Historical record of black carbon in urban soils and its environmental implications

Energy use in urbanization has fundamentally changed the pattern and fluxes of carbon cycling, which has global and local environmental impacts. Here we have investigated organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC) in six soil profiles from two contrast zones in an ancient city (Nanjing) in China. BC in soils was widely variable, from 0.22 to 32.19 g kg⁻¹. Its average concentration in an ancient residential area (Zone 1) was, 0.91 g kg⁻¹, whereas in Zone 2, an industrial and commercial area, the figure was 8.62 g kg⁻¹. The ratio of BC/OC ranged from 0.06 to 1.29 in soil profiles, with an average of 0.29. The vertical distribution of BC in soil is suggested to reflect the history of BC formation from burning of biomass and/or fossil fuel. BC in the surface layer of soils was mainly from traffic emission (especially from diesel vehicles). In contrast, in cultural layers BC was formed from historical coal use. The contents of BC and the ratio of BC/OC may reflect different human activities and pollution sources in the contrasting urban zones. In addition, the significant correlation of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and Zn) with BC contents in some culture layers suggests the sorption of the metals by BC or their coexistence resulted from the coal-involved smelting.     

Valuation of open space and conservation features in residential subdivisions

Conservation subdivision design has been promoted as a way to protect ecologically sensitive areas while maintaining housing densities comparable to standard subdivisions, but many developers and planners question the appeal of conservation design to consumers. This study was conducted to compare economic aspects of conservation subdivision design to standard subdivision design in the midwestern United States. Three methods were used to determine the value homebuyers have for embedded conservation features in residential areas: transactional analyses (to indicate the value homebuyers have expressed for such features in the past); hedonic analyses (to determine the proportion of present value of homes attributable to such features); and contingent valuation (to examine willingness to pay according to homebuyers' preferred features, an indicator of potential future investment). Transactional analyses were based on assessment and transaction data for homes in three conservation-oriented subdivisions and three standard subdivisions in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. Hedonic price models were also derived from assessment and transaction data. Contingent valuation analyses were based on a survey of residents in the same six subdivisions. Transactional data indicated higher 5-year appreciation rates for conservation versus standard subdivision design. Hedonic price models revealed that well-integrated conservation features (e.g. protected stream corridors) within subdivisions have a positive effect on home prices. Sixty-six percent of all respondents indicated willingness to pay for more embedded open space. Maximum willingness to pay was related to several factors including income, gender, desired level of open space, and concern about urban development. Overall, these results indicate that consumer demand and willingness to pay for conservation subdivision design are positive and should not be considered a barrier to implementation.     

Accumulation of Cs in puddle sediments within urban ecosystem

The role of puddle sediments as a final depot of ¹³⁷Cs horizontal migration within the urban landscape is studied using the example of Ekaterinburg city, Russia. Radioactive contamination in the city appeared due to fallout after atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons and nuclear accidents. Contamination density of ¹³⁷Cs in the region was assessed from archive data to be about 5.1 kBq/m², of which the maximum activity concentration (<30 Bq/kg) is associated with the upper 15 cm soil layer. Results of the survey reported here indicate a mean ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in puddle sediments of 80 Bq/kg, with a maximum value of 540 Bq/kg. It is estimated that horizontal migration has led to about a fourfold concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in puddle sediments.     

和谐流域建设的理论基础和基本路径

流域经济是以流域水资源的开发和利用为重点,以流域范围内的资源优化配置为核心的特殊类型区域经济。由于学者对流域经济的自然特性和人文特性认识差异较大,导致人们对流域经济的本质特征认识不统一,认为流域经济表述了人们在配置流域资源时引起的经济关系,流域经济的特征表现为：稀缺性、效益性、边际产出递减性、层次性。和谐流域建设是流域经济的发展趋势,构建和谐流域是落实科学发展观的重要体现,是支撑流域经济可持续发展的首要条件,是构建和谐社会的重要组成部分     

皖江城市带温泉旅游地定量评价及开发策略

运用专家咨询法,从温泉资源质量、市场区位条件、区域支持条件3个方面构建了涵盖13个评价因子的温泉型旅游地开发评价指标体系。为最大限度降低评价的主观性,将评价因子分为数值型和模糊型两种,综合运用菲什拜因 罗森伯格模型和模糊数学模型,在深入调研皖江城市带各温泉旅游地并掌握相关数据的基础上,从市域层面对皖江城市带6个地区的温泉旅游开发条件进行了量化评价。结果显示: 合肥、马鞍山开发条件最优,其温泉旅游资源与市场区位及区域支持条件匹配良好;安庆、六安次之,宣城、池州较差。最后结合评价结论,先从文化和竞合2个方面提出皖江城市带温泉旅游地整体开发和提升的策略,再针对得分不同地区的开发现状和所处阶段,分别提出“共生模式”和“提升模式”两大对策     

近百年重庆主城区汛期降水及其集中期的变化特征

利用一种改进的定义汛期降水集中期的方法对重庆主城区近百余年汛期降水集中期进行了划分,并分析了集中期的重心日、雨量及其与汛期降水总量的关系。结果表明：近百余年重庆主城区汛期降水量线性变化趋势不明显,阶段变化显著。百余年来发生过两次突变,分别发生于1914年和1925年,分别突变为增加和减少趋势。3 a左右的周期为汛期降水的主要周期。6月为降水集中期重心日发生最多的月份,8月出现相对较少,4月上半月和10月均没有出现过。近百余年重庆主城区降水集中期雨量及其占汛期降水总量的比例表现为线性增加的趋势,它们的阶段性变化比较一致,尤其是21世纪以来近10 a显著偏多。集中期雨量与汛期降水之间存在很好的相关关系,但是在某些特殊年份上也存在差异。15 d滑动统计方法划分的集中期雨量作为一种极端气候事件,具有较强描述灾害事件的能力,但其极端特殊性可能会表现在某些特殊年份或年际间的变化中,充分认识其规律,能为诊断和预测业务提供更为可靠的参考依据     

皖江城市群旅游经济空间联系格局

在皖江城市群作为承接长三角产业转移示范区背景下及区域交通网络化、区域旅游一体化发展的新形式下,对皖江城市群旅游经济联系和影响范围研究就显得必要。以该地区10城市的旅游经济联系为主线,以界定旅游中心节点、测算旅游经济联系量和场强模型为手段,构建皖江城市群旅游圈。研究表明：以合肥和芜湖为双核的皖江城市群大旅游圈,其内部分为3个次旅游经济圈,北部以合肥为中心,包括六安区域、滁州和含巢湖整个水面的大部分区域的合肥旅游圈;西南以安庆为中心、池州为副中心,含铜陵一部分地区的安庆旅游圈;东南以芜湖为中心、宣城为副中心,包括马鞍山和部分巢湖区域、部分铜陵区域的芜湖旅游圈。最后提出了3个旅游经济圈发展的旅游规划建议     

Concentrations and bioaccessibilities of metals in exterior urban paints

Paint fragments have been collected from a variety of structures (e.g. walls, lamp posts, doors, railings) from the urban environment of Plymouth, UK, and concentrations of metals determined following acid digestion. Concentrations of most metals were highly variable and spanned several orders of magnitude among the samples (e.g. Pb = 4.5 to 36 900 μg g⁻¹; Cr = 1.9 to 775 μg g⁻¹; Zn = 39 to 23 500 μg g⁻¹). The bioaccessibilities of the metals were evaluated using a physiologically based extraction test that simulates the chemical conditions of the human stomach and intestine. The bioaccessibility of a given metal was highly variable among the samples and was greater in the stomach than the intestine in some cases (e.g. Cd, Pb) and greater in the intestine in others (e.g. Co, Cr). Based on total and bioaccessible concentrations in urban paints, Pb remains the metal of greatest concern from a human health perspective.     

Lead contamination of the Seine River, France: geochemical implications of a historical perspective

Four sediment cores collected in the Seine River basin and dated between 1916 and 2003 were analyzed for lead concentrations and isotopic composition. In all four cores, the measured Pb concentration (up to 460 mg kg⁻¹) lies significantly above the natural background (27-40 mg kg⁻¹), although a significant decrease (down to 75 mg kg⁻¹) was observed during the second half of the 20th century which can be explained by the reduction of lead emissions. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio measured in these samples indicates that the main source of Pb used in the Paris conurbation is characterized by a “Rio Tinto” signature (defined as ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.1634 ± 0.0001). A high contribution, up to 25%, from the leaded gasoline (characterized by ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.08 ± 0.02) is revealed in the Seine River downstream Paris, indicating that lead from the leaded gasoline is preferentially released to the river.The dominating Pb signature in the Paris conurbation that is currently sampled through incinerators fumes (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.1550 ± 0.0005) and waste water treatment plant (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.154 ± 0.002), represents a mixture of highly recycled lead from the Rio Tinto mine and lead from leaded gasoline (imprinted by the low ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb of the Broken Hill mine). This signature is called “urban” rather than “industrial”, because it is clearly distinct from the Pb that is found in areas contaminated by heavy industry, i.e. the heavy industries located on the Oise River which used lead from European ores characterized by high ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios (∼1.18-1.19) and possibly a minor amount of North American lead (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios > 1.20). The “urban” signature is also found in a rural area upstream of Paris in the 1970’s. At the Seine River mouth in 2003, Pb with an urban signature represents 70% of the total Pb sediment content, with the 30% remaining corresponding to natural Pb.     

复合塔式生态滤池中氮素迁移转化

构建复合塔式生态滤池进行污水处理实验,对含氮污水通过系统各处理单元前后4种氮形态变化和浓度分布进行探讨。比较各单元进出水水质变化,研究各单元总氮和硝氮的去除效果以及对系统总去除率的贡献。结合装置构造特点,系统分析了氮素在复合塔式生态滤池中的迁移转化规律及除氮机制,并创新性应用δ15N-NO-3方法加以佐证。研究结果表明,复合塔式生态滤池工艺对总氮和硝氮均有很好的去除作用,实验污水中氮污染以硝氮为主,总氮去除主要取决于硝氮的去除;复合塔式生态滤池中硝化-反硝化交替作用明显,为不同形态氮的相关转化以及氮的去除创造了优越的条件。