Solar energy for electricity and fuels

Solar energy conversion into electricity by photovoltaic modules is now a mature technology. We discuss the need for materials and device developments using conventional silicon and other materials, pointing to the need to use scalable materials and to reduce the energy payback time. Storage of solar energy can be achieved using the energy of light to produce a fuel. We discuss how this can be achieved in a direct process mimicking the photosynthetic processes, using synthetic organic, inorganic, or hybrid materials for light collection and catalysis. We also briefly discuss challenges and needs for large-scale implementation of direct solar fuel technologies.     

Mowers versus growers: Riparian buffer management in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains,USA

Despite long-standing knowledge of the benefits of riparian buffers for mitigating nonpoint source pollution, many streams are unprotected by buffers. Even landowners who understand ecological values of buffers mow riparian vegetation to the streambank. Do trends in rural riparian conditions reflect the development of riparian forest science? What motivates residential riparian management actions? Using high-resolution orthoimagery, we quantified riparian conditions and trends between 1998 and 2015 in the rural upper Little Tennessee River basin in Macon County, North Carolina and explored how landowners view riparian zone management and riparian restoration programs. Buffer composition in 2015 was as follows: no buffer (32.5%), narrow (19.3%), forested (26.7%), shrub (7.2%), and intermediate (7.0%). Relative to 1998, the greatest decrease occurred in the no buffer class (−17.7%, 46 km) and the largest increases occurred in the shrub (+72.5%, 20 km) and narrow (12.6%, 14 km) classes. Forested buffer marginally increased. Semi-structured interview data suggest that landowners prioritize recreational and scenic aspects of riparian buffers over ecological functions such as filtration and bank stabilization. Riparian restoration programs might be made more enticing to non-adopters if outreach language appealed to landowner priorities, design elements demonstrated intentional management, and program managers highlighted areas where ecological goals and landowner values align.     

Fuzzy experts on recreational vessels, a risk modelling approach for marine invasions

Understanding risks from the human-mediated spread of non-indigenous species (NIS) is a critical component of marine biosecurity management programmes. Recreational boating is well-recognised as a NIS pathway, especially at a regional scale. Assessment of risks from this pathway is therefore desirable for coastal environments where recreational boating occurs. However, formal or quantitative risk assessment for the recreational vessel pathway is often hampered by lack of data, hence often relies on expert opinion. The use of expert opinion itself is sometimes limited by its inherent vagueness, which can be an important source of uncertainty that reduces the validity and applicability of the assessment. Fuzzy logic, specifically interval type-2 fuzzy logic, is able to model and propagate this type of uncertainty, and is a useful technique in risk assessment where expert opinion is relied upon. The present paper describes the implementation of a NIS fuzzy expert system (FES) for assessing the risk of invasion in marine environments via recreational vessels. The FES was based on expert opinion gathered through systematic elicitation exercises, designed to acknowledge important uncertainty sources (e.g., underspecificity and ambiguity). The FES, using interval type-2 fuzzy logic, calculated an invasion risk value (integrating NIS infection and detection probabilities) for a range of invasion scenarios. These scenarios were defined by all possible combinations of two vessel types (moored and trailered), five vessel components (hull, deck, internal spaces, anchor, fishing gear), two infection modes (fouling, water/sediment retention) and six frequently visited marine habitats (marina, mooring, farm, ramp, wharf, anchorage). Although invasion risk values determined using the FES approach was scenario-specific, general patterns were identified. Moored vessels consistently showed higher invasion risk values than trailered vessels. Invasion risk values were higher for anchorages, moorings and wharves. Similarly, hull-fouling was revealed as the highest infection risk mode after pooling results across all habitats. The NIS fuzzy expert system presented here appears as a valuable prioritising and decision-making tool for NIS research, prevention and control activities. Its easy implementation and wide applicability should encourage the development and application of this type of system as an integral part of biosecurity, and other environmental management plans.     

Research on Methods for Building Volcano Disaster Information System--taking Changbai Mountain as an example

1IntroductionAs a many-volcano-distributed country,China is covered with many volcanoes and lava rocks.A-mong the one-thousand-or-so volcanoes,Changbai Mountain Volcano,Wudalianchi Volcano,Tengchong Volcano and Ashikule Volcano of West Kunlun are the mostlatentcatastrophic erup-tive active volcanoes.In recent years,the activity of the earth' s crust in some volcanic areas isobviously becoming increasing violent.Butfew scholars have monitored and evaluated volcano inChina.So building VDI…     

广州市环境监测管理信息化建设中若干问题探讨

以广州市环境监测中心站推进信息化的实践为例，重点对环境监测管理信息化规划、开发和应用3个环节所涉及的信息化进程路线、应用系统开发的需求分析和推广应用等问题进行了一些探讨，提出切合自身的解决思路或办法。     

Combined Effects of Levels of Protection and Environmental Variables at Different Spatial Resolutions on Fish Assemblages in a Marine Protected Area

Abstract: The links between species–environment relations and species’ responses to protection are unclear, but the objectives of marine protected areas (MPAs) are most likely to be achieved when those relations are known and inform MPA design. The components of a species’ habitat vary with the spatial resolution of the area considered. We characterized areas at two resolutions: 250 m² (transect) and approximately 30,000 m² (seascape). We considered three categories of environmental variables: substrate type, bottom complexity, and depth. We sought to determine at which resolution habitat characteristics were a better predictor of abundance and species composition of fishes and whether the relations with environmental variables at either resolution affected species’ responses to protection. Habitat features accounted for a larger proportion of spatial variation in species composition and abundances than differences in protection status. This spatial variation was explained best by habitat characteristics at the seascape level than at the transect level. Species’ responses to protected areas were specific to particular seascape characteristics, primarily depth, and bottom complexity. Our method may be useful for prioritizing marine areas for protection, designing MPAs, and monitoring their effectiveness. It identified areas that provided natural shelter, areas acting as buffer zones, and areas where fish species were most responsive to protection. The identification of such areas is necessary for cost‐effective establishment and monitoring of MPAs.     

基于GIS和LUR模型的西安市PM2.5浓度空间分布模拟研究

基于地理信息系统GIS和土地利用回归LUR模型,模拟西安市PM2.5浓度空间动态分布,结果表明:与PM2.5浓度相关性最高的分别为缓冲区为2 km的水域面积、人口密度和距离水域距离,R 2分别为0.501,0.393和0.280;与PM2.5浓度相关性最低的分别为缓冲区为4 km的水域面积、未利用地面积和耕地面积,R 2分别为0.039、0.021和0.017.未考虑风速建立的LUR模型多元回归的相关系数为0.856,R 2为0.733,考虑风速的相关系数为0.892,R 2为0.796,表明风速对于污染物的分布影响较大,LUR模型模拟效果较好.模拟的PM2.5年均浓度高风险区分布于中部,中风险区分布于中西部,低风险区分布于东南部和西部.     

基于GIS和RS的市域尺度下的植被NPP研究

在GIS和RS支持下,利用土地利用类型数据、地面气象数据和遥感影像数据,以青岛市为例,研究了市域尺度下的植被NPP空间分布特征.结果表明:青岛市NPP值为0~288 g·m-2·a-2,林地NPP值较高,耕地次之,建成区等区域最小.在小尺度区域内,NPP分布受土地利用类型影响较大,受气象因素影响较小.NPP模块在数据获取上比较容易,仅利用土地利用类型数据、地面气象数据和遥感数据就可以对陆地植被NPP进行计算,实际应用可操作性强.30 m分辨率植被NPP计算值更适宜于在市级小尺度区域内应用.     

基于实时交通信息的道路机动车动态排放清单模拟研究

以上海市为例开展了实际道路车流分布、行驶工况和车辆技术的实地调查,建立了道路车流、VSP分布和车辆技术数据库.在此基础上,基于实时的车流、车速等交通信息,构建了动态化的道路机动车污染物排放清单模拟方法,并开展了城区典型道路的机动车小时排放模拟案例研究.调查结果表明,上海市城区道路车流以轻型客车和出租车为主,分别占各时段车流总量的48%～72%和15%～43%;VSP分布与平均车速存在较好的规律,各车型VSP峰值随平均车速的上升向高负荷去移动,且峰值逐渐降低;当前上海市车辆以国2和国3车型为主,经过年检站调查结果的校正,国2和国3车型分别占各车型的11%～70%和17%～51%.模拟案例结果显示,道路机动车CO、VOC、NOx和PM日排放峰谷比可达3.7、4.6、9.6和19.8左右,CO和VOC排放主要来自轻型客车和出租车,与车流变化的相关性较好,而NOx和PM排放主要来自重型客车和公交车,且主要集中在早晚高峰时段.采用建立的动态排放模拟方法可实时反映实际道路的机动车排放变化,获取高排放路段和时段,为交通环境管理提供重要的技术手段和决策依据.     

基于单颗粒质谱信息气溶胶分类方法的研究进展

气溶胶质谱仪在对气溶胶颗粒的监测过程中会产生大量单颗粒的化学成分和粒径信息,基于这些质谱数据能够推测颗粒的来源。而对气溶胶来源的分析,很大程度上是由颗粒的种类决定的,故对海量数据的分类就成为不可忽略的步骤。针对气溶胶质谱仪采集到的数据,概述了用于气溶胶分类的多种方法的理论核心、分类步骤及各自的优缺点等。据此可为今后气溶胶分类方法的研究提供建设性意见。