EIA training courses organized by the centre for environmental management and planning,University of Aberdeen: An analysis of experience

In 1980, the World Health Organization (Regional Office for Europe) invited The Centre for Environmental Management and Planning (CEMP) to organize a two-week training course on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to provide a comprehensive introduction to EIA with emphasis on methods and techniques for impact identification, prediction and assessment. Not suprisingly the topic of environmental health impact assessment was to be a major focus. Since 1980, the course has been held each year at the University of Aberdeen. An analysis of participation in the course during its first five years yields several impressions about the success of this training effort and the ways in which it might be improved.     

On technical change in the elasticities of resource inputs

This article analyses growth of an economy where the substitutability between non-renewable and renewable resource inputs changes over time. We allow for exogenous technical change in the elasticity of substitution (EoS) between these two types of resources as well as for biased factor-augmenting technical change. Our main results are: (1) sustained technical change in the EoS is enough to overcome resource constraints; (2) productivity-enhancing technical change is most beneficial when directed to the resource which is currently most important for production; (3) the speed of productivity-enhancing technical change is crucial for its usefulness to overcome resource constraints; (4) sustainability depends critically on the type of technical change.     

杭州G20减排措施对大气水溶性离子特征的影响

利用2016年颗粒物及水溶性离子采样数据,研究了杭州G20峰会减排措施对大气中无机水溶性离子特征的影响.结果表明,杭州G20峰会减排措施对大气水溶性离子的质量浓度、组成结构、酸碱性等皆存在明显影响.减排措施实施使大气颗粒物和水溶性离子质量浓度下降,受影响的离子主要是NO₃^-、SO₄^2-、NH₄⁺、NO₂^-,其中NO₃^-、SO₄^2-质量浓度的下降使NH₄⁺、Ca²⁺、Cl^-成为浓度前3位的离子.SO₄^2-、NO₃^-、NH₄⁺、Ca²⁺粒径分布呈单峰型,其中SO₄^2-、NO₃^-、NH₄⁺峰值出现在0.65~1.10mm,Ca²⁺峰值出现在5.80~9.00mm,Na⁺、Cl^-、K⁺呈双峰分布,峰值皆出现在3.30~4.70mm和0.65~1.10mm,Na⁺两峰值相当,K⁺、Cl^-在0.65~1.10mm峰值较高.减排措施实施使大气中主要无机盐从NH₄NO₃、（NH₄）₂SO₄、NH₄Cl转变为NH₄Cl、NaCl、KCl,大气颗粒物碱性总体增强.本文研究成果对采取措施改善空气质量具有指导作用.     

杭州G20峰会空气污染控制状况评估

为了实现杭州G20峰会（二十国集团财长和央行行长会议）期间的环境空气质量目标,2016年初开始长江三角洲地区尤其是浙江省加快推进大气污染防治行动,分区分时间节点实施多种污染控制措施.为了评估这些措施实施成效,利用WRF-Chem（Weather Research and Forecasting Model Coupled to Chemistry）模式对2015—2016年浙江省AQI（air quality index）、PM_2.5、SO₂等污染物浓度观测资料进行了模拟计算及分析.结果表明:①模拟计算显示,G20峰会期间各污控措施减排效果明显,核心区减排比例最大,严控区次之,管控区最小,4种污染物浓度减排比例从大到小顺序依次是SO₂、PM_2.5、NO_x和VOCs.②观测资料分析显示,G20峰会期间浙江省环境空气质量明显改善,但不同控制区改善状况不尽相同.与2015年9月、2016年8月相比,2016年9月核心区月均AQI的降幅约为35和25;严控区次之,AQI降幅约为20和15;管控区最弱,AQI降幅约为8和5.ρ（PM_2.5）情况与AQI相似,观测结果与模拟计算一致.③G20峰会期间日均AQI及各种污染物浓度振荡下降,9月5日降至最低值.9月4—5日杭州市和浙江省日均AQI分别为90、62和77、51,均在GB 3095—2012《环境空气质量标准》的二级标准限值以下;日均ρ（PM_2.5）分别为37、35 μg/m3和20、21 μg/m3,优于GB 3095—2012二级标准.④污控措施改变了大气中的首要污染物.以杭州市为例,2016年6—8月没有出现以PM_2.5为首要污染物的污染天气情况;7—9月没有出现以NO₂为首要污染物的污染天气情况,2015仅8月出现这种情况,10月出现跃升,日数占比高达60%左右;从4月开始以O₃为首要污染物的日数占比较往年呈更快的增长状态,7月出现最大值,并呈现与往年双峰型不同的单峰型结构.研究显示,除有利气象条件外,对污染源所采取的严格控制措施是杭州G20峰会取得良好效果的主要原因.      

Quantifying the effect of strong ignition sources on particle preconditioning and distribution in the 20-L chamber

Computational fluid dynamics is used to investigate the preconditioning aspect of overdriving in dust explosion testing. The results show that preconditioning alters both the particle temperature and distribution prior to flame propagation in the 20-L chamber. A parametric study gives the fluid pressure and temperature, and particle temperature and concentration at an assumed flame kernel development time (10 ms) for varying ignitor size and particle diameter. For the 10 kJ ignitor with 50% efficiency, polyethylene particles under 50 μm reach 400 K and may melt prior to flame propagation. Gases from the ignitor detonation displace the dust from the center of the chamber and may increase local particle concentration up to two times the nominal value being tested. These effects have important implications for explosive testing of dusts in the 20-L chamber and comparing to larger 1-m³ testing, where these effects may be negligible.     

INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF THE RIO GRANDE BASIN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO1

ABSTRACT. Despite radical differences in water laws, water management agencies, approaches to water planning, and financial resources, Mexico and the United States forged a common program to manage water and related land on the Rio Grande. Actions of Rio Grande Commissions related to stream gaging, boundary definition, and multiple-purpose construction projects are among the more successful international water-management efforts in the world. Cost-sharing arrangements promoted rapid completing of international works. However, joint action accomplished only part of expectations. International developments were competitive rather than complementary until basin water appropriation was virtually complete. Moreover, Commissions were not empowered to consider long-range competitive water needs, or regional water requirements, throughout the basin. International groundwater use coordination does not exist. International structures produce less than anticipated benefits. Hydroelectric generators are financial liabilities, irrigated acreage exceeds dependable streamflow, and soil salinization is experienced. Unanticipated environmental changes occurred in every major program. The Rio Grande experience points to the need for society to specify goals to which the use of water should contribute and to specify priorities for water use among different sectors of river basins and various segments of society.     

联合国环境规划署（UNEP）的角色演进

环境问题是全球性问题,应对环境问题的需要催生了联合国环境规划署。其是联合国系统内最早成立的专门处理环境问题的机构,且为在全球层面上处理环境问题作出了重要贡献。自1972年成立以来,以里约会议为分界点,联合国环境规划署的发展可分为两个阶段,其在这两个阶段的发展状况有所不同。UNEP成立以来为世界环境保护事业做了很多努力,取得了可喜的成绩,但是世界环境恶化的趋势并没有得到遏制,国际环境管理体制存在着诸多的问题,UNEP面临着巨大的挑战和新的机遇。     

Improvement of antifouling characteristics in a bioreactor of polypropylene microporous membrane by the adsorption of Tween 20

Surface modification by physical adsorption of Tween 20 was accomplished on polypropylene microporous membranes(PPMMs). Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(ATR/FT-IR)and field emission scanning electron microscope(FE- SEM)were used to characterize the chemical and morphological changes on the membrane surfaces.Water contact angles and relative pure water fluxes were measured.The data showed that the hydrophilic performance for the modified membranes increased with the increase in the adsorption amount of Tween 20 onto the surface or into the pores of polypropylene microporous membranes.To test the antifouling property of the membranes by the adsorption of Tween 20 in a membrane bioreactor(MBR),filtration for active sludge was performed using synthetic wastewater.With the help of the data of water fluxes and the FE-SEM photos of the modified PPMMs before or after operating in a MBR for about 12 d,the PPMMs with monolayer adsorption of Tween 20 showed higher remained flux and stronger antifouling ability than unmodified membrane and other modification membranes studied.     

Influence of different ignition delay times on the pressure rise rate in hybrid mixture explosions in the 20-L sphere

For the development of a standardized method for measuring the explosion safety characteristics of combustible hybrid dust/vapor mixtures, the influence of the ignition delay time needs to be investigated. The ignition delay time, defined as the time between the injection of dust and the activation of the ignition source, is related to the turbulence of the mixture and thus to the pressure rise rate. The ignition source for pure vapors, however, has to be activated in a quiescent atmosphere according to the standards. Nevertheless, when measuring the explosion safety characteristics of hybrid mixtures, it is important that the dust be in suspension around the igniter. Like pure dust/air mixtures, hybrid dust/vapor/air mixtures need to be ignited in a turbulent atmosphere to keep the dust in suspension.This work will therefore investigate the influence of ignition delay times on the severity of hybrid explosions. It was generally found that at shorter ignition delay times, (dp/dt)_ex increased due to higher turbulence and decreases as the dust sinks to the bottom of the 20 L-sphere. This effect is more pronounced for hybrid mixtures with higher vapor content compared to dust content.