Comparing the sensitivity of soil invertebrates to pesticides with that of Eisenia fetida

The sole routine testing of the standard earthworm Eisenia fetida for the terrestrial risk assessment of pesticides has been under much debate since other soil invertebrates may be more sensitive than this standard test species. However, the very low availability of laboratory toxicity data for taxa other than E. fetida has greatly hampered sensitivity comparisons. In the present study, the relative tolerance (T_rel) approach was used to enable comparing toxicity thresholds obtained from the US-EPA ECOTOX database, for main terrestrial taxonomic groups and pesticidal types of action (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and other) separately. Analyses confirmed previously reported lower and higher sensitivity of collembolans to fungicides and insecticides, respectively. However, various other discrepancies in susceptibility relative to E. fetida were encountered as indicated by species sensitivity distributions and/or calculated 95% confidence intervals of T_rel values. Arachnids and isopods were found to be more sensitive to insecticides, and nematodes to fungicides, as compared to E. fetida. Implications of study findings for the terrestrial risk assessment of pesticides are discussed.     

Modelling the migration of contaminants through variably saturated dual-porosity, dual-permeability chalk

In the Hesbaye region in Belgium, tracer tests performed in variably saturated fissured chalk rocks presented very contrasting results in terms of transit times, according to artificially controlled water recharge conditions prevailing during the experiments. Under intense recharge conditions, tracers migrated across the partially or fully saturated fissure network, at high velocity in accordance with the high hydraulic conductivity and low effective porosity (fracture porosity). At the same time, a portion of the tracer was temporarily retarded in the almost immobile water located in the matrix. Under natural infiltration conditions, the fissure network remained inactive. Tracers migrated downward through the matrix, at low velocity in relation with the low hydraulic conductivity and the large porosity of the matrix. Based on these observations, Brouyère et al. (2004a) [Brouyère, S., Dassargues, A., Hallet, V., 2004a. Migration of contaminants through the unsaturated zone overlying the Hesbaye chalky aquifer in Belgium: a field investigation, J. Contam. Hydrol., 72 (1-4), 135-164, doi: 10.1016/j.conhyd.2003.10.009] proposed a conceptual model in order to explain the migration of solutes in variably saturated, dual-porosity, dual-permeability chalk. Here, mathematical and numerical modelling of tracer and contaminant migration in variably saturated fissured chalk is presented, considering the aforementioned conceptual model. A new mathematical formulation is proposed to represent the unsaturated properties of the fissured chalk in a more dynamic and appropriate way. At the same time, the rock water content is partitioned between mobile and immobile water phases, as a function of the water saturation of the chalk rock. The groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the variably saturated chalk is solved using the control volume finite element method. Modelling the field tracer experiments performed in the variably saturated chalk shows the adequacy and usefulness of the new conceptual, mathematical and numerical model.     

Aerosol light-scattering in The Netherlands

The relation between the (midday) aerosol light-scattering and the concentrations of nitrate and sulfate has been assessed at a site near the coast of the North Sea in The Netherlands. Midday was selected for the measurements because this is the time at which the aerosol is most effective in the scattering of solar radiation. Automated thermodenuders were used for the hourly measurement of the concentration of nitrate and sulfate with a lower detection limit of 0.1 μ m⁻³. The site is operational since October 1993. The first-year average dry aerosol light-scattering (measured with an integrating nephelometer at a wavelength of 525 nm) was 0.71 × 10⁻⁴ m^1̄. In arctic marine air the aerosol light-scattering was a factor of 10 lower than the average value, in polluted continental air it was up to a factor of 10 higher. The ratio of the total aerosol light-scattering to the concentration of sulfate was 20 m² g⁻¹. The contribution of nitrate to the aerosol light-scattering was higher than that of sulfate in the winter and of about equal magnitude in the summer period. In November and December of 1993, the humidity dependence of the aerosol light-scattering was investigated. Two types of (continental) aerosol were found with respect to the humidity behavior. One type showed a significant increase in light-scattering at the deliquescence points of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate, with that of ammonium nitrate the most pronounced. The second type of continental aerosol did not show deliquescence, but followed the typical humidity dependence of aerosol in a supersaturated droplet state. In this latter aerosol type, nitrate dominated over sulfate. It was concluded from the study that the aerosol light-scattering in The Netherlands, in particular its humidity dependence, is governed by (ammonium) nitrate.     

Model-based combination of spatial information for stream networks

Evolutionary improvements in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) now routinely allow the management and mapping of spatial-temporal information. In response, the development of statistical models to combine information of different types and spatial support is of vital importance to environmental science. In this paper we develop a hierarchical spatial statistical model for environmental indicators of stream and river systems in the United States Mid-Atlantic Region by combining information from separate monitoring surveys, available contextual information on hydrologic units and remote sensing information. These models are used to estimate the indicators throughout the riverine system based on information from multiple sources and aggregate scales. The analysis is based on information underlying the Landscape Atlas of the mid-Atlantic region produced by the US Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP). We also combine information from two overlapping separate monitoring surveys, the EMAP Stream and River Survey and the Maryland Biological Streams Survey. We present a general framework for comparative distributional analysis based on the concept of a relative spatial distribution. As an application, the spatial model is used to predict spatial distributions and relative spatial distributions for a watershed.     

平衡调温调湿方式中变流量冷冻水系统设计

通过对变流量冷冻水系统的分析指出，在运用平衡调温调湿方式的空调系统中，应用变流量冷冻水系统可以较大地节约能源和投资；并提出了实现这种应用的方法。     

Effects of soil nematodes communities on litter decomposition in urban forest of Dalian北大核心CSCD

In order to further expound the effect of soil nematodes on litter decomposition in urban forest, this study investigated the responses of soil nematodes communities to litter decomposition by litterbags technology at different mesh sizes in Dalian National Forest Park. Soil nematodes community composition, decomposition rate of litter and nutrient release were also analyzed. It found a total of 4 418 nematodes from 39 genera. Higher relative density of soil nematodes was found in the bags with 0.1 mm mesh size (1.55 individuals and 7.34 orders per g of dry litter) compared to the bags with 0.02 mm mesh size (0.21 individuals and 0.49 orders per g of dry litter). There were very few soil nematodes in the 0.02 mm litter bags. Thus we regarded that soil nematodes only affected the 0.1 mm litter bags. The mass loss rates as well as C and P release rates was higher in litter bags with 0.1 mm mesh size than in those with 0.02 mm mesh size, indicating a significant influence of soil nematodes on mass loss and nutrient release. The contribution of soil nematodes to the litter mass loss was about 24%. The effect of soil nematodes on the nutrient release rates differed among elements. The soil nematodes had a bigger influence on the release rate of N than that of other elements, whereas the influence on K release rate was the lowest. The results showed that soil nematodes communities has a significant effect on the litter decomposition and nutrient release of the forest litter in Dalian city, especially promoting the mass loss rates and N release rates.     

高强与高性能混凝土温湿度场应力分析

针对高强与高性能混凝土易于开裂的特点,对高强高性能混凝土早期温湿度场随龄期发展的分布情况以及混凝土的收缩变形进行理论分析,建立相应的计算模型,编制三维有限元程序,分析在外界温湿度变化以及不同养护条件下由混凝土内部温差和湿度变化产生的温度应力和干燥收缩应力,从施工养护方法上探讨了高强与高性能混凝土抗裂性能的改善措施.     

能见度与PM2.5浓度关系及其分布特征

利用相对湿度、能见度和PM_(2.5)质量浓度观测数据,针对不同相对湿度下,建立了消光系数与PM_(2.5)质量浓度之间线性关系,并分析了相关关系的全国分布特征.结果表明,我国中东部大部分地区在一定相对湿度区间内均可建立线性相关关系,而且相关性较好,相对湿度40%～90%区间内的平均相关系数高于0. 75,其中北京相关系数高达0. 9.北京、长三角和四川等地的PM_(2.5)单位质量消光效率在同等相对湿度下明显大于其他地区.不同地区湿度对能见度影响程度不同,北京等地在相对湿度大于90%时相对湿度对能见度作用大于PM_(2.5),而广州在相对湿度大于80%时相对湿度的作用明显增强.利用能见度反算北京地区PM_(2.5)浓度可知,1980～1996年,PM_(2.5)浓度年际变化不大,受采暖方式影响冬季PM_(2.5)浓度显著较高; 1997～2009年呈现缓慢下降趋势; 2010～2012年呈现上升趋势. 1980年以来,全国的PM_(2.5)浓度整体呈上升的趋势,尤其是华北地区,PM_(2.5)浓度始终高于全国其他地区.     

气象因素对香港地区臭氧污染的影响

基于2000~2015年香港地区的臭氧监测数据和气象数据,分析了香港的臭氧污染特征及气象因素对臭氧污染的影响.结果表明:(1)香港地区臭氧浓度呈现明显的季节变化特征,其中秋季春季冬季夏季,臭氧超标日集中在夏季和秋季,超标日发生在冬季和春季的情形极少.(2)2000~2015年香港臭氧日最大8h平均浓度(MDA8)年均浓度呈增长趋势,平均增长速率为0.77μg·(m3·a)-1,臭氧MDA8第90百分位数浓度同样呈增长趋势,增长速率为1.49μg·(m3·a)-1.(3)较高的气温是香港地区臭氧污染发生的必要条件,气温越高越容易导致更高浓度的臭氧污染.(4)绝大多数情况下,臭氧浓度与相对湿度间呈负相关关系,相对湿度越高,香港地区的臭氧MDA8平均浓度及第90百分位数浓度均会降低.(5)当香港发生臭氧污染时,盛行风往往从偏北风或偏东风转为偏西风.随着风速的增大,臭氧平均浓度变化不大,但是臭氧第90百分位数浓度会明显降低.(6)降水和云量是影响臭氧浓度的重要因素,连续多日的无雨或少雨天气是臭氧污染事件发生的必要条件,而随着云量的增加,臭氧平均浓度和第90百分位数浓度会持续降低.(7)在太阳总辐射量≤20 MJ·m-2或日照时长≤10 h的情况下,臭氧浓度与太阳辐射及日照时长呈正相关关系.然而,在太阳辐射强烈的情况下(太阳总辐射量 20 MJ·m-2或日照时长 10 h),随着太阳辐射增强或日照时长的增加地面臭氧浓度反而降低,这是因为太阳辐射强烈的情况常出现在雨后天晴的背景下,并盛行来自海洋的偏南风,使得臭氧污染不易形成.(8)香港臭氧超标日的出现往往伴随着一系列气象条件的共同改变,包括晴天少雨、辐射增强、边界层高度增加、相对湿度降低、风速变小以及气温升高等气象特征,污染结束则伴随着相反的气象变化.     

太阳跟踪聚光高加速老化试验系统特性研究

目的对自主研制的基于"冷光"反射镜户外高加速光老化系统特性展开研究。方法利用大气环境条件监测技术获得系统样机关键性能数据。结果"冷光"反射镜在295～700 nm波长范围内的反射率达到90%以上,增强了系统样机在该波长范围内的反射太阳光谱,在310nm波段处获得约3.5倍太阳直射辐照强度。聚光太阳辐照分布均匀,靶板处平均辐照强度最大可达0.655 W/(m2·nm),标准偏差为2.6%。白天样品表面温度不超过直接暴露样品表面温度10℃,样品周围空气湿度与大气相对湿度接近,并可通过喷淋系统控制样品周围空气的相对湿度,以模拟多种自然气候环境。结论经过对比系统太阳光谱、辐照强度及温湿度等特性数据,系统增强了紫外辐照强度,并有效控制了试验样品的温度和湿度,可为系统自然加速试验老化机理及相关性研究提供数据支持。