BEYOND THE UNITED NATIONS WATER CONFERENCE

We are pleased to print a preliminary review of the United Nations Water Conference by Mr Fano who has been intimately associated with the preparations for the Conference. Other viewpoints will be presented in future issues.     

THE UNITED NATIONS GROUND WATER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - A FIFTEEN YEAR PERSPECTIVE

The United Nations ground water exploration and development programme during 15 years of active life, has resulted in substantial socio-economic benefits to 57 developing countries through some 100 ground water projects. Systematic study, development and use of this important resource have contributed to intensification of agricultural production through supplemental irrigation from ground water; alleviation of water shortages in urban and industrial areas through construction of supply wells; improvement and stabilization of pastoral and rural economies, thereby counteracting in some measure adverse demographic trends of migration to the cities; and other related benefits in training, institutional development, and development of national water policies and plans.     

THE UNITED NATIONS PANEL ON INTERNATIONAL MINING FINANCE

Mining finance experts, meeting under the auspices of the United Nations Centre for Natural Resources, Energy and Transport, agreed that sufficient capital could be provided to permit worldwide mineral demand to be satisfied, but that there was a danger that mining investment in developing countries would not keep pace with those nations' resource potential. A variety of suggestions were offered for improving the ability of developing countries to attract capital for mining.     

TWO DECADES OF MINERAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT: THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS

The Department of Technical Co-operation for Development of the United Nations Secretariat in New York, which now incorporates the Division of Natural Resources and Energy (formerly the Centre for Natural Resources, Energy and Transport) has, over the past 20 years, assisted the geology and mineral development programmes of most of the world's developing countries. Funding for this technical co-operation has been provided mainly by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with roughly equivalent amounts by recipient governments, generally in the form of national facilities, staff and local operating costs. The total UNDP expenditures of some $170 million have supported more than 200 projects so far. At present, about 45 projects are operational with a total budget of about $55 million. The large-scale operational activities of the United Nations programme in the past have concentrated primarily on systematic mineral exploration combined with strengthening of national institutions, basic geological mapping and feasibility investigations. Associated with the United Nations programme are the projects of the United Nations Revolving Fund for Natural Resources Exploration, more recently established to provide an additional source of exploration financing in recognition of the needs of developing countries which are not being adequately met by their own resources and the limited resources available within the United Nations Development Programme. Le Département de la coopération technique pour le développement du Secrétariat des Nations Unies à New York dont fait maintenant partie la Division des ressources naturelles et de l'énergie (anciennement le Centre des ressources naturelles, de l'énergie et des transports) a apporté son assistance pendant ces vingt demières années aux programmes de mise en valeur de la géologie et des minéraux de la plupart des pays en développement du monde. Le financement de cette coopération technique a été essentiellement assuré par le Programme des Nations Unies pour le développement (PNUD) et les gouvernements receveurs qui ont fourni des sommes approximativement équivalentes, généralement sous forme d'installations, de personnel et de frais d'exploitation au niveau national. Le montant total des dépenses du PNUD, s'élevant à quelque $170 millions, a financé jusqu'à présent l'exécution de plus de 200 projets. Auparavant, les activités opérationnelles de grande échelle du programme des Nations Unies ont été dirigées principalement vers l'exploration systématique des minéraux conjointement avec le renforcement des institutions nationales, l'établissement de cartes géologiques de base et les enquêtes de faisabilité. Les projets du Fonds autorenouvelable des Nations Unies pour l'exploration des ressources naturelles, associés au programme des Nations Unies, ont été récemment établis afin de fournir une source supplémentaire de financement de l'exploration pour répondre aux besoins des pays en développement que leurs propres ressources de même que celles disponibles mais limitées du Programme de développement des Nations Unies n'arrivent pas à satisfaire de manière adéquate. El Departamento de Cooperación Técnica para el Desarrollo del Secretariado de las Naciones Unidas, que incorpora la División de Recursos Naturales y Energía (anteriormente Centro de Recursos Naturales, Energía y Transportes) ha, en los últimos 20 años, asistido a los programas de geología y desarrollo de minerales en la mayoría de los países en desarrollo. La financiación para esta cooperación técnica fue proveída principalmente por el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) y por los Gobiernos, en especie, por un monto aproximadamente igual a la contribución del PNUD. La contribución total del PNUD de unos $170 millones ha sido aplicado a más de 200 proyectos hasta ahora. Acerca de 45 proyectos están en ejecución al presente por un monto aproximado de $55 millones. En el pasado los proyectos de gran escala del programa de actividades de las Naciones Unidas se han concertado principalmente en la exploración sistemática de minerales combinada con el reforzamiento de instituciones nacionales, geológico basico y estudios de factibilidad. Asociados al programa arriba mencionado se ejecutan los proyectos del Fondo Revolvente de las Naciones Unidas para la Exploración de Recursos Naturales, fondo recientemente establecido con el objeto de proveer financiación adicional a las actividades de exploración. La limitación de los recursos propios de los países en desarrollo y la del Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarollo para hacer frente a las necesidades de dichos países han urgido la creación del Fondo.     

COBALT: A STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS, SUPPLIED BY DEVELOPING NATIONS

In 1978, the world cobalt market was abruptly thrust into a state of great uncertainty, with soaring prices, limited supply, and accelerating demand. A critical shortage threatened to develop but never really materialized. However, this situation dramatized Western nations' vulnerability to supply disruption. A number of factors, including limited natural occurrence, unfavourable market conditions, and accelerating demand for cobalt, combined to bring about these unstable conditions.
En 1978, le marché mondial du cobalt a été soudainement plongé dans un état de désorganisation, avec des prix en flèche, peu d'approvisionnement et une demande accélérée. La situation menaçait de devenir critique mais n'a jamais atteint un point dangereux. Cependant, ceci a fait ressortir combien vulnérables pouvaient être les pays occidentaux à l'interruption des ressources. Un certain nombre de facteurs parmi lesquels le nombre limité de gisements, des conditions de marché défavorables et la demande accélérée pour le cobalt se sont combinés pour créer ces conditions d'instabilité.
En 1978 el mercado mundial del cobalto se encontró abruptamente en un estado de gran incertidumbre, con precios crecientes, oferta restringida y la demanda en acelerado aumento. Aunque la amenaza de una paralizante carestía del cobalto no se materializó, esta situación sirvió para dramatizar la vulnerabilidad de los países occidentales a la interrupción del suministro de este recurso. Un número de factores tales como la limitada disponibilidad de estos recursos, las condiciones desfavorables del mercado y el crecimiento acelerado de la demanda, se combinaron para dar lugar a esta situación inestable.     

上海蓝鸟环境科技发展有限公司

钱建中,硕士研究生学历。从事环保固废焚烧处置工作16年,2001年筹建了专业从事固体废弃物焚烧处置工程的上海金州环境工程有限公司,任董事、副总经理;2008年他组建了上海蓝鸟环境科技发展有限公司,担任董事、总经理,     

UNITED NATIONS MINERAL EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES: 1960–1976

The United Nations Development Programme plays an important role in strengthening the economies of developing countries through mineral exploration projects, training in geosciences and institution building. This review demonstrates the effectiveness of such activities, both in terms of the economic value of mineral discoveries, and the less tangible, long-term contribution through development of infrastructure and skills, introduction of modern technology, and building up a body of reliable information as a base for future planning of mineral resources development.     

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WATER AND HUMAN HEALTH1

The following paper was presented by Dr. Abel Wolman at the Plenary Session of the 22nd Annual Conference of the American Water Resources Association in Atlanta, Georgia, November 10, 1986. Dr. Wolman is Professor Emeritus of Sanitary Engineering at The Johns Hopkins University. He was educated at Johns Hopkins and has received an Honorary Doctor of Engineering (1937) and Honorary Doctor of Laws (1969) from his alma mater. Dr. Wolman held a number of positions before joing the faculty of The Johns Hopkins University as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Sanitary Engineering (1937–1959). He has served as consultant for many studies and projects, in the United States and overseas, and has a long-term record of service to communities, states and governments. A long list of awards and honors include the Sedgwick Memorial Award, APHA; Arthur Sidney Bedell Award, WPCF; Hemisphere Award, inter-American Association of Sanitary Engineers; U.S. Award of the National Medal of Science; Tyler Award, Ecological Society of America; Ben Gurion Award from the State of israel; and the Gordon Maskew Fair Award, WPCA. He is author, co-author or editor of four books and over 3000 technical publications, most in refereed journals.     

甘肃金桥水科技集团

王继武,中共党员,高级工程师,甘肃金桥水科技集团董事长、党总支书记,中国民营企业家协会常务理事,甘肃省勘察设计协会常务理事,甘肃省发明协会副理事长,甘肃民营科技实业家协会副会长。     

GENERATED MONTHLY STREAMFLOWS FOR THE MIDWESTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES1

ABSTRACT A critical examination of single gage site, monthly streamflow statistical characteristics for two southern Illinois rivers, an Oklahoma river and a Texas river was made using a digital computer at Northwestern University. High flow variability for the rivers was evident in that, for the rivers tested, 8 to 11 months had coefficients of variation in excess of unity. The gamma distribution was not as efficient as the normal distribution for fitting power or logarithmic transforms of the historical monthly flow data (i.e., F^1-0, F^0-5, F^0-25, Fa¹²⁵, F^0.085, and log F). No single transform to a normal distribution was adequate for all twelve monthly flows, since definite seasonal grouping patterns were found for the four rivers examined. The highly variable flow in the low-flow season(s) indicated much more skewness than was typical of the remainder of the year. For the low-flow seasons, the higher-root (smaller exponent) transforms were particularly useful. Flows were generated from a linear regression model of lag one utilizing two or more transforms for the twelve periods. The definite seasonal patterns found historically were reproduced quite well in the generated streamflows. The effect of a change in data transform from one season to the next was insignificant after one month. Thus the use of different transforms within the year did not bias the results from the linear regression model appreciably, but did help in reproducing the seasonal distribution pattern. The technique seems especially well suited for rivers with highly variable flows.     

DEVELOPMENT OF EARTH SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE TELEMETRY OF HYDROLOGIC DATA1

ABSTRACT The use of satellite telemetry is playing a major role in the collection of hydrologic data. Advancing technology and availability of government satellites have permitted many agencies to take advantage of new procedures for acquiring data from automated remote data collection stations. Experiments with Earth satellite technology started in the 1960's and 1970's, with the polar-orbiting National Aeronautics and Space Administration Nimbus and Landsat satellites. Subsequent advancements took place through the development phase to operational systems using the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This satellite system supports more than 2,500 active telemetry sites, of which approximately 1,200 are Geological Survey stream-gaging stations for the collection of hydrologic data. A satellite data collection system is made up of three primary components; a small battery-operated radio, and Earth-orbiting satellite, and an Earth receive and data processing station. The data relay satellites' vast aerial view of the Earth's surface gives satellite telemetry a large advantage over ground-based systems for the collection of real-time hydrologic data for flood warning, reservoir management, irrigation water control, hydropower generation, and the operation of hydrologic stations.