The expected impact of the “Peace Conduit” project (the Red Sea - Dead Sea pipeline) on the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is a severely disturbed ecosystem, greatly damaged by anthropogenic intervention in its water balance. During the 20th century, the Dead Sea level dropped by more than 25 meters, and presently (2003) it is at about 416 meters below mean sea level. This negative water balance is mainly due to the diversion of water from the catchment area of the lake by Israel, Jordan and Syria. During the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development Israel and Jordan jointly announced their interest in saving the Dead Sea by constructing the “Peace Conduit” that will pipe water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. The inflow of seawater (or reject brine after desalinization) into the Dead Sea will have a major impact on its limnology, geochemistry and biology. During the filling stage, relatively diluted surface water will form and the rate of evaporation will therefore increase. Dilution of the surface water will most likely result in microbial blooming whose duration is not known, while the lower water layer is likely to develop reducing conditions, including bacterial sulfate reduction and presence of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). Mixing between the calcium-rich Dead Sea brine and the sulfate-rich seawater will result in gypsum precipitation (CaSO₄⋅ 2H₂O). Once the target level is reached, inflow will be outbalanced by evaporation and salinity of the surface water will increase due to accumulation of seawater-salts. The water column will re-mix when the density of the surface water will equal that of the lower water column. In spite of its large volume and high salinity relative to that of the inflowing water, over the long run the composition of this unique lake will change. Before a decision is made on the planning and construction of the Conduit, it is essential that the long term evolution and characteristics of the “renewed” Dead Sea be known and anticipated changes examined. Once decided upon, the planning and construction of the Conduit should be conducted so as to minimize possible negative impacts of seawater introduction on the Dead Sea. This can only be achieved through a thorough understanding of the expected changes in the limnological physical/chemical characteristics of the Dead Sea and its unique brine.     

The Heart of the Matter

Central to the mission of America's environmental schools is the development of professional environmental managers. The majority of our graduate students at Yale are enrolled in our master of environmental management program. But what exactly is environmental management? When I am asked this question, I reply that environmental management is the new business of bringing our human enterprise into harmony with the natural world of which we are a part. And I add: it's the most important thing in the world.     

Changes in quality of groundwater with seasonal fluctuations: an example from Ghor Safi area, southern Dead Sea coastal aquifers, Jordan

Introduction The alluvial fan along the eastern and southern m argins of the D ead Sea (hereafter denoted D S) consists of fine to coarse-grained siliclastic sand and pebble-size gravel w ith thin intercalations of lam inated m arl of H olocene age (Pow e…     

Changes in quality of groundwater with seasonal fluctuations： an example from Ghor Sail area, southern Dead Sea coastal aquifers, Jordan

The demand for water resources in the area south of the Dead Sea due to continued development, especially at the Arab Potash Company （APC） for production and domestic purposes necessitates that water quality in the area be monitored and evaluated based on the local geology and hydrogeology. The objective of this paper is to monitor seasonal fluctuations of groundwater and to determine how fluctuation in the water levels will affect the groundwater quality. Groundwater levels were found to be influenced by rainfall and pumping of water from the wells for domestic and industrial use. Twenty water samples were collected from different wells and analyzed for major chemical constituents both in pre- and post-seasons to determine the quality variation. Chemical constituents are significantly increased after post-season recharge. According to the overall assessment of the area, water quality was found to be useful for drinking, irrigation and industry.     

Pollution monitoring of marine organisms grown in the Zhoushan Sea of China

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Sea water intrusion in coastal areas of Yellow Seaand Bohai Sea

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The determinants of effective defluorination by the LiAl-LDHs

Millions of people in poor areas are still under the threat of fluoride contamination.How to effectively separate fluorine in water is an important step to reduce the ecological risk.In this paper,we performed a systematic DFT calculation focused on the defluorination behavior between the LiAl-and MgAl-LDHs.The results indicated that the LiAl-LDHs exhibited high chemical activity before the defluorination,because of the better electronic structure.After the defluorination,the LiAl-LDHs with adso...     

The clinical impact of the first-trimester nuchal translucency between the 95th–99th percentiles

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical significance of nuchal translucency (NT) between the 95th–99th percentile in terms of typical and atypical chromosomal abnormalities (ACAs), associated fetal congenital defects and postnatal outcome.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of fetuses with NT between the 95th–99th percentile. Data regarding the rate of associated fetal defects, genetic abnormalities and postnatal outcome were collected.

Results

A total of 306 cases of fetuses with an NT between the 95th–99th percentiles were included. The overall rate of genetic abnormalities was 12.1% (37/306). Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 10.1% (31/306) of cases and 2% were ACA (6/306). Within this group, two were pathogenic Copy Number Variants (CNVs) and four were single gene disorders. The overall rate of fetal congenital defects was 13.7% (42/306). All ACAs were found in fetuses with congenital defects. Postnatally, a new diagnosis of a single gene disorder was made in 0.85% of cases (2/236).

Conclusions

The presence of an NT between the 95th–99th percentiles carries a 10-fold increased risk of fetal defects, representing an indication for referral for a detailed fetal anatomy evaluation. The risk of ACA is mainly related to the presence of fetal defects, irrespective of the combined test risk.     

The characters for the boundary layer and mechanism of acid rain formation in the Qingdao area,China

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The Dynamic Safety Evaluation ModelOf the Safety Control Theory and Its Application

The Safety Sate Equation of theSafety System　　 Any system is moving,and the system mo-tion is the results of contradiction existing in thesystem.So is the safety system.In the safetysystem,the contradiction is the affection of thetwo concentrated variables,the hazard(H) andthe hazard control(C) .The ratio of injury anddeath of the system (Y) is one of the indexes de-scribing the safety state of system.Therefore,Yis the reflection of the result between hazard Hand hazard control C.Ac…     

Estimates of maximum ground-level concentration in the convective boundary layer—the error in using The Gaussian distribution

This paper derives expressions for the maximum cross-wind integrated and ceterline concentrations at ground level for an elevated source in the convective boundary layer. These expressions account for the observation that the probability density function (pdf) of vertical velocities in the convective boundary is positively skewed with a negative mode. The estimates obtained with these formulae compare favorably with observations reported by Briggs (1993; Boundary-layer Met.62, 315–328).The paper also examines the error associated with using a symmetric Gaussian pdf instead of the skewed pdf to estimate the ground-level concentration. We show that the error is equivalent to an underestimation of a factor of almost 1.5 for the cross-wind integrated concentration and a factor of 1.3 for the ground-level centerline concentration.     

The role of indicator choice in quantifying the threat of atmospheric ammonia to the ‘Natura 2000’ network

New ‘critical levels’ (CLE) for assessing the effects of atmospheric ammonia on sensitive ecosystems have recently been adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) of 1 and 3 [2–4] μg NH₃ m^?3 of ambient air (including water vapour), for different species sensitivities and their associated habitats. Based on these values, we examined how indicator choice affects estimates of stock-at-risk in the European ‘Natura 2000’ network.We applied an atmospheric model, FRAME, to estimate surface air concentrations of ammonia at 5 km and 1 km resolution for the UK network of Natura sites, optionally including calibration with the National Ammonia Monitoring Network. As a base indicator, we estimated the overall percentage area of the UK Natura network that exceeded critical level thresholds (‘Area Weighted Indicator’, AWI). We compared this with an alternative approach, estimating the percentage number of Natura sites where the critical level was exceeded (‘Designation Weighted Indicator’, DWI), which we consider more relevant under the terms of the Habitats Directive.Using the AWI (with 1 km calibrated ammonia), we estimate that 11.2%, 1.3% and 0.2% area of the UK Natura network exceeds the critical level values of 1, 2 and 3 μg NH₃ m^?3, respectively. By contrast, using the DWI, the equivalent exceedances are 59.1%, 23.6% and 9.8%. The highest regional exceedance (DWI, critical level 1 μg NH₃ m^?3) was calculated for England (91.9% exceeded), and the lowest for Scotland (24.0% exceeded). High resolution maps show that the larger threat estimated by the DWI approach is explained by (i) an anti-correlation between NH₃ concentration and Natura site area and (ii) the fact that exceedance over part of a Natura site is considered to represent a threat to the integrity of the whole site.     

Heavy metal adsorption on the Le An River sediment —The adsorption model

In this study,the surface properties and adsorption properties of the Le An River sediment were modelled via surface complexation approach.The model parameters were determined based on the data of our potentiometric titration experiments and the metal adsorption experiments with the Le An River sediment samples.Consequently,the surface complexation models for the natural sediment,in our case the Le An River sediments,which can interpret the experimental data very well were successfully established.Three typical surface complexation models that is the constant capacitance model,the diffuse layer model and the triple layer model,were considered in this research.This work indicated that the consistency and the interdependency among model parameters together with the selection of the surface adsorbed species should be emphasized.     

The ways to prevent pollution of the pulp and paper industry in China

Water pollution from the pulp and paper industry is one of the most serious environment problems in China. In order to prevent and treat pollution of the pulp and paper industry, the following works have been done in recent years: 1. Making necessary policies, measures and regulations; 2. Making overall planning and rational layout; 3. Relying mainly on internal treatment developing external treatment as supplement; 4. Improving the technology of treating wastewater of the pulp and paper industry.     

Computer simulation of the coagulation of suspended solids — The applicability of the Müller–Smoluchowski theory

The results of studies carried out using a computer programme simulating the coagulation of suspensions containing spherical sol particles and spherical coagulant particles are reported.The influence of the degree of dispersion of the system on the coagulation reaction kinetics was investigated. The obtained results of kinetic studies were tested in the light of classical Müller–Smoluchowski equations. The influence of the physical properties of the coagulant,such as size, density and mass, on the coagulation rate was tested. It was found that within the range described in this paper, the rate of the simulated coagulation process fulfils both the kinetic equation of a first-order reaction, and the kinetic equation of a second-order reaction.Within the tested range, a significant influence of the mass and size of the coagulant on the coagulation rate was ascertained. The kinetic Müller–Smoluchowski dependence is fulfilled in a broader range of the degree of dispersion, when the coagulant particle mass and the sol particle mass are equal. When the particle mass increases with an increase in the particle radius, the coagulation rate increases faster that it would result from the Müller's dependence.     

The Importance of Human Ecology at the Threshold of the Next Millennium: How Can Population Growth Be Stopped?

 Ecology is defined as the set of complex interactions between the biotic and abiotic environments. Human ecology concerns principally the population ecology "only" of Homo sapiens, but it also includes all aspects of global ecology because humans are the most important species. Human demography is characterized by a recent decline in mortality and fertility rates. These demographic transitions have largely been completed in industrialized countries, but not in the 140 developing countries. Approximately 100 countries are following the same demographic pattern as industrialized countries, however with a time delay of several generations. China has effectively reduced its population increase by means that would be unacceptable in Western democracies. Some 44 developing countries still show increasing population growth and no detectable demographic transition in birth rate. Thus one part of the world shows limited (and, in the long run, shrinking) population growth, and another continues with a strong increase. All populations are limited in their development by their sustainability by their environment, for example, food and energy resources, and the extent of pollution which the use of these resources produces. It is argued that in the case of human population the limits of sustainability have already been reached with the 6 billion humans alive today, since at least 20% of these suffer from hunger, natural resources are overexploited, and biodiversity is threatened. In the coming 200 years it is more likely that the total population will substantially oscillate rather than approach the predicted 12 billion. The most important goal of human ecology should therefore be to slow population growth as far as possible.     

The impact of the gulf war on the Arabian environment—I. Particulate pollution and reduction of solar irradiance

This paper investigates some of the air pollution problems which have been created as a result of the Gulf war in early 1991. Temporary periods of increased dust storm activity have been observed in Saudi Arabia. This is presumably due to disturbance of the desert surface by the extremely large number of tanks and other war machines before and during the war. The concentrations of inhalable dust particles (<15 μm) increased during the months just after the war by a factor of about 1.5 of their values during the same months of the previous year, 1990.The total horizontal solar energy flux in Riyadh has been significantly reduced during dry days with no clouds. This is attributed to the presence of soot particles, which have been generated at an extremely high rate from the fired oil fields in Kuwait.The direct normal solar insolation were also measured at the photovoltaic solar power plant in Riyadh during these days and significant reductions were observed due to the effective absorption of solar radiation by soot particles. The generated power from the plant has been reduced during days with a polluted atmosphere by about 50–80% of the expected value for such days, if the atmosphere were dry and clear.     

The ecosystem and autonomy: A reconsideration of the ecosystem concept (I)

A critical review of the development of the ecosystem concept is presented in this paper. An attempt to define the concept is discussed in details with reference to autonomy.     

The influence of environmental factors on the carbon dioxide flux across the water–air interface of reservoirs in south-eastern Poland

Studies concerning the emission of carbon dioxide(CO_2) were carried out in 2009–2012 for six reservoirs located in four provinces of south-eastern Poland. The CO_2 flux across the water–air interface was measured using the "static chamber" method. The measured fluxes of CO_2(FCO_2) ranged from-30.64 to 183.78 mmol/m~2/day, and the average values varied in the range from-3.52 to 82.11 mmol/m2/day. In most of the cases, emission of CO_2 to the atmosphere was observed. The obtained values of CO_2 fluxes were comparable to values typical for other temperate reservoirs. Analysis of the influence of selected environmental factors on the FCO_2 showed that it depends on parameters characterizing both the sediments and surface water. The CO_2 flux at the water–air interface was positively correlated with parameters of bottom sediments such as porosity, content of organic carbon and total nitrogen; and negatively with p H value and δ~(13)C of organic carbon. In the case of the parameters characterizing surface water, positive dependences on the concentrations of nitrate and total nitrogen, and negative relationships with water temperature and chlorophyll a concentrations, were found.     

The evolution of the upright posture and gait—a review and a new synthesis

During the last century, approximately 30 hypotheses have been constructed to explain the evolution of the human upright posture and locomotion. The most important and recent ones are discussed here. Meanwhile, it has been established that all main hypotheses published until the last decade of the past century are outdated, at least with respect to some of their main ideas: Firstly, they were focused on only one cause for the evolution of bipedality, whereas the evolutionary process was much more complex. Secondly, they were all placed into a savannah scenario. During the 1990s, the fossil record allowed the reconstruction of emerging bipedalism more precisely in a forested habitat (e.g., as reported by Clarke and Tobias (Science 269:521–524, 1995) and WoldeGabriel et al. (Nature 412:175–178, 2001)). Moreover, the fossil remains revealed increasing evidence that this part of human evolution took place in a more humid environment than previously assumed. The Amphibian Generalist Theory, presented first in the year 2000, suggests that bipedalism began in a wooded habitat. The forests were not far from a shore, where our early ancestor, along with its arboreal habits, walked and waded in shallow water finding rich food with little investment. In contrast to all other theories, wading behaviour not only triggers an upright posture, but also forces the individual to maintain this position and to walk bipedally. So far, this is the only scenario suitable to overcome the considerable anatomical and functional threshold from quadrupedalism to bipedalism. This is consistent with paleoanthropological findings and with functional anatomy as well as with energetic calculations, and not least, with evolutionary psychology. The new synthesis presented here is able to harmonise many of the hitherto competing theories.