Geochemical forms of trace metals in mangrove sediments—Red Sea (Egypt)

Seven sediment samples from mangrove sediments of the Red Sea were taken in order to evaluate the possible contamination of the sediments by trace metals (iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)). Sequential extraction techniques were performed to study the different geochemical forms of these metals. X-ray diffraction analysis has been performed to correlate the mineralogical composition with the geochemical forms of the studied elements. The results of Fe and Mn contents indicate that they are in large part from lithogenous origin. The elevated concentrations are associated with the residual form ranged from 70 to 93% for Fe and 46 to 70% for Mn. The percentage of Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb in the non-residual form was much greater than that of the residual fractions. This reflects the high mobility and bioavailability of these metals in mangrove sediments of the Red Sea. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of silicate components including quartz, feldspars and clay minerals in some locality. Non-silicate components recorded in the study area as calcite as well as, Mg-calcite. Quantitatively both components i.e. silicate and carbonate varied according to their source material.     

Water quality in the Red Sea coastal waters (Egypt): Analysis of spatial and temporal variability

In order to provide a background picture of the water quality of the Egyptian Red Sea a number of hydrological and chemical parameters have been measured bimonthly in 2000. Few data are available on this area, which is apparently subjected to an increasing human impact due to recreational (swimming and diving), industrial (mainly phosphate shipping and industry) and fishing/harbor activities. The results of the present study indicate that changes in the salinity and pH were not significant with highly oxygenated seawaters. The levels of suspended solids (as total suspended matter, TSM) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) were generally low and showed an homogeneous distribution in the study region. The ratio of chlorophyll-a to total suspended matter concentrations increased between November and March and decreased from May to September. Chlorophyll-a was significantly correlated with transparency and total suspended matter concentrations in July, September and November. Nitrogen, phosphorus and reactive silicate concentrations were generally low, and allowed classifying the Egyptian Red Sea coastal water as oligotrophic to mesotrophic. The middle region of the study area, which was located between Safaga and Qusair displayed relatively high phosphate contents when compared with other coastal areas. The high values of N:P ratios indicate that PO 4 -P is the limiting factor for phytoplankton growth in the Red Sea coastal waters, with the possible exception of the middle region. Significant relationships were found between chlorophyll-a concentrations and nutrient levels in different sampling periods. Spatial distribution patterns of the studied variables revealed that productivity of the Red Sea coastal waters is mostly controlled by phosphate concentrations, salinity, temperature and dissolved oxygen.     

Quantitative Pollution Spill Risk Assessment: Using A Gis-Based System

Federal and State agencies have recently advocated risk-based analysis as a mechanism for advancing regulatory reform and safety determination in marine systems. the present investigation promotes this objective through the development of risk-based environmental planning strategies for oil spill contingency plans. This alternative approach to contingency planning departs from conventional methodology by employing quantitative risk assessment methods to identify hazardous oil spill zones and sensitive environmental areas, R_o and R_e respectively. the product of this conversion is referenced on a single “Risk” layer within a Geographic Information System (GIS) framework allowing coastal managers to evaluate natural resource data with associated elements of oil spill risk. As a new tool for coastal pollution management, risk-based environmental planning strategies have shown potential for evolving more efficient oil spill contingency plans.     

基于RS与GIS的武汉城市湖泊演化研究

以武汉市主城区为例,利用1995和2005年Landsat5两期TM影像与2000和2010年Landset7两期ETM＋影像的解译结果,基于景观分形理论与GIS的空间分析功能相结合的研究方法,分别构建湖泊变化强度指数和湖泊分形维数变化指数。从湖泊面积变化和湖泊形态变化,以及湖泊水域和其他土地利用类型的转移变化特点与影响进行综合分析。来丰富湖泊演化的分析方法,并总结高速城市化背景下湖泊的变化规律,从而更深入地了解和认识人类活动因素与湖泊水域动态变化之间的响应关系,同时提出若干城市湖泊治理与管理的方式。研究结果表明,（1）15年间的湖泊水域面积总量的变化呈现萎缩的趋势,年变化量在逐渐减小,湖泊萎缩的速度得到了一定的控制。（2）1995-2010年湖泊分形维数也呈逐期较小趋势,说明湖泊几何形状趋于简单化,人为活动对湖泊的影响加大。（3）15年来主城区28个主要湖泊的变化强度指数均为负值,呈萎缩趋势。但从2000年开始,少数湖泊变化强度指数为正值,萎缩趋势得到初步的控制。（4）1995-2010年间湖泊的水域面积主要转移成为建设用地和耕地。其转移面积占转移总面积的87．02％。围湖造田和城市化率的迅速提高对城市湖泊的演化影响深刻。（5）城市化背景下湖泊面积与形态变化的规律并非完全与城市化发展速率呈正比的关系,当城市化率上升到一定的阶段后,城市内部对生态环境的保护与要求也不断提高。为改善城市环境和城市内部的生态用地,湖泊应得到立法等强制性保护。     

航运企业安全管理体系有效性评价研究

定期评价安全管理体系的有效性既是ISM规则的强制要求,更是航运企业持续改进安全管理体系,提高体系运行质量的重要手段,但目前不少企业在管理实践中对体系的有效性评价大多采取定性的方法,难以保证评价结果的客观性和科学性。通过安全管理体系有效性内涵及其表现特征的分析,将体系运行有效的符合性、目标性、适宜性、充分性和文化性5个表现特征作为一级指标,并进一步细化得到24项二级指标体系,采用层次分析法确定各指标的权重,以实例验证,为航运企业实施安全管理体系有效性评价提供科学、客观、有效的方法。     

长山河水质评价及变化趋势分析

以2015 ～2019年长山河4个水质监测站的监测数据为基础,采用综合水质标识指数法对其历年水质进行评价,利用季节性kendall检验法对各监测断面的高锰酸盐指数,氨氮,总磷等3个监测指标变化趋势进行分析.结果 表明:长山河各断面的综合水质均达到或优于水功能区目标要求,水质污染总体呈下降趋势,其中长山河大桥和长山闸一号...     

污泥与煤共热解制备吸附剂及其对活性艳红X-3B的吸附性能

以污水处理站脱水污泥和煤为原料共热解制备吸附剂,将其用于活性艳红X-3B模拟染料废水的吸附处理.考察了吸附时间,温度,pH及吸附剂投加量对吸附效果的影响,并对其吸附动力学和热力学特性进行了探讨.结果表明:所制备吸附剂的碘吸附值为321.62 mg/g,产率为44.85%,比表面积为189.23 m2>/sup>/g,浸出液中未检测出重金属;吸附剂对活性艳红X-3B的去除率随吸附时间、温度和吸附剂投加量的增加均增大,并逐渐趋于平衡,而随pH的增加而减小;吸附剂对活性艳红X-3B的吸附动力学比较符合伪二级吸附动力学方程和二阶段吸附动力学方程,颗粒内扩散过程是吸附速率的控制步骤,但不是唯一的速率控制步骤;Langmuir等温方程比Freundlich等温方程更适合于描述该吸附行为;吸附焓变(ΔH0>/sup>)>0,吸附是一个吸热过程,提高温度有利于吸附的进行,吸附自由能变(ΔG0>/sup>)<0,吸附过程为自发进行,吸附熵变(ΔS0>/sup>)>0.      

快速模拟退火组合优化法在区域水环境质量评价中的应用

以地表水环境质量准标为基础,设定水体污染物的基准值,构建用于水体的一种环境质量评价的模型,利用快速模拟退火组合优化法对相关参数进行优化,而得到一个对多种水污染物都适用的综合水体环境质量评价指数公式。该公式形式简单,计算容易,评价结果具有可比性。     

Snorkelling and trampling in shallow-water fringing reefs: risk assessment and proposed management strategy

Shallow reefs (reef flats <1.5 m) in the northern Red Sea are impacted by growing tourism that includes swimmers, snorkellers and reef walkers but have largely been neglected in past studies. We selected a fringing reef along the lagoon of Dahab (Sinai, Egypt) as a model for a management strategy. Point-intercept line transects were used to determine substrate composition, coral community and condition, and the coral damage index (CDI) was applied. Approximately 84% of the coral colonies showed signs of damage such as breakage, partial mortality or algal overgrowth, especially affecting the most frequent coral genus Acropora. Questionnaires were used to determine the visitors' socio-economic background and personal attitudes regarding snorkelling, SCUBA-diving and interest in visiting a prospective snorkelling trail. Experiencing nature (97%) was by far the strongest motivation, and interest in further education about reef ecology and skill training was high. Less experienced snorkellers and divers--the target group for further education and skill training--were those most prepared to financially support such a trail. We therefore recommend a guided underwater snorkelling trail and restricting recreational use to a less sensitive 'ecotourism zone' while protecting the shallow reef flat. Artificial structures can complete the trail and offer the opportunity to snorkel over deeper areas at unfavourable tide or wind conditions. This approach provides a strategy for the management and conservation of shallow-water reefs, which are facing increasing human impact here and elsewhere.     

Establishing IUCN Red List Criteria for Threatened Ecosystems

Abstract: The potential for conservation of individual species has been greatly advanced by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) development of objective, repeatable, and transparent criteria for assessing extinction risk that explicitly separate risk assessment from priority setting. At the IV World Conservation Congress in 2008, the process began to develop and implement comparable global standards for ecosystems. A working group established by the IUCN has begun formulating a system of quantitative categories and criteria, analogous to those used for species, for assigning levels of threat to ecosystems at local, regional, and global levels. A final system will require definitions of ecosystems; quantification of ecosystem status; identification of the stages of degradation and loss of ecosystems; proxy measures of risk (criteria); classification thresholds for these criteria; and standardized methods for performing assessments. The system will need to reflect the degree and rate of change in an ecosystem's extent, composition, structure, and function, and have its conceptual roots in ecological theory and empirical research. On the basis of these requirements and the hypothesis that ecosystem risk is a function of the risk of its component species, we propose a set of four criteria: recent declines in distribution or ecological function, historical total loss in distribution or ecological function, small distribution combined with decline, or very small distribution. Most work has focused on terrestrial ecosystems, but comparable thresholds and criteria for freshwater and marine ecosystems are also needed. These are the first steps in an international consultation process that will lead to a unified proposal to be presented at the next World Conservation Congress in 2012.