Predicting land cover using GIS, Bayesian and evolutionary algorithm methods

Modelling land cover change from existing land cover maps is a vital requirement for anyone wishing to understand how the landscape may change in the future. In order to test any land cover change model, existing data must be used. However, often it is not known which data should be applied to the problem, or whether relationships exist within and between complex datasets. Here we have developed and tested a model that applied evolutionary processes to Bayesian networks. The model was developed and tested on a dataset containing land cover information and environmental data, in order to show that decisions about which datasets should be used could be made automatically. Bayesian networks are amenable to evolutionary methods as they can be easily described using a binary string to which crossover and mutation operations can be applied. The method, developed to allow comparison with standard Bayesian network development software, was proved capable of carrying out a rapid and effective search of the space of possible networks in order to find an optimal or near-optimal solution for the selection of datasets that have causal links with one another. Comparison of land cover mapping in the North-East of Scotland was made with a commercial Bayesian software package, with the evolutionary method being shown to provide greater flexibility in its ability to adapt to incorporate/utilise available evidence/knowledge and develop effective and accurate network structures, at the cost of requiring additional computer programming skills. The dataset used to develop the models included GIS-based data taken from the Land Cover for Scotland 1988 (LCS88), Land Capability for Forestry (LCF), Land Capability for Agriculture (LCA), the soil map of Scotland and additional climatic variables.     

湖岸缓冲带反硝化作用的研究进展

反硝化作用是湖岸缓冲带去除硝酸盐的重要途径。湖岸缓冲带是联系陆地与湖泊生态系的纽带，不仅为许多动植物提供适宜生境，而且通过反硝化作用能去除地下水中的硝酸盐，提高湖泊水质。概述不同检测反硝化速率的方法，并对比各种方法的优点与缺点。阐述反硝化作用的影响因素：厌氧环境、有机碳、湖岸坡度、缓冲带坡度、pH与温度、硝酸盐浓度。介绍反硝化速率模型的研究开发状况。最后，提出了目前国内外反硝化研究中存在的不足及发展方向。     

Air Pollution Control Association Critical Reviews Program

This is the fourth in the series of Critical Reviews commissioned by the APCA Board of Directors. The first Critical Review "Regulations for the Control of Particulate and Sulfur Oxides Emissions" was published in 1974 and the topic is still timely. The second Critical Review "Regulations for the Control of Hydrocarbon Emissions (from Stationary Sources) and Odorous Pollutants" was published in 1975. In light of recent developments concerning hydrocarbon emissions from stationary sources, this Critical Review is again very timely. The third Critical Review "The Effect of Air Pollution Control Regulations on Land Use Planning" will soon be published in final form. Now we have the fourth in the series, "A Critical Review of Air Pollution Index Systems in the United States and Canada" and "Status Report on Federal Regulations for New Source Performance Standards".     

The Use of Nahcolite Ore and Bag Filters For Sulfur Dioxide Emission Control

This paper describes some technical and economic aspects of the nahcolite ore injection process for the simultaneous removal of fly ash and sulfur oxides from stack gases. The process is capable of removing greater than 99% of the particulate matter and greater than 70% of the sulfur oxides present in such gases. In the process, nahcolite ore, a naturally occurring material containing 70 to 90% sodium bicarbonate, is ground to 90% passing through —200 mesh screens. Approximately 20% of the ground ore is used to precoat the filter bags in a baghouse filter while the remainder of the material is fed into the flue gas Just ahead of the baghouse. The flue gas is drawn through the baghouse by induced draft fans and sent up the stack. Most of the SO₂ and practically all of the fly ash in the flue gas can be removed as the gas passes through the filter bags. The spent nahcolite ore and fly ash are collected and conveyed to waste disposal as landfill, or alternatively processed for insolubilization by coprecipitation prior to landfilling. The technical feasibility of the process has been demonstrated in both bench scale and pilot scale engineering studies. Economic analyses performed for the cases of plants located in the midwest and southwest indicate lower capital costs for the nahcolite injection process when compared to wet scrubbing. On an annual cost basis, the nahcolite ore Injection process is comparable in cost to wet scrubbing for the case of the southwestern power plant, and somewhat more expensive for the case of the midwestern plant.     

Effects of Vertical Temperature Difference on Soiling Index

Changes in contaminant levels at monitoring stations do not necessarily represent changes in emission levels, since variations in meteorological parameters determine the transport and diffusion of contaminants between sources and receptors. To estimate annual changes in emission levels, and thus of control program effectiveness, the meteorological stratification of data was employed to provide “comparable days.”

For San Francisco Bay Area photochemical oxidant data, simple criteria based on maximum temperature and on height of inversion base were selected. Temperature provided a readily available integrated index of solar energy input and of ventilation, while the inversion data added a vertical dilution factor.

An earlier study, employing only the temperature criteria, showed that oxidant levels on comparable warm days had nearly doubled from 1954 through 1962. The current study of oxidant data for 1962 through 1969 shows a gradual rise through 1965, and a sharp reversal in 1966, when for the first time a simultaneous decrease was noted at each benchmark station. Data through 1969 show that average oxidant levels have been maintained at this 25% lower plateau, with minor fluctuations at individual stations.

The general improvement in air quality since 1965 is attributed to the reduction of reactive organics emitted from stationary and automotive sources.     

Application of lime and calcium hypochlorite in the dephenolisation and discolouration of olive mill wastewater

The application of hypochlorite for the removal of soluble COD, phenolic and polyphenolic like compounds, and other organic compounds responsible for the olive mill wastewater (OOWW) colour has been experimentally studied. After the OOWW filtration on a sand column, the effluent was subjected to a fast liming under optimal conditions. Lime application reduced polyphenols, COD and SS contents to half of their initial values but an important blackening of the treated OOWW was observed, especially when adding high concentrations of lime (10% (W/V) and 15% (W/V)).A second stage of treatment was applied using calcium hypochlorite. In this stage, removal of the studied compounds reached as much as 95% at higher concentrations, and particularly the colouring of OOWW which is generally difficult to eliminate was greatly reduced. The OOWW hypochloration acted through coagulation–flocculation and a rapid oxidation of the organic matter proceeded from the first 5 min. The kinetic study of the degradation of the waste polluting compounds from liming showed that Ca(ClO)₂ reacts similarly in the elimination of organic compounds, polyphenols, SS and colouration. The analysis of the organochloride compounds generated by the reaction between hypochlorite and the organic compounds showed that DDD, DDT and the heptachlor contents exceeded the values recommended by the International and European drinking water standards.     

3种淋洗剂对污染土壤中Cd、Pb、Zn去除效果的研究

以龙岩市新罗区特钢厂附近的Cd、Pb、Zn复合污染土壤为对象,研究HCl、柠檬酸和Na2-EDTA 3种淋洗剂对Cd、Ph、Zn的去除效果.淋洗剂浓度梯度设置为0.02～0.16 moL/L.淋洗5次.结果表明,HCl淋洗剂的适宜浓度和淋洗次数分别为0.10 mol/L和2次;柠檬酸为0.08 mol/L和2次;Na2-EMA为0.02 mol/L和1次.对3种淋洗组合的淋洗效率,淋洗成本和二次污染风险等的综合比较表明,对Cd、Ph、Zn复合污染土壤,采用0.1 mol/L的HCl为淋洗剂,淋洗2次时可以达到较好的淋洗、修复效果.     

ZnO/LixNi1-xO光催化降解甲基橙的研究

采用溶胶凝胶法制备LixNi1-xO和ZnO粉体,利用球磨法制备ZnO/LixNi1-xO复合粉体,以紫外光为光源,通过降解甲基橙,研究了锂掺杂及n-p复合对氧化镍的光催化性能影响。结果表明：当投放量为0.1 g/L,x≤0.075（摩尔分数）的锂掺杂氧化镍均比未掺杂氧化镍的光催化活性高。当锂掺杂摩尔分数为0.025,投放量为0.4 g/L时锂掺杂氧化镍的光催化活性最佳,甲基橙最高降解率达到93.1%。当ZnO/Li0.025Ni0.975O在质量比为1∶1,投放量为0.2 g/L时光催化活性最佳,甲基橙最高降解率达到98.1%。