TWIN: a TWo-stage INdex to evaluate ecological quality status in lagoon environments by means of hard bottom zoobenthos

The macrobenthos colonizing the artificial hard bottoms in lagoons has been used in biomonitoring programs as it requires easy sampling procedures and provides a variety of responses to different environmental pressures, like marine or continental influence, eutrophication, and urban pollution. In this paper we present the development and application of a new TWo-stage INdex (TWIN), aimed to assess water quality of lagoon environments using the hard bottom macrobenthos community. TWIN is calculated in two separate stages. First, the presence and abundance of macrobenthic species are used to define, through a fuzzy model, a station's membership grade in six pre-defined ecological sectors (Lagoon Mouth, Vivified Lagoon, Rough Eutrophic, Calm Eutrophic, Urban, Estuarine), each corresponding to characteristic communities. Then a formula links the membership grades to the five ecological status classes ranging from high to bad quality, as requested by the European Water Framework Directive. This method was tested in four Adriatic lagoons: the results are consistent with literature information and expert judgement, therefore we propose its use in the definition of water quality in lagoons.     

Contribution of cooperative sector recycling to greenhouse gas emissions reduction: A case study of Ribeirão Pires,Brazil

Solid waste, including municipal waste and its management, is a major challenge for most cities and among the key contributors to climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced through recovery and recycling of resources from the municipal solid waste stream. In São Paulo, Brazil, recycling cooperatives play a crucial role in providing recycling services including collection, separation, cleaning, stocking, and sale of recyclable resources. The present research attempts to measure the greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved by the recycling cooperative Cooperpires, as well as highlight its socioeconomic benefits. Methods include participant observation, structured interviews, questionnaire application, and greenhouse gas accounting of recycling using a Clean Development Mechanism methodology. The results show that recycling cooperatives can achieve important energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and suggest there is an opportunity for Cooperpires and other similar recycling groups to participate in the carbon credit market. Based on these findings, the authors created a simple greenhouse gas accounting calculator for recyclers to estimate their emissions reductions.     

The concept of the Portuguese National Ecological Reserve: constraints and impossibilities in the Azores Archipelago

The biophysical features of small islands (SI) distinguish them from other territories; isolation, small size and several anthropogenic pressures reduce the resilience of ecosystems and increase their vulnerability to global changes. Many SI have a shortage of infrastructures, institutions and technical/financial resources that hinder planning and require different integrated solutions. In Portugal, the National Ecological Reserve (NER) is legally binding for spatial planning instruments. It aims to defend natural values and areas of ecological value, or sensibility, or susceptible to natural hazards. However, the criteria for the design of NER are strictly set for mainland territory, not taking into account specific features of small islands. A case study of the Azores Archipelago is used to demonstrate that spatial planning instruments should be adapted to island contexts. Such adaptation will increase the effectiveness of their implementation in relation to the protection of natural resources, stability of biophysical structures and prevention of natural hazards. Observing the main differences between mainland and the Azores Archipelago it is possible to define a methodological transposition of the NER aims and goals into an island context. This approach is an answer to the constraints in effective adaptation of spatial planning instruments for islands.     

咸阳市温室气体排放的动态分析及等级评估

通过采用《2006年IPCC国家温室气体清单指南》和中国《省级温室气体编制指南》推荐的方法,分析了咸阳市温室气体排放的动态变化,并提出基于全球标准的温室气体排放等级评价方法,对咸阳市温室气体进行了排放等级评估.结果表明:1995—2011年,咸阳市温室气体排放量从1253.21×104t上升为5531.06×104t,年均增高9.72%,呈快速上升趋势.工业(年均增高21.34%)为增幅最高的部门,其次依次为能源(9.62%)、废弃物(7.90%)、农业(2.45%).从温室气体构成看,能源占84.73%~91.81%,工业占1.46%~8.55%,农业占3.11%~9.32%,林业碳减排占-0.53%~-2.36%,废弃物处理占1.31%~8.39%.由此可见,咸阳市温室气体排放增长的主要原因是能源消费的增加以及工业生产的大幅增长.万元GDP温室气体排放量波动下降,年均降低4.53%;人均、单位面积温室气体排放量和温室气体排放指数快速升高,年均增幅分别达9.31%、9.72%和9.48%.16年间,咸阳市温室气体排放等级从较低(Ⅰc)持续升高至中上等级(Ⅱc),已高出应对全球气候变暖目标(Ⅰb)4个亚级,温室气体减排工作刻不容缓.     

宝鸡市街道尘埃磁学特征空间分布及环境意义

对宝鸡市街道尘埃样品进行详细系统环境磁学实验分析并结合扫描电子显微镜研究表明,宝鸡市街道尘埃中磁性矿物含量高,主要的磁性矿物为多畴和假单畴的低矫顽力亚铁磁性矿物,同时含有少量的赤铁矿等高矫顽力的硬磁性矿物.污染来源主要以工业和交通等人为污染为主.街道尘埃的磁学特征表现出一定的空间变化规律揭示出污染的空间分布,划分为6个主要区域:A(创新路到高新八路区域)和B(东风路和马营路区域),磁性物质含量整体很高,揭示污染相对较重,污染源主要为"工业+交通";C区(火炬路到医康区域)磁性物质含量相对较高,是中度污染的区域,污染源主要为"交通";D(经二路与人民路区域)、E(清姜路和姜谭路西部区域)和F(陈仓区虢镇),磁性物质含量相对较低,揭示轻度污染,污染源主要为"交通".     

吐鲁番市历史文化遗址环境生态敏感性综合分析

针对历史文化资源保护的迫切需求利用高精度的地形数据和生态环境调查资料在GIS技术的支持下进行了历史文化遗址环境生态敏感性评价。以吐鲁番市区的历史文化遗址环境生态敏感性问题为研究对象选取高程等9个敏感性因子,利用层次分析法(AHP)确定敏感性因子权重结合GIS空间分析技术得到吐鲁番市区历史文化遗址环境生态敏感性结果。结果表明:吐鲁番市区历史文化遗址的生态敏感性总体较高,区域差异比较明显。国家级遗址和自治区级遗址都处在高度敏感状态,县市级遗址处在中度敏感状态,急需加强保护。最后提出分类保护措施为今后生态防范措施的针对性提供科学依据。     

西安市近郊土壤肥力调查与评价

通过监测土壤肥力评价常用的有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾、有效磷、速效钾、p H等7项评价指标,对西安市近郊4个方位的土壤肥力进行了评价。结果表明:在西安市近郊的4个方位上,土壤中p H值普遍在8.5左右,显略碱性;有机质的含量普遍处于稍缺状态,北郊的有机质含量相对比较丰富,最高为2.64%;全氮含量相对较好,全钾含量均处于较缺状态,北郊的全钾含量较高,为4.17 g/kg;全磷含量均处于0.66 g/kg左右,属中等状态;有效磷含量处于中等含量水平,南郊较低,平均为7.3 mg/kg,最低至3 mg/kg;速效钾含量东郊为37.93 mg/kg,含量较少,处于较缺状态,其余3个郊区均处于稍缺状态。     

浅析辽河流域水环境管理现状及改善措施

辽河流域是我国北方重要的河流型流域,水环境污染问题突出。文章从水环境管理体制、水污染控制方式、水生态安全管理、预警监控4个方面剖析了辽河流域水环境管理现状,并提出针对性的改善措施,对促进辽河流域水环境管理能力提高具有积极的实际意义。     

齐齐哈尔市土地利用变化及其对地下水水质的影响

为了探究齐齐哈尔市土地利用变化及其对地下水水质的影响,利用1995年、2003年、2011年遥感影像解译结果,比照地下水水质长期监测数据开展相关研究。结果表明,研究区土地利用类型以旱田、湿地和建设用地为主,其中旱田面积最大,占45%以上;近20a来,湿地面积持续减少,减少面积达112.38km2,主要转变为旱田、水田和建设用地,而建设用地的增加主要来自于开发旱田;1995~2003年、2003~2011年2个时期的综合土地利用动态度分别为0.97%、0.60%,研究区2003年之前总体土地利用变化程度明显高于后期。地下水中NO-3-N、SO2-4、Cl-和总硬度浓度变化趋势,与建设用地和旱田间的相互转变密切相关。城镇化建设快速发展及工矿用地土地资源的长期开发,成为对该地区地下水水质产生直接影响的主要土地利用方式。     

资源型城市大气环境质量灰色聚类分析与评价

以阜新市为例,研究资源型城市转型期的大气环境质量状况。根据阜新市2006~2010年大气环境监测数据,运用灰色聚类法,对该市"十一五"期间大气环境质量污染现状进行评价,并综合分析大气质量变化的原因。旨在定量分析评价阜新地区转型期的大气环境质量现状和存在的问题。结果表明:阜新市大气环境质量在2006~2010年间明显好转,主要呈Ⅱ类和Ⅲ类,其中2006年和2007年大气环境质量较差,主要污染物为降尘和SO2;2008年降尘量开始显著下降,PM10、SO2和NO2也呈逐步下降的趋势,说明阜新市经济转型对大气环境质量具有改善作用,棚户区改造和采煤区综合整治也是好转的原因和影响因素。