Using the land transformation model to forecast vacant land

Growing or shrinking cities can experience increases in vacant land. As urban populations and boundaries fluctuate, holes can open in once tight urban areas. Many cities chase growth-oriented approaches to dealing with vacancies. It is critical to understand land-use alteration to accurately predict transformations of physical change in order to make better informed decisions about this phenomenon. This research utilizes the land transformation model (LTM), an artificial neural networking mechanism in Geographic Information Systems, to forecast vacant land. Variable influence on vacant land prediction and accuracy of the LTM is assessed by comparing input factors and patterns, using time-series data from 1990 to 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. Results indicate that the LTM can be useful in simulating vacant land-use changes but more precise mechanisms are necessary to increase accuracy. This will allow for more proactive decisions to better regulate the process of urban decline and regeneration.     

中国区域工业企业绿色技术创新效率及因素分解

本文基于两阶段创新价值链下工业企业绿色技术创新的过程,构建了中国区域工业企业绿色技术创新效率评价体系,同时运用主成分分析法对这些指标数据进行降维处理,分别计算出两个阶段的技术创新效率,再通过DEA法测算各区域工业企业整体绿色技术创新效率并进行因素分解。研究发现:1在绿色技术开发阶段,考虑环境因素比不考虑环境因素的效率要低,中、西部地区面临的环境问题更加严峻,三大区域绿色技术开发效率差距悬殊。2在绿色技术成果转化阶段,绿色技术创新效率仍存在较大提升空间,东、中和西部地区绿色技术创新效率从高到低依次排列。3中国工业企业绿色技术创新整体效率偏低,而纯技术效率是导致整体效率低的主要原因。区域差距悬殊且存在继续扩大的风险,中、西部地区在纯技术效率和规模效率两个方面均有很大提升空间。4辽宁、河北、黑龙江、新疆、山西、内蒙古、云南、青海等区域要注重提高区域技术,安徽、吉林、江西、广西等区域则要注重减少资源冗余,宁夏、甘肃则既要注重提高区域技术还要注意较少资源冗余。未来,中国应该建立低碳经济发展模式,将环境污染指标工业企业技术创新效率评价体系,提升绿色技术创新效率。以供给侧改革为突破口,加快区域协同发展,发挥东部地区引领作用,缩小中国东、中、西部地区差异。因地制宜,根据各省份绿色技术创新效率不高的根源,采取有针对性的政策。加大绿色技术开发、清洁生产设备等方面的投入,控制污染物排放,推动以科技创新为核心的全面创新。     

Relationships between lichen community composition and concentrations of NO2 and NH3

The relationship between different features of lichen communities in Quercus robur canopies and environmental variables, including concentrations of NO₂ and NH₃ was investigated. NO₂ concentration was the most significant variable, it was positively correlated with the proportion of lichen cover comprising nitrophytes and negatively correlated with total lichen cover. None of the lichen community features were correlated with NH₃ concentrations, which were relatively low across the site. Since nitrophytes and nitrophobes are likely to react in opposite directions to nitrogenous compounds, total lichen cover is not a suitable indicator for these pollutants. It is, therefore, suggested that the proportion of lichen cover comprising nitrophytes may be a suitable simple indicator of air quality, particularly in locations where the pollution climate is dominated by oxides of nitrogen.     

新疆油田污染减排措施与效果分析

针对新疆油田公司的污染减排目标,结合油田实际,剖析了当前制约新疆油田污染减排的主要因素,通过有针对性地实施技术改造、结构调整、清洁生产等措施,取得了显著的污染减排效果,为今后污染减排工作提供了有益的建议。     

水位波动带氮素迁移转化规律

为考察水位波动对非饱和-饱和土层中氮素迁移转化的影响，设计土柱实验装置Ⅰ和Ⅱ分别模拟水位稳定与波动两种情景，测定一个水位波动周期内地下水中NO₃^--N、NO₂^--N和NH₄⁺-N浓度变化情况。结果表明，柱Ⅱ水位第1次下降柱内1^#，2^#，3^#，4^#采样点NO₃^--N浓度均增大，增幅分别为6.5%、14.9%、15.33%和19.8%。水位上升时结果相反，分别降低17.3%、26.15%、50.29%和44.61%。第2次水位下降至初始位置4个采样点NO₃^--N浓度再次增大，幅度分别为7.1%、10.6%、13.89%和7.76%。铵态氮呈相反趋势不同程度的变化。水位波动柱Ⅱ连通水槽内总氮量增加显著高于柱I水槽，即水位波动有利于波动带地下水中氮素垂向迁移，加重波动带以下地下水硝酸盐污染。因此，水位波动对氮素迁移转化的影响不容忽视。     

The structure of the fire fighting foam surfactant Forafac®1157 and its biological and photolytic transformation products

For several decades, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has widely been used as a fluorinated surfactant in aqueous film forming foams used as hydrocarbon fuel fire extinguishers. Due to concerns regarding its environmental persistence and toxicological effects, PFOS has recently been replaced by novel fluorinated surfactants such as Forafac®1157, developed by the DuPont company. The major component of Forafac®1157 is a 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylbetaine (6:2 FTAB), and a link between the trade name and the exact chemical structure is presented here to the scientific community for the first time. In the present work, the structure of the 6:2 FTAB was elucidated by ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Moreover, its major metabolites from blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and its photolytic transformation products were identified. Contrary to what has earlier been observed for PFOS, the 6:2 FTAB was extensively metabolized by blue mussel and turbot exposed to Forafac®1157. The major metabolite was a deacetylated betaine species, from which mono- and di-demethylated metabolites also were formed. Another abundant metabolite was the 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide. In another experiment, Forafac®1157 was subjected to UV-light induced photolysis. The experimental conditions aimed to simulate Arctic conditions and the deacetylated species was again the primary transformation product of 6:2 FTAB. A 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide was also formed along with a non-identified transformation product. The environmental presence of most of the metabolites and transformation products was qualitatively demonstrated by analysis of soil samples taken in close proximity to an airport fire training facility.     

Epiphytic Algae and Lichen Cover in Boreal Forests—A Long-Term Study Along a N and S Deposition Gradient in Sweden

The aim was to describe spatiotemporal patterns of colonization of spruce branches by algae and lichens and the relationship with decreasing deposition of N and S. Coverage was estimated annually over 10 years for four Swedish Integrated Monitoring catchments with varying deposition levels. Initial hypotheses were that algal coverage would be positively correlated with deposition and that lichen coverage would be negatively correlated with S and positively with N deposition. Data were analyzed using regression, ANOVA, and partial least square regression. The results showed a temporal decrease in the coverage of algae but an increase in colonization rates, while lichens showed less uniform patterns. Within catchments, algae and lichen coverages were positively correlated with mainly S deposition. Across catchments, coverage of algae increased, while the coverage of lichens decreased with increasing N and S deposition. Colonization rates of both algae and lichens showed weak correlations with both spatial and temporal trends in N and S deposition. Thus, while N and S deposition had an effect on the colonization and coverage of algae and lichens, other factors are also important.     

Modelling the impact of nitrogen deposition, climate change and nutrient limitations on tree carbon sequestration in Europe for the period 1900-2050

We modelled the combined effects of past and expected future changes in climate and nitrogen deposition on tree carbon sequestration by European forests for the period 1900-2050. Two scenarios for deposition (current legislation and maximum technically feasible reductions) and two climate scenarios (no change and SRES A1 scenario) were used. Furthermore, the possible limitation of forest growth by calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus is investigated. The area and age structure of the forests was assumed to stay constant to observations during the period 1970-1990. Under these assumptions, the simulations show that the change in forest growth and carbon sequestration in the past is dominated by changes in nitrogen deposition, while climate change is the major driver for future carbon sequestration. However, its impact is reduced by nitrogen availability. Furthermore, limitations in base cations, especially magnesium, and in phosphorus may significantly affect predicted growth in the future.     

Disequilibrium and Indivisibility of Pollution Control Equipment Under a Permit-Trading System: A Case Study of Kao-Hsiung and Ping-Tung Counties in Taiwan

A mixed-integer programming model that minimizes the social abatement cost is used to investigate whether a market equilibrium condition could be reached in a newly proposed permit-trading market for nitrogen oxide control in Taiwan. Unlike in previous studies, unit pollution abatement cost is determined endogenously by incorporating technology adoption as a binary decision variable. The results show that when technologies are lumpy and irreversible, disequilibrium might occur due to firms’ inability to manage their emission levels after installing equipment with fixed size and control capacity.

A Global Model Tracking Water, Nitrogen, and Land Inputs and Virtual Transfers from Industrialized Meat Production and Trade

Rising populations and incomes throughout the world have boosted meat demand by over 75% in the last 20years, intensifying pressures on production systems and the natural resources to which they are linked. As a growing proportion of global meat production is traded, the environmental impacts of production become increasingly separated from where the meat is consumed. In this paper, we quantify the use of three important resources associated with industrial livestock production and trade—water, land, and nitrogen—using a country-specific model that combines trade, agronomic, biogeochemical, and hydrological data. Our model focuses on pigs and chickens, as these animals are raised predominantly in intensive systems using concentrated, compound feeds. The results describe the geographical patterns of environmental resource use due to meat production, trade, and consumption. We show that US feed, animal, and meat destined for export require almost as much nitrogen and land, and 20% more water, than products destined for domestic consumption. Model results also demonstrate that among various production factors, improvements in crop yields and animal feed conversion efficiencies result in the most significant reductions in environmental harm. By explicitly tracking the externalities of meat production, we hope to bolster suppliers’ accountability and provide better information to meat consumers.