Drought effects on the Iranian economy: a computable general equilibrium approach

Environment, Development and Sustainability - In the last two decades, recurring drought becomes a challenge for Iran’s economy, which is located in a drought-prone area, and it has been...     

滦河秋季大型底栖动物群落结构空间格局与关键环境影响因子识别

掌握水生生物的空间分布特征及其关键影响因子是科学制定生物多样性保护策略的基础.于2016年秋季对滦河53个样点开展了大型底栖动物和环境因子的现场调查,分析了大型底栖动物群落结构与空间分布特征,并识别出影响大型底栖动物物种空间分布的关键环境因子.结果表明:①滦河（河北省）共采集并鉴定出大型底栖动物206种,隶属于8纲22目70科144属,以纹石蚕（Hydropsyche sp.）和东方蜉蝣（Ephemera orientalis）为优势种.②根据滦河大型底栖动物群落结构相似性,53个样点在空间上被分为3组.第1组分布在滦河干流的中下游及支流下游,无指示物种;第2组分布在支流上游,指示种为纹石蚕、朝大蚊（Antocha sp.）和中华小长臂虾（Palaemonetes sinensis）;第3组分布在滦河干流中上游,指示种为东方蜉蝣和中华齿米虾（Neocaridina denticulate sinensis）.③第3组的分类单元数显著高于第1组和第2组;第1组的多样性指数显著高于第2组;第1组的均匀度指数显著高于其他2组.单因素方差分析（one-way ANOVA）发现,pH、TN、底质、河道变化、水质状况和河岸土地利用类型等环境因子在第2组与第3组之间差异显著,第2组明显高于第3组.典范对应分析（CCA）表明,栖境复杂性、河水水量状况和河岸土地利用类型是影响滦河大型底栖动物空间分布的关键环境因子.研究显示,降低河岸带干扰强度、恢复河道生境多样性是未来滦河大型底栖动物多样性保护恢复的重要管理措施.      

Direct capture of carbon dioxide from air via lime-based sorbents

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - Direct air capture (DAC) is a developing technology for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere or from low-CO2-containing...     

Simulation of a 100-MW solar-powered thermo-chemical air separation system combined with an oxy-fuel power plant for bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS)

The combination of concentrated solar power–chemical looping air separation (CSP-CLAS) with an oxy-fuel combustion process for carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture is a novel system to generate electricity from solar power and biomass while being able to store solar power efficiently. In this study, the computer program Advanced System for Process Engineering Plus (ASPEN Plus) was used to develop models to assess the process performance of such a process with manganese (Mn)-based oxygen carriers on alumina (Al₂O₃) support for a location in the region of Seville in Spain, using real solar beam irradiance and electricity demand data. It was shown that the utilisation of olive tree prunings (Olea europaea) as the fuel—an agricultural residue produced locally—results in negative CO₂ emissions (a net removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere). Furthermore, it was found that the process with an annual average electricity output of 18 MW would utilise 2.43% of Andalusia’s olive tree prunings, thereby capturing 260.5 k-tonnes of CO₂, annually. Drawbacks of the system are its relatively high complexity, a significant energy penalty in the CLAS process associated with the steam requirements for the loop-seal fluidisation, and the gas storage requirements. Nevertheless, the utilisation of agricultural residues is highly promising, and given the large quantities produced globally (~?4 billion tonnes/year), it is suggested that other novel processes tailored to these fuels should be investigated, under consideration of a future price on CO₂ emissions, integration potential with a likely electricity grid system, and based on the local conditions and real data.