WEPP and ANN models for simulating soil loss and runoff in a semi-arid Mediterranean region

This paper presents the use of both the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) and the artificial neural network (ANN) for the prediction of runoff and soil loss in the central highland mountainous of the Palestinian territories. Analyses show that the soil erosion is highly dependent on both the rainfall depth and the rainfall event duration rather than on the rainfall intensity as mostly mentioned in the literature. The results obtained from the WEPP model for the soil loss and runoff disagree with the field data. The WEPP underestimates both the runoff and soil loss. Analyses conducted with the ANN agree well with the observation. In addition, the global network models developed using the data of all the land use type show a relatively unbiased estimation for both runoff and soil loss. The study showed that the ANN model could be used as a management tool for predicting runoff and soil loss.     

The mutualism of strategic environmental assessment and sustainable development goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set a universal agenda intended to stimulate social, economic and environmental action. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has the potential to assist in the implementation of actions supporting the SDGs by providing a systematic framework to incorporate them into policies, plans and programmes; and the SDGs in turn, could substantiate SEA's contribution to sustainable development. Therefore, the partnering of both policy instruments fosters a mutualistic relationship, benefiting both. In this paper, we review current engagement of SEA with the SDGs both in the academic literature and in practice. The findings reveal a recognisable subtle shift towards the adoption of a new paradigm in plan-making, particularly supported by governments' growingly proactive embracement of SDGs, albeit through different approaches, initiatives and commitments. This sets a robust foundation for spatial planning and, by extension, a reference framework for SEA. Nevertheless, operationalising the SDGs is difficult. The extent to which SDG objectives and targets are embedded in SEA and, indeed, integrated into plans/programmes seems to be hampered by the broad scope of both sustainability and SEA, and a general lack of awareness and know-how. This suggest a need to clarify SEA's mandate for engaging with the SDGs, as well as to provide training for a more proactive integration of the objectives and targets. Through initiatives such as these, there are opportunities to optimise mutual gains for both policy instruments.     

Fast simultaneous determination of traces of Cu(II) and Co(II) in soils and sediments with the luminol/perborate chemiluminescent system

A flow injection analysis method based on ion chromatography and luminol chemiluminescence detection was used for the simultaneous determination of copper (II) and cobalt (II) trace levels in soils and sediments following microwave-assisted acid digestion. Detection was based on chemiluminescence (CL) of the luminol–perborate system in an alkaline medium, which is catalyzed by both transition metals. The concentration and pH of the eluent (oxalic acid) was found to affect CL intensities and retention times, both of which were inversely proportional to the oxalic acid concentration. The calibration curves for both metal ions were linear and allowed a limit of detection of 0.003 μg l^?1 for cobalt (II) and 0.014 μg l^?1 for cooper (II) to be calculated. The proposed method was successfully used to determine both metal ions in certified reference materials of stream and river sediments and soil samples. Based on the results, the determination is free of interferences from the usual concomitant ions.     

Fate and movement of atrazine, cyanazine, metolachlor and selected degradation products in water resources of the deep Loess Hills of Southwestern Iowa, USA

The environmental fate and movement of herbicides widely used for weed control in corn are assessed for a deep loess soil in southwestern Iowa. Beginning in the early 1980s, the herbicide-based weed control program emphasized the application of atrazine (ATR) or cyanazine (CYN) and metolachlor (MET) for both broadleaf and grass control. Between 1992 and 1995, concentrations of ATR, desethylatrazine (DEA), desisopropylatrazine (DIA), CYN and MET were measured in rainwater, both shallow and deep vadose zone water, and well water. Results show that the frequency of herbicide detections and the range and distribution of occurrences are dependent upon both landscape position and temporal inputs of recharge water from rainfall. Generally, DIA was observed more frequently and in higher mean concentration in well water than DEA, while DEA was observed more frequently than DIA in vadose zone groundwater. A chromatographic analogy is suggested to explain the occurrence patterns observed for both parent herbicide and degradation products within the unsaturated zone water. Analysis of rainwater samples collected during this time also revealed low concentrations of ATR, CYN and MET, with the timing of the detections indicative of non-local transport. Results show that the deep loess soil conducts both water and agricultural chemicals relatively rapidly and as such represents a production system which is vulnerable to contamination of shallow groundwater by herbicide-derived chemicals. Results also illustrate the importance of including major herbicide degradation products in water resource impact assessment studies.     

大气细菌,霉菌数量与风速相关性初探

通过对大气细菌数量、霉菌数量与风速相关性的研究,得出齐市地区冬季气候寒冷,无相关性;春季气候干燥,风沙大,有相关性;雨后大气细菌数量与风速无相关性,大气霉菌数量与风速相关。     

Analysis of Historical Salinity and Boron Surface Water Monitoring Data from the San Joaquin River Watershed: 1985–2002

The objectives of this study were to use both parametric and probabilistic approaches to analyze water column concentrations of both salinity (24,845 measurements) and boron (13,028 measurements) from numerous investigations conducted in the San Joaquin River watershed from 1985 to 2002 to assess spatial and temporal trends and determine the probability of exceeding regulatory targets during both the irrigation and non-irrigation season. Salinity and boron concentrations from 26 mainstem and tributary sites were highly correlated based on this 17 yr data set. Generally, salinity and boron concentrations were higher in winter/spring and lower in summer/fall; higher concentrations of both constituents were reported in tributary sites when compared with the mainstem San Joaquin River. Approximately half the sites showed showed a negative correlation between flow and both constituents. Concentrations of both salinity and boron were somewhat variable with flow conditions for the other sites. Both linear and curvilinear trends were inconsistent over time. The salinity 90th centiles for the 26 sites ranged from 143 to 7,559 micros cm(-1) with the highest 90th centiles in tributary sites. Probabilistic analysis of salinity 90th centiles by year for five sites with extensive data showed a significant decrease over time at two sites and no significant trend for the other three sites. The probability of exceeding the salinity targets during either the irrigation (700 microm cm(-1)) or non-irrigation (1,000 micros cm(-1)) season was greater than 19% for all but three sites. The boron 90th centiles for the 26 sites ranged from 0.41 to 13.6 mg L(-1) with the highest 90th centiles from tributary sites. Probabilistic analysis of the boron 90th centile values by year for the five sites with the most extensive data showed a significant decrease over time at two sites and no significant trend for the other three sites. The probability of exceeding the boron target during the irrigation season (0.80 mg L(-1)) and non-irrigation (1.0 mg L(-1)) season was greater that 18% for all but three sites. Results from this analysis have important regulatory implications as targets for both salinity and boron are frequently exceeded at various sites in the San Joaquin River watershed.     

项目EIA与区域环境规划的协调途径探讨

通过对项目ＥＩＡ与区域环境规划的概念,性质,内容,方法及在环境管理中作用的论述,指出了二者在实施中存在的问题,阐明了它们的特点与相互关系,同时结合我国当前的环境状况与面临的形势及对环境管理新的要求,提出了在今后的实施中应注意协调的原则和方法。     

On Developing Bioindicators for Human and Ecological Health

Risk assessors and risk managersgenerally either examine ecological health (usingbioindicators) or human health (using biomarkers ofexposure or effect). In this paper we suggest thatit is possible and advantageous to developbioindicators that can be used to assess exposureand effect for both human and non-human receptors. We describe the characteristics of suitablebioindicators for both human and ecological health,using mourning doves (Zenaida macroura),raccoons (Procyon lotor), and bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) as examples, and list thegeneral characteristics of other species that wouldmake them useful indicators for assessing both humanand ecological health. Bioindicators can beused cross-sectionally to assess the status ofecosystems and risk as well as longitudinally formonitoring changes or evaluating remediation. Forboth human and ecological risk assessment, there arethree sets of characteristics to consider whenselecting bioindicators: biological relevance,methodological relevance, and societal relevance. An indicator which fails to fulfill these is notlikely to be considered cost-effective and is likelyto be abandoned. The indicator should be readilymeasured and must measure an important range ofimpacts. For long-term support of a bioindicator,the indicator should be easily understood, and becost effective. We suggest that bioindicators thatcan also be used for both ecological and humanhealth risk assessment are optimal.     

A new approach to criteria for health risk assessment

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a developing component of the overall impact assessment process and as such needs access to procedures that can enable more consistent approaches to the stepwise process that is now generally accepted in both EIA and HIA. The guidelines developed during this project provide a structured process, based on risk assessment procedures which use consequences and likelihood, as a way of ranking risks to adverse health outcomes from activities subjected to HIA or HIA as part of EIA.The aim is to assess the potential for both acute and chronic health outcomes. The consequences component also identifies a series of consequences for the health care system, depicted as expressions of financial expenditure and the capacity of the health system.These more specific health risk assessment characteristics should provide for a broader consideration of health consequences and a more consistent estimation of the adverse health risks of a proposed development at both the scoping and risk assessment stages of the HIA process.     

Can juvenile corals be surveyed effectively using digital photography?: implications for rapid assessment techniques

Seasonal variations in the concentrations of groundwater with respect to arsenic, lead, cadmium and aluminium has been studied in Dhemaji district of Assam, India. The water samples were collected from 20 different sites in both dry and wet seasons. The metals were analysed by using atomic absorption spectrometer, Perkin Elmer AAnalyst 200 model. The concentrations of aluminium, lead and cadmium in groundwater were found to be significantly elevated. High concentrations of all the metals were recorded in the dry season than in the wet season. Univariate statistics along with skewness, kurtosis and confidence limit have been calculated for both the seasons to test the distribution normality for each metal. Statistical analyses of the data reveal non-uniform distribution of the metals in the area. The metal contamination of groundwater in the district follows the trend Al > Pb > Cd > As in both the seasons.     

Regionalising the Results of a National Structural Decomposition Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: An Application to Aquitaine Region

Tougher restrictions on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions imposed by both national and international institutions are compelling regions to implement climate plans. However, the constraints of available statistics mean there is a shortage of regional-level information. We develop a method for regionalising the results of a national structural decomposition analysis for identifying the main factors contributing to the changing pattern of GHG emissions both at macro-economic level and at sectoral level. An illustration was carried out for the Aquitaine region. Results indicate that the method is relatively effective at least at the macroeconomic level given the statistical constraints.     

Evaluation of Numerical Modeling Methods for the Management of Produced Water Discharges in the Coastal Region with a Canadian Case Study

This study aims at evaluating two numerical methods for 3D simulation of marine pollutant dispersion problems: the random walk particle tracking (RWPT) method and an explicit second-order finite difference method (FDM) for assessing produced water discharges from offshore oil platform. Test cases in a steady flow field were used to evaluate the efficiency and accuracy of simulating pollutant concentration profiles obtained using both the FDM and RWPT method in comparison with an analytical solution. Additionally, a field study was conducted to simulate the lead concentration distribution of produced water discharged from an oil platform off Canada’s east coast, based on the Princeton Ocean Model modeling the ocean flow in the study area with field verifications. Results indicate that, with proper configuration of grid resolution and particle resolution, both FDM and RWPT method can provide accurate results with reasonable computational costs for complex field cases. Particularly, the satisfactory 3D simulations of marine pollutant dispersion in the far field by both FDM and RWPT numerical methods enable effective assessment and management of offshore waste discharges.     

Distribution and Statistical Analysis of Leachable and Total Heavy Metals in the Sediments of the Suez Gulf

The concentrations of nine heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pd and Zn) in the labile and total fractions of muddy and sandy sediment samples collected from twelve sites in Suez Gulf during April 1999 were studied to evaluate the pollution status of the Suez Gulf. The enrichment factors (EF) for each element were calculated. There are extremely high concentrations of Cd, Ni, Pb and slightly concentration of Cr and Cu in both muddy and sandy sediments. The concentration of Zn was moderately high and can be considered as seriously contaminate Metal pollution index (MPI) shows high values ranged between 46 to 156 and 40 to 232 for both sandy and muddy sediments, respectively. Concentrations of heavy metals were normalized against iron for total fraction in both of sandy and muddy sediments. Principal component analysis (PCA) was studied on the data matrix obtained and represented three-factor model explaining 92.22% for labile and 88.82% for total fractions of muddy sediment. The main source of contamination is the offshore oil fields and industrial wastes. This is largely a result of ineffective and inefficient operation equipment, illegal discharge of dirty ballast water from tankers and lack of supervision and prosecution of offenders.     

Development of a new risk-based framework to guide investment in water quality monitoring

An innovative framework for optimising investments in water quality monitoring has been developed for use by water and environmental agencies. By utilising historical data, investigating the accuracy of monitoring methods and considering the risk tolerance of the management agency, this new methodology calculates optimum water quality monitoring frequencies for individual water bodies. Such information can be applied to water quality constituents of concern in both engineered and natural water bodies and will guide the investment of monitoring resources. Here we present both the development of the framework itself and a proof of concept by applying it to the occurrence of hazardous cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater lakes. This application to existing data demonstrates the robustness of the approach and the capacity of the framework to optimise the allocation of both monitoring and mitigation resources. When applied to cyanobacterial blooms in the Swan Coastal Plain of Western Australia, we determined that optimising the monitoring regime at individual lakes could greatly alter the overall monitoring schedule for the region, rendering it more risk averse without increasing the amount of monitoring resources required. For water resources with high-density temporal data related to constituents of concern, a similar reduction in risk may be observed by applying the framework.     

Zoobenthic variability associated with a flood and drought in the Hawkesbury estuary,New South Wales: Some consequences for environmental monitoring

Changes in the Hawkesbury zoobenthos associated with a major flood and drought are described and comparisons made in the patterns of change among estuarine reaches and among sites within reaches. The consequences for environmental monitoring and management are discussed. Replicate grab samples were taken from four sites in each of the lower, middle and upper reaches. Reductions in the mean number of species per grab (S) following the flood were significant only in the lower reaches and at one site in the middle reaches. Increases in S accompanied the drought in all reaches but intra-reach variation in temporal patterns occurred in both S and in the most abundant species found. Thus, major weather events are associated with temporal changes whose patterns differ on both small and large spatial scales. Consequently, the results from fixed-factor sampling designs, which are widely used, may be unrepresentative of other areas. Unfortunately, the alternative approach of stratified random sampling will probably be both prohibitively expensive and difficult to implement in the complex estuarine benthic habitat. Further, short-term studies will probably be grossly unrepresentative of natural temporal variation. Attempts to reduce expenses by using only one or two abundant species as characterising communities or as indicators of physicochemical conditions may be unreliable because of variation in both time and space in dominant species and the lack of pollution-response knowledge for local species.     

原子荧光法和电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定水中锑的比较

分别用原子荧光法(AFS)和电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)测定水中锑。AFS法和ICP-MS法均线性良好,相关系数分别为0.999 8和0.999 9,检出限分别为0.17和0.03μg/L,相对标准偏差均1.15%,加标回收率分别为96.6%~111.9%和95.4%~111.5%,2种方法均能很好地用于水中锑的测定。其中,ICP-MS法适合较清洁地表水和地下水样品中锑的分析,AFS法则对地表水、地下水和废水样品均适用。     

Modelling the Size Separated Particulate Matter (SSPM10) from Vehicular Exhaust at Traffic Intersections in Mumbai

The study was carried out to predict the size separated particulate matter below 10 microm size (SSPM10) from vehicular exhausts at traffic intersections using modified general finite line source model (GFLSM). Two air quality control regions (AQCRs) were selected in Mumbai City for this study. One was industrial area (AQCR1) containing the busy intersection, i.e. Marol link road, with the heavy inflow of two-three wheelers. And, the other was commercial busy district area (AQCR2) containing the busy intersection, i.e. Dadar circle, with a heavy traffic flow especially cars. The model was applied at both the traffic intersections. The data were collected for modelling study for three winter months in 1995 using cascade impactor of nine size ranges. The prediction results revealed that modified GFLSM underpredicted the SSPM10 concentrations for all the size ranges. However, showed considerable correlation between observed and predicted values for the size range below 4.7 microm at both the intersections. The relative high concentrations observed in the coarser range of 10-4.7 microm are attributed to the resuspension of the roadside particulate matter. Hence, the amount of underprediction was more for this range, which was due to the characteristics of model that does not take into account the factor for resuspension of roadside particulate matter caused by traffic movements. The model was also applied to predict the total particulate matter for downwind distances from the road intersection. The statistical evaluation of model was done, which indicated that the model's performance was good for the finer range of particles (below 4.7 microm) with r-square values of 0.49 and 0.57 found at both the intersections in AQCR1 and AQCR2, respectively. However, it is not unusual that the model uncertainty is likely to exist due to data input errors and stochastic fluctuations irrespective of the models accurateness. The statistical distribution model was therefore identified using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. At both the intersections, SSPM10 concentration data were found lognormally distributed.     

Characterization of fine aerosol and its inorganic components at two rural locations in New York State

Samples of PM(2.5) were collected to measure the concentrations of its chemical constituents at two rural locations, Potsdam and Stockton, NY from November 2002 to August 2005. These samples were collected on multiple filters at both sites, every third day for a 24-h interval with a speciation network sampler. The Teflo(R) filters were analyzed for PM(2.5) mass by gravimetry, and elemental composition by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Nylasorb(R) filters and Teflo(R) filters were leached with water and analyzed for anions and cations, respectively, by ion chromatography (IC). Fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) mass and its inorganic component measurements were statistically characterized, and the temporal behavior of these species were assessed. Over the entire study period, PM(2.5) mass concentrations were lower at Potsdam (8.35 mug/m(3)) than at Stockton (10.24 mug/m(3)). At both locations, organic matter (OM) was the highest contributor to mass. Sulfate was the second highest contributor to mass at 27.0% at Potsdam, and 28.7% at Stockton. Nitrate contributions to mass of 8.9 and 9.5% at Potsdam and Stockton, respectively, were the third highest. At both locations, fine PM mass exhibited an annual cycle with a pronounced summer peak and indications of another peak during the winter, consistent with an overall increase in the rate of secondary aerosol formation during the summer, and increased partitioning of ammonium nitrate to the particle phase and condensation of other semi-volatiles during the winter, respectively. An ion-balance analysis indicated that at both locations, during the summers as well as in the winters, the aerosol was acidic. Lognormal frequency distribution fits to the measured mass concentrations on a seasonal basis indicated the overall increase in particle phase secondary aerosol (sulfate and SOA) concentrations during the summers compared to the winters at both locations.     

A brief overview of modern directions in marine DOC studies part I.--Methodological aspects

The necessity for determining the role of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the global carbon cycle stimulated the development of different methods of DOC analysis in aquatic environments. Progress in this direction has been made by oceanographers who developed and introduced a high-temperature catalytic oxidation (HTC) method for low organic carbon concentrations. Today this method is the reference method for marine DOC study. The combination of available reference materials and the participation in intercalibration exercises has resulted in both an increased accuracy and higher precision for this method. The HTC method completely oxidizes the more resistant DOC; makes information rapidly available following the completion of the field analysis; provides a high precision (down to 0.5 microM C); covers the range of seawater DOC concentrations (35-80 microM C and higher); with certain modifications it has proved to be both seaworthy and amenable to automated analysis; and the reliable and relatively easy to operate HTC analyzer is commercially available and easily combined with a total nitrogen analyzer for simultaneous measurements of both parameters in the same sample. In this review we summarize some aspects of sample collection, handling and the analytical chemistry of the DOC analysis by the HTC technique in marine study.