Dynamics and Causation of Environmental Equity, Locally Unwanted Land Uses, and Neighborhood Changes

/ Why are some environmental risks distributed disproportionately in the neighborhoods of the minorities and the poor? A hypothesis was proposed in a recent study that market dynamics contributed to the current environmental inequity. That is, locally unwanted land uses (LULUs) make the host communities home to more poor people and people of color. This hypothesis was allegedly supported by a Houston case study, whereby its author analyzed the postsiting changes of the socioeconomic characteristics of the neighborhoods surrounding solid waste facilities. I argue that such an analysis of postsiting changes alone is insufficient to test the causation hypothesis. Instead, I propose a conceptual framework for analysis of environmental equity dynamics and causation. I suggest that the presiting neighborhood dynamics and the characteristics of control neighborhoods be analyzed as the first test for the causation hypothesis. Furthermore, I present theories of neighborhood change and then examine alternative hypotheses that these theories offer for explaining neighborhood changes and for the roles of LULUs in neighborhood changes. These alternative hypotheses should be examined when analyzing the relationship between LULUs and neighborhood changes in a metropolitan area. Using this framework of analysis, I revisited the Houston case. First, I found no evidence that provided support for the hypothesis that the presence of LULUs made the neighborhoods home to more blacks and poor people, contrary to the conclusion made by the previous study. Second, I examined alternative hypotheses for explaining neighborhood changes-invasion-succession, other push forces, and neighborhood life-cycle; the former two might offer better explanation.KEY WORDS: Environmental equity and justice; Locally unwanted lane uses; Siting; Market dynamics; Invasion-succession; Neighborhood changes     

Sensitivity experiments and assessment of climatic changes in China induced by greenhouse effect

Climatic changes can be separated into two parts: natural changes -and human activity influenced on climatic changes. The observed data could not only show the effects caused by human activity. Several simulated results as simulated by the GCMs induced by the greenhouse effects in China .have been analysed. It is shown that an obvious warming of about 3-6℃ in winter and 2-5℃ in summer in China as simulated by the GCMs induced by doubling CO2 have been found. There are getting drier or wetter regions in China due to doubled CO2 as simulated by most of models. Comparing the simulated results with the observed data in China, some simulated results are able to be believed. The GCMs should be improved, especially in the regional areas.     

黄河上中游天然径流多时间尺度变化及动因分析

运用小波分析等方法对黄河上中游天然径流序列进行了分析,揭示了河川径流多时间尺度变化规律,并对径流在不同时间尺度上变化的影响因素进行了探讨。研究结果对于认识黄河径流的变化规律、开发利用管理黄河水资源有着重要的意义。     

“一带一路”沿线国家粮食生产的时空格局分析

“一带一路”倡议是新时代下全球化发展的必然结果。粮食作为一种重要的战略资源,其生产对“一带一路”沿线国家乃至全球粮食安全意义重大。通过对沿线国家粮食生产数量、结构等方面的深入剖析,揭示了“一带一路”沿线国家近40年来粮食生产的时空格局。结果表明：（1）“一带一路”沿线国家是世界粮食的重要产区,粮食产量占全球比例50%~60%左右,1977-2016年粮食产量呈增长趋势,单产是其粮食总产增长的主要影响因素。1995-2016年人均粮食产量有所提高但国别差异显著,人粮关系逐步改善,区域粮食保障程度整体增强。（2）“一带一路”沿线国家粮食生产存在明显的地域差异,空间格局相对稳定,中国、印度、俄罗斯是其主要粮食生产国,东南亚和南亚国家的粮食产量普遍较高,阿拉伯半岛国家的粮食产量相对较低。（3）稻谷、小麦和玉米是“一带一路”沿线国家主要粮食作物,稻谷对粮食总产变化的贡献最大,1977-2016年玉米占比不断增加,三大作物区域分布特征明显。     

全球变化对跨境淡水资源利用和管理的影响

跨境淡水资源的合理利用和协调管理,已成为当今国际区域经济发展、跨境资源和市场共享、世界生态维护的合作主题,成为下世纪制约区域可持续发展和避免地区冲突的一个关键因素,受到国际社会广泛关注。从边界变化、国际区域合作和经济一体化、气候变化、人口增长、可持续发展等全球趋势对此主题的影响进行了探讨。     

北京市PM5.0可吸入颗粒物反演及其时空分布分析

分析城市可吸入颗粒物的空间特征及影响因素对于制定更为有效的可吸入颗粒物污染控制政策具有重要的现实意义.本研究在实际采样和遥感数据处理基础上,构造差值植被指数(DVI),通过建立TM影像与对应PM5.0颗粒物实测值之间的相关关系模型,对北京市2008~2010年3 a的PM5.0的分布进行了反演计算和精度分析;研究了NDBI和NDMI对PM5.0浓度的影响,进一步揭示了北京五环区域范围内可吸入颗粒物的时空分布特征.结果表明,采用DVI反演PM5.0分布的方法可行,反演精度在可接受范围内;整体上研究区2008年PM5.0颗粒物污染最轻,西南三环和四环以及东南三四环之间为颗粒物污染的高值区,西北五环附近颗粒物污染较轻;NDBI(归一化建筑指数)、NDMI(归一化水汽指数)与PM5.0可吸入颗粒物的分布分别呈现显著的负相关和正相关关系,且二者对PM5.0的影响相近.     

Modification of the biochemical pathways of plants induced by ozone: what are the varied routes to change?

When plants are observed under a low dose of ozone, some physiological and metabolic shifts occur. Barring extreme injury such as tissue damage or stomata closure, most of these disruptive changes are likely to have been initiated at the level of gene expression. The belief is oxidative products formed in ozone exposed leaves, e.g. hydrogen peroxide, are responsible for much of the biochemical adjustments. The first line of defense is a range of antioxidants, such as ascorbate and glutathione, but if this defense is overwhelmed, subsequent actions occur, similar to systemic acquired resistance or general wounding. Yet there are seemingly unrelated metabolic responses which are also triggered, such as early senescence. We discuss here the current understanding of gene control and signal transduction/control in order to increase our comprehension of how ozone alters the basic metabolism of plants and how plants counteract or cope with ozone.     

Determination of Impact of Urbanization on Agricultural Land and Wetland Land Use in Balçovas’ Delta by Remote Sensing and GIS Technique

Because of their intense vegetation and the fact that they include areas of coastline, deltas situated in the vicinity of big cities are areas of greet attraction for people who wish to get away from in a crowded city. However, deltas, with their fertile soil and unique flora and fauna, need to be protected. In order for the use of such areas to be planned in a sustainable way by local authorities, there is a need for detailed data about these regions. In this study, the changes in land use of the Balçova Delta, which is to the immediate west of Turkey’s third largest city Izmir, from 1957 up to the present day, were investigated. In the study, using aerial photographs taken in 1957, 1976 and 1995 and an IKONOS satellite image from the year 2005, the natural and cultural characteristics of the region and changes in the coastline were determined spatially. Through this study, which aimed to reveal the characteristics of the areas of land already lost as well as the types of land use in the Balçova delta and to determine geographically the remaining areas in need of protection, local authorities were provided with the required data support. Balçova consists of flat and fertile wetland with mainly citrus-fruit orchards and flower-producing green houses. The marsh and lagoon system situated in the coastal areas of the delta provides a habitat for wild life, in particular birds. In the Balçova Delta, which provides feeding and resting for migratory birds, freshwater sources are of vital importance for fauna and flora. The settlement area, which in 1957 was 182 ha, increased 11-fold up to the year 2005 when it reached 2,141 ha. On the other hand, great losses were determined in farming land, olive groves, forest and in the marsh and lagoon system. This unsystematic and rapid urbanization occurring in the study region is not only causing the loss of important agricultural land and wetland, but also lasting water and soil pollution.     

土地政策参与宏观调控手段的完善

土地政策参与宏观调控是在特定经济背景下提出的.随着时间的推移和经济环境的变化,土地政策在h参与宏观调控的过程中也应做出相应的调整.列举了新经济背景下土地调控手段存在主次错位、刚性不强、缺乏有效配合等一系列问题,针对这些问题提出了在土地政策参与宏观调控的过程中要增加地土经济手段的运用、推动土地政策法律化和增强部门间协调配合等相关对策与建议.     

中国能源生态足迹的时空动态特征及效应分析

运用生态足迹方法计算出1990—2007年中国能源消费的生态足迹。在此基础上,分析了能源足迹强度(EFI)、能源足迹生态压力(EPIEF)的时空动态变化特征。结果表明,近20年来我国能源足迹波动上升,能源消费结构有所改善,但煤炭足迹仍占主导,近几年又有回升趋势;能源足迹强度呈幂指数衰减,能源利用效率不断提高;EPIEF呈上升趋势,说明能源利用对自然生态系统的压力逐渐增大。在空间分布上,各省区能源足迹差异显著,能源足迹强度由西向东逐渐降低,而EPIEF则由西向东呈增大趋势。依据EPIEF指数将中国30个省区划分为能源足迹生态盈余区(EPIEF1)、生态轻度亏损区(1EPIEF5)和生态严重亏损区(EPIEF5)3种类型。