Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sediments of the Daliao River Estuary, China: levels, distribution and their influencing factors

The concentrations, compositional profiles, possible sources of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments of the Daliao River Estuary as well as the factors influencing the distribution of PBDEs were investigated. The total concentrations of PBDEs ranged from 0.13 to 1.98 ng g⁻¹ d.w. BDE209 was the dominating congener in all sediment samples, indicating the pollution of PBDEs in the Daliao River Estuary mainly came from the use of deca-BDE commercial mixtures. The intrusion of sea waters promoted the deposition of the colloid-associated PBDEs in the estuary. There were significantly negative correlations between PBDE concentration in sediment with pH value and salinity in the bottom water. The higher river flow in the flood season (summer) obviously accelerated the transport of PBDEs, and thereby increased the risk of PBDE contamination to the deep ocean. Moreover, a positive correlation between TOC and PBDE distributions was observed, suggesting that TOC regulated the distributions of PBDEs in sediments of Daliao River Estuary.     

Qualitative analysis of volatile organic compounds on biochar

Qualitative identification of sorbed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on biochar was conducted by headspace thermal desorption coupled to capillary gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry. VOCs may have a mechanistic role influencing plant and microbial responses to biochar amendments, since VOCs can directly inhibit/stimulate microbial and plant processes. Over 70 biochars encompassing a variety of parent feedstocks and manufacturing processes were evaluated and were observed to possess diverse sorbed VOC composition. There were over 140 individual chemical compounds thermally desorbed from some biochars, with hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and fast pyrolysis biochars typically possessing the greatest number of sorbed volatiles. In contrast, gasification, thermal or chemical processed biochars, soil kiln mound, and open pit biochars possessed low to non-detectable levels of VOCs. Slow pyrolysis biochars were highly variable in terms of their sorbed VOC content. There were no clear feedstock dependencies to the sorbed VOC composition, suggesting a stronger linkage with biochar production conditions coupled to post-production handling and processing. Lower pyrolytic temperatures (?350 °C) produced biochars with sorbed VOCs consisting of short carbon chain aldehydes, furans and ketones; elevated temperature biochars (>350 °C) typically were dominated by sorbed aromatic compounds and longer carbon chain hydrocarbons. The presence of oxygen during pyrolysis also reduced sorbed VOCs. These compositional results suggest that sorbed VOCs are highly variable and that their chemical dissimilarity could play a role in the wide variety of plant and soil microbial responses to biochar soil amendment noted in the literature. This variability in VOC composition may argue for VOC characterization before land application to predict possible agroecosystem effects.     

对环境空气质量预测中不利气象条件的研究

评价区域内的气象条件是影响大气环境影响预测结果的重要因子.为寻找可能的最大影响,须设置可能发生的不利于污染物传输与扩散的气象条件.分别以城市和郊区的高、中和低架源为例,计算其在各种风速和稳定度组合情况下的最大地面浓度,利用Screen3模式,寻找各类污染源对环境影响最大时的不利气象条件,以及需关注的环境空气敏感点(区).结果表明:小风速和强不稳定度是城市和郊区2类源的不利气象条件;而城市源的不利气象条件还可能出现在小风速和稳定类的情况下. 由于城市高架源影响范围广,评价时更应关注整个评价区域的环境空气敏感点;虽然城市高架源的影响程度比郊区高架源小,但城市低架源的影响程度却大于郊区低架源.      

Kinetics of antimony biogeochemical processes under pre-definite anaerobic and aerobic conditions in a paddy soil

While the transformation of antimony(Sb) in paddy soil has been previously investigated, the biogeochemical processes of highly chemical active Sb in the soil remain poorly understood. In addition, there is a lack of quantitative understanding of Sb transformation in soil. Therefore, in this study, the kinetics of exogenous Sb in paddy soils were investigated under anaerobic and aerobic incubation conditions. The dissolved Sb(V) and the Sb(V) extracted by diffusive gradient technique decreased u...     

不同水文条件下黄河口滨海湿地土壤真菌群落的分布特征

为了探究不同水文条件下黄河口滨海湿地土壤真菌群落多样性和结构特征,通过内转录区间(ITS)高通量测序技术对淡水恢复芦苇湿地(FPW)、非淹水芦苇湿地(NPW)、潮汐芦苇湿地(TPW)和盐地碱蓬湿地(TSW)土壤的真菌群落多样性和结构进行对比分析.结果 表明,非淹水芦苇湿地土壤中真菌OTUs数量最高(902),但4种湿地...     

Chemical composition and quantitative relationship between meteorological condition and fine particles in Beijing

The recent year‘s monitor results of Beijing indicated that the pollution level of fine particles PM2.5 showed an increasing trend. To understand pollution characteristics of PM2.5 and its relationship with the meteorological conditions in Beijing, a one-year monitoring of PM2.5 mass concentration and correspondent meteorological parameters was performed in Beijing in 2001. The PM2.5 levels in Beijing were very high, the annual average PM2.5 concentration in 2001 was 7 times of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards proposed by US EPA. The major chemical compositions were organics, sulfate, crustals and nitrate. It was found that the mass concentrations of PM2.5 were influenced by meteorological conditions. The correlation between the mass concentrations of PM2.5 and the relative humidity was found. And the correlation became closer at higher relative humidity. And the mass concentrations of PM2.5 were negtive-correlated to wind speeds, but the correlation between the mass concentration of PM2.5 and wind speed was not good at stronger wind.     

确定湖泊参照状态过程中频率分析的精度估计

确定湖泊参照状态是建立湖泊水质基准的关键步骤之一。以频率分析为基础的方法,如湖泊群体分布法、频率分析法、三分法等广泛地应用于参照状态的研究中;但是,由于湖泊观测数据具有关联性以及难以确定概率分布,这些研究都未给出参照状态估计的置信区间。滑块自助法无需确定观测数据的理论概率分布,同时能很好地克服数据关联性引起的问题,给出这些方法得到的参照状态的置信区间。以太湖为例,分析了确定频率分析过程中,正态分布法和普通自助法的缺陷;结果说明这一方法适合于确定湖泊参照状态的精度。     

1951─2012年沈阳市气象条件变化及其与空气污染的关系分析

气象条件对城市空气质量有重要影响,对比各气象要素和空气质量的相关性、分析气象要素的长期变化趋势是研究城市大气环境的重要内容。为增进对东北重工业城市沈阳市大气环境变化的理解,分析了1951─2012年沈阳市气温、地表温度、风速、降水、气压等气象要素的变化特征和趋势,阐明了2008─2013年冬季沈阳市空气污染指数和气象要素的相关性。对沈阳市1951─2012年气温、0 cm地温、风速、降水、气压日平均资料分析结果表明：沈阳市1951─2012年的气温与地表温度呈上升趋势,而风速、降水、气压则呈下降趋势,各气象要素呈显著的季节变化特征,其中冬春季的气温与冬季的地表温度上升趋势最明显,冬春季的风速、夏秋季的降水量和春秋季的气压下降最为明显。20世纪90年代以来,沈阳市的气温、地表温度升高显著,风速、气压下降明显,年际变化幅度都有增大趋势。分析2008─2013年冬季沈阳市空气污染指数的逐日资料。沈阳市冬季的大气污染呈线性上升趋势,空气污染指数与风速、气压、降水呈负相关,而与气温、地表温度呈正相关,且与地表温度的相关性最高。沈阳市的地表温度变化与东亚范围200 hPa的风速、500 hPa高压、850 hPa的南风呈正相关,而与850 hPa的北风呈负相关。这表明,沈阳市气候暖化及风速降低是空气污染加重的重要原因。     

Information sources for flash flood warnings in Denver, CO and Austin, TX

This research examines sources of information for flash floods in two large metropolitan areas, Denver, CO, and Austin, TX. Previous research has noted that information delivery systems for weather forecasts are geared toward the cultural majority and suggests that inadequate warnings are a primary contributor to deaths and injuries from hazards. This investigation used chi-square analysis to determine the prime warning source preferences and preferred time of day for receiving different media. Results indicate that successful warning messages need to be targeted toward specific sub-populations if the warning is to be received, understood, and responded to properly.     

Communicating uncertainty via probabilities: The case of weather forecasts

Capturing uncertainty through numerical probabilistic statements is orthodoxy in risk science—and most of science and technology. There are a wide range of views on the utility of such statements for risk communication, and they are often seen as being central to the failure to generate common understanding about risks between science and non-scientists. The extent to which probability statements are understood is unclear. If such statements are misunderstood by many, what alternatives might communicate uncertainty better?These questions are examined in the context of daily weather forecasts. The probabilities used in such statements concern daily events experienced by everyone, unlike the extremely small probabilities about unfamiliar events often used in risk communication. If people do not understand weather forecasts, there is little hope that statements about unfamiliar events using unfamiliar language will be understood. Some jurisdictions use numerical probabilistic statements on the likelihood of precipitation, and a variety of qualitative or categorical forecasts are also used. Drawing on a range of sources including public surveys conducted by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the paper examines public understanding of probabilities and public and specialist understanding of verbal categorical forecast terms.The majority of those surveyed have basic understanding about probabilities as used in weather forecasts, but significant groups do not. However, there was limited agreement among forecasters on what the probabilistic statements meant. Similarly, there was limited shared meaning between forecasters and the public on the verbal forecast expression examined.