Application of in-situ measurement to determine Cs in the Swiss Alps

Establishment of ¹³⁷Cs inventories is often used to gain information on soil stability. The latter is crucial in mountain systems, where ecosystem stability is tightly connected to soil stability. In-situ measurements of ¹³⁷Cs in steep alpine environments are scarce. Most studies have been carried out in arable lands and with Germanium (Ge) detectors. Sodium Iodide (NaI) detector system is an inexpensive and easy to handle field instrument, but its validity on steep alpine environments has not been tested yet. In this study, a comparison of laboratory measurements with GeLi detector and in-situ measurements with NaI detector of ¹³⁷Cs gamma soil radiation has been done in an alpine catchment with high ¹³⁷Cs concentration (Urseren Valley, Switzerland). The aim of this study was to calibrate the in-situ NaI detector system for application on steep alpine slopes. Replicate samples from an altitudinal transect through the Urseren Valley, measured in the laboratory with a GeLi detector, showed a large variability in ¹³⁷Cs activities at a meter scale. This small-scale heterogeneity determined with the GeLi detector is smoothed out by uncollimated in-situ measurements with the NaI detector, which provides integrated estimates of ¹³⁷Cs within the field of view (3.1 m²) of each measurement. There was no dependency of ¹³⁷Cs on pH, clay content and carbon content, but a close relationship was determined between measured ¹³⁷Cs activities and soil moisture. Thus, in-situ data must be corrected for soil moisture. Close correlation (R² = 0.86, p < 0.0001) was found for ¹³⁷Cs activities (in Bq kg⁻¹) estimated with in-situ (NaI detector) and laboratory (GeLi detector) methods. We thus concluded that the NaI detector system is a suitable tool for in-situ measurements in alpine environments. This paper describes the calibration of the NaI detector system for field application under elevated ¹³⁷Cs activities originating from Chernobyl fallout.     

Assessment of Chlorophyll-a Concentration and Trophic State for Lake Chagan Using Landsat TM and Field Spectral Data

In this study, we present the digital evaluation of Landsat TM data and field spectral measurements for retrieving chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration and trophic state index in Lake Chagan of Northeast China. Chl-a concentration of the lake can be estimated from the band ratio (TM4/TM3) and the field spectral data at 670 nm (absorption peak) and at 700 nm (reflectance peak). The results show that the best determination coefficient (R ²) is 0.67 from the TM data, by which chl-a distribution can be mapped. Based on chl-a determination from laboratory analysis, field spectral and TM data, the modified trophic state index (TSI_M) was applied to assess the lake’s trophic state. With the available data in Lake Chagan, each algorithm demonstrates the similar result for assessing the lake’s chl-a and trophic state. Our results indicate that Landsat TM and field spectral data could be used effectively to determine chl-a concentration and evaluate the trophic state of Lake Chagan in the study.     

连续测量大气·OH的化学电离飞行时间质谱仪的研制

搭建了一套化学电离飞行时间质谱仪用于连续测量大气·OH.该仪器采用了基于63Ni放射源的双管正交式结构大气压化学电离源电离大气中的·OH,最大程度地避免了试剂气体电离及滴定、转化反应间的相互干扰.63Ni放射源首先电离HNO3试剂气体得到试剂离子NO-3,·OH在反应管中与SO2反应最终转化为H2SO4,NO-3与H2SO4发生化学电离反应生成HSO-4离子,进入到质谱仪中进行检测,通过测量NO-3与HSO-4离子的强度,利用化学电离反应方程可直接计算出大气中OH的浓度.所研制仪器用于实验室内·OH的在线检测,在5 s内测得·OH的浓度为1.6×106个·cm-3,实验结果显示该仪器可用于原位连续测量大气中的超痕量自由基.     

北京市机动车尾气排放因子研究

通过调研北京市机动车车型构成、车辆行驶工况、环境温度、油品品质等基础数据,利用COPERTⅣ模型计算了机动车尾气中CO、NOx、HC和PM的排放因子.应用车载测试系统对典型轻型汽油客车和柴油货车的实际道路排放因子进行测量,并将测量结果与模型计算结果对比,结果发现国Ⅳ标准下,轻型汽油客车的CO排放因子的实测数据是模型数据的0.96倍,NOx的实测数据是模型数据的0.64倍,HC的实测数据是模型数据的4.89倍.对于国Ⅲ排放标准的柴油货车,轻型、中型和重型货车的CO排放因子,实测数据分别是模型数据的1.61、1.07和1.76倍,NOx排放因子的实测数据是模型数据的1.04、1.21和1.18倍,HC排放因子的实测数据是模型数据的3.75、1.84和1.47倍,PM排放因子则为模型数据是实测数据的1.31、3.42和6.42倍.     

Air quality management in the WHO European Region — Results of a quality assurance and control programme on air quality monitoring (1994–2004)

Since the last decade the WHO Collaborating Centre for Air Quality Management and Air Pollution Control, Berlin, Germany, operates a quality assurance and control (QA/QC) programme on air quality monitoring in the WHO European Region. As main activity Intercomparison workshops have been established for air monitoring network laboratories on a regular basis to harmonise air quality measurements, analysis and calibration techniques. 36 air hygiene laboratories of public health and environmental institutions of 24 countries participated in twelve Intercomparisons between 1994 and 2004. The majority was carried out for NO, NO₂, SO₂ and O₃. The results were predominantly satisfactory for automatic methods. The results of manual methods were mainly in a good, and for several concentration levels partly very good accordance with the data obtained by the monitors.     

The development of the fetal eye: In utero ultrasonographic measurements of the vitreous and lens

Our objective was to establish nomograms for fetal eye measurements from 12 weeks' gestation by using transvaginal and transabdominal high-resolution ultrasound techniques. A prospective cross-sectional study was performed on 450 normal singleton pregnancies between 12 and 37 weeks' gestation. Vitreous and lens circumferences were measured by transvaginal ultrasonography until 17 weeks, and by abdominal ultrasound between 18 and 37 weeks' gestation. Regression analyses were used to create nomograms, and several transformations were done to obtain linearity. Eye measurements of 12 fetuses at risk for ocular disturbances were plotted on the constructed nomograms. Linear relationships were fitted between vitreous (r²=0.79) and lens (r²=0.88) circumferences and gestational age. In addition, there was a significant correlation between these measurements and the biparietal diameter. Data of the fetuses at risk showed that disturbances in ocular growth were associated mainly with abnormal cerebral development. These normative data may be helpful in the prenatal diagnosis of suspected congenital syndromes that include, among their manifestations, ocular growth disturbances such as microphthalmos and anophthalmos.     

Limitations in the SAR Use

Summary The paper discusses several aspects of the practical application of the SAR. It is shown that the unit is an ideal solution for basic research and laboratory experiments. SAR is directly nonmeasurable unit. Although methods and devices based upon indirect SAR measurements may widen our knowledge about EM energy distribution and absorption within a body. It is shown that for practical applications the temperature SAR measurement methods are not sensitive enough while methods based upon E(H) measurement are less accurate than traditional approaches. As a result of assumption SAR = 4 W/kg as a basic restriction the present protection standards are illogical and nonrealiazable. A return to traditional units (E, H, S) in the standards and surveying metrology is suggested.     

乌海市地下水资源状况及可持续利用对策

乌海市地处西北干旱地区 ,它的地下水资源已被严重超采和污染。为了实现区域经济和生态的可持续发展 ,我们必须采取一系列有效措施来保护有限的地下水资源     

大气气溶胶无机组成的FTIR测定及与离子色谱分析的比较

利用傅立叶变换红外光谱仪，固体制样方式，对北京市中关村地区的气溶胶样品中的无机组成进行了分析，并对气溶胶样品中的ＳＯ４＾２－，ＮＨ４＾＋和ＮＯ３＾－进行了定量测定，为检验ＦＴＩＲ测定法的可靠性，将ＦＴＩＲ法与离子色谱的测定结果进行了对照分析，结果表明，ＳＯ４＾２－和ＮＨ４＾的ＦＴＩＲ测定结果与离子色谱有较好的相关性。