Response of soil water dynamics to precipitation years under different vegetation types on the northern Loess Plateau, China

Implementation of the Grain-for-Green project has led to rapid land cover changes and resulted in a significantly increased vegetation cover on the Loess Plateau of China during the past few decades. The main objective of this study was to examine the responses of soil water dynamics under four typical vegetation types against precipitation years. Soil water contents (SWCs) were measured in 0–4.0 m profiles on a hillslope under the four vegetation types of shrub, pasture, natural fallow and crop in a re-vegetated catchment area from April to October in normal (2010), dry (2011), wet (2014) and extremely wet (2013) years. The results indicated that precipitation and vegetation types jointly controlled the soil water temporal dynamics and profile characteristics in the study region. SWCs in 0–4.0 m profiles of the four vegetation types were ranked from high to low as crop>fallow>pasture>shrub and this pattern displayed a temporal stability over the four years. In the extremely wet year, SWC changes occurred in the 0–2.0 m layer under shrub and pasture while the changes further extended to the depth of 4.0-m deep layers under fallow and crop. In the other three years, SWCs changes mainly occurred in the 0–1.0 m layer and kept relatively stable in the layers deeper than 1.0 m for all the four vegetation types. The interannual variation in soil depth of SWCs was about 0–2.0 m for shrub and pasture, about 0–3.4 m for fallow and about 0–4.0 m for crop, respectively. The dried soil layers formed at the depths of 1.0, 0.6, 1.6 and 0.7 m under shrub, and 1.0, 1.0, 2.0 and 0.9 m under pasture, respectively in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014. The infiltrated rainwater mostly stayed in the 0–1.0 m layer and hardly supplied to soil depth >1.0 m in normal, dry and wet years. Even in the extremely wet year of 2013, rainwater recharge depth did not exceed 2.0 m under shrub and pasture. This implied that soil desiccation was difficult to remove in normal, dry and wet years, and soil desiccation could be removed in 1.0–2.0 m soil layers even in the extremely wet year under shrub and pasture. The results indicated that the natural fallow was the best vegetation type for achieving sustainable utilization of soil water and preventing soil desiccation.

Cluster analysis on summer precipitation field over Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 1961 to 2004

The summer day-by-day precipitation data of 97 meteorological stations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 1961 to 2004 were selected to analyze the temporal-spatial distribution through accumulated variance,correlation analysis,regression analysis,empirical orthogonal function,power spectrum function and spatial analysis tools of GIS.The result showed that summer precipitation occupied a relatively high proportion in the area with less annual precipitation on the Plateau and the correlation between summer precipitation and annual precipitation was strong.The altitude of these stations and summer precipitation tendency presented stronger positive correlation below 2000 m,with correlation value up to 0.604（α=0.01）.The subtracting tendency values between 1961-1983 and 1984-2004 at five altitude ranges（2000-2500 m,2500-3000 m,3500-4000 m,4000-4500 m and above 4500 m）were above zero and accounted for 71.4%of the total.Using empirical orthogonal function, summer precipitation could be roughly divided into three precipitation pattern fields：the Southeast Plateau Pattern Field,the Northeast Plateau Pattern field and the Three Rivers＇ Headstream Regions Pattern Field.The former two ones had a reverse value from the north to the south and opposite line was along 35°N.The potential cycles of the three pattern fields were 5.33a,21.33a and 2.17a respectively,tested by the confidence probability of 90%.The station altitudes and summer precipitation potential cycles presented strong negative correlation in the stations above 4500 m,with correlation value of-0.626（α=0.01）.In Three Rivers Headstream Regions summer precipitation cycle decreased as the altitude rose in the stations above 3500 m and increased as the altitude rose in those below 3500 m.The empirical orthogonal function analysis in June precipitation,July precipitation and August precipitation showed that the June precipitation pattern field was similar to the July＇s,in which southern Plateau was positive and northern Plateau negative.But positive value area in July precipitation pattern field was obviously less than June＇s.The August pattern field was totally opposite to June＇s and July＇s.The positive area in August pattern field jumped from the southern Plateau to the northern Plateau.

Precipitation amount and frequency affect seedling emergence and growth of Reaumuria soongarica in northwestern China

Climate change is shifting the amount and frequency of precipitation in many regions, which is expected to affect seedling recruitment across ecosystems. However, the combined effects of precipitation amount and frequency on seedling recruitment remain largely unknown. An understanding of the effects of precipitation amount and frequency and their interaction on seedling emergence and growth of typical desert plants is vital for managing populations of desert plants. We conducted two experiments to study the effects of variation in precipitation on Reaumuria soongarica （Pall.） Maxim. First, greenhouse experiments were conducted to examine the effects of three precipitation amount treatments （ambient, ＋30%, and -30%） and two precipitation frequency treatments （ambient and -50%） on seedling emergence. Second, the morphological responses of R. soongarica to changes in precipitation amount and frequency were tested in a controlled field experiment. Stage-specific changes in growth were monitored by sampling in different growth seasons. Our results showed that precipitation amount significantly affected germination, seedling emergence, and growth of R. soongarica, and there was a larger effect with decreased precipitation frequency compared with ambient. Germination and seedling emergence increased as precipitation increased under the same frequency of precipitation. The highest emergence percentage was obtained with a 30% increase in precipitation amount and a 50% reduction in precipitation frequency. Compared with ambient precipitation, a 30% increase in precipitation amount increased above- and below-ground biomass accumulation of R. soongarica during the growth season. A decrease of 30% in precipitation amount also resulted in an increase in below-ground biomass and root/shoot ratio in the early stages of the growth season, however, above- and below-ground biomass showed the opposite results at the end of the growth season, with larger effects on above-ground than below-ground biomass under decreased precipitation frequency. When precipitation frequency decreased by 50%, values of all growth traits increased for a given amount of precipitation. We concluded that precipitation frequency may be as important as precipitation amount to seedling emergence and growth of R. soongarica, and that understanding the effects of precipitation variability on seedling recruitment requires the integration of both precipitation amount and frequency. In particular, the combination of a 30% increase in precipitation amount and 50% reduction in precipitation frequency increased the emergence and growth of seedlings, suggesting that alteration of amount and frequency of precipitation caused by climate change may have significant effects on seedling recruitment of R. soongarica.

A New Precipitation Index for the Spatiotemporal Distribution of Drought and Flooding in the Reaches of the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers and Related Characteristics of Atmospheric Circulation

Characteristics of the spatiotemporal distributions of precipitation anomalies in the reaches of the Yangtze River and Huaihe River （YHR） were studied using EOF method. Four main precipitation pat-terns for the YHR in summer identified by the first two modes： a region-wide flood over the entire YHR （RWF）; a region-wide drought over the entire YHR （RWD）; a flood in the south with a drought in the northern region of the Yangtze River （FS-DN）; and a drought in the south with a flood in the northern region of the Yangtze River （DS-FN）. Based on the first two modes and the actual precipitation departure percentage, a new precipitation index is defined in this paper. The typical flood/drought years associated with the various rainfall patterns defined by this precipitation index are more representative and closer to reality compared to some existing precipitation indexes which just use the area-mean precipitation or the EOF time components individually. The characteristics of atmospheric circulation in summer corresponding to the four main precipitation patterns over the YHR in summer show the features of atmospheric circulation differ in different precipitation pattern years. Although the different patterns share a common main influential circulation system, such as the blocking high over northeastern Asia, the low trough of westerly flows in the mid latitudes, the West Pacific Subtropical High （WPSH）, and the high ridge over the Tibet Plateau, the difference in location and intensity of these systems can lead to different distributions of precipitation anomalies.

The Impact of Boreal Autumn SST Anomalies over the South Pacific on Boreal Winter Precipitation over East Asia

The possible mechanism behind the variability in the dipole pattern of boreal winter precipitation over East Asia is analyzed in this study. The results show that the SST anomalies（SSTAs） over the South Pacific Ocean（SPO） in boreal autumn are closely related to the variability in the dipole pattern of boreal winter precipitation over East Asia. The physical link between the boreal autumn SPO SSTAs and the boreal winter East Asian precipitation dipole pattern is shown to mainly be the seasonal persistence of the SPO SSTAs themselves. The seasonal persistence of the SPO SSTAs can memorize and transport the signal of the boreal autumn SSTAs to the following winter, and then stimulates a meridional teleconnection pattern from the SH to the NH, resulting in a meridional dipole pattern of atmospheric circulation over East Asia in boreal winter. As a major influencing factor, this dipole pattern of the atmospheric circulation can finally lead to the anomalous precipitation dipole pattern over East Asia in boreal winter. These observed physical processes are further confirmed in this study through numerical simulation. The evidence from this study, showing the impact of the SPO SSTAs in boreal autumn,not only deepens our understanding of the variability in East Asian boreal winter precipitation, but also provides a potentially useful predictor for precipitation in the region.

Precipitation changes in the mid-latitudes of the Chinese mainland during 1960–2014

Based on daily precipitation data from 163 meteorological stations, this study investigated precipitation changes in the mid-latitudes of the Chinese mainland（MCM） during 1960–2014 using the climatic trend coefficient, least-squared regression analysis, and a non-parametric Mann-Kendall test.According to the effects of the East Asian summer monsoon on the MCM and the climatic trend coefficient of annual precipitation during 1960–2014, we divided the MCM into the western MCM and eastern MCM. The western MCM was further divided into the western MCM1 and western MCM2 in terms of the effects of the East Asian summer monsoon. The main results were as follows：（1） During the last four decades of the 20^（th） century, the area-averaged annual precipitation presented a significant increasing trend in the western MCM, but there was a slight decreasing trend in the eastern MCM, where a seesaw pattern was apparent. However, in the 21^（st） century, the area-averaged annual precipitation displayed a significant increasing trend in both the western and eastern MCM.（2） The trend in area-averaged seasonal precipitation during 1960–2014 in the western MCM was consistent with that in the eastern MCM in winter and spring. However, the trend in area-averaged summer precipitation during1960–2014 displayed a seesaw pattern between the western and eastern MCM.（3） On an annual basis,both the trend in rainstorms and heavy rain displayed a seesaw pattern between the western and eastern MCM.（4） The precipitation intensity in rainstorms, heavy rain, and moderate rain made a greater contribution to changes in the total precipitation than precipitation frequency. The results of this study will improve our understanding of the trends and differences in precipitation changes in different areas of the MCM. This is not only useful for the management and mitigation of flood disasters, but is also beneficial to the protection of water resources across the MCM.

Rhythmic precipitate patterns and fractal structure

Liesegang patterns of parallel precipitate bands are obtained when solutions containing co-precipitate ions interdiffuse in a 1D gel matrix.The sparingly soluble salt formed,displays a beautiful stratification of discs of precipitate perpendicular to the 1D tube axis.The Liesegang structures are analyzed from the viewpoint of their fractal nature.Geometric Liesegang patterns are constructed in conformity with the well-known empirical laws such as the time,band spacing and band width laws.The dependence of the band spacing on the initial concentrations of diffusing（outer）and immobile（inner）electrolytes（A0 and B0,respectively）is taken to follow the Matalon-Packter law.Both mathematical fractal dimensions and box-count dimensions are calculated.The fractal dimension is found to increase with increasing A0 and decreasing B0.We also analyze mosaic patterns with random distribution of crystallites,grown under different conditions than the classical Liesegang gel method,and report on their fractal properties.Finally,complex Liesegang patterns wherein the bands are grouped in multiplets are studied,and it is shown that the fractal nature increases with the multiplicity.

Combination patterns of precipitation and its concentration degree determining the risk of dengue outbreaks in China

The amount and distribution of precipitation can determine dengue risk by affecting mosquito breeding;however,previous studies failed to incorporate this bivariate characteristic to examine dengue fever transmission.In the present research,nationwide data on daily dengue cases in China between January 2005 and December 2020 were obtained,and the top 12 cities accounting for 78%of total cases were selected for analysis.Precipitation patterns were quantified by weekly precipitation and precipitation concentration degree(PCD).On the basis of the combinations of both parameters,the exposure-response relationships of precipitation with dengue risk were established using generalised additive models,and the high-dengue-risk thresholds of precipitation patterns were further identified.Dengue burden was assessed by calculating attributable dengue cases.For the same amount of precipitation,the dispersed precipitation in the pre-summer rainy season leads to a higher dengue risk in autumn.The weekly precipitation of 100-150 mm and PCD of 0.2-0.4 constitute the highest risk scenario,and the average frequency of precipitation associated with dengue risk in 2013-2020 is 1.6 times higher than that in 2005-2012.A total of 3093 attributable dengue cases are identified.From 2005 to 2020,the amount of dispersed precipitation increased in southern and southwestern China and posed high dengue risks in central China.This study has improved the understanding of the health impacts of irregular rainfall under climate change.Our approach to identifying thresholds provides information for early warning systems and helps reduce the risk of dengue transmission in the long run.

Spatiotemporal patterns of precipitation based on the Bayesian maximum entropy method in a typical catchment of the Heihe River watershed,northwest China

Precipitation patterns are vital to water resource management and hydrological research,especially in the upper reaches of inland rivers in arid and semiarid areas.However,estimating spatiotemporal precipitation patterns at a basin scale is challenging due to limited observations.In this study,spatiotemporal patterns of precipitation amount,frequency,duration,and intensity at different time scales from 2014 to 2019 are estimated using the Bayesian maximum entropy method in the Tianlaochi catchment of the Heihe River watershed,northwest China.The study's results show that the annual average precipitation amount was 535.9 mm from 2014 to 2019,with precipitation amount between May and September accounting for 85.9%of the annual precipitation amount.For daily precipitation,the average frequency rate of light precipitation is highest at 59.55%,however,the average contribution rate of moderate precipitation is highest at 50.33%.The spatial distribution of precipitation is characterized by high-value areas concentrated in the central valley and low-value areas located at the catchment's outlet.The most important driving factors of precipitation patterns are elevation,relative humidity,and wind direction.These outcomes can be used to establish accurate hydrological models in the catchment and provide support for water resource management in the Heihe River watershed.

中国西南-东南季风交汇区降水时空格局变化及其对食物产量的影响--以云南省为例

Following climate change,changes in precipitation patterns and food security are major challenges faced by humans.However,research on how these changes in precipitation pattern impacts food supply is limited.This study aims to elucidate this impact and response mechanisms using precipitation data of a climate change-sensitive confluence zone of the southwest and southeast monsoons in Yunnan Province from 1988 to 2018.The results revealed that the precipitation pattern could be divided into three periods:abundant precipitation(Stage I,from 1988 to 2004),decreased precipitation(Stage II,from 2005 to 2015),and drought recovery(Stage III,from 2016 to 2018).Following the transition from Stage I to Stage II and from Stage II to Stage III,the area of precipitation changed significantly,accounting for 15.07%,13.87%,and 16.53%of Yunnan’s total area,for Stages I,II,and III,respectively.At the provincial level,a significant positive correlation was observed between precipitation and food production(r=0.535,P<0.01),and the correlation coefficient between precipitation and grain yield was higher than that between precipitation and meat and milk production.Based on a precipitation–grain yield transect and breakpoint detection method,key precipitation thresholds affecting grain yield were estimated as 700 and 1500 mm,respectively;when precipitation was<700,700–1500,and≥1500 mm,the correlation coefficients between precipitation and grain yield were 0.448(P<0.01),0.370(P<0.01),and–0.229(P>0.05),respectively.Based on the precipitation thresholds,Yunnan Province can be divided into precipitation surplus,precipitation equilibrium,and precipitation deficit regions,corresponding countermeasures to stabilize grain yield were proposed for each of these regions.The threshold effect of precipitation on grain yield is controlled by molecular-level water–crop mechanisms,in which reactive oxygen species,a by-product of plant aerobic metabolism,plays a key regulatory role.