Beyond Kyoto: Forest Management in a Time of Rapid Climate Change

Abstract: Policies to reduce global warming by offering credits for carbon sequestration have neglected the effects of forest management on biodiversity. I review properties of forest ecosystems and management options for enhancing the resistance and resilience of forests to climate change. Although forests, as a class, have proved resilient to past changes in climate, today's fragmented and degraded forests are more vulnerable. Adaptation of species to climate change can occur through phenotypic plasticity, evolution, or migration to suitable sites, with the latter probably the most common response in the past. Among the land-use and management practices likely to maintain forest biodiversity and ecological functions during climate change are (1) representing forest types across environmental gradients in reserves; (2) protecting climatic refugia at multiple scales; (3) protecting primary forests; (4) avoiding fragmentation and providing connectivity, especially parallel to climatic gradients; (5) providing buffer zones for adjustment of reserve boundaries; (6) practicing low-intensity forestry and preventing conversion of natural forests to plantations; ( 7) maintaining natural fire regimes; (8) maintaining diverse gene pools; and (9) identifying and protecting functional groups and keystone species. Good forest management in a time of rapidly changing climate differs little from good forest management under more static conditions, but there is increased emphasis on protecting climatic refugia and providing connectivity.     

A serendipitous, long-term infiltration experiment: Water and tritium circulation beneath the CAMBRIC trench at the Nevada Test Site

Underground nuclear weapons testing at the Nevada Test Site introduced numerous radionuclides that may be used subsequently to characterize subsurface hydrologic transport processes in arid climates. In 1965, a unique, 16-year pumping experiment designed to examine radionuclide migration away from the CAMBRIC nuclear test, conducted in the saturated zone beneath Frenchman Flat, Nevada, USA, gave rise to an unintended second experiment involving radionuclide infiltration through the vadose zone, as induced by seepage of pumping effluents beneath an unlined discharge trench. The combined experiments have been reanalyzed using a detailed, three-dimensional numerical model of transient, variably saturated flow and mass transport in a heterogeneous subsurface, tailored specifically for large-scale and efficient calculations. Simulations have been used to estimate tritium travel and residence times in various parts of the system for comparison with observations in wells. Model predictions of mass transport were able to clearly demonstrate radionuclide recycling behavior between the trench and pumping well previously suggested by isotopic age dating information; match travel time estimates for radionuclides moving between the trench, the water table, and monitoring and pumping wells; and provide more realistic ways in which to interpret the pumping well elution curves. Collectively, the results illustrate the utility of integrating detailed numerical modeling with diverse observational data in developing more accurate interpretations of contaminant migration processes.     

Recovery of mercury-contaminated fisheries

In this paper, we synthesize available information on the links between changes in ecosystem loading of inorganic mercury (Hg) and levels of methylmercury (MeHg) in fish. Although it is widely hypothesized that increased Hg load to aquatic ecosystems leads to increases in MeHg in fish, there is limited quantitative data to test this hypothesis. Here we examine the available evidence from a range of sources: studies of ecosystems contaminated by industrial discharges, observations of fish MeHg responses to changes in atmospheric load, studies over space and environmental gradients, and experimental manipulations. A summary of the current understanding of the main processes involved in the transport and transformation from Hg load to MeHg in fish is provided. The role of Hg loading is discussed in context with other factors affecting Hg cycling and bioaccumulation in relation to timing and magnitude of response in fish MeHg. The main conclusion drawn is that changes in Hg loading (increase or decrease) will yield a response in fish MeHg but that the timing and magnitude of the response will vary depending of ecosystem-specific variables and the form of the Hg loaded.     

Inventories and Distribution of Radiocaesium in Arctic Marine Sediments: Influence of Biological and Physical Processes

Extensive surveys of sediment burdens of radiocaesium, specifically ¹³⁷Cs, and other radioactive contaminants in the Arctic during the 1990's, indicate that almost all anthropogenic radionuclides buried on continental shelves adjacent to Alaska are derived from global bomb fallout. the ¹³⁷Cs (half-life: 30.2y) activities observed in surface (0-4 cm) marine sediments however, vary widely, albeit much less than the expected current inventory resulting from bomb fallout at this latitude (∼100mBq cm^-2). This observed geographical variation provided the opportunity to evaluate physical and biological mechanisms that may affect caesium biogeochemistry on Arctic continental shelves. We investigated whether high biological productivity in portions of the Bering and Chukchi Seas is effective in removing dissolved radiocaesium from the water column, and whether biological production in overlying water affects total radiocaesium inventories in sediments. Based upon C/N ratios in the organic fraction of shallow sediments, we found no evidence that higher inventories or surface activities of radiocaesium are present in areas with higher deposition of particulate organic matter. Based upon stable carbon isotope ratios of organic matter in sediments, we found no evidence that terrestrial runoff contributes proportionally to higher surface activities, although terrestrial runoff may affect total inventories of the radionuclide. Radiocaesium content of surface sediments was significantly correlated with total organic carbon content of sediments and the proportion of sediments in the finest sediment fractions. Because high current flow can also be expected to influence distributions of those sedimentary parameters, we conclude that re-distribution of     

Posture and belt fit in reclined passenger seats

Abstract

Objective: Highly reclined postures may be common among passengers in future automated vehicles. A laboratory study was conducted to address the need for posture and belt fit in these seating configurations.

Methods: In a laboratory vehicle mockup, the postures of 24 men and women with a wide range of body size were measured in a typical front vehicle seat at seat back angles of 23°, 33°, 43°, and 53°. Data were gathered with and without a sitter-adjusted headrest. Posture was characterized by the locations of skeletal joint centers estimated from digitized surface landmarks.

Results: Regression analysis demonstrated that the pelvis rotated rearward and lumbar spine flexion decreased with increasing recline. The lap portion of the 3-point belt was more rearward relative to the pelvis in more-reclined postures, and the torso portion crossed the clavicle closer to the midline of the body. Regression equations were developed to predict posture and belt fit variables as a function of passenger characteristics, seat back angle, and the use of the headrest.

Conclusions: Spine posture changes as the torso reclines in an automotive seat, and belt fit is altered by the change in posture. The results can be used to accurately position crash test dummies and computation human models and to guide the design of belt restraints.     

Reviewing reservoir operations in the North American West: an opportunity for adaptation

Regional Environmental Change - Storage reservoirs are an important part of the water infrastructure in both the USA and Canada. Their operations are important not only for water supply but also...