Uncertainties in integrated assessment modelling of abatement strategies: illustrations with the ASAM model

Following the signing of the Second Sulphur Protocol in 1994 under the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, preparations are now underway for a new multi-pollutant multi-effects protocol, under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE). A number of scientific models have been used to provide policy makers involved in these preparations with sound scientific information. These include the Abatement Strategies Assessment Model (ASAM). ASAM has recently been extended to cover abatement strategies for NH₃ and NOx as well as SO₂, in order to address the amelioration of acidification and eutrophication in the ECE region. It is important to be able to demonstrate that the scientific information provided to policy makers is robust to uncertainties, and hence there is a need for a thorough sensitivity analysis. In this study ASAM is used to demonstrate a large degree of robustness of derived abatement strategies to uncertainties in critical loads, meteorological data and cost information. This is based on a comparison of strategies at the same overall abatement cost. Systematic changes in data are shown to influence model results more profoundly than random changes.     

一种用于电力通信的自适应Adhoc协议

针对电网通信的智能化监测应用需要,提出了一种用于电力通信的Adhoc自适应预约按需传输多址接入协议,该协议在接入阶段可以根据业务量动态调整接入策略;在传输阶段可以无冲突的发送分组.针对该协议的吞吐量和平均时延性能进行了仿真分析.分析结果表明：协议能提高信道利用率、降低接入时延,可用于现代电力通信网络,以上研究结果对Adhoe在电力通信的工程中应用有较好参考意义.     

An Evaluation of Qualitative Indexes of Physical Habitat Applied to Agricultural Streams in Ten U.S. States1

Hughes, Robert M., Alan T. Herlihy, and Philip R. Kaufmann, 2010. An Evaluation of Qualitative Indexes of Physical Habitat Applied to Agricultural Streams in Ten U.S. States. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(4): 792-806. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2010.00455.x Abstract: Assessment of stream physical habitat condition is important for evaluating stream quality globally. However, the diversity of metrics and methods for assessing physical habitat condition confounds comparisons among practitioners. We surveyed 51 previously sampled stream sites (0.0-6.3 m wide) located in regions of row-crop agriculture in Oregon, California, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia to evaluate the comparability of four indexes of physical habitat condition relative to each other. We also compared the indexes to previously calculated indexes of fish and macroinvertebrate condition. The physical habitat indexes included the Stream Visual Assessment Protocol Version 2 of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the qualitative habitat evaluation index of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the rapid bioassessment protocol of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and a qualitative physical habitat index based on USEPA quantitative physical habitat measurements. All four indexes were highly correlated with each other, but low-to-moderately correlated with biotic index scores for fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages. Moderately high correlations occurred between some macroinvertebrate biotic index scores and quantitative metrics. We conclude that additional research is needed to increase the predictive and diagnostic capabilities of qualitative physical habitat indexes.     

The Kyoto protocol: Empirical evidence of a hidden success

How effective was the Kyoto protocol? International Environmental Agreements (IEA) have been on the rise over the past four decades; however, thus far their effectiveness is controversial. In view of the conflicting results found in the related literature, this paper addresses its effectiveness by utilizing for the first time the generalized synthetic control method (GSCM) to compare the emissions of the industrialized countries with a “No- Kyoto” counterfactual scenario that represents the expected emissions in the absence of the protocol. This method facilitates a robust comparison between treated and control countries as done by Almer and Winkler (2017) and account for the multiple treated units as done by Grunewald and Martinez-Zarzoso (2016), so as to capture the collective nature of the protocol. Results show that the protocol was successful in reducing the emissions of the ratifying countries approximately by 7% below the emissions expected under a “No-Kyoto” scenario, confirming the importance of accounting for the collective nature of the agreement.     

Biodiversity below ground: probing the subterranean ant fauna of Amazonia

Ants are abundant, diverse, and ecologically dominant in tropical forests. Subterranean ants in particular are thought to have a significant environmental impact, although difficulties associated with collecting ants underground and examining their ecology and behavior have limited research. In this paper, we present the results of a study of subterranean ant diversity in Amazonian Ecuador that employs a novel probe to facilitate the discovery of species inhabiting the soil horizon. Forty-seven species of ants in 19 genera, including new and apparently rare species, were collected in probes. Approximately 19% of the species collected at different depths in the soil were unique to probe samples. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) results showed that the species composition of ants collected with the probe was significantly different from samples collected using other techniques. Additionally, ANOSIM computations indicated the species assemblage of ants collected 12.5 cm below the surface was significantly different from those found at 25, 37.5, and 50 cm. Ant diversity and species accumulation rates decreased with increasing depth. There were no species unique to the lowest depths, suggesting that subterranean ants may not be distributed deep in the soil in Amazonia due to the high water table. The technique we describe could be used to gain new insights into the distribution and biology of subterranean ant species and other members of the species-rich soil invertebrate macrofauna.     

洞庭湖表层沉积物重金属赋存形态及生态风险评价

为深入了解洞庭湖沉积物重金属污染现状及生态风险,采用欧共体物质标准局提出的BCR提取法分析29个表层沉积物中Cd、Cr、Cu、Pb和Zn的赋存形态,并应用基于重金属形态的RSP（ratio of secondary phase and primary phase,次生相与原生相分布比值法）和RAC（风险评价指数法）评价了沉积物重金属的污染程度与生态风险.结果表明:全湖范围内,Cd主要以弱酸溶解态为主,Cr主要以残渣态和可还原态为主,Cu以残渣态和可氧化态为主,Pb以可还原态和残渣态为主,Zn以残渣态和弱酸溶解态为主;RSP评价结果显示,Cd在全湖范围表现为重度污染,Pb总体表现为中度污染,但在湘、资、沅、澧"四水"入湖口以及东洞庭湖几个采样点表现为重度污染,Cr、Cu和Zn处于轻度污染和清洁水平;RAC评价结果表明,全湖范围内5种重金属生态风险排序依次为Cd > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr,Cd表现为高等风险,Cu、Pb和Zn表现为中等风险,而Cr表现为低等风险.研究显示,在研究沉积物重金属总量基础上进行重金属形态分析,有助于深入了解重金属对环境的危害.      

Motivation of Japanese companies to take environmental action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions: an econometric analysis

To analyze the motivations of Japanese companies to take environmental actions to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we used FY2006 research data and questioned Japanese industries regarding their reduction of GHG emissions. Empirical investigations revealed that voluntary targets set by industry organizations, government requirements, and advance responses to possible future regulations can positively influence environmental actions for GHG emission reduction; however, cost reductions and corporate social responsibility fulfillment cannot.

基于ARM的非接触式IC卡控制器设计

介绍了非接触式读卡模块ZLG500A数据传输时序和传输协议,并采用ARM微处理器LPC2103的GPIO方式,根据ZLG500A的数据传输规范模拟相应的SPI时序,设计非接触式IC卡控制器软硬件系统,完成了非接触式IC卡数据的读写,在此基础上开发出非接触式IC卡门禁应用系统,系统实际运行效果良好.     

The EU effect: does trade with the EU reduce CO2 emissions in the developing world?

The European Union (EU) is an important destination for developing country exports. Has the EU’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol induced developing countries to reduce their carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions? Our analyses of 136 developing countries from 1981 through 2007 suggests that: developing countries’ export dependence on the EU is associated with CO₂ emission reductions post-Kyoto in relation to the pre-Kyoto time period; this also holds for SO_2, which, while not covered under Kyoto, is linked with CO₂ emission levels; this does not hold for PM₁₀, a pollutant which is not covered under Kyoto and is not directly associated with CO₂ emissions related to industrial activities; developing countries’ export dependence on non-EU developed countries and on the rest of the world is not associated with significant reductions in emissions between pre- and post-Kyoto for these pollutants . In sum, even in the absence of binding regulatory mandates, the EU appears to exert market leverage to project its regulatory preferences abroad.     

DEVELOPING CONFIDENCE IN CONCRETE REVETMENT PRODUCTS FOR BANK STABILIZATION1

ABSTRACT: There is a need to provide flood protection while maintaining stable bed and bank conditions in the riverine system, to stabilize earth embankment dams and spiliways, and to stabilize highway or railway embankments and levee systems. One approach to providing erosion protection and stabilization of channel banks, embankments and spill conveyances is with articulated concrete block systems. Numerous articulated concrete block systems are available for bank stabilization. However, prior to field installations few means are available to evaluate how well these block systems perform. To assist the designer in predicting site specific suitability, a series of hydraulic testing protocols have been developed to analyze block system performance. Two articulated block system testing protocols are presented to indicate how block hydraulic characteristics may be determined and provide performance assurance to both the designer and the owner.