SYSTEMS FOR RAINFALL AND RUNOFF USE,TUCSON, ARIZONA1

Rainfall and runoff in the Tucson, Arizona, urban area can be used to augment residential and municipal water supplies. Residential rainfall-harvesting systems include a catchment surface, collection and concentration components, separation and treatment units, storage capacity and distribution capability. A system to control runoff can divert water from urban washes for use in parks or other landscaped areas or can be used to enhance recharge to groundwater reservoirs. A reduction in flood hazards or peaks is a concurrent benefit of controlling and diverting runoff.     

PM10 Chemical Model Simulations Over Northern Italy in the Framework of the CityDelta Exercise

Within the framework of CityDelta open model inter-comparison exercise, two different atmospheric chemical transport models, comprehensive air quality model with extension and transport chemical aerosol model, have been applied over a domain centred on Milan (North of Italy) as a result of a cooperation of five Italian groups. The two models have shared the same input fields for yearly PM10 simulations. The paper illustrates the analysis of the particulate matter-simulated concentrations and the comparison with the available experimental data.     

PM10 and PM2.5 source apportionment in the Barcelona Metropolitan area, Catalonia, Spain

Levels of total suspended particles, PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 were continuously monitored at an urban kerbside in the Metropolitan area of Barcelona from June 1999 to June 2000. The results show that hourly levels of PM2.5 and PM1 are consistent with the daily cycle of gaseous pollutants emitted by traffic, whereas TSP and PM10 do not follow the same trend, at least in the diurnal period. The PM2.5/PM10 ratio is dependent on the traffic emissions, whereas additional contribution sources for the >10 μm fraction must be taken into account in the diurnal period. Different PM10 and PM2.5 source apportionment techniques were compared. A methodology based on the chemical determination of 83% of both PM10 and PM2.5 masses allowed us to quantify the marine (4% in PM10 and <1% in PM2.5), crustal (26% in PM10 and 8% in PM2.5) and anthropogenic (54% in PM10 and 73% in PM2.5) loads. Peaks of crustal contribution to PM10 (up to 44% of the PM10 mass) were recorded under Saharan air mass intrusions. A different seasonal trend was observed for levels of sulphate and nitrate, probably as a consequence of the different thermodynamic behaviour of these PM species and the higher summer oxidation rate of SO₂.     

基于流域单元的环巢湖综合景观对河流水质的影响

考虑流域特征差异对河流水质的影响,以巢湖流域为研究对象,根据2019年10月至2020年9月河流监测点水质、气象、地形、土壤与遥感影像等数据,通过数字地形分析划分各监测点的流域单元,综合利用相关性分析、冗余分析以及多元回归分析探究了流域单元的综合景观特征（包括土地利用、气候、地形、土壤等）对环巢湖河流水质的影响.结果表明:①环巢湖河流水质空间差异大,主要污染物为总氮与氨氮,大多数河流总氮浓度超过Ⅴ类水质标准,污染严重的区域集中在合肥市区及周边河流以及丰乐河和杭埠河中下游.②流域单元综合景观特征对河流水质有着显著性影响.其中,建筑用地比例、斑块密度、散布与并列指数、香农多样性指数与水质指标呈正相关,而林草地比例、蔓延度指数与水质指标呈负相关.③在不同季节,流域单元的综合景观特征在湿季对河流水质的影响效应要强于干季,这主要是由干湿季降水的差异引起的.     

Radionuclide release and transport from nuclear underground tests performed at Mururoa and Fangataufa — predictions under uncertainty

In the context of a study by the International Geomechanical Commission (IGC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the effects of nuclear tests at the atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa, release to the biosphere is estimated for 35 radionuclides originating from 147 nuclear underground tests. Based on a qualitatively characterised hydrogeological situation of atolls and relatively scarce site-specific data, a model chain was developed to conservatively estimate the radionuclide fluxes via groundwater, from their sources, the explosion cavities, towards the biosphere, the ocean or lagoon.Finite element hydro-thermal modelling was used to describe water flow. Parameters were calibrated by a very few measured pre-test temperature profiles in bore holes. The impact of the tests on groundwater flow and mechanical impact on rock was considered. Estimates were made to quantify spatial extensions and temporal evolution of impact by using measurements on refilling rate of the cavities. Tests were categorised according to their specific yield and location although detailed data were missing. A base case parameter set was defined for the hydraulic conditions and for the initial radionuclide inventory of individual tests. Models were used to describe the concentration of radionuclides in the cavities as a function of time. Radionuclide transport from the cavities to the biosphere was represented by two different approaches: a double porosity model for the fractured volcanic rock and a single porosity model for the overlaying, highly porous carbonates. Results consist of conservative estimates on radionuclide release into the environment, or concentration in the lagoon or ocean water. Their sensitivity was investigated using different models and parameters. A few measured data (concentrations in a few cavities, in the deep carbonates and in the lagoons for selected radionuclides, such as ³H, ¹⁴C, ³⁶Cl, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹²⁹I, ¹³⁷Cs²³⁹, ²⁴⁰Pu and ²⁴¹Am) were available for a comparison with the calculations. In view of the lack and uncertainty of site-specific data, the agreement is of acceptable quality.     

A generalised sorption model for the concentration dependent uptake of caesium by argillaceous rocks

A three-site cation exchange model is proposed to describe the concentration dependent uptake of Cs on natural argillaceous rock systems. Major premises in the model are that the sorption of Cs is dominated by the illite mineral component in the rock and that there is a fixed relationship between the site capacities of the three site types denoted as frayed edge, type II and planar sites. The definition of a “reference illite” with a cation exchange capacity of 0.2 equiv. kg^-1 allows the three site capacities to be fixed in the model calculations over the weight fraction of illite in the argillaceous rocks. Up to Cs equilibrium concentrations of 10^-3 M sorption occurs predominantly on the frayed edge and type II sites (higher affinity sites), with the planar site type playing only a minor role. Competition with Cs for sorption on the former two site types arises predominantly from monovalent cations such as K, Rb and NH₄ which have low hydration energies. H and Na (except at high concentrations) are considerably less competitive and bivalent cations such as Mg, Ca and Sr are effectively non-competitive. A consistent set of selectivity coefficients for Cs with respect to K, Rb, NH₄ and Na was derived from analyses and modelling of a wide range of Cs sorption data available in the open literature on pure illites from many different sources. The model was tested against four Cs sorption isotherm data sets determined on argillaceous rocks: Boom clay, Oxford clay, Palfris marl and Opalinus clay. The water chemistries and illite contents given in these experiments allowed the Cs sorption isotherms to be predicted. It is concluded that the Cs sorption model presented here, in which there are no free parameters, can be used to predict the uptake of Cs at equilibrium concentrations below 10^-3 M to within a factor of 2 to 3 in natural argillaceous rock systems.     

State-of-the-art of ecological modelling with emphasis on development of structural dynamic models

The paper deals with two major problems in ecological modelling today, namely how to get reliable parameters? and how to build ecosystem properties into our models? The use of new mathematical tools to answer these questions is mentioned briefly, but the main focus of the paper is on development of structural dynamic models which are models using goal functions to reflect a current change of the properties of the biological components in the models. These changes of the properties are due to the enormous adaptability of the biological components to the prevailing conditions. All species in an ecosystem attempt to obtain most biomass, i.e. to move as far away as possible from thermodynamic equilibrium which can be measured by the thermodynamic concept exergy. Consequently, exergy has been proposed as a goal function in ecological models with dynamic structure, meaning currently changed properties of the biological components and in model language currently changed parameters. An equation to compute an exergy index of a model is presented. The theoretical considerations leading to this equation are not presented here but references to literature where the basis theory can be found are given. Two case studies of structural dynamic modelling are presented: a shallow lake where the structural dynamic changes have been determined before the model was developed, and the application of biomanipulation in lake management, where the structural dynamic changes are generally known. Moreover. it is also discussed how the same idea of using exergy as a goal function in ecological modelling may be applied to facilitate the estimation of parameters.     

The hydrogeology of a tailings impoundment formed by central discharge of thickened tailings: implications for tailings management

The Kidd Creek Cu–Zn sulfide mine is located near Timmins, Ontario. Mill tailings are thickened and deposited as a slurry in a circular impoundment with an area of approximately 1200 ha. Deposition of tailings as a thickened slurry from a central discharge ramp results in a conical-shaped tailings deposit with low perimeter dykes, a uniform grain-size distribution, uniform and low hydraulic conductivity, and a tension-saturated zone above the water table up to 5 to 6 m thick. These characteristics provide benefits over conventionally disposed tailings with respect to tailings management. The thick tension-saturated zone within the tailings limits the thickness of unsaturated tailings that are susceptible to rapid sulfide oxidation. The conical shape of the deposit results in the formation of a recharge area near the centre of the impoundment and discharge in the peripheral areas. In contrast, the elevated nature of many conventional, unthickened tailings impoundments results in recharge over most of the surface of the impoundment, with discharge occurring outside the impoundment through large containment dykes. Three-dimensional pore water flow modelling suggests that approximately 90% of the total discharge from the thickened tailings occurs within the tailings impoundment. When discharge is confined within the impoundment, there is improved control over low-quality effluent, and an opportunity to design passive control measures to reduce treatment costs and minimize environmental impacts.     

A theoretical and methodological framework for studying and modelling drivers’ mental representations

This article provides a synthetic overview of the research programme carried out at INRETS-LESCOT over the last 10 years, in view to studying and modelling the mental representations of car drivers. Theoretically, this research is in line with two complementary scientific traditions: Human Information Processing theories on the one hand, and theories of Operative Activity on the other. As discussed in Section 1 of the article, attention is given to the functional representations of drivers, constructed “by” and “for” the action, such as they are implemented in a driving situation, and taking into account both implicit and explicit dimensions. This aim directly impacts on the methodological approach implemented, in so far as it entails defining an “experimental continuum” ranging from naturalistic observations of the driving activity (on the open road), to setting up more controlled experimental protocols in order to permit in-depth, systematic and reproducible scientific investigations of drivers’ cognition. Section 2 of the article presents a synthetic view of these methods, while Section 3 presents several significant results obtained with them. Lastly, the final part of the article focuses on the computational formalism defined at INRETS-LESCOT (i.e. the driving schemas) designed to model driver knowledge and mental representations, and developed in a COgnitive Simulation MOdel of the DRIVEr called COSMODRIVE.