Middle And Lower Reaches Of The Yangtze River Research Articles

Human-induced eutrophication dominates the bio-optical compositions of suspended particles in shallow lakes: Implications for remote sensing

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) is generally divided into inorganic (SPIM) and organic (SPOM) parts; they come from different sources, and have different impacts on the optical properties and/or water quality of lake. However, in a specific remote sensing process, they are not retrieved separately. Using in-situ data of 59 lakes along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLR-YR) in dry season (April) and wet season (August) in 2012, we first studied the absorption properties and sources of different SPM. On this basis, we proposed a workflow for simultaneously estimating SPIM and SPOM from satellite data. Our results are as follows: Bio-optical compositions of SPM in these eutrophic shallow lakes tempo-spatially varied greatly and were dominated by human-induced eutrophication. Phytoplankton contributed 18.42 ± 18.92% of SPIM and 26.22 ± 19.24% of SPOM in April 2012, but 30.4 ± 23.41% of SPIM and 47.03 ± 18.1% of SPOM in August 2012. The trophic state index explained 42.84% of SPOM variation in April 2012, and 54.64% in August 2012. Moreover, there were strong linear relationships between SPIM concentration and non-algal particle absorption coefficient (Pearson's r = 0.73; p < 0.01) and between SPOM concentration and phytoplankton absorption coefficient (r = 0.76; p < 0.01). Based on these results, SPIM and SPOM concentrations in the lakes along the MLR-YR could be retrieved from OLCI/Sentinel-3A satellite data, respectively. This study has a great significance for real-time monitoring and managing aquatic environment in various eutrophic and/or shallow lakes as a group.

Potential yields, yield gaps, and optimal agronomic management practices for rice production systems in different regions of China

Understanding crop potential yields, yield gaps, and optimal agronomic management practices helps in identifying the limiting factors, scope, and ways to achieve sustainable intensified agricultural production. Here, using detailed field trial data collected from 1981 to 2009 at 11 agro-meteorological experimental stations and the crop model CERES–Rice, we investigated changes in potential yields, water- and nitrogen-stressed yields, and yield gaps of rice in the major rice cultivation regions of China during the collection period. We further identified the optimal nitrogen application rate, transplanting date, and cultivar traits for the sustainable intensification of rice production systems in different regions. Owing to climate change, the potential rice yields declined or changed little in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR), while they increased or changed little in the Northeastern China Plain (NECP) during 1981–2009. Rice yield gaps shrank in the major rice production regions because the actual yields increased and approached the potential yields. The average yield gap was 16.0% in the 2000s, with water and nitrogen stresses being the limiting factors in the NECP and water stress being the major limiting factor in the MLRYR. The nitrogen application rate was suggested to be increased by 47.5% and 21.7% for single rice (i.e., rice cultivated in a single season per year) in the NECP and MLRYR, respectively, and increased by 5.2% for early rice (i.e., rice cultivated in the early season in a rice–rice rotation system per year). However, it was suggested to be reduced by 13.1% for late rice (i.e., rice cultivated in the late season in a rice–rice rotation system per year). Early transplanting could increase the yield, while late transplanting could decrease the yield. The impacts were greater for single rice in the NECP and late rice in the MLRYR than for single rice and early rice in the MLRYR. Cultivars with longer growth durations, and greater spikelet numbers and grain weights, could significantly increase the rice yield by 14.8%–45.6%. The optimal cultivars, combined with advancing transplanting by 10 d, could increase rice yields by 29.2%–68.9%. Our findings provide new approaches, important insights, and effective options for the sustainable intensification of rice production systems in different regions of China.

Responses of phosphorus use efficiency to human interference and climate change in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River: Historical simulation and future projections

Phosphorus (P) is an indispensable resource for plant growth, and under the background with P consumption increase in crop system, the agriculture and crop production may be affected through the changes of phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) due to the human interference and climate change. Therefore, it is of great importance to investigate the responses of PUE to human interference and climate change from the perspectives of historical simulation and future projection. In this study, the changes of PUE from 2001 to 2015 in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR) of China were evaluated by means of empirical PUE-model based on the substance flow analysis (SFA) method. Their responses to future human interference and climate scenarios during 2016–2030 were investigated by driving PUE-model with three neural networks (BP, GA-BP and PSO-BP) as well as the multiple downscaling climatic data (HadGEM2-ES, BCC-CSM1.1 (m) and GFDL-ESM2M) with the help of a statistical downscaling method (SDSM). The results showed that the PUE values of the three crops (rice, wheat and maize) were 53.61%, 36.22%, and 32.56%, respectively, during the period from 2001 to 2015 and 54.11%, 38.92% and 32.78%, respectively, during the period from 2016 to 2030. Consequently, the PUE showed an increasing trend from history to future. However, the overall PUE level was not high, with a value of not more than 60%, and notably for wheat and maize, the PUE was less than 40%. Meanwhile, the precipitation affected the leaching of P because increasing in precipitation may result in a relatively high increase in the probability of low-PUE. Moreover, great potential exists for enhancing the PUE in this region, and measures to improve PUE management practices have been proposed, such as, raising the crop yield, keeping the arable area and balancing the fertilization, etc. The present study provides a beneficial reference to comprehensively understand the impacts of human interference and climate change on the PUE and further improves regional sustainable strategies for future P resource management.

Changes in Extreme Precipitation: A Case Study in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River in China

Monitoring extreme climate events is of great importance, mainly due to increasingly severe impacts of extreme climate on nature and humanity. However, the characteristics of extreme climate events, especially extreme precipitation, frequently show complex variations in the context of climate change. Taking the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLR-YR) in China as a case study, extreme daily precipitation during 1961–2012 was analyzed from the aspects of frequency and intensity. The changes in extreme daily precipitation in the MLR-YR were further attributed to several factors, including large-scale circulation, hydrologic engineering and local topography. Our analyses indicate that both frequency and intensity of the extreme daily precipitation in the MLR-YR showed overall increasing trends from 1961 to 2012. The increase could be associated with weakened East Asian summer monsoon in past decades. In addition, inverse trends could also be found locally between the frequency and the intensity. For instance, extreme precipitation intensity revealed an enhanced trend in the western part of the middle reach of the Yangtze River, while extreme precipitation frequency showed decreasing trends in this region. These phenomena could be associated with the effects of some local factors (e.g., lake regulation, hydropower engineering, topography). Our study highlights the important role of local factors on extreme precipitation changes.

Modeling spatial and temporal variability of the impact of climate change on rice irrigation water requirements in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China

Accounting for over 70% of global water withdrawals, irrigation plays a crucial role in the development of agriculture. Irrigation water requirement (WIRR) will be influenced by climate change due to the alteration in soil water balances, evapotranspiration, physiology and phenology under global warming. This is particularly true for rice, a high water-consuming crop. Therefore, exploring the impact of climate change on rice WIRR is of great significance for the sustainable utilization of water resources and food security. This paper aims to investigate spatially and temporally the responses of rice WIRR to climate change in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR), which is one of the most important rice farming districts in China. With the help of the specially developed rice growing period calculation method and water balance model coupled with rice irrigation scheduling, the impacts of climate change on WIRR for early rice, late rice and single cropping rice during the historical (1961–2012) and future (2011–2100) periods were evaluated. Meanwhile, to consider the uncertainty from climate models in future projection, four GCMs under RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emission scenarios from the 5th Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) were employed as the input of the water balance model. The results indicate the following: (1) The days of growing period (DGP) for all three types of rice display shortened trends in historical and most future periods. However, in the middle region of the MLRYR, the DGP for early rice and late rice would increase by up to10days in 2080s under RCP8.5 scenario. (2) Over the past 50 years, the WIRR significantly decreased by 1.58 and 2.10mmyr−1 for late rice and single cropping rice, respectively. While for early rice, the WIRR only slightly decreased by 0.13mmyr−1. (3) Projected future WIRR would increase for all three types of rice in the whole region under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios (up to 100mm), but decrease for single cropping and late rice in the southeast region (up to 40mm). The results can provide beneficial reference and comprehensive information to understand the impact of climate change on the agricultural water balance and improve the regional strategy for water resource utilization and agricultural management in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Possible combined influences of absorbing aerosols and anomalous atmospheric circulation on summertime diurnal temperature range variation over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River

Based on the temperature data from the China Meteorological Administration, NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data, and the TOMS Aerosol Index (AI), we analyze the variations in the summertime diurnal temperature range (DTR) and temperature maxima in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR) in China. The possible relationships between the direct warming effect of the absorbing aerosol and temperature variations are further investigated, although with some uncertainties. It is found that the summertime DTR exhibits a decreasing trend over the most recent 50 years, along with a slight increasing tendency since the 1980s. The trend of the maximum temperature is in agreement with those of the DTR and the absorbing aerosols. To investigate the causes of the large anomalies in the temperature maxima, composite analyses of the circulation anomalies are performed. When anomalous AI and anomalous maximum temperature over the MLRYR have the same sign, an anomalous circulation with a quasi-barotropic structure occurs there. This anomalous circulation is modulated by the Rossby wave energy propagations from the regions northwest of the MLRYR and influences the northwestern Pacific subtropical high over the MLRYR. In combination with aerosols, the anomalous circulation may increase the maximum temperature in this region. Conversely, when the anomalous AI and anomalous maximum temperature in the MLRYR have opposite signs, the anomalous circulation is not equivalently barotropic, which possibly offsets the warming effect of aerosols on the maximum temperature changes in this region. These results are helpful for a better understanding of the DTR changes and the occurrences of temperature extremes in the MLRYR region during boreal summer.

Impact of multi-scale oscillations at high and low latitudes on two persistent heavy rainfall events in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River

To investigate the multi-scale features in two persistent heavy rainfall (PHR) events in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR) in June of 1982 and 1998, this study examines the impact of multi-scale oscillations in the north and south of 30°N on the PHR events by performing sensitivity experiments with the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model. It is found that the 60-day lowpass perturbation made a trivial contribution to the MLRYR precipitation during the PHR event in 1982. This PHR event resulted mainly from the combined effects of 30–60-day oscillation at low latitudes and 10–30-day oscillation at both high and low latitudes. The southwesterly anomalies associated with the 30–60-day anticyclonic anomaly over the northwestern Pacific facilitated moisture transport from the ocean to the MLRYR and enhanced the low-level convergence and ascending motion in the MLRYR. This similarly occurred in the 10–30-day oscillation as well. Moreover, the 10–30-day anomalies at high latitudes played a role in strengthening the large-scale low-level convergence over the MLRYR. The PHR event in 1998 was mainly related to the 60-day oscillation at both high and low latitudes and 30–60-day oscillation at low latitudes. The 60-day low-pass filtered anomalous cyclone at high latitudes in the north of 30°N contributed to the development of low-level convergence and ascending motion in northern MLRYR while the anomalous anticyclone at low latitudes in the south of 30°N not only increased the moisture in the MLRYR but also preconditioned the dynamical factors favorable for PHR over the whole area. The 30–60-day perturbations located north and south of 30°N worked together producing positive moisture anomaly in the MLRYR. In addition, the anomalous circulation in the south of 30°N tended to favor the development of ascending motion and low-level convergence in the MLRYR.

Heat injury risk assessment for single-cropping rice in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River under climate change

Under global warming, the risk of heat injury for crops increases, which leads to increasing instability in agricultural production. In this study, based on phenological observation data and yield data during 1981-2011 and daily meteorological data during 1961-2011 in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR), the risk of heat injury for single-cropping rice in this area and its response to climate change were assessed and analyzed. The risk was decomposed into such elements as hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and disaster prevention/mitigation capacity, in accordance with natural disaster risk assessment theory and the formation mechanisms of agrometeorological disasters. First, a hazard assessment model was established to identify spatiotemporal variations of the heat injury in the MLRYR during 1961-2011, and the relationship between heat injury hazard and air temperature was analyzed to identify the response of hazard to climate change. It was found that the heat injury hazard of single-cropping rice was positively correlated with the mean and maximum temperatures during the rice heading period of 20 days, with the hazard increasing sharply when the mean temperature exceeded 26.5°C and the maximum temperature exceeded 31°C. Then, exposure, vulnerability, and disaster prevention/mitigation capacity were also quantitatively examined. The results show that vulnerability and hazard were the two most important factors in the heat injury risk assessment for single-cropping rice at most stations in the MLRYR. The risk assessment considering only the first three natural elements produced high-risk values (> 0.46) mainly in the northeast of the study area. By adding the regional capability in disaster prevention/mitigation into account, the risk assessment produced high-risk values in a much smaller area in the northeast but some-what larger areas in the southwest of the study domain. In general, the risk of heat injury differed greatly within the MLRYR. Particular rice varieties should be adopted for specific regions, according to the local risk features quantified by this study. Under the warming climate, the risk of heat injury for single-cropping rice is likely to continue to increase.

Climate extremes revealed by Chinese historical documents over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in winter 1620

The snow-cover days over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR) were extracted from Chinese historical documents for the winter of 1620, which includes the beginning of the tenth month of 1620 through the middle ten days of the second month of 1621 in Chinese lunar calendar. By using these records, the winter temperature anomalies compared with the 1961–1990 mean at nine stations were estimated. The results show an average of 50 snow-cover days over the MLRYR ranging from 30 d in Shanghai to 100 d in Jingzhou. The average snow-cover duration was approximately 70 d in Hefei, Huoshan, Nanjing, and Chaohu, and 40–60 d in Anqing, Wuhan, Changde, Changsha, and Jingdezhen. However, Shanghai and southern Jiangsu province had the lowest number of snow-cover days at 30 d. The regional mean winter temperature in 1620 was estimated to be 4.4 °C lower than the 1961–1990 mean. The maximum negative anomaly of −5.7 °C occurred in Jingdezhen, and the minimum anomaly of −3.6 °C was detected in Changsha. Both anomalies were significantly lower than those of the coldest winter during the instrumental observation period.

The Extreme Drought Event during Winter–Spring of 2011 in East China: Combined Influences of Teleconnection in Midhigh Latitudes and Thermal Forcing in Maritime Continent Region

Abstract The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR) in China experienced an extremely severe and persistent drought event from January to May of 2011. Using both the observational data and NCEP–NCAR reanalysis, features of the drought event and the related circulation anomalies were investigated. It is found that the precipitation during the investigated period of 2011 was deficient mostly along the Yangtze River. The water vapor diverged from MLRYR southward into the Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, and the Philippines. There were two factors facilitating the drought event. One was the quasi-stationary Rossby wave–related teleconnection, which propagated eastward at midhigh latitudes from the North Atlantic to East Asia, reinforcing the Siberian high and the East Asian trough, henceforth resulting in the divergence anomalies in MLRYR in the lower troposphere. This quasi-stationary wave train, though originating from the North Atlantic region, was not essentially related to the North Atlantic Oscillation. Another factor for the drought event was the persistent anomalous thermal forcing over the Maritime Continent, which induced the anomalous divergence in the upper troposphere in this region, building up an anomalous Hadley circulation with its ascent branch over the Maritime Continent and descent branch over MLRYR. This thermal forcing was possibly, but not necessarily, related to the La Niña event. The persistence of the drought event over MLRYR was due to the maintenance of the quasi-stationary waves at midhigh latitudes and the persistent anomalous thermal forcing in the Maritime Continent.

Summertime temperature variations in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River and their related circulation anomalies in the past five decades

Using the daily data of temperature from China Meteorological Administration and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis from 1960 to 2005, we have analyzed the relationships between the summertime high/low temperature events in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR) and the related circulation anomalies in the Eastern Hemisphere. Our results have demonstrated that a significantly increasing trend is observed in daily minimum temperature in the past 50 years. And in some regions in the Northern Hemisphere, the opposite scenarios are observed in circulation anomalies in lower and upper parts of the troposphere in the years when the temperatures are higher than normal, as compared to those in the years when the temperatures are lower than normal in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR). Additionally, the anomalous circulation structure in vertical direction in both the high and lower temperature years are barotropic. It is found that the emergence and maintenance of the aforementioned anomalous circulations are related to three kinds of wave train teleconnection patterns. Further more, influences of the long wave surface radiation on the air temperature are stronger in the nighttime than that in the daytime. While both the maximum and minimum temperatures have negative relationships with the sensible heat flux but positive relationships with the latent heat flux. To some extent, the anomalous dynamic heating (cooling) caused by the vertical thermal advection as well as the diabatic heating (cooling) caused by diabatic processes can explain the formation of the high (low) temperature events in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR) in boreal summer.

Large-scale atmospheric singularities and summer long-cycle droughts-floods abrupt alternation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River

The daily precipitation data at 720 sta- tions over China for the 1957―2003 period during summer (May―August) are used to investigate the summer subseasonal long-cycle droughts-floods abrupt alternation (LDFA) phenomenon and a long-cycle droughts-floods abrupt alternation index (LDFAI) in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLYRV) is defined to quantify this phenomenon. The large-scale atmospheric circula- tion features in the anomalous LDFA years are ex- amined statistically. Results demonstrate that the summer droughts-to-floods (DTF) in the MLYRV usually accompany with the more southward western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH), negative vorticity, strong divergence, descending movements develop- ing and the weak moisture transport in the low level, the more southward position of the South Asia high (SAH) and the westerly jets in the high level during May―June, but during July―August it is in the other way, northward shift of the WPSH, positive vorticity, strong convergence, ascending movements and strong moisture transport in the low level, and the northward shift of the SAH and the westerly jets in the high level. While for the summer floods-to-droughts (FTD) in the MLYRV it often goes with the active coldair mass from the high latitude, positive vorticity, strong convergence, ascending movement develop- ing and the strong moisture transport in the low level, and the SAH over the Tibetan Plateau in the high level, but during July―August it is often connected with the negative vorticity, strong divergence, de- scending movements developing and the weak moisture transport in the low level, the remarkable northward shift of the WPSH, the SAH extending northeastward to North China and the easterly jets prevailing in the high level over the MLYRV. In addi- tion, the summer LDFA in the MLYRV is of significant relationship with the Southern Hemisphere annual mode and the Northern Hemisphere annual mode in the preceding February, which offers some predictive signals for the summer LDFA forecasting in the MLYRV.