Impact of climate change: an empirical investigation of Malaysian rice production

This paper examines the possible impact of climate change on Malaysian rice production. Using the Ricardian Method and farm household data, we have examined the effects on rice producers focusing on sharecropper adaptations and ecological causes. The principle goal of this research paper is to investigate the impact of climate variables such as temperature, rainfall and precipitation on rice production during main and off seasons, in Kedah, Malaysia. The main purpose of this paper is to examine how climate change affects the net income of paddy farmers in the study area. The statistically significant results show that temperature, rainfall, farm size, educational knowledge, land area and value of labour input have an impact on rice production per hectare revealing potential impacts of climate vulnerability on Malaysian agriculture. The results showed that net revenue increased by Ringgit Malaysia (RM 1= $0.3277) 4.78 per hectare throughout the main seasons as a result of minimal increase in the temperature while there is a decrease of RM 3.02 in the net revenue per hectare during off seasons. During the off season, rainfall increased revenue per hectare by RM 1.32 and during the main season it reduced revenue per hectare by RM 1.01. The evidence from this study may be useful for Malaysian policymakers to facilitate greater preventive measures during the main and off-seasons to counteract climate uncertainty and vulnerability.     

long Term Goals for Environmental Control— What’s Desirable and Possible in the Year 2000?

A panel discussion looking forward to the environment in the year 2000, was arranged by Lionel V. Baldwin, Program Chairman for APCA’s 67th Annual Meeting. To provide a lofty introduction of the subject he reached into outer space for a moderator—Captain Walter M. Schirra, one of the original astronaut team.     

Mesoscale Air Pollution Transport in the Chicago Lake Breeze

A two-day field program in Chicago studied mesoscale pollution transport during typical lake breezes. Streamlines calculated from serial pibal data suggest that a nearly closed circulation cell traps pollutants emitted near a shore line. Optically tracked tetroons confirm the helical trajectory of air within the lake breeze regime. Pollutants released within the inflow layer move inland, rise in a narrow zone of updrafts (100 cm/sec) at the lake breeze front, advect lakeward in the return flow layer aloft, and then subside back down into the inflow layer. Pollution then fumigates back to the surface as the air returns inland a second time causing concentrations higher than would otherwise be expected. Spectral aerosol measurements (0.5-3.0 and 7.0-9.0 micrometer size ranges) made by an instrumented aircraft reveal a marked particle size sorting.     

Configuration of a functional department: A study of contextual and structural variables

This study investigates whether departments performing the same functions in different firms incur similar changes in structural configuration in response to industry-wide stimuli. Based on the proposition that the context of functional departments is similar across firms, changes in differentiation, integration, and perspective are hypothesized. Managers' perceptions of the validity of a series of statements to conditions five to 10 years ago and to present conditions are contrasted and show statistically significant shifts in these structural configurations. This change is confirmed by the analysis of responses of other managers in different departments within the same firms. Correlation analysis shows significant agreement among alternative measures of the same aspects of structure, and significant comovement among different structural dimensions. The later result supports the quantum theory of organizations.     

ERODIBILITY OF URBAN BEDROCK AND ALLUVIAL CHANNELS,NORTH TEXAS1

ABSTRACT: Major erosion of urban stream channels is found in smaller basins in the North Texas study area with contributing drainage areas of less than ten square miles. Within these basins, four basic channel types are identified based on bed and bank lithologies: alluvial banks and bottoms, alluvial banks and gravel bottoms, alluvial banks with rock bottoms, and rock banks with rock bottoms. Most channels (75 percent) have alluvial banks with gravel or rock bottoms. Channel slopes are steep (.38 to.76 percent). Rock consists predominantly of shale and limestone. Channel cross sections are divided into the following four zones based on weathering, scour and entrainment mechanisms: soil zone, slake zone, rock zone and bed material zone. Erodibility of the channels is determined using multiple techniques including reach hydraulics and stream power computations, submerged jet testing, slab entrainment thresholds, and slake durability rates. Procedures are based on both empirical and modeled time series estimates of channel erosion. Field and modeled results support rates of erosion of up to four inches per year. Rates are tied to flow regime, climate, and type of channel bed and banks.     

A critical look at residential electricity conservation campaigns in a developing country environment

This paper analyses survey results of the effectiveness of information campaigns to promote energy efficiency among residential consumers in Brazil. The survey found that consumers have a relatively good knowledge of conservation measures to improve electricity usage. Nevertheless, other approaches are needed to promote energy conservation in the household sector.     

Influence of organic loading on an anaerobic sequencing biofilm batch reactor (ASBBR) as a function of cycle period and wastewater concentration

The effect of organic loading on the performance of a mechanically stirred anaerobic sequencing biofilm batch reactor (ASBBR) has been investigated, by varying influent concentration and cycle period. For microbial immobilization 1-cm polyurethane foam cubes were used. An agitation rate of 500 rpm and temperature of 30+/-2 degrees C were employed. Organic loading rates (OLR) of 1.5-6.0gCODl(-1)d(-1) were applied to the 6.3-l reactor treating 2.0 l synthetic wastewater in 8 and 12-h batches and at concentrations of 500-2000mgCODl(-1), making it possible to analyze the effect of these two operation variables for the same organic loading range. Microbial immobilization on inert support maintained approximately 60 gTVS in the reactor. Filtered sample organic COD removal efficiencies ranged from 73 to 88% for organic loading up to 5.4gCODl(-1)d(-1). For higher organic loading (influent concentration of 2000mgCODl(-1) and 8-h cycle) the system presented total volatile acids accumulation, which reduced organics removal efficiency down to 55%. In this way, ASBBR with immobilized biomass was shown to be efficient for organic removal at organic loading rates of up to 5.4gCODl(-1)d(-1) and to be more stable to organic loading variations for 12-h cycles. This reactor might be an alternative to intermittent systems as it possesses greater operational flexibility. It might also be an alternative to batch systems suspended with microorganisms since it eliminates both the uncertainties regarding granulation and the time necessary for biomass sedimentation, hence reducing the total cycle period.