• Precipitation and soil particle size co-determine spatial distribution of biological soil crusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China

    分类: 地球科学 >> 地球科学史 提交时间: 2018-09-17 合作期刊: 《干旱区科学》

    摘要: Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are bio-sedimentary associations that play crucial ecological roles in arid and semi-arid regions. In the Gurbantunggut Desert of China, more than 27% of the land surface is characterized by a predominant cover of lichen-dominated BSCs that contribute to the stability of the desert. However, little is known about the major factors that limit the spatial distribution of BSCs at a macro scale. In this study, the cover of BSCs was investigated along a precipitation gradient from the margins to the center of the Gurbantunggut Desert. Environmental variables including precipitation, soil particle size, soil pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon, total salt, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium were analyzed at a macro scale to determine their association with differing assemblages of BSCs (cyanobacteria crusts, lichen crusts and moss crusts) using constrained linear ordination redundancy analysis (RDA). A model of BSCs distribution correlated with environmental variables that dominated the first two axes of the RDA was constructed to clearly demonstrate the succession stages of BSCs. The study determined that soil particle size (represented by coarse sand content) and precipitation are the most significant drivers influencing the spatial distribution of BSCs at a macro scale in the Gurbantunggut Desert. The cover of lichen and moss crusts increased with increasing precipitation, while the cover of cyanobacteria crusts decreased with increasing precipitation. The cover of lichen and moss crusts was negatively associated with coarse sand content, whereas the cover of cyanobacteria crusts was positively correlated with coarse sand content. These findings highlight the need for both the availability of soil moisture and a relatively stable of soil matrix, not only for the growth of BSCs but more importantly, for the regeneration and rehabilitation of disturbed BSC communities in arid and semi-arid lands. Thereby, this study will provide a theory basis to effectively increase soil stability in desert regions.

  • IMAGING SIMULATION OF THE MICROWAVE RADIOMETER ABOARD THE MICAP FOR SEA SURFACE SALINITY MEASUREMENT

    分类: 地球科学 >> 空间物理学 提交时间: 2016-05-03

    摘要: Sea surface salinity as an ocean variable plays an important role in various components of the water and energy cycle. Recently a Chinese space mission using a new concept of Microwave Imager Combined Active and Passive (MICAP) at L-band is proposed for the ocean salinity measurement. MICAP uses interferometric techniques for both the radiometer and the scatterometer, which adopt two kinds of linear array feeds sharing one 3x4.5 m parabolic cylinder reflector. This paper is focused on the microwave interferometric radiometer (MIR) aboard the MICAP, and discusses the imaging simulation, imaging algorithm, and instrument performance.

  • MICAP (MICROWAVE IMAGER COMBINED ACTIVE AND PASSIVE): A NEW INSTRUMENT FOR CHINESE OCEAN SALINITY SATELLITE

    分类: 地球科学 >> 空间物理学 提交时间: 2016-05-03

    摘要: Sea surface salinity (SSS) plays an important role in global water cycle. In recent years, satellite based remote sensing has proven to be a promising approach for global SSS observation. A new payload concept, named MICAP (microwave imager combined active and passive), has been introduced in this paper. MICAP is a suit of active/passive instrument package, which includes L/C/K band one-dimensional MIR (microwave interferometric radiometer) and L-band DBF (digital beamforming) scatterometer, sharing a parabolic cylinder reflector. MICAP has been selected to be a candidate payload for future Chinese ocean salinity mission. In this paper, the MICAP instrument concept, specification and preliminary system design will be introduced.