Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies in Kenya

Abstract

To determine the climate changes that are due to natural variability and those due to human activities is quite challenging, just like delineating the impacts. Moreover, it is equally difficult to ascertain the adaptive strategies for coping with the climate changes and in particular for developing countries like Kenya. While climate change is a global phenomenon, the impacts are more or less specific to local areas such as observed in Kenyan case. Therefore climate change impacts adaptation strategies are appropriately applicable to a given local perspective. The study investigated the main indicators of climate change and effective adaptive strategies that can be employed in Kenya. Based on online questionnaire survey, the study established unpredictable rainfall patterns as the major indicator of climate change in the country, while water harvesting and change of cropping methods are the best adaptive strategies.     

风蚀扬尘抑尘剂效率测试方法与应用

风蚀扬尘抑尘剂是一种控制风蚀扬尘的有效措施,探讨使用便携式风洞(PI-SWERL)测试风蚀扬尘抑尘剂效率的方法,并对比国内外2种抑尘剂对风蚀扬尘PM2. 5的抑制效率,以研究喷洒方式、稀释倍数和风速对抑尘效率的影响.结果表明:①按照推荐的稀释倍数分别配置G和Enviroseal(ES)抑尘剂水溶液并测试,液滴喷洒方式对应的抑尘效率优于雾化喷洒方式,在17. 2 m·s~(-1)(相当于8级风)风速时G抑尘剂效率(99. 5%)优于ES抑尘剂(94. 0%)和水(77. 5%);②对稀释倍数为50、100、150、200和400倍的G抑尘剂进行测试,在17. 2 m·s~(-1)风速时,抑尘效率分别为99. 7%、99. 5%、99. 7%、98. 1%和95. 9%,可根据抑尘效率变化拐点确定抑尘剂最佳成本效益稀释倍数;在13. 1～17. 2 m·s~(-1)风速范围内,抑尘效率随风速增加而增加.③使用便携式风洞测试风蚀扬尘抑尘剂效率的方法,可以量化抑尘剂对风蚀扬尘PM2. 5的抑制效率,建议对风蚀扬尘抑尘剂开展抑尘有效期和环境友好性测试.     

Minimizing external indirect health costs due to aerosol population exposure: a case study from Northern Italy

Environmental Agencies require Decision Support Systems, in order to plan Air Quality Policies considering the cost of emission reduction measures and the human health effects (with related social costs). The use of Decision Support Systems is also useful to spread information to general public, explaining the effectiveness of proposed air quality plans. In this paper, a multi-objective approach to control PM10 concentration at a regional level is presented. The problem considers both the internal costs (due to the implementation of emission reduction measures) and the external costs (due to population exposure to high PM10 concentrations). To model PM10 concentrations, a single surrogate model is used for the entire domain, allowing the implementation of a very efficient optimization procedure. The surrogate model is derived through a set of 10 simulations, performed using a Chemistry Transport Model fed with different emission reduction scenarios. The methodology is applied to Northern Italy, a region affected by very high PM10 concentrations that exceed the limit values specified by the EU legislation.     

General vs. domain specific recycling behaviour—Applying a multilevel comprehensive action determination model to recycling in Norwegian student homes

This paper reports the results of a multilevel structure equation model predicting general and fraction specific self-reported recycling behaviour. The model was tested on a sample of 697 undergraduate students from four Norwegian universities who each reported their degree of participation in the local recycling schemes for paper/cardboard, glass, metal, and plastic. It was demonstrated that variance in recycling behaviour can be divided into a smaller general part that is relatively stable across waste fractions and a specific part that depends on the respective fraction. General recycling behaviour is well predicted by intentions to recycle and recycling habits, whereas perceived behavioural control is to a large extend fraction specific and influences the fraction specific recycling. Perceived behavioural control mediates the influence of the recycling scheme type, distance to recycling containers, and transport mode used to reach the recycling containers.     

Formulation of criteria for pollution control on cement products produced from solid wastes in China

The process of producing cement products from solid waste can increase the level of pollutants in the cement products. Therefore, it is very important to establish a pollution control standard for cement products to protect the environment and human health. This paper presents acceptance limits for the availability of heavy metals in cement products which have been produced from solid wastes and explains how the limits have been calculated. The approach and method used to formulate these criteria were based on EN 12920. The typical exposure scenarios used in this paper involve concrete being used for drinking water supply pipelines and concrete pavements and are based on an analysis of typical applications of cement in China, and the potential for contact with water. The parameters of a tank test which was based on NEN 7375 were set in accordance with the environmental conditions of typical scenarios in China. Mechanisms controlling the release of heavy metals in concrete and a model for that release were obtained using the leaching test. Finally, based on acceptance criteria for drinking water and groundwater quality in China, limit values for the availability of heavy metals in concrete were calculated.     

中国农业污染防控的制度约束研究

中国作为世界上最大的发展中国家,正经历着越发严重的农业污染问题;对农业污染防控的制度性约束因素进行深入分析,是实现有效污染防控的前提,具有积极的理论和现实意义。对中国农业污染防控的制度约束分析研究表明：农业污染及其防控涉及的利益主体关系及相关制度设计,对各利益主体形成了污染防控负激励,加重了农业污染;城乡＂二元＂结构及其衍生的一系列体制问题,导致＂三农＂在农业环境治理、农村公共物品提供等方面被严重边缘化,进而直接制约了农业污染防控;此外,高度分散的小规模农户经营模式也不利于农业污染防控。最后,针对中国农业污染防控的制度性约束因素,提出了有针对性的农业污染防控政策建议。     

探析模糊控制无线节点网路技术在石油化工安全中的应用

在石油化工领域,为了有效预防和控制易燃易爆有毒气体的泄漏燃烧爆炸,利用计算机技术和电信通讯网络,处理信息和传输信息,以监测探头、无线接收发模块、监控主计算机三部分构建一套安全预警监控系统。在化工厂或危险源区域的危险点,设置多处监测节点,接受信息传输到无线接收发模块,进行模糊化计算、推理,判断后输出结果到监控主计算机,监控主计算机向安全管理人员、现场工作人员等发出报警信息。     

2000-2009年全国职业中毒状况规律分析和对策探讨

职业中毒是我国的主要职业病之一,严重影响着劳动者的健康和社会的和谐稳定。根据卫生部2000-2009年公布的职业病统计数据,分析总结我国职业中毒的发生规律。结果表明：职业中毒是仅次于尘肺病的第二大类职业病。职业中毒占职业病总数的12.8%-18%,在职业中毒病例中,急性职业中毒占22.4%-39.6%,慢性职业中毒占60.4%-77.6%。职业中毒总人数变化从2000年到2005年较平稳,从2006年起,呈波浪形上升趋势,但其增幅远小于职业病总数和尘肺病新发病例人数的增幅。其中,急性职业中毒总人数略有下降趋势,慢性职业中毒总人数呈波浪形上升趋势。引起急性职业中毒占前两位的化学毒物主要是一氧化碳和硫化氢,引起慢性职业中毒占前两位的化学毒物主要是铅及其化合物和苯。中小企业职业中毒发生率高。建议各级职能部门重点加强相关行业的监管,尤其是其中的中小企业的监管;履行指导的职责,加强有效果的安全教育和培训;同时加强职业监控监护。     

含硫油气井井控技术及管理方法

伴随着石油工业的发展,井喷、井控不可避免。为防止溢流、井喷,企业、政府投入了大量的人力、物力、财力,成果显著。但同时也产生了一些副作用,过量投资,资源浪费,地层严重污染,含硫油气井更是如此。基于含硫油气井钻完井的特点,制定了含硫油气井井控工作原则,研究了包含防爆、保证防喷器可靠、保证节流放喷相关装置可靠、保证压井相关装置可靠及保证井眼力学完整在内的含硫油气井严格防止井喷失控技术,选用合适的压井方法避免发生井喷技术,简化关井操作程序及修改钻井液密度附加值来全面限制防溢流的技术及其相应的管理方法。对含硫油气井科学、安全、高效的进行井控工作提供了理论指导,对于含硫油气井的开发具有重要的意义。