The measurement of water scarcity: Defining a meaningful indicator

Metrics of water scarcity and stress have evolved over the last three decades from simple threshold indicators to holistic measures characterising human environments and freshwater sustainability. Metrics commonly estimate renewable freshwater resources using mean annual river runoff, which masks hydrological variability, and quantify subjectively socio-economic conditions characterising adaptive capacity. There is a marked absence of research evaluating whether these metrics of water scarcity are meaningful. We argue that measurement of water scarcity (1) be redefined physically in terms of the freshwater storage required to address imbalances in intra- and inter-annual fluxes of freshwater supply and demand; (2) abandons subjective quantifications of human environments and (3) be used to inform participatory decision-making processes that explore a wide range of options for addressing freshwater storage requirements beyond dams that include use of renewable groundwater, soil water and trading in virtual water. Further, we outline a conceptual framework redefining water scarcity in terms of freshwater storage.     

Simultaneous adsorption of Remazol brilliant blue and Disperse orange dyes on red mud and isotherms for the mixed dye system

The paper presents the adsorption of Remazol brilliant blue (RBB) and Disperse orange 25 (DO25) dyes from aqueous solution of the mixture of dyes onto concentrated sulphuric acid-treated red mud (ATRM). First-order derivative spectrophotometric method was developed for the analysis of RBB and DO25 in mixed dye aqueous solution to overcome the limitations arising due to interference in the zero-order spectral method. The optimum conditions to maximize RBB adsorption favoured the adsorption of RBB, and those for DO25 favoured DO25 adsorption from the mixed dye aqueous solutions. Presence of a second dye always inhibited the adsorption of a target dye. The uptake and percentage adsorption of each of the dyes onto ATRM from the aqueous solution of the mixture of dyes decreased considerably with increasing concentrations of the other dye showing the antagonistic effect. Monocomponent Langmuir isotherm fitted the mixed dye adsorption equilibrium data better than the monocomponent Freundlich isotherm. However, monocomponent models are suitable for the fixed concentration of the other dye. Modified Langmuir isotherm model adequately predicted the multi-component adsorption equilibrium data for RBB-DO25-ATRM adsorption system with a good accuracy and is more generic from the application point of view.     

Research status,challenges and future prospects of renewable synthetic fuel catalysts for CO2 photocatalytic reduction conversion

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In recent years, with global climate change, the utilization of carbon dioxide as a resource has become an important goal of human society to achieve...     

How does carbon emission trading scheme affect enterprise green technology innovation: evidence from China’s A-share non-financial listed companies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - More and more emphasis is placed on the common development of economy and ecological environment in China’s development strategy, and one of the...     

Volcano-related materials in concretes: a comprehensive review

Massive volcano-related materials (VRMs) erupted from volcanoes bring the impacts to natural environment and humanity health worldwide, which include generally volcanic ash (VA), volcanic pumice (VP), volcanic tuff (VT), etc. Considering the pozzolanic activities and mechanical characters of these materials, civil engineers propose to use them in low carbon/cement and environment-friendly concrete industries as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) or artificial/natural aggregates. The utilization of VRMs in concretes has attracted increasing and pressing attentions from research community. Through a literature review, this paper presents comprehensively the properties of VRMs and VRM concretes (VRMCs), including the physical and chemical properties of raw VRMs and VRMCs, and the fresh, microstructural and mechanical properties of VRMCs. Besides, considering environmental impacts and the development of long-term properties, the durability and stability properties of VRMCs also are summarized in this paper. The former focuses on the resistance properties of VRMCs when subjected to aggressive environmental impacts such as chloride, sulfate, seawater, and freezing–thawing. The latter mainly includes the fatigue, creep, heat-insulating, and expansion properties of VRMCs. This study will be helpful to promote the sustainability in concrete industries, protect natural environment, and reduce the impacts of volcano disaster. Based on this review, some main conclusions are discussed and important recommendations regarding future research on the application of VRMs in concrete industries are provided.     

Effects of organic matter on Leymus chinensis germination,growth, and urease activity and available nitrogen in coastal saline soil

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of three organic matters (stalk powder, microbial fertilizer, and manure) on Leymus chinensis germination, growth, and urease activity and available nitrogen (N) in coastal saline soil. The study was conducted in a completely randomized design with eight treatments: J₀V₀Y₀, J₁V₀Y₀, J₀V₁Y₀, J₀V₀Y₁, J₁V₁Y₀, J₁V₀Y₁, J₀V₁Y₁, J₁V₁Y₁. The notations were based on the quantities of each agent added to 1 kg of coastal saline soil: J₀ – no straw powder, J₁ – 0.2 kg straw powder, Y₀ – no manure, Y₁ – 0.3 kg manure, V₀ – no microbial fertilizer, V₁ – 0.2 L microbial fertilizer, each in quantic repeat. L. chinensis was sown as 50 seeds per pot. Results indicated that addition of organic agents exerted a significantly enhanced germination, increase in fresh weight and elevated soil urease activity. Soil available N levels were significantly positively correlated with soil urease activity and fresh weight, but not with germination rate. It is noteworthy that the halophyte L. chinensis showed improved characteristics when grown in coastal saline soil with addition of organic amendments.     

Effects of Natural and Artificial Weathering on the Physical Properties of Recycled Poly(ethylene terephthalate)

In accelerated weathering tests, specimens are exposed to higher radiation intensity, temperature and humidity than is likely under natural weathering in order to achieve rapid degradation of the polymer in a convenient short time. In the current work, a correlation between the two environments is attempted so that a prediction of lifetimes in the natural environment can be achieved. During aging, surface flaws are created due to the chain scission process. This is initiated by the absorption of ultra-violet light and directly affects visual appearance and impact strength. After natural weathering, the material shows only plastic deformation in an impact test. However, after artificial weathering to 5000 h of UV exposure, there is a decrease of 85% in impact strength. Colour change occurs at a high rate in the early stages of UV exposure. Beyond 2000 h of exposure, the colour change approaches a steady state and a correlation between the changes under natural and artificial weathering becomes apparent for a potential prediction of lifetimes. From the analysis including the specular component (SCI), taking surface roughening into account, 1 year under natural weathering was found to be equivalent to 25 days under accelerated weathering.     

Delineation of potential ground water-bearing zones in the Barind tract of West Bengal,India

The Barind tract of West Bengal is an area of tropical sub-humid region composed of old alluvial soil. The area has high water demand due to growing population pressure and intensification in agricultural activity. These create huge stress on surface and ground water availability. Continuous withdrawal of ground water has become an alternative source of irrigation water which has also again made the condition critical. Ground water level has been lowered down drastically in many parts in this region. Under this circumstance, it is necessary to delineate potential ground water-bearing layers. Therefore, the present study attempts to identify potential ground water-bearing zones to manage ground water effectively. Instead of usually used parameters for ground water potentiality delineation here only some particular litholog parameters like breadth of water-bearing layer, depth of water-bearing layer, presence of clay layer above or below major water-bearing layer have been considered for delimiting the same. The result shows that out of total area, 60% area (405,382.2 ha) falls under very low to low potential ground water-bearing zone and only 8.19% area (55,634.97 ha) is potential. Considering this spatial pattern of ground water availability, harvesting structure and magnitude of water withdrawing should be designed.     

Developing biodiversity indicators on a stakeholders’ opinions basis: the gypsum industry Key Performance Indicators framework

This study aims to establish a common Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) framework for reporting about the gypsum industry biodiversity at the European level. In order to integrate different opinions and to reach a consensus framework, an original participatory process approach has been developed among different stakeholder groups: Eurogypsum, European and regional authorities, university scientists, consulting offices, European and regional associations for the conservation of nature, and the extractive industry. The strategy is developed around four main steps: (1) building of a maximum set of indicators to be submitted to stakeholders based on the literature (Focus Group method); (2) evaluating the consensus about indicators through a policy Delphi survey aiming at the prioritization of indicator classes using the Analytic Hierarchy Process method (AHP) and of individual indicators; (3) testing acceptability and feasibility through analysis of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and visits to three European quarries; (4) Eurogypsum final decision and communication. The resulting framework contains a set of 11 indicators considered the most suitable for all the stakeholders. Our KPIs respond to European legislation and strategies for biodiversity. The framework aims at improving sustainability in quarries and at helping to manage biodiversity as well as to allow the creation of coherent reporting systems. The final goal is to allow for the definition of the actual biodiversity status of gypsum quarries and allow for enhancing it. The framework is adaptable to the local context of each gypsum quarry.