A study of climate change and anthropogenic impacts in West Africa

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE: During the last decades ecological conditions in West Africa have dramatically changed. Very evident is the climate change, which has resulted in a southward shift of the climate zones, e.g. a spread of the desert (Sahara) into the Sahelian zone. After the drought period of the early 1970s and 1980s, livestock density increased resulting in an intensification of grazing pressure. This anthropogenous phenomenon leads to similar landscape changes as those caused by the climate. Only very few investigations exist on vegetation dynamics, climate changes and land use changes for the Sudanian zone. The paper presents data on changes of precipitation, of land use, of the geographical range of species, and of the composition of the flora, which have to be regarded as proofs of the sahelisation of large areas of the Sudanian zone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Area of investigation: Burkina Faso. Precipitation data analysis: precipitation data from 67 stations; time series analysis and geo-statistical spatial interpolation. Analysis of land use change: Landsat satellite MSS and ETM+ data, acquired for two different dates between 1972 and 2001 analyzed by the software ERDAS/IMAGINE version 8.6 and ArcView 3.2 with the Spatial Analyst extension. Intensive ground truthing (160 training areas). Inventory of the flora: based on the data of the Herbarium Senckenbergianum (FR) in Frankfurt, Germany, and of the herbarium of the university of Ouagadougou (OUA), Burkina Faso, as well as on various investigations on the vegetation of Burkina Faso carried out in the years 1990 to 2005 by the team of the senior author. Life form analysis of the flora: based on the inventory of permanent plots. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Precipitation: Remarkable latitudinal shift of isohyets towards the South translates to a general reduction of average rainfall in great parts of the country. The last decade (1990-1999) shows some improvement, however, the more humid conditions of the 1950's and 1960's are not yet established again. Landcover change: In the study region the extent of arable fields and young fallows increased during the last 30 years from 580 km(2) in 1972 to 2870 km(2) in 2001. This means an average land cover conversion rate of 0.9% per year for the 6 departments considered. Change of the distribution of Sahelian and Sudanian species: Several species, mentioned in older literature as strictly Sahelian, today also occur in the Sudanian zone. Parallel to the spread of former strictly Sahelian species into the Sudanian zone, some former Sahelo-Sudanian species have withdrawn from the Sahel. Changes of the life form spectra of the flora: Considering their life form spectra, the flora of heavily grazed and of protected areas in the Sudanian zone show great differences. On areas intensively grazed the percentage of therophytes is evidently higher than on protected areas. Just the opposite is true for the phanerophytes. Their percentage is higher on the protected area than on the grazed zones. At the first glance, it is obvious to link the changes in flora and vegetation with the climate changes that have occurred during the last five decades (decrease of annual precipitation). However, not only climatic conditions have changed, but also population has increased, the percentage of land intensively used for agriculture and pasturing has increased and the time for soil regeneration today is much shorter than it was some decades ago. Thus, the landscape of the Sudanian zone has become a more Sahelian character. A comparison of the flora of an intensively used area of the Sudanian zone with that of a protected area shows a remarkable change in the life form spectra. The spectrum of the intensively used area is almost identical with that of the typical Sahelian flora. This comparison shows that the anthropogenic influence plays a greater role in the sahelisation of the Sudanian zone than the climate change. CONCLUSION: Climate change and anthropogenic influence both, lead to a sahelisation of landscape and flora. Thus in many parts of the Sudanian zone of West Africa sahelisation phenomena will remain and even increase independently from the reestablishment of the more humid climate conditions of the 1950ies. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: In order to maintain some parts of the characteristic Sudanian landscape with its characteristic flora and vegetation, the number and size of protected areas should be augmented. For all protected areas it has to be ensured, that protection is reality, i.e. respected an understood by local people, not only fiction. As long as the enlargement of intensively used areas continues the sahelisation of flora, vegetation and landscape will continue too.     

我国近岸海域环境功能区划制度发展现状及对策

近岸海域环境功能区划制度在保护近海环境质量、维护海洋生态功能等方面发挥了重要作用,已经成为近岸海域环境保护规划的基础和环境监督管理的依据.在国家加快推进陆海、城乡国土空间统筹和优化的背景下,要实现近岸海域生态系统服务功能保护、水质持续改善等目标要求,仅明确近岸海域和沿岸陆域生态环境保护空间格局难以满足海洋生态环境保护需求,还需进一步明确近岸海域生态环境保护目标体系.近岸海域环境功能区划制度已经实施20余年,目前呈现出法律地位不足、功能分类体系与近岸海域生态环境保护要求不一致、功能区目标间协调性不足、调整频繁、各省份近岸海域环境功能区监管工作不统一等问题.因此,应重新定位近岸海域环境功能区在海洋环境管理中的作用,强化对其所确定的近岸海域环境功能的保护,并由环境功能保护的需求进一步提出水质保护、生态保护目标,将近岸海域环境功能区划作为全国近岸海域生态环境目标空间管理的依据.在此基础上,提出提升近岸海域环境功能区的法律地位、构建科学合理的近岸海域环境功能区分类体系、基于生态系统管理理念制定海洋环境保护目标、严格功能区划调整程序、完善近岸海域环境功能区监管制度等对策建议,为完善近岸海域环境功能区划制度提供借鉴.      

生物柴油促进原油污染砂粒释放油

对4种生物柴油促进原油污染砂粒释放油的效果进行了研究,并探讨了菜籽生物柴油投加量和砂粒粒径对促进效果的影响。结果表明,菜籽生物柴油的促进效果最好,8 h释放量达到73%,废油脂生物柴油的效果最差,仅为52%;生物柴油的促进效果随着投加量的增大而升高,当投加量超过海水体积的5%时促进效果不再明显增加;在生物柴油作用下,小粒径砂粒上原油的释放效果优于大粒径砂粒。     

Modelling the migration of contaminants through variably saturated dual-porosity, dual-permeability chalk

In the Hesbaye region in Belgium, tracer tests performed in variably saturated fissured chalk rocks presented very contrasting results in terms of transit times, according to artificially controlled water recharge conditions prevailing during the experiments. Under intense recharge conditions, tracers migrated across the partially or fully saturated fissure network, at high velocity in accordance with the high hydraulic conductivity and low effective porosity (fracture porosity). At the same time, a portion of the tracer was temporarily retarded in the almost immobile water located in the matrix. Under natural infiltration conditions, the fissure network remained inactive. Tracers migrated downward through the matrix, at low velocity in relation with the low hydraulic conductivity and the large porosity of the matrix. Based on these observations, Brouyère et al. (2004a) [Brouyère, S., Dassargues, A., Hallet, V., 2004a. Migration of contaminants through the unsaturated zone overlying the Hesbaye chalky aquifer in Belgium: a field investigation, J. Contam. Hydrol., 72 (1-4), 135-164, doi: 10.1016/j.conhyd.2003.10.009] proposed a conceptual model in order to explain the migration of solutes in variably saturated, dual-porosity, dual-permeability chalk. Here, mathematical and numerical modelling of tracer and contaminant migration in variably saturated fissured chalk is presented, considering the aforementioned conceptual model. A new mathematical formulation is proposed to represent the unsaturated properties of the fissured chalk in a more dynamic and appropriate way. At the same time, the rock water content is partitioned between mobile and immobile water phases, as a function of the water saturation of the chalk rock. The groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the variably saturated chalk is solved using the control volume finite element method. Modelling the field tracer experiments performed in the variably saturated chalk shows the adequacy and usefulness of the new conceptual, mathematical and numerical model.     

宿迁经济开发区环保工作面临的挑战与对策

文中总结宿迁经济开发区环保工作现状,分析未来宿迁经济开发区面临:水环境质量未能根本好转、生活污染物排放量上升并成为主要污染问题、环境基础设施建设滞后于社会经济发展、工业企业污染存在反弹趋势、农村环境问题亟需关注、客水污染问题仍然存在等挑战,并提出了应对这些挑战的对策。     

退化河流滨岸带生态系统的修复及评价研究进展

退化河流滨岸带生态系统修复及其评价是目前国内外学者研究的热点,也是修复生态学、流域生态学等学科研究的重要内容之一。河流滨岸带生态修复工作的开展必须建立在掌握滨岸带结构及其生态功能的基础上。河流滨岸带生态系统退化成因和驱动机制研究是进行滨岸带生态修复工作的前提;生态系统修复是滨岸带研究的重点和关键,必须遵循自然法则,以修复生态功能为最终目标;河流滨岸带生态系统的修复过程和效果应该建立适宜的评价方法和管理策略来确定。加强河流滨岸带退化机制的理论研究及3S技术的应用,从景观和流域尺度开展滨岸带生态修复的研究和实践工作,着重进行平原河网地区河流滨岸带生态修复的研究和实践工作等将是中国今后相关研究的重点。     

一种新型隔热材料在原位土壤热修复工程中的表面阻隔效应

对原位热修复场地表层土壤采用有效的隔热措施,有助于实现节能降耗.纳米中空陶瓷微珠水性隔热涂料是一种新型隔热材料,导热系数低,可作为原位热修复修复场地的表面阻隔材料.通过现场实验,探究了该涂料的隔热性能及其受施工方法、实验区域尺寸等因素的影响.结果 表明,在加热井热影响区域内,新型隔热材料的温度梯度最高可达13600℃·...     

新型膜-生物反应器在不同通量下的膜污染特性研究

选择适当的膜通量是膜-生物反应器控制膜污染的有效手段之一.本文根据膜通量与临界通量的关系选取了5个不同的膜通量,考察在这些通量条件下新型膜-生物反应器膜污染发展特性的变化.试验结果表明,膜通量的变化会影响膜污染的发展特性.当膜通量小于临界通量区时,膜污染发展具有\"2阶段\"趋势,并且膜通量越小\"第1阶段\"和\"第2阶段\"的膜污染发展速率对比越显著.当膜通量在临界通量区通量内时,首先出现短暂的膜污染快速增长期,随后膜污染发展仍呈现\"2阶段\"现象.当膜通量大于临界通量区通量时,膜操作压力(TMP)从开始运行即迅速上涨直至试验结束.     

Mapping Biological Resources in the Coastal Zone: An Evaluation of Methods in a Pioneering Study from Norway

For many years, the planning and management of terrestrial areas has been supported by a detailed knowledge of the distribution of habitats and their associated species. However, the detailed mapping of biological resources in extent coastal areas, such as the Norwegian coastal zone, is unrealistic due to its enormous coastline. Here, we present a useful and feasible approach and a set of simple, cost-effective methods which are suitable for providing a broad-scale overview of marine habitats and fish resources. This approach was developed in conjunction with a pioneer study conducted along the southern coast of the Skagerrak, where we combined knowledge gathered from local fishermen with scientific knowledge of important species and nature types to establish a coastal sea mapping program. GIS modeling tools were used in both the mapping program and to integrate local and scientific knowledge into digital maps made available to local area management. This multi-faceted approach, which combines local knowledge and scientific methods, provides valuable information with respect to marine biodiversity, and has been used extensively by local environmental management.     

Variation of MCPA, metribuzine, methyltriazine-amine and glyphosate degradation, sorption, mineralization and leaching in different soil horizons

Pesticide mineralization and sorption were determined in 75 soil samples from 15 individually drilled holes through the vadose zone along a 28 km long transect of the Danish outwash plain. Mineralization of the phenoxyacetic acid herbicide MCPA was high both in topsoils and in most subsoils, while metribuzine and methyltriazine-amine was always low. Organic matter and soil pH was shown to be responsible for sorption of MCPA and metribuzine in the topsoils. The sorption of methyltriazine-amine in topsoil was positively correlated with clay and negatively correlated with the pH of the soil. Sorption of glyphosate was tested also high in the subsoils. One-dimensional MACRO modeling of the concentration of MCPA, metribuzine and methyltriazine-amine at 2 m depth calculated that the average concentration of MCPA and methyltriazine-amine in the groundwater was below the administrative limit of 0.1 μg/l in all tested profiles while metribuzine always exceeded the 0.1 μg/l threshold value.