Identifying key issues in environmental wetland research using scaling and uncertainty analysis

Quantification of the response of wetlands to environmental change and of climate change to wetland processes, is a pressing, but complex, issue. Findings of widely diverse investigations have to be generalised to identify the key issues and the gaps in knowledge. Two tools for generalisation, scaling and uncertainty analysis, were applied here to two case studies and act as stepping stones for analysis of key issues. The first case study is on methane emissions from wetland rice fields and the second is on the restoration of wet dune slacks. The type of problems encountered depends on the scale at which a process is studied. At the biogeochemical processes scale, knowledge on some key parameters, but especially on interactions between key parameters is limiting. At the vegetation scale, feedbacks between processes become especially important, whereas at even larger scales increasingly stringent approximations of interactions have to be made. Accumulating uncertainties at the landscape scale need careful evaluation. Apart from uncertainties in the approximations and their interactions, those introduced by spatial and temporal variability as well as by different data sources highly influence the accuracy of response estimates, while these last sources of uncertainty are neglected in many studies. Only by explicitly accounting for scaling effects and their resulting uncertainties, the interactions between wetlands and environment can be understood.     

地膜覆盖对菜地垄沟CH4和N2O排放的影响

为了探讨地膜覆盖对菜地垄沟温室气体CH₄和N₂O排放的影响,以位于西南大学农业部重庆紫色土生态环境重点野外科学观测试验站内辣椒-萝卜轮作菜地为研究对象,采用静态暗箱/气相色谱法,进行为期1 a的田间原位观测.本试验设置常规和覆膜两种处理方式,研究地膜覆盖对菜地垄沟中CH₄和N₂O排放的影响.结果表明,地膜覆盖能极显著提高土壤全年pH（P<0.01）,显著提高全年的地表温度和地下5 cm温度（P<0.05）,显著提高萝卜季土壤含水率（P<0.05）.不论是辣椒季还是萝卜季,覆膜显著降低了垄的CH₄排放（P<0.05）,辣椒季垄的CH₄平均排放通量常规和覆膜处理分别为0.110 mg·（m²·h）^-1和0.028 mg·（m²·h）^-1,萝卜季分别为0.011 mg·（m²·h）^-1和-0.019 mg·（m²·h）^-1,但覆膜对沟的CH₄排放没有显著影响（P>0.05）,辣椒季常规和覆膜处理分别为0.058 mg·（m²·h）^-1和0.057 mg·（m²·h）^-1,萝卜季分别为0.083 mg·（m²·h）^-1和0.092 mg·（m²·h）^-1,对比垄和沟,除了辣椒季常规处理下垄CH₄排放量显著高于沟,其它均为沟显著高于垄,这与西南地区较高的降雨量下沟内较稳定的缺氧环境有关.覆膜处理对N₂O没有显著影响,辣椒季垄N₂O的平均排放通量常规和覆膜处理下分别为65.41 μg·（m²·h）^-1和68.39 μg·（m²·h）^-1,萝卜季分别为78.43 μg·（m²·h）^-1和66.19 μg·（m²·h）^-1,辣椒季沟N₂O的平均排放通量分别为19.82 μg·（m²·h）^-1和22.85 μg·（m²·h）^-1,萝卜季分别为35.80 μg·（m²·h）^-1和40.00 μg·（m²·h）^-1,均无显著差异（P>0.05）,对比垄和沟,垄N₂O的排放量显著高于沟,N₂O主要由垄向大气排放.CH₄排放通量与地表及地下5 cm温度呈显著正相关,N₂O的排放通量仅与碱解氮和铵态氮含量呈显著正相关.     

Environmental,economic and social costs and benefits of a packaging waste management system: A Portuguese case study

The impact of the management of packaging waste on the environment, economic growth and job creation is analyzed in this paper. This integrated assessment intends to cover a gap in the literature for this type of studies, using the specific case study of the Portuguese packaging waste management system (SIGRE).The net environmental benefits associated with the management of packaging waste, are calculated using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. The results show that, for the categories studied, the impacts associated to SIGRE's various activities are surpassed by the benefits associated to material and energy recovery, with special focus on recycling. For example, in 2011 SIGRE avoided the emission of 116 kt CO₂ equiv. – the equivalent carbon emission of the electricity consumption of 124.000 households in Portugal.The economic impact of SIGRE is evaluated through Input–Output Analysis. It was found that SIGRE's activities also have a significant economic impact. For example, their added value are ranked amongst the upper third of the economic activities with highest multiplier effect at national level: this means that for each Euro of value added generated within SIGRE, 1.25 additional € are added to the rest of the economy (multiplier effect of 2.25).Regarding the social impacts of SIGRE, the number of direct jobs associated with the system is estimated to be more than two thousand and three hundred workers. Out of these, 83% are connected to the management of municipal waste packaging (selective collection and sorting), 15% are connected to the management of non-municipal packaging waste and only 2% are connected to the Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV, green dot society in English) – the management entity responsible for SIGRE.In general terms, the results obtained provide quantitative support to the EEA (2011) suggestion that moving up the waste hierarchy – from landfilling to recycling – creates jobs and boosts the economy.     

Environmental consequences of recycling aluminum old scrap in a global market

Nowadays, aluminum scrap is traded globally. This has increased the need to analyze the flows of aluminum scrap, as well as to determine the environmental consequences from aluminum recycling. The objective of this work is to determine the greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions of the old scrap collected and sorted for recycling, considering the market interactions. The study focused on Spain as a representative country for Europe. We integrate material flow analysis (MFA) with consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) in order to determine the most likely destination for the old scrap and the most likely corresponding process affected. Based on this analysis, it is possible to project some scenarios and to quantify the GHG emissions (generated and avoided) associated with old scrap recycling within a global market. From the MFA results, we projected that the Spanish demand for aluminum products will be met mainly with an increase in primary aluminum imports, and the excess of old scrap not used in Spain will be exported in future years, mainly to Asia. Depending on the scenario and on the marginal source of primary aluminum considered, the GHG emission estimates varied between −18,140 kg of CO₂ eq. t⁻¹ and −8427 of CO₂ eq. t⁻¹ of old scrap collected. More GHG emissions are avoided with an increase in export flows, but the export of old scrap should be considered as the loss of a key resource, and in the long term, it will also affect the semifinished products industry. Mapping the flows of raw materials and waste, as well as quantifying the GHG impacts derived from recycling, has become an essential prerequisite to consistent development from a linear toward a circular economy (CE).     

Anthropogenic land use substantially increases riverine CO2 emissions

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from inland waters to the atmosphere are a pivotal component of the global carbon budget. Anthropogenic land use can influence riverine CO₂ emissions, but empirical data exploring cause-effect relationships remain limited. Here, we investigated CO₂ partial pressures (pCO₂) and degassing in a monsoonal river (Yue River) within the Han River draining to the Yangtze in China. Almost 90% of river samples were supersaturated in CO₂ with a mean ± standard deviation of 1474 ± 1614 µatm, leading to emissions of 557 - 971 mmol/m²/day from river water to the atmosphere. Annual CO₂ emissions were 1.6 - 2.8 times greater than the longitudinal exports of riverine dissolved inorganic and organic carbon. pCO₂ was positively correlated to anthropogenic land use (urban and farmland), and negatively correlated to forest cover. pCO₂ also had significant and positive relationships with total dissolved nitrogen and total dissolved phosphorus. Stepwise multiple regression models were developed to predict pCO₂. Farmland and urban land released nutrients and organic matter to the river system, driving riverine pCO₂ enrichment due to enhanced respiration in these heterotrophic rivers. Overall, we show the crucial role of land use driving riverine pCO₂, which should be considered in future large-scale estimates of CO₂ emissions from streams. Land use change can thus modify the carbon balance of urban-river systems by enhancing river emissions, and reforestation helps carbon neutral in rivers.     

关于环境监测中重金属污染现状及对策研究

随着我国经济正在不断发展,环境污染问题也在日益加剧,严重影响生态环境的稳定发展。尤其是重金属污染,会危害人们的身体健康,而且重金属一旦进入人体,就难以有效地排除。因此,相关环境部门应该重视重金属污染处理,提高环境监测的效率,制定针对性监测与处理方案,避免其影响人们的正常生活。基于此,本文分析了环境监测中重金属污染的现状,并阐述了相关对策,仅供参考。     

A data synthesis on the biochar properties and implications for air,soil, and water quality in Brazil

Biochar has been intensively researched worldwide. In Brazil, there is a variety of feedstock production that can be turned into soil amendments of high performance through biochar conversion, especially solid wastes. However, advances in biochar research in Brazil have not been systematically evaluated to indicate possible gaps and suggest future research for eco-friendly applications. Thus, in this work we evaluated biochar properties and effects on air, water, and soil quality based on data gathered from researches performed in Brazil. Biochar has been mainly evaluated as soil conditioner (37%), material characterization (17%), water treatment (12%), and greenhouse gases emissions (9%). Based on the data synthesis of 68 feedstocks used for biochar production, we observed that the pyrolysis temperature profoundly affects biochar properties. Meta-analysis indicated benefits of biochar addition to soils for chemical, physical, microbiological and biochemical attributes that have resulted in increases in root growth (+30%), and plant shoots (+45%). Pyrolysis temperature and feedstock are key choices to design biochar properties aiming to retain dyes, aromatic hydrocarbon, pesticides, and metals in water and wastewater treatment. It was also observed an increase in CO₂ and a decrease in N₂O emissions after biochar application to soils in short-term experiments. Although there is a growing interest in the development of electrochemical sensors and biochar-based fertilizers, technological applications of biochar are still incipient in Brazil. Future research should prioritize long-term and mechanistically evaluations of biochar under field conditions and the development of eco-friendly technological applications.     

同步硝化反硝化过程中污染物的去除及温室气体的释放

采用缺氧-好氧SBR反应器,研究了同步硝化反硝化(SND)工艺污水生物脱氮过程中污染物去除效果和温室气体(N2O,CH4和CO2)的释放情况.结果表明,与顺序式硝化反硝化工艺(SQND)的总氮去除率63.78%相比,SND大大地提高了总氮的去除,去除率达90.39%.同时,SND过程刺激了温室气体的释放,其温室气体释放总量为SQND的4.5倍.SND反应器N2O每周期释放量为34.28 mg,且主要集中于曝气阶段.而SQND过程N2O释放量仅为6.89mg,为SND过程的1/5.SND过程和SQND过程,每周期CO2的释放量分别为493.52,320.28mg.两反应器中CH4的释放量都很低,接近于零.     

Solid Waste Treatment as a High-Priority and Low- Cost Alternative for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

The increased concern about environmental problems caused by inadequate waste management, as well as the concern about global warming, promotes actions toward a sustainable management of the organic fraction of the waste. Landfills, the most common means to dispose of municipal solid waste (MSW), lead to the conversion of the organic waste to biogas, containing about 50% methane, a very active greenhouse gas (GHG). One unit of methane has a global warming potential of 21 computed for a 100-year horizon or 56 computed for 20 years. The waste sector in Israel contributes 13% of total greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions for a time horizon of 100 years (for a time horizon of 20 years, the waste sector contribution equals to more than 25% of total GHG emissions). The ultimate goal is to minimize the amount of methane (CH₄) by converting it to CO₂. This can be achieved by physicochemical means (e.g., landfill gas flare, incineration) or by biological processes (e.g., composting, anaerobic digestion). Since the waste in Israel has a high organic material content, it was found that the most cost-effective means to treat the degradable organic components is by aerobic composting (investment of less than US$ 10 to reduce emission of one ton CO₂ equivalent per year). Another benefit of this technology is the ability to implement it within a short period. The suggested approach, which should be implemented especially in developing countries, could reduce a significant amount of GHG at relatively low cost and short time. The development of a national policy for proper waste treatment can be a significant means to abate GHG emissions in the short term, enabling a gain in time to develop other means for the long run. In addition, the use of CO₂ quotas will credit the waste sector and will promote profitable proper waste management.     

The Relative Importance of Sources of Greenhouse-Gas Emissions: Comparison of Global Through Subnational Perspectives

Increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases are widely expected to cause global warming and other climatic changes. It is important to establish priorities for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, so that resources can be allocated efficiently and effectively. This is a global problem, and it is possible, on a global scale, to identify those activities whose emissions have the greatest potential for enhancing the greenhouse effect. However, perspectives from smaller scales must be appreciated, because it is on scales down to the local level that response measures will be implemented. This paper analyzes the relative importance of emissions from the many individual sources, on scales ranging from global to national to subnational. Individual country perspectives and proposed policy measures and those of subnational political entities exhibit some commonalities but differ among themselves and from a global-scale perspective in detail.