Data Management Dimensions of Social Water Science: The iUTAH Experience

Integrating social and hydrologic sciences for understanding water systems is challenged by data management complexities. Contemporary mandates for open science and data sharing necessitate better understanding of the implications of social science data types. In the context of an interdisciplinary water research program that endeavors to integrate and share social science and biophysical data, we highlight the array of data types and issues associated with social water science. We present a multi‐dimensional classification of social water science data that provides insight into data management considerations for each data type. Recommendations for cyberinfrastructure, planning, and policy are offered.     

Protected areas and deforestation: new results from high‐resolution panel data

This paper investigates the effectiveness of protected areas in slowing tropical forest clearing in 64 countries in Asia/Pacific, Africa and Latin America during the period of 2001–2012 by comparing deforestation rates inside and within 10 km outside of the boundaries of protected areas. Annual time series of these deforestation rates were constructed from recently published high‐resolution data on forest clearing from Hansen et al. (2013). For 4,028 parks, panel estimation based on a variety of park characteristics was conducted to test if deforestation was lower in protected areas because of their protected status, or if other factors explained the difference. From a sample of 726 parks established since 2002, a test was also conducted to investigate the effect of park establishment on protection. Findings suggest park size, national park status and management by indigenous people all are significantly associated with effective protection across regions. For the Asia/Pacific region, the test offers compelling evidence that park establishment has a near‐immediate and powerful effect.     

Altitude dependence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in surface soil from Tibetan Plateau, China

Remote mountain areas besides high latitude regions are beginning to receive increased attention in studying the transport and behavior of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). In the present work, surface soil samples were collected from the Tibetan Plateau, the highest plateau in the world which includes the northern slope of Mt. Qomolangma, to investigate the levels and trends of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) along the altitudinal gradient. The average PCB and PBDE concentrations were 185.6 ng kg⁻¹ dry weight (dw) (range 47.1–422.6 ng kg⁻¹ dw) and 11.1 ng kg⁻¹ dw (range 4.3–34.9 ng kg⁻¹ dw), respectively. Regression analysis between the log-transformed TOC-normalized concentrations and the altitudes of the sampling sites showed two opposite trends with regard to altitude dependence: negative relationship with altitude below about 4500 m followed by a positive altitude dependence above this point. Considering minimum anthropogenic activities and very sparse precipitation in the north of Himalayas, the trends above 4500 m imply that the significant altitude dependence of these two groups of POPs were irrespective of pollution sources, but could be predicted by the global distillation effect involving cold condensation in high altitude mountain areas. Increasing levels of heavier congeners were found in higher altitude sites, although the lighter congeners were the main contributors to the total amount, suggesting that less volatile congeners seem to become enriched easier than those more volatile at higher altitudes in this region.     

Requirements for estimation of doses from contaminants dispersed by a ‘dirty bomb’ explosion in an urban area

The ARGOS decision support system is currently being extended to enable estimation of the consequences of terror attacks involving chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological substances. This paper presents elements of the framework that will be applied in ARGOS to calculate the dose contributions from contaminants dispersed in the atmosphere after a ‘dirty bomb’ explosion. Conceptual methodologies are presented which describe the various dose components on the basis of knowledge of time-integrated contaminant air concentrations. Also the aerosolisation and atmospheric dispersion in a city of different types of conceivable contaminants from a ‘dirty bomb’ are discussed.     

Direct and Indirect Effects of Socioeconomic Factors on Age at First Marriage in Slum Areas,Bangladesh

This article attempts to examine the influence of some selected predictor variables on female age at first marriage in slum areas of Bangladesh. A path and multiple classification analysis （MCA） approach have been adopted. Authors thought that respondent＇s educational level and the mass media such as watching television have a significant direct impact on age at marriage, while the types of family and occupational status have an indirect effect on age at marriage.     

漂浮植物塘协同处理农村分散生活污水研究

通过实验考察了漂浮植物塘对经模拟化粪池简易处理的农村分散生活污水的深度净化效果,结果表明：水葫芦、大薸、聚草塘对上述污水均具有良好的净化效果,水葫芦塘对TP的去除效果最好,大薸塘对TN和NH⁺₄-N的去除效果最好。当水力停留时间为20 d时,3种漂浮植物塘的出水污染物含量可低于GB/T 18921-2002观赏性景观环境用水河道类标准。在南方农村宅沟园河内种植漂浮植物是构建农村实用生活污水收集处理系统、控制农村生活污水对河道污染的一种有效措施。     

曝气生物滤池处理农村污水的中试研究

采用研制的曝气生物滤池对农村污水进行处理,研究其性能特点和影响因素。结果表明：在气水比为5∶1,水力停留时间（HRT）为15 h,进水COD浓度在250 mg/L以下时,COD和氨氮的去除率分别在80％和90％以上,出水COD和氨氮值达到国家《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》一级A标准;反应器在冬季水温12℃以上运行时出水COD和氨氮值比在夏季运行时有所上升,但去除率仍在80%和90%以上,可以达到排放标准。     

渝鄂湘黔接壤贫困山区农村劳动力就业转移研究

渝鄂湘黔接壤地区是位居我国腹心的重要待开发贫困山区。农村劳动力严重过剩,就业转移问题;突出,１９９６年农村劳动力剩余量达８００～１０００万人,且呈增长趋势。到２０１０年,农村劳动力将达２２００万人,剩余量约达１２００～１４００万人,就业压力很大。本区农村劳动力就业转移应实行就地转移和输出转移双管齐下,其转移的主要领域包括商品农业、乡镇企业、生态经济经营型生态环境建设及劳务输出等。研究结果说明,上述     

漫湾电站库区降雨侵蚀力时空变化

漫湾水电站是澜沧江水能梯级开发的第一个干流大型水电站,加强库区水土流失治理与监督监测尤为必要,而降雨侵蚀力的时空分布规律研究则是实现区域土壤侵蚀定量监测预报的重要基础。根据有关降雨侵蚀力的计算方法,利用漫湾电站库区4个测站1980～2000年的逐月平均降雨资料,估算了其降雨侵蚀力R值的时空分布规律及其变化特征。结果表明：漫湾电站库区多年平均降雨侵蚀力在1 9336～3 9727 MJ·mm/hm2·h;R值的年内变化显著,且较大值集中分布在雨季的5月～10月,平均R值占全年的867%,尤其6～8月连续3个月的降雨侵蚀力平均占全年侵蚀力的一半以上;R值的年际变化显示20世纪90年代漫湾电站库区降雨侵蚀力比80年代平均增加2835 MJ·mm/hm2·h;R值的空间分布上以凤庆站点的年降雨侵蚀力最大;南涧站点的年降雨侵蚀力最小,但是其年际波动幅度较大。全面地分析了漫湾电站库区降雨侵蚀力R值的时空变化特征,为该地区有效防止与监测水土流失情况、更好地安置水电站工程移民提供参考。     

社会主义新农村建设与农村生态环境问题

社会主义新农村建设是我们党在新时期着手解决“三农”问题的重大举措,它是我国农村改革开放以来第二次重大的变革,目标明确,任务艰巨。长期以来,我国农业生产总体水平不高,为求得更多的农牧业生产量,而牺牲了生态环境,其代价异常沉重。城镇发展过渡靠农业、城乡经济二元结构矛盾日益尖锐,反应在生态环境上更为突出。治理农业生态环境问题,已成为社会主义新农村建设的重要课题。