Modeling Parent and Metabolite Fate and Transport in Subsurface Drained Fields With Directly Connected Macropores1

Abstract: Few studies exist that evaluate or apply pesticide transport models based on measured parent and metabolite concentrations in fields with subsurface drainage. Furthermore, recent research suggests pesticide transport through exceedingly efficient direct connections, which occur when macropores are hydrologically connected to subsurface drains, but this connectivity has been simulated at only one field site in Allen County, Indiana. This research evaluates the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) in simulating the transport of a parent compound and its metabolite at two subsurface drained field sites. Previous research used one of the field sites to test the original modification of the RZWQM to simulate directly connected macropores for bromide and the parent compound, but not for the metabolite. This research will evaluate RZWQM for parent/metabolite transformation and transport at this first field site, along with evaluating the model at an additional field site to evaluate whether the parameters for direct connectivity are transferable and whether model performance is consistent for the two field sites with unique soil, hydrologic, and environmental conditions. Isoxaflutole, the active ingredient in BALANCE^® herbicide, was applied to both fields. Isoxaflutole rapidly degrades into a metabolite (RPA 202248). This research used calibrated RZWQM models for each field based on observed subsurface drain flow and/or edge of field conservative tracer concentrations in subsurface flow. The calibrated models for both field sites required a portion (approximately 2% but this fraction may require calibration) of the available water and chemical in macropore flow to be routed directly into the subsurface drains to simulate peak concentrations in edge of field subsurface drain flow shortly after chemical applications. Confirming the results from the first field site, the existing modification for directly connected macropores continually failed to predict pesticide concentrations on the recession limbs of drainage hydrographs, suggesting that the current strategy only partially accounts for direct connectivity. Thirty‐year distributions of annual mass (drainage) loss of parent and metabolite in terms of percent of isoxaflutole applied suggested annual simulated percent losses of parent and metabolite (3.04 and 1.31%) no greater in drainage than losses in runoff on nondrained fields as reported in the literature.     

Near Real-Time Monitoring and Mapping of Specific Conductivity Levels Across Lake Texoma, USA

A submersible sonde equipped with a specific conductivity probe, linked with a global positioning satellite receiver was developed, deployed on a small boat, and used to map spatial and temporal variations in specific conductivity in a large reservoir. 7,695 sample points were recorded during 8 sampling trips. Specific conductivity ranged from 442,uS/cm to 3,378,uS/cm over the nine-month study. The data showed five statistically different zones in the reservoir: 2 different riverine zones, 2 different riverine transition zones, and a lacustrine zone (the main lake zone). These data were imported to a geographic information system where they were spatially interpolated to generate 8 maps showing specific conductivity levels across the entire surface of the lake. The highly dynamic nature of water quality, due to the widely differing nature of the rivers that flow into the reservoir and the effect of large inflows of fresh water during winter storms is easily captured and visualized using this approach.     

Volunteer Macroinvertebrate Monitoring: Tensions Among Group Goals,Data Quality,and Outcomes

Volunteer monitoring of natural resources is promoted for its ability to increase public awareness, to provide valuable knowledge, and to encourage policy change that promotes ecosystem health. We used the case of volunteer macroinvertebrate monitoring (VMM) in streams to investigate whether the quality of data collected is correlated with data use and organizers' perception of whether they have achieved these outcomes. We examined the relation between site and group characteristics, data quality, data use, and perceived outcomes (education, social capital, and policy change). We found that group size and the degree to which citizen groups perform tasks on their own (rather than aided by professionals) positively correlated with the quality of data collected. Group size and number of years monitoring positively influenced whether a group used their data. While one might expect that groups committed to collecting good-quality data would be more likely to use it, there was no relation between data quality and data use, and no relation between data quality and perceived outcomes. More data use was, however, correlated with a group's feeling of connection to a network of engaged citizens and professionals. While VMM may hold promise for bringing citizens and scientists together to work on joint conservation agendas, our data illustrate that data quality does not correlate with a volunteer group's desire to use their data to promote regulatory change. Therefore, we encourage scientists and citizens alike to recognize this potential disconnect and strive to be explicit about the role of data in conservation efforts.     

Eutrophication conditions and ecological status in typical bays of Lake Taihu in China

Sampling was conducted at three site groups, group E (in East Taihu Bay), G (in Gonghu Bay) and M (in Meiliang Bay) in Lake Taihu. TN and TP concentrations among site groups was in the increasing order of E < G < M. TP level at G sites is at the critical threshold for loss of submersed macrophytes. Mean values of DO and Transparence showed different trend, i.e., E > G > M. The mean phytoplankton fresh-weight biomass at M sites was 5.81 mg/l, higher than that at E sites (4.96 mg/l) and G sites (5.18 mg/l). Mean zooplankton fresh-weight biomass was in the decreasing order of M (6.4 mg/l) > G (4.9 mg/l) > E (2.7 mg/l). However, Rotifera density was in the sequence of E > G > M. Both zooplankton biomass and phytoplankton biomass increased with the rise of TN and TP concentrations. Relationships between zooplankton biomass and phytoplankton biomass showed that zooplankton played a limited role in the control of algae in eutrophic lakes. Nutrient availability is much more important than zooplankton grazing pressure in controlling phytoplankton growth in lakes. For most sites in Lake Taihu, reduction of nutrient loading, as well as macrophyte conservation, zappears to be especially important in maintaining high water quality and regulating lake biological structure, but for M sites, it’s urgent to control nutrient inputs rather than to restore macrophyte community.     

航班起飞过程的风险识别与控制

飞机起飞阶段是事故多发阶段,为了进行风险识别与控制,设计了定性判别方法和定量计算仿真算法,并以具体飞机坠毁事故为例分析了安全裕度.分别计算了飞机冲出跑道的速度、距离和逃生时间.中断起飞的速度与时间,是火灾发生后的判断关键,也构成了飞机起飞事故的裕度.结果表明,中断起飞的安全裕度比坠毁的大,且关于中断起飞的规定有矛盾之处;用于逃生的90 s规则高于中断起飞的决断速度的限制规定.该分析方法为处理危急时刻的两难决策问题提供了理论指导.     

DESIGN OF AN INDEX OF WATER QUALITY1

ABSTRACT: This paper describes the formulation of an Index of Water Quality to evaluate the level of pollution in fresh water. A Four-Round Delphi equation, using a panel of seven nationally recognized water scientists, was performed to ascertain the pollutants to be included in the index, the relationship between the quantity of these pollutants in the water and the resulting quality of the water, and the importance of each pollution variable to each water use as well as to overall pollution. A multiplicative index was used to bring the pollutants together into one system.     

爆炸事故过程分析中不确定性问题处理方法

针对事故过程分析中的不确定性问题,指出了不确定问题在危险分析中的重要性及处理该问题的复杂性和难点,列出了几种基于非线性数学方法处理不确定问题的基本方法,如微分法、MonteCarlo模拟、Fourier方法、响应表面法等,并对之进行了比较.建议在处理事故过程的不确定性时采用Monte Carlo模拟.     

HAN基ECSP凝胶模型的构建与分子动力学模拟

目的 从微观分子的角度对硝酸羟胺(HAN)基电控固体推进剂(Electrically Controlled Solid Propellants,ECSP)的性能参数进行模拟与计算。方法 利用分子表面静电势(ESP)对HAN分子2种可能的构型进行优化和稳定性分析。通过真空非周期性分子动力学模拟得到聚乙烯醇(PVA)分子稳定构型,并以HAN基ECSP的主要成分按一定比例构建凝胶模型。基于RESP(Restrained Electrostatic Potential)电荷生成更准确的凝胶模型拓扑文件,并进行凝胶模型的分子动力学模拟、模型稳定分析以及模型参数计算。结果 凝胶模型总能量相对平均值的周期性波动不超过7%。由于三维PVA链的包裹,H2O分子的扩散系数被大幅削弱。氢键分析和径向分布函数表明氢键键长主要分布在0.282 6 nm附近,PVA与H2O间的氢键较少,H2O与HAN、H2O与H2O之间的氢键较多。模型密度为1.405 g/cm³,与实验值吻合度高。在283、293、303 K下,HAN基ECSP凝胶模型的拉伸模量依次降低,剪切模量先增后减。在15 K/600 ps冷却速率下,HAN基ECSP凝胶模型的拉伸模量和剪切模量均增大。结论 ECSP制备结束后,冷却过程中的环境温度不宜过高,否则容易造成ECSP力学性能的快速下降,快速冷却可以提高ECSP的力学性能。     

黑河流域底栖动物群落结构及水质评价

为了解黑河流域上中游底栖动物群落结构特征及其与环境因子之间的关系,于2018年8月对研究区域17个采样点的底栖动物和水体理化指标进行调查研究.共鉴定出底栖动物43种,其中节肢动物34种（79.1%）,软体动物7种（16.3%）,环节动物2种（4.6%）;就整个研究区域而言,优势种为大蚊（Tipulidae）、豆娘幼虫（Damselfly）、水蜘蛛（Argyroneta）、耳萝卜螺（Radix auricularia）、琥珀螺（Suecinea sp.）、白旋螺（Gyraulusalbus）,干、支流优势种分布趋势为干流（6种）优于支流（5种）;底栖动物平均密度和平均生物量分别为77ind/m²和3.7423g/m²现存量存在显著空间差异,整体上干流（1032ind/m²、60.0963g/m²）大于支流（276ind/m²、3.5233g/m²）,物种数干流（36种）大于支流（15种）;单因素方差分析显示,Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数及Pielou均匀度指数分布特征为干流大于支流.黑河流域上游支流和中游干流不同河段底栖动物物种组成呈空间异质性,而多样性指数对物种组成依赖性强,但因黑河流域底栖动物物种组成受自然因素和人类活动双重影响程度差异较大,使得Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数及Pielou均匀度指数不适合黑河水质评价.依据BI指数和综合污染指数评价表明,黑河上游支流水质优于中游干流.根据底栖动物与环境因子之间的相关矩阵分析并结合RDA分析表明：BOD₅、水温（WT）、电导率（EC）、DO、溶解性总固体（TDS）、COD_Mn及盐度是影响底栖动物群落结构的主要环境因子.