Analysis of a solar photovoltaic-assisted absorption refrigeration system for domestic air conditioning

Theoretical model of a solar photovoltaic integrated water-Lithium bromide absorption system is presented for domestic air conditioning. Surplus electrical energy from photovoltaic modules is used for charging the battery, which is utilized during the periods of zero or insufficient solar radiation. Minimum solar area required for each month is calculated and October is identified as the month requiring the highest area of photovoltaic arrays for a constant cooling load of 3.5 kW. The integrated system is found to be capable of sufficient amount of surplus electrical energy generation during both summer and winter months, with a daily excess of about 815 Ah of electrical energy on average over a complete calendar year. Designed system is found to be economically viable, having an energy payback period of 2.7 years.     

Reproductive ecology of the pond turtle (Emys orbicularis L.) in the Northeastern part of the species range

In Belarussian Polesye, characteristics of reproduction, population dynamics, and factors responsible for a decrease in the abundance of the pond turtle were studied. The main factors limiting pond turtle reproduction in Polesye include the focal distribution of its populations and limited areas of reproductive biotopes. The pond-turtle popuation itself is characterized by a high potential for reproductive growth; in the current situation, the population growth is mainly limited by a high pressure of oophagous predators and anthropogenic destruction of reproductive sites.     

滩涂湿地污灌系统生态监测指标体系的研究与构建

对在滩涂湿地建立的生态工业园区进行调查研究,用生态方法和化学成分分析方法对各物种和生物体进行研究,初步构建了滩涂湿地污灌系统生态监测指标体系,期望能够对造纸废水的处理、滩涂湿地的开发利用以及滩涂湿地生态系统起到较好的保护和改善作用,为生态工业园区建设提供较好的安全保障.     

中国和西方国家产业生态学思想与实践的对比分析

产业生态学是最近兴起的一门很有前途的学问,它继承和发展了自然生态系统的理论,并运用它来指导面临危境的工业生产活动。它与我国目前提倡的生态农业有相似的地方,也有很大的不同。本文结合对中西方对产业生态学思想和实践的对比,分析了各自的优势,指出了不足     

Microbial community dynamics in uranium contaminated subsurface sediments under biostimulated conditions with high nitrate and nickel pressure

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: The subsurface at the Oak Ridge Field Research Center represents an extreme and diverse geochemical environment that places different stresses on the endogenous microbial communities, including low pH, elevated nitrate concentrations, and the occurrence of heavy metals and radionuclides, including hexavalent uranium [U(VI)]. The in situ immobilization of U(VI) in the aquifer can be achieved through microbial reduction to relatively insoluble U(IV). However, a high redox potential due to the presence of nitrate and the toxicity of heavy metals will impede this process. Our aim is to test biostimulation of the endogenous microbial communities to improve nitrate reduction and subsequent U(VI) reduction under conditions of elevated heavy metals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Column experiments were used to test the possibility of using biostimulation via the addition of ethanol as a carbon source to improve nitrate reduction in the presence of elevated aqueous nickel. We subsequently analyzed the composition of the microbial communities that became established and their potential for U(VI) reduction and its in situ immobilization. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the microbial population changed from heavy metal sensitive members of the actinobacteria, alpha- and gamma-proteobacteria to a community dominated by heavy metal resistant (nickel, cadmium, zinc, and cobalt resistant), nitrate reducing beta- and gamma-proteobacteria, and sulfate reducing Clostridiaceae. Coincidentally, synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy analyses indicated that the resulting redox conditions favored U(VI) reduction transformation to insoluble U(IV) species associated with soil minerals and biomass. DISCUSSION: This study shows that the necessary genetic information to adapt to the implemented nickel stress resides in the endogenous microbial population present at the Oak Ridge FRC site, which changed from a community generally found under oligotrophic conditions to a community able to withstand the stress imposed by heavy metals, while efficiently reducing nitrate as electron donor. Once nitrate was reduced efficient reduction and in situ immobilization of uranium was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that stimulating the metabolism of the endogenous bacterial population at the Oak Ridge FRC site by adding ethanol, a suitable carbon source, results in efficient nitrate reduction under conditions of elevated nickel, and a decrease of the redox potential such that sulfate and iron reducing bacteria are able to thrive and create conditions favorable for the reduction and in situ immobilization of uranium. Since we have found that the remediation potential resides within the endogenous microbial community, we believe it will be feasible to conduct field tests. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: Biostimulation of endogenous bacteria provides an efficient tool for the successful in situ remediation of mixed-waste sites, particularly those co-contaminated with heavy metals, nitrate and radionuclides, as found in the United States and other countries as environmental legacies of the nuclear age.     

Influences of Water and Sediment Quality and Hydrologic Processes on Mussels in the Clinch River

Segments of the Clinch River in Virginia have experienced declining freshwater mussel populations during the past 40 years, while other segments of the river continue to support some of the richest mussel communities in the country. The close proximity of these contrasting reaches provides a study area where differences in climate, hydrology, and historic mussel distribution are minimal. The USGS conducted a study between 2009 and 2011 to evaluate possible causes of the mussel declines. Evaluation of mussel habitat showed no differences in physical habitat quality, leaving water and sediment quality as possible causes for declines. Three years of continuous water‐quality data showed higher turbidity and specific conductance in the reaches with low‐quality mussel assemblages compared to reaches with high‐quality mussel assemblages. Discrete water‐quality samples showed higher major ions and metals concentrations in the low‐quality reach. Base‐flow samples contained high major ion and metal concentrations coincident to low‐quality mussel populations. These results support a conceptual model of dilution and augmentation where increased concentrations of major ions and other dissolved constituents from mined tributaries result in reaches with declining mussel populations. Tributaries from unmined basins provide water with low concentrations of dissolved constituents, diluting reaches of the Clinch River where high‐quality mussel populations occur.     

特金罕山森林生态系统自然保护区规划研究

本文阐述了建立特金罕山自然保护区的目的、意义和保护对象,对自然保护区的现状进行了详细评价,得出了基本具备省级自然保护区条件的结论。阐述了特金罕山自然保护区规划的原则、目标及功能分区,对自然保护区进行了规划研究。     

1960~2013年我国霾污染的时空变化

利用近54年（1960～2013年）我国霾日以及一些相关气象要素的观测资料,采用气候倾向估计、聚类分析、累积距平和突变检验等多种方法,分析了我国霾日数变化特征.结果表明：我国的霾污染主要发生在中东部和南部,尤以北京、山西中部和南部、河南局部地区、长江三角洲和珠江三角洲等地最为严重,我国西部和东北部地区相对较少.霾日发生的频率总体呈增加的趋势,而且与能源消耗总量有很好的正相关关系.我国霾日数的增加除了依赖于污染源排放加剧外,不利的气候条件加剧了霾天气的发生.近54年降水日数、平均风速、日照时数和相对湿度与霾日数的相关系数分别为-0.653、-0.635、-0.462和-0.699,远远超出了99.9%的信度检验标准.聚类分析表明,上升极显著、上升显著和上升明显的站点年平均霾日数近年来均有加速上升的趋势,其累积距平的变化趋势为下降-平缓-上升型.轻微上升站点上升时期为20世纪60年代至70年代末与2000年之后,累积距平为多波动型.轻微下降与下降明显的站点快速上升时期为60年代至70年代末,随后均有不同程度的下降,累积距平呈上升-平缓-下降型,且在1992～1993年间霾日数发生了由多到少的突变.     

Ecology of the rehabilitation of vegetation on tropical coastal eroded land in Guangdong, China

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沈阳市2001年-2006年生态足迹分析与可持续发展

生态足迹从具体的生物量角度研究自然资本消耗的空间,为核算地区资本利用状况提供框架,进而可判断区域可持续发展状态。文章在简要介绍生态足迹的概念与计算模型基础上,定量研究了沈阳市2001年-2006年六年间的生态足迹和生态承载力的变化规律和特征,根据计算进行分析,结果表明人类负荷超过其生态容量,生态承载严重不能满足生态足迹的需求,社会经济处于一种不可持续的发展状态,为使沈阳市的生态建设可持续的发展提出生态恢复措施。