Is There a Metabolism of an Urban Ecosystem? An Ecological Critique

The energy and material flows of a city are often described as urban metabolism (UM), which is put forward as a way to link a city's ecology and economy. UM draws parallels to the biology of individual organisms, yet the analogy is misapplied. In striving to be interdisciplinary, UM makes this organismic comparison rather than identifying the city as an ecosystem, thereby ignoring developments in ecological theory. Using inappropriate rhetoric misdirects researchers, which influences scientific investigation-from problem statements to interpretations. UM is valuable in quantifying the city's use of natural resources but does not achieve a comprehensive, integrated analysis of the urban ecosystem. To realize an interdisciplinary, perhaps transdisciplinary, understanding of urban ecology, researchers need to emphasize the essential tenets of material flows analysis, view the city as an ecosystem, and use language that properly reflects current knowledge, theory, and conceptual frameworks in the foundational disciplines.     

近60多年来滇池流域干旱特性及重现期分析

根据滇池流域3个气象站、3个水文站、2个水位站、14个水库站建站(1950 s)至2014年的逐月(日)气象、水文观测系列,采用标准化降水指数(SPI)、标准化径流指数(SRI)以及干湿指数(Ia)三类干旱指标,按游程理论识别干旱事件、确定干旱历时和干旱烈度两个特征变量;通过小波分析揭示干旱历时和烈度的周期性规律;运用Gumbel Copula函数构建干旱历时和烈度的联合分布,计算干旱联合、同现重现期,及前一场干旱影响下的后一场干旱发生的条件重现期。结果表明,滇池流域干旱趋于严重;气象、水文、农业3类干旱的干旱历时或烈度,均具有100年以上变化周期;近期的干旱(2012-02~2013-04)为1950 s以来最严重干旱,联合、同现重现期分别达120.48和224.41 a,受上一场特大干旱(2009-05~2010-03)的影响,条件重现期高达271.82 a,持续干旱的叠加效应加剧了旱情和灾害程度。从滇池水位变化、区域大气环流异常、三类干旱规律、干旱史料文献及湖泊沉积物等多方面对比分析,印证了成果的科学合理性。     

Balancing Water Resources Development and Environmental Sustainability in Africa: A Review of Recent Research Findings and Applications

Sustainable development in Africa is dependent on increasing use of the continent’s water resources without significantly degrading ecosystem services that are also fundamental to human wellbeing. This is particularly challenging in Africa because of high spatial and temporal variability in the availability of water resources and limited amounts of total water availability across expansive semi-arid portions of the continent. The challenge is compounded by ambitious targets for increased water use and a rush of international funding to finance development activities. Balancing development with environmental sustainability requires (i) understanding the boundary conditions imposed by the continent’s climate and hydrology today and into the future, (ii) estimating the magnitude and spatial distribution of water use needed to meet development goals, and (iii) understanding the environmental water requirements of affected ecosystems, their current status and potential consequences of increased water use. This article reviews recent advancements in each of these topics and highlights innovative approaches and tools available to support sustainable development. While much remains to be learned, scientific understanding and technology should not be viewed as impediments to sustainable development on the continent.     

基于Copulas函数的多维干旱变量联合分布

通过构建多变量联合分布进行干旱分析,可揭示干旱的演变规律.根据新疆乌鲁木齐和石河子气象站的长系列月降水资料,提取干旱历时、干旱烈度和烈度峰值3个干旱特征变量,基于4种对称的Archimedean Copulas函数分别构建二维、三维干旱变量的联合分布;基于5种非对称的Archimedean Copulas函数构建三维干旱变量的联合分布,以进一步推求各自的重现期.经拟合优度检验,Frank Copula 函数对干旱历时和干旱烈度、干旱历时和烈度峰值的二维联合分布的拟合度最好;Clayton Copula 函数对于干旱烈度和烈度峰值的二维联合分布以及干旱历时、干旱烈度和烈度峰值的三维联合分布拟合效果最佳.单变量的重现期介于二维、三维变量联合重现期与同现重现期之间.表明Copulas函数能描述多维干旱特征变量的联合分布.     

WATER QUALITY MODELING IN THE UPPER REACHES OF THE CHOWAN RIVER1

ABSTRACT: The Chowan River system consists of three rivers in southeast Virginia that form two confluences before flowing into Albermarle Sound in North Carolina. A computer program was written to simulate flows through the river system to determine flow rates, velocities, and depths. The output of the flow program was input into a second program that calculated the concentrations of BOD₅, COD, DO, and four nitrogen parameters (organic, ammonia, nitrite-nitrate and algal-N). Measured field data were used to calibrate the model. The effect of reducing the concentration of nutrients from overland runoff on algal concentrations at the mouth of the river was studied. The program was also run to simulate the water quality of the watershed in a primitive condition, in which the watershed was assumed to consist only of forests. The results of the computer program indicate that the major changes in the water quality of the river are simulated satisfactorily. The program can be used to assess the impact of any management scheme to improve water quality.     

环保型PRD钻开液的性能研究

针对大位移井和水平井储层段存在携带钻屑及起下钻困难等问题,研制了一种井眼清洁能力强的环保型PRD钻开液。该钻开液主要处理剂是极易生物降解的天然高分子聚合物。PRD钻开液的BOD₅/COD_Cr为0.42;溶解氧(DO)衰减法评价结果表明,PF-VIS及PF-FLO两种天然高分子聚合物易生物降解;PRD钻开液生物毒性检验结果符合一级海区生物毒性允许值要求;LSRV(低剪切速率黏度)高达60 000 mPa·s,携带及悬浮钻屑能力很强,不会形成岩屑床,岩心渗透率恢复值在90%以上,对储层伤害很小。该钻开液用在我国渤海、东海、南海西部、南海东部及新疆等油田,油气产量有较大提高。     

预缺氧池配水比对Johannesburg工艺脱氮除磷效果的影响

以处理城市污水的中试规模Johannesburg工艺为对象,探讨不同配水比对预缺氧池的反硝化及Johannesburg工艺脱氮除磷效果的影响。在总HRT为12.86 h,预缺氧池HRT为0.6 h的条件下,当配水比分别为0%、10%、20%和30%时,预缺氧池硝酸盐去除率分别为37.67%、78.95%、87.62%和94.95%,对应的厌氧池磷酸盐浓度分别为8.72、19.37、16.1和12.99 mg/L。预缺氧池最佳配水比为10%,此时厌氧段释磷速率、好氧吸磷速率和缺氧吸磷速率分别为6.94、3.17和2.12 mg/(g MLSS·h),厌氧池中磷的最大浓度和污泥中的磷最大含量可达到19.37 mg/L和25.7 mg TP/g MLSS。出水COD、NH3-N、TN和TP等各项水质指标有80%以上的概率达到《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准(GB18918-2002)》一级A标准。     

Assessment of risk in a minerals industry: Canadian nickel

The level of rents attributable to natural resource producers depends on the risk faced by those producers. This paper argues that estimates of risk in mining should control for characteristics of firms such as diversification and debt financing. The capital asset pricing model is applied to securities of three Canadian nickel mining firms over the period 1961–1974. It is concluded that the level of risk was not unusually high.     

Timber harvest calculations on a National Forest: A case study

Harvest calculations determine sawtimber flows from public lands and are closely scruntinized by a wide spectrum of forest users. This study examines the reliability of harvest calculations on a single national forest in New Mexico Forest Service determinations of an array of variables were reviewed and evaluated. The study revealed a lack of precision in Forest Service adherence to self-imposed procedural standards governing the calculation process. Timber sales have taken place on lands where such standards prohibit harvesting and these lands have been included in annual harvest calculations. Assumptions required by a mathematical model used by the Forest Service in calculating the harvest were not followed in the subsequent implementation of the harvest level. These factors suggest that the Forest Service could have significantly over-stated annual harvest rate for the first decade. Opportunities exist to improve the calculation, and benefits realized may greatly exceed additional costs of implementation