Temporal-Spatial Variances of Holocene Precipitation at the Marginal Area of the East Asian Monsoon Influences from Pollen Evidence

The woodland-steppe ecotone in the. southern Nei Mongol Plateau is located at the northern edge of the east Asian monsoon influences. A marked southeastern - northwestern (SE - NW) precipitation gradient exists in this region. Quantitative reconstruction of palaeo-precipitation of this region is helpful to reveal the development of monsoon climate and to predict die future desertification. Based on modern vegetation and surface pollen studies, a pollen-precipitation transfer function in the study region was established. Pollen data from three sediment sequences within the ecotone were used to reconstruct palaeo-precipitation during the Holocene. The processes of precipitation changes in the three sequences were quite different. There was a tendency of precipitation declined from the onset of the Holocene to 1 100 a BP in Haoluku. But, in Liuzhouwan and Xiaoniuchang, both located south of Haoluku, the annual precipitation reached highest values during 7 800 - 6 200 a BP and 7 200 - 5 000 a BP, respectively. The influences of southwestern (SW) monsoon and the variances of topographical conditions have possibly caused these temporal-spatial variances.

Soil quality and sustainable land use in urban-rural marginal area: a case study of Kaifeng

By using the basic theories of physical geography, land resources and ecology, this article analyzes the soil quality of the rural-urban marginal area in Kaifeng. Computer techniques, based on soil samples analysis, are used to study soil quality changes in the Kaifeng’s rural-urban marginal area. While focusing on nutrient circle key links of input and output in soil, relying on numerous practical survey data, this article reveals clearly the impact of land use change on soil quality.

Analysis of the Criticizes for Zootechnics Development in a Mountain Area of Italy

The paper considers the main causes of the difficulties of zootechnics in Friulian mountains （Italy）, evaluating different approaches. From the methodological point of view, there were analyzed the different aspects that causes the present crisis in this territorial contest and that, contextually, at the same time, prevent its recovery. The procedural pathway followed these steps： analysis, synthesis, comparison, deduction and induction. The results showed that there are technical, social, environmental, political and infra-structural aspects that cause this stated economical emergency for the compartment. A ＂new rural paradigm＂, in particular, the multi-functionality of the farm seems to be the road to the progress of mountain regions. Unfortunately, there are no definitive universal answers, hut individual solutions that should be investigated and calibrated for specific local resources.

Characteristics and genesis of clay minerals in the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin

In order to develop appropriate reservoir protection measures in the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin and improve its oil and gas recovery efficiency,characteristics of clay minerals from eleven clay rock samples from the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin were investigated using X-ray diffraction analysis,the Scanning Electron Microscope（SEM）and energy spectrum analysis.Clay mineral composition and distribution characteristics of the main hydrocarbon reservoirs,i.e.,from the Jurassic and Paleogene-Neogene,were explored.We analyzed the main factors which affected these attributes.The results show that the major clay minerals in the northern margin are chlorite,kaolinite,illite,smectite and illite/smectite inter-stratified minerals.Illite is the most widely spread clay mineral in this area. Chlorite is mainly found in the entire Neogene and in shallow horizons of the Paleogene.Smectite is enriched in the shallow Paleogene-Neogene.There are large amounts of kaolinite and illite/smectite inter-stratified minerals in the Jurassic.The major factors affecting the different development of clay minerals in the region are properties of parent rocks,paleoclimate and paleowater media conditions, diagenesis transformation,tectonic and terrain conditions.

Tourist boom and rural revival-Case study of Klodzko Region(SW Poland)

Rural areas in the K?odzko Region were subject to a long-term depopulation,marginalization,and long-lasting socio-economic decline since the 19th century.In recent years,however,the study area has been subject to a shift in socio-economic trends that show rural revival.The main goal of the research is to assess the actual role of tourism in socio-economic revival of rural areas in the K?odzko Region.To determine the dynamics of the tourism function development,statistical data were used and an inventory of tourism beds in accommodation facilities was conducted.The results show that there was a substantial development of the tourism function in the study area and its most intense scale was noted in the depopulating villages,as evidenced by the increase in the numbers of tourism facilities and numbers of tourism beds.Therefore,it can be concluded that the development of tourism contributed to the limitation of negative socioeconomic processes in the area and,in the case of some villages,even to the reversal of these trends,which might testify to the rural revival.Moreover,the improvement of the socio-economic situation is visible also in the villages that do not have significant tourist values but are in the neighbourhood of tourism hotspots.This observation might be important for forecasting future development and planning of rural areas.

羌塘高原无人区边缘地带人类聚落布局的社会经济根源--针对三个典型县的比较研究

Human activities in the marginal zone of the Changtang Plateau(CTP)uninhabited area are important research topics in China and globally.Based on the core-periphery theory of geography,this paper selected three counties in the marginal zone of the CTP uninhabited area with significant transitional physical geography features and socio-economic conditions as case areas.We used the data set of settlement patches identified by visual interpretation in Google Earth Pro,combining them with field survey data to study the evolution of human settlements on the CTP,the characteristics of settlement layout,and their socio-economic roots.The study found that:(1)Since the democratic reform in Tibet,the production mode of herders on the CTP has transitioned from four-season nomadic herding to cold-season sedentary grazing,warm-season rotational grazing,and then to a combination of sedentary grazing and forage supplementation.In structural changes of grassroots organizations,village boundaries were clarified,grazing ranges were fixed,and settlement systems were formed.(2)On a large scale,the settlement layout on the CTP showed a certain degree of agglomeration in local areas,but the settlements’spatial agglomeration decreased as the observation scale decreased.The settlement size structure matched the typical rank-size rule of rural settlements.(3)The settlement layout of the CTP showed significant traffic lines and dominant location orientation.These orientation characteristics revealed“core-periphery”regional differences.Changes in production conditions,such as artificial grass cultivation and part-time employment,affected the dependence on traditional grazing points.Settlements moved from resource dependence to dependence on multiple elements,such as resources and facilities.The religious,cultural heritage of the sacred mountains,lakes,and temples influenced the settlement layout,leading to clustering in local areas and to group format.This study expands our understanding of the settlement pattern in the marginal zone of uninhabited areas and provides valuable references for advancing the optimization of the CTP human settlement system in the new era.

A novel procedure for pollen-based quantitative paleoclimate reconstructions and its application in China

Traditionally, the evaluation of pollen-based quantitative paleoclimate reconstructions focuses on the ability of calibration sets to infer present climatic conditions and/or the similarity between fossil and modem assemblages. Objective criteria for choosing the most appropriate climate parameter（s） to be reconstructed at a specific site are thus lacking. Using a novel approach for testing the statistical significance of a quantitative reconstruction using random environmental data, in combination with the advantageous large environmental gradients, abundant vegetation types and comprehensive modem pollen databases in China, we describe a new procedure for pollen-based quantitative paleoclimatic reconstructions. First, the most significant environmental variable controlling the fossil pollen assemblage changes is identified. Second, a calibration set to infer changes in this targeted variable is built up, by limiting the modem ranges of other environmental variables. Finally, the pollen-based quantitative reconstruction is obtained and its statistical significance assessed. This novel procedure was used to reconstruct the mean annual precipitation （Pann） from Gonghai Lake in the Lvliang Mountains, and Tianchi Lake in the Liupan Mountains, on the eastern and western fringe of the Chinese Loess Plateau, respectively. Both Pann. reconstructions are statistically significant （p〈0.001）, and a sound and stable correlation relationship exists in their common period, showing a rapid precipitation decrease since 3300 cal yr BP. Thus, we propose that this procedure has great potential for reducing the uncertainties associated with pollen-based quantitative paleoclimatic reconstructions in China.