WETLAND BOUNDARY DETERMINATION IN THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMP USING WEIGHTED AVERAGES1

ABSTRACT: A weighted average method was used to analyze transition zone vegetation in the Great Dismal Swamp to determine if a more uniform determination of wetland boundaries can be made nationwide. The method was applied to vegetation data collected on four transects and three vertical layers across the wetland-to-upland transition zone of the swamp. Ecological index values based on water tolerance were either taken from the literature or derived from local species tolerances. Wetland index values were calculated for 25-m increments using species cover and rankings based on the ecological indices. Wetland index values were used to designate increments as either wetland, transitional, or upland, and to examine the usefulness of a provisional wetland-upland break-point. Most increments were designated wetland or transitional when all species were used. Removal of three or five ubiquitous species either gave a wider range of wetland index values with a more variable designation of increments or caused designation of increments to be similar for all layers. The use of locally-derived rankings showed the sensitivity of the weighted averages method to ecological indices of species with large importance values. The weighted average method did not provide for an objective placement of an absolute wetland boundary, but did serve to focus attention on the transitional boundary zone where supplementary information is necessary to select a wetland-upland breakpoint.     

WHO SHOULD MANAGE THE HIGH PLAINS AQUIFER? THE IRRIGATORS' PERSPECTIVE1

ABSTRACT: A state-local partnership exists in Colorado and Kansas with respect to management of the High Plains aquifer. This paper examines 330 irrigators' attitudes about the locus-of-control for different management activities in the High Plains-Ogallala region. Local control was preferred by most irrigators. The local district was most supported for 19 active management activities, whereas the state was favored for eight specific activities, primarily research efforts and water rights administration. Eight activities that had the potential for restricting water use were rejected in that irrigators indicated that no agency should be involved. Kansas and Colorado exhibited statistically significant preference differences for only five management options. A significantly higher percentage of those irrigators who preferred local control believed in sustainable management of the aquifer and aggressive groundwater management, and that their district served their interests.     

GRADUATE EDUCATION IN WATER RESOURCES: AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH1

ABSTRACT: The production of videotape as a product of a water resources seminar is an innovative approach to graduate education. The research effort required builds upon the traditional graduate seminar approach. The videotape production requires research effort to be focused into a coherent body of information which may be widely disseminated and effectively communicates information to the public. The use of outside speakers and field trips blends very well into the preparation of a videotape. The requriement to present the many sides of a complex water resource issue in a fair and equitable manner requires maturity and professional capability on the part of the students. The research effort requires the students to meet their professional obligation to present an objective, factual, and accurate statement of the issues studies.     

Environmental impacts of irrigated sugarcane production: Nitrogen lost through runoff and leaching

There is concern about environmental impacts of cropping in catchments of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, especially losses of nitrogen (N) from cropping systems. Sugarcane production in the Burdekin region in the dry tropics stands out from other crops/regions because it is grown with the highest applications of irrigation water and N fertiliser rates of any sugarcane producing region in Australia, attributes which may enhance losses of N. Little is known about N losses from sugarcane production systems, especially irrigated systems. We measured parts of the water and N balance over three sugarcane crops at three contrasting sites in different parts of the Burdekin region, covering a range of soil types/textures and irrigation managements. The experimental data were used to parameterise the APSIM-Sugarcane cropping systems model, and the model then used to ‘infill’ missing data and develop more complete water and N balances for each of the crops at the three sites. The model was also used to simulate long-term yields and N losses through runoff and leaching below the root zone at the sites under a range of N fertiliser and irrigation management practices. Unlike the experience in other cropping systems, N losses through runoff and leaching below the root zone were not higher at our sites than measured in rainfed sugarcane production systems. The long-term simulations showed there were clear opportunities for reducing N losses while maintaining yields through reducing N fertiliser application rates. Simulations results suggested that long-term N surpluses of 50 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, considerably less than those during the experiment or common in the study region, were sufficient to maintain yields but reduce N losses by 50-57%. So, N fertiliser management should aim to keep surpluses to that level. Improved irrigation management could also help reduce N losses but generally to a much lesser extent than reduced N fertiliser applications. Research is required to confirm these predicted benefits, and investigate potential interaction between N fertiliser and irrigation management practices, and impacts of other management practices.     

Climate Change Reporting in Great Lakes Region Newspapers: A Comparative Study of the Use of Expert Sources

This study focuses on the use of science sources as experts in news stories about climate change coverage in the Great Lakes region of the US and Canada. We examine, using the hierarchy of influences model, whether the use of scientific sources in climate change coverage may be related to factors such as geographic location, reporting frequency, and authorship, in the prestige press as well as regional and local media. The study found that as many or more non-scientists than scientists are selected as sources regardless of geographic location, reporting frequency, or authorship. However, the study also found that the more stories reporters produce on this topic, the more likely their stories are to use and give prominence to science sources. In addition, the articles included few denier sources, but denier views are more likely to appear in a more prominent location in the articles than supporters when stories are framed as conflict over global warming. These results highlight the need for additional research examining the expertise of climate scientists in news stories to better understand news decision-making in the context of complex scientific reporting.     

陕北石油勘探开发区地表水污染特征分析

研究了陕北主要石油勘探开发地区地表水的水质状况,分析了pH、矿化度(全盐量)、硬度、六价铬、砷、镉、铅、氨氮、挥发酚、石油类、化学需氧量(COD)、氯化物、硫酸盐、硝酸盐氮、总磷、氰化物、氟化物等17个指标,结果显示砷、镉、铅、氟化物、硝酸盐、氰化物、氟化物的P_i值均小于1;挥发酚、总磷、石油类、氨氮、COD、六价铬、硫酸盐、矿化度、氯化物、硬度均超标。研究区东部和西部地表水呈现出不同的污染特征,通过分析不同区域污染物来源,提出了污染防治对策与建议。     

中原城市群臭氧浓度分布特征及来源

利用2015年臭氧(O_3)自动监测数据和源排放清单,分析了中原城市群O_3浓度的空间、时间分布情况,探讨了中原城市群中城市间O_3的相关性,以及O_3浓度、NOx、VOCs、CO及汽车保有量间的相关性。指出中原城市群是全国更是河南O_3污染的严重地区,O_3浓度年内月度变化呈倒"V"型分布,具有明显的北部城市特征;中原城市群9个城市间除开封外其他8个城市间都呈高度正相关性,相关系数均为0.892~0.991;9个城市机动车保有量及NOx、VOCs和CO等前体物的年排放量与其年均O_3浓度之间存在正相关性。分析认为,NOx、VOCs和CO等前体物的排放是中原城市群O_3浓度偏高的主要影响因素,同时O_3浓度也与日照时间、降雨量、植物源VOCs排放量及相邻城市间污染物的空间输送等因素有着密切的关系。     

Impacts of climate warming on reindeer herding require new land-use strategies

Climate in the Arctic has warmed at a more rapid pace than the global average over the past few decades leading to weather, snow, and ice situations previously unencountered. Reindeer herding is one of the primary livelihoods for Indigenous peoples throughout the Arctic. To understand how the new climate state forces societal adaptation, including new management strategies and needs for preserved, interconnected, undisturbed grazing areas, we coupled changes in temperature, precipitation, and snow depth recorded by automatic weather stations to herder observations of reindeer behaviour in grazing areas of the Laevas Sámi reindeer herding community, northern Sweden. Results show that weather and snow conditions strongly determine grazing opportunities and therefore reindeer response. We conclude that together with the cumulative effects of increased pressures from alternative land use activities, the non-predictable environmental conditions that are uniquely part of the warming climate seriously challenge future reindeer herding in northern Sweden.     

中国北方地区年降水与气温关系及其时空变异性

降水与气温之间的不同关系类型对植被、水资源、生态环境等有着不同的影响,全面揭示大范围多气候类型区关系类型及其时空变异性和影响成为重要研究内容.文章以范围较广、涵盖气候类型较多的中国北方地区为研究区,利用研究区及其周边的357个高密度气象站点1951—2016年年降水量、气温数据,采用中心聚类等方法,定性、定量揭示了中国...     

近年来中国北方沙尘暴成因及其防治

近年来,强和特强沙尘暴在我国北方频繁发生,这与中国北方近几十年来植被破坏严重,沙化土地面积不断扩大,生态环境恶化导致沙源物质增加,气候进一步暖干化,自然环境对沙尘暴的防卫能力大大减弱有关。防治沙尘暴有三方面措施;一是增加地表覆盖,促进生态良化;二是建立沙尘暴预警系统与沙尘暴多发区环境质量动态监测预警系统;三是加强法制与管理力度,使沙尘暴多发区生态环境建设纳入法治轨道。