Investigation of carbonyl compound sources at a rural site in the Yangtze River Delta region of China

Carbonyl compounds are important intermediates in atmospheric photochemistry, but their primary sources are still not understood well. In this work, carbonyls, hydrocarbons, and alkyl nitrates were continuously measured during November 2011 at a rural site in the Yangtze River Delta region of China. Mixing ratios of carbonyls and hydrocarbons showed large fluctuations during the entire measurement. The average level for total measured volatile organic compounds during the pollution episode from 25th to 27th November, 2011 was 91.6 ppb, about 7 times the value for the clean period of 7th-8th, November, 2011. To preliminarily identify toluene sources at this site, the emission ratio of toluene to benzene (T/B) during the pollution episode was determined based on photochemical ages derived from the relationship of alkyl nitrates to their parent alkanes. The calculated T/B was 5.8 ppb/ppb, significantly higher than the values of 0.2-1.7 ppb/ppb for vehicular exhaust and other combustion sources, indicating the dominant influence of industrial emissions on ambient toluene. The contributions of industrial sources to ambient carbonyls were then calculated using a multiple linear regression fit model that used toluene and alkyl nitrates as respective tracers for industrial emission and secondary production. During the pollution episode, 18.5%, 69.0%, and 52.9% of measured formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone were considered to be attributable to industrial emissions. The emission ratios relative to toluene for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone were determined to be 0.10, 0.20 and 0.40 ppb/ppb, respectively. More research on industrial carbonyl emission characteristics is needed to understand carbonyl sources better.     

Apportioning aldehydes: Quantifying industrial sources of carbonyls

<正>In their recent Journal of Environmental Sciences publication,Wang and colleagues provide field evidence that industrial activities can contribute substantially to atmospheric carbonyl concentrations(Wang et al.,2015).These results may helpto explain underestimations of carbonyl emissions in currently available emission inventories,and highlight the need for an improved understanding of industrial sources of this class of compounds.In the atmosphere,carbonyl compounds photolyze to yield     

Ozone concentrations, flux and potential effect on yield during wheat growth in the Northwest-Shandong Plain of China

Ozone (O₃) concentration and flux (F_o) were measured using the eddy covariance technique over a wheat field in the Northwest-Shandong Plain of China. The O₃-induced wheat yield loss was estimated by utilizing O₃ exposure-response models. The results showed that: (1) During the growing season (7 March to 7 June, 2012), the minimum (16.1 ppbV) and maximum (53.3 ppbV) mean O₃ concentrations occurred at approximately 6:30 and 16:00, respectively. The mean and maximum of all measured O₃ concentrations were 31.3 and 128.4 ppbV, respectively. The variation of O₃ concentration was mainly affected by solar radiation and temperature. (2) The mean diurnal variation of deposition velocity (V_d) can be divided into four phases, and the maximum occurred at noon (12:00). Averaged V_d during daytime (6:00–18:00) and nighttime (18:00–6:00) were 0.42 and 0.14 cm/sec, respectively. The maximum of measured V_d was about 1.5 cm/sec. The magnitude of V_d was influenced by the wheat growing stage, and its variation was significantly correlated with both global radiation and friction velocity. (3) The maximum mean F_o appeared at 14:00, and the maximum measured F_o was − 33.5 nmol/(m²·sec). Averaged F_o during daytime and nighttime were − 6.9 and − 1.5 nmol/(m²·sec), respectively. (4) Using O₃ exposure-response functions obtained from the USA, Europe, and China, the O₃-induced wheat yield reduction in the district was estimated as 12.9% on average (5.5%–23.3%). Large uncertainties were related to the statistical methods and environmental conditions involved in deriving the exposure-response functions.     

A fungal perspective on conservation biology

Hitherto fungi have rarely been considered in conservation biology, but this is changing as the field moves from addressing single species issues to an integrative ecosystem‐based approach. The current emphasis on biodiversity as a provider of ecosystem services throws the spotlight on the vast diversity of fungi, their crucial roles in terrestrial ecosystems, and the benefits of considering fungi in concert with animals and plants. We reviewed the role of fungi in ecosystems and composed an overview of the current state of conservation of fungi. There are 5 areas in which fungi can be readily integrated into conservation: as providers of habitats and processes important for other organisms; as indicators of desired or undesired trends in ecosystem functioning; as indicators of habitats of conservation value; as providers of powerful links between human societies and the natural world because of their value as food, medicine, and biotechnological tools; and as sources of novel tools and approaches for conservation of megadiverse organism groups. We hope conservation professionals will value the potential of fungi, engage mycologists in their work, and appreciate the crucial role of fungi in nature. Una Perspectiva Micótica de la Biología de la Conservación     

Air assimilative capacity-based environment friendly siting of new industries--a case study of Kochi region, India

Air pollution has become a matter of grave concern, particularly in mega-cities and urban areas, where the situation is alarming and becoming more and more severe day-by-day and warrants, therefore, careful planning to facilitate future industrial development. Site selection, with the objective of minimizing adverse environmental impacts based on environmental criteria is a vital prerequisite, particularly for air polluting industries. In order to locate any air polluting industry, the assimilative capacity of the region needs to be assessed carefully and planned accordingly, so that the receiving environment is not adversely affected. Assimilative capacity of a region/airshed, widely represented through the ventilation coefficient by many researchers in the past, does not give a clear picture about the amount of emission load that can be assimilated in a given region. The ventilation coefficient, at best, can only present a broad picture about the air pollution dispersion potential (low, medium or high) of the region. A modified approach, which utilizes air quality modelling as a tool to estimate the maximum allowable emission load that a region can assimilate without violating the stipulated standards, has been used for estimating the assimilative capacity of the air environment. Details of this approach have been presented in this paper through a case study carried out for the Kochi region, located in the Kerala State of India. A variety of emission and meteorological scenarios have been considered and critical emission loads have been estimated. This approach shall provide necessary technical guidance to the environmental regulatory authorities as well as to the industries in planning environment friendly industrial development.     

长江三角洲跨界流域生态产品交易机制——以天目湖流域为例

生态价值多元化实现是落实区域一体化生态保护格局的经济政策保障。针对当前生态产品交易制度不完善与市场活跃度问题,以天目湖流域水质净化服务产品为例,提出一条生态保护市场化与生态产品增值的双向促进道路：基于长序列监测数据与水文水质过程模型,提出流域生态保护基准概念及其约束下生态产品交易边界,精准核算基准年水质净化产品的可交易量为1.37 t,基准价格为1186.71万元/t/年;面向近10年产品实际供需主体的内在联系,揭示了“三类五种”生态产品交易机制类型,并选择设计了低端产品退出—高端产品激励的典型交易模式。生态产品交易实施为研究区生态价值实现提供市场化路径,为国内同类地区一体化生态保护格局保障提供思路。     

可燃物化学性质对燃烧释放PM2.5元素成分的影响

通过自主设计的燃烧装置,对云南省6种典型乔木树种的不同器官(枝、叶、皮)室内模拟阴、明燃两种燃烧过程,收集燃烧排放颗粒物(PM_2.5)并测定K、Mg等8种元素排放因子,比较不同燃烧状态释放PM_2.5中元素含量的差异,同时分析各元素排放因子与可燃物自身元素含量之间的相关性.结果表明:可燃物中K、Mg和Ca元素含量较高,范围为(137.74~4670.70) mg/kg,微量元素Mn含量突出;阔叶可燃物元素含量普遍高于针叶,器官间元素含量差异显著;燃烧释放PM_2.5中K、Na元素排放因子较高,范围为(0.4269~4.9321)~(0.6311~3.0856) mg/kg,微量元素Zn较高、Cu最少,范围为(0.0409~0.3670)~(0.0029~0.0458) mg/kg,常量元素高于微量;树种间元素排放因子表现针叶高于阔叶,器官间较可燃物自身差异增大;燃烧状态对排放因子存在影响,常量元素普遍表现为明燃>阴燃,微量元素无明显规律;PM_2.5与可燃物各元素含量比值中,Na元素最高,其余元素占比普遍0~1%范围,微量元素含量比高于常量,针叶高于阔叶;可燃物的化学性质对其排放特性影响显著,可燃物与PM_2.5的元素间相关性较高,相关水平普遍达0.600以上,器官间不同元素相关水平表现为:常量元素普遍高于微量元素,针叶略高于阔叶,叶>皮>枝,明燃高于阴燃.     

A novel approach for VOC source apportionment combining characteristic factor and pattern recognition technology in a Chinese industrial area

Volatile organic compound (VOC) emission control and source apportionment in small-scale industrial areas have become key topics of air pollution control in China. This study proposed a novel characteristic factor and pattern recognition (CF-PR) model for VOC source apportionment based on the similarity of characteristic factors between sources and receptors. A simulation was carried out in a typical industrial area with the CF-PR model involving simulated receptor samples. Refined and accurate source profiles were constructed through in situ sampling and analysis, covering rubber, chemicals, coating, electronics, plastics, printing, incubation and medical treatment industries. Characteristic factors of n-undecane, styrene, o-xylene and propane were identified. The source apportionment simulation results indicated that the predicted contribution rate was basically consistent with the real contribution rate. Compared to traditional receptor models, this method achieves notable advantages in terms of refinement and timeliness at similar accuracy, which is more suitable for VOC source identification and apportionment in small-scale industrial areas.     

基于MGWR的黄河流域土壤有机碳密度和影响因素分析

土壤有机碳作为最大陆地碳库,其空间分布特征和影响因素对于全球碳循环过程具有重要影响.基于土壤有机碳密度数据,结合环境因子,使用多尺度地理加权回归（MGWR）模型预测了黄河流域土壤有机碳密度（SOCD）和影响因素.结果表明：①黄河流域0~20 cm和0~100 cm的SOCD范围分别为0~14.82 kg ·m^-2和0~32.39kg ·m^-2,均值分别为3.48 kg ·m^-2和8.07kg ·m^-2,储量则分别为2.76 Pg和6.48 Pg;②各生态系统类型中,0~20 cm的SOCD从大到小依次为：森林>水体与湿地>其他>草地>农田>聚落>荒漠,0~100 cm的SOCD从大到小依次为：水体与湿地>森林>其他>草地>农田>聚落>荒漠,SOCR从大到小皆为：草地>农田>森林>荒漠>水体与湿地>聚落>其他;③黄河流域SOCD的分布主要受常数项、剖面曲率、NDVI和降水的影响,曲率和粉砂对深层的SOCD的分布也具有重要影响;此外,降水、NDVI和常数项（除森林外）是影响各生态系统的主要因素,曲率和粉砂则仅对荒漠和其他生态系统具有重要影响.研究结果得出了黄河流域SOCD的空间分布和影响因素,可为黄河流域碳平衡、土壤质量评价和生态治理恢复与巩固提升提供科学依据.