Prediction of botanical composition in grassland herbage samples by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was evaluated as a method to predict the botanical composition of seminatural grassland in ‘dehesa’ systems. Samples of herbaceous biomass were harvested over four consecutive years, determining in each—by manual separation—the proportion by weight of the following taxonomic groups: grasses, legumes and the rest of the families in a single block (‘others’). After reconstructing the natural samples they were analysed by NIRS. One set of samples (calibration set) was selected for the development of the equations, assaying different mathematical treatments (log l/R, first derivative and second derivative). The ranges of coefficients of multiple determination and standard errors of calibration, respectively, for the various components were: grasses, 0.86 to 0.92 and 6.66 to 9.14; legumes, 0.77 to 0.81 and 6.82 to 7.43; and ‘others’, 0.85 to 0.88 and 8.17 to 9.54. The remaining samples not included in the development of the NIRS equations (prediction set) were used for the purposes of validating the best equations. Standard errors of performance were: grasses, 6.12; legumes, 7.56 and ‘others’, 7.70.     

A shadow fraction method for mapping biomass of northern boreal black spruce forests using QuickBird imagery

We have developed and tested a method for mapping above-ground forest biomass of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) stands in northern boreal forests of eastern Canada. The method uses QuickBird images and applies image processing algorithms to extract tree shadow fraction (SF) as a predictive variable for estimating biomass. Three QuickBird images acquired over three test sites and 108 ground sample plots (GSP) were used to develop and test the method. SF was calculated from the fraction of tree shadow area over the area of a reference square overlaid on the images. Linear regressions between biomass of GSP and SF from the images for each test site resulted in R² in the range from 0.85 to 0.87 (except one case at 0.41), RMSE of 11 to 18 t/ha and bias of 2 to 5 t/ha. Statistical tests demonstrated that local regressions for the three test sites were not statistically significantly different. Consequently, a global regression was calculated with all GSP and produced R², RMSE, and bias of 0.84, 14.2 t/ha and 4.2 t/ha, respectively. While generalization of these results to extended areas of the boreal forest would require further assessment, the SF method provided an efficient means for mapping biomass of black spruce stands for three test areas that are characteristic of the northern boreal forest of eastern Canada (boreal and taiga shield ecozones).     

THE UNSOLVED MESSAGES OF PEARL HARBOR

In 1941, the United States Navy intercepted enough Japanese naval messages to predict the attack on Pearl Harbor if the code which protected them had been solved. The messages would have disclosed that, while the Japanese government cynically conducted diplomatic negotiations with the United States, the Japanese Combined Fleet under Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, beginning as early as September 1941, systematically prepared ships, crews, weapons, tactics, and a complicated fuel supply system for the most ambitious operation ever undertaken by the Japanese navy. Details of Japan's intentions were hidden from Navy cryptanalysts because of limited manpower resources and because all Japanese navy codes were assigned a lower priority than Japanese diplomatic codes and German submarine threat.     

Sulfur content of gasoline and diesel fuels in northern China

In order to investigate vehicle fuel quality in northern China, the sulfur content of fuels purchased from the market has been studied. 235 samples from urban areas and highway service stations were collected and tested with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. 88% of the gasoline samples contained sulfur below 500 ppm, the limit then in effect, and 92.5% of the diesel fuel samples were below 2000 ppm, the required limit. China's Ministry of Environmental Protection recommend lower sulfur to assure that the vehicles using the fuels comply with the China III emission standards—those limits are 150 ppm sulfur for gasoline and 350 ppm for diesel fuel. The recommended limits were not often met: in Jinan, Shanghai, Changchun and Xi'an, 0%, 11%, 46% and 60% of the gasoline sampled were below 150 ppm sulfur. For samples from highway stations, only 14–58% of gasoline was under the 150 ppm sulfur and only 0–67% of diesel samples below 350 ppm in different regions. This mismatch, between fuel sulfur levels that would enable vehicle emission controls to operate effectively, and the actual fuel sulfur levels at service stations, results in unnecessarily high pollution from potentially cleaner vehicles.     

柴达木盆地北缘盆山构造关系与油气勘探方向

穿过赛什腾山南侧构造边界的地震剖面显示．赛什腾山南缘断裂带总体表现为扭动特征。该断裂带在西端主要表现为向北、向上冲断；中部以高角度为特征；东缘（1001测线剖面）则表现为低角度、向盆地方向的逆冲断层，可能是走滑断裂构造端部的构造转换，为伴生构造样式。柴达木盆地北缘（柴北缘）的边界造山带并没有向盆地方向大规模逆冲，赛什腾山山前的东台1井及绿梁山山前的尕丘1井均未钻遇被山体掩覆的新地层，而是钻遇了高角度断裂带，也说明山体向南侧的逆冲规模较小。因此，新生代以来柴北缘地区的构造变形以走滑变形为主，逆冲推覆是走滑构造的伴生产物。柴北缘走滑断裂带构造变形具有反转特征．并不是厚生油气藏形成的有利地带，走滑带之间的块体可能是相对稳定的块体，具有较有利的成藏条件。图7参12     

Land Subsidence Spreading Factor of the Northern Adriatic Gas Fields, Italy

The land subsidence spreading factor χ provides a useful straightforward indication on how much of a gas/oil reservoir compaction induced by field development migrates to ground surface with a possible adverse impact on the stability of low‐lying coastal areas. This factor depends primarily on the ratio between the depth of burial and a representative horizontal dimension of the reservoir. However, an important influence is also exerted by the active bottom/lateral aquifer hydraulically connected to the field (called “waterdrive” in reservoir engineering) that may undergo an extensive depressurization also after the field abandonment, thus contributing to enhance the overall land settlement. In the Northern Adriatic basin, Italy, χ is evaluated using a nonlinear finite element model of three representative gas reservoirs (Chioggia Mare, Dorotea, and Dosso degli Angeli) surrounded by important bottom/lateral aquifers in the interval depth between 1000 and 3300 m. Results show that χ may easily approach and even exceed one for the deepest field as well, contrary to the prediction of land subsidence based on the compaction of the gas‐bearing formations alone, that can thus be largely underestimated.     

The CENTURY model failed to simulate soil organic matter development in an acidic grassland

Extensive agricultural systems have been promoted all over Europe. Most studies of such systems have focused on plant species composition, while few studies have looked at soil effects. We report on an experiment at three upland sites where soil carbon, nitrogen and pH were measured twice a year for 12 years. There were four grazing treatments: no grazing, grazed to maintain a sward height of 8 cm, grazed to maintain 4 cm (all without fertiliser) and grazed to maintain 4 cm with the addition of fertiliser. There was no significant effect of treatment, but there were differences between sites over time. A simulation model, CENTURY, was adapted to the data. It also predicted little difference between treatments, but the fit to data was not very good. It was necessary to assume that the soils contained a store of undecomposed organic matter or peat that was now slowly decomposing as a result of liming. The need to modify the model to include a pH effect on decomposition in the model is highlighted.     

黔北北部铝土矿成矿物源碎屑锆石REE特征及成因探讨

锆石中的稀土元素(REE)含量常用于判别锆石的成因类型,追索铝土矿的成矿物源。在道真县的铝土矿床中取样,对铝土矿中的碎屑锆石进行了LA-IPC-MS原位REE元素含量分析。REE元素含量变化范围很宽,HREE明显高于LREE,球粒陨石标准化配分模式分为3种类型,主要为HREE富集型+Ce正异常+Eu负异常,HREE相对平坦型+Ce正异常+Eu负异常,MREE亏损型+Eu负异常。铝土矿中碎屑锆石主要为岩浆锆石,其次为少量变质锆石和极少数热液锆石。铝土矿的成矿物源复杂,最终物源应主要来源于前寒武纪的岩浆岩,并与相应的地质事件有关。     

生态廊道型限建区保护规划编制探讨——以洛阳市洛河以北区域为例

生态廊道型限建区具有重要的生态保护功能,是城市的"绿肺"。随着城镇建设的加快,生态廊道限建区有被侵占的危险。结合生态廊道限建区现状,洛阳市洛河以北区域生态廊道限建区保护专项规划从实际出发,按照生态化、景观化的发展理念,以"三区、四线"为前提,根据"限建区"这一性质,进行了土地、绿化景观和产业等方面的专项规划,以打造一个生态优良、景色优美的绿色生态廊道,形成一个多优势融合、多产业集聚的河流生态综合区,以及人与自然和谐发展、高度融合,经济与生态均呈现高附加值的生态廊道区域。