Shifted power-law relationship between NO2 concentration and the distance from a highway: A new dispersion model based on the wind profile model

In this paper, a shifted power-law model, based on the wind profile model, had been supposed to simulate concentration gradient of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) with distance from a highway. Field experiments were performed for NO₂ gradients from a highway in Shanghai by using passive samplers. The shifted power-law model was fitted well with experimental results of field experiments both in this study and in the literature. The results not only verified the validity of shifted power-law relationship between NO₂ concentration and the distance from a highway, but also partially demonstrated that there were some significant similarities between wind profile and air pollutants concentration profile near highway. With known concentration of chosen reference point and appropriate value of the parameter k, the model could be practically applied for predicting the NO₂ distributions near a highway. The methods of determining the parameter k were also discussed for further detailed studies.     

Weak-wind mesoscale meandering in the nocturnal boundary layer

This study examines the strength and statistical behavior of mesoscale motions on time scales up to 1 h using eight data sets over different surface types. The mesoscale motions include internal gravity waves, microfront-like structures, horizontal modes, and a complex variety of other signatures, perhaps resulting from superposition of different modes. With weak large-scale flow, the mesoscale motions lead to meandering of the wind direction, as found in previous studies. However, the meandering often takes the form of sudden wind shifts rather than oscillation of wind direction. The relative strength and impact of such mesoscale motions are examined in terms of the constancy of the wind vector, the within-record standard deviation of the wind direction and the ratio of a meso-velocity scale to the speed of the large-scale flow. The strength of the mesoscale flow varies by an order of magnitude between nights at a given site and varies systematically between sites. The statistics of the vertical structure of such motions are examined for two of the data sets, both with sonic anemometers at seven levels.     

Estimation of daily PM2.5 concentration and its relationship with meteorological conditions in Beijing

When investigating the impact of air pollution on health, particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter(PM_(2.5)) is considered more harmful than particulates of other sizes. Therefore, studies of PM_(2.5) have attracted more attention. Beijing, the capital of China,is notorious for its serious air pollution problem, an issue which has been of great concern to the residents, government, and related institutes for decades. However, in China,significantly less time has been devoted to observing PM_(2.5) than for PM_(10). Especially before 2013, the density of the PM_(2.5) ground observation network was relatively low, and the distribution of observation stations was uneven. One solution is to estimate PM_(2.5) concentrations from the existing data on PM_(10). In the present study, by analyzing the relationship between the concentrations of PM_(2.5) and PM_(10), and the meteorological conditions for each season in Beijing from 2008 to 2014, a U-shaped relationship was found between the daily maximum wind speed and the daily PM concentration, including both PM_(2.5) and PM_(10). That is, the relationship between wind speed and PM concentration is not a simple positive or negative correlation in these wind directions; their relationship has a complex effect, with higher PM at low and high wind than for moderate winds.Additionally, in contrast to previous studies, we found that the PM_(2.5)/PM_(10) ratio is proportional to the mean relative humidity(MRH). According to this relationship, for each season we established a multiple nonlinear regression(MNLR) model to estimate the PM_(2.5) concentrations of the missing periods.     

Do lower electricity storage costs reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

In the electricity sector, innovation in large-scale storage is anticipated to reduce costs and improve performance. The effect on greenhouse gas emissions of lower storage costs depends on the interactions between storage and the entire grid. The literature has disagreed on the role of storage in reducing emissions. In this paper we present a stylized model, which suggests that the effect of storage costs on emissions depends on the supply responsiveness of both fossil and renewable generators. Under common conditions in the United States, lower storage costs are more likely to reduce emissions when wind investment responds to equilibrium electricity prices and when solar investment does not. Simulations of a computational model of grid investment and operation confirm these intuitions. Moreover, because of its effect on coal and natural gas–fired supply responsiveness, introducing a carbon dioxide emissions price may increase the likelihood that lower storage costs reduce emissions.     

Assessing and Mitigating the Effects of Windblown Soil on Rare and Common Vegetation

Acting under the auspices of the US Endangered Species Act, we quantified wind erosion and its effects on rare and common plant species on a semi-arid military installation in Hawaii. Our goal was to develop management strategies, based on local data, to aid the conservation of rare and common indigenous plants and their habitats. We collected windblown soil coming off of roads and other disturbed soils to assess likely impacts to plants occurring at certain heights and distances from disturbed surfaces. We then subjected plants in a glasshouse to windblown dust treatments, designed from our field data to simulate erosion events, and evaluated the effect of these treatments on photosynthesis and survival. We also designed several field experiments to examine the in-situ effects of windblown soil and soil substrate on germination, growth rate, and survival of indigenous and nonindigenous plants. We conclude from these experiments that most direct effects of windblown soil to plants can be effectively mitigated by locating roads and training areas at least 40 m from sensitive plant habitats and through vegetation management to maintain at least 11% aerial cover on disturbed surfaces. Effects of soil type on germination, growth, and survival was species-specific, emphasizing the importance of species trials prior to, or during, rehabilitation efforts.     

中国黄土高原地区的风蚀灾害及其防治

对我国黄土高原地区的风蚀情况及其严重危害作了简要阐述，指出坚持实施水土保持综合治理是防治风蚀灾害的根本途径，并对防治工作对策提出若干建议．     

Wind energy development in California,USA

Windfarms have been developed rapidly in California in the last few years. The impetus has been a legislated goal to generate 10% of California's electricity by windpower by the year 2000, and generous state and federal tax incentives. Windpower is promoted as environmentally benign, which it is in traditional uses. The California program, however, is not traditional: it calls for centralized development of a magnitude sufficient to offset significant amounts of fossil fuels now used to generate electricity.Centralized windfarm development, as exemplified by the Altamont Pass, Tehachapi Mountains, and San Gorgonio Pass developments, involves major road building projects in erosion-sensitive terrain, effective closure of public lands, and other detrimental effects. A windfarm consisting of 200 turbines with 17-m rotors located in steep terrain 16 km from an existing corridor might occupy 235 ha and physically disturb 86 ha. With average annual wind speeds of 22.5 km/h, the farm would generate about 10×10⁶ kWh/year at present levels of capacity. This annual production would offset 1% of one day's consumption of oil in California. To supply 10% of the state's electricity (at 1984 production rates) would require about 600,000 turbines of the type in common use today and would occupy more than 685,000 ha. It is likely that indirect effects would be felt in much larger areas and would include increased air and water pollution resulting from accelerated erosion, degradation of habitat of domestic and wild animals, damage to archaeological sites, and reduction of scenic quality of now-remote areas of the state.     

大丰风电场建设对盐城自然保护区的生态影响分析

研究了大丰风电场一期、二期工程对盐城沿海湿地珍禽国家级自然保护区的生态影响.结果表明,在自然保护区实验区内建风电场会改变自然保护区生态结构和功能,使生物量减少,鸟类栖息地丧失,物种多样性下降,景观破碎化.提出了对策措施,以降低由于风电场的建设对自然保护区造成的生态影响.     

汽车尾气的初期扩散与扩散参数

通过风洞模拟实验,分析研究汽车尾流区的流场特性,确定了汽车机械扰动产生的尾气初期扩散范围,提出了一种考虑初期扩散影响的确定近距离扩散参数的简易方法。现场示踪实验和实测资料的验证表明,用该方法确定尾气扩散参数是可靠的。     

Reconstructed Streamflows for the Headwaters of the Wind River,Wyoming, United States1

Abstract: Tree rings offer a means to extend observational records of streamflow by hundreds of years, but dendrohydrological techniques are not regularly applied to small tributary and headwaters gages. Here we explore the potential for extending three such gage records on small streams in the Wind River drainage of central Wyoming, United States. Using core samples taken from Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), piñon pine (Pinus edulis), and limber pine (Pinus flexilis) at 38 sites, we were able to reconstruct streamflows for the headwaters of the Wind River back to 1672 AD or earlier. The streamflow reconstructions for Bull Lake Creek above Bull Lake; the Little Popo Agie River near Lander, Wyoming; and Wind River near Dubois, Wyoming explained between 40% and 64% of the observed variance, and these extended records performed well in a variety of statistical verification tests. The full reconstructions show pronounced inter‐annual variability in streamflow, and these proxy records also point to the prevalence of severe, sustained droughts in this region. These reconstructions indicate that the 20th Century was relatively wet compared to previous centuries, and actual gage records may capture only a limited subset of potential natural variability in this area. Further analyses reveal how tree‐ring based reconstructions for small tributary and headwaters gages can be strongly influenced by the length and quality of calibration records, but this work also demonstrates how the use of a spatially extensive network of tree‐ring sites can improve the quality of these types of reconstructions.