Featured Collection Introduction: Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters

Connectivity is a fundamental but highly dynamic property of watersheds. Variability in the types and degrees of aquatic ecosystem connectivity presents challenges for researchers and managers seeking to accurately quantify its effects on critical hydrologic, biogeochemical, and biological processes. However, protecting natural gradients of connectivity is key to protecting the range of ecosystem services that aquatic ecosystems provide. In this featured collection, we review the available evidence on connections and functions by which streams and wetlands affect the integrity of downstream waters such as large rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries. The reviews in this collection focus on the types of waters whose protections under the U.S. Clean Water Act have been called into question by U.S. Supreme Court cases. We synthesize 40+ years of research on longitudinal, lateral, and vertical fluxes of energy, material, and biota between aquatic ecosystems included within the Act's frame of reference. Many questions about the roles of streams and wetlands in sustaining downstream water integrity can be answered from currently available literature, and emerging research is rapidly closing data gaps with exciting new insights into aquatic connectivity and function at local, watershed, and regional scales. Synthesis of foundational and emerging research is needed to support science‐based efforts to provide safe, reliable sources of fresh water for present and future generations.     

Sustainable design of sanitation system based on material and value flow analysis for urban slum in Indonesia

Material flow analysis (MFA) and value flow analysis (VFA) were applied to the sanitation system in an urban slum in Indonesia. Based on the results of the MFA and VFA, garbage and excreta disposal costs were evaluated to be 0.7% and 1.1%, respectively, of per capita income. Such value flows seem reasonable in light of the recognized affordability to pay (ATP) standard. However, current excreta disposal methods create negative impacts on downstream populations. Because such disadvantages do not go back to disposers, but passed to downstream, the current value flow structure does not motivate individual toilet users to install treatment facility. Based on current material and value flow structures, a resource recycling sanitation system scenario was examined. Based on VFA, an affordable initial cost for such a system was calculated; this was found to be comparable in price to a cheaper composting toilet that is currently available in the market.     

Integrated biogeochemical modelling of nitrogen load from anthropogenic and natural sources in Japan

This study proposed an integrated biogeochemical modelling of nitrogen loads from anthropogenic and natural sources in Japan. Firstly, the nitrogen load (NL) from different sources such as crop, livestock, industrial plant, urban and rural resident was calculated by using datasets of fertilizer utilization, population distribution, land use map, and social census. Then, the nitrate leaching from soil layers in farmland, grassland and natural conditions was calculated by using a terrestrial nitrogen cycle model (TNCM). The Total Runoff Integrating Pathways (TRIP) was used to transport nitrogen from natural and anthropogenic sources through river channels, as well as collect and route nitrogen to the river mouths. The forcing meteorological and hydrological data is a 30-year (1976–2005) dataset for Japan which were obtained by the land surface model, Minimal Advanced Treatments of Surface Interaction and Runoff (MATSIRO). For the model validation, we collected total nitrogen (TN) concentration data from 59 rivers in Japan. As a comparison result, calculated TN concentration values were in good agreement with the observed ones, which shows the reliability of the proposed model. Finally, the TN loads from point and nonpoint sources were summarized and evaluated for 59 river basins in Japan. The proposed modelling framework can be used as a tool for quantitative evaluation of nitrogen load in terrestrial ecosystems at a national scale. The connection to land use and climate data provides a possibility to use this model for analysis of climate change and land use change impacts on hydrology and water quality.     

A new index for measuring perpendicularity of animal movements in relation to patch boundaries

We introduce a new index for measuring perpendicularity of animal movements with respect to a boundary (e.g., a habitat patch edge), and provide a computer algorithm for its calculation. Our index, η, improves on an approach that measures perpendicularity with respect to a fixed boundary direction. This is because η accounts for moment-to-moment trajectories relative to nearest-neighbor boundary attributes at the scale of an animal's movement. Our algorithm prp calculates η efficiently and accurately with both synthetic data and large telemetry datasets. In addition, we have included routines in prp which account for scenarios inherently problematic to perpendicularity estimators.     

运行方式对人工快渗系统水质净化效果的影响

以天然砂作为主要渗滤介质,建立污水处理人工快速渗滤系统(CRI).分别以洗浴污水、生活污水和受污染河水作为研究对象,在相同的水力负荷条件下,用两种不同的运行方式(定期投配一定量的污水、淹水和落干交替运行)对不同水质的污染物去除效果进行了对比研究.结果表明,通过缩短淹水周期,加大系统淹水和落干的频率,可以明显改善CRI系统的污染物去除效果.     

Simultaneous determination of atmospheric sulfur and nitrogen oxides using a battery-operated portable filter pack sampler

We developed a method to analyze atmospheric SO(x) (particulate SO(4)(2-)+ gaseous SO(2)) and NO(x) (NO + NO(2)) simultaneously using a battery-operated portable filter pack sampler. NO(x) determination using a filter pack method is new. SO(x) and NO(x) were collected on a Na(2)CO(3) filter and PTIO (2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-3-oxide-1-oxyl) + TEA (triethanolamine) filters (6 piled sheets), respectively. Aqueous solutions were then used to extract pollutants trapped by the filters and the resulting extracts were pre-cleaned (e.g. elimination of PTIO) and analyzed for sulfate and nitrite by ion chromatography. Recoveries of SO(2) and NO(x) from standard pollutant gases and consistency of the field data with those from other instrumental methods were examined to evaluate our method. SO(x) and NO(x) could be analyzed accurately with determination limits of 0.2 ppbv and 1.0 ppbv (as daily average concentrations), respectively. The sampler can determine SO(x) and NO(x) concentrations at mountainous or remote sites without needing an electric power supply.     

Bench-scale testing of a novel soil PFAS treatment train for informed remedial planning and decision-making

Bench-scale batch tests were conducted to assess the potential applicability of a combined separation/concentration/destruction treatment train to address soils and sediments impacted by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at Schriever Space Force Base with historic aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). Specifically, a novel treatment train coupling soil washing (for treatment of impacted soil/sediment) with foam fractionation (for treatment of the wash water [WW] generated during soil washing) and electrochemical oxidation (ECO, for treatment of the foam fractionate generated during foam fractionation) was evaluated at the bench scale using site-specific materials. Results presented herein show that the AFFF-impacted sandy soils with low organic content were amenable to treatment via soil washing. However, the removal of hydrophobic PFAS, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), from the organic-rich sediments was challenging. Results from batch desorption experiments were within a factor of 2 of those generated by soil washing bench studies, suggesting that simple batch tests can potentially be used to reasonably predict the treatment efficacy of soil washing. Long-chained perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) within the WW were removed more effectively in the foam fractionation studies as compared to short-chain PFAAs. Addition of a surfactant, such as cetrimonium bromide (CTAB), enhanced foaming but only marginally improved the treatment of short-chained PFAAs and in some cases inhibited PFOS removal. ECO reduced PFAS concentrations in the foam fractionate generated during foam fractionation by several orders of magnitude. However, generation of unwanted byproducts may warrant further treatment and/or disposal. Overall, results from this study provide a novel data set highlighting the site-dependent nature of these PFAS remedial technologies and how simple, low-cost bench tests can be reliably leveraged for informed decision-making during PFAS remedial planning.     

日本关东冬季飘尘酸度及其对酸雨形成的影响

利用微量酸碱滴定方法测定日本关东地区冬季高浓度飘尘的酸度,估算了飘尘对酸性降水的缓冲能力,并对飘尘水溶性离子组成进行了分析。结果发现：该地区飘尘的酸性很强,H⁺浓度在24neq/m³以上,是我国北方城市飘尘的几千倍,这表示该地区大气环境已严重酸化,可能是该地区酸雨形成的主要原因;飘尘的水溶性离子组成与我国飘尘截然不同,飘尘中cl^-浓度很高,SO₄^2-、NO₃^-的浓度也较高,说明飘尘主要来自人为源,NH₄⁺浓度则占全部阳离子80％以上,飘尘的这种组成也是非常特殊的。     

区间数多属性决策在飞机一发失效应急程序方案优选中的应用

针对在飞机一发失效应急程序方案的选择中,很多定量因素难以精确量化的问题,将区间数多属性决策运用到飞机一发失效应急程序方案的优选中,构建了评价指标体系。此评价指标体系应用基于理想解的区间数多属性决策的相对隶属度法来选择最佳方案,该方法通过计算并查找现有方案的相对隶属度最大值来确定最佳方案。最后举例说明如何在实际中使用此方法。