Factors Driving the Spatiotemporal Variation of Dissolved Organic Carbon Flux from Croplands in the Midwestern USA

Improving understanding of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) cycling from farmlands to rivers is a challenge due to the complex influence of farming practices, the hydrology of predominantly flat lowlands, and seasonal snowpack effects. Monthly field DOC concentrations were measured throughout the year at sub-basin scale across the Chippewa River Watershed, which falls within the Corn Belt of the Midwestern United States. The observations from croplands were benchmarked against the data sampled from hilly forested areas in the Connecticut River Watershed. The Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to simulate daily soil water properties. This method tests for a framework for using the combination of new field data, hydrological modelling, and knowledge-based reclassification of Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) to analyze the predictors of both the spatial and temporal changes of DOC over farmlands. Our results show: 1) DOC concentrations from cropland baseflow were substantially high throughout the year, especially for spring runoff/snowmelt scenarios, 2) gradient analysis with spatial factors only was able to explain ~82% of observed annual mean DOC concentrations, and 3) with both spatial and temporal factors: [Evapotranspiration, Soil Water, and Ground Water], the analysis explained ~81% of seasonal and ~54% of daily variations in observed DOC concentrations.

Assessing Snow Phenology and Its Environmental Driving Factors in Northeast China

Snow cover is an important water source and even an Essential Climate Variable (ECV) as defined by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Assessing snow phenology and its driving factors in Northeast China will help with comprehensively understanding the role of snow cover in regional water cycle and climate change. This study presents spatiotemporal variations in snow phenology and the relative importance of potential drivers, including climate, geography, and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), based on the MODIS snow products across Northeast China from 2001 to 2018. The results indicated that the snow cover days (SCD), snow cover onset dates (SCOD) and snow cover end dates (SCED) all showed obvious latitudinal distribution characteristics. As the latitude gradually increases, SCD becomes longer, SCOD advances and SCED delays. Overall, there is a growing tendency in SCD and a delayed trend in SCED across time. The variations in snow phenology were driven by mean temperature, followed by latitude, while precipitation, aspect and slope all had little effect on the SCD, SCOD and SCED. With decreasing temperature, the SCD and SCED showed upward trends. The mean temperature has negatively correlation with SCD and SCED and positively correlation with SCOD. With increasing latitude, the change rate of the SCD, SCOD and SCED in the whole Northeast China were 10.20 d/degree, −3.82 d/degree and 5.41 d/degree, respectively, and the change rate of snow phenology in forested areas was lower than that in nonforested areas. At the same latitude, the snow phenology for different underlying surfaces varied greatly. The correlations between the snow phenology and NDVI were mainly positive, but weak correlations accounted for a large proportion.

Clima urbano: episódios de inverno e primavera em Rio Verde-GO

A perda de áreas florestadas causa extremos climáticos, como picos de temperatura e quedas da umidade relativa do ar, comprometendo a qualidade ambiental. Em Rio Verde, Goiás, com a expansão da área urbana, áreas de floresta foram reduzidas, trazendo um desconforto térmico na população. Assim, o objetivo deste artigo foi estimar as variações de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar, em três pontos de coletas distintos na cidade de Rio Verde-GO, considerando-se as características da superfície (uso da terra, vegetação, relevo) durante os meses de julho (inverno) e outubro (primavera) de 2018. Para isso foram processadas relações entre as temperaturas (T) e umidade relativa (UR) do ar com as áreas (vegetada; construída/pavimento e solo exposto) num raio de 200 m entre os pontos de coletas. Com essas informações fundamentadas no estudo na Teoria do Clima Urbano, por meio do subsistema termodinâmico (relativo à temperatura e umidade relativa do ar) foram feitas relações estatísticas entre a variação dos atributos climáticos e observamos os parâmetros geográficos, tais como porcentagem de vegetação, área construída, solo exposto, e a atuação e dinâmica atmosférica da região no período analisado. Os resultados mostraram que os aspectos do meio físico dos pontos amostrais, principalmente a vegetação, contribuiu para a variação dos registros da temperatura do ar mínima (T. mín) e máxima (T. máx) absoluta , com oscilação de 1,4 a 2,5°C e 2,8 a 4°C, enquanto os valores da umidade relativa do ar mínima e máxima absoluta variaram de 0,6 a 11,6% e 2,2 a 5,4%, respectivamente.Urban climate: winter and spring episodes in Rio Verde-GOA B S T R A C TThe loss of forested areas causes climatic extremes, such as temperature peaks and drops in relative humidity, compromising environmental quality. In Rio Verde, Goiás, with the population growth and the expansion of the urban area, forest areas were decimated, bringing a thermal discomfort to the population. The objective of this article was to estimate the variations in temperature and relative humidity in three distinct collection points in the city of Rio Verde-GO, considering the surface characteristics (land use, vegetation, relief) during the months of July (winter) and October (spring) 2018. For this purpose, relationships between the temperatures (T) and relative humidity (RH) of the air were processed with the areas (vegetated; constructed/paved and exposed soil) within a radius of 200 m between the collection points. With this information based on the study in the Theory of Urban Climate, through the thermodynamic subsystem (relative to the temperature and relative humidity of the air), statistical relationships were made between the variation of climatic attributes and we observed the geographical parameters, such as percentage of vegetation, area constructed, exposed soil, and the performance and atmospheric dynamics of the region in the analyzed period. The results showed that the physical aspects of the sample points, mainly the vegetation, contributed to the variation of the minimum (T. min) and maximum (T. max) absolute air temperature records, with an oscillation of 1,4 to 2,5°C and 2,8 to 4°C, while the minimum and maximum absolute relative humidity values varied from 0,6 to 11,6% and 2,2 to 5,4%, respectively.Keywords: Urban climate, climatic attributes, physical environment, land use and occupation

Assessment of growth and productivity of Scots pine provenance tests in the Arkhangelsk region in 39-year

Впервые для региона изучены выживаемость, рост и продуктивность климатипов сосны обыкновенной в 39-летних географических культурах государственной сети (Плесецкий район Архангельской области). Прослежены особенности перераспределения климатипов в коллекции, отобраны лучшие потомства для использования для лесовосстановления в пределах региона испытания. Установлено, что северные потомства (северная и средняя подзоны тайги), отличающиеся в I классе возраста высокой приживаемостью, во II классе возраста начали процесс дифференциации, который привел к снижению показателя почти в два раза. К концу II класса возраста наблюдается выравнивание потомств климатипов по высоте, при сохранении различий, связанных с происхождением, по диаметру. Наиболее крупные диаметры стволов имеют южнотаежные потомства, а также из северной подзоны смешанных лесов, отличающиеся самыми низкими показатели приживаемости и качеством стволов. Установлена прямая зависимость показателя Н/Д с приживаемостью, связанная с усилением роста климатипов по диаметру, увеличением сбежистости и искривленности стволов, формированием низкоопущенных крон. Показано, что в культурах II класса возраста сохраняются значительные корреляционные связи показателей роста и приживаемости с географическими координатами и климатическими характеристиками мест исходных насаждений, в то время как с запасом связь теряется. С использованием подхода оценки в единицах стандартного отклонения отобраны лучшие по продуктивности (запасу) климатипы: местный плесецкий, пинежский, вологодский, а также климатипы из Карелии. Исходные насаждения этих потомств входят в ареал, ограниченный 60–65° с.ш., 36–44° в.д. Для использования в лесовосстановлении в Архангельской области следует полностью исключить использование семян из насаждений Урала и Сибири. На европейской части страны рекомендовать к использованию семена, заготовленные в трех лесосеменных районах: Южнокарельский, Двинско-Мезенский и Верхнедвинский, ограничив перемещение семян на расстояние не более 300 км. For the first time for the region, the survival, growth and productivity of scots pine climates in 39-year-old provenance test of the state network (Plesetsk district of the Arkhangelsk region) were studied. Features of climate redistribution in the collection were traced, the best offspring were selected for use for reforestation within the test region. It has been established that northern offspring (northern and middle subzones of the boreal forest), differing in the I grade of age with high livability, in the II grade of age began the process of differentiation, which led to a decrease in the indicator by almost half. By the end of grade II of age, the offspring of provenance are equalized in height, while maintaining differences related to origin in diameter. The largest diameters of trunks have southern offspring, as well as from the northern subzone of mixed forests, which differ in the lowest rates of survival and quality of trunks. Direct dependence of H/D index with livability is established, which is connected with increase of provenance growth by diameter, increase of escape and curvature of trunks, formation of low-lowered crowns. It has been shown that in cultures of the II class of age, significant correlation of growth and livelihood indicators with the geographical coordinates and climatic characteristics of the places of the initial plantations remains, while with the reserve the connection is lost. Using the assessment approach, in units of standard deviation, the best climates in terms of productivity (reserve) were selected: local mold, Pinezhsky, Vologda, as well as climates from Karelia. The initial plantations of these offspring are included in the range, limited to 60–65° N, 36–44° E. For use in reforestation in the Arkhangelsk region, the use of seeds from plantations of the Urals and Siberia should be completely excluded. In the European part of the country, recommend the use of seeds harvested in three forested areas: South Karelian, Dvinsk-Mezensky and Verkhnedvinsky, limiting the movement of seeds for a distance of not more than 300 km.

Assessing the role of compound drought and heatwave events on unprecedented 2020 wildfires in the Pantanal

The year 2020 had the most catastrophic fire season over the last two decades in the Pantanal, which led to outstanding environmental impacts. Indeed, much of the Pantanal has been affected by severe dry conditions since 2019, with evidence of the 2020’s drought being the most extreme and widespread ever recorded in the last 70 years. Although it is unquestionable that this mega-drought contributed significantly to the increase of fire risk, so far, the 2020’s fire season has been analyzed at the univariate level of a single climate event, not considering the co-occurrence of extreme and persistent temperatures with soil dryness conditions. Here, we show that similarly to other areas of the globe, the influence of land-atmosphere feedbacks contributed decisively to the simultaneous occurrence of dry and hot spells (HPs), exacerbating fire risk. The ideal synoptic conditions for strong atmospheric heating and large evaporation rates were present, in particular during the HPs, when the maximum temperature was, on average, 6 ºC above the normal. The short span of the period during those compound drought-heatwave (CDHW) events accounted for 55% of the burned area of 2020. The vulnerability in the northern forested areas was higher than in the other areas, revealing a synergistic effect between fuel availability and weather-hydrological conditions. Accordingly, where fuel is not a limiting factor, fire activity tends to be more modelled by CDHW events. Our work advances beyond an isolated event-level basis towards a compound and cascading natural hazards approach, simultaneously estimating the contribution of drought and heatwaves to fuelling extreme fire outbreaks in the Pantanal such as those in 2020. Thus, these findings are relevant within a broader context, as the driving mechanisms apply across other ecosystems, implying higher flammability conditions and further efforts for monitoring and predicting such extreme events.

DEVELOPING VALIDATION OF FOREST FIRE RISK MAPS BASED ON HISTORICAL FIRE INCIDENCES

Large forest lands are damaged every year due to wild fires in Turkey. Prompt detection and rapid intervention is the key factors of firefighting activities. To be well prepared for the wildfires, it is crucial to determine the fire sensitive areas and then to locate fire extinguishing structures such as fire lookout towers and the firefighting headquarters by consideration these areas. The accuracy of the fire risk maps plays important role in the effectiveness of the fire management strategies and decisions. In this paper, the accuracy of a fire risk map, which was developed by GIS techniques integrated with Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), was evaluated based on the previous fire incidence in the study area. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used to generate fire risk map based on topographic features and forest vegetation structures. Then, total of 19 forest fires recorded in the study area in last 50 years were evaluated to validate the risk map. It was found that 23.81% of the area was subject to extreme risk, while 25.81% was of high risk. The results indicated that about 42.10% of the fire events fell into the forested areas with extreme fire risk, while 31,58% were in the high fire risk. Thus, the fire risk map developed by using the GIS-based MCDA can be an effective way for accurate estimation of the fire sensitive areas.

Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of the Restinga de Cabedelo National Forest, Paraíba State, Brazil

Restinga forests are plant formations that occur on plains of quaternary sandy deposits along the Brazilian coast. Despite historical reduction of the Restinga forests, little effort has been made to know the butterfly fauna of these areas. This paper is an important contribution to the butterfly’s knowledge, being the second inventory in the Restinga forest of northeastern Brazil. The survey was conducted in the Restinga de Cabedelo National Forest (FLONA de Cabedelo, following the Portuguese abbreviation) and aimed to provide preliminary information on the butterflies richness in this region. A total of 89 butterfly species and 1,503 individuals were recorded at FLONA de Cabedelo. Hesperiidae was the richest family (34 species), followed by Nymphalidae (33) Pieridae (eight), Lycaenidae (seven), Riodinidae (five), and Papilionidae (two). In general, the butterfly fauna of the FLONA de Cabedelo is dominated by species widely distributed and commonly found in open or forested areas in Brazil. Five species are new records in Paraíba state: Calydna sturnula (Geyer), Theope foliorum (Bates), Cogia hassan (Butler), Vehilius inca (Scudder), and Chiothion asychis (Stoll). We suggest carrying out monthly samplings which will certainly increase the list of species herein presented.

Identifikasi dan Pencegahan Daerah Rawan Bencana Kebakaran Hutan dan Lahan Gambut Di Kalimantan Barat

Kalimantan Barat memiliki potensi bencana kebakaran hutan dan lahan gambut yang tinggi karena banyaknya titik api dan jenis lahan gambut yang mudah terbakar pada musim kemarau. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk memetakan dan menentukan kecenderungan titik pamas dan mengidentifikasi dan mencegah kawasan rawan kebakaran hutan dan lahan gambut dengan data hotspot, peta curah hujan, peta tutupan lahan, peta kesatuan hidrologis gambut, dan peta cekungan air tanah menggunakan Sistem Informasi Geografis atau SIG. Metode overlap digunakan untuk menganalisis kecenderungan titik panas sedangkan Overlay dan Scoring digunakan untuk mengidentifikasi kawasan rawan kebakaran hutan dan lahan. Setelah dilakukan analisis titik panas, terdapat kecenderungan curah hujan pada kelas curah hujan 1.500-3.000 mm/tahun dengan 2.192 kejadian. Perubahan tutupan lahan di kawasan hutan mengalami penurunan sebesar 7,96%. Peningkatan tutupan lahan di kawasan non-hutan sebesar 11,26%, mempengaruhi potensi dan kecenderungan titik api dan bencana kebakaran hutan dan lahan. Kubu Raya memiliki tingkat kerawanan bencana kebakaran pada kelas sangat rawan dengan luasan 0,26%, dan Kapuas Hulu memiliki tingkat kerawanan bencana kebakaran pada kelas tidak rawan dengan luas 0,19%. Kabupaten Ketapang merupakan daerah dengan tingkat pencegahan tertinggi, dengan luas cekungan airtanah sebesar 26,46%.ABSTRACTWest Kalimantan has a high potential for forest and peatland fire disasters due to the high number of hotspots and the type of peatland which burns easily during the dry season. The purpose of this research is to map and determine the trend of hotspots and areas prone to forest and peatland fires and prevent them with hotspot data, rainfall maps, land cover maps, maps of peat hydrological units, and maps of groundwater basins using Geographic Information Systems or GIS. The overlap method is used to analyze the trend of hotspots; meanwhile, Overlay and Scoring are used to identify areas prone to forest and land fires in this research. After analyzing the hotspots, there is a tendency for rainfall with a class of 1,500-3,000mm/year with 2,192 events. Land cover change in forested areas decreased by 7.96%. It increased land cover in non-forest areas by 11.26%, affecting the potential and tendency of hotspots and forest and land fire disasters. Kubu Raya has a fire disaster vulnerability level in the very vulnerable class with an area of 0.26%, and Kapuas Hulu has a fire disaster vulnerability level in the non-prone class with an area of 0.19%. Ketapang Regency is the area with the highest prevention rate, with a groundwater basin area of 26.46%.

Spatial Characteristics of Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions of Water Deer in Korea Expressway

In recent decades, rapid industrial growth has accelerated the construction of new roads, which has led to the destruction and isolation of wildlife habitats. Newly constructed roads affect wildlife in many ways. In particular, fatal wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) have a direct impact on wildlife. A substantial number of WVCs occur every year on expressways, where vehicle speeds and vehicle traffic are significant. However, our understanding of the relative importance of the factors associated with areas in which large numbers of WVCs occur on the expressway remains poor. Therefore, herein, we analyze the spatial characteristics of WVCs. The effect of spatial distribution on the occurrence of WVCs was analyzed using the types of land cover in the areas where water deer appear (Cheongju, Boeun, and Sangju) and the areas in which WVCs occur along the Cheongju–Sangju Expressway (CSE). We identified the WVC hotspots by using CSE patrol data recorded between January 2008 and December 2019, and we analyzed the corresponding distribution patterns and land cover characteristics. Along the CSE, a total of 1082 WVCs occurred, out of which collisions involving water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus) accounted for 91%. Water deer appear frequently in Forested Areas and Agricultural Land, but the WVC distribution in the Hotspots followed a highly clustered pattern, with a higher proportion of WVCs occurring in Used Areas (areas including buildings such as residential facilities, commercial and industrial facilities, and transportation facilities). Used Areas have a smaller cut slope compared to Forested Areas, and Used Areas are open terrains. Therefore, the occurrence of WVCs will be high given that wildlife can easily access the expressway. Based on these results, we can infer that the landscapes near the expressway influence the occurrence of WVCs. To establish an effective policy for reducing WVCs on a road, the WVC characteristics and spatial distribution of the road should be considered together. Further research on the wildlife ecology and land-use status of WVC hotspots is required to mitigate WVCs on expressways and protect human and animal life. Therefore, if the characteristics of WVC hotspots are analyzed considering the characteristics of various ecosystems, an appropriate WVC reduction plan can be established.