A review of Australian approaches for monitoring,assessing and reporting estuarine condition: II. State and Territory programs

In contrast to Europe, the USA and South Africa, Australia has no specific, overarching federal legislation to underpin a nationally-coordinated framework for monitoring, assessing and reporting estuarine condition. This has resulted in a complex mosaic of diverse approaches and governance structures, hindering the ability to make inter-State comparisons. In this second part of a comprehensive three-part review, we present a systematic appraisal of current and impending approaches for measuring and reporting estuarine condition in each of Australia’s States and Territories. A concise summary is provided in each case, supported by extensive appendices containing detailed accounts of relevant monitoring and reporting programs. We synthesise and evaluate this output at the State/Territory level, highlighting areas of improvement and major gaps.     

Monitoring aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation by functional marker genes

The development of biological treatment technologies for contaminated environments requires tools for obtaining direct information about the biodegradation of specific contaminants. The potential of functional gene array analysis to monitor changes in the amount of functional marker genes as indicators of contaminant biodegradation was investigated. A prototype functional gene array was developed for targeting key functions in the biodegradation of naphthalene, toluene and xylenes. Internal standard probe based normalization was introduced to facilitate comparison across multiple samples. Coupled with one-colour hybridization, the signal normalization improved the consistency among replicate hybridizations resulting in better discrimination for the differences in the amount of target DNA. During the naphthalene biodegradation in a PAH-contaminated soil slurry microcosm, the normalized hybridization signals in naphthalene catabolic gene probes were in good agreement with the amount of naphthalene-degradation genes and the production of 14CO2. Gene arrays provide efficient means for monitoring of contaminant biodegradation in the environment.     

Runoff of pesticides from rice fields in the Ile de Camargue (Rhône river delta, France): field study and modeling

A field study on the runoff of pesticides was conducted during the cultivation period in 2004 on a hydraulically isolated rice farm of 120 ha surface with one central water outlet. Four pesticides were studied: Alphamethrin, MCPA, Oxadiazon, and Pretilachlor. Alphamethrin concentrations in runoff never exceeded 0.001 microg L(-1). The three other pesticides were found in concentrations between 5.2 and 28.2 microg L(-1) in the runoff water shortly after the application and decreased thereafter. The data for MCPA compared reasonably well with predictions by an analytical runoff model, accounting for volatilization, degradation, leaching to groundwater, and sorption to soil. The runoff model estimated that runoff accounted for as much as 18-42% of mass loss for MCPA. Less runoff is observed and predicted for Oxadiazon and Pretilachlor. It was concluded that runoff from rice paddies carries important loads of dissolved pesticides to the wetlands in the Ile de Camargue, and that the model can be used to predict this runoff.     

环境监测信息网络建设思路的探讨

介绍了环境监测信息网络的组成、作用于流通范围，提出了环境监测信息的构架、环境数据库的设计原则、环境监测应用软件的开发思路，以及环境监测信息网络的管理与维护措施。     

北京城6区大气颗粒物质量浓度变化规律研究

为较好地了解当前北京城6区大气颗粒物PM2.5和PM10质量浓度的污染水平及变化规律,根据2013年3月11日至2014年2月28日城6区12个空气质量实时监测点连续、实时的监测结果,构建多点位、完整时间序列的颗粒物质量浓度数据资料.应用数理统计分析手段,对当前北京城6区大气颗粒物质量浓度的频数分布、相关性和逐时变化特征进行分析,并结合全年实际气象特征,对引起大气颗粒物质量浓度变化的因素进行了初步探讨.结果表明,2013年3月至2014年2月北京城6区大气颗粒物污染较为严重,且PM2.5和PM10质量浓度具有特别显著的线性相关关系,全年相关系数达0.9,10年间无显著变化;二者年均值达91.7 μg/m3和116.9 μg/m3,分别超标162％和67％;二者质量浓度比达78.4％,10年间同比增长约20％.颗粒物质量浓度逐时变化受季节变化影响明显,总体呈现夜间最高、白天最低的趋势,变化周期为7～9h.研究表明,影响颗粒物质量浓度变化的因素包括春季的大风和生物粒子、夏季的湿热和降雨、秋季和冬季的逆温现象和降雪等气象因素及规律性的人为源因素.     

前车突然切入时驾驶人应激生理特性研究

为研究前车突然切入对驾驶人生理负荷的影响,利用MP150生理监测系统对22名被试进行虚拟驾驶试验。采集记录前车突然切入时被试的生理参数。研究驾驶人心率增长率和心率变异性(HRV)指标与车速、应激距离之间的关系。结果表明:自车速度为100 km/h时,随着前车切入距离从55.6 m减小到27.8 m,被试的平均心率增长率从16.21%增大到23.27%,HRV参数低频(LF)值也呈现下降趋势。前车切入距离一定,随着自车车速从60 km/h增加到120 km/h,被试的平均心率增长率存在显著性差异,平均从13.05%上升到21.85%。差异性检验结果表明,前车切入距离和自车速度发生变化时驾驶人的生理负荷变化趋势一致,但自车速度因素对驾驶人生理负荷的影响程度高于切入距离因素。     

水资源环境承载能力监测预警平台设计探讨

建立水资源环境承载力监测预警平台与机制,是实现我国环境管理战略由以环境污染控制为目标导向,向以环境质量改善为目标导向彻底转变的重要支撑手段。以水资源环境承载力领域的相关研究进展为基础,提出水资源环境承载力监控预警平台的设计框架,平台设计的逻辑结构、核心功能以及相对应的水资源环境承载力评估技术,并对该平台建设的困难、问题及未来的发展趋势进行了分析,以期为水资源环境承载能力监测预警机制建设提供有益的参考。     

运用正弦扫频实现电动振动台模型的频域辨识

目的研究以电动振动台为典型设备的相关振动试验装置的频域辨识技术。方法通过分析电动振动台数学模型,采用正弦扫频试验方法,进行全频带振动台空台面正弦扫频,并对所获得的时域正弦扫频数据进行频谱分析,进而获得系统的频率数据,再运用复数域上的最小二乘拟合算法,完成振动台模型传递函数的辨识。结果通过某型电动台空台面试验,对一组实测数据进行辨识,辨识出的电动振动台模拟与真实模拟一致。结论通过该方法并合理选取模型结构,能够很好地辨识出振动试验装置的模型。     

Assessment of the Water Quality and Ecosystem Health of the Great Barrier Reef (Australia): Conceptual Models

Run-off containing increased concentrations of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides from land-based anthropogenic activities is a significant influence on water quality and the ecologic conditions of nearshore areas of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Australia. The potential and actual impacts of increased pollutant concentrations range from bioaccumulation of contaminants and decreased photosynthetic capacity to major shifts in community structure and health of mangrove, coral reef, and seagrass ecosystems. A detailed conceptual model underpins and illustrates the links between the main anthropogenic pressures or threats (dry-land cattle grazing and intensive sugar cane cropping) and the production of key contaminants or stressors of Great Barrier Reef water quality. The conceptual model also includes longer-term threats to Great Barrier Reef water quality and ecosystem health, such as global climate change, that will potentially confound direct model interrelationships. The model recognises that system-specific attributes, such as monsoonal wind direction, rainfall intensity, and flood plume residence times, will act as system filters to modify the effects of any water-quality system stressor. The model also summarises key ecosystem responses in ecosystem health that can be monitored through indicators at catchment, riverine, and marine scales. Selected indicators include riverine and marine water quality, inshore coral reef and seagrass status, and biota pollutant burdens. These indicators have been adopted as components of a long-term monitoring program to enable assessment of the effectiveness of change in catchment-management practices in improving Great Barrier Reef (and adjacent catchment) water quality under the Queensland and Australian Governments’ Reef Water Quality Protection Plan.     

Using GIS to Generate Spatially Balanced Random Survey Designs for Natural Resource Applications

Sampling of a population is frequently required to understand trends and patterns in natural resource management because financial and time constraints preclude a complete census. A rigorous probability-based survey design specifies where to sample so that inferences from the sample apply to the entire population. Probability survey designs should be used in natural resource and environmental management situations because they provide the mathematical foundation for statistical inference. Development of long-term monitoring designs demand survey designs that achieve statistical rigor and are efficient but remain flexible to inevitable logistical or practical constraints during field data collection. Here we describe an approach to probability-based survey design, called the Reversed Randomized Quadrant-Recursive Raster, based on the concept of spatially balanced sampling and implemented in a geographic information system. This provides environmental managers a practical tool to generate flexible and efficient survey designs for natural resource applications. Factors commonly used to modify sampling intensity, such as categories, gradients, or accessibility, can be readily incorporated into the spatially balanced sample design.