OLIVERO: the project analysing the future of olive production systems on sloping land in the Mediterranean basin

From 2003 to 2006, a consortium of six European partners analysed the future of olive production systems on sloping land in the Mediterranean basin. Olive production on such land dates back to pre-Roman times, but the production systems (known by the acronym SMOPS, for "Sloping and Mountainous Olive Production Systems"), are under threat. Many are unsustainable environmentally (erosion hazard), socially (exodus of young people) or economically (high labour costs). The OLIVERO research project was possible thanks to a grant of euro1.5 million from the European Union, which gives out euro2.5 billion in subsidies annually for olive production. An extended survey conducted by the project in five sites in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece revealed the diversity and multifunctionality of SMOPS. Four main systems were identified as important for the future: traditional, organic, semi-intensive and intensive. The conceptual framework of OLIVERO involved six phases, ranging from the initial survey up to policy recommendations. In all phases there was intensive contact with stakeholders and institutions. End-users were identified at three levels: local, intermediate and regional, and national/international. This paper presents the highlights of the physical analysis of land and water resources, crop and land management, and economics and policies. Scenario studies gave insight into the possible future: some SMOPS will be gradually abandoned or transformed into nature conservation areas, others will exploit drip irrigation and follow the intensification patterns of agriculture in the valleys, and a third group will continue to be managed more extensively, perhaps augmenting their income with other activities (possibly off-farm) or turning to organic production systems. At the five international OLIVERO meetings held from 2003 to 2006, knowledge, experience and ideas on the future of olive production systems were intensively exchanged. A network was established for ongoing and future cooperation. Two end-user seminars were held in Matera (Italy) and Lisbon. Over 70 scientific papers have been published.     

A prediction-based approach to modelling temporal and spatial variability of traffic-related air pollution in Montreal, Canada

Concentrations of traffic-related air pollution can be highly variable at the local scale and can have substantial seasonal variability. This study was designed to provide estimates of intra-urban concentrations of ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in Montreal, Canada, that would be used subsequently in health studies of chronic diseases and long-term exposures to traffic-related air pollution. We measured concentrations of NO₂ at 133 locations in Montreal with passive diffusion samplers in three seasons during 2005 and 2006. We then used land use regression, a proven statistical prediction method for describing spatial patterns of air pollution, to develop separate estimates of spatial variability across the city by regressing NO₂ against available land-use variables in each of these three periods. We also developed a “pooled” model across these sampling periods to provide an estimate of an annual average. Our modelling strategy was to develop a predictive model that maximized the model R². This strategy is different from other strategies whose goal is to identify causal relationships between predictors and concentrations of NO₂.Observed concentrations of NO₂ ranged from 2.6 ppb to 31.5 ppb, with mean values of 12.6 ppb in December 2005, 14.0 ppb in May 2006, and 8.9 ppb in August 2006. The greatest variability was observed during May. Concentrations of NO₂ were highest downtown and near major highways, and they were lowest in the western part of the city. Our pooled model explained approximately 80% of the variability in concentrations of NO₂. Although there were differences in concentrations of NO₂ between the three sampling periods, we found that the spatial variability did not vary significantly across the three sampling periods and that the pooled model was representative of mean annual spatial patterns.     

Evaluation of methods for the physical characterization of the fine particle emissions from two residential wood combustion appliances

The fine particle emissions from a U. S. certified non-catalytic wood stove and a zero-clearance fireplace burning Quercus rubra L. (northern red oak) and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) cordwood each at two different moisture levels were determined. Emission testing was performed using both time-integrated and continuous instrumentation for total particle mass, particle number, particle size distribution, and fixed combustion gases using an atmospheric wind tunnel, full-flow laboratory dilution tunnel, and dilution stack sampler with a comparison made between the three dilution systems and two sampling filter types. The total mass emission factors (EFs) for all dilution systems and filter media are extremely variable ranging from <1 to 55 g kg⁻¹ of dry wood depending on the combination of appliance type, wood species and moisture content, filter medium, and dilution system. For Teflon filter sampling of stove emissions in the wind tunnel, the total mass EFs varied from 2 to 8 g kg⁻¹ of dry fuel depending on wood type whereas the equivalent fireplace emissions burning wet oak averaged 11 g kg⁻¹. A substantial number of ultrafine particles in the accumulation size range were also observed during all tests as determined by an Electrical Low Pressure Impactor (ELPI) and Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer. The PM-2.5 (particles ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter) fractions determined from the ELPI electrometer data ranged from 93 to 98% (mass) depending on appliance type as reported previously by Hays et al. (Aerosol Science, 34, 1061, 2003).     

Environmental Disclosure of Chemical Industry： Evidence from Chinese A-Share Market

Environmental pollution and environmental reporting have increasingly drawn the attention of the countries around the world. The paper selects A-share listed companies of chemical industry in China. Using logistic model, we research the impact of financial performance of listed companies upon environmental reporting. The conclusion of the study shows that the total number of enterprises which disclosed environmental information （EI） has increased year by year, and EI content and volume disclosed by heavy pollution corporations have increased annually. And the more profitability the listed companies attain, the more EI they are inclined to disclose. Moreover, companies will have an ability to disclose EI so as to reduce the agency costs arising from information asymmetry. Furthermore, the development capability of companies is of negative correlation to environmental reporting, and the liabilities degree of listed companies is of negative correlation to environmental reporting, but it is not significant. This paper also offers policy recommendations that enhance EI transparency and regulate EI reporting of listed companies.     

耕作方式对紫色水稻土农田生态系统CH4和N2O排放的影响

以位于西南大学农业部重庆紫色土生态环境重点野外科学观测试验站内1990年设立的长期免耕试验田为研究对象,采用静态暗箱/气相色谱法,对传统的冬水田平作（CT）及由其改良而成的水旱轮作（CTR）、厢作免耕（NTP）和垄作免耕（NTR）等农田生态系统CH4和N2O的排放进行了连续1 a的田间原位观测研究.结果表明,传统的CT处理中,CH4和N2O主要排放时期为水稻种植季,该时期的持续时间仅占全年的27.1%,但2种温室气体的总排放量分别占全年的77.6%和55.0%;耕作制度改良后,CH4排放降低而N2O排放增加.不同耕作方式下CH4的年平均排放通量[以CH4计,mg.（m2.h）-1]为CT（2.96±0.04）〉NTR（1.83±0.21）〉NTP（1.42±0.01）〉CTR（0.96±0.09）,CT处理的CH4排放极显著高于CTR和NTP处理（P〈0.01）,显著高于NTR处理（P〈0.05）;N2O的年平均排放通量[以N2O计,μg.（m2.h）-1]依次为CTR（123.6±47.1）〉NTR（115.2±22.1）〉NTP（100.5±25.8）〉CT（81.3±13.5）,CTR处理N2O的排放显著高于CT（P〈0.05）.通过对不同时间尺度（20、100及500 a）2种温室气体综合全球增温潜势（global warming potential,GWP）的计算,可以发现,改良后的3种耕作方式对CH4和N2O的综合GWP有一定的减排作用,无论时间尺度长短,4种耕作处理全年所排放的CH4和N2O所产生的综合GWP均为CT〉NTR〉NTP〉CTR.因此,耕作方式的改良对紫色水稻土农田生态系统中CH4和N2O综合GWP减排有着明显的效果.     

A Conceptual Model for Defining and Assessing Land Management Units Using a Fuzzy Modeling Approach in GIS Environment

Appropriate land management decisions are important for current and future use of the land to ensure its sustainability. This requires that land management units (LMUs) be specified to enable the identification of specific parameters employed in decision making processes. This paper presents the development of a conceptual model, within geographic information systems (GIS), for defining and assessing LMUs from available biophysical information. The model consists of two main components (sub-models): land quality-based suitability analysis and soil erosion estimation. Using a fuzzy set methodology, the first sub-model was constructed to derive a land suitability index (LSI) for a cropping land utilization type. The LSI thus highlights the suitability grades of every pixel in the study area on a continuous basis. A sub-model of soil erosion was established based on the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) utilising the same spatial data bases employed for structuring the LSI. Using a soil loss tolerance principle, a fuzzy membership function of average annual soil loss (called soil loss index, SLI) was established, leading to compatibility between LSI and SLI for data integration. LMUs were then derived from various combinations of LSI and SLI. The methodology developed shows the significance of the model for refining available land suitability evaluation systems, which take no account of expected land degradation (from erosion) due to a nominated land use. It also provides a valuable guideline for cost-effective GIS applications in the identification and assessment of homogeneous land units, using available spatial information sets, at a finer scale.     

磁处理净化污水应用实例分析研究

介绍将磁处理作为强化措施引入南医人工生态系统处理污不的应用及实验研究，实际工程效果表明，该技术有效地强化了南医人工生态系统处理有机污水的能力，糸补了实际工程中由于地理位置、气侯条件等影响因素所造成的不足。同时本文还对其强化机理进行了综合实验和分析。     

北京市清水与再生水协同利用优化模型

开展协同利用清水与再生水的城市供水系统优化研究具有重要的科学意义和广阔的应用前景.为促进城市水资源高效利用,基于多水源转换关系以及再生水生产能力和利用潜力,构建了面向多区域多部门的城市清水与再生水协同利用优化模型,并以水资源严重短缺的北京市为例进行实证研究.设置规划方案基准情景和规划替代方案情景,分别优化了清水与再生水的协同利用方案以及再生水厂群的运行方案.在规划方案基准情景下,再生水占研究区用水总量的32%,分别占农业、工业、环境用水量的60%、30%和42%.海淀区和石景山区再生水供给矛盾将较为突出.相比之下,规划替代方案情景可以获得更高的经济效益,总效益增加6. 21亿元,同时能增加再生水利用量36. 59%、减少清水用量14. 02%.规划替代方案能更加充分地利用现有设施,促进水资源循环利用.此外,还提供了在现有设施条件下,再生水利用量由政策规划值逐渐提升至最佳规模过程中再生水厂群的运行过渡方案.本文建立的研究方法具有较广泛的适用性,可用于解决其它具有再生水利用潜力地区的水资源短缺问题.     

给水管网中管内壁腐蚀管垢特征分析

使用扫描电镜(SEM)、X荧光光谱分析(XRF)、X射线衍射分析(XRD)以及X光电子能谱(XPS)对给水管网中铸铁管和镀锌钢管上的管内壁腐蚀管垢进行微观形态、化学组成、晶体结构和化合物构成等物理化学特征分析.发现管垢外部平滑而致密,内部为多孔结构.铁是管垢最重要的化学组成,管垢基本上是含铁的化合物.外层管垢可能的化学组成是α-FeOOH、γ-FeOOH、α-Fe₂O₃、γFe₂O₃、FeCl₃等三价铁化合物,而内层管垢则为Fe₃O₄、FeCl₂、FeCO₃等二价铁及二价铁与三价铁共同存在的化合物.管垢的特征取决于管网水力条件、水质条件和管材本身特性.     

污水渗滤土地处理系统中的堵塞问题

堵塞问题是污水渗滤土地处理系统经常遇到的.从理论方面对悬浮物截留、吸附及微生物生长所造成的堵塞进行了讨论,并用实例进行了验证.结果表明,不管是悬浮物截留、吸附,还是微生物的生长,所造成的堵塞状况都呈现出随滤层厚度增加按负指数形式递减的趋势.系统内部是否会发生堵塞与原水的成分组成、渗滤介质的有关参数、微生物的活性等都密切相关.对于污水渗滤土地处理系统来说,微生物的生长一般不会导致系统内部产生堵塞,而悬浮物的截留、吸附常常会造成系统表层比较严重的堵塞.