Coupling Coordination Analysis of Cropland Intensification and Agroecosystem Services:Evidence from Loess Plateau in Shaanxi Province,China

One of the greatest challenges in the agroecosystem is to improve cropland intensification while preserving agroecosystem services.While many studies have investigated the effect of cropland intensification on agroecosystem service,the interactive coupling and coordination among these factors remain largely unexplored.In view of this,this study performed a case study of the Loess Plateau in Shaanxi Province,China and constructed comprehensive evaluation models to quantify the cropland intensification and agroecosystem service in this area.Balance analysis and the coupling coordination degree model were used to evaluate the interactive relationship between cropland intensification and agroecosystem service,and statistical analysis and spatial autocorrelation were used to analyze the spatial characteristics and potential mechanism of the coupling coordination.Results show that both the cropland intensification and agroecosystem service in the study area were relatively low yet gradually increased from 2000 to 2020.Agroecosystem service lag was identified as the dominant unbalanced development type.Improving the supply capacity of agroecosystem services plays a key role in the balanced development of cropland in the Loess Plateau.The coupling coordination degree between cropland intensification and agroecosystem service ranges from basic coordination to serious incoordination.Therefore,cropland intensification practices in the area should be optimized to enhance this coordination degree.An upward trend was also observed in the coupling coordination degree from2000 to 2020.The withdrawal of marginal cropland in the Grain for Green program is one of the most important reasons for this trend,especially for the northern region.Around 83.6%of the high-high clusters are concentrated in the southern region of the Loess Plateau,whereas 70.5%of the low-low clusters are distributed in the northern region.These clustering characteristics are mainly attributed to the environmental suitability of these areas for agriculture and their degree of economic development.

The effect of environmental factors on spatial variability in land use change in the high-sediment region of China＇s Loess Plateau

In areas with topographic heterogeneity, land use change is spatially variable and influenced by climate, soil properties, and topography. To better understand this variability in the high-sediment region of the Loess Plateau in which soil loss is most severe and sediment diameter is larger than in other regions of the plateau, this study builds some indicators to identify the characteristics of land use change and then analyze the spatial variability as it is affected by climate, soil property, and topography. We build two indicators, a land use change intensity index and a vegetation change index, to characterize the intensity of land use change, and the degree of vegetation restoration, respectively. Based on a subsection mean method, the two indicators are then used to assess the spatial variability of land use change affected by climatic, edaphic, and topographic elements. The results indicate that： 1） Land use changed significantly in the period 1998-2010. The total area experiencing land use change was 42,302 km2, accounting for 22.57%of the study area. High-coverage grassland, other woodland, and forest increased significantly, while low-coverage grassland and farmland decreased in 2010 compared with 1998.2） Land use change occurred primarily west of the Yellow River, between 35 and 38 degrees north latitude. The four transformation types, including （a） low-coverage grassland to medium-coverage grassland, （b） medium-coverage grassland to high-coverage grassland, （c） farmland to other woodland, and （d） farmland to medium-coverage grassland, were the primary types of land use change, together constituting 60% of the area experiencing land use change. 3） The spatial variability of land use change was significantly affected by properties of dryness/wetness, soil conditions and slope gradient. In general, land use changed dramatically in semi-arid regions, remained relatively stable in arid regions, changed significantly in clay-rich soil, remained relatively stable in clay-poor soil, changed dramatically in steeper slopes, and remained relatively stable in tablelands and low-lying regions. The increase in vegetation coincided with increasing changes in land use for each physical element. These findings allow for an evaluation of the effect of the Grain to Green Program, and are applicable to the design of soil and water conservation projects on the Loess Plateau of China.

Age-related Changes of Carbon Accumulation and Allocation in Plants and Soil of Black Locust Forest on Loess Plateau in Ansai County, Shaanxi Province of China

The effects of reforestation on carbon （C） sequestration in China＇s Loess Plateau ecosystem have attracted much research attention in recent years. Black locust trees （Robinia pseudoacacia L.） are valued for their important use in reforestation and water and soil conservation efforts. This forest type is widespread across the Loess Plateau, and must he an essential component of any planning for C sequestration efforts in this fragile ecological region. The long-term effects of stand age on C accumulation and allocation after reforestation remains uncertain. We examined an age-sequence of black locust forest （5, 9, 20, 30, 38, and 56 yr since planting） on the Loess Plateau to evaluate C accumulation and allocation in plants （trees, shrubs, herbages, and leaf litter） and soil （0-100 cm）. Allometric equations were developed for estimating the biomass of tree components （leaf, branch, stem without bark, bark and root） with a de- structive sampling method. Our results demonstrated that black locust forest ecosystem accumulated C constantly, from 31.42 Mg C/ha （1 Mg = 106 g） at 5 yr to 79.44 Mg C/haat 38 yr. At the ＇old forest＇ stage （38 to 56 yr）, the amount of C in plant biomass significantly decreased （from 45.32 to 34.52 Mg C/ha） due to the high mortality of trees. However, old forest was able to accumulate C continuously in soil （from 33.66 to 41.00 Mg C/ha）. The C in shrub biomass increased with stand age, while the C stock in the herbage layer and leaf litter was age-independent. Reforestation resulted in C re-allocation in the forest soil. The topsoil （0-20 cm） C stock increased constantly with stand age. However, C storage in sub-top soil, in the 20-30, 30-50, 50-100, and 20-100 cm layers, was age-independent. These results suggest that succession, as a temporal factor, plays a key role in C accumulation and re-allocation in black locust forests and also in regional C dynamics in vegetation.

Distribution,characteristics and influencing factors of fresh groundwater resources in the Loess Plateau,China

The fresh groundwater in the Loess Plateau serves as a major source of water required for the production and livelihood of local residents and is greatly significant for regional economic and social development and ecological protection.This paper analyzes the hydrogeological conditions and groundwater characteristics in the Loess Plateau,expatiates on the types and distribution characteristics of the fresh groundwater in the plateau,and analyzes the influencing factors and mechanisms in the formation of the fresh groundwater in the plateau as a priority.Based on this,it summarizes the impacts of human activities and climatic change on the regional fresh groundwater.The groundwater in Loess Plateau features uneven temporal-spatial distribution,with the distribution space of the fresh groundwater closely relating to precipitation.The groundwater shows a distinct zoning pattern of hydrochemical types.It is fresh water in shallow parts and is salt water in deep parts overall,while the fresh water of exploration value is distributed only in a small range.The storage space and migration pathways of fresh groundwater in the loess area feature dual voids,vertical multilayers,variable structure,poor renewability,complex recharge processes,and distinct spatial differences.In general,the total dissolved solids(TDS)of the same type of groundwater tends to gradually increase from recharge areas to discharge areas.Conditions favorable for the formation of fresh groundwater in loess tablelands include the low content of soluble salts in strata,weak evaporation,and special hydrodynamic conditions.Owing to climate change and human activities,the resource quantity of regional fresh water tends to decrease overall,and the groundwater dynamic field and the recharge-discharge relationships between groundwater and surface water have changed in local areas.Human activities have a small impact on the water quality but slightly affect the water quantity of the groundwater in loess.

Relationship Between Agriculture and Ecological Deterioration,Restoration and Reconstruction in Loess Plateau Areas of Northwest China

A comprehensive analysis was conducted on the current situation as well as historic succession processor agriculture and ecological conditions in Northwest China, in particular in the Loess Plateau, by means of a inter-disciplinary approach of ecology, agro-geohistory, and agronomy. It was concluded that the fundamental causes responsible for the ecological deterioration, signed by the poor agro-productivity and serious soil erosion, had been the extensive cropping system by ever-increasing reclamation on semi-drought slope land, where initiated a natural vegetation of brushy grasses with sparse trees, thus suitable only for animal husbandry. Based on an identification of specific actual status of China, several countermeasures of correctly dealing with the relationship between agricultural development and the ecological restoration and reconstruction were proposed, including to get breakthrough first in the transection area by means of the rational use of resources and the raising of agro-system productivity, to promoting 'water conservancy-type ecological agriculture' through the radical shift of traditional production pattern, and the adoption of a policy of proper degree of grain self-reliance, as well as to construct livestock industry base in Northwest China.

Seasonal Responses of Net Primary Productivity of Vegetation to Phenological Dynamics in the Loess Plateau, China

With global warming, the great changes in the patterns of plant growth have occurred. The conditions in early spring and late autumn have changed the process of vegetation photosynthesis, which are expected to have a significant impact on net primary productivity(NPP) and affect the global carbon cycle. Currently, the seasonal response characteristics of NPP to phenological changes in dryland ecosystems are still not well defined. This article calibrated and analyzed the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)time series of Advanced Very-High-Resolution Radiometer(AVHRR) data from 1982 to 2015 in the Loess Plateau, China. The spatial and temporal distributions of vegetation phenology and NPP in the Loess Plateau under semihumid and semiarid conditions were investigated. The seasonal variation in the NPP response to vegetation phenology under the climate change was also analyzed. The results showed that, different from the northern forest, there was distinct spatial heterogeneity in the effect of climate change on the dynamic change in vegetation growth in the Loess Plateau: 1) an advance of the start of the growing season(SOS) and a delay of the end of the growing season(EOS) significantly increased the NPP in spring and autumn, respectively, in the humid southeast;2) in the arid northwest, the NPP did not significantly increase in spring and autumn but significantly decreased in summer.

Current situation and human health risk assessment of fluoride enrichment in groundwater in the Loess Plateau:A case study of Dali County,Shaanxi Province,China

This study aims to investigate the mechanisms and health risks of fluoride enrichment in groundwater in the Loess Plateau,China.By taking Dali County,Shaanxi Province,China as an example,this study obtains the following results through field investigation and the analyses of water,soil,and crop samples.(1)The groundwater can be divided into two major types,namely the Quaternary pore-fissure water and Karst water.The Karst area and sandy area have high-quality groundwater and serve as the target areas for optional water supply.The groundwater in the study area is slightly alkaline and highly saline.Meanwhile,high-fluoride groundwater is mainly distributed in the loess and river alluvial plains in the depression area of the Guanzhong Basin and the discharge areas of the groundwater,with the highest fluoride concentration exceeding seven times the national standard.(2)Fluoride in groundwater mainly originates from a natural source and human activities.The natural source refers to the fluoride-bearing minerals in rocks and soil,and the fluoride from this source is mainly controlled by natural factors such as climate,geologic setting,pH,specific hydrochemical environment,ion exchange,and mineral saturation.Human activities in modern life can be further divided into industrial and agricultural sources primarily.(3)The health risks of fluoride contamination are very high in the Loess Plateau,especially for children compared to adults.Meanwhile,the risks of fluoride exposure through food intake are higher than those through drinking water intake.The authors suggest selecting target areas to improve water supply and ensure the safety of drinking water in the study area.Besides,it is necessary to plant crops with low fluoride content or cash crops and to conduct groundwater treatment to reduce the fluoride concentration in drinking water.These results will provide a theoretical basis for safe water supply in the faulted basin areas in the Loess Plateau.

Estimation and testing of linkages between forest structure and rainfall interception characteristics of a Robinia pseudoacacia plantation on China’s Loess Plateau

Understanding the interaction between canopy structure and the parameters of interception loss is essential in predicting the variations in partitioning rainfall and water resources as affected by changes in canopy structure and in implementing water-based management in semiarid forest plantations.In this study,seasonal variations in rainfall interception loss and canopy storage capacity as driven by canopy structure were predicted and the linkages were tested using seasonal filed measurements.The study was conducted in nine 50 m×50 m Robinia pseudoacacia plots in the semiarid region of China’s Loess Plateau.Gross rain-fall,throughfall and stemflow were measured in seasons with and without leaves in 2015 and 2016.Results show that measured average interception loss for the nine plots were 17.9% and 9.4% of gross rainfall during periods with leaves (the growing season) and without leaves, respectively. Average canopy storage capacity estimated using an indirect method was 1.3 mm in the growing season and 0.2 mm in the leafless season. Correlations of relative interception loss and canopy storage capacity to canopy variables were highest for leaf/wood area index (LAI/WAI) and canopy cover, fol-lowed by bark area, basal area, tree height and stand density. Combined canopy cover, leaf/wood area index and bark area multiple regression models of interception loss and canopy storage capacity were established for the growing season and in the leafless season in 2015. It explained 97% and 96% of the variations in relative interception loss during seasons with and without leaves, respectively. It also explained 98% and 99% of the variations in canopy storage capacity during seasons with and without leaves, respectively. The empiri-cal regression models were validated using field data col-lected in 2016. The models satisfactorily predicted relative interception loss and canopy storage capacity during seasons with and without leaves. This study provides greater under-standing about the effects of changes in tree canopy structure (e.g., dieback or mortality) on hydrological processes.

Study on Daily ET Based on SEBAL Model in a Typical Watershed of the Loess Plateau of China

Under the double impact of global climate change and human intervention, surface evapotranspiration (ET), as an important part of hydrological cycle, is affecting watershed land-use planning and economic development. The Loess Plateau is mostly arid and semi-arid areas and its ecological environment is fragile. Drought and soil erosion not only reflects the regional climate change, but also human social activities and ecosystems. In particular, these processes are directly related to the thermal and water gradients exchange in the soil-vegetation-atmosphere system. Luoyugou watershed, a typical Loess Plateau watershed, is selected for this study. Estimating ET through SEBAL (Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land) model demonstrates that the SEBAL model in the watershed is more applicable. At the same time, ET seasonal variation is got, combined with the corresponding periods of the land-use changes for analysis. The results show that ET in the Northwest of the basin is higher than the East on the spatial distribution, especially in the high vegetation coverage area. Land use changes significantly in the watershed over the past 20 years, mainly transferring from sloping terraces to the terraces and woodland. ET significantly increased area accounts for 47.6% of the total area in the valley, however, conspicuously reduced area accounts for 13.2%. The daily ET of different land use types had significant differences with the ET of water land and wood land was the largest. It is important that this study on the ET distribution can aid policy and decision makers for land use planning and environmental construction in Luoyugou watershed.

Estimating Monthly Surface Air Temperature Using MODIS LST Data and an Artificial Neural Network in the Loess Plateau, China

Air temperature(Ta)datasets with high spatial and temporal resolutions are needed in a wide range of applications,such as hydrology,ecology,agriculture,and climate change studies.Nonetheless,the density of weather station networks is insufficient,especially in sparsely populated regions,greatly limiting the accuracy of estimates of spatially distributed Ta.Due to their continuous spatial coverage,remotely sensed land surface temperature(LST)data provide the possibility of exploring spatial estimates of Ta.However,because of the complex interaction of land and climate,retrieval of Ta from the LST is still far from straightforward.The estimation accuracy varies greatly depending on the model,particularly for maximum Ta.This study estimated monthly average daily minimum temperature(Tmin),average daily maximum temperature(Tmax)and average daily mean temperature(Tmean)over the Loess Plateau in China based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS)LST data(MYD11A2)and some auxiliary data using an artificial neural network(ANN)model.The data from 2003 to 2010 were used to train the ANN models,while 2011 to 2012 weather station temperatures were used to test the trained model.The results showed that the nighttime LST and mean LST provide good estimates of Tmin and Tmean,with root mean square errors(RMSEs)of 1.04℃ and 1.01℃,respectively.Moreover,the best RMSE of Tmax estimation was 1.27℃.Compared with the other two published Ta gridded datasets,the produced 1 km×1 km dataset accurately captured both the temporal and spatial patterns of Ta.The RMSE of Tmin estimation was more sensitive to elevation,while that of Tmax was more sensitive to month.Except for land cover type as the input variable,which reduced the RMSE by approximately 0.01℃,the other vegetation-related variables did not improve the performance of the model.The results of this study indicated that ANN,a type of machine learning method,is effective for long-term and large-scale Ta estimation.

NEW STATUS OF THE LOESS PLATEAU IN CHINA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

impovensnment ana backwardness usea 10 be me common impression the me Loess Plateau. In thewake of the current reform drive and "open-door" policy, the Loess Plateau has seen a burgeoning development in the regional economy that is now driven by a new momentum. Viewed from the increase of its grain output, exploitation of the land resources and fruit production, establishment of energy bases, soil-and-water conservation and other aspects, this article delineates a brand-new and panoramic blueprint for the Plateau’s future. So a new status in the development of China’s national economy is endowed to the Plateau.

Effect of Root Architecture on Structural Stability and Erodibility of Topsoils during Concentrated Flow in Hilly Loess Plateau

Traditional vegetation techniques for the control of concentrated flow erosion are widely recognized, whereas only a few studies have experimentally investigated the impacts of belowground roots on the erodibility of topsoils in semi-arid areas. To quantify the effects of root architectures on soil erodibility and its relevant structural properties, simulated flow experiments were conducted at six-week intervals from 18 July to 20 October in 2012 in the hilly Loess Plateau. Five treatments were: 1) bare(control), 2) purple alfalfa(Medicago sativa), representing tap roots(T), 3) switchgrass(Panicum virgatum), representing fibrous roots(F), 4) purple alfalfa and switchgrass, representing both tap and fibrous roots(T + F), and 5) natural recovery(N). For each treatment, soil structural properties and root characteristics were measured at an interval of six weeks. Soil anti-scouribility was calculated. Results showed that grass planting slightly reduced soil bulk density, but increased soil aggregate content by 19.1%, 10.6%, 28.5%, and 41.2% in the treatments T, F, T + F, and N, respectively. Soil shear strength(cohesion and angle of internal friction(φ)) significantly increased after the grass was planted. As roots grew, soil cohesion increased by 115.2%–135.5%, while soil disintegration rate decreased by 39.0%–58.1% in the 21 th week compared with the recorded value in the 9th week. Meanwhile, root density and root surface area density increased by 64.0%–104.7% and 75.9%–157.1%, respectively. No significant differences in soil anti-scouribility were observed between the treatments of T and F or of T + F and N, but the treatments of T + F and N performed more effectively than T or F treatment alone in retarding concentrated flow. Soil aggregation and root surface-area density explained the observed soil anti-scouribility during concentrated flow well for the different treatments. This result proved that the restoration of natural vegetation might be the most appropriate strategy in soil reinforcement in the hilly Loess Plateau.

New Thought of Meteorological Forecasting and Warning Models of Geological Disasters in Loess Plateau of North Shaanxi

The study established daily comprehensive precipitation equations and calculated respective critical daily comprehensive precipitation value of loess-collapse disasters and landslide disasters by dint of the geological disasters and corresponding precipitation data in 47 years.Considering geological disaster risk divisions,precipitation influence coefficient and daily comprehensive precipitation,hourly rolling daily-forecasting and hourly warning fine and no-gap models on the base of high temporal and spatial resolution rainfall data of automatic meteorological station were developed.Through the verifying of combination of dynamical forecasting model and warning model,the results showed that it can improve efficiency of forecast and have good response at the same time.

Study on Rural Domestic Waste Treatment in Loess Plateau Region——Taking Longfang Town in Shaanxi Province as Example

With the continuous development of economy and changes in people’s lifestyle,rural domestic waste brought about serious harm to water,air,human health,ecological landscape and so forth.In this paper,taking Longfang Town in Loess Plateau region as example,the source,amount and harms of rural domestic waste were analyzed firstly,as well as the current situation and existing problems of treatment,and then a suitable waste disposal technology for the town was chosen,finally the reasonable treatment methods combining new countryside and non-new countryside with township was summed up,so as to realize the reduction,harmless and resource treatment of rural domestic waste.

Study on the Climate Changes Characteristics in the Hilly Region of the Loess Plateau and Its Influence on Agricultural Production

[Objective] The aim was to study the climate changes characteristics in the hilly region of the loess plateau and its influence on agricultural production.[Method] Taking Yan’an City as an example,and by dint of temperature and precipitation in nine meteorological stations from 1957 to 2007 and accumulated anomaly curve,linear regression and relevant analysis,the climate changes characteristics in 51 years in Yan’an were expounded.The climate changes in the hilly region of the loess plateau were studied and its influences on agricultural production were concluded.[Result] The characteristics of climate changes in the hilly region were as follow:high temperature in winter and warm winter trend was clearly;the temperature in spring enhanced fast and the drought disaster was increasing worse;rainy days occurred now and then in autumn.The climate changes had different levels of influences on agricultural production in Yan’an City.Because of rising temperature in winter,facility agriculture was vigorously developed and the apple range expanded;in the meantime,because of rising temperature in spring,drought was worsen and sowing in spring can not proceed;constant rain in autumn damaged the quality of date.[Conclusion] The study provided theoretical basis for the regional agricultural production and agricultural structure adjustment.

Change Characteristics and Cause Analysis of Summer Precipitation Anomaly in Loess Plateau of Northern Shaanxi Province

[ Objective] The research aimed to study change characteristics and formation cause of summer precipitation abnormality in Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi Province. [ Method] Based on summer precipitation data at 15 observation stations in Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi Province and NCEP/NCAR dataset from 1961 to 2008, change characteristics of summer precipitation in the region were investigated by using linear trend estimation and composite analysis. [Result] Summer rainfall had decrease trend in most parts of northem Shaanxi Province, but had increase trend in western and southern regions. The interannual and interdecadal variations were obvious. It had a large amount of precipitation from the mid- 1970s to the mid-1990s, while summer rainfall had decrease trend after the mid-1990s and increase trend in recent years. In wet years, it was a large positive anomaly zone from western Ural Mountains to northem Lake Baikal at middle and high latitudes, indicating that there was a blocking high over the Ural Mountains, while it was negative anomaly zone from northern Okhotsk Sea to Lake Baikal. From Northwest Pacific Ocean to Bo- hal Sea Bay and North China, it was a wide range of significant positive anomaly zone, which was favorable for Westem Pacific subtropical high ex- tending westward and northward. The analysis in dry years showed opposite circulation configuration. It was ＂ -, ＋, -＂ wave train distribution in middle and high latitudes and positive anomaly zone along the Sea of Okhotsk. Western Pacific subtropical high was also by south and east. Major water vapor was from southeast direction in wet years, and abundant water vapor caused more summer rainfall in northern Shaanxi. In dry years, water vapor was from westerly tuming southerly flow. It was weaker and by east. [ Conclusion] The research provided reference for reasonable utilization of summer precipitation in the zone.

Variation characteristics of CO_(2) in a newly-excavated soil profile,Chinese Loess Plateau:Excavation-induced ancient soil organic carbon decomposition

Soils of the Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP)contain substantial amounts of soil inorganic carbon(SIC),as well as recent and ancient soil organic carbon(SOC).With the advent of the Anthropocene,human perturbation,including excavation,has increased soil CO_(2) emission from the huge loess carbon pool.This study aims to determine the potential of loess CO_(2) emission induced by excavation.Soil CO_(2) were continuously monitored for seven years on a newly-excavated profile in the central CLP and the stable C isotope compositions of soil CO_(2) and SOC were used to identify their sources.The results showed that the soil CO_(2) concentrations ranged from 830μL·L^(-1) to 11190μL·L^(-1) with an annually reducing trend after excavation,indicating that the human excavation can induce CO_(2) production in loess profile.Theδ^(13) C of CO_(2) ranged from–21.27‰to–19.22‰(mean:–20.11‰),with positive deviation from top to bottom.The range of δ^(13)CSOC was–24.0‰to–21.1‰with an average of–23.1‰.Theδ^(13) C-CO_(2) in this study has a positive relationship with the reversed CO_(2) concentration,and it is calculated that 80.22%of the soil CO_(2) in this profile is from the microbial decomposition of SOC and 19.78%from the degasification during carbonate precipitation.We conclude that the human excavation can significantly enhance the decomposition of the ancient OC in loess during the first two years after perturbation,producing and releasing soil CO_(2) to atmosphere.

Variation Characteristics of Sunshine Hours and Its Reason Analysis over Loess Plateau of Shaanxi

[Objective] The research aimed to study variation characteristics of sunshine hours over Loess Plateau of Shaanxi during 1961-2010.[Method] By using the climate tendency rate,climate trend coefficient and linear correlation,the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of sunshine hours in Loess Plateau of Shaanxi in recent 50 years were analyzed.Moreover,the main reason for inducing variation of sunshine hours in the zone was discussed.[Result] In recent 50 years,the variation of annual sunshine hours in Loess Plateau of Shaanxi mainly presented decrease trend.The decrease zones were mainly located in windy desert region along the Great Wall line,central loess hilly region,most areas of plateau remains region and most areas of arid plateau region in north Weihe River.The increase zones were mainly located in west and northeast plateau remains region,southwest plateau remains region,some areas of arid plateau region in north Weihe River.Seen from four-season variation trend,except in spring,the sunshine hours in other seasons presented varying decrease trends.The decrease amplitude in summer was 24.34 h/10 a,and was the most significant.The second one was-16.62 h/10 a in winter.The decrease amplitude in winter was 3.55 h/10 a,and was unobvious.Seen from spatial variation,the annual sunshine hours presented significant increase trend in Mizhi of loess hilly region and significant decrease trend in Dingbian,Shenmu of windy desert region along the Great Wall line,Qingjian,Yanchuan of plateau remains region,Longxian,Fengxiang,Chunhua and Hancheng of arid plateau region in north Weihe River.There was no obvious variation trend in other research zones.The annual and four-season sunshine hours all presented negative correlations with rainfall,relative humidity,total cloud amount,low cloud amount,water vapor pressure and fog days.The sunshine hours presented positive correlation with visibility.The correlation coefficients between sunshine hours and relative humidity,rainfall,total cloud amount,water vapor pressure,fog days and visibility were all bigger in each region.[Conclusion] The research provided basis for analyzing climate variation over Loess Plateau of Shaanxi.

Characteristics of Wind Speed Profiles under Complex Terrain Conditions in Loess Plateau

To reveal the changing characteristics of wind speed with altitude in under complex terrain conditions in Loess Plateau in Northern Shaanxi, based on the complete data of wind speed profiles of six wind towers in the region in a year, the diurnal, monthly, and seasonal variations of wind shear index of the wind towers as well as the changes of wind shear index with wind speed under complex terrain conditions were studied. The results showed that the wind shear index of each wind tower was positive, showing that wind speed tended to increase with the rising of altitude in most areas of Loess Plateau in Northern Shaanxi; terrain had obvious effects on wind speed profiles. The wind shear index of the wind towers was small during the day and large at night; the differences between day and night in the wind shear index of various wind towers were different; there were obvious seasonal variations in the wind shear index of the wind towers under different terrain conditions. With the increase of wind speed, the wind shear index of each wind tower increased firstly and then decreased, but the peaks of wind shear index of various wind towers ap- peared in different wind speed ranges. When wind speed varied from 3 to 12 m/s, wind shear index was larger than the comprehensive wind shear index of the wind towers, which is beneficial to the improvement of power generation of a wind power plant. Wind shear index can be used to assess wind resources of a wind power plant.

Spatio-temporal variation of soil CO_(2) concentration in Loess Area of northwestern Shanxi Province,China

CO_(2) released by soil serves as an important link between terrestrial ecosystems and atmospheric CO_(2), whose small chang‐es may significantly affect the global carbon cycle. In order to reveal the spatio-temporal variations of CO_(2) concentrations in deep loess, this paper takes Qingliangsi Gully watershed in northwestern Shanxi Province, China as an example to sys‐tematically study soil CO_(2)concentration and its spatio-temporal variations and carbon sink significance under different watershed locations and different land use types. Results show that: (1) The release potential of the loess soil is larger in the depth range of 2 m, which is much more likely to be the CO_(2) release area. (2) Grassland and forest are more advanta‐geous in terms of soil microbial activity and soil carbon reserve compared with farmland. In addition, the change of land use type from farmland to grassland can increase soil organic carbon reserve, which is of far-reaching significance to the global carbon cycle. This is especially true in an area like the Loess Plateau with densely covered hills, gullies, and serious soil erosion in an area of 64×104 km2. (3) In the study area, the diurnal concentration of soil CO_(2) at different depths shows a weak "high-low-high-low" trend from 08:00 to 07:00 next day;and in deep soil it has a lag time compared with the daily change of temperature, generally about 4−12 h, which may be caused largely by the more compact loess structure. It is worth pointing out that the Loess Plateau in China, with a thickness of the loess of tens to hundreds of meters, has the most abundant soil resources in the world, and also stores a large amount of terrestrial soil carbon, which carries the hope of promoting the research of global carbon cycle.