Bidirectional visibility

The percentage of the cross-sectional area of two objects (e.g., vehicles, hikers, or animals) that can be seen from each of their locations in a forested area is generally not the same. There is a directionality to the visibility between them. This is due to the relative positions and sizes of the vegetation and other view-blocking features between the objects. An analytical technique has been developed to help understand bidirectional visibility. Its use entails the construction of a visibility diagram containing the basic visibility information between observers in a given setting. An example is presented showing the use of the visibility diagram to determine visibility between two moving observers in a forested environment. The diagram is also used to determine the differences in the percentage each observer has of the other's visible cross-sectional area (bidirectional visibility). A discussion of the application of the technique in the planning or development of new facilities, as well as in forest and wildlife management, is provided.     

A TEST OF SEVERAL EVAPORATION EQUATIONS FOR WATER TEMPERATURE SIMULATIONS IN LAKES1

ABSTRACT: Evaporative heat loss is an essential component of any heat budget used for the modeling of lake water temperatures. Seven evaporative heat loss equations were tested in a year-round, physically-based temperature and dissolved oxygen model for lakes. Deciding which equation to choose for use in the year-round model was based on the goodness of fit of the simulated vs. measured surface temperatures, which were taken at a depth of 1 m below the water surface. An equation which includes free and forced convection components and which was previously used for cooling ponds gave the best fit between temperature simulations and measurements.     

Single-step nested multiplex PCR to differentiate between various bivalve larvae

A nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay has been developed that allows the discrimination between six bivalve larvae common to Danish coastal waters (Cerastoderma edule, Macoma balthica, Mytilus edulis, Spisula subtruncata, Ensis americanus and members of the order Myoida). This assay involves the simultaneous use of a pair of general universally targeted 18S rRNA gene primers, five specific 18S rRNA gene targeted oligonucleotide primers internal (nested) to the universal primer pair and one species-specific primer that is not nested (Mya). The specificity of each primer was evaluated in silico, empirically, and verified further by sequencing of amplification products from single larvae collected from plankton samples. Identification of individually isolated bivalve larvae from plankton samples was based on the size of the PCR product produced by the specific primers after visualisation by agarose gel electrophoresis. Preliminary studies indicated that this method was suitable for use with freshly collected and preserved larvae, and is therefore suitable for field application.Communicated by M. Kühl, Helsingør     

THE ATMOSPHERIC WATER BALANCE AND THE HYDROLOGY OF LARGE RIVER BASINS1

The concept of using the atmospheric water balance technique in the study of the hydrology of large (greater than 10⁵km²) river basins is described. The atmospheric water balance technique consists of determining the spacial and time distributions and fluxes of water vapor through the atmospheric volume overlying the basin. The quantity precipitation minus evaporation at the earth's surface is determined as a residual of the computation. A review of the results of various experiments employing this technique is provided. The incorporation of the technique in a study of the hydrology of a large river basin is demonstrated by showing the results of a study of the hydrometeorology of the Upper Colorado River Basin. The example covers the study of eleven winter seasons, November through April, 1957–1968. The seasonal accumulation of water over the basin as determined by the atmospheric water balance is highly correlated with annual runoff. Correlation coefficient r = .8. The daily evaporation rate during dry days varies by a factor of two over the winter season, and is shown to be related to the incoming solar radiation intensity.     

Adaptation to Climate Change in Developing Countries

Adaptation to climate change is given increasing international attention as the confidence in climate change projections is getting higher. Developing countries have specific needs for adaptation due to high vulnerabilities, and they will in this way carry a great part of the global costs of climate change although the rising atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations are mainly the responsibility of industrialized countries. This article provides a status of climate change adaptation in developing countries. An overview of observed and projected climate change is given, and recent literature on impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation are reviewed, including the emerging focus on mainstreaming of climate change and adaptation in development plans and programs. The article also serves as an introduction to the seven research articles of this special issue on climate change adaptation in developing countries. It is concluded that although many useful steps have been taken in the direction of ensuring adequate adaptation in developing countries, much work still remains to fully understand the drivers of past adaptation efforts, the need for future adaptation, and how to mainstream climate into general development policies.     

Sensitivity analysis of mass balance receptor modeling: Methyl chloride as an indicator of wood smoke

The Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) approach to stability analysis of the Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) receptor model is extended to incorporate uncertainties in both source and ambient compositions. SVD is applied to determine the improved precision with which the impact of residential wood smoke can be estimated by including methyl chloride in a CMB analysis. Wood smoke impacts in Hillsboro and Medford, Oregon, are examined. The results indicate that including methyl chloride will dramatically improve the precision of estimating wood smoke impacts for Medford, while estimates for Hillsboro are changed to a much lesser extent. This result is reasonable since the Medford airshed includes many industrial sources of particulate matter with chemical compositions similar to residential wood smoke, while Hillsboro is predominantly a residential community. The precision improvements estimated by SVD are verified by CMB analysis of a series of ambient samples collected in Hillsboro. Finally, the applicability of SVD as a receptor model study design tool is discussed.     

Complying with Executive Order 13148 using the Enterprise Environmental Safety And Occupational Health Management Information System

All U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) facilities are required under Executive Order (EO) 13148, "Greening the Government through Leadership in Environmental Management," to establish quality-based environmental management systems (EMSs) that support environmental decision-making and verification of continuous environmental improvement by December 31, 2005. Compliance with EO 13148 as well as other federal, state, and local environmental regulations places a significant information management burden on DoD facilities. Cost-effective management of environmental data compels DoD facilities to establish robust database systems that not only address the complex and multifaceted environmental monitoring, record-keeping, and reporting requirements demanded by these rules but enable environmental management decision-makers to gauge improvements in environmental performance. The Enterprise Environmental Safety and Occupational Health Management Information System (EESOH-MIS) is a new electronic database developed by the U.S. Air Force to manage both the data needs associated with regulatory compliance programs across its facilities as well as the non-regulatory environmental information that supports installation business practices. The U.S. Air Force, which has adopted the Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology as the EMS standard that it will employ to address EO 13148 requirements.