to analyze the concentration, spatial distribution patterns, and ecological risks of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, As, Cu, Ni and Co), 272 topsoil samples (0-20 cm) were collected from paddy fields in Fujian province in July 2017. The results revealed that the mean concentration of all heavy metals exceeded the background values in Fujian province, with the mean concentration of Cd being 5.20 times higher than its background. However, these concentrations of heavy metals were lower than their corresponding national standards (GB 15618-1995). Spatially, for Cd, the high concentration areas were located mainly in southeast of Sanming city and northeast of Quanzhou city. For Pb and As, the places of highest concentration were mainly in southeast of Quanzhou city and Zhangzhou city, and the main areas of high Ni concentration were distributed southeast of Nanping city. The geo-accumulation index (I geo) of Cd and As were indicative of moderate contaminations, and the index of Co, Cu and Cr suggested that these were practically uncontaminated. The nemerow integrated pollution index (P n) showed that the entire study area was prone to a low level of pollution, but at the county level, Yongcun county and Zhaoan county are in an warning line area of pollution. According to the potential ecological risk (RI), the ecological risk belongs to the low risk of paddy fields in Fujian province. However, Cd should be given attention (E r = 25.09), as it contributed to the majority of potential ecological risks in Fujian province. The large number of industrial waste, mining byproducts, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other synthetic chemical substances in the agroecological ecosystem has seriously threatened food security, food safety and human health around the world 1-6. Thus, soil pollution treatment is urgently needed to solve the current problems in agricultural production. At the same time, the accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soil is a serious problem for human health and safe food production 7-9. Heavy metal contaminants are commonly introduced to soils through anthropogenic activities, such as mineral resources development, agrochemical use, fossil fuel consumption, poultry manure, waste disposal, and sewage irrigation 10-12. Soil heavy metal contamination has become serious and widespread in China. According to the national communiqué of the soil pollution survey by the ministry of environmental protection of China and the ministry of land and resources in 2014 13 , some regions of soil have become heavily contaminated, and the quality of cultivated soil is particularly concerning. The total over-standard rate of soil (environmental quality standard for soils in China, GB15618-1995) in China was 16.1%. Further, the over-standard rates of Cd, Cu, Hg, As, Pb, Ni and Cr were 7.0%, 2.1%, 2.7%, 1.5%, 4.8% and 1.1%, respectively 13. A soil pollution control plan has been developed in China to improve soil quality, ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products and protect the health of humans, such as a n...

No abstract

We analyzed spatiotemporal precipitation trends within the Yellow River Basin (YRB) in China and examined the connection between the changes in average and extreme precipitation indices. Data from 423 weather stations recorded from 1961 to 2016 were analyzed using the Mann-Kendall test to explore the linear trends of relationships between various indices, along with a simple linear regression used to detect monotonic positive or negative trends in the annual and seasonal precipitation data. Moreover, we divided the YRB into three distinct topographic regions to better understand the effect of regional geography on precipitation patterns. Our results demonstrated that mean precipitation and extreme precipitation days in different areas of the YRB had different variation trends. Precipitation in the YRB overall showed a negative trend, as did extreme precipitation days in the lower YRB. Mean and extreme precipitation indices were significantly correlated both annually and seasonally. These results may be helpful in preparing for both drought and flood events.

No abstract

No abstract

The environmental meteorological services in China are concerned with atmospheric environmental quality, which is directly related to human activities and affects human health. In recent years, air pollution and other environmental problems have attracted nationwide attention in China, so the environmental meteorological services have been developed rapidly. To provide better meteorological monitoring and forecasting services, the Environmental Meteorological Centre of China Meteorological Administration was established in March 2014 by integrating the resources of various national service units. We review the development of China’s national environmental meteorological services and highlight their current status including major technological capabilities. We also explore future trends of the national environmental meteorological services by analysing deficiencies, gaps in supply and demand, and capabilities of the current environmental meteorological services.

No abstract

The present study investigates the diversity of the La Niña decaying phase and the corresponding spring and summer precipitation anomalies over the eastern China. Based on the differences in sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) evolution during the La Niña decaying phase, 18 La Niña events in the period 1961–2016 are classified into three types—namely, the “persistent type” (P‐type), the “re‐intensified type” (R‐type), and the “fast‐decay type” (F‐type). Precipitation responses over eastern China during the decaying spring and summer of the three types of La Niña present significant differences. For the R‐type La Niña decaying spring, the enhanced precipitation appears over northeastern China but significant suppressed precipitation anomalies are observed elsewhere, particularly in Yellow River basin, the Yangtze River basin, and southeastern China. Significant negative precipitation anomaly appears over northeastern China in both P‐type and F‐type La Niña decaying spring. In the decaying summer, for P‐type La Niña, dry anomalies are apparent in southern and northern China. For R‐type La Niña, negative rainfall anomalies are notable in northeastern China, the Hetao region, and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River basin. For F‐type La Niña, significant negative rainfall anomalies are found over the Yangtze River basin and parts of northern China. The responses of the large‐scale circulation anomalies to the distinct SSTA patterns of the different types of La Niña are responsible for the diversity of rainfall anomalies over eastern China. The precipitation anomaly pattern in eastern China is closely associated with the different types of La Niña decay, and it is seasonal‐dependent. These two aspects should be taken into account when conducting seasonal predictions of spring and summer rainfall anomalies over eastern China using El Niño–Southern Oscillation as a predictor.