Harvesting heat energy from asphalt pavements: development of and comparison between numerical models and experiment

The use of flowing water in embedded pipes to harvest heat energy from asphalt pavements and thereby reducing its temperature and the urban heat island effect has been proposed. A successful use of such an approach would require a complete understanding of the effect and the interaction of various mechanisms such as conduction, convection and radiation and factors such as solar radiation, diameter of pipe and rate of flow. A large-scale experiment was conducted to understand such effects, and numerical modelling was conducted for prediction of temperature. The experiment was modelled using finite element method, and a good match was obtained between predicted and experimentally obtained results. Effects of pipe diameter and flow rate were also analysed. This model could be used in future for selection of appropriate levels of critical variables and hence successful implementation of this concept to sustainable pavements.     

Anthropogenic-driven changes with focus on the coastal zone of Mauritius, south-western Indian Ocean

Some 44% of the world's population lives within 150 km of the coast and mass migration towards the coast will continue in the decades ahead. Degrading and exhaustive uses of land, water and other coastal resources and disruption of environmental processes through degradation of environmental quality and loss of critical terrestrial and aquatic habitats can lead to serious deleterious impacts on the health and productivity of coastal ecosystems. Following the Arusha Resolution (1993), the Seychelles Statement (1996) and the Colombo CZM Workshop (1999), the need for integrated coastal zone management has become critical because of the limited land resources and unproportional domination of coastal areas in the wider Caribbean and Indian Ocean/ Pacific island states. The coastal zone of Mauritius (1,850 km², 20°S, 58°E, south-western Indian Ocean, 1.12 million inhabitants) was redefined in 1997 in the Environmental Protection Act of 1991 [Part VII (Act 34)] to include all islets within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ; 1.7 million km²). During the 1980s, the Mauritian economy underwent major structural changes successfully, with a rapid phase of industrialization diversifying into two major activities, textiles and tourism. Existing reports and data in a common framework have to be synthesized and organized to fill existing gaps in knowledge with data collection and scientific inquiries, to identify social and economic drivers and to relate socioeconomic change to demands for environmental resources (land use, water resources, marine systems) and environmental impacts as proposed under the MERMAID (Mauritius Environmental Resource Management and Industrial Development) project. Nutrient flux and sediment trace metal contamination studies are currently underway to investigate different watersheds impacted by agricultural, urban and industrial activities in the north-west of the island. There is a pressing need to integrate the natural sciences with socioeconomic disciplines as proposed by the International Human Dimensions Program (IHDP) for an integrated management of coastal zones. Three integrated pilot projects in the Pacific-Indian Ocean and wider Caribbean as identified by Land Ocean Interaction in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ) in the future, including current status and changes in material fluxes from drainage basins, transboundary impacts from the ocean and atmospheric inputs, could elucidate the land–sea interactions and human dimensions of change on small islands. The sustainability of marine resources and the conservation of biological diversity will depend on a critical understanding of linkages between human activities and ecological responses and upon a citizenry that assumes ownership of these regions. Case studies would also help in investigating how humans affect transport pathways and biogeochemical cycles in small island states. Electronic Publication     

Remote Forest Refugia for Fijian Wildlife

Abstract:  On Pacific islands non-native rats and mongooses threaten many native species. In Fiji we compared visitation rates of rats and mongooses at bait stations and measured biomass of leaf-litter invertebrates to assess the relative predation pressure from these species in forest areas at different distances from the forest edge. Forest areas over 5 km from the forest edge had significantly fewer baits encountered by rats or mongooses than did natural forest areas nearer agricultural and urban habitats. Remote forest areas may function as a last refuge for island species threatened by predation from non-native rats and mongooses. The biomass of leaf-litter invertebrates in remote forest areas was higher, indicating a refuge effect for some taxa targeted by rats and mongooses. Protection of the few remaining large blocks of natural forests on Pacific islands may be the most cost-effective approach for conserving many island endemics threatened by rats and mongooses. Logging roads can compromise this refuge effect by acting as dispersal routes for rats into natural forests.     

Long-Term Population Changes of Native and Introduced Birds in the Alaka'i Swamp, Kaua'i

Abstract:  Within the last 30 years, five endemic bird species of the Alaka'i Swamp, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, have likely gone extinct. We documented population trends of the remaining avifauna in this time period to identify a common pattern in the Hawaiian Islands: decline of native species and expansion of introduced species. We conducted bird surveys over 100 km² of the Alaka'i and Kōke'e regions of Kaua'i in March–April 2000 to estimate population size, distribution, and range limits of seven native and six introduced forest birds. We compared the results with four previous surveys conducted over the last 30 years. Five of the seven native species we studied have fared well, maintaining sizeable populations (>20,000 individuals) and unchanged or increasing numbers. The endemic 'Akikiki ( Oreomystis bairdi ), however, declined from 6296 (SE ± 1374) to 1472 (SE ± 680) individuals and exhibited range contraction from 88 to 36 km². The 'I'iwi ( Vestiaria coccinea ) also experienced a decline and contraction, though not as severe. Populations of several introduced forest birds are increasing, but all species, excluding the Japanese White-eye ( Zosterops japonicus ), were at low numbers (<5,500 individuals in survey area). One introduced species, the Japanese Bush-Warbler ( Cettia diphone ) recently invaded, whereas another, the Red-billed Leiothrix ( Leiothrix lutea ), has been extirpated. Two hurricanes in the past 20 years appear to have most strongly affected nectarivores and may have contributed to the decline or extinction of several other species. Overall, native bird populations on Kaua'i have exhibited species-specific responses to limiting factors. Although most native populations appear stable, the extant native avifauna is vulnerable as a result of limited distributions and the potential for widespread habitat degradation.     

基于定量遥感技术的重庆市热岛效应

近年来，城市热岛效应不断增强，已经成为一个突出的城市环境问题。重庆市作为长江中上游特大型城市，工业发达，经济快速发展，市区热岛效应明显，但是很少对其研究。以2007年Landsat5 TM影像为数据源，利用单窗算法对重庆市城市地表温度进行反演，并进行城市地面亮温等级划分，在从城市土地利用类型、NDVI等方面对重庆市城市热岛效应强度和空间格局分布及其特征进行了探讨。结果表明：城区热岛现象显著，且分布不均匀；不同土地利用类型对热岛效应影响不同；城市地面亮温与NDVI呈明显的线性负相关关系。最后结合重庆市的特殊地形，提出了以下解决城市热岛效应的对策：加强城市规划，调整城市结构；构建最佳绿化结构，提高城市绿化率；改变能源结构，提高能源利用率，控制工厂废气排放量。     

基于遥感技术的城市污水处理厂热岛效应研究

热岛效应已成为城市化发展中影响局地气候变化的重要因素之一.作为城市必要基础设施的一部分,城市污水处理厂对全球性气候变化的影响受到了广泛关注和研究,而对局地气候变化的影响却鲜有研究.文章首次尝试利用Landsat卫星遥感图像对1995年-2013年间苏州市11座城市污水处理厂进行了热岛效应研究,并对影响因素进行了初步分析.结果发现,11座城市污水处理厂热岛强度在18年间整体上增加了48％;从时间维度上来看,在污水处理厂施工建设或升级改造阶段,热岛强度都偏高.而根据回归分析发现,城市地表平均温度、污水处理厂的施工建设状态和主体处理工艺与WHII具有显著正相关性.     

海南岛大气污染物扩散特征

研究热带海岛大气环境污染的特殊性对于发展中的海岛大气环境规划和保护具有重要意义。通过采用统计分析方法、数值模拟和天气学分析方法,对海南省海口市大气污染物PM10的分布特征和大气污染的气象条件进行了研究。结果表明:海口市PM10存在春秋冬高、夏低的季节性差异,并受区域环境的影响较大;外来源输入和大陆冷高压是造成海口市大气污染的主要原因。采用CALPUFF模型模拟不同空间位置污染源对环境影响大小,结果显示不同空间位置的中架源的扩散特征差异较大,海南岛海岸线附近以及18.89°N,19.07°N,19.34°N,19.52°N 4个区域为敏感源区域。     

风速及风向对城市热岛强度的影响研究

为研究气象参数风对城市热岛效应影响,利用2008—2013年长沙气象局提供的相关气象数据,采用统计方法,首次研究了风速和风向对热岛强度分布规律的影响。结果表明:长沙热岛效应主要发生在晚间;热岛强度值随风速的增大而降低;处于顺风方向上的南北方向,两者热岛强度的差值随风速的增大而逐渐减少;处于与风向垂直方向上的东西方向,两者热岛强度的差值不受风速大小的影响。气象参数风对城市热岛强度和空间分布影响显著。     

城市建筑废物产量估算与预测方法——以海南省为例

文章首先构建了基于建筑面积和产废系数的城市建筑废物产量估算方法体系,进而在二次曲线回归、指数趋势模型、灰色GM(1,1)模型和BP神经网络4种单项预测模型的基础上,建立了以预测有效度为准则的变权重组合模型,以揭示城市建筑废物未来变化趋势。以海南省为例计算和预测了2001-2020年城市建筑废物产量,结果显示:(1)2001-2010年海南省建筑废物总量从219.1万t增加到813.5万t,年平均增长率为12.7%,拆除建筑废物约占建筑废物总产量的70%;(2)2015年海南省建筑废物总量将达到1 621万t,2020年较之增加71.4%,将达到2 769万t;(3)变权重组合预测模型预测有效度好、精度高、误差小,优于4种单项预测模型。预测结果将为海南省建筑废物的处理处置、资源化和综合管理提供科学依据。     

强烈风化条件下玄武岩发育土壤的元素地球化学特征

海南岛地处热带,晚第三纪以来喷发的玄武岩上广泛发育铁铝土。土壤剖面的常量元素、微量元素、化学风化指标及元素迁移率的研究表明:(1)土壤Al2O3、Fe2O3、SiO2和TiO2元素富集,水溶型元素强烈淋失,高CIA值和低ba值均显示其经历强烈的化学风化作用;(2)元素含量和元素迁移率的计算结果显示,温带难迁移的Ti、Zr、Hf和Nb等元素在高温多雨的热带环境下也会发生强烈的淋失,究其原因主要受湿热环境下高有机质含量和强酸性条件影响;(3)Fe、Al、Cu和Ni等元素的迁移则反映了基岩发育土壤自下而上的风化渐进特征;(4)表层土壤K、Na和Sr元素的强烈富集则与大气沉降有关。