southwest-to-northeast transect of Chinese oases, the later the start date of the P. euphratica season, the sooner the end data and the shorter the growing season. Mutations points in start and end date, as well as for the growing season overall were observed in 2001, 1989, and 1996, respectively, and the data presented in this paper show that, in particular, the date of this end of this period is most sensitive to climate warming. Growing season cycles for P. euphratica are between 3.56 years and 7.14 years, consistent with the periodicity of El Ni?o events, while a start date cycle between 3.56 years and 4.28 years is consistent with atmospheric circulation cyclicity. The causal analysis presented in this paper shows that the Asian polar vortex area index(APVAI), the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau index(TPI), the westerly circulation index(WCI), and carbon dioxide emissions(CDE) are the main factors influencing spatiotemporal changes in the growth of P. euphratica, the effect of latitude during the growing season is more significant than altitude, and the start date of the growing season is more significantly influenced by these factors than end date. In addition, data show that the start date, end date, and length of the growing season are all significantly correlated with their average corresponding monthly temperature(corre-lation coefficients are –0.875, 0.770, and 0.897; α≥0.001). Thus, if the average temperature in March increases by 1℃, the start date of the growing season will advance by 2.21 days, while if the average temperature in October increases by the same margin then the seasonal end date will be delayed by 2.76 days. Similarly, if the average temperature between March and October increases by 1℃, the growing season will be extended by 7.78 days. The results of this study corroborate the fact that changes in the P. euphratica growing are sensitive to regional warming and are thus of considerable theoretical significance to our understanding of the responses of Chinese vegetation to climate change as well as to ecological restoration.

Responsible Reaction To Climate Change

China calls for turning UNFCCC provisions into concrete actions Never before has climate change been as prominent on the public agenda as it is today.Its rele- vance was highlighted once again when more than 10,000 delegates from over 180 countries flocked to Bali early this month to discuss the topic.Environment officials as well as representatives from intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations gath- ered on the Indonesian island on December 3-14 for the UN Climate Change Conference.

Taking Responsibility For Climate Change

The Cancun conference still tries to decide the future situation in dealing with emissions If developed countries cannot make decisions and take practical moves to take respon-

Exploring the effect of Arctic perennial sea ice on modulation of local air temperature

Sea ice cover plays an important role in modulating local temperature through heat and moisture fuxes.The infuence of thin ice lead and polynya has been wellinvestigated,however,the effect of perennial ice(also called muliyear ice,MYI)has not.This study is motivated by it and investigated a hypothesis that changes in MYI concentration in winter triggers changes in short-term local 2-m air temperature.The hypothesis was tested using time series analysis of the two parameters and correlation between them.Data from the winters of 2004-2009 were used for the examination at three spatial scales.The hypothesis is found to be potentially accepted when MYI exists in a consolidated ice regime with negligible thin ice or open water in the surroundings,and the air temperature is low enough.Conditions for the acceptance of the hypothesis were quantitatively identified.The qualifications entail that the ice cell must experience daily change of MYI concentration meanwhile satisfy the criteria of total ice concentration(TIC),young ice concentration(YIC)and air temperature(Tar)in the surrounding area,which are TIC>88.3%,YIC<9.5%and T_(air)<-19.0℃.Inverse relationships between changes in MYI concentration and the corresponding changes in air temperature were developed retroactively using data that satisfied the acceptance conditions.The relationships varied with years,depending on ice conditions such as ice type distributions and snow cover.This study offers a first attempt to assess the effect of MYI on the same-day local surface air temperature using satelite observations,and provides evidence of this effect under quantitatively quanlifying conditions.

Autumn NDVI contributes more and more to vegetation improvement in the growing season across the Tibetan Platea

Detecting changes in vegetation,distinguishing the persistence of changes,and seeking their causes during multiple periods are important to gaining a deeper understanding of vegetation dynamics.Using the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)version NDVI_(3g) dataset in the Tibetan Plateau,the trends in the seasonal components of NDVI and their linkage with climatic factors were analyzed over 14 asymptotic periods of 18–31 years since 1982.Dynamic trends in vegetation experienced an obvious increase at regional scale,but the increases of vegetation activity mostly tended to stall or slow down as the studied time period was extended.At pixel scale,areas with significant browning significantly expanded over 14 periods for all seasons,but for significant greening significantly increased only in autumn.The changes of vegetation activity in spring were the most drastic among three seasons.Increased increments of NDVI in summer,spring,and autumn took turns being the main reason for the enhanced vegetation activity in the growing season in the nested 14 periods.Vegetation activity was mainly regulated by a thermal factor,and the dominant climatic drivers of vegetation growth varied across different seasons and regions.We speculate that the increase of NDVI will continue but the increments will decline in all seasons except autumn.