Rapidly monitoring regional water quality and the changing trend is of great practical and scientific significance,especially for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(BTH)region of China where water resources are relatively scar...Rapidly monitoring regional water quality and the changing trend is of great practical and scientific significance,especially for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(BTH)region of China where water resources are relatively scarce and inland water bodies are generally small.The remote sensing data of the GF 1 satellite launched in 2013 have characteristics of high spatial and temporal resolution,which can be used for the dynamic monitoring of the water environment in small lakes and reservoirs.However,the water quality remote sensing monitoring model based on the GF 1 satellite data for lakes and reservoirs in BTH is still lacking because of the considerable differences in the optical characteristics of the lakes and reservoirs.In this paper,the typical reservoirs in BTH-Guanting Reservoir,Yuqiao Reservoir,Panjiakou Reservoir,and Daheiting Reservoir are taken as the study areas.In the atmospheric correction of GF 1-WFV,the relative radiation normalized atmospheric correction was adopted after comparing it with other methods,such as 6 S and FLAASH.In the water clarity retrieval,a water color hue angle based model was proposed and outperformed other available published models,with the R 2 of 0.74 and MRE of 31.7%.The clarity products of the four typical reservoirs in the BTH region in 2013-2019 were produced using the GF 1-WFV data.Based on the products,temporal and spatial changes in clarity were analyzed,and the main influencing factors for each water body were discussed.It was found that the clarity of Guanting,Daheiting,and Panjiakou reservoirs showed an upward trend during this period,while that of Yuqiao Reservoir showed a downward trend.In the influencing factors,the water level of the water bodies can be an important factor related to the water clarity changes in this region.展开更多
[Objective] The aims were to understand variation characteristics of water resources and provide theoretical guidance for the formulation of agricultural irrigation methods.[Method] Taking the precipitation records du...[Objective] The aims were to understand variation characteristics of water resources and provide theoretical guidance for the formulation of agricultural irrigation methods.[Method] Taking the precipitation records during crop growing season(from April to September)observed by 177 weather stations from 1971 to 2008 in the three provinces of Northeast China(Heilongjiang,Jilin and Liaoning)as research data,annual change and spatial distribution characteristics of precipitation during crop growing season were analyzed by means of small grid interpolation and climatic trend rate.[Result] The precipitation during crop growing season general exhibited the decreasing trend and the precipitation trend rate was-8.6 mm/10a in Northeast China.In addition,there was lack of rain from 1971 to 1980 and relatively abundant of rain during 1981 and 1990 respectively.Moreover,the precipitation obviously exhibited decreasing trend from 1991 to 2008.But the decreasing trend was inconsistent in spatial distributions,that was,the precipitation slightly increased in relatively rainless areas and obviously decreased in relatively rainy areas.[Conclusion] The areas with obvious decreasing trend of precipitation during crop growing season are the main grain producing zones in Northeast China,so the problem of food production security caused by the precipitation changes should be paid enough attention.展开更多
[Objective] Temporal and spatial variation of surface albedo in Tibetan Plateau were studied in our paper.[Method] Based on NOAA/AVHRR data,different algorithms were used to retrieve surface albedo in Tibetan Plateau,...[Objective] Temporal and spatial variation of surface albedo in Tibetan Plateau were studied in our paper.[Method] Based on NOAA/AVHRR data,different algorithms were used to retrieve surface albedo in Tibetan Plateau,and it showed that the result of Stroeve was mostly close to observed data.Based on retrieval algorithm from Stroeve,the spatial distribution of surface albedo in Tibetan Plateau was obtained by means of NOAA/AVHRR data in 1982-2000.[Result] The distribution of annual mean surface albedo in Tibetan Plateau was identical with that of geographical zone in plateau area;annual mean surface albedo in plateau area showed slight decrease trend which was different in various regions;monthly surface albedo in plateau area had obviously zonal distribution and changed with time evidently.[Conclusion] Our study will be helpful to improving the parameterization scheme of surface albedo in climate model,revealing the internal mechanism of local and regional climate change and enhancing the level of long-term climate forecast.展开更多
Based on seasonal and annual observed precipitation data at 19 meteorological stations in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,the temporal and spatial distribution characteristic is analyzed by EOF method.And spatial charac...Based on seasonal and annual observed precipitation data at 19 meteorological stations in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,the temporal and spatial distribution characteristic is analyzed by EOF method.And spatial characteristics and temporal changes trends of EOF of seasonal and annual precipitation have been showed.The main period and sudden changes point of EOF of annual precipitation have been studied by Mann-Kendall and spectrum analysis method.展开更多
Based on temperature data of meteorological stations from 1971 to 2008 in Tibet,the temporal and spatial variation of maximum andminimum temperature in Tibet was analyzed.The results showed that both maximum temperatu...Based on temperature data of meteorological stations from 1971 to 2008 in Tibet,the temporal and spatial variation of maximum andminimum temperature in Tibet was analyzed.The results showed that both maximum temperature andminimum temperature increased distinctly,the warming amplitude of winter was the highest among the four seasons,and next came spring.The increment ofminimum temperature was visibly over that of maximum temperature,particularlyminimum temperature in winter with significant increment.For spatial variation,maximum temperature in most stations increased except particular stations,while theminimum temperature in all stations rose.In addition,the space variation law ofminimum temperature,being more obvious thanminimum temperature,increased from southeast to northwest with different spatial changes in various seasons.From decadal variation,both maximum andminimum temperature appeared increase from 1970s to the first eight years in the 21st century,and the rise ofminimum temperature was significant greater than maximum temperature.The increase of maximum andminimum temperature was the highest from 2001 to 2008,whereas the lowest in 1970s.展开更多
Evaluation and analysis of water quality variations were performed with integrated consideration of water quality parameters, hydrological-meteorologic and anthropogenic factors in Cao-E River, Zhejiang Province of Ch...Evaluation and analysis of water quality variations were performed with integrated consideration of water quality parameters, hydrological-meteorologic and anthropogenic factors in Cao-E River, Zhejiang Province of China. Cao-E River system has been polluted and the water quality of some reaches are inferior to Grade V according to National Surface Water Quality Standard of China (GB2002). However, mainly polluted indices of each tributary and mainstream are different. Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in the water are the main polluted indices for mainstream that varies from 1.52 to 45.85 mg/L and 0.02 to 4.02 mg/L, respectively. TN is the main polluted indices for Sub-watershed Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ(0.76 to 18.27 mg/L). BOD5 (0.36 to 289.5 mg/L), CODMn (0.47 to 78.86 mg/L), TN (0.74 to 31.09 mg/L) and TP (0 to 3.75 mg/L) are the main polluted indices for Sub-watershed Ⅲ. There are tow pollution types along the river including nonpoint source pollution and point source pollution types. Remarkably temporal variations with a few spatial variations occur in nonpoint pollution type reaches (including mainstream, Sub-watershed Ⅰ and Ⅱ) that mainly drained by arable field and/or dispersive rural dwelling district, and the maximum pollutant concentration appears in flooding seasons. It implied that the runoff increases the pollutant concentration of the water in the nonpoint pollution type reaches. On the other hand, remarkably spatial variations occur in the point pollution type reaches (include Sub-watershed Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ) and the maximum pollutant concentration appears in urban reaches. The runoff always decreases the pollutant concentration of the river water in the seriously polluted reaches that drained by industrial point sewage. But for the point pollution reaches resulted from centralized town domestic sewage pipeline and from frequent shipping and digging sands, rainfall always increased the concentration of pollutant (TN) in the river water too. Pollution controls were respectively suggested for these tow types according to different pollution causes.展开更多
The eutrophication problem has drawn attention to nutrient leaching from agricultural soils, and an understanding of spatial and temporal variability is needed to develop decision-making tools. Thus, eleven sites were...The eutrophication problem has drawn attention to nutrient leaching from agricultural soils, and an understanding of spatial and temporal variability is needed to develop decision-making tools. Thus, eleven sites were selected to monitor, over a two-year period, spatial and temporal variation of runoff discharge and various forms of N in surface runoff in sandy agricultural soils. Factors influencing the variation of runoff discharge and various forms of N in surface runoff were analyzed. Variation of annual rainfall was small among 11 sites, especially between 2001 and 2002. However, variation of annual discharge was significant among the sites. The results suggest that rainfall patterns and land use had significant effect on discharge. The concentrations of total N, total kjeldahl N (TKN), organic matter-associated N (OM-N), NO3- -N, and NHn+-N in the runoff ranged widely from 0.25 to 54.1, 0.15 to 20.3, 0.00 to 14.6, 0.00 to 45.3, and 0.00 to 19.7 mg/L, respectively. Spatial and temporal variations in the N concentration and runoff discharge were noted among the different sites. Annual loads of N in the runoff varied widely among monitoring sites and depend mainly on runoff discharge. High loads of total N, OM-N, NO3--N, and NHn+-N in the runoff either in citrus groves or on vegetable farms occurred from June to October for each year, which coincided with the rainy season in the region. This study found that N in surface runoff was related to rainfall intensity, soil N level, and fertilizer use.展开更多
The ecosystem of the Tibetan Plateau is highly susceptible to climate change. Currently, there is little discussion on the temporal changes in the link between climatic factors and vegetation dynamics in this region u...The ecosystem of the Tibetan Plateau is highly susceptible to climate change. Currently, there is little discussion on the temporal changes in the link between climatic factors and vegetation dynamics in this region under the changing climate.By employing Normalized Difference Vegetation Index data, the Climatic Research Unit temperature and precipitation data,and the in-situ meteorological observations, we report the temporal and spatial variations in the relationships between the vegetation dynamics and climatic factors on the Plateau over the past three decades. The results show that from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, vegetation dynamics in the central and southeastern part of the Plateau appears to show a closer relationship with precipitation prior to the growing season than that of temperature. From the mid-1990s, the temperature rise seems to be the key climatic factor correlating vegetation growth in this region. The effects of increasing temperature on vegetation are spatially variable across the Plateau: it has negative impacts on vegetation activity in the southwestern and northeastern part of the Plateau, and positive impacts in the central and southeastern Plateau. In the context of global warming, the changing climate condition(increasing precipitation and significant rising temperature) might be the potential contributor to the shift in the climatic controls on vegetation dynamics in the central and southeastern Plateau.展开更多
This paper reveals the temporal and spatial variations of stable isotope in precipitation of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin based on the variations of δ^18O in precipitation at four stations (Lhaze, Nugesha, Yangcu...This paper reveals the temporal and spatial variations of stable isotope in precipitation of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin based on the variations of δ^18O in precipitation at four stations (Lhaze, Nugesha, Yangcun and Nuxia) in 2005. The results show that δ^18O of precipitation has distinct seasonal changes in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin. The higher value of δ^18O occurs in spring prior to monsoon precipitation, and the lower value occurs during monsoon precipitation. From the spatial variations, with the altitude-effect and rainout process during moisture transport along the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley, δ^18O of precipitation is gradually depleted. Thus, δ^18O of precipitation decreases gradually from the downstream to the upstream, and the lapse rate of δ^18O in precipitation is approximately 0.34‰/100m and 0.7%J‰/100km for the two reasons. During monsoon precipitation, spatial variation of δ^18O in precipitation is dominated by the amount effect in the large scale synoptic condition.展开更多
Pneumoconiosis is a restrictive lung disease mostly caused by occupational exposure to dust,including silica dust,asbestos,and other fibers.Inhalable particles smaller than 10μm can enter the bronchioles,injure lung ...Pneumoconiosis is a restrictive lung disease mostly caused by occupational exposure to dust,including silica dust,asbestos,and other fibers.Inhalable particles smaller than 10μm can enter the bronchioles,injure lung cells,and induce lung fibrosis.This hard-to-cure disease places a substantial burden on patients and society[1].展开更多
The results of field observation carried out in May 2003 were used to examine pH and total alkalinity behaviors in the Changjiang Estuary. It was showed that pH and total alkalinity took on clear spatial variations in...The results of field observation carried out in May 2003 were used to examine pH and total alkalinity behaviors in the Changjiang Estuary. It was showed that pH and total alkalinity took on clear spatial variations in values with the minima in the low salinity region. Like salinity, transect distributions of pH and total alkalinity (TA) in a downriver direction had a sharp gradient each. These gradients appeared in such a sequence that the TA gradient was earlier than salinity and pH gradients, and the salinity gradient was earlier than the pH gradient. These distribution characteristics seemed to be strongly influenced by the mixing process of freshwater and seawater, for both pH and total alkalinity had significant linear relationships with salinity and temperature. For pH, phytoplankton activities also had a significant impact upon its spatial distribution. During a period of 48 h, pH and total alkalinity changed within wide ranges for every layer of the two anchor stations, namely, Stas 13 and 20, which were located at the mixed water mass and seawater mass, respectively. For both Stas 13 and 20, pH and TA fluctuation of every layer could be very wide during a 4 h period. As a whole, the data of the two anchor stations showed that neither variations in salinity and temperature nor phytoplankton activities were the main factors strongly influencing the total alkalinity temporal variability on a small time scale. The data of Sta. 20 implied that both salinity variation and phytoplankton activities had a significant influence on pH temporal variability, but the same conclusion could not be drawn from the data of Sta. 13.展开更多
The degree-day model is one important method to estimate glacier melt, which is based on the specific relationship between glacial melting and the sum of daily mean temperatures above the melting point. According to t...The degree-day model is one important method to estimate glacier melt, which is based on the specific relationship between glacial melting and the sum of daily mean temperatures above the melting point. According to the observation data on the Koxkar Glacier(KG) from 2005 to 2010, we analyzed the temporal and spatial variation of degree-day factors(DDF) and its influential factors. The results indicate that the average value of DDF was 7.2~10.4 mm/(°C·d) on the KG from 2005 to 2010. It showed a decreasing trend between 3,700 m and 4,200 m, and the deceasing trend was more obvious in the upper part of the KG. On a spatial scale, the DDF increased evidently with increasing altitude. The DDF ranged from3.6 to 9.3 mm/(°C·d) at 3,700 m a.s.l., with the average value of 9.3 mm/(°C·d). It varied from 6.9 to 13.0 mm/(°C·d) at4,000 m a.s.l., with the average value of 10.2 mm/(°C·d). During the period of ablation, the fluctuation of DDF was not significant at the lower altitude(3,700 m a.s.l.), but it decreased at the higher altitudes(4,000 m a.s.l. and 4,200 m a.s.l.).The debris changes the transmission of heat, which accelerates the melting of a glacier; and the DDF showed high value.This paper will provide the reference for temporal–spatial parameterization schemes of DDF on Tuomuer glaciers of the Tianshan Mountains.展开更多
Elucidating the factors that determine the effects of temporal and spatial variation of nutrients is important for analyzing the characteristics of an ecosystem. The goal of this paper was to estimate how values obtai...Elucidating the factors that determine the effects of temporal and spatial variation of nutrients is important for analyzing the characteristics of an ecosystem. The goal of this paper was to estimate how values obtained using a particular sampling approach correlated with the actual data for an entire plot. The mesh partition method was employed to divide an integrated observing field (IOF) located at the Haibei National Field Research Station of an alpine grassland ecosystem, China, into 25 subplots. Five of the 25 subplots were randomly selected for soil sampling and to determine the source of variations in soil nutrient content from 2001 to 2012. The results showed that, contributions of temporal and spatial variation in available nitrogen in the 0 - 10 cm soil layer accounted for 47.3% and 52.7%, respectively. The contribution of spatial variance was higher than that of temporal variance especially in the surface soil layers. The available soil nitrogen content in the alpine meadow was not obviously affected by fluctuations in rainfall and temperature. Increasing the number of samples could reduce calculation errors in measuring available soil nitrogen content, while collecting a reasonable number of samples can save time and labor.展开更多
[Objective] The aim was to analyze temporal and spatial variation charac- teristics of potential evapotranspiration in Guizhou Province. [Method] According to information from 19 meteorological stations of Guizhou Pro...[Objective] The aim was to analyze temporal and spatial variation charac- teristics of potential evapotranspiration in Guizhou Province. [Method] According to information from 19 meteorological stations of Guizhou Province from 1960 to 2007, with the formulas of optimizational Penman-Monteith and SEBAL net radiation mod- el, the reference crop evapotranspiration ETo was calculated. Also with the spatial interpolation method of Arcgis 9.3, climate tendency rate statistics, K-M test, wavelet analysis and so on, the related regional differentiation and spatial and temporal change characteristics between meteorological factors from each monitoring station and ETo were analyzed. [Result] The results show that the correlation of potential evapotranspiration and meteorological factors in Guizhou Province demonstrates re- gional differentiation; there was no direct connection between the correlation of po- tential evapotranspiration and meteorological factors and the amount of meteorologi- cal factors in the year; there were 3 cycles in potential evapotranspiration, namely, 1 year, 5 years and 10 years, with 3 mutation points, respectively, in 1965, 1984 and 1999, mainly affected by air temperature, precipitation and solar radiation. [Conclusion] The research is of great significance in developing irrigation approach- es, adjusting agricultural structure and ecological construction.展开更多
The size-fractionated phytoplankton biomass, and the spatial and temporal variations in abundance of Synechococcus (SYN) and picoeukaryotes (PEUK) were measured in the Taiwan Strait during three cruises (August 1997, ...The size-fractionated phytoplankton biomass, and the spatial and temporal variations in abundance of Synechococcus (SYN) and picoeukaryotes (PEUK) were measured in the Taiwan Strait during three cruises (August 1997, February-March 1998, and August 1998). The results show that picophytoplankton and nanophytoplankton dominate the phytoplankton biomass, in average of 38% and 40%, respectively. SYN and PEUK varied over time in abundance and carbon biomass, greater in summer than in winter, in range of (7.70–209.2)×106 and (0.75–15.4)×106 cells/cm2 in the abundance, and 1.93–52.3 and 1.57–32.4 μgC/cm2 in the carbon biomass, for SYN and PEUK, respectively. The horizontal distributions of both groups were diurnal but heterogeneous in abundance, depending on the groups and layer of depths. Temperature is the key controlling factor for picophytoplankton distribution (especially in winter) in the Strait.展开更多
To explore the impact of environmental variables on macroalgal communities, their temporal and spatial distributions were examined along the Yantai coast, China between April 2010 and March 2011. Macroalgae sampling w...To explore the impact of environmental variables on macroalgal communities, their temporal and spatial distributions were examined along the Yantai coast, China between April 2010 and March 2011. Macroalgae sampling was conducted monthly at four sites along the coast: Jiahe River estuary, Zhifu Island, Fisherman's Wharf, and Yangma Island. The species composition and abundance, and their relationship with environmental variables were assessed. Along the Yantai coast, 35 macroalgae species were identifi ed, including 24 Rhodophyta spp., 7 Chlorophyta, and 4 Phaeophyta spp. Highest species numbers were recorded in the summer at all sampling sites, except in the Jiahe River estuary. Macroalgae biomass was the greatest in the summer. Year-round, the highest species number and dry biomass recorded at Fisherman's Wharf and Yangma Island was attributed to the substrate type. In summer, Ulva pertusa Kjellman was the dominant species identifi ed along the Yantai coast, which indicates a risk of macroalgae blooms. Our results show that seawater temperature and nutrients appear to signifi cantly affect the temporal and spatial patterns of macroalgal abundance along the Yantai coast. The effects of environmental variables on the macroalgae on the Yantai coast need further study.展开更多
[ Objective] The study aimed to discuss the temporal and spatial variation of phytoplankton community and main pollution indicators in cyanophyte enrichment area of northern Dianchi Lake. [ Method ] In the cyanophyte ...[ Objective] The study aimed to discuss the temporal and spatial variation of phytoplankton community and main pollution indicators in cyanophyte enrichment area of northern Dianchi Lake. [ Method ] In the cyanophyte enrichment area of northern Dianchi Lake, phytoplankton community, chlorophyll a, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentration had been monitored monthly from January 2007 to December 2011, and the temporal and spatial variation of phytoplankton community and main pollution indicators were analyzed. [ Result] From January 2007 to December 2011, algal diversity in the area increased slightly, and algal diversity in the alongshore region was less than that in the offshore re- gion ; chlorophyll a, TN and TP concentration decreased in the alongshore region, but it was otherwise in the offshore region; chlorophyll a, TN and TP concentration in the alongshore region were higher than those in the offshore region. [ Conclusion] The research could provide theoretical references for the control of cyanophyte bloom and achievement evaluation of each control measure in Dianchi Lake.展开更多
Analysis of spatial-temporal variations of desert vegetation under the background of climate changes can provide references for ecological restoration in arid and semi-arid areas. In this study, we used the Global Inv...Analysis of spatial-temporal variations of desert vegetation under the background of climate changes can provide references for ecological restoration in arid and semi-arid areas. In this study, we used the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) NDVI data from 1982 to 2006 and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) NDVI data from 2000 to 2013 to reveal the dynamics of desert vegetation in Hexi region of Northwest China over the past three decades. We also used the annual temperature and precipitation data acquired from the Chinese meteorological stations to analyze the response of desert vegetation to climatic variations. The average value of NDVImax (the maximum NDVI during the growing season) for desert vegetation in Hexi region increased at the rate of 0.65x10-3/a (P〈0.05) from 1982 to 2013, and the significant increases of NDVImax mainly appeared in the typical desert vegetation areas. Vegetation was significantly improved in the lower reaches of Shule and Shiyang river basins, and the weighted mean center of desert vegetation mainly shifted toward the lower reaches of the two basins. Almost 95.32% of the total desert vegetation area showed positive correlation between NDVImax and annual precipitation, indicating that precipitation is the key factor for desert vegetation growth in the entire study area. Moreover, the areas with non-significant positive correlation between NDVImax and annual precipitation mainly located in the lower reaches of Shiyang and Shule river basins, this may be due to human activities. Only 7.64% of the desert vegetation showed significant positive correlation between NDVImax and annual precipitation in the Shule River Basin (an extremely arid area), indicating that precipitation is not the most important factor for vegetation growth in this basin, and further studies are needed to investigate the mechanism for this phenomenon.展开更多
As a case study of spatial and temporal variations in earthquake stress drops between the 2008 Ms 8.0 Wenchuan and 2013 Ms 7.0 Lushan earthquakes,we computed 1828 stress-drop values for earthquakes with magnitudes 1.7...As a case study of spatial and temporal variations in earthquake stress drops between the 2008 Ms 8.0 Wenchuan and 2013 Ms 7.0 Lushan earthquakes,we computed 1828 stress-drop values for earthquakes with magnitudes 1.7≤ML≤5.0 during an eight-year time span before and after major earthquakes.We divide the study area into three subregions(the southern segment of the Longmen Shan fault zone;the southwestern junction of the Longmen Shan and Sichuan Basin;and the southwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin)and calculate individual event stress drops in each.The results show that regions of alternating high and low stress drop are found on either side of the southwestern segment of the Longmen Shan fault zone.During the two-year period after the 2008 Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake,the stress state of the southern Longmen Shan fault shows no significant change.A marked increase in stress level appears about 18 months before the 2013 Ms 7.0 Lushan earthquake near the Lushan hypocenter zone.Two months after the Ms 7.0 event,the stress drops suddenly attenuate,with significantly less seismic energy release per event.We find that changes in the patterns of high and low stress drop values are consistent with the process of stress accumulation or transfer from the pre-mainshock to postmainshock periods.The results indicate that major earthquakes are the dominant cause of temporal and spatial evolution in stress levels.Stress drop variations show obvious temporal and spatial patterns that may suggests subtle changes in the character of stress fields on faults and spatial variations related to local intense compression and tectonic effects.展开更多
On the basis of the bathymetric records of 371 survey sections in the present Huanghe mouth area from 1996 to 2001, the temporal and spatial variations of the Huanghe mouth bars were studied by using GIS technology. T...On the basis of the bathymetric records of 371 survey sections in the present Huanghe mouth area from 1996 to 2001, the temporal and spatial variations of the Huanghe mouth bars were studied by using GIS technology. The variation of the mouth bars is closely related to the water and sediment discharges from the Huanghe River to the sea that has been decreasing drastically in recent years, and to coastal hydrodynamic regimes. The characteristics of the mouth bars are unique in contrast with those of other estuaries in the world. (1) The mouth bars of the Huanghe River consist of many small sandbars. Usually the sandbars are of ellipse-shape with the long axis of about 1~6 km, and short axis of about 1~4 km. The long axis is parallel to the principal direction of tidal current, and the short axis is variable, depending on the local dynamics. The crest of the sandbars is only about 0.4 m below the water surface at low tide. They are distributed within an area of 20 km2, not far from the river mouth area. The present mouth bars are in small-medium size, quite different from the large one formed during the 1970s and 1980s, when the river sediment discharge was several times larger than that after 1996. (2) The scale of a river mouth bar is related to the river discharge of that year. In 1997 sediment discharge from the Huanghe River was 42 Mt, and the mouth bar consisted of several small scattered sandbars. In 1998 the size of mouth bars was much larger than that in 1997, as the sediment discharge from the Huanghe River increased to 363 Mt. Variation of the mouth bars largely depends on the sediment discharge with a correlation coefficient of 0.78. The calculation of the volume of the mouth bar area shows that about 30%~40% of the river's into-sea sediment is deposited in the mouth bar area. (3) Compared with other large estuaries in the world, the Huanghe mouth bars have three unique features in responding to its high sediment concentration: small size, steep slope gradient and shallow crest depth.展开更多
基金Supported by the International Partnership Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.313GJHZ2022085 FN)the Dragon 5 Cooperation(No.59193)。
文摘Rapidly monitoring regional water quality and the changing trend is of great practical and scientific significance,especially for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(BTH)region of China where water resources are relatively scarce and inland water bodies are generally small.The remote sensing data of the GF 1 satellite launched in 2013 have characteristics of high spatial and temporal resolution,which can be used for the dynamic monitoring of the water environment in small lakes and reservoirs.However,the water quality remote sensing monitoring model based on the GF 1 satellite data for lakes and reservoirs in BTH is still lacking because of the considerable differences in the optical characteristics of the lakes and reservoirs.In this paper,the typical reservoirs in BTH-Guanting Reservoir,Yuqiao Reservoir,Panjiakou Reservoir,and Daheiting Reservoir are taken as the study areas.In the atmospheric correction of GF 1-WFV,the relative radiation normalized atmospheric correction was adopted after comparing it with other methods,such as 6 S and FLAASH.In the water clarity retrieval,a water color hue angle based model was proposed and outperformed other available published models,with the R 2 of 0.74 and MRE of 31.7%.The clarity products of the four typical reservoirs in the BTH region in 2013-2019 were produced using the GF 1-WFV data.Based on the products,temporal and spatial changes in clarity were analyzed,and the main influencing factors for each water body were discussed.It was found that the clarity of Guanting,Daheiting,and Panjiakou reservoirs showed an upward trend during this period,while that of Yuqiao Reservoir showed a downward trend.In the influencing factors,the water level of the water bodies can be an important factor related to the water clarity changes in this region.
基金Supported by Special Fund for Climate Change of China Meteorological Administration(CCSF-09-13)Special Fund for Researchof Nonprofit Sector(meteorology)(GYHY200706030)~~
文摘[Objective] The aims were to understand variation characteristics of water resources and provide theoretical guidance for the formulation of agricultural irrigation methods.[Method] Taking the precipitation records during crop growing season(from April to September)observed by 177 weather stations from 1971 to 2008 in the three provinces of Northeast China(Heilongjiang,Jilin and Liaoning)as research data,annual change and spatial distribution characteristics of precipitation during crop growing season were analyzed by means of small grid interpolation and climatic trend rate.[Result] The precipitation during crop growing season general exhibited the decreasing trend and the precipitation trend rate was-8.6 mm/10a in Northeast China.In addition,there was lack of rain from 1971 to 1980 and relatively abundant of rain during 1981 and 1990 respectively.Moreover,the precipitation obviously exhibited decreasing trend from 1991 to 2008.But the decreasing trend was inconsistent in spatial distributions,that was,the precipitation slightly increased in relatively rainless areas and obviously decreased in relatively rainy areas.[Conclusion] The areas with obvious decreasing trend of precipitation during crop growing season are the main grain producing zones in Northeast China,so the problem of food production security caused by the precipitation changes should be paid enough attention.
基金Supported by Plateau Meteorology Open Laboratory Foundation of Institute of Plateau Meteorology,CMA,Chengdu(LPM2009018 and BROP201001)
文摘[Objective] Temporal and spatial variation of surface albedo in Tibetan Plateau were studied in our paper.[Method] Based on NOAA/AVHRR data,different algorithms were used to retrieve surface albedo in Tibetan Plateau,and it showed that the result of Stroeve was mostly close to observed data.Based on retrieval algorithm from Stroeve,the spatial distribution of surface albedo in Tibetan Plateau was obtained by means of NOAA/AVHRR data in 1982-2000.[Result] The distribution of annual mean surface albedo in Tibetan Plateau was identical with that of geographical zone in plateau area;annual mean surface albedo in plateau area showed slight decrease trend which was different in various regions;monthly surface albedo in plateau area had obviously zonal distribution and changed with time evidently.[Conclusion] Our study will be helpful to improving the parameterization scheme of surface albedo in climate model,revealing the internal mechanism of local and regional climate change and enhancing the level of long-term climate forecast.
文摘Based on seasonal and annual observed precipitation data at 19 meteorological stations in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,the temporal and spatial distribution characteristic is analyzed by EOF method.And spatial characteristics and temporal changes trends of EOF of seasonal and annual precipitation have been showed.The main period and sudden changes point of EOF of annual precipitation have been studied by Mann-Kendall and spectrum analysis method.
文摘Based on temperature data of meteorological stations from 1971 to 2008 in Tibet,the temporal and spatial variation of maximum andminimum temperature in Tibet was analyzed.The results showed that both maximum temperature andminimum temperature increased distinctly,the warming amplitude of winter was the highest among the four seasons,and next came spring.The increment ofminimum temperature was visibly over that of maximum temperature,particularlyminimum temperature in winter with significant increment.For spatial variation,maximum temperature in most stations increased except particular stations,while theminimum temperature in all stations rose.In addition,the space variation law ofminimum temperature,being more obvious thanminimum temperature,increased from southeast to northwest with different spatial changes in various seasons.From decadal variation,both maximum andminimum temperature appeared increase from 1970s to the first eight years in the 21st century,and the rise ofminimum temperature was significant greater than maximum temperature.The increase of maximum andminimum temperature was the highest from 2001 to 2008,whereas the lowest in 1970s.
文摘Evaluation and analysis of water quality variations were performed with integrated consideration of water quality parameters, hydrological-meteorologic and anthropogenic factors in Cao-E River, Zhejiang Province of China. Cao-E River system has been polluted and the water quality of some reaches are inferior to Grade V according to National Surface Water Quality Standard of China (GB2002). However, mainly polluted indices of each tributary and mainstream are different. Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in the water are the main polluted indices for mainstream that varies from 1.52 to 45.85 mg/L and 0.02 to 4.02 mg/L, respectively. TN is the main polluted indices for Sub-watershed Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ(0.76 to 18.27 mg/L). BOD5 (0.36 to 289.5 mg/L), CODMn (0.47 to 78.86 mg/L), TN (0.74 to 31.09 mg/L) and TP (0 to 3.75 mg/L) are the main polluted indices for Sub-watershed Ⅲ. There are tow pollution types along the river including nonpoint source pollution and point source pollution types. Remarkably temporal variations with a few spatial variations occur in nonpoint pollution type reaches (including mainstream, Sub-watershed Ⅰ and Ⅱ) that mainly drained by arable field and/or dispersive rural dwelling district, and the maximum pollutant concentration appears in flooding seasons. It implied that the runoff increases the pollutant concentration of the water in the nonpoint pollution type reaches. On the other hand, remarkably spatial variations occur in the point pollution type reaches (include Sub-watershed Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ) and the maximum pollutant concentration appears in urban reaches. The runoff always decreases the pollutant concentration of the river water in the seriously polluted reaches that drained by industrial point sewage. But for the point pollution reaches resulted from centralized town domestic sewage pipeline and from frequent shipping and digging sands, rainfall always increased the concentration of pollutant (TN) in the river water too. Pollution controls were respectively suggested for these tow types according to different pollution causes.
文摘The eutrophication problem has drawn attention to nutrient leaching from agricultural soils, and an understanding of spatial and temporal variability is needed to develop decision-making tools. Thus, eleven sites were selected to monitor, over a two-year period, spatial and temporal variation of runoff discharge and various forms of N in surface runoff in sandy agricultural soils. Factors influencing the variation of runoff discharge and various forms of N in surface runoff were analyzed. Variation of annual rainfall was small among 11 sites, especially between 2001 and 2002. However, variation of annual discharge was significant among the sites. The results suggest that rainfall patterns and land use had significant effect on discharge. The concentrations of total N, total kjeldahl N (TKN), organic matter-associated N (OM-N), NO3- -N, and NHn+-N in the runoff ranged widely from 0.25 to 54.1, 0.15 to 20.3, 0.00 to 14.6, 0.00 to 45.3, and 0.00 to 19.7 mg/L, respectively. Spatial and temporal variations in the N concentration and runoff discharge were noted among the different sites. Annual loads of N in the runoff varied widely among monitoring sites and depend mainly on runoff discharge. High loads of total N, OM-N, NO3--N, and NHn+-N in the runoff either in citrus groves or on vegetable farms occurred from June to October for each year, which coincided with the rainy season in the region. This study found that N in surface runoff was related to rainfall intensity, soil N level, and fertilizer use.
基金supported by the Key Frontier Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. QYZDJ-SSW-DQC043)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41501011 and 41771012)
文摘The ecosystem of the Tibetan Plateau is highly susceptible to climate change. Currently, there is little discussion on the temporal changes in the link between climatic factors and vegetation dynamics in this region under the changing climate.By employing Normalized Difference Vegetation Index data, the Climatic Research Unit temperature and precipitation data,and the in-situ meteorological observations, we report the temporal and spatial variations in the relationships between the vegetation dynamics and climatic factors on the Plateau over the past three decades. The results show that from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, vegetation dynamics in the central and southeastern part of the Plateau appears to show a closer relationship with precipitation prior to the growing season than that of temperature. From the mid-1990s, the temperature rise seems to be the key climatic factor correlating vegetation growth in this region. The effects of increasing temperature on vegetation are spatially variable across the Plateau: it has negative impacts on vegetation activity in the southwestern and northeastern part of the Plateau, and positive impacts in the central and southeastern Plateau. In the context of global warming, the changing climate condition(increasing precipitation and significant rising temperature) might be the potential contributor to the shift in the climatic controls on vegetation dynamics in the central and southeastern Plateau.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40121101 No.40671043+2 种基金 No.40571039 National Basic Research Program of China, No.2005CB422002 Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.KZCX3- SW-339
文摘This paper reveals the temporal and spatial variations of stable isotope in precipitation of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin based on the variations of δ^18O in precipitation at four stations (Lhaze, Nugesha, Yangcun and Nuxia) in 2005. The results show that δ^18O of precipitation has distinct seasonal changes in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin. The higher value of δ^18O occurs in spring prior to monsoon precipitation, and the lower value occurs during monsoon precipitation. From the spatial variations, with the altitude-effect and rainout process during moisture transport along the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley, δ^18O of precipitation is gradually depleted. Thus, δ^18O of precipitation decreases gradually from the downstream to the upstream, and the lapse rate of δ^18O in precipitation is approximately 0.34‰/100m and 0.7%J‰/100km for the two reasons. During monsoon precipitation, spatial variation of δ^18O in precipitation is dominated by the amount effect in the large scale synoptic condition.
基金supported by Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Plan Provincial International Cooperation Project[No.2011B050700001].
文摘Pneumoconiosis is a restrictive lung disease mostly caused by occupational exposure to dust,including silica dust,asbestos,and other fibers.Inhalable particles smaller than 10μm can enter the bronchioles,injure lung cells,and induce lung fibrosis.This hard-to-cure disease places a substantial burden on patients and society[1].
基金This study was supported by the Qingdao Special Program for Leading Scientists under contract No.04-3-JJ-03the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences under contract No.KZCX1-SW-01-08the“100 Talents Project”of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation for Outstanding Young Scientists of China under contract No.49925614.
文摘The results of field observation carried out in May 2003 were used to examine pH and total alkalinity behaviors in the Changjiang Estuary. It was showed that pH and total alkalinity took on clear spatial variations in values with the minima in the low salinity region. Like salinity, transect distributions of pH and total alkalinity (TA) in a downriver direction had a sharp gradient each. These gradients appeared in such a sequence that the TA gradient was earlier than salinity and pH gradients, and the salinity gradient was earlier than the pH gradient. These distribution characteristics seemed to be strongly influenced by the mixing process of freshwater and seawater, for both pH and total alkalinity had significant linear relationships with salinity and temperature. For pH, phytoplankton activities also had a significant impact upon its spatial distribution. During a period of 48 h, pH and total alkalinity changed within wide ranges for every layer of the two anchor stations, namely, Stas 13 and 20, which were located at the mixed water mass and seawater mass, respectively. For both Stas 13 and 20, pH and TA fluctuation of every layer could be very wide during a 4 h period. As a whole, the data of the two anchor stations showed that neither variations in salinity and temperature nor phytoplankton activities were the main factors strongly influencing the total alkalinity temporal variability on a small time scale. The data of Sta. 20 implied that both salinity variation and phytoplankton activities had a significant influence on pH temporal variability, but the same conclusion could not be drawn from the data of Sta. 13.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41501073, 41471060, 41421061)the project of State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science (SKLCS-ZZ-2017)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M580893, 2016T90966)
文摘The degree-day model is one important method to estimate glacier melt, which is based on the specific relationship between glacial melting and the sum of daily mean temperatures above the melting point. According to the observation data on the Koxkar Glacier(KG) from 2005 to 2010, we analyzed the temporal and spatial variation of degree-day factors(DDF) and its influential factors. The results indicate that the average value of DDF was 7.2~10.4 mm/(°C·d) on the KG from 2005 to 2010. It showed a decreasing trend between 3,700 m and 4,200 m, and the deceasing trend was more obvious in the upper part of the KG. On a spatial scale, the DDF increased evidently with increasing altitude. The DDF ranged from3.6 to 9.3 mm/(°C·d) at 3,700 m a.s.l., with the average value of 9.3 mm/(°C·d). It varied from 6.9 to 13.0 mm/(°C·d) at4,000 m a.s.l., with the average value of 10.2 mm/(°C·d). During the period of ablation, the fluctuation of DDF was not significant at the lower altitude(3,700 m a.s.l.), but it decreased at the higher altitudes(4,000 m a.s.l. and 4,200 m a.s.l.).The debris changes the transmission of heat, which accelerates the melting of a glacier; and the DDF showed high value.This paper will provide the reference for temporal–spatial parameterization schemes of DDF on Tuomuer glaciers of the Tianshan Mountains.
文摘Elucidating the factors that determine the effects of temporal and spatial variation of nutrients is important for analyzing the characteristics of an ecosystem. The goal of this paper was to estimate how values obtained using a particular sampling approach correlated with the actual data for an entire plot. The mesh partition method was employed to divide an integrated observing field (IOF) located at the Haibei National Field Research Station of an alpine grassland ecosystem, China, into 25 subplots. Five of the 25 subplots were randomly selected for soil sampling and to determine the source of variations in soil nutrient content from 2001 to 2012. The results showed that, contributions of temporal and spatial variation in available nitrogen in the 0 - 10 cm soil layer accounted for 47.3% and 52.7%, respectively. The contribution of spatial variance was higher than that of temporal variance especially in the surface soil layers. The available soil nitrogen content in the alpine meadow was not obviously affected by fluctuations in rainfall and temperature. Increasing the number of samples could reduce calculation errors in measuring available soil nitrogen content, while collecting a reasonable number of samples can save time and labor.
基金Supported by Science and Technology Project of Guizhou province "The Key Technologies and Demonstration of Karst Mountain Low-carbon Rural Tourism Demonstration Area Construction"(SY[2012]3058)Science and Technology Project of Guizhou Province,([2013]2300)~~
文摘[Objective] The aim was to analyze temporal and spatial variation charac- teristics of potential evapotranspiration in Guizhou Province. [Method] According to information from 19 meteorological stations of Guizhou Province from 1960 to 2007, with the formulas of optimizational Penman-Monteith and SEBAL net radiation mod- el, the reference crop evapotranspiration ETo was calculated. Also with the spatial interpolation method of Arcgis 9.3, climate tendency rate statistics, K-M test, wavelet analysis and so on, the related regional differentiation and spatial and temporal change characteristics between meteorological factors from each monitoring station and ETo were analyzed. [Result] The results show that the correlation of potential evapotranspiration and meteorological factors in Guizhou Province demonstrates re- gional differentiation; there was no direct connection between the correlation of po- tential evapotranspiration and meteorological factors and the amount of meteorologi- cal factors in the year; there were 3 cycles in potential evapotranspiration, namely, 1 year, 5 years and 10 years, with 3 mutation points, respectively, in 1965, 1984 and 1999, mainly affected by air temperature, precipitation and solar radiation. [Conclusion] The research is of great significance in developing irrigation approach- es, adjusting agricultural structure and ecological construction.
基金Supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (No.40730846 40521003)
文摘The size-fractionated phytoplankton biomass, and the spatial and temporal variations in abundance of Synechococcus (SYN) and picoeukaryotes (PEUK) were measured in the Taiwan Strait during three cruises (August 1997, February-March 1998, and August 1998). The results show that picophytoplankton and nanophytoplankton dominate the phytoplankton biomass, in average of 38% and 40%, respectively. SYN and PEUK varied over time in abundance and carbon biomass, greater in summer than in winter, in range of (7.70–209.2)×106 and (0.75–15.4)×106 cells/cm2 in the abundance, and 1.93–52.3 and 1.57–32.4 μgC/cm2 in the carbon biomass, for SYN and PEUK, respectively. The horizontal distributions of both groups were diurnal but heterogeneous in abundance, depending on the groups and layer of depths. Temperature is the key controlling factor for picophytoplankton distribution (especially in winter) in the Strait.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41106099)the Yantai Science and Technology Bureau(No.2011061)+2 种基金CAS Scientific Project of Innovation and Interdisciplinarythe Key Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.KZZD-EW-14)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(No.ZR2009EQ006)
文摘To explore the impact of environmental variables on macroalgal communities, their temporal and spatial distributions were examined along the Yantai coast, China between April 2010 and March 2011. Macroalgae sampling was conducted monthly at four sites along the coast: Jiahe River estuary, Zhifu Island, Fisherman's Wharf, and Yangma Island. The species composition and abundance, and their relationship with environmental variables were assessed. Along the Yantai coast, 35 macroalgae species were identifi ed, including 24 Rhodophyta spp., 7 Chlorophyta, and 4 Phaeophyta spp. Highest species numbers were recorded in the summer at all sampling sites, except in the Jiahe River estuary. Macroalgae biomass was the greatest in the summer. Year-round, the highest species number and dry biomass recorded at Fisherman's Wharf and Yangma Island was attributed to the substrate type. In summer, Ulva pertusa Kjellman was the dominant species identifi ed along the Yantai coast, which indicates a risk of macroalgae blooms. Our results show that seawater temperature and nutrients appear to signifi cantly affect the temporal and spatial patterns of macroalgal abundance along the Yantai coast. The effects of environmental variables on the macroalgae on the Yantai coast need further study.
基金Supported by the National Science and Technology Project of Water Pollution Control and Management (2009ZX07317-006-003)
文摘[ Objective] The study aimed to discuss the temporal and spatial variation of phytoplankton community and main pollution indicators in cyanophyte enrichment area of northern Dianchi Lake. [ Method ] In the cyanophyte enrichment area of northern Dianchi Lake, phytoplankton community, chlorophyll a, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentration had been monitored monthly from January 2007 to December 2011, and the temporal and spatial variation of phytoplankton community and main pollution indicators were analyzed. [ Result] From January 2007 to December 2011, algal diversity in the area increased slightly, and algal diversity in the alongshore region was less than that in the offshore re- gion ; chlorophyll a, TN and TP concentration decreased in the alongshore region, but it was otherwise in the offshore region; chlorophyll a, TN and TP concentration in the alongshore region were higher than those in the offshore region. [ Conclusion] The research could provide theoretical references for the control of cyanophyte bloom and achievement evaluation of each control measure in Dianchi Lake.
基金supported by the Opening Foundation of the State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Desertification and Aeolian Sand Disaster Combating,Gansu Desert Control Research Institute (GSDC201503)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41271024,31260129,31360204)+1 种基金the Program for Innovative Research Group of Gansu Province,China (1506RJIA155)Lanzhou University for providing Arc GIS technical support in the data processing
文摘Analysis of spatial-temporal variations of desert vegetation under the background of climate changes can provide references for ecological restoration in arid and semi-arid areas. In this study, we used the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) NDVI data from 1982 to 2006 and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) NDVI data from 2000 to 2013 to reveal the dynamics of desert vegetation in Hexi region of Northwest China over the past three decades. We also used the annual temperature and precipitation data acquired from the Chinese meteorological stations to analyze the response of desert vegetation to climatic variations. The average value of NDVImax (the maximum NDVI during the growing season) for desert vegetation in Hexi region increased at the rate of 0.65x10-3/a (P〈0.05) from 1982 to 2013, and the significant increases of NDVImax mainly appeared in the typical desert vegetation areas. Vegetation was significantly improved in the lower reaches of Shule and Shiyang river basins, and the weighted mean center of desert vegetation mainly shifted toward the lower reaches of the two basins. Almost 95.32% of the total desert vegetation area showed positive correlation between NDVImax and annual precipitation, indicating that precipitation is the key factor for desert vegetation growth in the entire study area. Moreover, the areas with non-significant positive correlation between NDVImax and annual precipitation mainly located in the lower reaches of Shiyang and Shule river basins, this may be due to human activities. Only 7.64% of the desert vegetation showed significant positive correlation between NDVImax and annual precipitation in the Shule River Basin (an extremely arid area), indicating that precipitation is not the most important factor for vegetation growth in this basin, and further studies are needed to investigate the mechanism for this phenomenon.
基金supported by the China Seismic Experiment Site Project(Grant No.2018CSES0209)the Project of Science for Earthquake Resilience(Grant No.XH202302),part of the China Earthquake Administration。
文摘As a case study of spatial and temporal variations in earthquake stress drops between the 2008 Ms 8.0 Wenchuan and 2013 Ms 7.0 Lushan earthquakes,we computed 1828 stress-drop values for earthquakes with magnitudes 1.7≤ML≤5.0 during an eight-year time span before and after major earthquakes.We divide the study area into three subregions(the southern segment of the Longmen Shan fault zone;the southwestern junction of the Longmen Shan and Sichuan Basin;and the southwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin)and calculate individual event stress drops in each.The results show that regions of alternating high and low stress drop are found on either side of the southwestern segment of the Longmen Shan fault zone.During the two-year period after the 2008 Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake,the stress state of the southern Longmen Shan fault shows no significant change.A marked increase in stress level appears about 18 months before the 2013 Ms 7.0 Lushan earthquake near the Lushan hypocenter zone.Two months after the Ms 7.0 event,the stress drops suddenly attenuate,with significantly less seismic energy release per event.We find that changes in the patterns of high and low stress drop values are consistent with the process of stress accumulation or transfer from the pre-mainshock to postmainshock periods.The results indicate that major earthquakes are the dominant cause of temporal and spatial evolution in stress levels.Stress drop variations show obvious temporal and spatial patterns that may suggests subtle changes in the character of stress fields on faults and spatial variations related to local intense compression and tectonic effects.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation Key Project of China under Contract No.90211022“973”Project of MST of China under contract No.2002CB412404.
文摘On the basis of the bathymetric records of 371 survey sections in the present Huanghe mouth area from 1996 to 2001, the temporal and spatial variations of the Huanghe mouth bars were studied by using GIS technology. The variation of the mouth bars is closely related to the water and sediment discharges from the Huanghe River to the sea that has been decreasing drastically in recent years, and to coastal hydrodynamic regimes. The characteristics of the mouth bars are unique in contrast with those of other estuaries in the world. (1) The mouth bars of the Huanghe River consist of many small sandbars. Usually the sandbars are of ellipse-shape with the long axis of about 1~6 km, and short axis of about 1~4 km. The long axis is parallel to the principal direction of tidal current, and the short axis is variable, depending on the local dynamics. The crest of the sandbars is only about 0.4 m below the water surface at low tide. They are distributed within an area of 20 km2, not far from the river mouth area. The present mouth bars are in small-medium size, quite different from the large one formed during the 1970s and 1980s, when the river sediment discharge was several times larger than that after 1996. (2) The scale of a river mouth bar is related to the river discharge of that year. In 1997 sediment discharge from the Huanghe River was 42 Mt, and the mouth bar consisted of several small scattered sandbars. In 1998 the size of mouth bars was much larger than that in 1997, as the sediment discharge from the Huanghe River increased to 363 Mt. Variation of the mouth bars largely depends on the sediment discharge with a correlation coefficient of 0.78. The calculation of the volume of the mouth bar area shows that about 30%~40% of the river's into-sea sediment is deposited in the mouth bar area. (3) Compared with other large estuaries in the world, the Huanghe mouth bars have three unique features in responding to its high sediment concentration: small size, steep slope gradient and shallow crest depth.