Suppression of precipitation by dust particles originated in the Tibetan Plateau

Dust aerosols play an important role in modulating the hydrologic cycle. The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is little polluted by human activities as an ideal site to study the effect of dust aerosol on precipitation. In this study, observational data of dust storms and precipitation in the TP and its vicinities as well as CALIPSO satellite data were used to analyze the distributions and vertical structure of dust storms on the plateau. The results showed that dust storms occur with high frequency and raise dust particles into the troposphere from ground level to a height of 5–9 km to modulate the hydrologic cycle in the TP. There are significant negative correlations between dust aerosol and precipitation in the dust source regions during the period of both 40 and 200 years. It is found that the role of precipitation in suppressing dust storms could be unimportant, while dust aerosol may play an important role in suppressing precipitation in the hinterland of the TP. Our study provides a potential approach to better understand the climate changes in the TP.     

China's grazed temperate grasslands are a net source of atmospheric methane

A budget for the methane (CH₄) cycle in the Xilin River basin of Inner Mongolia is presented. The annual CH₄ budget in this region depends primarily on the sum of atmospheric CH₄ uptake by upland soils, emission from small wetlands, and emission from grazing ruminants (sheep, goats, and cattle). Flux rates for these processes were averaged over multiple years with differing summer rainfall. Although uplands constitute the vast majority of land area, they consume much less CH₄ per unit area than is emitted by wetlands and ruminants. Atmospheric CH₄ uptake by upland soils was ?3.3 and ?4.8 kg CH₄ ha^?1 y^?1 in grazed and ungrazed areas, respectively. Average CH₄ emission was 791.0 kg CH₄ ha^?1 y^?1 from wetlands and 8.6 kg CH₄ ha^?1 y^?1 from ruminants. The basin area-weighted average of all three processes was 6.8 kg CH₄ ha^?1 y^?1, indicating that ruminant production has converted this basin to a net source of atmospheric CH₄. The total CH₄ emission from the Xilin River basin was 7.29 Gg CH₄ y^?1. The current grazing intensity is about eightfold higher than that which would result in a net zero CH₄ flux. Since grazing intensity has increased throughout western China, it is likely that ruminant production has converted China's grazed temperate grasslands to a net source of atmospheric CH₄ overall.     

Hydrogeochemical Indicators of Groundwater Flow Systems in the Yangwu River Alluvial Fan,Xinzhou Basin,Shanxi, China

Based on analysis of groundwater hydrochemical and isotopic indicators, this article aims to identify the groundwater flow systems in the Yangwu River alluvial fan, in the Xinzhou Basin, China. Groundwater δ²H and δ¹⁸O values indicate that the origin of groundwater is mainly from precipitation, with local evaporative influence. d-excess values lower than 10% in most groundwaters suggest a cold climate during recharge in the area. Major ion chemistry, including rCa/rMg and rNa/rCl ratios, show that groundwater salinization is probably dominated by water–rock interaction (e.g., silicate mineral weathering, dissolution of calcite and dolomite and cation exchange) in the Yangwu River alluvial fan, and locally by intensive evapotranspiration in the Hutuo River valley. Cl and Sr concentrations follow an increasing trend in shallow groundwater affected by evaporation, and a decreasing trend in deep groundwater. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios reflect the variety of lithologies encountered during throughflow. The groundwater flow systems (GFS) of the Yangwu River alluvial fan include local and intermediate flow systems. Hydrogeochemical modeling results, simulated using PHREEQC, reveal water–rock interaction processes along different flow paths. This modeling method is more effective for characterizing flow paths in the intermediate system than in the local system. Artificial exploitation on groundwater in the alluvial fan enhances mixing between different groundwater flow systems.     

The Sustainable Development of ICTs in China： An Empirical Study of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

The wide application of new information and communication technologies （ICTs） has been argued to be critical to business success of small and medium-sized enterprises （SMEs）, especially to those in the developing countries. Drawing upon existing literature, this article will examine the determinants of ICTs application in SMEs in China based on data collected from interviews with top managers and/or owners of 70 SMEs. We identify 20 factors affecting ICTs application in SMEs in China and divide them into four broad categories, namely pressures, firm specific factors, technical factors and local milieu. We also pay special attention to the Chinese business environment affecting ICTs application. Our analysis shows that local ICT infrastructure, external pressures from competitors and ICT knowledge of employees are the determinants of Internet application by SMEs, while product characteristics and market target are important factors of e-commerce adoption.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in various bird species from northern China

Little data are available on organochlorine contamination in Chinese terrestrial birds of prey. This study examined the presence of PCBs, DDTs and other organochlorine pesticides in various raptors from northern China. DDE exhibited the highest concentrations among targeted compounds. Greatest levels (23.5-1020 mg/kg lipid weight) were observed in Eurasian sparrowhawks. This may be due to their stopover in southeastern China, where high DDT and dicofol applications have been documented. Residential kestrels exhibited much lower DDE, but similar PCB and HCH concentrations. ΣTEQs and PCB-126/-77 concentration ratios exhibited significant positive correlations with ΣPCB concentrations, respectively. Similar results were also demonstrated by a meta-analysis of previously published data across avian species. Possible hepatic sequestration of coplanar PCB-77, -126, -169 and -118 was observed as liver TEQs increased in Eurasian sparrowhawks. These observations may indicate an induction of CYP1A enzymes, as a result of elevated contamination in some species.     

Studies of potential sources that contributed to atmospheric mercury in Toronto,Canada

This study identified sources of mercury (Hg) in downtown Toronto, Canada by analyzing gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), mercury associated with particles with sizes less than 2.5 microns (PHg < 2.5), and gaseous oxidized inorganic mercury (GOIM), commonly referred to as reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), and air pollutants (CO, NO_x, O₃, PM_2.5, SO₂) concentrations between Dec 2003 and Nov 2004. The data were analyzed using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model, Principal Components Analysis (PCA), ratio analysis, back trajectories, and correlation analyses. The analyses suggest industrial sources (chemical production, metal production, sewage treatment), rather than coal combustion, were the major contributors to measured Hg levels. Overlap in source profiles for the Hg sources listed in the Canadian National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) and lack of source profiles for urban sources were the major limitations to positively identifying sources from the PMF and PCA factors. Correlation analyses revealed direct emissions were the sources of GOIM in spring, summer, and fall, and the occurrence of GEM oxidation by ozone in the summer. Elevated Hg events are attributed to emissions from urban sources near the sampling site, regional point sources, and photochemical processes involving ozone.     

氮掺杂氧化钛的简易制备及可见光催化活性的研究

为开发对可见光响应的催化剂,以尿素为氮掺杂剂,采用简易溶胶-凝胶法制备氮掺杂氧化钛,并以2,4-DCP的降解检验其光催化活性。XRD、BET、XPS和UV-Vis漫反射光谱分析表明,随着氮/钛原子比（N/Ti)的增大,各催化剂晶粒尺寸减小,比表面积增大,锐钛矿相向金红石相的转变得到抑制,除0#样品出现金红石相外,其他催化剂均只出现锐钛矿相;掺入催化剂的N位于晶格O位点和晶格间隙,替代N和间隙N掺杂使催化剂的光吸收发生明显的红移。荧光光谱分析表明,当N/Ti在0～6范围内增加时,反应体系中·OH自由基的产生速率增加,当N/Ti增大至8时,速率则下降。相似的规律也表现在氮掺杂量对光催化活性的影响。适量氮掺杂能增强氧化钛的可见光催化活性,该改性催化剂可用于有机污染物的太阳光激催化降解。     

我国旅游教育发展的初步研究

我国旅游业的高速发展推动了旅游教育事业快速发展,同时也给旅游教育提出了更高的要求和挑战.在文献分析和整理的基础上,简要梳理了改革开放以来我国旅游教育发展所取得的显著成就,归纳出旅游专业教育在培养目标和模式、教学观念、课程设置、教学方法、师资力量、就业等方面存在的问题,最后提出了未来旅游教育发展的对策和建议.     

我国旅游景区经营模式的构想

本文以旅游景区的经营模式为研究核心,从现有国内外旅游景区组织结构分析入手,构建了适合我国国情和旅游景区可持续发展要求的两种经营模式：一种是国有国营的次国家公园模式,另一种是完全企业化经营,并且提出了两种模式运作的保障条件。     

火电厂烟气排放连续监测系统的检测

针对烟气排放连续监测系统（CEMS）现场检测中发现的许多问题进行了探讨。并提出建议,认为完善和规范标准体系、加强监督管理是解决当前问题的主要途径。