Estimating the potential of greenhouse gas mitigation in Kazakhstan

As part of the studies related to the obligations of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Republic of Kazakhstan started activities to inventory greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and assess of GHG mitigation options. The objective of this paper is to present an estimate of the possibility of mitigating GHG emissions and determine the mitigation priorities. It presents a compilation of the possible options and their assessment in terms of major criteria and implementation feasibility. Taking into account the structure of GHG emissions in Kazakhstan in 1990, preliminary estimates of the potential for mitigation are presented for eight options for the energy sector and agriculture and forestry sector. The reference scenario prepared by expert assessments assumes a reduction of CO₂ emissions in 1996–1998 by about 26% from the 1990 level due to general economic decline, but then emissions increase. It is estimated that the total potential for the mitigation of CO₂ emissions for the year 2000 is 3% of the CO₂ emissions in the reference scenario. The annual reduction in methane emissions due to the estimated options can amount to 5%–6% of the 1990 level.

     

1950～1999年立陶宛水质控制、监测及废水处理

立陶宛的水管理系统是根据1950～1990年期间苏联的规章建立起来的.地表水质量监测始于50年代,60年代水管理系统得到改进.今天.利用70个参数对48条河流进行监测.对排放物的法定监测工作开始于1962年,废水标准于1957年,1966年公布,然后于1996年修订.废水处理设备先是在农村、50年代后在工厂,后来在城镇建成.1991年以来,已借助于国外的援助建起了大容量城市处理厂.1970年后,一些河流的水质得到了改善,但是立陶宛的主要河流涅曼河仍处于中度污染状态.涅曼河下游尤其受到来自苏维埃茨克和涅曼(俄罗斯)城市废水和工业废水排放的影响,这一废水占总负荷的一丰.1994～1998年的水生生物资料表明了库罗尼安(Curonian)泻湖的富营养化以及波罗的海克莱佩达以北水域的细菌污染和蓝绿藻赤潮现象.     

Brainy stuff of long-gone dogs: a reappraisal of the supposed Canis endocranial cast from the Pliocene of Poland

The pre-Quaternary fossil record of Canis in the Old World is scarce, and the first appearance of this genus in Europe remains an enigma. Amongst the oldest fossils assigned to this genus, there is a natural cast of the brain (endocast) collected in W??e 1, Poland, from Pliocene deposits dated between 3.3 and 4.0 Ma. We reexamined this specimen and found that it differs from the brain of Canis in having its region medial to the coronal sulcus heart-shaped in dorsal view, its region rostral to the presylvian sulcus shorter and less constricted laterally, and its cerebellum less overlapped by the cerebrum and lacking a lateral twist of the posterior vermis. We identified this fossil, as well as another fossil canid endocast from W??e 1, as representing the raccoon dog genus Nyctereutes. The previously reported presence of Canis in W??e 1 is therefore not confirmed. Specifically, both endocasts can be referred to N. donnezani because this is the only species of Nyctereutes that has been recognised in this locality on the basis of craniomandibular and dental fossils. Our study represents a taxonomic application of comparative neuroanatomical and palaeoneurological data, an approach that may become increasingly useful with the growing knowledge of the endocranial morphology of fossil mammals.     

Does radioactive contamination affect the shell morphology of the pond snail <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lymnaea stagnalis</Emphasis> in the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl NPP (Ukraine)?

A distinct external shell abnormality, coarse seam, was found in a high percentage of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis (L.) collected near Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Ukraine. The negative cytogenetical and hematological effects of long-term irradiation on pond snails in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone have been repeatedly reported; consequently, it has been assumed that radioactivity may also affect shell morphology. However, due to the absence of this shell abnormality in pond snails collected from two radioactive sites in Russia, it can be concluded that the appearance of abnormal shells in snail population near Chernobyl NPP cannot directly be explained by the radioactive contamination.     

Multifunctional ZnO-Co3O4 @ polymer hybrid nanocoatings with controlled adsorption,photocatalytic and anti-microbial functions for polluted water systems

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Triple action pollutant responsive multi-layer hybrid nanocoatings of architecture PEI(PAA/ZnO-Co3O4)n were constructed through ZnO-Co3O4 binary oxide...     

The Governance of the Mitigation of the Baltic Sea Eutrophication: Exploring the Challenges of the Formal Governing System

This article focuses on the governing system of the mitigation of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. Policies and measures of the Baltic Sea coastal countries, the macro--regional (HELCOM) level, and the level of the European Union are described and governance challenges explicated. We found that the main challenges at different governance levels include: differences between coastal countries in terms of environmental conditions including environmental awareness, overlaps of policies between different levels, the lack of adequate spatial and temporal specification of policies, and the lack of policy integration. To help to meet these challenges, we suggest closer involvement of stakeholders and the public, the improvement of the interplay of institutions, and the introduction of a “primus motor” for the governance of the mitigation of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea.     

Hydrogeochemistry and stable isotopes in radon-rich thermal waters of Belokurikha (Altai,Russia)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The first integrated isotope and chemistry results have been obtained for radon-rich thermal waters from the Belokurikha field which are used at a...