Comprehensive Quality Assessment of Groundwater Environment in Typical Arid Grassland

[Objective] To comprehensively assess the groundwater quality in typical arid grassland. [Method] Based on the survey of pollution sources and analysis of onsite water quality monitoring of Darhan Muminggan United Banner （Damao County） which situated in the inland river basin at the north foot of Yinshan Mountain, the Nemero index method was used to assess the groundwater quality of this area, and the causes for the pollution were also analyzed. [Result] The groundwater quality in Damao County is between poor and very poor. [Conclusion] This study laid the foun- dation for the control of groundwater pollution in Damao County.

Long-term effects of mowing on plasticity and allometry of Leymus chinensis in a temperate semi-arid grassland,China

Mowing is an important land management practice for natural semi-arid regions. A growing body of empirical evidence shows that different mowing regimes affect the functioning of grassland ecosystems. However, the responses of plant functional traits to long-term mowing and their allometric scaling under long-term mowing are poorly understood. For a better understanding of the effects of mowing on grassland ecosystems, we analyzed the allometric traits of leaves and stems of Leymus chinensis （Trin.） Tzvel., a dominant grass species in eastern Eurasian temperate grassland, at different mowing intensities （no clipping, clipping once every two years, once a year and twice a year）. Experiments were conducted on plots established over a decade ago in a typical steppe of Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China. Results showed that most of the functional traits of L. chinensis decreased with the increased mowing intensity. The responses of leaves and stems to long-term mowing were asymmetric, in which leaf traits were more stable than stem traits. Also significant allometric relationships were found among most of the plant functional traits under the four mowing treatments. Sensitive traits of L. chinensis （e.g. leaf length and stem length） were primary indicators associated with aboveground biomass decline under high mowing intensity. In conclusion, the allometric growth of different functional traits of L. chinensis varies with different long-term mowing practices, which is likely to be a strategy used by the plant to adapt to the mowing disturbances.

Effects of spring fire and slope on the aboveground biomass, and organic C and N dynamics in a semi-arid grassland of northern China

The aboveground primary production is a major source of carbon(C) and nitrogen(N) pool and plays an important role in regulating the response of ecosystem and nutrient cycling to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. To explore the mechanisms underlying the effect of spring fire and topography on the aboveground biomass(AGB) and the soil C and N pool, we conducted a field experiment between April 2014 and August 2016 in a semi-arid grassland of northern China to examine the effects of slope and spring fire, and their potential interactions on the AGB and organic C and total N contents in different plant functional groups(C_3 grasses, C_4 grasses, forbs, Artemisia frigida plants, total grasses and total plants).The dynamics of AGB and the contents of organic C and N in the plants were examined in the burned and unburned plots on different slope positions(upper and lower). There were differences in the total AGB of all plants between the two slope positions. The AGB of grasses was higher on the lower slope than on the upper slope in July. On the lower slope, spring fire marginally or significantly increased the AGB of C_3 grasses, forbs, total grasses and total plants in June and August, but decreased the AGB of C_4 grasses and A.frigida plants from June to August. On the upper slope, however, spring fire significantly increased the AGB of forbs in June, the AGB of C_3 grasses and total grasses in July, and the AGB of forbs and C_4 grasses in August. Spring fire exhibited no significant effect on the total AGB of all plants on the lower and upper slopes in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, the total AGB in the burned plots showed a decreasing trend after fire burning compared with the unburned plots. The different plant functional groups had different responses to slope positions in terms of organic C and N contents in the plants. The lower and upper slopes differed with respect to the organic C and N contents of C_3 grasses, C_4 grasses, total grasses, forbs, A. frigida plants and total plants in different growing months. Slope position and spring fire significantly interacted to affect the AGB and organic C and N contents of C_4 grasses and A. frigida plants. We observed the AGB and organic C and N contents in the plants in a temporal synchronized pattern. Spring fire affected the functional AGB on different slope positions, likely by altering the organic C and N contents and, therefore,it is an important process for C and N cycling in the semi-arid natural grasslands. The findings of this study would facilitate the simulation of ecosystem C and N cycling in the semi-arid grasslands in northern China.

AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR AN ECO-CLIMATIC ZONATION AND ITS APPLICATION AS ZONES IN ARID GRASSLANDS,SEMIDESERTS AND DESERTS

The method was developed for a Range Management Handbook of Kenya and the pre-liminary results published 1991. Now it is improved to a stage ready for international discus-sion.1. Main moisture Zones are defined by a specified sum of monthly moistureindices:

Application of Self-pressure Sprinkler Irrigation Technology to Grassland Vegetation Restoration in Alpine Arid Areas

To study the application of self-pressure sprinkler irrigation technology to vegetation restoration of grassland in alpine arid areas,three treatments including fenced grassland(FG),fencedirrigated grassland(FA),and free grazing grassland(CK) were compared in respect of primary productivity.The results showed that the community coverage of FA was only 35.96% higher than that of FG and 152.69% higher than that of CK;the plant height of FA was only 76.71% higher than that of FG and 155.77% higher than that of CK;the productivity of the community in FA was only 24.10% higher than that of FG and 110.00% higher than that of CK.It indicates that the self-pressure sprinkler irrigation technology has certain demonstration and promotion potential in vegetation restoration of grassland in alpine regions and can provide a new way for the sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry in Tibet.

How to Build Artificial Grassland in the Cold and Semi-Arid Regions? ——A Case Study in Naqu

Construction of artificial grassland is a key factor to solve the shortage of grass and forage balance in cold and semi-arid areas of high plateau,and it is the key measure to ensure the sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry in this area. At present,the artificial grassland construction is neither reasonable nor scientific,which restricts the healthy and rapid development of artificial grassland in the cold and semi-arid areas of high plateau. In this research,with Naqu Area in Tibet as a case,problems and current status in construction process of artificial grassland are analyzed in cold and semi-arid areas of high plateau. Suitable artificial forage species in Nagqu are elaborated,and recommendations for the construction and development of artificial grassland are discussed.

Simulation of soil erosion dynamics in grassland ecosystem of semi-arid China using the CENTURY model

Soil erosion can cause considerable effect on global natural resources and eco-environment. In the paper, the CENTURY model has been used to simulate soil erosion in Xilin Gol Grassland of Inner Mongolia. The results showed before the 1960s, the soil erosion amount was over 2 kg /m2.a in grassland ecosystem in the study area because no trees had been planted. But after the 1960s the mean annual accumulator C lost from soil organic matter due to soil erosion was only 0.3 kg /m2.a in forest ecosystem. So afforestation has exerted notable effect on decreasing soil erosion amount in Xilin Gol Grassland.

Effects of fencing on vegetation and soil restoration in a degraded alkaline grassland in northeast China

In order to restore a degraded alkaline grassland, the local government implemented a large restoration project using fences in Changling county, Jilin province, China, in 2000. Grazing was excluded from the protected area, whereas the grazed area was continuously grazed at 8.5 dry sheep equivalent（DSE）/hm2. In the current research, soil and plant samples were taken from grazed and fenced areas to examine changes in vegetation and soil properties in 2005, 2006 and 2008. Results showed that vegetation characteristics and soil properties improved significantly in the fenced area compared with the grazed area. In the protected area the vegetation cover, height and above- and belowground biomass increased significantly. Soil pH, electrical conductivity and bulk density decreased significantly, but soil organic carbon and total nitrogen concentration increased greatly in the protected area. By comparing the vegetation and soil characteristics with pre-degraded grassland, we found that vegetation can recover 6 years after fencing, and soil pH can be restored 8 years after fencing. However, the restoration of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations needed 16, 30 and 19 years, respectively. It is recommended that the stocking rate should be reduced to 1/3 of the current carrying capacity, or that a grazing regime of 1-year of grazing followed by a 2-year rest is adopted to sustain the current status of vegetation and soil resources. However, if N fertilizer is applied, the rest period could be shortened, depending on the rate of application.

Litter decomposition and C and N dynamics as affected by N additions in a semi-arid temperate steppe, Inner Mongolia of China

Litter decomposition is the fundamental process in nutrient cycling and soil carbon（C） sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems. The global-wide increase in nitrogen（N） inputs is expected to alter litter decomposition and,ultimately, affect ecosystem C storage and nutrient status. Temperate grassland ecosystems in China are usually N-deficient and particularly sensitive to the changes in exogenous N additions. In this paper, we conducted a 1,200-day in situ experiment in a typical semi-arid temperate steppe in Inner Mongolia to investigate the litter decomposition as well as the dynamics of litter C and N concentrations under three N addition levels（low N with 50 kg N/（hm2？a）（LN）, medium N with 100 kg N/（hm2？a）（MN）, and high N with 200 kg N/（hm2？a）（HN）） and three N addition forms（ammonium-N-based with 100 kg N/（hm2？a） as ammonium sulfate（AS）, nitrate-N-based with 100 kg N/（hm2？a） as sodium nitrate（SN）, and mixed-N-based with 100 kg N/（hm2？a） as calcium ammonium nitrate（CAN）） compared to control with no N addition（CK）. The results indicated that the litter mass remaining in all N treatments exhibited a similar decomposition pattern： fast decomposition within the initial 120 days, followed by a relatively slow decomposition in the remaining observation period（120–1,200 days）. The decomposition pattern in each treatment was fitted well in two split-phase models, namely, a single exponential decay model in phase I（〈398 days） and a linear decay function in phase II（≥398 days）. The three N addition levels exerted insignificant effects on litter decomposition in the early stages（〈398 days, phase I; P〉0.05）. However, MN and HN treatments inhibited litter mass loss after 398 and 746 days, respectively（P〈0.05）. AS and SN treatments exerted similar effects on litter mass remaining during the entire decomposition period（P〉0.05）. The effects of these two N addition forms differed greatly from those of CAN after 746 and 1,053 days, respectively（P〈0.05）. During the decomposition period, N concentrations in the decomposing litter increased whereas C concentrations decreased, which also led to an exponential decrease in litter C：N ratios in all treatments. No significant effects were induced by N addition levels and forms on litter C and N concentrations（P〉0.05）. Our results indicated that exogenous N additions could exhibit neutral or inhibitory effects on litter decomposition, and the inhibitory effects of N additions on litter decomposition in the final decay stages are not caused by the changes in the chemical qualities of the litter, such as endogenous N and C concentrations. These results will provide an important data basis for the simulation and prediction of C cycle processes in future N-deposition scenarios.

CO_2,CH_4 and N_2O flux changes in degraded grassland soil of Inner Mongolia,China

The main purpose of this study was to explore the dynamic changes of greenhouse gas（GHG）from grasslands under different degradation levels during the growing seasons of Inner Mongolia, China.Grassland degradation is associated with the dynamics of GHG fluxes, e.g., CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes. As one of the global ecological environmental problems, grassland degradation has changed the vegetation productivity as well as the accumulation and decomposition rates of soil organic matter and thus will influence the carbon and nitrogen cycles of ecosystems, which will affect the GHG fluxes between grassland ecosystems and the atmosphere. Therefore, it is necessary to explore how the exchanges of CO2,CH4 and N2O fluxes between soil and atmosphere are influenced by the grassland degradation. We measured the fluxes of CO2, CH4 and N2O in lightly degraded, moderately degraded and severely degraded grasslands in Inner Mongolia of China during the growing seasons from July to September in 2013 and 2014. The typical semi-arid grassland of Inner Mongolia plays a role as the source of atmospheric CO2 and N2O and the sink for CH4. Compared with CO2 fluxes, N2O and CH4 fluxes were relatively low. The exchange of CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes between the grassland soil and the atmosphere may exclusively depend on the net exchange rate of CO2 in semi-arid grasslands. The greenhouse gases showed a clear seasonal pattern, with the CO2 fluxes of –33.63–386.36 mg/（m·h）, CH4 uptake fluxes of 0.113–0.023 mg/（m·h） and N2O fluxes of –1.68–19.90 μg/（m·h）. Grassland degradation significantly influenced CH4 uptake but had no significant influence on CO2 and N2O emissions. Soil moisture and temperature were positively correlated with CO2 emissions but had no significant effect on N2O fluxes.Soil moisture may be the primary driving factor for CH4 uptake. The research results can be in help to better understand the impact of grassland degradation on the ecological environment.

Changes in aggregate-associated organic carbon and nitrogen after 27 years of fertilization in a dryland alfalfa grassland on the Loess Plateau of China

Changes in the distribution of soil aggregate sizes and concentrations of aggregate-associated organic carbon （OC） and nitrogen （N） in response to the fertilization of grasslands are not well understood. Understanding these changes is essential to the sustainable development of artificial grasslands. For understanding these changes, we collected soil samples at 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths from a semi-arid artificial alfalfa grassland after 27 years of applications of phosphorus （P） and nitrogen＋phosphorus＋manure （NPM） fertilizers on the Loess Pla- teau of China. The distribution of aggregate sizes and the concentrations and stocks of OC and N in total soils were determined. The results showed that NPM treatment significantly increased the proportions of 〉2.0 mm and 2.0-0.25 mm size fractions, the mean geometric diameter （MGD） and the mean weight diameter （MWD） in the 0-20 cm layer. Phosphorous fertilizer significantly increased the proportion of 〉2.0 mm size fractions, the MGD and the MWD in the 0-20 cm layer. Long-term application of fertilization （P and NPM） resulted in the accumulation of OC and N in soil aggregates. The largest changes in aggregate-associated OC and N in the 0-20 cm layer were found at the NPM treatment, whereas the largest changes in the 20-40 cm layer were found at the P treatment. The results suggest that long-term fertilization in the grassland leads to the accumulation of OC and N in the coarse size fractions and the redistribution of OC and N from fine size fractions to coarse size fractions.

Determinants and rates of land degradation： Application of stationary time-series model to data from a semi-arid environment in Kenya

The causes of land degradation in the African drylands have been shown to vary. Some researchers consider climate to be the major contributor to degradation, with anthropogenic factors playing a minor role. Others reverse the significance of these two factors. A third group attributes land degradation to climate and anthropogenic factors equally. This study was undertaken to establish the factors influencing land degradation in a semi-arid environment in southeastern Kenya and the rate of change in vegetation types for a period of 35 years （1973-2007）. The reduction in grassland cover was used as an indicator of land degradation. Causes of land degradation were determined by a multiple regression analysis. A log-linear regression analysis was used to establish the rate of vegetation change. The multiple and log-linear regression analyses showed： （1） woody vegetation, livestock population and cultivated area to be the main contributors of reduction in grassland cover in the area, and （2） an increase in undesirable woody species, livestock population and cultivated area had a significant （P〈0.05） negative effect on grassland vegetation. Increased human population, low amounts of rainfall and drought showed no significant negative effect on grassland vegetation cover. In conclusion, human and livestock population growth and increased agricultural land have contributed to intensive crop cultivation and overgrazing in the semi-arid lands. This overuse of the semi-arid rangelands has worsened the deterioration of the natural grassland vegetation.

2005-2020年中国干旱半干旱区典型草地和荒漠生态系统植被地上生物量数据集

植被生物量是全球碳循环的重要组成部分,是陆地生态系统与大气之间碳交换的重要环节,是定量研究全球气候变化与草地、荒漠生态系统之间的反馈调节作用等的基础。中国干旱半干旱区的草地、荒漠生态系统是重要的碳库类型,本文选取中国生态系统研究网络(Chinese Ecosystem Research Network,CERN)中位于中国干旱半干旱区的2个草地生态系统观测研究站(海北站、内蒙古站)和5个荒漠生态系统类型观测研究站(鄂尔多斯站、阜康站、临泽站、奈曼站、沙坡头站)的典型生态系统,对其按照CERN生态系统长期观测规范开展长期观测获取的植被地上生物量的2005–2020年间生长季的月动态实测数据进行了收集整理与质量控制,并开展了样方原始调查数据到样地尺度观测数据的统计计算,生成了植被地上生物量数据集,可为中国干旱半干旱区草地和荒漠生态系统对全球气候变化响应及植被保育与可持续发展等研究提供地面观测数据支撑。

2010–2020年塔里木盆地南部荒漠草地凋落物回收量月动态数据集

中国科学院新疆策勒荒漠草地生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站(以下简称“策勒站”)地处塔里木盆地南缘,南依昆仑山,北临我国最大的塔克拉玛干沙漠。具有植被群落简单,土壤有机质积累缓慢等特点。凋落物是该区域重要的养分来源。基于对策勒站荒漠植物群落的长期定位观测,通过对不同植物凋落物器官(枝、叶、果)分组,本文整理统计得到2010–2020年塔里木盆地南部荒漠草地凋落物的回收量月动态数据,同时记载了观测场群落以及土壤养分的年度变化情况。数据的产生严格遵照CERN生物观测规范执行,数据的审核及质量控制由台站与分中心质控人员共同完成。本数据集以期为深入研究塔里木盆地南部荒漠草地凋落物动态变化提供基础数据,为了解和评估极端干旱荒漠生态系统养分循环过程提供理论支撑。

内蒙古典型草原2010~2021年黑碳气溶胶浓度变化及影响因素分析

分析了2010~2021年内蒙古锡林浩特国家气候观象台大气成分观测站黑碳气溶胶浓度观测数据,阐明了黑碳气溶胶浓度时间变化规律,并初步讨论了其与气象要素的关系,以期为大气黑碳气溶胶污染防治工作提供科学依据.结果表明:不同季节、不同风速下,几乎均在南偏西风向时黑碳气溶胶浓度增大且最高,而在东北风向时其浓度几乎不变甚至略减少且最低;黑碳气溶胶浓度日变化整体呈现出明显的四季均为“单峰型”变化特征,冬季峰值出现时间较其他三个季节晚,四季谷值出现时间一致;季节变化总体上呈现出浓度及其标准差均为秋冬季高于春夏季的特征,说明观测点黑碳气溶胶浓度在高值期间的秋冬季,其变化幅度也较大;由于能源结构的改变及节能减排措施的成效,近10年观测点黑碳气溶胶浓度呈明显下降趋势,其变化与气温、降水呈极显著负相关,与相对湿度呈极显著正相关.

基于Meta分析的围栏封育和人工植被建设对北方风沙区植物-土壤碳氮磷化学计量的影响

围栏封育和人工植被建设作为两种有效的退化草地生态系统恢复措施,在中国北方风沙区的草地管理中被广泛应用。为明确中国北方风沙区内生态恢复措施对植物-土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征的影响,本文选取了52篇相关文献进行Meta分析,通过亚组分析探讨退化草地采取两种恢复措施(围栏封育和人工植被建设)不同年限(≤5年、5~15年、>15年)后植物-土壤C、N、P化学计量的变化。结果表明:1)围封与人工植被建设均可显著增加土壤有机C、全N和全P含量(P<0.05),各元素含量的增加幅度随着土层加深而降低;围封恢复后植物群落叶片和根系全C含量分别显著增加3.26%和4.72%(P<0.05),叶片全N和全P含量分别显著降低18.41%和44.54%(P<0.05);2)两种措施相比,3种恢复年限尤其是恢复年限>15年时,人工植被建设后土壤有机C含量、全N含量增加幅度更大,说明人工植被建设对土壤的恢复效果更好;3)长期围封(>15年)下C꞉N显著增大38.97%(P<0.05),说明围封措施可能引起土壤中N元素缺乏加剧;人工植被建设后期表层土壤C꞉P和N꞉P分别显著增大116.78%和89.04%(P<0.05),说明人工植被建设可能引起土壤中P元素缺乏。两种恢复措施均能提高土壤质量,但土壤恢复前初始有机C含量低,C元素增长率高于N、P元素增长率,在长期围封与人工植被建设后期分别出现土壤中的N、P元素缺乏,需要向土壤中补充N、P元素,进一步促进退化草地的恢复。

半干旱草原露天矿区生态累积效应:评估模型与应用

为揭示半干旱草原露天矿区生态环境质量状况,分离矿区人类活动生态累积效应并识别其演变态势,在厘清矿区生态累积效应概念的基础上,构建适用于半干旱草原的露天矿区生态环境质量评估指数(Surface Mining Areas Eco-environmental Evaluation Index,SMAEEI)以及矿区生态累积效应定量评估模型。选取内蒙古胜利矿区为研究区,量化分析1986—2020年区域生态环境质量和生态累积效应的时空分布规律,以及主要人类活动的生态累积效应差异。结果表明:①SMAEEI适用于半干旱草原露天矿区,能客观呈现各地类生态环境质量高低顺序。35 a间研究区生态环境质量呈极显著下降趋势,且其空间差异显著减弱。露天矿场、城镇扩张区、锡林河湿地及北侧草地生态环境质量出现极显著、显著的退化趋势。②半干旱草原露天矿区生态累积效应定量评估模型能剔除气候因素对生态系统的耦合影响,分离并量化人类活动对矿区生态系统的累积效应,揭示累积的方向、程度和空间范围。35 a间研究区生态服务价值累积量(Change of Ecosystem Service Value Cumulant,COESVC)共减少1186157.03万元,出现负向生态累积效应,生态系统服务功能下降。高度、中度负向累积区集中在湿地和草地退化区、城镇区、露天矿场。③露天开采、城镇建设造成的单位面积负向生态累积效应最明显,前者在单位时间内带来的负向累积变化最剧烈,后者负向累积效应的局部影响程度和偏离度最大;放牧活动引起的负向生态累积效应影响范围最广、总量最大,但局部影响程度最小,生态系统服务功能较其余人类活动更稳定。研究成果可将矿区人类活动引起的生态环境实物量变动转化为价值量描述,为采用货币形式测算矿区生产生活行为的环境损害成本提供可行方法。

中国干旱区草地土壤盐渍化研究可视化分析

基于WOS核心合集和中国知网(CNKI)数据库文献,借助文献可视化分析方法,对我国1984—2021年干旱区草地土壤盐渍化研究进行综合分析,得到以下结果。(1)近40年我国干旱区草地土壤盐渍化研究相关文献发文量由1~2篇/年增加到80篇/年以上,文献数量变化历经缓慢增长、波动增长和跳跃性增长三个阶段,中国科学院和新疆大学团队是该领域的研究主力。(2)研究内容主要为干旱区草地土壤盐渍化现状及其时空动态监测、盐渍化成因分析、草地土壤盐渍化的防治与修复,以及其生态环境效应等方面。早期研究主要集中在松嫩平原、河西走廊、新疆绿洲等地,21世纪以来研究重点逐渐转移到内蒙古自治区。(3)20世纪80年代主要关注草地土壤盐渍化的成因,21世纪初转向盐渍化草地时空动态监测及其生态环境效应分析,近年来重点转为草地土壤盐渍化的生态修复研究。在我国大力推行生态文明建设的背景下,治理和改善盐渍化草地不仅是确保粮食安全的有效措施,也是巩固我国北方生态安全屏障建设的有效途径之一。因此,干旱区草地盐渍化土壤的精准监测及预测方法、盐渍化草地高效治理方法的研究是干旱区草地土壤盐渍化的主要趋势。

饲用燕麦与豆科牧草混播对饲草产量及茎叶比的影响

本研究选取燕麦(Avena sativa)作为禾本科植物代表物种,大豆(Glycine max)、紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)和箭筈豌豆(Vicia sativa)作为豆科植物代表物种,设置5种混播处理(饲用燕麦∶大豆2∶1、饲用燕麦∶紫花苜蓿2∶1、饲用燕麦∶紫花苜蓿3∶1、饲用燕麦∶箭筈豌豆2∶1及饲用燕麦∶箭筈豌豆3∶1),并以4种植物单播作为对照,分析不同混播处理对豆禾混播草地干草产量及茎叶比的影响。结果表明:与饲用燕麦单播相比,饲用燕麦∶紫花苜蓿2∶1及饲用燕麦∶箭筈豌豆3∶1产量分别较单播提高了114%、34%;与4种豆科植物单播相比,饲用燕麦∶紫花苜蓿2∶1可显著提高干草产量;但与饲用燕麦单播相比,饲用燕麦∶紫花苜蓿3∶1混播模式可显著降低茎叶比。综上,饲用燕麦∶紫花苜蓿2∶1或3∶1的混播处理在我国北方农牧交错带具有较大的生产优势。

内蒙古半干旱草原土壤植被大气相互作用(IMGRASS)综合研究

为深化对中纬半干旱草原气候生态相互作用过程、机制及其对全球变化的响应与贡献的认识 ,一项名为“内蒙古半干旱草原土壤植被大气相互作用 (IMGRASS)”的基金重大项目于 1997—2 0 0 1年在内蒙古锡林郭勒草原执行。IMGRASS计划在 1998年草原生长季节、在所选定的以典型草原为主 ,包括草甸草原、稀疏沙地草原等在内的中尺度试验区开展了多点、多要素的综合观测。观测内容包括土壤、植被、大气的相关要素和发生于地气界面的潜热、感热通量 ,还包括N2 O ,CH4 ,CO2 等微量气体交换量、辐射与降水分布。除 1998年中尺度观测试验外 ,在 1999— 2 0 0 1年在代表性地点进行了微量气体收支、遥感和沙尘天气相关的专项观测 ,结合草原站已进行的长期监测资料 ,分析气候生态长期相互作用 ,特别是人类活动干预的影响。在分析观测结果的基础上 ,对该地区的气候生态相互作用进行了数值模拟研究。文章作为介绍IMGRASS计划的第一部分 ,对该项研究计划作一全面简要介绍 ,包括科学目标、计划实施实验区背景、中尺度综合观测 ,并对实验所得大气边界层结构、辐射通量、沙地土壤水份状况、地表反射率谱与遥感测量等提供了个例分析 ,并简单介绍IMGRASS数据库。