Analysis of Eco-Tourism Climate Resources in Xingwen, China Based on the Comfort Index and the Negative Air (Oxygen) Ion

The present work investigates an analysis of Eco-Tourism Climate Resources in Xingwen, China based on the Comfort Index and Negative Air (Oxygen) Ion (“NAI” for short in this article) concentration. The daily temperature, precipitation, wind speed, sunshine hours, and relative humidity data of the Xingwen National Meteorological Station from 1999 to 2018, as well as the NAI data of Feiwu Cave station and Shoushan Lake station in Xingwen of 2018 were used in this study. Based on the analysis of the characteristics of basic meteorological elements, the index of climate comfort of human living environment and the NAI variation in Xingwen, the eco-tourism climate resources in this area were evaluated comprehensively. The results show that: The climate is mild, the precipitation is abundant and the seasonal variation trend of precipitation and heat is similar in the study area. The annual average temperature of this area is 17.8°C, the annual average precipitation is 1096 mm, the annual average precipitation days are 186 days, the annual average relative humidity is 81%, the annual average wind speed is 1.3 m/s, and the annual average sunshine hours are 999 h. The living environment comfort level reaches the “comfort” level for 6 months per year. In addition, the concentration of NAI in Xingwen remains at the highest level 7 throughout the year, and the rate of good air quality is extremely high. Overall, the study area has high-quality ecological climate resources that are conducive to the development of forest recuperation, leisure and vacation and other ecological tourism activities.

Editorial for the special issue in memoriam to Prof.Xie Zichu

Prof.Xie Zichu passed away on January 25,2020 in Changsha,Hunan Province,China at the age of 83 years old.Being one of the internationally renowned and highly respected glaciologists of China,this issue is dedicated with all respect in memory of him for his life-long effort and contribution to advance studies on glaciology in China.He has undertaken field investigations on glacier mass balance.

The influence of increasing temperatures on highland barley yields and on the maximum cultivation altitude on the Tibetan Plateau

Highland barley(Hordeum vulgare Linn.cv.nudum Hook.f.)is the principal cereal crop over the Tibetan Plateau(TP).The response of highland barely to climate change in the past decades,especially in terms of yields still remains uncertain.In this study,its responses to climate change were investigated using daily weather data and agriculture data during 1961–2018.The results showed that the annual mean air temperature over the TP increased at 0.33°C per decade during 1961–2018,and the rate of warming increased with altitude,reaching 0.41°C per decade at altitudes of 4500–4700 m.The growing degree days(GDDs)increased by 9.6%during 2011–2018 compared with the 1960s,whereas low temperature degree days(LDDs)decreased by 40.3%over the same period,indicating that the thermal conditions for highland barley cultivation have improved.A strong relationship was observed between the yield of highland barley and LDDs(−0.76,p<0.001)than GDDs(0.58,p<0.001)in Xizang,where sufficient irrigation water is available from the melting of snow cover or glaciers.In Sichuan,with abundant precipitation,significant correlations were noticed between county-level barley yield and GDDs and LDDs(0.60,p<0.001;−0.65,p<0.001).In Qinghai,the dry regions,county-level yields were influenced significantly by temperature and precipitation.These results indicated that climate warming was beneficial to highland barley yield in most region of the TP,mainly due to decreased LDDs.The potential altitude at which highland barley cultivation is feasible increased by approximately 280–484 m during 2016–2018,compared with 1981–1983.In Xizang,highland barley could be cultivated up to an altitude of 4507 m a.s.l.between 2016 and 2018,and it increased to 4179 m a.s.l.in Qinghai.These results could help local government to take actions to adapt to global warming and improve food security.