The oldest African fox (Vulpes riffautae n. sp., Canidae, Carnivora) recovered in late Miocene deposits of the Djurab desert, Chad

We report on the oldest fox (Canidae) ever found in Africa. It is dated to 7 Ma based on the degree of evolution of the whole fauna. It belongs to a new species. Its overall size and some morphological characteristics distinguish the Chadian specimen from all the other foxes. The presence of Vulpes and of the genus Eucyon in slightly younger African locality, as well as in southwestern Europe in the late Miocene, may indicate that canids migrated in Europe from Africa through a trans-Mediterranean route.     

Measuring Suspended‐Sediment Concentration and Turbidity in the Middle Mississippi and Lower Missouri Rivers Using Landsat Data

The Middle Mississippi River (MMR) and lower Missouri River (MOR) provide critical navigation waterways, ecological habitat, and flood conveyance. They are also directly linked to processes affecting geomorphic and ecological conditions in the lower MR and Delta. For this study, a method was developed to measure suspended‐sediment concentration (SSC) and turbidity along the MMR and the lower MOR using Landsat imagery. Data from nine United States Geological Survey water‐quality monitoring stations were used to create a model‐development dataset and a model‐validation dataset. Concurrent gaging data were identified for available Landsat images to generate the datasets. Surface‐reflectance filters were developed to eliminate images with cirrus cloud coverage or vessel traffic. Using the filtered model‐development dataset, unique reflectance‐SSC and reflectance‐turbidity models were developed for three Landsat sensors: Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager, Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus, and Landsat 4–5 Thematic Mapper. Coefficient of determination values for the models ranged from 0.72 to 0.88 for the model‐development dataset. The model‐validation dataset was used to evaluate the performance of the models and had coefficient of determination values ranging from 0.62 to 0.79.     

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN THE MIDDLE EAST1

ABSTRACT: Water is, and most likely will continue to be, one of the main concerns and potential causes of instability in the Middle East (ME). The contribution of the existing renewable water resources is limited and can not fulfill the long-term projected gap between water supply and demand for most of the countries in the ME. An integrated regional approach for fulfilling this gap was preferred. A regional institutional framework was proposed for the implementation of this integrated regional approach and consists of a regional water board operating through three units for technical, implementation, and management aspects of project and activities. An analysis of the regional water supply and demand development, the design and policy making of the proposed institution, technology and water markets, cooperation, actors and beneficiaries, finances, and expected obstacles and constraints to the establishment and sustainable operation of the proposed institution are included.     

中小型燃煤锅炉烟气湿法除尘废水中和处理技术评述

介绍了当前应用于中小型燃煤锅炉湿法除尘废水的各种中和处理技术,提出将除尘废水与中和处理与烟气脱硫结合进行的新工艺,为中小型锅炉烟气湿法脱硫除尘和废水循环回用处理提供了依据。     

长江中游流域自然环境的对称性及其对区域经济发展的影响

长江中游流域的区域地貌、水利特征以及自然环境的演化过程，均表现为明显的轴对称特点，对称轴为南北向的幕阜山-罗霄山山脉。而分属于长江中游流域洞庭湖和鄱阳湖流域的湖南省和江西省两省的区域社会和经济发展也具有相似的对称性。不仅表现为主要城市的地理位置呈轴对称分布，其经济和社会发展程度，以及在省内所处的地位，也呈对称性。自然环境的对称分布对区域经济和社会的对称性发展有重要影响，从对称性观点出发，武汉、长沙、南昌三个大城市正好位于对称三角形的顶点，可构成中国中部的经济金三角，其形成和发展对中部崛起具有非常重要的意义；湖南、江西两省自然环境的对称性，决定了两省经济发展的可比性，两省的经济和社会发展应互相参考、互相借鉴、共谋发展战略。长江中游自然环境的对称性是由区域地质构造和构造运动控制的。     

Public Water Sources in Rural Watersheds of Nepal’s Middle Mountains: Issues and Constraints

Inadequacy and poor quality of water supply for domestic purposes is increasingly becoming a concern in rural catchments of the Middle Mountains of Nepal. Water quantity is an issue in pocket areas of these catchments, while water quality is subject to concern in most of the water sources. Microbiological contamination in particular poses a risk to human health. In addition, sediment pollution during the monsoon season is perceived as an issue by the local residents. Elevated phosphate and nitrate levels in many water sources indicate intensive interaction with surface water hailing from agricultural areas and human settlements. These water quantity and quality concerns in two watersheds of Nepal, the Jhikhu Khola and the Yarsha Khola watersheds, are not isolated cases. Similar problems are reported from other watersheds monitored under the People and Resource Dynamics in Mountain Watersheds of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas (PARDYP) project in China, India, and Pakistan and the literature of this region.     

利用紫露草微核效应检测工业废水技术的研究

利用紫露草微核技术检测废水微核效应,往往会遇到因废水pH值过高、过低,或由于废水成分复杂、毒性大,难以进行微核检测。为此,作者研究了有关的技术,取得了理想的结果。研究结果表明,调节废水pH值会使废水中金属离子价态发生改变而改变其化学形态,所以在进行微核检测时,以不调pH值的原状态废水为最好。废水在一定剂量范围内对紫露草微核具有诱变作用,所以处理剂量要视废水的毒性、pH值的不同而不同。最好在检测前作好预实验,找出处理紫露草花序的适宜剂量;同时还要以四分体中不出现死细胞为宜。     

黄河中游城镇化与生态系统服务耦合关系的时空变化

城镇化是影响区域生态安全格局的重要因素,厘清城镇化与生态系统服务之间的关系,可为促进黄河流域生态保护与高质量发展提供决策参考。在分析2000—2018年黄河中游城镇化与生态系统服务时空格局的基础上,采用耦合协调度模型剖析了二者耦合关系的时空变化特征。研究发现：2000—2018年间,黄河中游地区综合城镇化水平提高72.24%,空间分布总体呈“南高北低”、以经济发达县区或城市群为中心向外递减的趋势;粮食生产、水源涵养、土壤保持和固碳服务量均呈增加趋势,且呈不同的空间分布态势;粮食生产、水源涵养、土壤保持和固碳服务与综合城镇化水平的耦合协调度总体呈上升趋势,但汾渭平原的耦合协调度普遍较低,而经济发达县区的耦合协调度普遍较高。     

Optimisation of rainwater tank design from large roofs: A case study in Melbourne, Australia

Rainwater tanks for larger roof areas need optimisation of tank size, which is often not carried out before installation of these tanks. This paper presents a case study of rainwater tank evaluation and design for large roof areas, located in Melbourne, Australia, based on observed daily rainfall data representing three different climatic regimes (i.e. dry average, and wet years). With the aim of developing a comprehensive Decision Support Tool for the performance analysis and design of rainwater tanks, a simple spreadsheet based daily water balance model is developed using daily rainfall data, contributing roof area, rainfall loss factor, available storage volume, tank overflow and irrigation water demand. In this case study, two (185 m³ and 110 m³) underground rainwater tanks are considered. Using the developed model, effectiveness of each tank under different climatic scenarios are assessed. The analysis shows that both the tanks are quite effective in wet and average years, however less effective in dry years. A payback period analysis of the tanks is preformed which reveals that the total construction cost of the tanks can be recovered within 15-21 years time depending on tank size, climatic conditions and future water price increase rates. For the tanks, a relationship between water price increase rates and payback periods is developed. The study highlights the need for detailed optimisation and financial analysis for large rainwater tanks to maximise the benefits.     

长江中下游粮食主产区耕地利用生态效率区域差异与空间收敛

基于耕地利用生态效率内涵构建其评价指标体系,并运用SBM-Undesirable模型、核密度估计法及空间收敛模型,对长江中下游粮食主产区71个市（州）耕地利用生态效率区域差异及收敛态势定量刻画。结果表明：（1）2007—2018年长江中下游粮食主产区耕地利用生态效率整体水平中等,各粮食主产区效率差异明显,效率损失主要源于投入冗余所带来的投入非效率,其中劳动力投入冗余度最高;（2）时间维度上看,长江中下游粮食主产区整体耕地利用生态效率始终存在两级分化的现象,整体内部差异呈扩大趋势,但逐步趋于稳定,各粮食主产区内部差异演变具有较大分异性;（3）空间维度上看,考虑空间溢出效应的情境下,长江中下游粮食主产区整体存在显著的绝对β收敛,且在科技水平、农户收入水平、灌溉水平及空间溢出效应等因素的共同影响下以1.01%的速度条件收敛,但各粮食主产区收敛态势具有区域差异性。应建立粮食主产区协同机制,因地制宜,分区施策以提升长江中下游粮食主产区耕地利用生态效率水平。