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, ecologica...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.展开更多
The Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi Province of China covers Yulin, Yan＇an, and Tongchuan cities mainly. The kind of physiognomy is complicated and various, including the transitional region of the sand and wind, t...The Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi Province of China covers Yulin, Yan＇an, and Tongchuan cities mainly. The kind of physiognomy is complicated and various, including the transitional region of the sand and wind, the hilly-gully fragile region, the pimple mound region from North to South. Large-scale land reclamation projects that are severely affecting these ecosystems have been implemented. In this paper, we reported an investigation to the changes in land use and ecosystem services on the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi Province from 1978 to 2000. We used three LANDSAT TM and/or ETM data sets to estimate the changes in the size of five land-cover/land-use categories, and we also used previously published value coefficients to estimate the changes in the value of ecosystem services delivered by each land category. Finally, we ranked the contribution of various ecosystem functions to the overall value of the ecosystem services, we have estimated that the annual value of the ecosystem services is 56.95 billon RMB yuan in the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi Province in 2000. In the region, from 1978 to 2000, the economic value of the fixing carbon was higher, the economic value of water conservation was the lowest, but the economic value of the NPP, fixing carbon, and supplying oxygen accounted for above ninety percent of the total value, obviously the vegetation created the biggest ecosystem service value. We can conclude that future land-use policy formulation should give precedence to the conservation of these ecosystems over uncontrolled reclamation, and that further land reclamation should be based on rigorous environmental impact analyses.展开更多
[ 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...[ 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.展开更多
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 followi...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.展开更多
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 ...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.展开更多
Cave dwellings (or Yaodong in Chinese) are a unique style of traditional houses on the Loess Plateau of westerncentral China. They exhibit rich folk customs and a flavor of the surrounding environment. The soil of the...Cave dwellings (or Yaodong in Chinese) are a unique style of traditional houses on the Loess Plateau of westerncentral China. They exhibit rich folk customs and a flavor of the surrounding environment. The soil of the Loess Plateau is thick and compact, making it the ideal place for building caves that are sturdy enough to last hundreds or even thousands of years without collapsing. Most cave dwellings have straight walls and low arched ceilings, with the walls reinforced with grass and mud. Cave dwellings are comfortable to live in, being cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Being cut into the mountain, the architecture blends in quite well with the surrounding natural environment, while the rust exterior exhibits the beauty of ingenuity.展开更多
The mountainous and hilly region plays an important role in ecological safety and production in China. However, recent studies have poorly characterized the parallel structure of land use in the valleys of the mountai...The mountainous and hilly region plays an important role in ecological safety and production in China. However, recent studies have poorly characterized the parallel structure of land use in the valleys of the mountainous and hilly region using topographic factors(e.g.elevation, slope, aspect). Here, the loess hilly region of northern Shaanxi Province is used as a representative case area to analyze the vertical distribution pattern of land-use conversion using the relative elevation concept and the HAND index. The differences in the vertical structure of land-use conversion between absolute elevation and relative elevation were compared. We found that the classifications of absolute and relative elevation had similar proportions of each relative elevation grade in each absolute elevation grade. Cropland,woodland, and grassland were distributed evenly in each grade of absolute/relative elevation,while water body, built-up land and unused land were more likely to spread in low grades of relative elevation than those of absolute elevation. The land-use conversion(i.e. loss of cropland and gain in woodland and built-up land) showed an apparently stepped distribution with relative elevation classification, suitable for revealing vertical distributions of land-use conversion in the loess hilly region. Cropland transformed to woodland was mainly distributed in high grade of relative elevation, decreasing with a decrease in grades, while built-up land transformed from cropland and grassland was mainly distributed in low grade of relative elevation, decreasing with increases in grades. The grade of relative elevation where cropland transformed to woodland descended with the implementation of the Grain for Green Project. Our results suggest that it is better to analyze the vertical distribution of land-use conversion with relative elevation classification in hilly regions.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40371003 Ministry of Education of China, No.01158 Master Research Project of Shaanxi Normal University
文摘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.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(40771019)the National Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province,China(2007D16).
文摘The Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi Province of China covers Yulin, Yan＇an, and Tongchuan cities mainly. The kind of physiognomy is complicated and various, including the transitional region of the sand and wind, the hilly-gully fragile region, the pimple mound region from North to South. Large-scale land reclamation projects that are severely affecting these ecosystems have been implemented. In this paper, we reported an investigation to the changes in land use and ecosystem services on the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi Province from 1978 to 2000. We used three LANDSAT TM and/or ETM data sets to estimate the changes in the size of five land-cover/land-use categories, and we also used previously published value coefficients to estimate the changes in the value of ecosystem services delivered by each land category. Finally, we ranked the contribution of various ecosystem functions to the overall value of the ecosystem services, we have estimated that the annual value of the ecosystem services is 56.95 billon RMB yuan in the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi Province in 2000. In the region, from 1978 to 2000, the economic value of the fixing carbon was higher, the economic value of water conservation was the lowest, but the economic value of the NPP, fixing carbon, and supplying oxygen accounted for above ninety percent of the total value, obviously the vegetation created the biggest ecosystem service value. We can conclude that future land-use policy formulation should give precedence to the conservation of these ecosystems over uncontrolled reclamation, and that further land reclamation should be based on rigorous environmental impact analyses.
基金Supported by National Science and Technology Support Plan Project,China ( 2007BAC03A01)
文摘[ 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.
基金This study was funded by the survey projects initiated by the China Geological Survey(DD20189220,DD20211317,and 1212010634713).
文摘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.
基金Supported by the (Meteorological) Scientific Research Project of Public Welfare Industry of China Meteorological Administration (GYHY201306048)Special Project for Climate Change of China Meteorological Administration (CCSF201234)
文摘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.
文摘Cave dwellings (or Yaodong in Chinese) are a unique style of traditional houses on the Loess Plateau of westerncentral China. They exhibit rich folk customs and a flavor of the surrounding environment. The soil of the Loess Plateau is thick and compact, making it the ideal place for building caves that are sturdy enough to last hundreds or even thousands of years without collapsing. Most cave dwellings have straight walls and low arched ceilings, with the walls reinforced with grass and mud. Cave dwellings are comfortable to live in, being cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Being cut into the mountain, the architecture blends in quite well with the surrounding natural environment, while the rust exterior exhibits the beauty of ingenuity.
基金National Key Research and Development Program of China,No.2017YFC0504701National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41801175Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China,No.2018M631558
文摘The mountainous and hilly region plays an important role in ecological safety and production in China. However, recent studies have poorly characterized the parallel structure of land use in the valleys of the mountainous and hilly region using topographic factors(e.g.elevation, slope, aspect). Here, the loess hilly region of northern Shaanxi Province is used as a representative case area to analyze the vertical distribution pattern of land-use conversion using the relative elevation concept and the HAND index. The differences in the vertical structure of land-use conversion between absolute elevation and relative elevation were compared. We found that the classifications of absolute and relative elevation had similar proportions of each relative elevation grade in each absolute elevation grade. Cropland,woodland, and grassland were distributed evenly in each grade of absolute/relative elevation,while water body, built-up land and unused land were more likely to spread in low grades of relative elevation than those of absolute elevation. The land-use conversion(i.e. loss of cropland and gain in woodland and built-up land) showed an apparently stepped distribution with relative elevation classification, suitable for revealing vertical distributions of land-use conversion in the loess hilly region. Cropland transformed to woodland was mainly distributed in high grade of relative elevation, decreasing with a decrease in grades, while built-up land transformed from cropland and grassland was mainly distributed in low grade of relative elevation, decreasing with increases in grades. The grade of relative elevation where cropland transformed to woodland descended with the implementation of the Grain for Green Project. Our results suggest that it is better to analyze the vertical distribution of land-use conversion with relative elevation classification in hilly regions.
