DIN Retention‐Transport Through Four Hydrologically Connected Zones in a Headwater Catchment of the Upper Mississippi River1

Abstract: Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) retention‐transport through a headwater catchment was synthesized from studies encompassing four distinct hydrologic zones of the Shingobee River Headwaters near the origin of the Mississippi River. The hydrologic zones included: (1) hillslope ground water (ridge to bankside riparian); (2) alluvial riparian ground water; (3) ground water discharged through subchannel sediments (hyporheic zone); and (4) channel surface water. During subsurface hillslope transport through Zone 1, DIN, primarily nitrate, decreased from ～3 mg‐N/l to <0.1 mg‐N/l. Ambient seasonal nitrate:chloride ratios in hillslope flow paths indicated both dilution and biotic processing caused nitrate loss. Biologically available organic carbon controlled biotic nitrate retention during hillslope transport. In the alluvial riparian zone (Zone 2) biologically available organic carbon controlled nitrate depletion although processing of both ambient and amended nitrate was faster during the summer than winter. In the hyporheic zone (Zone 3) and stream surface water (Zone 4) DIN retention was primarily controlled by temperature. Perfusion core studies using hyporheic sediment indicated sufficient organic carbon in bed sediments to retain ground water DIN via coupled nitrification‐denitrification. Numerical simulations of seasonal hyporheic sediment nitrification‐denitrification rates from perfusion cores adequately predicted surface water ammonium but not nitrate when compared to 5 years of monthly field data (1989‐93). Mass balance studies in stream surface water indicated proportionally higher summer than winter N retention. Watershed DIN retention was effective during summer under the current land use of intermittently grazed pasture. However, more intensive land use such as row crop agriculture would decrease nitrate retention efficiency and increase loads to surface water. Understanding DIN retention capacity throughout the system, including special channel features such as sloughs, wetlands and floodplains that provide surface water‐ground water connectivity, will be required to develop effective nitrate management strategies.     

Assessing audit impact and thoroughness of VCS forest carbon offset projects

Voluntary markets transacted over $66 million USD of forest carbon offsets in 2016, according to Forest Trends, and over 99% of those offset projects were audited to a standard, primarily the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). We provide a table characterizing all 70 validated and verified forest carbon projects employing the VCS version 3.0 currently-in-use (December 2011–July 2017). We also examine two separate aspects of the audit process––impact and thoroughness––to assess the effectiveness of the costly audit process, which can consume up to one-third of offset revenue. Audit impact we measure in terms of reduction in the number of offsets from ex ante estimated to ex post approved. Audit thoroughness we measure both directly in terms of the number of auditor hours worked per project and also indirectly in terms of the total number of Corrective Action Requests (CARs)/Non-Conformity Reports (NCRs) auditors prescribe. In terms of impact, we find that Afforestation/Reforestation/Restoration (A/R/R) and Improved Forest Management (IFM) projects, though only constituting 5% of total verified offsets, demonstrate significant (p < = 0.05) reductions from ex ante estimated to ex post approved offsets, likely because auditors can easily scrutinize carbon stocks/emission factors for the commercial tree species involved in these project types. In terms of thoroughness, we find that higher ex ante estimates correlate with more total auditor hours worked and total CARs/NCRs prescribed for three of four project activity types, likely because auditors perceive larger ex ante projects as higher risk. We conclude with recommendations for the VCS to empower auditors to scrutinize carbon stocks/emissions factors from avoided deforestation projects, and also to continue to flag high ex ante projects as higher risk.     

Soil organic carbon dynamics of croplands in European Russia: estimates from the “model of humus balance”

The Model of Humus Balance was used to estimate the influence of climate effects and changing agricultural practices on carbon (C) levels in soddy–podzolic soils in the Russian Federation for the years 2000–2050. The model was linked with a spatial database containing soil, climate and farming management layers for identification of spatial change of C sequestration potential. Analysis of relationships between C, soil texture and climate indicated that compared with a business-as-usual scenario, adaptation measures could increase the number of polygons storing soil organic carbon (SOC) by 2010–2020. The rate of possible C loss is sensitive to the different climate scenarios, with a maximum potential for SOC accumulation expected in 2030–2040, thereafter decreasing to 2050. The effect is most pronounced for the arid part of the study area under the emission scenario with the highest rate of increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration, supporting findings from the dynamic SOC model, RothC. C sequestration during the study period was permanent for clay and clay loam soils with a C content of more than 2%, suggesting that C sequestration should be focused on highly fertile, fine-textured soils. We also show that spatial heterogeneity of soil texture can be a source of uncertainty for estimates of SOC dynamics at the regional scale. Figures in color are available at     

基于社会网络分析的江西各地市公路行业碳排放的关联与分异特征研究

针对各地公路碳排放的空间差异与关联特征，制定合理的低碳策略，实现各地协同碳减排，是行业可持续发展的热点问题。以江西省为研究对象，采用空间自相关、社会网络分析和引力模型等分析11地市公路行业碳排放的空间差异与关联，识别社会网络的结构特征及其演变趋势，明确不同地市在网络中的地位和作用，结果显示：（1）公路货运是公路行业碳排放的最主要来源；（2）江西省公路行业碳排放整体上呈现空间随机分布，不存在全局的空间聚集性，且局部空间聚集特征不断变化；（3）公路行业碳排放网络逐渐从南昌、新余双中心结构演变为南昌为主的单中心结构，网络的协同作用整体呈减弱趋势，核心地市对外围地市的影响力和带动作用不足。     

“碳中和”愿景下我国碳排放现状和减排路径

控制以CO₂为主的温室气体排放，“力争2030年前实现碳达峰，争取2060年前实现碳中和”是我国近年来面临的重大任务。碳排放研究是实现“双碳”目标的基础和前提，从碳排放测算、碳排放影响因素分析、行业碳排放研究三个方面对我国碳排放研究现状进行梳理，对近年来研究的重点方向、主要成果和目前存在的主要问题进行分析，并结合我国的“双碳”目标提出现阶段我国“以完善政策标准与加大政府扶持为基础，以产业结构调整与新兴产业发展、能源结构调整与新能源技术发展为核心，以探索CCUS（碳捕集、利用与封存）技术和增加碳汇及对居民低碳消费倾向的引导和培养为导向”的碳减排路径。     

改性活性炭纤维吸附炸药废水中TNT实验研究

本文研究了改性活性炭纤维对炸药废水中TNT的吸附行为。研究表明:1 mol/L HNO3改性的活性炭纤维吸附效果最好,其对炸药废水中TNT的最佳吸附条件为:吸附剂用量为0.6 g/25 m L,吸附平衡时间为60 min,升温有利于吸附进行。Langmuir和Freundlich吸附等温线均能较好地描述活性炭纤维对TNT的吸附,吸附动力学分析表明,吸附过程遵循准二级动力学规律。     

铁碳微电解法预处理猪场沼液中氨氮的研究

铁碳微电解是新型的污水处理技术,为了研究猪场沼液中氨氮的去除,将铁碳微电解技术应用于预处理难降解的厌氧沼液中的氨氮。经预先浸泡处理后的铁碳已达到吸附饱和,以此铁碳材料,分别采用了单因素实验和正交试验,用可见光分光光度法测试氨氮的浓度。单因素实验确定了铁碳微电解法影响氨氮去除的因素,选取pH值、反应时间、铁碳比为正交试验因素,通过正交试验得到,当温度为(20±1)℃,铁碳比为1∶1,pH值为3,反应时间为60 min时去除氨氮的效果最好,去除率为34.01%。铁碳微电解法预处理猪场沼液有一定的应用前景。     

铁碳微电解法预处理垃圾渗滤液膜滤浓缩液

对垃圾渗滤液膜滤浓缩液采用铁碳微电解法进行预处理,探讨了p H值、反应时间及气液比对COD去除效率的影响。结果表明,当p H值为3、反应时间120 min、气液比10∶1时,COD、TN的去除率分别为79.6%,56.4%;NH3-N由进水的70.9 mg/L上升为77.0 mg/L;预处理效果较好。但是由于铁碳微电解对盐度没有去除效果,影响后续反应进行。如何经济有效地降低含盐量成为今后研究重点。     

活性炭纤维对于离子的电吸附选择性能研究

通过循环伏安测试、交流阻抗测试、电吸附实验等方法研究了单组分和多组分溶液中不同离子在活性炭纤维电极表面的选择性电吸附性能。结果表明,电吸附选择性能与离子的水合半径、离子价态、离子浓度有关;增大初始浓度可以提高电吸附容量;并且,由于强烈的选择吸附作用,Ca2+离子可以吸附取代其它已经被吸附的离子。     

离子液体对CO2吸收性能的研究进展

CO2引起的气候变暖已成为全球最关注的环境问题之一,利用离子液体固定CO2引起了众多学者的关注。介绍了近年来离子液体吸收CO2的研究进展,包括常规离子液体和含氨基离子液体、氨基酸离子液体、聚离子液体及其他离子液体等4种功能化离子液体,并简要分析了吸收机理。综合分析了每种离子液体的吸收性能,离子液体对CO2的吸收能力均随温度上升而减小,随压力升高而增加。烷基链的增长以及含氟基团的增加有利于对CO2的吸收。功能化离子液体由于引入了功能化基团,相同条件下,其对CO2的吸收力几乎是常规离子液体的两倍。此外,将离子液体与有机溶液(特别是醇胺溶液)混合能提高离子液体对CO2的吸收能力,且能降低生产费用。最后指出了高吸收性能、低黏度、低毒以及低成本是未来离子液体的研究方向。