FOURIER INFERENCE: SOME METHODS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ARRAY AND NONGAUSSIAN SERIES DATA1

Fourier inference is a collection of analytic techniques and philosophic attitudes, for the analysis of data, wherein essential use is made of empirical Fourier transforms. This paper sets down some basic results concerning the finite Fourier transforms of stationary process data and then, to illustrate the approach, uses those results to develop procedures for: 1) estimating cloud and storm motion, 2) passive sonar and 3) fitting finite parameter models to nonGaussian time series via bispectral fitting. This last procedure is illustrated by an analysis of a stretch of Mississippi River runoff data. Examples 1), 2) refer to data having the form Y(x_j, y_j, t) for j = 1, …, J and t = 0, …, T-l say, and view that data as part of a realization of a spatial-temporal process. Such data has become common in geophysics generally and in hydrology particularly. The goal of this paper is to present some new statistical procedures pertinent to problems in the water sciences, equally it is to illustrate the genesis of those procedures and how their properties may be approximated.     

DESIGN AND IMPACT ANALYSIS FOR DIVERSION AT COAL CREEK MINE1

A diversion system has been designed to carry the flow from East Fork of Coal Creek around the area proposed for mining at Thunder Basin Coal Company's (TBCC) Coal Creek mine in Campbell County, Wyoming. This paper describes the field and analysis procedures necessary to prepare the diversion design and impact evaluation, and the innovative concepts developed for the diversion system design to minimize impacts on downstream channel stability. Under the proposed diversion system design, water from the East Basin of Coal Creek will be diverted at two locations. At one location, flow will be impounded by a small dam and decanted by a pump through a pipeline into East Fork at the location of the second diversion. At this location, a training dike will be placed across the stream channel to divert flows into a diversion channel. Gravity flow along the diversion channel will deliver water to a playa area which will be converted into a detention basin by placing a small dam across its southern end. Flows up to the magnitude of the 24-hour 2-year peak flow will be passed directly through the detention basin into Middle Fork with negligible attenuation of flow rates. For less frequent events, water will be stored in the detention basin in order to prevent velocities in Lower Middle Fork from exceeding the maximum permissible velocity above which scouring may occur. Evaporation and seepage losses from the diversion system were estimated to be small and should be more than offset by the addition of water from the playa drainage basin into the Coal Creek drainage. Velocities predicted for the Lower Middle Fork after-the diversion is constructed are expected to be low enough that significant erosion of the channel is not expected to occur.     

A Multi-Channel Continuous Water Toxicity Monitoring System: Its Evaluation and Application to Water Discharged from a Power Plant

A multi-channel continuous water toxicity monitoring system was, after confirming the systems' performance, implemented to samples of water discharged from power plants to detect and classify their toxicity using several recombinant bioluminescent bacteria. Each channel of the system is composed of a series of two mini-bioreactors to enable a continuous operation, i.e., without system interruption due to highly toxic samples. A different recombinant bacterial strain was present in each channel: DPD2540 (fabA::lux CDABE), DPD2794 (recA::luxCDABE), and TV1061 (grpE::luxCDABE), which are induced by cell membrane-, DNA-, and protein-damaging agents, respectively. GC2 (lac::luxCDABE) is a constitutive strain, whose bioluminescence is reduced by an increase in cellular toxicity. Phenol and mitomycin C (MMC) were used for evaluating the system's performance to detect toxic chemicals. These samples were injected into the second mini-bioreactor according to a step or bell-curve manner. The field samples used in this study were obtained from the water discharged from two different power plants in Korea – from a nuclear power plant and a thermo-electronic power plant, and were injected into the second mini-bioreactor to initiate the toxicity test. Each channel showed specific bioluminescent (BL) response profiles due to the toxic compounds present in the water samples. Comparing the BL signals between the standard toxic chemical samples and discharged water samples, the equivalent toxicity of the field water could be estimated. Finally, it was proved that this novel continuous toxicity monitoring system can be used as an alternative tool for the quick monitoring and control of water quality, as well as aid in the setting up of a new monitoring strategy to protect the source of tap water and in the prevention of polluted water discharge.     

Ecotoxicological implications of aquatic disposal of coal combustion residues in the United States: a review

We provide an overview of research related to environmental effects of disposal of coal combustion residues (CCR) in sites in the United States. Our focus is on aspects of CCR that have the potential to negatively influence aquatic organisms and thehealth of aquatic ecosystems. We identify major issues of concern, as well as areas in need of further investigation.Intentional or accidental release of CCR into aquatic systemshas generally been associated with deleterious environmental effects. A large number of metals and trace elements are presentin CCR, some of which are rapidly accumulated to high concentrations by aquatic organisms. Moreover, a variety of biological responses have been observed in organisms following exposure to and accumulation of CCR-related contaminants. In some vertebrates and invertebrates, CCR exposure has led to numerous histopathological, behavioral, and physiological (reproductive, energetic, and endocrinological) effects. Fish kills and extirpation of some fish species have been associatedwith CCR release, as have indirect effects on survival and growth of aquatic animals mediated by changes in resource abundance or quality. Recovery of CCR-impacted sites can be extremely slow due to continued cycling of contaminants withinthe system, even in sites that only received CCR effluents forshort periods of time. The literature synthesis reveals important considerations for future investigations of CCR-impacted sites. Many studies have examined biological responses to CCR with respect to Se concentrations and accumulation because of teratogenic andreproductively toxic effects known to be associated with thiselement. However, the complex mixture of metals and traceelements characteristic of CCR suggests that biologicalassessments of many CCR-contaminated habitats should examine avariety of inorganic compounds in sediments, water, and tissuesbefore causation can be linked to individual CCR components. Most evaluations of effects of CCR in aquatic environments havefocused on lentic systems and the populations of animalsoccupying them. Much less is known about CCR effects in loticsystems, in which the contaminants may be transported downstream,diluted or concentrated in downstream areas, and accumulated bymore transient species. Although some research has examinedaccumulation and effects of contaminants on terrestrial and avianspecies that visit CCR-impacted aquatic sites, more extensiveresearch is also needed in this area. Effects in terrestrial orsemiaquatic species range from accumulation and maternal transferof elements to complete recruitment failure, suggesting that CCReffects need to be examined both within and outside of theaquatic habitats into which CCR is released. Requiring specialattention are waterfowl and amphibians that use CCR-contaminatedsites during specific seasons or life stages and are highlydependent on aquatic habitat quality during those periods.Whether accidentally discharged into natural aquatic systems or present in impoundments that attract wildlife, CCR appears topresent significant risks to aquatic and semiaquatic organisms. Effects may be as subtle as changes in physiology or as drasticas extirpation of entire populations. When examined as a whole,research on responses of aquatic organisms to CCR suggests thatreducing the use of disposal methods that include an aquaticslurry phase may alleviate some environmental risks associatedwith the waste products.     

Levels and Trend of Suspended Particles around Large Lignite Power Stations

The results of a 16 year long sampling program in a heavily industrialized area of NW Greece are presented and analyzed. Fourlignite power stations are operated in this area, which account forabout 70% of the total electrical energy produced in Greece.Ambient concentrations of Total Suspended Particles (TSP) over much of the period 1983–1998 as well as of particles of less than10 m aerodynamic diameter (PM₁₀) for three years were measured. Emphasis is given on the assessment of the levels of the daily average concentrations for the data period as well asthe determination of the spatial and temporal variation of suspended particle concentrations. Based on the data analysis, useful information is provided about air quality levels after taking into account air quality standards. The interannual concentrations trend is also investigated and an attempt is madeto examine the effectiveness of antipolluting procedures, which have occasionally been implemented in this industrial area. Finally the results are compared to those in the literature.     

火电厂二氧化硫排放行为分析

火电厂是二氧化硫排放大户。从企业层面和国家层面上对火电厂二氧化硫排放行为和形势进行了分析和总结,以期为环境管理服务。     

延安市近年来大气环境质量的变化分析

介绍了延安市市区大气环境中主要污染物二氧化硫、氮氧化物、总悬浮颗粒物近年来的变化特征,并对其进行了原因分析,从而找出了影响市区大气环境质量的一些主要因素。在此基础上进行了探讨,提出了进一步改善延安市大气环境质量的建议与对策。     

新汶矿区大气环境污染现状及防治对策

通过对新汶矿区大气污染源、大气环境质量现状的调查分析，探求矿区大气污染的主要原因，并提出解决的方法途径。     

氧化钙燃烧固硫添加剂的研究

在寻找钙基燃烧固硫加剂，并探讨其机理的试验中，研究了碱金属化合物在不同含量，不同温度下对氧化钙固硫率的影响，试验结果表明，一些碱金属化合物能使固硫率增加约１０个百分点左右，采用ＳＥＭ和热天平分析了固硫率提高的原因，提出碱金属化合物提高固硫率的机理在于：低熔点液相共熔物的形成导致ＣａＯ微观结构的改变。     

兖州矿区采煤塌陷地状况与综合治理途径研究

通过对兖州矿区采煤塌陷地状况进行现状分析和趋势预测,结果表明,至2000年底,已累计塌陷土地5389.40hm2;预计到21世纪中叶,兖州、济东2个煤田最终将形成两个塌陷中心,面积达4.4×104hm2。这不仅使大面积农田被毁,造成生态失衡,而且给当地工农业生产以及社会和生态环境等方面带来一系列严重问题,应该彻底进行采煤塌陷地的综合治理。据此,根据矿区工农业持续协调发展的需要,从宏观和微观的角度,全方位提出了采煤塌陷地的综合治理途径。