The Variability of Estimates of Variance, and Its Effect on Power Analysis in Monitoring Design

Power analysis can be a valuable aid in the design of monitoringprograms. It requires an estimate of variance, which may come from a pilot study or an existing study in a similar habitat. For marine benthic infauna, natural variation in abundances canbe considerable, raising the question of reliability of varianceestimates. We used two existing monitoring programs to generatemultiple estimates of variance. These estimates were found to differ from nominated best estimates by 50% or more in 43% of cases, in turn leading to under or over-estimation of samplesize in the design of a notional monitoring program. The twostudies, from the same general area, using the same samplingmethods and spanning a similar time scale, gave estimatesvarying by more than an order of magnitude for 25% of taxa.We suggest that pilot studies for ecological monitoring programsof marine infauna should include at least two sampling times.     

Estimation of the Thermal Sensitivity of a Dwelling to Variations in Architectural and Behavioural Parameters

The provision of energy for households is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the domestic sector. There is significant scope for energy savings and thus emission reduction in this sector. This paper constructs a bridge between thermal analysis and environmental assessment in the occupancy stage of the dwelling life cycle, approaching both methods as being on a common system Environment–Dwelling–Inhabitant. The importance of the local level in the thermal analysis and assessment of either a dwelling or an inhabitant's behaviour is demonstrated. It is shown that the researcher can choose between natural experiment, computer experiment and mathematical modelling to analyze the system. Such a choice is discussed for two particular methods of thermal analysis. Thermal Nomograms are the result of mathematical modelling, and the Energy Score Sheet is the result of a computer experiment in energy rating. Despite being developed for the purpose of thermal analysis, these methods can also be utilized for environmental assessment at the local level. The discussion centres on Australian conditions where the majority of the population resides in a relatively benign climate wherein behavioural alterations have significant potential for energy savings and environmental impact. The purpose of the paper is to emphasise benefits apart from energy minimisation to promote the use of energy efficient housing strategies.     

Biological complexity confounds the separation of point- and non-point sources of human impact on the natural world

Identifying process from pattern is one of the most vexing tasks inenvironmental monitoring. Given information on the distribution of speciesin a pre-defined area, together with comprehensive data on how environmentalconditions in that area have altered through time, is it possible toidentify the factors controlling the species‘ layout? Here, the practicalsignificance of this quandary is demonstrated using a series ofenvironmentally-degraded coastal lagoons in New South Wales. The TuggerahLakes (33°17′S,151°30′E) have over the last 50 yearsexperienced significant changes in species‘ distributions. Seagrasses,macroalgae, phytoplankton, molluscs, prawns and the jellyfish Catostylus mosaicus have altered in spatial pattern. Two human activitieshave been blamed for these perturbations: (1) agricultural clearance ofnative vegetation from the catchment, with associated input of top-soil andnutrients; (2) the commissioning of a coal-fired power station in 1967, withmassive uptake and recirculation of lake water for cooling purposes. In thispaper, spatial changes in macrophyte distributions over the last 50 yearsare reviewed in an attempt to identify the true source(s) of perturbation.The model adopted assumes that the power station is a point source of impactwhile nutrient inputs from the catchment are a diffuse source of impact;changes in species distributions can hypothetically be related back to thesesources according to whether they are localised or widespread. However,after a comprehensive analysis of available macrophyte data derived frominterviews, aerial photography and line transect methodologyies theconclusion is reached that changes in biogeographical pattern around theTuggerah Lakes cannot be attributed to specific anthropogenic pressures atanything beyond the coarsest of levels. This is considered to be the normfor most coastal management situations where natural background variation(’noise‘) and the complexity of linkages between physical, chemical andbiological components confounds the identification of causal relationships.The practical implications of this conclusion are discussed in the contextof litigation and remedial management design. Emphasis is placed on theneed to adopt an adaptive approach to estuarine management, incorporatingexplicit recognition of the limitations of available data, and to developnew techniques for identifying cause-effect relationships.     

温度、盐度、铜、氨对对虾仔虾(Penaues orientalis K)和光滑河兰蛤(Potamocorbula laevis)的影响

在室内模拟条件下,进行了热冲击及其与盐度、铜、氨联合对对虾仔虾和光滑河兰蛤的急性影响研究。结果表明,两种动物的起始致死温度(TL₅₀)和最高临界温度(CTM)随驯化温度的升高而增大;随盐度的降低,仔虾的耐高温能力明显降低,而兰蛤对盐度变化反应不明显;高温明显提高铜、氨对仔虾的毒性。也提高铜对兰蛤的毒性,但降低氨对兰蛤的毒性影响。仔虾对高温、低盐、铜离子及非离子氨反应敏感。     

中国能源的现状

研究中国能源的现状，其中主要包括能源储量和能源生产以煤为主；石油和天然气在能源构成中的比例低下；煤炭储量可观，但品质不高；能源生产增长迅速；能源短缺。尤其是清洁能源短缺，清洁能源危机将会长期存在。我国如此的能源现状已造成大气环境煤烟型严重污染。我国从石油输出国已变成石油进口国，我国半个多世纪以来实施的“能源自给政策”急需调整。采用洁净煤技术开发利用清洁能源，确保经济在持续迅速发展的同时，我国大气环境免遭污染，即经济发展和大气环境保护双赢。     

硫磺回收装置标定及分析

本文对Ⅱ套SRU的标定结果，进行了比较详细的技术分析，在此基础上，对装置及其运行状况作出了评价，并提出了一些建设。     

地勘单位安全工作现状及强化安全管理对策和安全管理工作思考

本文针对目前地勘单元安全工作的现状，提出强化安全管理的对策，并结合当前国内安全生产的严峻形势，对安全管理工作进行了思考。     

大理市生活垃圾焚烧处置初探

针对大理生活垃圾污染现状,提出采用高温焚烧方法处理大理市产生的城市生活垃圾的必要性,并用垃圾焚烧产生的热能发电.采取相应的措施防治燃烧过程中产生的污染物,可最终实现垃圾处理的减量化、无害化、资源化要求.     

常温酸性腐蚀对热障涂层性能的影响

采用酸性盐雾腐蚀试验对物理气相沉积法制备的热障涂层进行了常温腐蚀,研究了常温酸性盐雾腐蚀对热障涂层的微观形貌以及高温性能的影响.试验结果表明：常温酸性腐蚀使热障涂层表面变得粗糙不平,产生了较大的裂纹.经过150次高温循环氧化后,顶层氧化锆晶粒排列疏松,裂纹进一步扩展,中间层--粘结层氧化速度加快,生成了疏松的TGO层.TGO的体积膨胀效应使得陶瓷/粘结层界面结合力降低,缩短了涂层的使用寿命.     

输气场站工艺安全风险分析

针对输气场站HAZOP风险评估出的天然气泄漏风险进行工艺安全量化分析,通过天然气泄漏喷射火模拟,对天然气泄漏风险进行量化,为输气场站的安全管理提供有效的技术支持。通过量化,分析出对天然气泄漏喷射火造成后果大小的影响因素,提高了HAZOP风险分析的准确性和科学性,对输气场站的风险管理具有参考意义。