Climate change and changes in global precipitation patterns: what do we know?

The objective of this paper is to synthesize the large literature recording changing patterns of precipitation in the observed data, thus indicating that climate change is already a reality. Such a synthesis is required not only for environmental researchers but also for policy makers. The key question is the broad picture at major regional and continental levels. Some interesting conclusions for this survey are emerging. For example, the review shows increased variance of precipitation everywhere. Consistent with this finding, we observe that wet areas become wetter, and dry and arid areas become more so. In addition, the following general changing pattern is emerging: (a) increased precipitation in high latitudes (Northern Hemisphere); (b) reductions in precipitation in China, Australia and the Small Island States in the Pacific; and (c) increased variance in equatorial regions. The changes in the major ocean currents also appear to be affecting precipitation patterns. For example, increased intensity and frequency of El Ni?o and ENSO seem associated with evidence of an observed "dipole" pattern affecting Africa and Asia, although this time series is too short so far. But the changing pattern calls for renewed efforts at adaptation to climate change, as the changing precipitation pattern will also affect the regional availability of food supply.     

Paper fibers as a carbon source for the de novo formation of polychlorinated dioxins and furans

The formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs) from carbon that was produced by the pyrolysis of paper fibers and from wood charcoal was investigated experimentally. Fibers obtained from filter paper were pyrolyzed at 300° and 800°C to produce low- and high-temperature carbon samples. The two types of carbon and wood charcoal were mixed with silica (SiO₂) and trace copper oxide to produce three synthetic fly ash samples. Experiments to measure the formation of PCCDs/Fs from the three ash samples were conducted using a bench-scale reactor. The two carbon samples derived from paper fibers generated more PCDDs/Fs than was generated by the wood charcoal. The PCDDs/Fs generated by the low-temperature carbon and by the wood charcoal were dominated by the lower-chlorinated PCDFs. Such unique homologue distribution patterns are very similar to those generated by the open burning of household waste. The high-temperature carbon generated more highly chlorinated PCDDs/Fs. The effect of pyrolysis temperature on the de novo formation of PCDDs/Fs from residual carbon is discussed. Paper and paper products contained in household waste are likely to be the source of unburned carbon that contributes to high PCDD/F emissions in the open burning of household waste.     

国家地震紧急救援训练基地可控地震废墟设计(Ⅰ)--结构地震破坏模式

我国是一个地震多发的国家，地震灾害给我国造成了巨大的经济损失和严重的生命伤亡。专业化的震后紧急搜索救援能够最大限度地减少人民生命财产的损失，是防震减灾体系不可或缺的组成部分。通过大量的地震灾害实例，并借鉴地震灾害评估方法和建筑物抗震设计，对危害人类生命财产的建筑物震害的特征按照结构类型进行了详细说明，通过对这些地震中常见震害的了解和认识，为国家地震紧急救援训练基地的规划设计和相应搜索救援训练科目的设置提供依据。     

INCREASING WATER SUPPLY BY MIXING OF FRESH AND SALINE GROUND WATERS1

ABSTRACT: The quality of ground water in any aquifer takes its final form due to natural mixture of waters, which may originate from different sources. Water quality varies from one aquifer to another and even within the same aquifer itself. Different ground water quality is obtained from wells and is mixed in a common reservoir prior to any consumption. This artificial mixing enables an increase in available ground water of a desired quality for agricultural or residential purposes. The question remains as to what proportions of water from different wells should be mixed together to achieve a desired water quality for this artificial mixture. Two sets of laboratory experiments were carried out, namely, the addition of saline water to a fixed volume of fresh water. After each addition, the mixture volume and the electric conductivity value of the artificially mixed water were recorded. The experiments were carried out under the same laboratory temperature of 20°C. A standard curve was developed first experimentally and then confirmed theoretically. This curve is useful in determining either the volume or discharge ratio from two wells to achieve a predetermined electrical conductivity value of the artificial mixture. The application of the curve is given for two wells within the Quaternary deposits in the western part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.     

Sperm competition and the level of polyandry in a bushcricket with large nuptial gifts

Variation in paternity due to sperm competition or post-copulatory female choice has a major influence on animal mating system evolution and on the levels of genetic variability in natural populations. However, there are relatively few studies comparing the outcome of sperm-competition experiments in the laboratory with natural variation in polyandry among families from the field. In the bushcricket Ephippiger ephippiger, females mate multiply, and the males provide them with a large, nutritious, and probably expensive, donation at mating. We examined paternity in a series of laboratory matings, where females mated with two males, and amongst a series of families collected from a natural population. In the laboratory, paternity was highly bimodally distributed: 24% of families had offspring fathered by the first male to mate, 68% by the second male (in only 8% was paternity shared). In the field, paternity was more mixed: only 27% of families had a single father, 14% had more than two fathers, whilst 59% had two fathers. While unsuccessful matings may contribute to the highly biased paternity in the laboratory, they cannot fully explain the high incidence of complete P2 families. Nonrandom sperm utilisation is therefore likely. Greater sperm mixing in the field probably results from females mating with more males, but the distribution of paternity also reflects an active process of nonrandom sperm utilisation. Confidence of paternity due to last male advantage may be relatively high in this species, and therefore may have facilitated the evolution of the large spermatophore in E. ephippiger.Communicated by D. Gwynne     

21世纪初我国粮食供需的新空间格局

利用2000-2003年县级统计数据,揭示21世纪初我国粮食供需的空间格局。我国粮食供需平衡以东西分异规律为主,其次是南北分异。地势第二级阶梯以东,主要余粮区分布最广,北方明显多于南方;胡焕庸线以西,常年缺粮区为主;两线之间,潜在缺粮区居多。东北地区、华北平原生产全国近70%的余粮。长江中下游以南地区既是我国温饱水平缺粮总数最多的地区,也是第三大余粮生产区。地势第二级阶梯上的农牧交错带,温饱水平缺粮总量列第二位,是我国粮食安全最脆弱的地区。上述地区主要位于环境变化敏感地带,粮食安全自然风险最大。因此,加强环境变化对粮食供需平衡的影响研究,对深入认识我国粮食供需平衡的稳定性具有重要的现实意义和理论价值。     

欧亚大陆生物质燃烧气团的输送特征及对中国的影响

利用1997～2003年ATSR卫星火点资料,采用前向气流轨迹模式及滞留时间分析方法,研究了欧亚大陆生物质燃烧排放的时空分布特征及主要生物质燃烧区域典型排放季节低层气团的输送特征,并与MOPITT一氧化碳卫星反演资料进行对比.结果表明,春季东南亚及印度半岛生物质燃烧排放的污染气团可对中国西南、华南及华东地区的大气环境造成一定影响,尤其是四川盆地、福建和台湾周边地区;中亚、东西伯利亚及蒙古高原生物质燃烧排放的污染气团主要受西风带影响而向东输送,但明显存在一条分支经中国东北向华北或更低纬度地区输送,并逐渐下沉至大气低层,在生物质燃烧排放剧烈的年份内能够对该地区的低层大气成分造成重要影响.     

偏心不耦合装药爆炸应力场研究及应用

中深孔光面爆破或预裂爆破质量对永久边坡的长期稳定性与安全性至关重要。利用偏心不耦合装药爆炸应力场的全息动光弹研究成果,对传统不耦合装药结构进行了改进,使高边坡光面爆破或预裂爆破效果得到明显改善,减少了因爆破效果不佳而造成悬、浮石滑落的事故隐患。并在实践中取得了一些有益的经验,可供同仁借鉴。     

澄江尖山河小流域不同土地利用类型地表径流氮、磷的流失特征

根据径流小区观测, 对澄江尖山河小流域不同土地利用类型地表径流中氮、磷的流失特征进行了研究. 结果表明:灌草丛和次生林都有较好的调节径流和减少土壤流失的作用,在相同的降水量下,坡耕地总产流量分别是人工林、次生林、灌草丛的1.58,12.45和5.52倍;而从产沙量来看,坡耕地的产沙量也远大于其余几种土地利用类型,坡耕地的总产沙量分别是人工林、次生林和灌草丛的8.41,53.06和41.90倍. 不同土地利用类型径流中的总氮、总磷的输出量差异显著,总氮、总磷输出趋势都表现为坡耕地＞人工林＞灌草丛＞次生林;不同土地利用类型径流小区侵蚀泥沙中的总氮、总磷输出量同样为坡耕地＞人工林＞灌草丛＞次生林,且坡耕地的输出量远大于其余几种土地利用类型. 相关分析表明,径流中带走的总氮量大于泥沙,磷的输出主要是以泥沙结合态为主,泥沙是磷的主要载体.      

Conserving Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function through Limited Development: an Empirical Evaluation

Abstract:  Suburban, exurban, and rural development in the United States consumes nearly 1 million hectares of land per year and is a leading threat to biodiversity. In response to this threat, conservation development has been advanced as a way to combine land development and land conservation while providing functional protection for natural resources. Yet, although conservation development techniques have been in use for decades, there have been few critical evaluations of their conservation effectiveness. We addressed this deficiency by assessing the conservation outcomes of one type of conservation development project: conservation and limited development projects (CLDPs). Conducted by land trusts, landowners, and developers, CLDPs use revenue from limited development to finance the protection of land and natural resources. We compared a sample of 10 CLDPs from the eastern United States with their respective baseline scenarios (conventional development) and with a sample of conservation subdivisions—a different conservation development technique characterized by higher-density development. To measure conservation success, we created an evaluation method containing eight indicators that quantify project impacts to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems at the site and in the surrounding landscape. The CLDPs protected and managed threatened natural resources including rare species and ecological communities. In terms of conservation benefits, the CLDPs significantly outperformed their respective baseline scenarios and the conservation subdivisions. These results imply that CLDPs can offer a low-impact alternative to conventional development and a low-cost method for protecting land when conventional conservation techniques are too expensive. In addition, our evaluation method demonstrates how planners and developers can incorporate appropriate ecological considerations when designing, reviewing, and evaluating conservation development projects.