Aerosols and environmental pollution

The number of publications on atmospheric aerosols has dramatically increased in recent years. This review, predominantly from a European perspective, summarizes the current state of knowledge of the role played by aerosols in environmental pollution and, in addition, highlights gaps in our current knowledge. Aerosol particles are ubiquitous in the Earth’s atmosphere and are central to many environmental issues; ranging from the Earth’s radiative budget to human health. Aerosol size distribution and chemical composition are crucial parameters that determine their dynamics in the atmosphere. Sources of aerosols are both anthropogenic and natural ranging from vehicular emissions to dust resuspension. Ambient concentrations of aerosols are elevated in urban areas with lower values at rural sites. A comprehensive understanding of aerosol ambient characteristics requires a combination of measurements and modeling tools. Legislation for ambient aerosols has been introduced at national and international levels aiming to protect human health and the environment.     

Changes in earth’s dipole

The dipole moment of Earth’s magnetic field has decreased by nearly over the past 150 years and by about 30% over the past 2,000 years according to archeomagnetic measurements. Here, we explore the causes and the implications of this rapid change. Maps of the geomagnetic field on the core–mantle boundary derived from ground-based and satellite measurements reveal that most of the present episode of dipole moment decrease originates in the southern hemisphere. Weakening and equatorward advection of normal polarity magnetic field by the core flow, combined with proliferation and growth of regions where the magnetic polarity is reversed, are reducing the dipole moment on the core–mantle boundary. Growth of these reversed flux regions has occurred over the past century or longer and is associated with the expansion of the South Atlantic Anomaly, a low-intensity region in the geomagnetic field that presents a radiation hazard at satellite altitudes. We address the speculation that the present episode of dipole moment decrease is a precursor to the next geomagnetic polarity reversal. The paleomagnetic record contains a broad spectrum of dipole moment fluctuations with polarity reversals typically occurring during dipole moment lows. However, the dipole moment is stronger today than its long time average, indicating that polarity reversal is not likely unless the current episode of moment decrease continues for a thousand years or more.     

Magnetoreception in birds: no intensity window in “fixed direction” responses

Under 502 nm turquoise light combined with 590 nm yellow light and in total darkness, European robins, Erithacus rubecula, no longer prefer their migratory direction, but exhibit so-called fixed direction responses that do not show the seasonal change between spring and autumn. We tested robins under these light conditions in the local geomagnetic field of 46 μT, a field of twice this intensity, 92 μT, and a field of three times this intensity, 138 μT. Under all three magnetic conditions, the birds preferred the same easterly direction under turquoise-and-yellow light and the same northwesterly direction under dark, while they were oriented in their seasonally appropriate direction under control conditions. “Fixed direction” responses are thus not limited to a narrow intensity window as has been found for normal compass orientation. This can be attributed to their origin in the magnetite-based receptor in the upper beak, which operates according to fundamentally different principles than the radical pair mechanism in the retina mediating compass orientation. “Fixed direction” responses are possibly a relict of a receptor mechanism that changed its function, now mainly providing information on magnetic intensity.     

西安市街道灰尘磁化率特征及其污染指示意义

以磁学参数作为环境重金属污染的一项指标,对西安市街道灰尘进行了系统的采样和测定.结果显示,磁化率可以反映西安市的整体污染水平.街道灰尘磁化率值较高、频率磁化率较低,二者呈显著负相关,表明街道灰尘磁性增强源于人类活动影响.磁化率随温度变化曲线表明,受电厂影响的样品主要含磁铁矿,而污染源较复杂的样品则含有磁赤铁矿、赤铁矿以及少量铁单质.磁化率与交通污染导致的Pb、Ba等元素及冶金行业带来的Cu、Cr等元素间有较好的相关性,表明西安市主要污染物来自交通污染及冶金行业排放.在局部范围内,磁化率与元素的相关性随元素种类的不同而具有明显的差异,表明不同区域内导致磁化率升高的人为活动存在差异.     

Getting ready for the manned mission to Mars: the astronauts’ risk from space radiation

Space programmes are shifting towards planetary exploration and, in particular, towards missions by human beings to the Moon and to Mars. Radiation is considered to be one of the major hazards for personnel in space and has emerged as the most critical issue to be resolved for long-term missions both orbital and interplanetary. The two cosmic sources of radiation that could impact a mission outside the Earth’s magnetic field are solar particle events (SPE) and galactic cosmic rays (GCR). Exposure to the types of ionizing radiation encountered during space travel may cause a number of health-related problems, but the primary concern is related to the increased risk of cancer induction in astronauts. Predictions of cancer risk and acceptable radiation exposure in space are extrapolated from minimal data and are subject to many uncertainties. The paper describes present-day estimates of equivalent doses from GCR and solar cosmic radiation behind various shields and radiation risks for astronauts on a mission to Mars.     

Integration of chemical fractionation, Mössbauer spectrometry, and magnetic methods for identification of Fe phases bonding heavy metals in street dust

Street dust is one of the most important carriers of heavy metals (HMs) originating from natural and anthropogenic sources. The main purpose of the work was to identify which of Fe-bearing phases bind HMs in street dust. Magnetic parameters of the Fe-bearing components, mainly magnetically strong iron oxides, are used to assess the level of HM pollution. Chemical sequential extraction combined with magnetic methods (magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, remanent magnetization) allowed determining the metal-bearing fractions and identifying the iron forms that are mostly associated with traffic-related HMs. The use of Mössbauer spectrometry (MS) supplemented by magnetic methods (thermomagnetic curves and psarameters of hysteresis loops) enabled precise identification and characterization of iron-containing minerals. The classification of HMs into five chemical fractions differing in mobility and bioaccessibility revealed that iron is most abundant (over 95%) in the residual fraction followed by the reducible fraction. HMs were present in reducible fraction in the following order: Pb>Zn>Mn>Cr>Ni>Fe>Cu, while they bound to the residual fraction in the following order: Fe>Ni>Cr>Mn>Pb>Cu>Zn. The signature of the anthropogenic origin of street dust is the presence of strongly nonstoichiometric and defected grains of magnetite and their porous surface. Magnetite also occurs as an admixture with maghemite, and with a significant proportion of hematite. A distinctive feature of street dust is the presence of metallic iron and iron carbides. Magnetic methods are efficient in the screening test to determine the level of HM pollution, while MS helps to identify the iron-bearing minerals through the detection of iron.     

长江口潮滩芦苇根表铁膜磁性特征及其环境意义

湿地植物根表铁膜对包括重金属在内的物质迁移转化具有重要作用,其氧化铁组成研究备受重视,但利用环境磁学方法进行表征的研究还未见报道.本文对长江口潮滩植物芦苇根系及周边沉积物进行了磁学分析,并结合沉积物粒度、漫反射光谱等测试,对芦苇根表铁膜的磁性矿物组成进行了系统研究.结果表明,芦苇根表铁膜磁性矿物主要包括磁铁矿和赤铁矿.由于沉积物不同深度氧化还原环境的不同,铁膜磁性矿物组成存在垂向差异.研究柱样24 cm深度以上,由于相对氧化的环境,铁膜磁性矿物除磁铁矿外,还有较多的赤铁矿贡献;24 cm深度以下,因根系处于相对还原的环境,磁性矿物以磁铁矿为主.与沉积物相比,24 cm以上深度铁膜中亚铁磁性矿物含量较低,24 cm深度以下则相反,反映铁膜和沉积物磁性矿物来源不同.本项研究表明,磁性测量方法有助于认识湿地植物根表铁膜的矿物组成,对湿地生物地球化学过程研究具有重要价值.     

Climate change and its consequences for water and wastewater management

Life, in combination with solar radiation and abiotic processes, is most probably the reason why liquid water has existed on Earth for over billions of years, and the global mean temperature has remained in a lifeenabling range. Efforts to limit or even reverse global warming must be derived from the knowledge of the Earth’s complex life-support system. In this context, the balance between liquid and gaseous water plays a crucial role, and water management becomes an important field of innovation and action, globally, on the scale of watersheds but also on the very local level. Cascading use, reuse, and temporary storage of water in urban settings must be considered to limit over-extraction of water from natural resources, and to maintain the life supporting function of ecosystems. At the same time, public health requirements, cost efficiency, and reliability demands are to be met.     

The asteroid and comet impact hazard: risk assessment and mitigation options

The impact of extraterrestrial matter onto Earth is a continuous process. On average, some 50,000 tons of dust are delivered to our planet every year. While objects smaller than about 30 m mainly disintegrate in the Earth’s atmosphere, larger ones can penetrate through it and cause damage on the ground. When an object of hundreds of meters in diameter impacts an ocean, a tsunami is created that can devastate coastal cities. Further, if a km-sized object hit the Earth it would cause a global catastrophe due to the transport of enormous amounts of dust and vapour into the atmosphere resulting in a change in the Earth’s climate. This article gives an overview of the near-Earth asteroid and comet (near-Earth object-NEO) impact hazard and the NEO search programmes which are gathering important data on these objects. It also points out options for impact hazard mitigation by using deflection systems. It further discusses the critical constraints for NEO deflection strategies and systems as well as mitigation and evacuation costs and benefits. Recommendations are given for future activities to solve the NEO impact hazard problem.     

Performance of bioferric-submerged membrane bioreactor for dyeing wastewater treatment

Adding iron salt or iron hydroxide to sludgemixed liquor in an aeration tank of a conventional activated sludge processes (bioferric process) can simultaneously improve the sludge’s filterability and enhance the system’s treatment capacity. In view of this, Fe(OH)₃ was added to a submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) to enhance the removal efficiency and to mitigate membrane fouling. Bioferric process and SMBR were combined to create a novel process called Bioferric-SMBR. A side-by-side comparison study of Bioferric-SMBR and common SMBR dealing with dyeing wastewater was carried out. Bioferric-SMBR showed potential superiority, which could enhance removal efficiency, reduce membrane fouling and improve sludge characteristic. When volumetric loading rate was 25% higher than that of common SMBR, the removal efficiencies of Bioferric-SMBR on COD, dye, and NH₄ ⁺-N were 1.0%, 9.5%, and 5.2% higher than that of common SMBR, respectively. The trans-membrane pressure of Bioferric-SMBR was only 36% of that in common SMBR while its membrane flux was 25% higher than that of common SMBR. The stable running period in Bioferric-SMBR was 2.5 times of that in common SMBR when there was no surplus sludge discharged. The mixed liquor suspended solids concentration of Bioferric-SMBR was higher than that of common SMBR with more diversified kinds of microorganisms such as protozoans and metazoans. The mean particle diameter and specific oxygen uptake rate of Bioferric-SMBR were 3.10 and 1.23 times the common SMBR, respectively. Translated from Environmental Science, 2005, 26(6): 65–70 [译自: 环境科学]     

循环流化床粉煤灰与煤粉炉粉煤灰磁选除铁差异性研究

粉煤灰中氧化铁是其高值化利用过程的主要杂质,高效去除铁杂质对于粉煤灰高值利用具有重要意义。采用湿法磁选方法对循环流化床粉煤灰（CFB灰）、碳热还原循环流化床粉煤灰（R-CFB灰）及煤粉炉粉煤灰（PC灰）进行除铁研究,并对不同类型粉煤灰中铁的存在形式进行对比,最后对粉煤灰中铁的去除和铝的回收进行了考察。结果表明:CFB灰直接磁选铁的去除率仅为17.6%,PC灰直接磁选铁的去除率可达到55.8%,这与CFB中的铁主要以赤铁矿形式存在,而PC灰中的铁主要以磁铁矿形式存在有关;经碳热还原后CFB灰中的铁由赤铁矿转变为磁铁矿,在磁场强度为400 mT,磁选3次,液固比为20:1的条件下,R-CFB灰的除铁率为64.7%,,铁含量从3.4%降低到1.2%,且铝的回收率为78.6%。与PC灰磁选法除铁效果对比,经碳热还原的CFB灰可达到较高的除铁率。     

西北地区河谷城市大气降尘环境磁学特征及其环境意义

应用环境磁学方法对西北地区重点污染城市兰州和清洁对照点黄花滩两地大气降尘的磁学特征进行对比研究,分析了大气降尘磁性矿物含量、类型和颗粒大小等磁学性质及其对城市大气污染的指示意义.结果表明,兰州市大气污染较为严重,大气降尘中磁性矿物含量明显高于黄花滩,且呈现冬季明显高于其他季节的变化趋势.两地降尘样品磁学特征均受磁铁矿控...     

The prebiotic synthesis of pyrimidines in frozen solution

Most prebiotic syntheses depend on the reaction of concentrated precursor compounds to produce bio-organic molecules. It is now believed that the early Earth’s atmosphere was not reducing enough to have permitted copious synthesis of precursor molecules. Freezing allows reaction to occur even from dilute solution. This reaction has been demonstrated for the purines but not for the pyrimidines. It is shown here that dilute solutions of simple prebiotic molecules produce the biological pyrimidines cytosine and uracil upon freezing. Cold environments may have allowed synthesis of all of the RNA bases even from low organic yielding atmospheres, such as those of the early Earth, Mars, Titan and Europa.     

Neurobiology of the homing pigeon—a review

Homing pigeons are well known as good homers, and the knowledge of principal parameters determining their homing behaviour and the neurological basis for this have been elucidated in the last decades. Several orientation mechanisms and parameters—sun compass, earth’s magnetic field, olfactory cues, visual cues—are known to be involved in homing behaviour, whereas there are still controversial discussions about their detailed function and their importance. This paper attempts to review and summarise the present knowledge about pigeon homing by describing the known orientation mechanisms and factors, including their pros and cons. Additionally, behavioural features like motivation, experience, and track preferences are discussed. All behaviour has its origin in the brain and the neuronal basis of homing and the neuroanatomical particularities of homing pigeons are a main topic of this review. Homing pigeons have larger brains in comparison to other non-homing pigeon breeds and particularly show increased size of the hippocampus. This underlines our hypothesis that there is a relationship between hippocampus size and spatial ability. The role of the hippocampus in homing and its plasticity in response to navigational experience are discussed in support of this hypothesis.     

天山北麓宁家河阶地上的黄土堆积及其磁学特征

本文报道了新疆地区天山北麓宁家河阶地上的黄土堆积。研究剖面的两层黄土为河流 砾石层所隔开,这在新疆地区较为少见。通过系统的岩石磁学和粒度测量,分析了该剖面两层 黄土的磁学特征,并初步探讨磁化率变化机制。结果表明：黄土中的主要磁性矿物为磁铁矿和 磁赤铁矿,并含有少量赤铁矿和针铁矿。亚铁磁性矿物主要以多畴（MD）、假单畴（PSD）颗 粒为主,反映了这一地区极弱的成土作用。砾石层上下两层黄土磁学性质存在着差异,表现为 上层黄土具有较高的磁性矿物含量、较粗的磁颗粒和相对含量较高的软磁性矿物。下层黄土受 到后期河水的改造可能是导致这些差异的原因。磁化率与粒度呈现较好的正相关关系,与黄土 高原的情况相反,说明干旱地区的黄土磁学性质主要受原生磁性矿物控制。搬运风力和源区变 化是磁化率变化的主导因素。     

Avoiding incidental predation by mammalian herbivores: accurate detection and efficient response in aphids

Mammalian herbivores eat plants that may also provide food and shelter for insects. The direct trophic effect of the browsing and grazing of mammalian herbivory on insects, which is probably prevalent in terrestrial ecosystems, has been mostly neglected by ecologists. We examined how the aphid Uroleucon sonchi L. deals with the danger of incidental predation by mammalian herbivores. We found that most (76%) of the aphids in a colony survive the ingestion of the plant by a feeding herbivore. They do so by sensing the combination of heat and humidity in the herbivore’s breath and immediately dropping off the plant in large numbers. Their ability to sense the herbivore’s breath or their tendency to drop off the plant weakens as ambient temperature rises. This could indicate a limitation of the aphids’ sensory system or an adaptation that enables them to avoid the hostile conditions on a hot ground. Once on the ground, U. sonchi is highly mobile and capable of locating a new host plant by advancing in a pattern that differs significantly from random movement. The accurate and efficient defense mechanism of U. sonchi emphasizes the significance of incidental predation as a danger to plant-dwelling invertebrates.     

福州市公园灰尘磁学特征及其环境意义

以福州市公园灰尘为研究对象,对其进行了磁学参数特征研究,结果表明,福州市公园灰尘χ、χfd%、SIRM、S-ratio、SIRM/χ平均值分别为269.80×10-8m3/kg、0.73、6175.07×10-5(A?m2)/kg、0.91、30.82A/m.综合分析发现,福州市公园灰尘磁性矿物含量较高,部分样品的主要磁性矿物为铁磁性矿物,部分样品为反铁磁性矿物,且Day图反映了其磁性矿物粒径主要以单畴(SD)和假单畴(PSD)为主,这些均受控于交通、城市建设等人类活动的干扰、由西向东倾斜的地形条件和夏季台风的滞留效应的影响;福州市二环内外受不同的城市化过程中人类活动、土地利用格局、季风等影响,其磁学参数特征所表征的环境意义不同;福州市公园灰尘磁学特征(χ、χfd%、IRM及其组合参数、磁滞回线)可以作为福州市城市污染物监测的一种重要的替代指标.     

A review of the contributions of Albert Einstein to Earth Sciences—in commemoration of the World Year of Physics

The World Year of Physics (2005) is an international celebration to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Einstein’s “Annus Mirabilis.” The United Nations has officially declared 2005 as the International Year of Physics. However, the impact of Einstein’s ideas was not restricted to physics. Among numerous other disciplines, Einstein also made significant and specific contributions to Earth Sciences. His geosciences-related letters, comments, and scientific articles are dispersed, not easily accessible, and are poorly known. The present review attempts to integrate them as a tribute to Einstein in commemoration of this centenary. These contributions can be classified into three basic areas: geodynamics, geological (planetary) catastrophism, and fluvial geomorphology. Regarding geodynamics, Einstein essentially supported Hapgood’s very controversial theory called Earth Crust Displacement. With respect to geological (planetary) catastrophism, it is shown how the ideas of Einstein about Velikovsky’s proposals evolved from 1946 to 1955. Finally, in relation to fluvial geodynamics, the review incorporates the elegant work in which Einstein explains the formation of meandering rivers. A general analysis of his contributions is also carried out from today’s perspective. Given the interdisciplinarity and implications of Einstein’s achievements to multiple fields of knowledge, we propose that the year 2005 serve, rather than to confine his universal figure within a specific scientific area, to broaden it for a better appreciation of this brilliant scientist in all of his dimensions.     

Ancillary impacts of energy-related climate change mitigation options in Africa’s least developed countries

This article analyses the debate associated with the ancillary impacts of climate change mitigation options in developing countries, with a particular focus upon Africa’s 34 least developed countries. While these countries’ emissions of greenhouse gases are relatively small (and they do not have emission limitation commitments in the current international regime), inattention to the mitigation agenda would mean that developing countries both miss potential funding opportunities and fail to ‘climate-proof’ their development strategies. A focus, therefore, upon the short-term, local, developmental impacts that serve to change the relative attractiveness of different mitigation options from the perspective of the developing country is in these countries’ current strategic interests. In this article, I examine three energy-related climate change mitigation options: improved cookstoves, carbon-free electricity and improved energy efficiency in industry. Key ancillary impacts are better indoor air quality, better outdoor air quality and job creation (respectively). Further work to strengthen the evidence base regarding these impacts needs to be undertaken, potentially drawing upon broader work that has already been completed. Thus, in conclusion, a call for cross-fertilisation of information between heretofore disparate research communities is made. Additionally, the development of an integrated research agenda, forging linkages among cookstoves, indoor air quality and climate change mitigation research communities in Africa’s least developed countries, is identified as a priority.     

宝鸡城市主干道植被叶子滞尘对环境污染的磁学响应

为探究城市主干道植被滞尘对环境污染的磁学响应,采集宝鸡市道路两侧不同类型植被叶子进行系统的环境磁学测试。结果表明:街道两侧植被叶子主要为低矫顽力的多畴磁铁矿和磁赤铁矿,同时含有高矫顽力赤铁矿。城市道路叶子磁性矿物浓度高于校园清洁区,载磁矿物粒径集中在0.1~5 μm,其中离交通线较远的草本粒径相对较细,为0.1~1 μm。同一高度不同时间(5月和11月)植被记录的环境污染存在差异,距地表0.05 m草本和4 m处乔木的叶子5月记录的污染较11月严重,而0.25 m和1 m处的灌木11月污染较重。城市主干道空间分布呈现两个污染峰值区,分别为包含姜谭路与宝福路的A区和东风路所在B区,这与繁忙的交通和区域内分布的重工业企业有关。