Utilizing sediment grain size characteristics to assess the effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in reducing aeolian erosion in Minqin desert area,China

The clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area,China,represent a pioneering windbreak and sand fixation project with a venerable history of 60 a.However,studies on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of clay–sand barriers against aeolian erosion,particularly from the perspective of surface sediment grain size,are limited and thus insufficient to ascertain the protective impact of these barriers on regional aeolian activities.This study focused on the surface sediments(topsoil of 0–3 cm depth)of clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area to explain their erosion resistance from the perspective of surface sediment grain size.In March 2023,six clay–sand barrier sampling plots with clay–sand barriers of different deployment durations(1,5,10,20,40,and 60 a)were selected as experimental plots,and one control sampling plot was set in an adjacent mobile sandy area without sand barriers.Surface sediment samples were collected from the topsoil of each sampling plot in the study area in April 2023 and sediment grain size characteristics were analyzed.Results indicated a predominance of fine and medium sands in the surface sediments of the study area.The deployment of clay–sand barriers cultivated a fine quality in grain size composition of the regional surface sediments,increasing the average contents of very fine sand,silt,and clay by 30.82%,417.38%,and 381.52%,respectively.This trend became markedly pronounced a decade after the deployment of clay–sand barriers.The effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in erosion resistance was manifested through reduced wind velocity,the interception of sand flow,and the promotion of fine surface sediment particles.Coarser particles such as medium,coarse,and very coarse sands predominantly accumulated on the external side of the barriers,while finer particles such as fine and very fine sands concentrated in the upwind(northwest)region of the barriers.By contrast,the contents of finest particles such as silt and clay were higher in the downwind(southeast)region of the sampling plots.For the study area,the deployment of clay–sand barriers remains one of the most cost-effective engineering solutions for aeolian erosion control,with sediment grain size parameters serving as quantitative indicators for the assessment of these barriers in combating desertification.The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the construction of windbreak and sand fixation systems and the optimization of artificial sand control projects in arid desert areas.

Response of environmental sensitive grain size group in Core FJ04 from mud area in the north of East China Sea to East Asian winter monsoon evolvement

AMS14C dating and grain-size analysis for Core FJ04, located at mud area in the North of East China Sea provide us a high-resolution grain-size distribution curve varying with depth and time. This paper got environmental sensitive grain-size group by using standard deviation method, and proved that the selected sensitive grain-size group is an important proxy which can be used to reconstruct intensity of East Asian Winter Monsoon （EAWM）. Then we got reconstruction of EAWM evolvement since 3 ka B.P., which revealed two main phases： （1） 3 - 1.15ka B.P., relative weak EAWM with middle frequency fluctuation; （2） 1.15 - 0ka B.P., really strong EAWM with high frequency fluctuation. And 1.15 ka B.P. is a distinct turning point. During the whole period, 11 intense events of EAWM were recorded and correlated well with other climate records, but the response extent was different, which showed consistency of climate change and particularity of region response.

Study on Size Distributions of Airborne Particles by Aircraft Observation in Spring over Eastern Coastal Areas of China

The authors studied the size distributions of particles at an altitude of 2000 m by aircraft observation over eastern costal areas of China from Zhuhai, Guangdong to Dalian, Liaoning (0.47-30 μm, 57 channels, including number concentration distribution, surface area concentration distribution and mass concentration distribution). In these cities, the average daily concentrations of PM10 are very high. They are among the most heavily polluted cities in China. The main pollution sources are anthropogenic activities such as wood, coal and oil burning. The observed size distributions show a broad spectrum and unique multi-peak characteristics, indicating no significant impacts of individual sources from urban areas. These results are far different from the distribution type at ground level. It may reflect the comprehensive effect of the regional pollution characteristics. Monitoring results over big cities could to some extent reflect their pollution characteristics.

Interpreting sedimentation dynamics at Longxi catchment in the Three Gorges Area,China,using Cs-137 activity,particle size and rainfall erosivity

Reservoir sedimentation dynamics were interpreted using Cs-137 activity, particle size and rainfall erosivity analysis in conjunetion with sediment profile coring. Two sediment cores were retrieved from the Changshou reservoir of Chongqing, which was dammed in 1956 at the outlet of Longxi catchment in the Three Gorges Area using a gravity corer equipped with an aerylie tube with an inner diameter of 6 em. The extracted cores were sectioned at 2 cm intervals. All sediment core samples were dried, sieved （〈2 mm） and weighed. 137Cs activity was measured by y-ray spectrometry. The particle size of the core samples was measured using laser particle size granulometry. Rainfall erosivity was calculated using daily rainfall data from meteorological records and information on soil conservation history was collated to help interpret temporal sedimentation trends. The peak fallout of 137Cs in 1963 appeared at a depth of 84 cm in core A and 56 cm in core B. The peaks of sand contents were related to the peaks of rainfall erosivity which were recorded in 1982, 1989, 1998 and 2005, respectively. Sedimentation rates were calculated according to the sediment profile chronological controls of 1956, 1963, 1982, 1989, 1998 and 2oo5. The highest sedimentation rate was around 2.0 cm·a^-1 between 1982 and 1988 when the Chinese national reform and the Household Responsibility System were implemented, leading to accelerated soil erosion in the Longxi catchment. Since 1990s, and particularly since 2005, sedimentation rates clearly decreased, since a number of soil conservation programs have been carried out in the catchment. The combined use of ^137Cs chronology, particle size and rainfall erosivity provided a simple basis for reconstructing reservoir sedimentation dynamics in the context of both physical processes and soil restoration. Its advantages include avoiding the need for full blown sediment yield reconstruction and the concomitant consideration of core correlation and corrections for autochthonous inputs and reservoir trap efficiency.

Experimental research into the effect of gas pressure,particle size and nozzle area on initial gas-release energy during gas desorption

Coal and gas outburst is a violent disaster driven by released energy from gas desorption.The initial expansion energy of released gas(IEERG)is a new method to predict coal and gas outburst.In this paper,an instrument for IEERG measurement was developed.Compared with previous setups,the new one which is equipped with three convergent nozzles and quick-release mechanism gets improved in data acquisition and gas sealing and releasing performance.To comprehensively know the effect of gas pressure,particle size,and nozzle area on IEERG,a series of experiments were carried out with this new setup.The variable control test results indicated that the gas pressure-IEERG curves remain the linear trend and the particle size-IEERG curves maintain the negative exponential trend for nozzle areas at 1.13,2.26,and3.39 mm2,respectively.The increase in nozzle area leads to deceases in value of IEERG and absolute value of slope of fitting curves in each test.In addition,the orthogonal experiment showed that the influence of gas pressure,nozzle area,and particle size on IEERG decreases in turn.Only gas pressure had a marked impact on IEERG.This work offers great importance in improving the accuracy of prediction of coal and gas outburst.

Particle Size Characteristics of Soil in Karst Area with Different Land Use Pattern—A Case Study of Shuifang Spring,Jinfo Mt.,Chongqing

This paper tried to analyze the particle size characteristics of the soil samples in Shuifang Spring catchment area,Jinfo Mt.,Chongqing with different land use patterns that are horse race grassland, rhododendron bush,bamboos,and the grassland near the Shuifang spring.The different land usepattern in karst area is of great affection to the particle size characteristics of soil.The median diameter of the karst surface layer soil becomes gradually smaller and smaller in following sequence:horse race grassland,grassland near the Shuifang Spring,

Particle Size of Barchan Dune in Hexi Desert Area and Its Relationship with Wind Speed

[ Objective ] The paper was to study the particle size characteristics of barchan dune and its formation mechanism in Hexi desert area d Gansu. [ Method] Through particle size measurement and wind speed flow field observation d dune, the particle size differences of various sampling plots and various parts of dune were analyzed using analysis of variance, and the relationship between particle size and wind speed was analyzed using correlation coefficient method. [ Result] （ 1 ） Barehan dune and barehan chains in Hexi desert area of Gansu were mainly consisted of fine sands and medium sands at the depth of 0 -5 cm： the sand particle in Gulang desert area was fine, which had significant difference with that in Jinchang, Linze, Jinta and Minqin desert areas. （2） Medium sands gradually increased from the bottom of windward slope to the dune peak in both barchan dune and barchan chain. On the windward slope of barehan dune, fine sands gradual- ly increased from the middle to both sides, while coarse sands and medium sands gradually decreased. On the windward slope of barehan chain, fine sands first de- creased then increased from the middle to NE side, but first increased then decreased from the middle to SW side. （3） In terma of particle size, there were great variations between fine sands and coarse sands ; for dune parts, there were great variations between dune peak and leewant slope toe; for dune types, the variation of fine sands in various parts of barchan chain was greater than that of barchan dune, while differentiation degree of medium sands and fine sands was greater than that of barchan dune. The particle size of fine sands was positively correlated with wind speed, and that of medium sands was negatively correlated with wind speed. [ Conclusion] The formation environment of particle size of berehan dune mainly included sand source and dynmnic source, and wind speed was the dynamic source for particle size distribution of barchan dune.

Chemical Composition of Sphyraena barracuda with Different Area, Size and Season, in Sudanese Red Sea Coast

This study aims to determine the effect of area, size and season on chemical composition of Sphyraena barracuda from Sudanese Red Sea Coast. A total of 180 fish samples were collected from Port Sudan and Sawakin fishing sites during the winter and summer of 2020-2021. The fishes sample ranged between (30 - 50) cm in total length and (250 - 1000) gm in body weight of small size, and ranged between (60 - 90) cm in total length and (1250 - 250) gm in body weight for large size. Fish flesh was subject to gross chemical analysis. Moisture, protein, fat, ash, acidity and pH were determined. The results indicated a significant effect by area, season and size. The different areas had a significant effect on crude protein and ash;higher parameter value is found in Sawakin. Higher chemical parameters were showed in winter than in summer. Also, size had a significant effect in all parameters (except moisture), fat and ash were high in large size. The study has concluded that the large size fishes of S. barracuda with high nutritional value when caught in winter from the southern region of Sawakin.

Effect of layer thickness and voxel size inversion on leaf area density based on the voxel-based canopy profiling method

Voxel-based canopy profiling is commonly used to determine small-scale leaf area.Layer thickness and voxel size impact accuracy when using this method.Here,we determined the optimal combination of layer thickness and voxel size to estimate leaf area density accurately.Terrestrial LiDAR Stonex X300 was used to generate point cloud data for Masson pines(Pinus massoniana).The canopy layer was stratified into 0.10-1.00-m-thick layers,while voxel size was 0.01-0.10 m.The leaf area density of individual trees was estimated using leaf area indices for the upper,middle,and lower canopy and the overall canopy.The true leaf area index,obtained by layered harvesting,was used to verify the inversion results.Leaf area density was inverted by nine combinations of layer thickness and voxel size.The average relative accuracy and mean estimated accuracy of these combined inversion results exceeded 80%.When layer thickness was 1.00 m and voxel size 0.05 m,inversion was closest to the true value.The average relative accuracy was 92.58%,mean estimated accuracy 98.00%,and root mean square error 0.17.The combination of leaf area density and index was accurately retrieved.In conclusion,nondestructive voxel-based canopy profiling proved suitable for inverting the leaf area density of Masson pine in Hetian Town,Fujian Province.

The Soil Moisture and Grain Size Characteristics of Micro-area: A Case Study of Minqin Oasis- Desert Ecotone

To elaborate soil moisture and grain size characteristics of 3 typical micro-areas in Minqin oasis-desert ecotone,samples were collected in runoff generation area and accumulated area using soil profile and multi-point sampling method,for soil moisture and physicochemical property analysis. Research results that( i) water accumulation trace of accumulated area is significant and the vegetation coverage is larger than the runoff generation area. The crust development in clay sand barrier + Haloxylon ammodendron forest accumulated is better than runoff generation area,while the situation is contrary in Nitraria tangutorum sand dune lowland and clay flat land.( ii) Moisture of accumulated area in fixed Nitraria tangutorum sand inter-dune lowland is better than the runoff generation area; the moisture of accumulated area in clay flat land topsoil is significantly better than the runoff generation area,while the topsoil moisture of clay sand barrier + Haloxylon ammodendron forest is better in the runoff generation area than in the accumulated area.( iii) Soil moisture of accumulated area in 3 types of micro-areas is in the range of 20- 40 cm; the fixed Nitraria tangutorum sand inter-dune lowland is better than clay flat land and clay sand barrier + Haloxylon ammodendron forest,while the lowest moisture of corresponding runoff generation area is basically consistent with the depth.( iv) The topsoil clay and powder content in accumulated area of fixed Nitraria tangutorum sand inter-dune lowland is lower than the runoff generation area,while the fine sand content in deep layer of runoff generation area is greater than the accumulated area; soil in two areas of clay flat land mainly consists of coarse and fine sand,and clay particles are better in runoff generation area than in accumulated area. Soil in the clay sand barrier + Haloxylon ammodendron forest is mainly coarse sand and the structure is single. In sum,through adjusting allocation of rainfall,micro-areas influence soil moisture and grain size distribution,and further influence spatial- temporal distribution of vegetation in sand micro-areas.

Mastersize 2000型激光粒度仪分析数据可靠性检验及意义——以洛川剖面S4层古土壤为例

黄土、古土壤剖面中物质粒度是恢复古环境的重要指标之一。精确地测定粒径的大小,是准确而可靠获取气候变化信息的基本前提。通过对洛川典型黄土剖面古土壤S 4及相临黄土层高密度、连续样品多次重复粒度测试结果经统计分析表明:粒径测量的误差主要来自于两方面,即仪器测量与前处理过程,其中前处理过程的影响是粒度测量中误差的主要来源。同时证明,单次测量结果具有不确定性,因此可靠的粒度参数需经多次测量平均获得。但是,此过程会导致某些快速变化信息的丢失和因峰态的平滑而造成粒度变化所反映的变化幅度弱化。

Characteristics of phosphorus adsorption by sediment mineral matrices with different particle sizes

The particle size of sediment is one of the main factors that influence the phosphorus physical adsorption on sediment. In order to eliminate the effect of other components of sediment on the phosphorus physical adsorption, the sediment mineral matrices were obtained by removing inorganic matter, metal oxides, and organic matter from natural sediments, which were collected from the Nantong reach of the Yangtze River. The results show that an exponential relationship exists between the median particle size （Ds0） and specific surface area （Sg） of the sediment mineral matrices, and the fine sediment mineral matrix sample has a larger specific surface area and pore volume than the coarse sediment particles. The kinetic equations were used to describe the phosphorus adsorption process of the sediment mineral matrices, including the Elovich equation, quasi-first-order adsorption kinetic equation, and quasi-second-order adsorption kinetic equation. The results show that the quasi-second-order adsorption kinetic equation has the best fitting effect. Using the mass conservation and Langmuir adsorption kinetic equations, a formula was deduced to calculate the equilibrium adsorption capacity of the sediment mineral matrices. The results of this study show that the phosphorus adsorption capacity decreases with the increase of Ds0, indicating that the specific surface area and pore volume are the main factors in determining the phosphorus adsorption capacity of the sediment mineral matrices. This study will help understand the important role of sediment in the transformation of phosphorus in aquatic environments.

High resolution records of flood deposition in the mud area off the Changjiang River mouth during the past century

This paper presents a paleoflood study to determine the flood frequency of the Changjiang River, based on core cj0702, taken from the Changjiang River subaqueous delta. We identified flood deposits by means of high-resolution grain-size variation, sensitive population, geochemical indexes and magnetic susceptibility. The core covers a time span of 120 years by 21~pb dating and was sampled at 1-2 cm intervals. Grain size, geochemical elements, and physical parameters were analyzed. The results indicate that the sediment of the core is mainly composed of silt and clay, as well as groups of interbedded silt, clay silt, and clay. Vertically, the grain size pattern was controlled by seasonal variations in water discharge and by the sediment input in winter from the abandoned Huanghe River delta. River flooding caused extreme values in all our measured parameters. We identified more than 20 flood events that occurred since 1887 using the physical parameter analysis method. The environmentally sensitive component of sediment grain size （14.32-96.39 gm） contribution〉30%, Zr/Rb ratio〉l.5, and magnetic susceptibility〉16 were selected as the criteria for flood identification generally. We also found that floods that had taken place in the upstream, midstream, or downstream parts of the river were clearly identified by these indexes while the large-scale floods that covered the whole drainage area did not leave clear indications in the sediment record. This study for identification of flood events is of great significance for understanding hyperpycnal current sedimentation as well as for forecasting of floods.

Effect of size on characteristic of acoustic emission in rock specimen

A series of uniaxial-compression tests were conducted on some granite speci- mens.A multi-channel,high-speed AE signal acquiring and analyzing system was em- ployed to acquire and record the characteristics of AE events and demonstrate the tem- poral and spatial distribution of these events during the failure process.The test results show that in the primary stage,many low amplitude AE events are developed rapidly and distributed randomly throughout the entire specimens.In the second stage,the number of AE increases much slower than that in the first stage,while the amplitude of most AE events became greater.Contrarily to the primary stage,AE events clusteres in the middle area of the specimen and distributes vertically conformed to the orientation of compres- sion.The most distinct characteristic of this stage is a vacant gap formed approximately in the central part of the specimen.In the last stage,the number of AE events increases sharply and their magnitude increases accordingly.The final failure location coincidently inhabited the aforementioned gap.The main conclusion is that most macrocracks are de- veloped from the surrounding microcracks existed earlier and their positions occupy the earlier formed gaps,and the AE activity usually becomes quite acute before the main rup- ture occurs.

Area, isolation, disturbance and age effects on species richness of summer waterbirds in post-mining subsidence lakes,Anhui, China

Background: The species–area relationship is one of the best documented patterns in community ecology.Factors influencing species–area relationship are still not well understood.Since the proposal of the equilibrium theory of island biogeography, many studies have tested the effects of area and isolation, estimating effects of disturbance and patch age were scarce and should also be important bearing.Methods: We investigated summer waterbird species richness in 38 post?mining subsidence lakes in Huainan and Fuyang, Anhui, China, May 25–June 12, 2016.We examined the effects of lake area, isolation(distance to natural water bodies), aquaculture disturbance, lake age and lake state(still sinking or not sinking) on summer waterbird species richness with multivariable linear regression method and model selection method.Results: Our results from multivariable linear regression and model selection were consistent, which showed that species richness was positively related with lake area and negatively related with isolation.Aquaculture disturbance negatively influenced species richness.Highest species richness were found in lakes under intermediate intensity of aquaculture activities with area less than 100 ha and lakes under low intensity of aquaculture activities with area greater than 100 ha.Lake age and lake state had no significant effects on species richness.Conclusions: Species richness was most related with lake area, aquaculture disturbance, and isolation, with lake area had a positive effect, while aquaculture activities and isolation had a negative effect.What's more, aquaculture activi?ties significantly changed the slope of species–area relationship and might impede us finding a relationship between species richness and lake age.

BET Surface Area and Porous Structure of Fullerenes and Fullerene Soots

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SIZE EFFECTS OF WINDOW GLASSES IN TALL BUILDINGS

A certain strength is required for the window glasses in tall buildings due to the high wind pressure. The strength for large size glasses is generally deduced from the testing results of specimens with samll sizes by the Weibull statistics theory. By a great deal of experiments the authors have studied the thickness , span and width effects of flat glasses of on bending strength under biaxial stresses. Compared with the Weibull theory, the accuracy of strength is determined and a modification is made for the volume effect proposed by Weibull. The size effect of Weibull modulus is investigated as well and the reasonable specification for flat glass strength is suggested.

Effect of Initial Size and Shape Importance on Masse Transfer during Convective Drying

In this paper the influence of sample initial size on their convective drying at 80°C using convective dryer is determined. Results prove that initial size must be taken into account when drying process was estimated. This influence is limited by its form of cut. Comparing cubic form and parallelepiped (slice) one;results seem to show that thickness is the most important parameter governing the transfer phenomena during foodstuff convective drying. Three slices with thickness of 0.5 cm and surface area of 17, 82 and 112 cm2 respectively, dry better than cubic sample with a = 1 cm or a = 2 cm of arrest and having respectively 6 and 24 cm2 of surface area. All things seem to show that initial surface is not only the essential parameter;but also the thickness of the sample must be taken into account. Indeed, all of the samples with equal thickness (0.5 cm) and different exchange surfaces dry at the same time, about 210 min, comparing with cubic form 1 cm of arrest and 6 cm2 of surface and drying time of 230 min. A new parameter noted Dc called characteristic diameter is so considered to bridge the gaps. It is defined to be the diameter of the biggest sphere we can cut into a sample. This parameter is independent of form of the sample, and time increase with characteristic diameter increasing.

Two Alternating Processes of Particle Size Distribution of Barchan Dunes at the Edge of the Oasis in Hexi Corridor, Gansu

Barchan dunes are a common type of dune. There are a lot of barchan dunes at accumulated sand-belts of the oasis edge of Hexi desert area of Gansu. What is characteristic of the particle size of barchan dunes? How is this particle size characteristic formed? Characteristics of particle size were analyzed in this paper by comprehensive investigation and sampling in Hexi Corridor desert area, and repeated sampling and determination in Minqin desert area. The results showed that:(1) The particle size of 0.25–0.05 mm and particle size of 0.5–0.25 mm were the main ingredients at the surface 0–5 cm depth of barchan dunes and barchan dune chains in desert area in Hexi Corridor of Gansu. Sand in Gulang desert area was relatively finer and the particle size was quite different from that of Jinchang, Linze, Jinta and Minqin desert area;(2) The particle size was changed from coarse to fine from the bottom to the top of the dunes in the main wind direction(NW) process. i.e. there was the most silt at the top of the dunes, followed by the middle of the leeward slope. The bottom of the windward slope had the most coarse sand, followed by the middle of the windward slope. The barchan dunes were changed from coarse to fine, then from fine to coarse from the bottom to the top of the dunes in the reverse wind direction(SE) process, i.e. there was the most silt in the middle of the windward slope, followed by the top of sand dunes. The bottom of the windward slope had the most coarse sand, followed by the middle of the windward slope. The standard deviation and coefficient of variation of sand dune particle size in the main wind direction process was larger, and the standard deviation and coefficient of variation of sand dune particle size in the reverse wind direction process was smaller;(3) The two processes of the main wind direction(NW) and the reverse wind direction(SE) led to alternating changes in particle size in various parts of the dunes. Two different conclusions on particle size distribution of barchan dunes in windward slope were due to the observation season differences.

Seasonal Variations in Fishery Resources in Shenzhen Sea Area

Seasonal variations and causes for these were elaborated for fishery resources in Shenzhen sea area,to provide scientific basis for sustainable utilization and management of fishery resources in typical fisheries of South China Sea coasts. Based on the data of fishery resources collected through trawl surveys in Egong Bay fisheries area,Shenzhen,from August( autumn) and December( winter) of 2012 to March(spring) and May(summer) of 2013,seasonal variation of nekton species composition,stock density,dominant species composition,size spectra and biodiversity were studied. Results showed that there were 113 species of nekton in Shenzhen sea area,which belonged to 78 genus,50 families,14 orders and 3 classes. The number of species was the largest in summer(61 species) and smallest in autumn(53 species). In spring and winter,there was 56 species. The stock density and individual density of nekton were the minimum in summer(5950. 20 kg/km2 and 356. 45 ind/km2,respectively),whereas the percentage of fish stock density and individual density were the highest in summer(51. 99%and 42. 19%). The seasonal variations of size spectra indicated that fishing intensity was the highest in autumn,and was the lowest in summer. Additionally,biodiversity index presented significant seasonal variations,including Shannon-Wiener diversity index( H '),Margalef richness index( D') and Pielou evenness index( J'),with the same trend as summer > spring > autumn > winter. In conclusion,there are clear seasonal variations in the nekton species,biomass and structure in Egong Bay fisheries area in Shenzhen. Due to the difference in fishing intensity in different seasons( low intensity in summer and high intensity in autumn),community structure and function in summer are more stable than that in autumn and winter. Particularly,with the increase in the fishing intensity in autumn,k selection species will be replaced by r selection species.