The Variability of Estimates of Variance, and Its Effect on Power Analysis in Monitoring Design

Power analysis can be a valuable aid in the design of monitoringprograms. It requires an estimate of variance, which may come from a pilot study or an existing study in a similar habitat. For marine benthic infauna, natural variation in abundances canbe considerable, raising the question of reliability of varianceestimates. We used two existing monitoring programs to generatemultiple estimates of variance. These estimates were found to differ from nominated best estimates by 50% or more in 43% of cases, in turn leading to under or over-estimation of samplesize in the design of a notional monitoring program. The twostudies, from the same general area, using the same samplingmethods and spanning a similar time scale, gave estimatesvarying by more than an order of magnitude for 25% of taxa.We suggest that pilot studies for ecological monitoring programsof marine infauna should include at least two sampling times.     

Modeling of air quality with a modified two-dimensional Eulerian model： A case study in the Pearl River Delta （PRD） region of China

A modified two-dimensional Eulerian air quality model was used to simulate both the gaseous and particulate pollutant concentrations during October 21-24, 2004 in the Pearl River Delta （PRD） region, China. The most significant improvement to the model is the added capability to predict the secondary organic aerosols （SOA） concentrations because of the inclusion of the SOA formation chemistry. The meteorological input data were prepared using the CALMET meteorological model. The concentrations of aerosol-bound species such as NO3^-, NH4^＋, SO4^2-, and SOA were calculated in the fine particle size range （〈2.5 μm）. The results of the two-dimensional model were compared to the measurements at the ground level during the PRD Intensive Monitoring Campaign （IMC）. Overall, there were good agreements between the measured and modeled concentrations of inorganic aerosol components and O3. Both the measured and the modeled results indicated that the maximum hourly O3 concentrations exceeded the China National Air Quality Standard. The predicted 24-h average SOA concentrations were in reasonable agreement with those predicted by the method of minimum OC/EC ratio.     

利用磁信息研究潮滩重金属污染的探讨

本文以长江口潮滩沉积物的系统磁性测量为基础,对照化学分析和粒度分析等数据,初步探讨了潮滩沉积物的磁性特征与重金属元素含量的相关联系及其机理,建立了重金属元素含量与磁参数的定量关系模型,并揭示了长江口潮滩重金属污染的空间特征及其与沉积环境的联系。本项工作成功地探索了利用磁信息研究潮滩重金属污染的技术路线和应用前景,指出了在一定区域内,利用适量样品的磁性测量与重金属元素分析数据,建立其定量回归模型的可行性。从而可以在区域污染调查中,通过广泛的磁数据测量,由经验公式定量地估算不同滩地部分的重金属元素含量,以全面了解潮滩重金属污染的空间分布,分析其规律和机理。由于磁测方法具有快速、简便、经济、易行等特点,它为大范围的潮滩重金属污染研究提供了一项实用有效的辅助手段。     

Concentrations and trends of benzene in ambient air over New York State during 1990–2003

Since 1990s, a systematic program to measure air toxics has been active in New York State with monitors located both in urban and rural areas. In this study we examined the spatial and temporal characteristics of benzene, a known human carcinogen that is emitted by many source categories. The analysis indicates that ambient concentration levels of benzene have decreased by as much as 60% over this period not only in the ozone non-attainment area of New York City that had the reformulated gas (RFG) requirements, but also over the rest of the state as well. Although the rate of decrease appears to have flattened out in recent years, the annual average concentration levels are found to be above the health risk threshold even at the remote location, Whiteface Mountain, suggesting the need for further reductions in benzene emissions.     

A HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM1

ABSTRACT: An extensive research program in hydrometeorology was recently initiated in the Chicago region. Major objectives are to 1) develop a real-time, prediction-monitoring system for storm rainfall using a combination of weather radar and telemetered raingage data, 2) determine precipitation measurement requirements for hydrologic design, operation, and modeling purposes, 3) define the time-space characteristics of heavy rainstorms in the Chicago urban area, and 4) establish methods for applying the Chicago findings in other cities. Basic components of the field measurement program are a network of over 300 recording raingages in 4000 mi² in and around Chicago, plus two sophisticated weather radar systems for obtaining real-time information on storm parameters pertinent to optimizing operation of urban water resources systems. The raingage networks are to be used to compile information relevant to both design and operational aspects of urban hydrology. Radars are to be used primarily in developing the real-time operational techniques. Testing and evaluation of the real-time operational system will be done in cooperation with the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Chicago, operator of one of the most complex urban water control systems among major metropolitan areas.     

Reuse of wastewater for industrial needs: the Pontedera case

This paper presents result from an economic and technical point of view evaluation study, which has sought to establish the potential for replacing well-water that is currently used at the Piaggio industrial plant in Pontedera with recycled wastewater. The study is based upon a pilot wastewater treatment plant, which has been used to test wastewater treatment processes and to compare with achieved quality of recycled waters with that of water drawn on-site from physical/chemical pre-treatment and end with a reverse osmosis and air stripping stage. However, after the physical/chemical pre-treatment, the first option uses oxidation with ozone followed by activated carbon filtration, whereas the second method uses ultrafiltration. The first method is more effective at reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD) whereas the second method is more effective in removing bacteria. Nonetheless, both methods deliver water for re-use of a quality comparable with or better than that of well-water. In principle, the reverse osmosis permeate from either process could be re-used in all production phases at the industrial plant. However, the method base upon oxidation with ozone followed by activated carbon filtration is preferred, because, the process is simpler and continuous. The economic analysis of this process gives an estimated cost of Euro 0.55 per m³ for treated water. This compares favorably with other treatment processes and with the cost of other forms of water supply, which are projected to increase in any case.     

USE OF RADAR TO DERWE A STORM INTENSITY-DURATION CURVE1

ABSTRACT: Rainstorms which exceed the design capacity of conveyance systems and cause extensive damage to structures and property, occur frequently in Alberta. After such a severe storm, an early and quick assessment of the storm's location and magnitude and the corresponding frequency for various duration (storm intensity-duration curve) is often required to estimate the damage. The storm intensity-duration curve is produced with information obtained from a sparse network of recording raingages, thus, creating a high degree of uncertainty in the result. Short-duration precipitation is usually quite variable in Alberta; hencea very dense network of recording precipitation stations would be required to provide precise measurements of the storm intensity-duration curve at all locations. Such a dense network does not exist in Alberta; it would be very expensive to install, maintain, and thus difficult to justify financially. One solution for obtaining a large amount of closely spaced in-intensity-duration values is to use weather radar. Using weather radar data, intensity-duration curves could be produced routinely for any set of prespecified locations. The radar data thus have the potential for facilitating the identification of the return period of rainfall events quickly, cheaply, and precisely when the long-term intensity-duration curves are available. As a pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of the method and the potential of the radar data, computer software was developed to derive from archived radar data, intensity-duration values for up to a 2,500 2 area for a given storm.     

结合外场观测分析珠三角二次有机气溶胶的数值模拟

结合2008年11月18~25日期间珠三角地区的二次有机气溶胶(SOA)外场观测数据,验证区域空气质量模式WRF/Chem(weather research and forecasting model with chemistry)中两种SOA化学机制——VBS(volatile basis set)和SORGAM(secondary organic aerosol model)对珠三角SOA的模拟效果.VBS机制考虑了更为广泛的SOA前体物和化学老化过程,SOA模拟值更接近观测值,能合理反映SOA观测值的逐天变化趋势,与观测值的平均绝对偏差和相关性分别是-4.88μg·m-3和0.91,而SORGAM机制的分别为-5.32μg·m-3和0.18.利用VBS机制模拟区域内SOA的时空分布,结果显示SOA浓度具有显著的昼夜变化特征,浓度峰值出现在中午时段.受到输送和臭氧区域分布的影响,各城市SOA浓度差异显著,下风向的城市(如中山、珠海、江门)SOA浓度较高.     

长江原水臭氧-生物活性炭挂膜中试研究

为了探究面向长江水源的臭氧-生物活性炭深度处理工艺的挂膜技术,进行了长江原水常州段的臭氧-生物活性炭挂膜中试研究.结果表明,在挂膜前期,由于炭柱的物理吸附作用逐渐饱和,炭柱对DOC(溶解性有机碳)、UV_(254)和COD_(Mn)(高锰酸盐指数)的去除率逐渐降低,对氨氮几乎没有去除,在挂膜中后期,由于活性炭上生物膜逐渐成熟,生物降解起主导作用,有机物和氨氮去除率升高并趋于稳定.90 d后,炭柱对DOC、UV_(254)和COD_(Mn)这3个有机物指标的去除率分别稳定在30.64%、57.50%和30.00%以上,氨氮去除率稳定在88.93%左右,认为挂膜成功.扫描电镜图显示活性炭表面出现丰富的菌胶团,同时高通量测序也验证了活性炭中丰富多样的微生物群落结构.     

基于MBBR的CANON工艺处理消化液中试启动

基于移动床生物膜反应器（MBBR）成功启动了自养脱氮工艺（CANON）处理污泥消化上清液.采用8.55m³中试系统,反应器内部填充SPR-Ⅲ填料,填充率44%,通过动态流接CANON污泥（接种比例<1%）,经过70d成功启动CANON工艺.运行至200d,TN去除负荷稳定在0.9kgN/（m³·d）,出水氨氮浓度均值63.9mg/L,氨氮和总氮去除率均值分别为91%和85%.进水中存在的少量有机物使系统同时存在反硝化和厌氧氨氧化两种脱氮途径,促进了总氮的去除,对总氮去除的贡献分别占5%~7%和93%~95%.通过对pH值和曝气强度的控制,防止了悬浮载体结垢,平衡了DO、曝气强度以及生物膜厚度三者之间的关系,使生物膜始终处于适宜的厚度,稳定了系统的处理效果.高通量测序表明悬浮载体上的优势菌种为氨氧化菌（AOB）和厌氧氨氧化菌（AnAOB）,其丰度整体呈增长趋势,至稳定运行期可达到17%和14%.系统无NOB存在,短程硝化效果良好,反硝化菌群丰度在2%~3%并相对稳定,进水中存在的少量有机物不会影响厌氧氨氧化菌的增殖.