Optimal Design of a Multi-Pollutant Air Quality Monitoring Network in a Metropolitan Region Using Kaohsiung, Taiwan as an Example

An air quality monitoring network (AQMN) usually performs the basic function of assessment of regional air quality and demonstration of compliance with ambient air quality standards in an urban area. Different pollutants, however, may present different characteristic variabilities due to their specific emission patterns, rates of diffusion, and transport and transformation behaviors. But the costs of siting in a pollutant-specific monitoring network would be higher than that for a common network with respect to several pollutants monitored simultaneously. This paper presents a survey of multi-pollutant design principles and optimal searches for siting patterns of an AQMN using both simulation and optimization models as a combined tool. While conservative, quasi-stable, and reactive pollutants are considered in the design principles, cost, coverage effectiveness, and spatial correlation characteristics are included in the multi-criteria decision making process. For illustrative purpose, a series of technical settings and two types of objectives were examined in the case study for the city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan.     

The Impact of Urbanization and Protection of Water Resources in Owerri and Environs SE, Nigeria

Untreated sewage and agriculture are the most important sources of contamination. The study was carried out by conducting a short-term surface water and groundwater pollution survey of the Owerri Urban area and its environs, in order to establish the current levels of pollution. An attempt has been made to show the relationships between pollution levels, population density, industrial and agricultural activities. The spatial distribution of pollutants due to a poor land use system and to human activities was investigated. This emphasises integrated planned development as a preventive measure for arresting pollution levels in fast growing urban centres. The total groundwater stored in the area amounts to 7.87 × 10⁹ m³. Twenty five percent of this is released as base flow into the adjacent rivers (Otamiri and Nworie). The annual groundwater recharge is 3.4 × 10⁹ m³. The enormous volume of groundwater stored and the comparatively low cost of development makes groundwater an excellent alternative supply source for the area (Uma et al., 1984).     

Use of Scale Invariance in Evaluating Judgement Indicators

Indicators are used to draw conclusions about ecological endpoints when these endpoints cannot be measured directly. In many cases, inferences about an endpoint are only possible because assumptions have been made about the relationship between indicator and endpoint; we refer to such indicators as judgement indicators. The validity of inferences made using a judgement indicator can be gauged by examining the known or assumed form of the general relationship between indicator and endpoint. The rules for this kind of inference are a consequence of scale invariance, which originates from measurement theory. For simple indicators comprised of a single indicator measurement, the inferences allowed – equivalence, rank, equality of intervals, and equality of ratios – depend on whether the data are nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio scaled. For composite indicators containing two or more simple indicators, inferences are also affected by the mathematical form of combination; e.g., whether the terms are summed or multiplied. Standardizing simple or composite indicators can allow inferences about the relative importance of observations, based on the natural range of occurrence. Scale invariance is a particularly important consideration in landscape assessments, since these often make use of judgement indicators.     

Book reviews

Abstract

The basic aim of this article is to briefly explore the links between socio-economic dynamics and desertification in western Lesvos, Greece. The area is characterised by certain socio-economic and development disadvantages, dependence on few productive sectors (mainly on livestock breeding) and by severe problems of land degradation and desertification. The linkages between socio-economic profile, characteristics and development trajectory with the state of environment in the area are identified through a series of in-depth qualitative interviews with local producers (livestock breeders). Research findings reveal the major socio-economic driving forces towards unsustainable productive practices, which contribute to the persistence of the problems of land degradation and desertification.     

城市防震减灾能力评估研究

首先论述了目前国内外关于城市地震灾害风险评估的研究,分析了这些研究取得的成果和存在的不足。然后,提出了城市防震减灾能力的概念,采用人员伤亡,经济损失和震后恢复时间作为衡量城市防震减灾能力强弱的3个最基本的要素。围绕这3个基本要素,列举出影响城市防震减灾能力的6大因素,在此基础上,提出了城市防震减灾能力评价指标体系的具体内容。     

聚焦ISO 14001标准 创建生态旅游岛

结合鼓浪屿区实施ISO14001标准,探讨了其意义,实施步骤和特点,可为其它风景名胜区建立环境管理体系所借鉴。     

垃圾堆肥场堆肥废气环境影响评价分析

垃圾堆肥场的建设将改变目前垃圾任意堆放的局面 ,堆肥产品可用于林业使垃圾得到无害化处理 ,并变废为宝。尽管如此在垃圾堆肥过程中还将释放出有害气体和垃圾渗透液等影响环境质量。针对堆肥所产生的大气污染物进行源强确定、扩散计算 ,分析其影响范围并推算卫生防护距离。     

环境因素对原生动物群落特征的影响

1999年12月至2000年11月,对华中科技大学华瑜池的原生动物群落进行了研究,共检出原生动物125种,其中植鞭毛虫19种,动鞭毛虫28种,纤毛虫64种,肉足虫14种,对原生动物群落结构和功能的研究表明：1）自然条件下,PFU原生动物群落的种类组成数及原生动物群落的群集速度相对稳定;2）自然条件下,PFU原生动物群落结构和功能不受季节变化的影响;3）当PFU原和动物群落受到外界胁迫时,不管这种胁迫来自物化因素或是生物因素,其群落结构和功能都会发生破坏性变化;4）用PFU法进行原生动物群落生态学和毒理学研究,所得的结构参数及功能参数能反映客观状况,具有环境现实意义。     

秸秆腐解剂在秸秆还田中的效果研究初报

在大田、微区和盆栽条件下,研究了秸秆腐解剂对小麦、水稻生长及产量的影响,同时研究了秸秆腐解剂对小麦、水稻秸秆腐解速率及对土壤肥力的影响。结果表明,稻、麦秸秆还田时施用秸秆腐解剂对提高稻、麦产量具有明显的增产效果,增产的原因是穗数和粒数增加;稻、麦秸秆还田量不同时,还田量大且配施秸秆腐解剂的效果较还田量小好;麦秸秆还田方式不同时,麦秸以栽稻前耕翻还田且配施秸秆腐解剂的效果较好,上水沤制的效果较差;秸秆腐解剂能促进稻、麦秸秆较快腐解,减轻和防止多量秸秆还田给作物生长带来不利影响,并可稳定和提高土壤养分含量。     

防洪物资储备决策方法初探

根据防洪抢险物资储备属于一种信息不全型决策问题的特点,本文提出了一种用于确定每年防灾物资准备量概率排序决策模型,并以孙不河流泥石流灾害预报火灾决策为例进行说明。