Area Of Southeast China Research Articles

Analysis and Study on Long Pants of Folk Costume in Zhejiang Province

Zhejiang province is located in the coastal area of southeast China. Its folk costumes have the particular culture implication due to its unique historical and cultural background, customs and geographical regions. As an integral part of regional costumes which formed in the coastal specific natural and human environment, Long Pants not only displays a certain degree of multi-cultural identity of territoriality, comfort and efficacy but also reflects its customs, religions, aesthetic preferences and so on. Through the analysis and research of historical origins, costume shapes, colors and decorative patterns in depth, this paper systematically elaborates and sums up its functions of regional culture.

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition and its long-term dynamics in a southeast China coastal area

Measurements were conducted during 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 to characterize atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition to the Jiulong River Estuary – Xiamen Bay area in southeast China. Isotopic analysis and long-term data (1990–2009) for inorganic N extracted from the national acid deposition dataset were used to determine the dominant source of atmospheric nitrate and N component dynamics. The results showed that the mean dissolved total N concentration in rain water for the three coastal area sites was 2.71 ± 1.58 mg N L−1 (n = 141) in 2004. The mean dissolved inorganic N at the Xiamen site was 1.62 ± 1.19 mg N L−1 (n = 46) in 2004–2005 and 1.56 ± 1.39 mg N L−1 (n = 36) in 2009–2010, although the difference is not significant, nitrate turnover dominates the N component in the latter period. Total deposition flux over Xiamen was 30 kg N ha−1 yr−1, of which dry and wet deposition contributed 16% and 84%, respectively. Nitrate in wet deposition with low isotopic value (between −3.05 and −7.48‰) was likely to have mostly originated from combustion NOx from vehicle exhausts. The inorganic N in acid deposition exhibited a significant increase (mainly for nitrate) since the mid-1990s, which is consistent with the increased gaseous concentrations of NOx and expanding number of automobiles in the coastal city (Xiamen). The time series of nitrate anions and ammonium cations as well as pH values during the period 1990–2009 reflected an increasing trend of N emission with potential implication for N-induced acidification.

Benchmark dose approach for low-level lead induced haematogenesis inhibition and associations of childhood intelligences with ALAD activity and ALA levels

Lead (Pb) levels, delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activities, zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) levels in blood, and urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and coproporphyrin (CP) concentrations were measured for 318 environmental Pb exposed children recruited from an area of southeast China. The mean of blood lead (PbB) levels was 75.0 μg/L among all subjects. Benchmark dose (BMD) method was conducted to present a lower PbB BMD (lower bound of BMD) of 32.4 μg/L (22.7) based on ALAD activity than those based on the other three haematological indices, corresponding to a benchmark response of 1%. Childhood intelligence degrees were not associated significantly with ALAD activities or ALA levels. It was concluded that blood ALAD activity is a sensitive indicator of early haematological damage due to low-level Pb exposures for children.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in chicken tissues and eggs from an electronic waste recycling area in southeast China

The levels and distributions of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in chicken tissues from an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling area in southeast China were investigated. Human dietary intake by local residents via chicken muscle and eggs was estimated. The mean PBDEs concentrations in tissues ranged from 15.2 to 3138.1 ng/g lipid weight (lw) and in egg the concentration was 563.5 ng/g lw. The results showed that the level of total PBDEs (ΣPBDEs) in the chicken tissue was 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than those reported in the literature. The large difference of ΣPBDEs concentrations between tissues confirmed that the distribution of PBDEs in tissues depend on tissue-specificity rather than the “lipid-compartment”. BDE-209 was the predominant congener (82.5%–94.7% of 2PBDEs) in all chicken tissues except in brain (34.7% of ΣPBDEs), which indicated that deca-BDE (the major commercial PBDE formulation comprising 65%–70% of total production) was major pollution source in this area and could be bioaccumulated in terrestrial animals. The dietary PBDEs intake of the local residents from chicken muscle and egg, assuming only local bred chickens and eggs were consumed, ranged from 2.2 to 22.5 ng/(day-kg body weight (bw)) with a mean value of 13.5 ng/(day-kg bw), which was one order of magnitude higher than the value reported in previous studies for consumption of all foodstuffs.

Impacts of Typhoons Tianying and Dawei on seagrass distribution in Xincun Bay, Hainan Province, China

More than 50% of the typhoons landing in China have landed on the southeast coast, where they have caused great pressure on the coastal environment. Seagrass, one of the most important constituents of coastal ecosystems, is also greatly affected by typhoons. In order to clarify how seagrass distribution variation is affected by typhoons in coastal areas in southeast China, data of Typhoons Dawei and Tianying (category 4 and category 2 respectively, which just ran through the southern part of Hainan province) have been studied. In situ observation and satellite remote sensing data (CBERS-China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite) in 2004 and 2006 were used to retrieve seagrass distribution in Xincun Bay, Hainan province. In situ observations showed that leaf length, stem biomass and above ground biomass on average showed evidence of reduction after Typhoons Tianying and Dawei. However, seagrass density showed no evidence of reduction after typhoon Tianying and Dawei passed by and increased rapidly in January 2006. From results of satellite remote sensing data, seagrass distribution can be detected with high accuracy, and the area of seagrass distribution on the south coast of Xincun Bay in 2006 after the typhoon passed by was smaller than that in 2004 in region A and B. However, in region C, area of seagrass coverage under 20% increased. These results demonstrated that typhoons Tianying and Dawei damaged seagrass bed and helped seagrass to get rid of aged and dead leaves, and this correspondingly facilitated seagrass growth.

Polymorphisms of TLR7 and TLR8 associated with risk of asthma and asthma-related phenotypes in a southeastern Chinese Han population

Objective To evaluate the effects of polymorphisms in TLR7 and TLR8(as potential candidate genes) on asthma risk and asthma-related phenotypes. Methods We consecutively recruited 318 unrelated adult asthmatic patients and 352 healthy volunteers from the same area of southeast China. Genotyping of each selected SNP was performed using multiplex PCR in conjunction with tagged array single base extension technology. We conducted case-control and case-only association studies between the selected SNPs in TLR7 and TLR8 and asthma or asthma-related phenotypes. Results The T allele of rs5935436 SNP in TLR7 was protective from developing asthma in males (adjusted ORs = 0.126, 95% CIs = 0.016-0.995). The CT/TT genotype of rs5935436 was less frequent in female asthmatics with allergic rhinitis (adjusted ORs = 0.18, 95% CIs = 0.04-0.90). The homozygote AA of rs3761623 and GG of rs3764880 were positively associated with lower FEV 1% and asthma severity in female asthmatics. These results were confirmed by haplotype analysis. Conclusion TLR7 and TLR8 polymorphisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma that is gender-dependent. This could be clinically useful, both for identifying patients at risk of asthma and for preventing its occurrence.

Status of the East Asian population of the Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus: the need for urgent conservation action

AbstractThe Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus is a globally threatened species with three distinct populations, the smallest of which is the almost extinct eastern race with an estimated population size of 50 birds breeding in Mongolia and migrating to south-east China during the winter. We analysed recent survey information and published records to construct a picture of the annual life cycle of the Dalmatian Pelican and how it has changed over the years. We were able to obtain a total of 196 records from 82 sites in China and Mongolia dating back to 1862. Seasonal information was available for 168 records. The pelicans breed in western Mongolia and migrate in a south-easterly direction to the Bo Sea and then southwards along the coasts of Shandong and Jiangsu to the wintering area in south-east China. Return migration to the breeding grounds follows the same general path. There is some evidence that part of the population uses an inland migration route linking the wetlands along the Yellow and Huai Rivers and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River; this route was probably more important historically. The pelicans are encountering serious problems at all stages of their annual life cycle: destruction of nesting habitat and hunting in the breeding area, loss of important wetland habitats along the inland migration routes, and land claim, human disturbance and overexploitation of fisheries resources on the coast. It is highly desirable that a simultaneous count be conducted of the key wintering sites so that an accurate population estimate can be obtained. Use of satellite telemetry would provide very useful information on migration strategies and home ranges in the wintering grounds, and assist greatly in identifying key habitats for conservation action at different stages of the annual life cycle.

High levels of heavy metals in rice (Oryzasativa L.) from a typical E-waste recycling area in southeast China and its potential risk to human health

Very few studies have investigated the heavy metal contents in rice samples from a typical E-waste recycling area. In this study, 10 heavy metals (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni and Pb) in 13 polished rice and relevant hull samples, six relevant paddy soil samples were investigated. The geometric mean concentrations of Cd, Cu and Hg in soil samples were 1.19, 9.98 and 0.32μgg−1, respectively, which were 4.0, 2.0 and 1.1-folds of the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) (0.30, 50.00, 0.30μgg−1, respectively) for Chinese agricultural soils. The analyzed metal concentrations were significantly different between rice and relevant hull except for As, Cd and Hg (p<0.05). All metal concentrations, except for Co, in rice hull were higher than those in polished rice. The geometric mean of Pb in polished rice reached 0.69μgg−1, which was 3.5-folds higher than the MAC (0.20μgg−1) by the safety criteria for milled rice. Cd contents in 31% of the rice samples exceeded the national MAC (0.20μgg−1), and the arithmetic mean also slightly exceeded national MAC. In addition, Cd and Pb contents in local rice were much higher than commercial rice samples examined in this work and previous studies. Comparing the tolerable daily intakes given by FAO/WHO with the mean estimated daily intakes; Pb daily intake through rice consumption in this area was 3.7μgday−1kg−1 body weight (bw), which already exceeded the FAO tolerable daily intake, and the Cd daily intake (0.7μgday−1kg−1 bw) through rice had already taken up 70% of the total tolerable daily intake (1μgday−1kg−1 bw). The daily intake of Hg and As through rice was much lower than the tolerable daily intakes, but bioaccumulation of Hg through the food chain and intake of As from other food stuff should also be of concern.

BIZARRE PERMIAN AMMONOID SUBFAMILY AULACOGASTRIOCERATINAE FROM SOUTHEAST CHINA

Since the 1960s, Chinese researchers have reported a series of bizarre paragastrioceratids associated with the endemic pseudohaloritids and/or kufengoceratins from the Permian Restricted-Sea area of Southeast China. They include Aulacogastrioceras Zhao and Zheng, 1977; “ Paragastrioceras ” carinatum Chao, 1965 (invalid name, = Chekiangoceras carinatum Ruzhencev, 1974, type species of the genus Chekiangoceras Ruzhencev, 1974); “ Paragastrioceras ” dongwuliense Zhao and Zheng, 1977; and Nodogastrioceras Ma and Li, 1998 (= Yongpingoceras Ma and Li, 1998; including “ Paragastrioceras ” dongwuliense ). All these taxa share the following characteristic features: 1) an eight-lobed paragastrioceratid suture; 2) a variably shaped, evolute conch, and prominent sculpture with transverse ribs, nodes, and coarse strigae in all ontogenetic stages, suggesting an affinity with the subfamily Paragastrioceratinae; 3) and, by contrast, a conspicuous ventral sinus formed by growth lines and constrictions, indicating a phylogenetic relationship to the subfamily Pseudogastrioceratinae. These endemic Chinese paragastriocertids constitute a separate subfamily, distinct from both Paragastrioceratinae and Pseudogastrioceratinae, for which the subfamily Aulacogastrioceratinae is herein proposed. The genus Nodogastrioceras was established by Ma and Li (1998) on the basis of specimens from the Hutang Formation of northeast Jiangxi. Actually, forms identical to the type species, N. discum Ma and Li, 1998, had been known since the 1950s from the Kufeng Formation in outcrops and quarries south of Longtan town, an eastern suburb of Nanjing, Jiangsu. However, most of these specimens are preserved as impressions that do not show sutures and ventral characteristics, and they were typically identified as “ Paragastrioceras ” by previous authors, based on conch shape and sculpture. The latter identification was problematic, however, because the fossil-bearing Kufeng Formation is no older than Middle Permian (Roadian), whereas true Paragastrioceras Tchernow, 1907 is restricted to the Lower Permian (Asselian through Kungurian). Chao (1965) had even considered …

Enhancement of Lead Uptake by Hyperaccumulator Plant Species Sedum alfredii Hance Using EDTA and IAA

Lead (Pb) is considered as one of the most frequently encountered heavy metals of environmental concern, causing loss of vegetation, groundwater contamination, and toxicity in plants, animals, and humans (Clistenes et al. 2006). Because of its persistent nature, Pb will continue to be an environmental concern for a long time unless it is removed from the ecosystem. Conventional cleanup technologies are generally too expensive to be used for restoration of contaminated soils, and are often harmful to the normal properties of soil (Holden 1989). The emerging phytoremediation techniques, with their low cost and environmental friendly nature, have received increasing attention in the last decades (Salt et al. 1998). Over 400 hyperaccumulating plant species from all over the world can accumulate high concentrations of metals from contaminated soils (Baker et al. 2000). However, there are no reliable reports on Pb hyperaccumulating species under natural conditions, presumably since the phytoavailability of Pb is restricted by the strong complexes of Pb within solid soil fractions. To overcome this problem and increase Pb availability to plants, chelators have been used to artificially enhance Pb solubility in soil solution (Kos and Lestan 2004). Many studies have been conducted using synthetic chelators such as EDTA or HEDTA, which are added to Pb contaminated soils to promote metal translocation from roots to shoots (Huang et al. 1997; Vassil et al. 1998). Although several studies have reported elevated metal concentrations in shoots after applying chelators, most of the times it was correlated to a severe decrease in plant biomass. Therefore other amendments have also been used to increase the heavy metal uptake as well as to maintain better plant growth during chelate-assisted phytoextraction technologies. Lopez et al. (2005) studied the combined effects of EDTA and IAA on Pb uptake by Medicago sativa (alfalfa) and found that the combination of EDTA and IAA dramatically enhances the Pb uptake from root to shoot as compared to those treated with Pb alone and Pb/EDTA. Sedum alfredii Hance grows in old Pb/Zn-mined areas of southeast China and has been reported to be a Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator (Yang et al. 2002; Yang et al. 2004), and was also proved to be a Pb-accumulating species (He et al. 2002). Previous studies were mainly focused on the Pb accumulation and transportation mechanism in S. alfredii (Long et al. 2006; Yang et al. 2006), and less attention was paid to the application of chelate-assisted phytoextraction techniques. In this study, a promising method was used to investigate the uptake of Pb by two ecotypes of S. alfredii growing under hydroponic conditions. The specific objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of indole-3acetic acid (IAA), a growth-promoting auxin combined with ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), a synthetic chelating agent, to enhance the Pb uptake ability of S. alfredii in hydroponic culture. D. Liu T. Li X. Yang (&) E. Islam X. Jin Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Huajiachi Campus, Hangzhou 310029, People’s Republic of China e-mail: xyang581@yahoo.com

Cadmium and lead contamination in japonica rice grains and its variation among the different locations in southeast China

On the basis of a large-scale survey with 269 sampling sites and a field experiment with 12 cultivars grown at 3 ecologically different locations, Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) contamination in milled rice grains and its variation among different locations were investigated in the area of southeast China. The objective of this study was mainly to assess the present situation of Cd and Pb contamination in rice grains harvested locally and find out the variation of Cd and Pb background levels in rice grains among the diverse regional locations. The results showed that: a) Cd concentrations in milled rice grains ranged from trace (below 10 ng/g) to 340 ng/g, with the means of 81.4 ng/g (AM) and 55.2 ng/g (GM) for the 269 samples, whereas Pb concentrations ranged from trace (below 10 ng/g) to 1136 ng/g, with the means of 113.5 ng/g (AM) and 51.0 ng/g (GM), respectively. High frequency was observed for both the Cd and Pb concentrations ranging from trace to 200 ng/g, with 95.9% for Cd and 84.8% for Pb, respectively. b) ANOVA for the AMs and GMs among 269 sampling sites indicated that there were significant differences among the different spatial locations in Cd or Pb concentrations. c) The Cd concentrations in milled rice grains were poorly correlated with Pb concentration among the 269 sampling sites surveyed, and no significant difference ( P > 0.05) in the AMs or GMs of Cd and Pb concentration was observed among different cities within a range of the same provinces, only with an exception for 1–2 provinces. d) Variance analysis of Cd, Pb concentrations for 12 rice cultivars grown in three locations showed that the great difference in coefficients of variation (CV) was observed both among cultivars grown in the same location and among locations of cultivars planted, in which locations showed much more contribution to the variation of Cd or Pb concentration in milled rice grains as compared with cultivars.

Environmental cadmium exposure and forearm bone density

Environmental exposure to cadmium may give rise to osteomalacia combined with renal dysfunction, so called 'Itai-Itai disease', which was endemic in the heavily polluted area in Japan. The main focus of this study was to investigate whether environmental exposure to cadmium is associated with low bone mass in a population living near a smelter. A total of 790 persons (302 males and 488 females), who were all over 35 years old and resided in areas near a lead, zinc and cadmium smelter and in a control area in southeast China, completed a questionnaire, and bone mineral density was measured by SPA-4 single photon absorptiometry at the radius and ulna. Cadmium content of urine was determined by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry as a measure of dose. The present study shows that forearm bone densities were negatively correlated with urinary cadmium excretion (p < 0.001) and forearm bone density decreased linearly with age (p < 0.001) and urinary cadmium (p < 0.01), suggesting a dose-effect relationship between cadmium dose and bone mineral density. Based on the World Health Organization criteria, (bone mineral density < -2.5 SDs below the normal young adult), the prevalence of osteoporosis in women increased from 34.0% in the control area to 51.9% in the heavily polluted area (p < 0.01) among subjects over 50 years old, and the odds ratio value was 2.09 (95% CI: 1.08-4.03) for the highly polluted area compared with the control area. A striking observation in the study was a marked increase of the prevalence of fracture in the cadmium-polluted area in both sexes. It was concluded that environmental exposure to cadmium is associated with an increased loss of bone mineral density in both gender, leading to osteoporosis and increased risk of fractures, especially in the elderly and in females.

Osteoporosis and renal dysfunction in a general population exposed to cadmium in China

Osteoporosis is a common metabolic disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue. Many factors are involved in the occurrence of osteoporosis. Cadmium can cause both osteomalacia and osteoporosis and these effects have long been investigated through various epidemiological or experimental studies. The present study examines a possible relationship between cadmium nephropathy and its effects on the skeleton in populations living in a polluted area in southeast China. Monophoton absorptiometry was used to measure bone mineral density in the population and the Z score (the number of SD from the difference between the measured bone density of the individual and the group mean value for sex- and age-matched controls) was introduced to define osteoporosis (Z score <−2). Osteoporosis caused by cadmium exposure was demonstrated in this study on a general population environmentally exposed to cadmium in China. It was found that there were significant differences in the prevalence of osteoporosis among the different urinary cadmium groups (χ2=18.84, P=0.0008). The linear trend test gave χ2=16.281, P=0.00005. There was a dose–response relationship between cadmium exposure (urinary cadmium) and prevalence of osteoporosis. Of 31 subjects with osteoporosis, 23 subjects were suffering from renal dysfunction. The prevalence of renal dysfunction (74.19%) was significantly higher than that in those without osteoporosis (χ2=16.53, P<0.001). Stratum analysis was performed to further assess the relationship between bone damage and renal impairment caused by cadmium. There was a significant difference between those with and without tubular damage (χ2=19.92, P=0.000) but not in those with and without glomerular damage (χ2=0.08, P=0.114). This showed that glomerular dysfunction plays a smaller role than tubular dysfunction in the causation of bone damage. It was found that the prevalence of osteoporosis increases with increasing values of parameters of tubular damage. Osteoporosis caused by cadmium is thus related to kidney dysfunction and especially to tubular damage and its severity but not to glomerular damage. The present study has thus demonstrated the combined adverse effects (osteoporosis and renal dysfunction) caused by environmental exposure to cadmium for the first time in Asia outside the endemic area in Japan.

Analyses of Aerosol Events Observed at Four Sun Photometer Sites in Japan during March-April 2002

Aerosol-induced atmospheric optical phenomena were analyzed at four sun photometer sites in Japan, viz., Ryori (39°02´N, 141°50´E), Tsukuba (36°03´N, 140°08´E), Yonagunijima (24°28´N, 123deg;01´E), and Minamitorishima (24°18´N, 153°58´E), over the period MarchHApril 2002 to elucidate the causes of such phenomena, and explain regional differences. Using observed optical properties, the phenomena were classified into three kinds of aerosol events: Type A, Type B, and Type C, which, respectively, correspond to relatively clear conditions, typical Kosa conditions, and haze conditions. The frequency of occurrence of these aerosol events was found to be significantly different at the four observation sites in Japan during the observation period. Type B events were found to occur rather frequently in Ryori in northern Japan. The severe Kosa events observed at Ryori on April 10, 2002, which constitute a case study, passed over Northeast China where dust storms have rarely been reported before 2000. The smallest mean aerosol optical depth at 500 nm (τ500) and Angstrom exponent (α) were observed in Minamitorishima. However, according to other studies, the mean τ500 in Minamitorishima was larger than those in the eastern Pacific, which showed that the influence of the Asian outflow on atmospheric optical properties was still significant even 3,000 km away from the Asian continent. The mean τ500 and α, as well as the frequency of occurrence of Type C events, were the largest at our observation site in Yonagunijima. Based on the trajectory analysis obtained during the observation period, the high frequency of Type C events at Yonagunijima was ascribed to the haze from biomass burning in Southeast Asia and/or urban pollution in coastal areas in Southeast China. The frequency of Type C events in Ryori and Tsukuba indicated that haze is not an uncommon occurrence, not only in southern Japan, but also in central and northern Japan, and that, along with Kosa events, they may affect atmospheric optical properties over Japan in the spring.

Examples of Settlement in Structures Constructed on Tidal Silt in Coastal Areas of Southeast China

Silt and tidal land have very low bearing strength, and they are generally very thick. Hence, the time necessary for completion of settlement of a constructed building is very long. If it is not possible to adopt deep foundation methods such as pile driving, other methods, such as soil-substitution or heavily rammed gravel bedding on the foundation can be adopted to form a better surface soil to sustain the constructed building. According to the related principles and formulas of fluid mechanics, soil mechanics, and elasticity mechanics, the author’s have found the optimum thickness of rammed gravel bedding, with better economic and social benefits.

Spatial hazard analysis and prediction on rainfall-induced landslide using GIS

The application of landslide hazard model coupled with GIS provides an effective means to spatial hazard analysis and prediction on rainfall-induced landslides. A modified SINMAP model is established based upon the systematic investigation on previous GIS-based landslide analysis models. By integrating the landslide deterministic model with the hydrological distribution model based on DEM, this model deeply studied the effect of underground water distribution due to rainfall on the slope stability and landslide occurrence, including the effect of dynamic water pressure resulting from the down slope seepage process as well as that of static water pressure. Its applicability has been testified on the Xiaojiang watershed, the rainfall-induced landslides widespread area in Southeast China. Detailed discussion was carried out on the spatial distribution characteristics of landslide hazard and its extending trend, as well as the quantitative relationship between landslide hazard with precipitation, slope angle and specific catchment area in the Xiaojiang watershed. And the precipitation threshold for landslide occurrence was estimated. These analytical results are proved useful for geohazard control and engineering decision-making in the Xiaojiang watershed.

Reply to comments of T. Yalcin and F. Suner (Environmental Geology 39(5): 433–436) – "More on the Jelenia Góra-Cieplice thermal waters"

Yalcin and Suner (2001) made important and pertinent remarks concerning the content of the paper by Dowgiallo (2000). The necessity for some clarifications is obvious. It is, of course, true that K in the formula (a) on page 436 should be within square brackets. This printing error, however, did not influence the computational results, as K was in this case given in mol/dm. The observation of the above-mentioned authors concerning the silica (chalcedony) geothermometer (Arnorsson and others 1983) is not quite clear. After recalculation, the results appear the same as in the discussed paper, except the C-1 samples from depths of 1,790 and 2,002 m, where the values should be rounded. The differences, however, are less than 1 C, and not 3 C. For geothermometric temperature estimates, such differences do not play any important role. As far as the silica concentrations are concerned, analytical errors suggested by Yalcin and Suner (2001) regarding some samples from the C-1 borehole (depths 1,605, 1,700, 2,002, and perhaps 1,790 m) cannot be excluded. Samples were taken during drilling and they did not always immediately reach the chemical laboratory. However, results (expressed in ppm) from another drilled well (C-2) and from spring no. 5 providing thermal water do not arouse doubts but serve as a sound basis for temperature estimation. Pang Zhong-he (1992) states that the chalcedony geothermometer applied to low-temperature granitic geothermal areas in southeast China (thus, to conditions analogous to the Cieplice area) is one of the most suitable for this type of geothermal systems. The pH values of the Cieplice undiluted thermal waters measured in the field do not exceed 8.2 (Leśniak and Nowak 1993). However, pH in samples taken from borehole C-1 during drilling was measured only in the laboratory with a certain delay. Obtained pH values vary between 8.4 and 8.9, and are presumably higher than if pH were measured directly at the outflow. It has to be emphasized that the dependence of silica solubility on pH shown on the graph by Krauskopf (1956) concerns low-temperature solutions. In more recent papers dealing with silica geothermometers (e.g., Rimstidt and Barnes 1980; Arnorsson and others 1983), both temperature and pH as well as the contribution of H3SiO 4 to alkalinity are taken into account. Yalcin and Suner (2001) correctly point out that waterminerals equilibria in reservoirs are the basis of chemical geothermometry. However, partial equilibria shown by the water may also be used as an indicator of temperature at depth. It can be shown that thermal waters at Cieplice have reached partial (although far from full) equilibrium with rock-forming minerals containing K, Na and Mg (Fig. 1), and that calculated temperatures are in most cases realistic and close to those observed in well C-1.

E-Junk explosion.

e-Junk explosion.

Modeling the dynamics of landscape structure in Asia’s emerging desakota regions: a case study in Shenzhen

The rapid urbanization taking place in Asia since 1970 has exhibited a process different from that of the developed countries in the West. This process has contributed to the emergence of a new landscape in Asia — widely known as the desakota (a combination of two Indonesian words: “ desa” for village, “ kota” for town) regions described in the McGee–Ginsburg model. These desakota regions are characterized by an intense mix of agricultural and non-agricultural activities that often stretch along corridors between large city cores. Although, the McGee–Ginsburg model captures the socio-demographic dimensions of the rapid urbanization process, little is known about the dynamics of landscape structures in the emerging desakota regions in Asia. By linking remote sensing, landscape characterization indices, and cellular automata modeling with geographic information systems (GIS), this paper develops a GIS-based spatial analysis and modeling approach to study the landscape dynamics of the desakota regions in southeast China. We tested our method using data between 1992 and 1996 for the city of Longhua in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone — one of the fastest growing areas in southeast China. The results not only confirm the effectiveness of GIS-based spatial analysis and modeling approach in studying the ecological impacts of human activities, but also reveal the salient features of landscape dynamics in the desakota regions. Drawing from the results of this research, we conclude that the pace of urbanization and the size of desakota regions must be controlled in order to create a sustainable future in developing countries.

362 Balanced Nutrient Management in Citrus Grown in Acid Red Soils of Southeast China

Citrus is a major fruit crop in the acid red soils (Ultisol) of hilly areas in Southeast China. These soils are normally deficient in P, K, and other elements. Integrated nutrient management is important for sustainable production of citrus in these areas. In this study, a systematic approach was used to identify the limiting factors for plant growth, using sorghum as a test species. Long-term field experiments were conducted with seven different P and K supply levels to determine optimal application rates for citrus (cv. Ponkan), following alleviation of other limiting factors. The primary nutritional limitations to plant growth in red acid soils included: severe deficiencies in N, P, and K, and moderate deficiencies in Ca, Zn, and B. With increasing application of P and K to field soil, N concentrations in citrus leaves decreased up to 60% due to dilution from increased growth, whereas P and K concentrations increased 2-3 fold. After 2 years of fertilizer application, the N: P: K ratio in leaves reached 1:0.5:1 for the optimal P and K treatment. The available P and K in the soils, measured after harvest each year, increased with increasing P and K application rates. However, within each treatment, increase in P and K with additional years of fertilization was modest. Citrus fruit yields generally increased with increasing P and K and reached a maximum at P and K rates of 125 kg P2O5/ha and 500 kg K2O/ha. In 3 years of successive field experiments, the highest net income was obtained by a balanced NPK fertilization practice using N: P2O5: K2O input of 450: 125: 500 kg/ha per year.