Quantitative analysis of the dynamic change and spatial differences of the ecological security: a case study of Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi Province

Using the theory and method of the ecological footprint, and combining the changes of regional land use, resource environment, population, society and economy, this paper calculated the ecological footprint, ecological carrying capacity and ecological surplus/loss in 1986-2002 on the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi Province. What is more, this paper has put forward the concept of ecological pressure index, set up ecological pressure index models, and ecological security grading systems, and the prediction models of different ecological footprints, ecological carrying capacity, ecological surplus and ecological safety change, and also has assessed the ecological footprint demands of 10,000 yuan GDE The results of this study are as follows： （1） the ecological carrying capacity in northern Shaanxi shows a decreasing trend, the difference of reducing range is the fastest; （2） the ecological footprint appears an increasing trend; （3） ecological pressure index rose to 0.91 from 0.44 during 1986-2002 on the Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi with an increase of 47%; and （4） the ecological security in the study area is in a critical state, and the ecological oressure index has been increasing rapidlv.

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.