Perceived changes in well-being and happiness with gardening in urban organic allotments in Portugal

Urban allotment gardens (AG) in Portugal have increased in recent years, as in many other European countries and worldwide. The contribution of these gardens to the happiness and well-being of urban populations has been recognized, but evaluations of their benefits are still very scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate this contribution, based on the urban organic AG of the Devesa Park in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. The sample included 65 gardeners who completed the self-administered questionnaires of Bem-Estar Pessoal (personal well-being scale), Felicidade Subjetiva (subjective happiness scale) and sociodemographic characteristics. Respondents were mainly adults under 65 years, married and academically well qualified and about half of them had a professional activity, with nearly one third being retired. They considered themselves happy with their life (Personal Well-being Index = 74.5%) and revealed an optimistic and positive attitude towards life, regardless of economic or social difficulties. The increased frequency of visits for gardening was positively related to a greater perception of subjective happiness. The gardeners who visited the AG more frequently considered themselves happier from a self-perspective and in comparison with peers. It can be suggested that urban organic AG represent a means for enhancing citizen well-being, contributing positively to their feelings of happiness and life satisfaction, changing behaviours and developing personal capacities. Beyond economic measures, urban AG can be recommended to capture the well-being of societies.     

Impact of leakage location and downwind storage tank on the gas dispersion in a typical chemical tank storage area

Toxic gas leakage in a tank area can have catastrophic consequences. Storage tank leakage location (particularly for high leakage) and downwind storage tanks potentially influence gas diffusion in tank areas. In this study, we developed a numerical and experimental method to investigate the impact of a high leakage location and downwind storage tank on gas diffusion based on three (1.05H, 0.90H, and 0.77H, H was the tank height, 22m) leakage field experiments on the leeward side of storage tank, which have been not conducted before. The experiments revealed an unexpected phenomenon: the maximum ground concentration first decreased and then increased with increasing leakage height. The simulations illustrated that the differences in micrometeorological conditions caused the maximum ground concentration of gas emitted from the roof to be higher than that emitted from the tank wall near the storage tank height. The downwind storage tank 1) had little influence on the entire diffusion direction but altered the local diffusion pattern; 2) reduced the maximum ground concentration (∼18.7%) and the distance from the emission source (approximately a storage tank diameter); and 3) had strong influences on the concentration, velocity, turbulence, and pressure on the leeward side. The concentration negatively correlated with the velocity, pressure, and turbulence in the middle of the two storage tanks on wind centerline. Our results can improve understanding of gas dispersion in tank areas and provide references for mitigating loss and protecting lives during emergency response processes.     

土地利用变化及流域尺度大小对水文类型分区的影响

以海河流域为研究对象,根据1956-2005 年的年降雨量和水面蒸发资料以及DEM、土地利用和土壤的遥感资料,采用地理信息系统和多元统计分析的方法,划分一定单元流域,对海河流域进行水文类型分区划分,并讨论了土地利用转移变化及单元流域尺度大小对水文类型分区的影响。结果表明,不同土地利用情况下水文类型分区的结果是不同的,土地利用的变化会直接或间接影响流域水文类型分区的空间分布,土地利用变化越大,水文类型分区的转移变化也越大。单元流域尺度较小时,水文类型分区分布较为离散,反之,单元流域尺度较大时,水文类型分区的分布则较为连续。当单元流域平均面积变化小于150 km²时,分区分布虽然有一定的变化,但总体来看分区结果相对比较稳定,当单元流域平均面积变化较大,并达到250km²以上时,分区结果会发生较大变化。     

赣江流域土地利用方式对无机氮的影响

赣江无机氮是鄱阳湖氮素输入的主要来源,查明流域土地利用方式对赣江无机氮的影响对鄱阳湖的富营养化防治具有重要意义.基于2013年1月和6月对赣江干流和主要支流NO-3-N和NH+4-N的浓度测定,通过不同空间尺度和土地类型等级划分,利用相关分析和冗余分析研究土地利用方式对赣江无机氮浓度的影响.结果表明,不同空间尺度的子流域划分方式对赣江流域土地利用类型与无机氮浓度的相关性有较大影响.与NO-3-N相比,选择更小的子流域划分尺度有助于分析土地利用方式对NH+4-N浓度的影响;在温度较高、微生物活动强烈的季节,也应选择更小的子流域划分尺度研究土地利用方式对无机氮浓度的影响.一级土地利用分类下,赣江流域水田、水域对NO-3-N起"源"作用,林地、草地起"汇"作用;居民建设用地对NH+4-N起"源"作用,林地起"汇"作用.二级土地利用分类下,水田中丘陵水田是赣江NO-3-N浓度的主要来源,其次为平原水田,山区水田最小.居民建设用地中的城镇用地和其它工矿建设用地是赣江NH+4-N的主要污染来源,农村用地是NO-3-N的主要污染来源.     

干旱内陆河流湿地景观破碎化模型构建与尺度分析——以黑河中游湿地为例

尺度的选择一直是地理学及景观生态学的研究重点和热点。在遥感和GIS的支持下,以黑河中游湿地为例,利用移动窗口技术和空间形态学准则构建湿地类型变化追踪模型;利用面积频率统计法、卡方分布归一化尺度方差、分维数距平和多样性指数探讨干旱内陆河流湿地类型变化追踪模型的适宜和最佳窗口尺度。结果表明:1)类型变化追踪模型能实现基于像元的湿地景观空间格局分析,弥补传统湿地景观破碎化研究主要基于景观和斑块类型水平尺度,难以深入解析湿地空间演变过程的不足;2)黑河中游湿地类型变化追踪模型的适宜窗口尺度为150 m×150 m~450 m×450 m,最佳窗口尺度为250 m×250 m。该结果是进一步研究黑河中游湿地空间破碎化特征的基础,同时对于丰富干旱内陆河流湿地景观破碎化研究尺度选择有一定积极作用。     

面向粮食产量空间化的多元回归分析模型中的两个关键问题探讨

为比较不同区域尺度变量对模型拟合效果的影响,在全国不分区和分区两种情况下,分别基于县级和地市级两个区域尺度上的样本构建粮食产量与水田、水浇地、旱地面积之间的多元线性回归模型,结果显示,用地市级数据作分析样本比用县级数据作分析样本好,分区建模比不分区建模效果好。因此,将全国划分为7个区,以地市级数据作为区域尺度的变量,在区域、栅格、亚栅格三个尺度上探讨变量(因变量、自变量)尺度和常数项取值这两个因素对模型应用的影响。得到以下结论:1)基于区域尺度样本构建的多元回归模型,如果常数项不为0,则不能用于空间化计算;如果常数项为0,则可以用于空间化计算;2)基于栅格尺度样本构建的多元回归模型,不论常数项是否为0,均可应用于空间化计算;3)基于亚栅格尺度样本构建的多元回归模型,不论其常数项是否为0,也均可用于空间化计算,但需要将计算结果乘以一个系数,该系数等于栅格单元面积与亚栅格单元面积的比值。上述结论对其他类型的统计数据空间化具有指导和参考价值。     

治霾背景下浅层地温能产业规模化发展研究

为了实现治霾目标,国家大力推广可再生能源应用,《关于促进地热能开发利用的指导意见》(国能新能[2013]48号),明确提出将积极推广浅层地温能,扩大其在城镇建筑用能中的比例。我国浅层地温能产业发展面临一系列障碍,为了克服市场调节失灵问题,借助事物发展动力原则,结合全寿命周期理论,依托层次分析法,推导能源发展的核心影响因素,据此提出了浅层地温能产业规模化发展的关键路径,构建了浅层地温能开发利用的长效管理体系。     

Deflagration to detonation transition in a vapour cloud explosion in open but congested space: Large scale test

The paper reviews large scale experiments with various fuels in air where successful deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) took place. This includes a recent experiment disclosed in the Buncefield R&D program, where DDT developed in the propane/air mixture. The DDT occurred in branches of deciduous trees in a premixed stagnant mixture. An internal R&D investigation programme was initiated to better understand the phenomena. A large scale experiment in an open space with ethane air mixture is presented in the paper. The premixed mixture was ignited at the edge of the congested three-dimensional rigs which consisted of vertical and horizontal pipes. After ignition, the flame accelerated in the congestion and transitioned to detonation at the end of congestion. Stable detonation propagated through the remaining open and uncongested space.The flame acceleration process leading to DDT is scale dependent. It also depends on many parameters leading to a large investigation array and, significant cost. However, such R&D efforts aimed toward a safer plant design, i.e. the prevention of occurrence of a major accident, are a small fraction of a real accident cost.     

4段式平板膜处理污泥的中试研究

4段式平板膜处理污泥及中水回用工艺是根据次临界通量的原理设计运行的.在中试装置运行25 d的过程中,发现污泥浓度逐级提升,在进泥浓度为3 g/L左右时,出泥平均可达35 g/L;同时发现,膜出水COD和氨氮浓度均在工艺运行18d内分别保持在50 mg/L和10 mg/L;最后,研究发现,从第1段到第4段过程中,污泥的粒径逐渐减少,而污泥的粘度和毛细脱水时间是逐渐增大的.