Pozzolanicity verification of combustion metamorphic rocks from coalfield fire zones in China

Coalfield fires are natural disasters that occur worldwide, without geographical boundaries. There are many combustion metamorphic rocks on the surface of the coal fire area. At present, there is no summary of combustion metamorphic rocks in natural and artificial pozzolanic mixed materials, and research on the pozzolanic activity of combustion metamorphic rocks is lacking, which limits the use of combustion metamorphic rocks to produce slurries for fire prevention. In this study, the apparent morphologies and chemical compositions of three types of combustion metamorphic rock samples—baked rock, sintered rock, and lavalike rock—were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and the crystallinity index (CI) was calculated. The results were validated by Frattini tests, which confirmed the synergistic reactions that enhanced the pozzolanic reactions. All three types of combustion metamorphic rocks exhibited pozzolanic activity. The CI value decreased with an increase in the metamorphic degree of the combustion metamorphic rock. The lavalike rock exhibited the highest pozzolanic activity (CI = 5.829), followed by the sintered rock and then the baked rock. Meanwhile, influencing factors of pozzolanicity were studied by the Frattini method. The experimental results provide important guidance for the post-treatment of combustion metamorphic rocks and coal-fire control in loess-deficient areas.     

基于热-结构耦合分析的液化石油气储罐失效预警判定*

为研究火灾中球罐应力场分布情况,找到球罐失效破裂条件,以液化石油气为研究对象,基于球罐稳态热响应,通过ANSYS热-结构耦合有限元分析法进行研究。结果表明:充装率85%的液化石油气球罐最高温度部位出现在气相区,约619.66 ℃;最大应力值出现在气液交界处,约615.18 MPa;得到球罐破裂失效时温度值和应力值,并设置2次预警值。研究结果可为液化石油气储罐失效预警提供参考和判定依据。     

纵向风速对隧道中细水雾灭火效果 的影响研究

隧道作为交通的咽喉要道,一旦发生火灾,给人员逃生带来很大的困难。利用隧道火灾模拟平台,分别对车顶和车底两个位置进行了细水雾灭火的模拟实验,研究不同风速对隧道火灾的温度、气体组分浓度和热辐射等参量的影响,据此研究细水雾灭火系统在隧道火灾中抑制、扑灭火灾,降低火场温度、净化火源附近空气以及隔绝热辐射的能力。结果表明:当风速增大时,火场烟气平均温度逐渐减小,CO浓度的峰值显著降低,热辐射强度也有效降低。在实验条件下,隧道纵向通风作用有利于保障火场安全。     

Twenty years of salt marsh succession on a Dutch coastal barrier island

After a formerly grazed salt marsh was released from cattle grazing, changes in plant species composition were monitored for 20 yr, using vegetation maps and permanent plots. Three areas, differing in age and nutrient status were compared. The number of plant species and plant communities decreased.Elymus athericus (Elytrigia pungens) became dominant in most plant communities after 5–20 yr on the oldest and most productive salt marsh. In younger areas it took more time forE. athericus to become dominant. At least 7 cm of clay seemed to be a prerequisite for this plant species to increase in dominance. The results from monitoring over decades are discussed in view of the knowledge on succession over centuries as derived from a chronosequence.     

A Resistant-Kernel Model of Connectivity for Amphibians that Breed in Vernal Pools

Abstract:  Pool-breeding amphibian populations operate at multiple scales, from the individual pool to surrounding upland habitat to clusters of pools. When metapopulation dynamics play a role in long-term viability, conservation efforts limited to the protection of individual pools or even pools with associated upland habitat may be ineffective over the long term if connectivity among pools is not maintained. Connectivity becomes especially important and difficult to assess in regions where suburban sprawl is rapidly increasing land development, road density, and traffic rates. We developed a model of connectivity among vernal pools for the four ambystomatid salamanders that occur in Massachusetts and applied it to the nearly 30,000 potential ephemeral wetlands across the state. The model was based on a modification of the kernel estimator (a density estimator commonly used in home range studies) that takes landscape resistance into account. The model was parameterized with empirical migration distances for spotted salamanders ( Ambystoma maculatum ), dispersal distances for marbled salamanders ( A. opacum ), and expert-derived estimates of landscape resistance. The model ranked vernal pools in Massachusetts by local, neighborhood, and regional connectivity and by an integrated measure of connectivity, both statewide and within ecoregions. The most functionally connected pool complexes occurred in southeastern and northeastern Massachusetts, areas with rapidly increasing suburban development. In a sensitivity analysis estimates of pool connectivity were relatively insensitive to uncertainty in parameter estimates, especially at the local and neighborhood scales. Our connectivity model could be used to prioritize conservation efforts for vernal-pool amphibian populations at broader scales than traditional pool-based approaches.     

Analysis of dioxin-like compounds in vegetation and soil samples burned in Catalan forest fires. Comparison with the corresponding unburned material

Only a few data are reported about the formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) in forest fires. However, the inventories of sources undertaken by several European and American countries consider natural fires as a possible source of PCDD/F and, in some cases, as one of the most important. In our work we have analysed vegetation and soil samples burned in four forest fires which happened in Catalonia in the summer of 1998. The concentration of dioxin-like compounds (PCDD/F, non-ortho polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCB) and mono-ortho PCB) has been compared to the concentration present in the corresponding unburned material collected in places near the fires but not affected. The results of this preliminary study show very low concentrations in all the samples, both burned and unburned. Although a change in the profile (proportional increase of tetrachlorinated congeners in PCDD/F) is observed in burned samples compared to unburned ones, the absolute values of concentration decrease in most samples. Therefore, natural fires seem not to be an important source of dioxin-like compounds. These results will be confirmed with air emissions measurements in future studies.     

Preliminary report: Dioxins and furans in prescribed burns

The Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) recently participated in a joint Canadian/U.S. program to monitor the behavior and environmental impact of prescribed fires. Air, soil and ash samples were collected at the burn sites and analyzed for chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDD) and dibenzofurans (CDF). Preliminary results indicated that larger air sample volumes were required.     

池火灾评价法在环氧乙烷罐区的应用研究

以某石油化工厂区为工程应用背景,通过对环氧乙烷储罐区计算模型的建立,应用池火灾评价法对环氧乙烷储罐发生池火灾的热辐射伤害区域进行了定量计算,得出环氧乙烷罐区发生池火灾的各级影响半径和造成的伤害程度。结果表明,只有当人员撤离罐区67.35 m范围外方可避免受到热辐射伤害。从环氧乙烷罐区的整体安全性出发,提出了具体的防护措施和建议,为企业的安全管理工作提供参考依据。     

Community‐based water supplies in Cikarang,Indonesia: are they sustainable?

Community‐based water supply (CBWS) is an example of how a community manages common pool resources (CPR). This results in an alternative approach to solve water supply problems in developing countries by enhancing community participation in managing water supply. This research evaluates the sustainability of five CBWS projects in Cikarang, Indonesia by using Ostrom's design principles, with additional sustainability factors found in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on drinking water and groundwater sustainability. Quinn et al. (2007) criteria were used in the analysis, and the results show that the management of four CBWS institutions were absent and one CBWS institution was weak. With regards to the SDG's drinking water target, the CBWS institutions were unable to comply with safe water standards, and in terms of groundwater sustainability, efforts to monitor and sustain groundwater tables were absent. Results from this research suggest that more focus must be placed on water quality and groundwater sustainability for CBWS projects.     

Government management and overexploitation of groundwater resources: absence of local community initiatives in Ardabil plain-Iran

Although mismanagement of groundwater resources has resulted in their destruction over centuries, climate change is speeding up this process more than ever. On the one hand, urgent action by government bodies is needed to address the challenge. On the other hand, a vast body of literature proves that bottom-up collective action, although requiring a longer time period, is a better solution to manage such resources. This research aims to address this dilemma. The groundwater resource in Ardabil plain in Iran, which has long been managed solely through government intervention, has been chosen as a case study to explore the opportunities and limitations of managing a critically endangered area from a common pool resource perspective. Our study suggests that managing Ardabil groundwater resources should be conducted on two scales. The bottom-up institutional agreements should take place at village scale while the government should stay in charge of the overall organization at plain scale.