Canopy leaching of nutrients and metals in a mountain spruce forest

Precipitation and throughfall fluxes of major ions, nutrients (C, N, P), and metals (Al, Fe, Mn), and the chemical composition of litter fall and living plant tissue in Norway spruce stands (the Bohemian Forest; Czech Republic), were used to evaluate how microbial processes and decay of plant tissue in canopies influence canopy leaching (CL) of elements. Proton exchange for Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and K⁺ in decaying biomass and co-transport of Ca²⁺ and K⁺ out of plant cells with organic acid anions were the most likely processes contributing to CL of base cations. The CL of total P and N (and also NO₃^?) was minor. Important proportions of the N and P mineral forms were transformed to organic forms by microbial processes (primary and bacterial production), with the respective CL of ?13.9 and 16.4 mmol m^?2 yr^?1 for NH₄⁺ and organic N, and ?0.33 and 0.22 mmol m^?2 yr^?1 for dissolved reactive P (DRP) and organic P. Most of particulate P and N in throughfall (～90%) originated from microbial DRP and NH₄⁺ transformations, but particulate C mostly came from the fragmentation of plant tissue (58%). Among metals, CL was not observed for Al, was small for Fe (0.3 mmol m^?2 yr^?1), and greatest for Mn (0.9 mmol m^?2 yr^?1) due to leaching from decaying tissue by acidic precipitation.     

Possible particulate nitrite formation and its atmospheric implications inferred from the observations in Seoul,Korea

Simultaneous measurements of gaseous species and fine-mode, particulate inorganic components were performed at the University of Seoul, Seoul in Korea. In the simultaneous measurements, a certain level of nitrous acid (HONO) was observed in the gas-phase, indicating possible heterogeneous HONO production on the surface of the ambient aerosols. On the other hand, high particulate nitrite (NO^2?) concentrations of 1.41(±2.26) μg/m³ were also measured, which sometimes reached 18.54 μg/m³. In contrast, low HONO-to-NO₂ ratios of 0.007(±0.006) were observed in Seoul. This indicates that a significant fraction of HONO is dissolved in atmospheric aerosols. Around the Seoul site, sufficient alkalinity may have been provided to the atmospheric aerosols from the excessive presence of NH₃ in the gas-phase. Due to the alkaline particulate conditions (defined in this study as a particle pH >～3.29), the HONO molecules produced at the surface of the atmospheric aerosols appeared to have been converted into particulate nitrite, thereby preventing their further participation in the atmospheric O₃/NO_y/HO_x photochemical cycles. It was estimated that a minimum average of 65% of HONO was captured by alkaline, anthropogenic, urban particles in the Seoul measurements.     

Hydrogen-rich fuel gas production from refuse plastic fuel pyrolysis and steam gasification

In this study, experimental conditions were optimized to maximize the production of hydrogen gas from refuse plastic fuel (RPF) by pyrolysis and steam gasification processes conducted in a laboratory-scale reactor. We carried out gasification using 10-g RPF samples at different temperatures (700°-1000°C) with and without steam. The effect of the amount of steam (0–0.25 g/min) for RPF steam gasification was also studied. The effect of K₂CO₃ as a catalyst on these processes was also investigated. Experimental results showed that the hydrogen gas yield increased with temperature; with respect to the gas composition, the hydrogen content increased mainly at the expense of other gaseous compounds, which highlights the major extension of secondary cracking reactions in the gaseous fraction at higher temperatures.     

Optical and microphysical properties of severe haze and smoke aerosol measured by integrated remote sensing techniques in Gwangju,Korea

Aerosol optical and microphysical parameters from severe haze events observed in October 2005 at Gwangju, Korea (35.10°N, 126.53°E) were determined from the ground using a multi-wavelength Raman lidar, a sunphotometer, and a real-time carbon particle analyzer and from space using satellite retrievals. Two different aerosol types were identified based on the variability of optical characteristics for different air mass conditions. Retrievals of microphysical properties of the haze from the Raman lidar indicated distinct light-absorbing characteristics for different haze aerosols originating from eastern and northern China (haze) and eastern Siberia (forest-fire smoke). The haze transported from the west showed moderately higher absorbing characteristics (SSA = 0.90 ± 0.03, 532 nm) than from the northern direction (SSA = 0.96 ± 0.02). The organic/elemental carbon (OC/EC) ratio varied between 2.5 ± 0.4 and 4.1 ± 0.7.     

预应力锚索-地梁结构在岩体中传力规律研究

在建立受非均布线形荷载作用的地基力学模型的基础上,应用叠加原理推导出地基表面在非均布的线形荷载作用下,预应力锚索-地梁结构中垂直于梁轴线平面内的地基中深处的应力和位移计算公式,为研究预应力锚索-地梁结构在岩体中的传力规律提供了理论基础.以湖南省常张高速公路K123+160～K123+369边坡为试验区域,通过理论分析得出,在对锚索施加预应力后,锚索预应力通过地梁传递给被加固的岩土体,其传递方式在垂直于地梁轴线的平面内是以梁轴线与该平面的交点为端点的近似椭圆的等值面形式由内向外呈逐渐衰减趋势分布的.现场试验得出,两地梁周边岩体中的压应变随深度增加由小到大增至峰值,然后逐渐衰减为0,这种分布形式与理论结论一致.     

西南地区水库生态环境特征与研究展望

西南是我国水资源富集区,随着清洁能源"西电东送"、城镇化建设和水利水电发展战略的持续实施,西南地区水库的数量将不断被刷新,水库数量快速增长与日益凸显的生态环境问题存在突出矛盾。西南地区水库具有独特的地质地理背景和生态环境特征,主要表现在:1)具人工建造属性,水环境与生态系统演化起点不同于天然湖泊;2)水位逆周期人为调控,消落带生态功能退化;3)亚深水型,水体季节性分层控制了湖泊的关键物理、化学和生物过程;4)沉积物有机质和营养盐蓄积量大,潜在二次污染风险大;5)物质循环的累积效应对水库及下游水环境与水生态安全具重要影响;6)水体富营养化与重金属污染叠加、复合;7)物质循环和生物过程受多界面作用控制。当前对西南地区亚深水型水库生态环境的研究远落后于东部浅水湖泊,亟待对其生态环境演变过程与规律开展深入研究,研究建立与之适宜的水环境演变理论和治理技术体系,为该类型水库生态环境保护与治理提供有效科技支撑。     

RAMS contribution to efficient waste minimisation and management

The significance of waste management systems in recent years increased due to the growing problems of waste management chains affecting the daily lives of millions of people and the impact on the environment. Several promising approaches have been developed in the past few years. One of them is the waste management system modelling using reliability, availability, maintainability and safety software. This paper analyses and evaluates this approach. The main goal is to provide quantitative forecasts for various performance measures of waste management systems. They include availability, downtimes, number of failures, and cost. Evaluation of these measures is important for optimal decision making. The system design should both maximise the system performance leading to cleaner processing and minimise the overall cost within the allowable constraints. The effectiveness of this methodology is demonstrated through a case study.     

The Environmental Performance Strategy Map: an integrated LCA approach to support the strategic decision-making process

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a well-known tool for analyzing environmental impacts on a wide perspective with reference to a product system and the related environmental and economic impacts. The need for a novel approach that complements environmental and financial considerations is addressed in this study with the introduction of a new graphical representation: the Environmental Performance Strategy Map. This graphical map allows one to combine the main environmental indicators (footprints) with the additional dimension of cost. The paper defines the Sustainable Environmental Performance Indicator as a single measure for sustainability of a given option. Comparison of different options for strategic decision-making purposes can be enhanced and facilitated by the use of this indicator.