Scavenging of atmospheric formaldehyde by wet precipitation

Despite the great importance that formaldehyde has in atmospheric photochemistry, few studies have been reported on rain water. In this paper, concentrations of HCHO in rain fractions within rain events are presented. Two sampling sites were chosen: one at Mexico City, a great polluted urban area, and the second at Rancho Viejo, a forested area under the meteorological influence of the city. The results show a general decrease during the early portion of the rain event. This seems to indicate that below-cloud scavenging is the most important mechanism while, from the small variations observed in the latter portion of the rainfall, it is possible to assume within-cloud scavenging as the predominant mechanism. Using the HCHO concentrations in rain water, the mixing ratios were estimated for the two sampling sites. The values were 0.68 ppb and 0.44 ppb at Mexico City and Rancho Viejo, respectively. Measurements at ground level in Mexico City gave a mean HCHO concentration in air of 24 ppb, much higher than the estimated mixing ratio. The high levels of HCHO found in ambient air and in rain water reflect anthropogenic emissions as the potential atmospheric sources.     

STREAM DISCHARGE PREDICTION VIA A GRID BASED SOIL WATER ROUTING WITH PADDY FIELDS1

ABSTRACT: A grid based daily hydrologic model for a watershed with paddy fields was developed to predict the stream discharge. ASCII formatted elevation, soil, and land use data supported by the GRASS Geographic Information System are used to generate distributed results such as surface runoff and subsurface flow, soil water content, and evapotranspiration. The model uses a single flow path algorithm and simulates a water balance at each grid element. A linear reservoir assumption was used to predict subsurface runoff components. The model was applied to a 75.6 km² watershed located in the middle of South Korea, and observed stream flow hydrographs from 1995 and 1996 were compared to model predictions. The stream flow predictions of 1995 and 1996 generally agreed with the observed flow, resulting in a Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiency R² of 0.60 and 0.62, respectively. The hydraulic conductivity for percolating water through the saturated layer affected baseflow generation. The levee height of the paddy influenced the time and magnitude of the surface runoff, depending on irrigation management. The model will be used for making low flow management decisions by evaluating the role of each land use to stream flow, especially in case of paddy decrease by gradual urbanization of a watershed.     

Space perception as a factor in land use decision making

Land use decisions involve the allocation of space to competing demands. Space is perceived subjectively, particularly in respect to recreational use. Five groups involved in the decision-making process were asked to select from a list of acreages or percentages the closest approximation for each of five land use categories. The responses produced considerable variation from the correct answers. Designated park areas tended to be overestimated and designated forest lands underestimated. While some differences were associated with group affiliation; visibility of areas, political importance, experience of individual, mode of access, proximity, and role of group member may also have been important determinants. The importance of space perception is dependent on type of process in decision making; in particular whether the process is incremental or comprehensive.     

Managing Alberta's water: the decision-making process

Land and water are Canada's most valuable renewable natural resources. Canada possesses one-quarter of the world's known volume of fresh water. Fresh water covers 75369000 hectares of 7.1% of the country's surface. This area represents a very substantial number oflakes, rivers, streams, deltas and bays and is perhaps Canada's most vital and strategic resource. Canada has to have ab overall plan of management which provides direction, coordination, and assistance for the management of its water resources at the provincial and regional levels.     

PHYSICAL PROCESSES AND EUTROPHICATION1

ABSTRACT: Biological responses to physical-chemical processes were examined in Toronto and Hamilton Harbours of Lake Ontario. Nutrient loadings to the harbors are large and are of similar magnitude, yet the trophic conditions of the harbors were considerably different. Lake oscillations were found to determine the flushing rates and environmental stability of the harbors. LOW residence times (<10 days) resulted in homogenous chemical conditions in Toronto Harbour, and prevented the establishment of large phytoplankton crops. The longer retention time of Hamilton Harbour permitted the establishment of huger phytoplankton crops. There probably exists a critical retention time where nutrient input events persist for a sufficient period of time for the algal community to adapt to and exploit the environmental conditions of nearshore areas.     

SIMPLE TROPHIC STATE CLASSIFICATION OF THE CANADIAN NEARSHORE WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES1

ABSTRACT: Trophic classification of the Canadian nearshore waters of the Great Lakes is attempted using summer, surface water quality data for the early 1970's. A generalized Composite Trophic Index is developed using paired linear relationships for total phosphorus, chlorophyll a, and Secchi depth data for 66 defined nearshore regions. The chlorophyll a and total phosphorus relationship indicates that the nearshore waters contain a low chlorophyll a concentration for a given total phosphorus concentration than observed for the open waters of the Great Lakes or for smaller Canadian lakes. The most eutrophic nearshore regions occur in areas of relatively restricted circulation and/or high nutrient loadings. These include the Bay of Quinte, Toronto and Hamilton harbours, and portions of Lake We's Western Basin. Lakes Huron and Superior are generally oligotrophic, except for some embayments. Although nearshore water quality is highly variable, this apprach represents a reasonable compromise with respect to analytical complexity. The Composite Trophic Index removes biases introduced through the use of a single trophic state indicator and uniquely describes the nearshore water quality in terms generally comparable to other water bodies.     

ALUM CONTROL OF INTERNAL PHOSPHORUS LOADING IN A SHALLOW LAKE1

ABSTRACT: Alum treatment of a shallow lake, with mean depth 2 m and area 137 ha, curtailed internal loading of P for at least one ear. Mean summer total P and chl a decreased from 76 and 27μg l^?1, respectively, in 1978 before treatment. to 29 and 14 μ l^?1, while mean summer Sed transparency increased from 1.6 to 2.2 m and blue green algae were no longer dominant. Macrophyte biomass and distribution retuned during the post-alum year, 1980-1981, to previous levels after a 1979 four-month lake level drawdown had reduced biomass by 84 percent The improved transparency, resulting from the decrease in chl a following treatment, could encourage greater biomass of macrophytes in the deeper area of the lake. Recovery of macrophyte biomass to predrawdown levels may restore internal loading of P through enrichment of deep water sediments during winter dieback and decomposition.     

COMPARING METHODS OF HYDROLOGIC REGIONALIZATION1

ABSTRACT: Data splitting is used to compare methods of determining “homogeneous” hydrologic regions. The methods compared use cluster analysis based on similarity of hydrologic characteristics or similarity of characteristics of a stream's drainage basin. Data for 221 stations in Arizona are used to show that the methods, which are a modification of DeCoursey's scheme for defining regions, improve the fit of estimation data to the model, but that is is necessary to have an independent measure of predictive accuracy, such as that provided by data splitting, to demonstrate improved predictive accuracy. The methods used the complete linkage algorithm for cluster analysis and computed weighted average estimates of hydrologic characteristics at ungaged sites.     

INSTANTANEOUS PEAK FLOW ESTIMATION PROCEDURES FOR NEWFOUNDLAND STREAMS1

ABSTRACT: A procedure of estimating instantaneous flood flows for various return periods on the Island of Newfoundland is presented. The procedure is based on annual maximum instantaneous flows rather than annual maximum daily-mean flows, as the latter requires the conversion of estimated daily-mean flows into instantaneous flows. Regression equations were developed for each of three homogeneous regions for the desired return periods. The flood flow estimation capability of the presented procedure is demonstrated to be better than any other currently available procedure on the Island.     

SAGEBRUSH RANGELAND HYDROLOGY AND EVALUATION OF THE SPUR HYDROLOGY MODEL1

ABSTRACT: An excellent hydrologic record on sagebrush range-land has been developed at the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed in southwestern Idaho. The objectives of this paper were two-fold: (1) to analyze and describe the hydrologic record (8–18 years) from four sagebrush watersheds (1–83 ha); and (2) to evaluate the hydrology component of SPUR, a comprehensive rangeland model. The watersheds represent a gradient in elevation (1180–1658 m) and precipitation (240–350 mm/yr). Runoff was a small fraction (> 2 percent) of the total water budget for all of the watersheds. It occurred very infrequently at the three lower elevation watersheds: Summit, Flats, and Nancy Gulch. At Lower Sheep, the highest elevation watershed, runoff occurred most years for a period of 1 to 17 weeks in the winter. Frozen soil combined with rainfall or snowmelt was associated with most of the runoff from Flats and Nancy Gulch. At Summit summertime thunderstorms produced all of the runoff. The average annual sediment yield from all of the watersheds was low (17–950 kg/ha). It was highest from Summit, which had well developed alluvial channels and very steep slopes. SPUR was able to simulate runoff with reasonable accuracy only at Summit, where frozen soils were not a factor. There was poor correlation between predicted and actual annual 8ediment loss. The model tended to overpredict evapotranspiration early in the growing season and underpredict it in the late summer.