scholarly journals Sensitivity of productivity to precipitation amount and pattern varies by topographic position in a semiarid grassland

Ecosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Hoover ◽  
William K. Lauenroth ◽  
Daniel G. Milchunas ◽  
Lauren M. Porensky ◽  
David J. Augustine ◽  
...  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 65-72
Author(s):  
V. N. Shmagol' ◽  
V. L. Yarysh ◽  
S. P. Ivanov ◽  
V. I. Maltsev

<p>The long-term population dynamics of the red deer (<em>Cervus elaphus</em> L.) and European roe deer (<em>Capreolus</em> <em>capreolus</em> L.) at the mountain and forest zone of Crimea during 1980-2017 is presented. Fluctuations in numbers of both species are cyclical and partly synchronous. Period of oscillations in the population of red deer is about 25 years, the average duration of the oscillation period of number of roe deer is 12.3 years. During the fluctuations in the number the increasing and fall in population number of the red deer had been as 26-47 %, and roe deer – as 22-34 %. Basing on the dada obtained we have assumed that together with large-scale cycles of fluctuations in population number of both red deer and roe deer the short cycles of fluctuations in the number of these species with period from 3.5 to 7.5 years take place. Significant differences of the parameters of cyclical fluctuations in the number of roe deer at some sites of the Mountainous Crimea: breaches of synchronicity, as well as significant differences in the duration of cycles are revealed. The greatest deviations from the average values of parameters of long-term dynamics of the number of roe deer in Crimea are noted for groups of this species at two protected areas. At the Crimean Nature Reserve the cycle time of fluctuations of the numbers of roe deer was 18 years. At the Karadag Nature Reserve since 1976 we can see an exponential growth in number of roe deer that is continued up to the present time. By 2016 the number of roe deer reached 750 individuals at a density of 437 animals per 1 thousand ha. Peculiarity of dynamics of number of roe deer at some sites proves the existence in the mountain forest of Crimea several relatively isolated groups of deer. We assumed that "island" location of the Crimean populations of red deer and European roe deer, their relatively little number and influence of permanent extreme factors of both natural and anthropogenic origination have contributed to a mechanism of survival of these populations. The elements of such a mechanism include the following features of long-term dynamics of the population: the reduction in the period of cyclic population fluctuations, while maintaining their amplitude and the appearance of additional small cycles, providing more flexible response of the population to the impact of both negative and positive environmental factors. From the totality of the weather conditions for the Crimean population of roe deer the recurring periods of increases and downs in the annual precipitation amount may have relevance. There was a trend of increase in the roe deer population during periods of increasing annual precipitation.</p>


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4s) ◽  
pp. 621-629
Author(s):  
Valentina Pidlisnyuk ◽  
◽  
John Harrington JR ◽  
Yulia Melnyk ◽  
Yuliya Vystavna ◽  
...  

The article focuses on examining the influence of fluctuations in annual precipitation amount on the quality of surface waters. Water quality was estimated with data on BOD, COD and phosphate–ion concentration within five selected regions of Ukraine. Analysis of the precipitation data (1991 – 2010) showed different regional trends. Using the statistics, determination of the interconnection between precipitation amount and water resources quality were done. The obtained regularities and associated uncertainties can be used for prediction of changes in water resource quality and as a guide for future adaptation to possible climate change.


Author(s):  
S. A. Lysenko

The spatial and temporal particularities of Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) changes over territory of Belarus in the current century and their relationship with climate change were investigated. The rise of NDVI is observed at approximately 84% of the Belarus area. The statistically significant growth of NDVI has exhibited at nearly 35% of the studied area (t-test at 95% confidence interval), which are mainly forests and undeveloped areas. Croplands vegetation index is largely descending. The main factor of croplands bio-productivity interannual variability is precipitation amount in vegetation period. This factor determines more than 60% of the croplands NDVI dispersion. The long-term changes of NDVI could be explained by combination of two factors: photosynthesis intensifying action of carbon dioxide and vegetation growth suppressing action of air warming with almost unchanged precipitation amount. If the observed climatic trend continues the croplands bio-productivity in many Belarus regions could be decreased at more than 20% in comparison with 2000 year. The impact of climate change on the bio-productivity of undeveloped lands is only slightly noticed on the background of its growth in conditions of rising level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1438
Author(s):  
Snežana Jakšić ◽  
Jordana Ninkov ◽  
Stanko Milić ◽  
Jovica Vasin ◽  
Milorad Živanov ◽  
...  

Spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) is the result of a combination of various factors related to both the natural environment and anthropogenic activities. The aim of this study was to examine (i) the state of SOC in topsoil and subsoil of vineyards compared to the nearest forest, (ii) the influence of soil management on SOC, (iii) the variation in SOC content with topographic position, (iv) the intensity of soil erosion in order to estimate the leaching of SOC from upper to lower topographic positions, and (v) the significance of SOC for the reduction of soil’s susceptibility to compaction. The study area was the vineyard region of Niš, which represents a medium-sized vineyard region in Serbia. About 32% of the total land area is affected, to some degree, by soil erosion. However, according to the mean annual soil loss rate, the total area is classified as having tolerable erosion risk. Land use was shown to be an important factor that controls SOC content. The vineyards contained less SOC than forest land. The SOC content was affected by topographic position. The interactive effect of topographic position and land use on SOC was significant. The SOC of forest land was significantly higher at the upper position than at the middle and lower positions. Spatial distribution of organic carbon in vineyards was not influenced by altitude, but occurred as a consequence of different soil management practices. The deep tillage at 60–80 cm, along with application of organic amendments, showed the potential to preserve SOC in the subsoil and prevent carbon loss from the surface layer. Penetrometric resistance values indicated optimum soil compaction in the surface layer of the soil, while low permeability was observed in deeper layers. Increases in SOC content reduce soil compaction and thus the risk of erosion and landslides. Knowledge of soil carbon distribution as a function of topographic position, land use and soil management is important for sustainable production and climate change mitigation.


Author(s):  
Wenyan Gan ◽  
Hangshan Gao ◽  
Haiqing Pei ◽  
Zhixun Wen

Abstract According to the microstructural evolution during longterm thermal exposure at 1100 °C, the creep rupture life of Ni-based single crystal superalloys at 980 °C/270 MPa was evaluated. The microstructure was characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and related image processing methods. The size of γ’ precipitates and the precipitation amount of topologically close-packed increased with the increase in thermal exposure time, and coarsening of the γ’ precipitates led to the simultaneous increase of the matrix channel width. The relationship between the creep rupture life and the lattice misfit of γ/γ’, the coarsening of γ’ precipitate and the precipitation of TCP phase are systematically discussed. In addition, according to the correlation between γ’ phase evolution and creep characteristics during thermal exposure, a physical model is established to predict the remaining creep life.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 505
Author(s):  
Yonglan Tang ◽  
Guirong Xu ◽  
Rong Wan ◽  
Xiaofang Wang ◽  
Junchao Wang ◽  
...  

It is an important to study atmospheric thermal and dynamic vertical structures over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and their impact on precipitation by using long-term observation at representative stations. This study exhibits the observational facts of summer precipitation variation on subdiurnal scale and its atmospheric thermal and dynamic vertical structures over the TP with hourly precipitation and intensive soundings in Jiulong during 2013–2020. It is found that precipitation amount and frequency are low in the daytime and high in the nighttime, and hourly precipitation greater than 1 mm mostly occurs at nighttime. Weak precipitation during the daytime may be caused by air advection, and strong precipitation at nighttime may be closely related with air convection. Both humidity and wind speed profiles show obvious fluctuation when precipitation occurs, and the greater the precipitation intensity, the larger the fluctuation. Moreover, the fluctuation of wind speed is small in the morning, large at noon and largest at night, presenting a similar diurnal cycle to that of convective activity over the TP, which is conductive to nighttime precipitation. Additionally, the inverse layer is accompanied by the inverse humidity layer, and wind speed presents multi-peaks distribution in its vertical structure. Both of these are closely related with the underlying surface and topography of Jiulong. More studies on physical mechanism and numerical simulation are necessary for better understanding the atmospheric phenomenon over the TP.


Ecohydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin C. Johnson ◽  
C. Jason Williams ◽  
D. Phillip Guertin ◽  
Steven R. Archer ◽  
Philip Heilman ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 167-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin H. Passey

Carbon isotopes in Neogene-age fossil teeth and paleosol carbonates are commonly interpreted in the context of past distributions of C3 and C4 vegetation. These two plant types have very different distributions in relation to climate and ecology, and provide a robust basis for reconstructing terrestrial paleoclimates and paleoenvironments during the Neogene. Carbon isotopes in pre-Neogene fossil teeth are usually interpreted in the context of changes in the δ13C value of atmospheric CO2, and variable climate-dependent carbon-isotope discrimination in C3 plants. Carbon isotopes in pre-Neogene soil carbonates can be used to estimate past levels of atmospheric CO2. Oxygen isotopes in fossil teeth and paleosol carbonates primarily are influenced by the oxygen isotopic compositions of ancient rainfall and surface waters. The oxygen isotopic composition of rainfall is has a complex, but tractable, relationship with climate, and variably relates to temperature, elevation, precipitation amount, and other factors. Mammal species that rely on moisture in dietary plant tissues to satisfy their water requirements (rather than surface drinking water) may have oxygen isotopic compositions that track aridity. Thus, oxygen isotopes of fossil mammals can place broad constraints on paleoaridity. Carbonate clumped isotope thermometry allows for reconstruction of soil temperatures at the time of pedogenic carbonate mineralization. The method is unique because it is the only thermodynamically based isotopic paleothermometer that does not require assumptions about the isotopic composition of the fluid in which the archive mineral formed. Soil temperature reflects a complex interplay of air temperature, solar radiative heating, latent heat effects, soil thermal diffusivity, and seasonal variations of these parameters. Because plants and most animals live in and/or near the soil, soil temperature is an important aspect of terrestrial (paleo)climate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (23) ◽  
pp. eabg3848
Author(s):  
Steven C. Clemens ◽  
Masanobu Yamamoto ◽  
Kaustubh Thirumalai ◽  
Liviu Giosan ◽  
Julie N. Richey ◽  
...  

South Asian precipitation amount and extreme variability are predicted to increase due to thermodynamic effects of increased 21st-century greenhouse gases, accompanied by an increased supply of moisture from the southern hemisphere Indian Ocean. We reconstructed South Asian summer monsoon precipitation and runoff into the Bay of Bengal to assess the extent to which these factors also operated in the Pleistocene, a time of large-scale natural changes in carbon dioxide and ice volume. South Asian precipitation and runoff are strongly coherent with, and lag, atmospheric carbon dioxide changes at Earth’s orbital eccentricity, obliquity, and precession bands and are closely tied to cross-equatorial wind strength at the precession band. We find that the projected monsoon response to ongoing, rapid high-latitude ice melt and rising carbon dioxide levels is fully consistent with dynamics of the past 0.9 million years.


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