At the intersection of disaster risk and religion: interpretations and responses to the threat of Tsho Rolpa glacial lake

Over the last several decades, the scientific community has replaced the ‘acts of god’ explanations for disasters with a view that disasters are actually ‘acts of nature,’ and more recently, ‘acts of human behavior and decision making.’ Despite the secular orientation of contemporary disaster research, religious beliefs still govern people’s interpretations of natural events across many continents and cultures. Using a case study of a rural Sherpa community in Nepal, this paper responds to the challenge of linking religion and disaster risk in the context of a climate change-induced glacial lake outburst flood hazard. Data collection employed ethnographic techniques including participant observation and 53 interviews with community members. Results indicate that the case study community’s religious belief system influences how they interpret and respond to the glacial lake hazard, although their beliefs co-exist with more scientific interpretations of risk. Rather than being immobilised by their belief system, we found that religious aspects like rituals and prayer can enhance social cohesion and contribute to capacities for coping with fear and uncertainty in this community. We assert that religion can yield valuable resources to glacial lake risk reduction strategies, which will benefit from incorporating social-cultural factors more profoundly.     

Bioreduction of hexavalent chromium by Exiguobacterium indicum strain MW1 isolated from marine water of Paradip Port,Odisha, India

Hexavalent chromium-tolerant (1500?mg/L) bacterium MW1 was isolated from harbour water of Paradip Port and evaluated for Cr(VI) reduction potential. The isolate was identified as Exiguobacterium indicum by biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequence methods. Salt tolerance of the bacterium was evaluated in a wide range of NaCl concentrations (0.5–13%, w/v). The Cr(VI) reduction of the strain was evaluated and optimised with varied Cr(VI) concentrations (100–1000?mg/L), pH (5.0–9.0), temperature (30–40°C) and shaking velocity (100–150?rpm) in two different minimal media (M9 and Acetate). Under optimised conditions, after 192?h of incubation nearly 92%, 50% and 46% reduction in the M9 minimal medium and 91%, 47% and 40% reduction in the acetate minimal medium were observed for 100, 500 and 1000?mg/L of Cr(VI), respectively. The exponential rate equation for Cr(VI) reduction yielded higher rate constant value, that is, 1.27?×?10^?2?h^?1 (M9) and 1.17?×?10^?2?h^?1 (Acetate) in case of 100?mg/L and became lower for 500 and 1000?mg/L Cr(VI) concentrations. Further, the association of bacterial cells with reduced product was ascertained by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, UV–Vis–DRS and field-emission scanning electron microscope–energy-dispersive X-ray analyses. The above study suggests that the higher reducing ability of the marine bacterium E. indicum MW1 will be suitable for Cr(VI) reduction from saline effluents.     

基于加权叠加模型的高原湖泊流域重要生态用地识别——以星云湖流域为例

生态用地在维持区域生态平衡和保障区域生态安全具有重要意义。以云南星云湖流域为研究区,运用层次分析法和GIS技术,从水土保持、地质灾害规避与防护、生物多样性保护和水资源安全4个方面,构建了流域重要生态用地识别指标及其识别方法,并识别出流域重要生态用地空间分布。结果表明:(1)加权叠加模型更适用于高原湖泊流域重要生态用地识别;(2)根据生态用地重要性分为核心型、辅助型、过渡型和非重要生态用地,面积分别为75.98 km~2、105.05 km~2、89.47 km~2和65.11 km~2,分别占流域生态用地总面积的22.64%、31.30%、26.66%和19.40%。识别结果能较好地反映重要生态用地维护流域的生态安全。以星云湖流域作为高原湖泊流域的典型,为高原湖泊生态保护提供科学方向,以期协调流域经济发展与生态保护的矛盾,促进可持续发展。     

Detention Outlet Retrofit Improves the Functionality of Existing Detention Basins by Reducing Erosive Flows in Receiving Channels

By discharging excess stormwater at rates that more frequently exceed the critical flow for stream erosion, conventional detention basins often contribute to increased channel instability in urban and suburban systems that can be detrimental to aquatic habitat and water quality, as well as adjacent property and infrastructure. However, these ubiquitous assets, valued at approximately $600,000 per km² in a representative suburban watershed, are ideal candidates to aid in reversing such cycles of channel degradation because improving their functionality would not necessarily require property acquisition or heavy construction. The objective of this research was to develop a simple, cost‐effective device that could be installed in detention basin outlets to reduce the erosive power of the relatively frequent storm events (~ < two‐year recurrence) and provide a passive bypass to maintain flood control performance during infrequent storms (such as the 100‐year recurrence). Results from a pilot installation show that the Detain H₂O device reduced the cumulative sediment transport capacity of the preretrofit condition by greater than 40%, and contributed to reduced flashiness and prolonged baseflows in receiving streams. When scaling the strategy across a watershed, these results suggest that potential gains in water quality and stream channel stability could be achieved at costs that are orders of magnitude less than comparable benefits from newly constructed stormwater control measures.     

湖库型水体总氮总量控制目标的区域分配研究

基于层次分析法原理,以资源禀赋、社会经济、农业生产生活、污染治理水平为主要考虑因素设计指标体系和层次结构,建立了湖库型水体总氮总量控制目标分配方法,并在石头口门水库流域进行了应用,为湖库型水体总氮总量控制目标分配及石头口门水库流域总氮总量控制提供借鉴。     

Concentrations and distributions of 18 organochlorine pesticides listed in the Stockholm Convention in surface sediments from the Liaohe River basin,China

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were analyzed in 26 surface sediment samples from the Liaohe River basin, and the distributions of and potential environmental risks posed by OCPs in the basin were evaluated. Eighteen OCPs listed in the Stockholm Convention were determined using isotope-dilution gas chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry. This is the first study of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in the Liaohe River basin sediments. The total OCP concentrations were 0.39–68.06 ng g^?1 dry weight. The total α-, β-, γ-, and δ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), the total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT – p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), o,p^'-DDT, and p,p′-DDT), and the HCB concentrations in the sediment samples were 0.1–28.48 ng g^?1 (mean 4.01 ng g^?1), 0.08–6.52 ng g^?1 (mean 3.07 ng g^?1), and 0.18–24.8 ng g^?1 (mean 4.38 ng g^?1), respectively. The HCB concentrations were higher than the concentrations of the other OCPs, and the HCHs and HCB together were the dominant OCPs. β-HCH was the most abundant HCH isomer. The concentrations of DDTs and other OCPs were relatively low, and the (DDE+DDD)/DDT ratios (>0.5) and DDD/DDE ratios (<1) indicated that no recent DDT inputs had occurred in the Liaohe River system. The main sources of HCHs were probably the historical production and agricultural use of HCH in the study area. The DDT and HCH concentrations were generally below or similar to the concentrations that have been found in other parts of the world. An ecotoxicological evaluation indicated that HCHs in surface sediments pose slight risks to human and ecological health in the Liaohe River basin.     

Impact of Sea Level Rise on Groundwater Salinity in a Coastal Community of South Florida1

Guha, Hillol and Sorab Panday, 2012. Impact of Sea Level Rise on Groundwater Salinity in a Coastal Community of South Florida. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(3): 510-529. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2011.00630.x Abstract: Freshwater resources of coastal communities in the United States and world over are threatened by the rate of sea level rise. According to recent estimates by various governmental agencies and climate researchers, the global sea level rise is likely to be between 0.6 and 2.1 m by the year 2100. South Florida is a coastal community and much of its coastline is subject to sea level rise and potential impacts to wetlands and the water resources of the area. To understand what the impact of sea level rise would cause to the groundwater level and salinity intrusion, an integrated groundwater and surface water model was developed for North Miami-Dade and Broward Counties of South Florida. The model was calibrated against daily groundwater heads, base flows in canals, and chloride concentrations for a period of one year and six months. Three separate sensitivity analyses were conducted by increasing the sea level by 0.6, 0.9, and 1.22 m. Results of the simulations shows increase of groundwater heads in some areas from 4 to 15%; whereas the average relative chloride concentrations increased significantly by 100-600% in some wells. The increase in groundwater elevations and chloride concentrations varies from location of the wells and its proximity to the coast. The model results indicate that even a 0.6 m increase in sea level (which is the conservative estimate) is likely to impair the vital freshwater resources in many parts of South Florida.     

Temporal and Spatial Variability of Water Supply Stress in the Haihe River Basin,Northern China1

Ji, Yuhe, Liding Chen, and Ranhao Sun, 2012. Temporal and Spatial Variability of Water Supply Stress in the Haihe River Basin, Northern China. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(5): 999‐1007. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2012.00671.x Abstract: Water resources are becoming increasingly stressed under the influence of climate change and population growth in the Haihe River Basin, Northern China. Assessing the temporal and spatial variability of water supply stress is urgently needed to mitigate water crisis caused by water resource reallocation. Water supply and use data were compiled for the time period of 1998‐2003 in this synthesis study. The Water Supply Stress Index (WSSI) as defined as Water Demand/Water Supply was used to quantitate whether water supply could meet the demand of human activities across the study region. We found a large spatial gradient of water supply stress in the study region, being much higher in the eastern subbasins (ranging from 2.56 to 4.31) than the west subbasins (ranging from 0.56 to 1.92). The eastern plain region not only suffered more serious water supply stress but also had a much higher interannual variability than the western hilly region. The uneven spatial distribution of water supply stress might result from the distribution of land use, population, and climate. Future climate change and rapid economic development are likely to aggravate the existing water crisis in the study region.     

活性污泥的耐盐驯化培养

以某污水处理厂二沉池好氧污泥为接种污泥,采用逐步提高盐度和稳定盐度2种方法对活性污泥进行耐盐性驯化培养,考察驯化结果表明,前一种方法更有利于耐盐菌的培养。对比不同盐度情况下各项指标的去除效果得出:本实验污泥适宜盐度为1%。使用稳定进水盐度的方法,出水指标及各指标的去除率均低于逐步提高盐度法,且镜检结果表明大量微生物死亡。     

嗜盐菌在油田含盐采出废水处理中的应用

嗜盐菌具有独特的细胞结构、生理功能和代谢产物,能够在高盐环境下正常生存和生长,适宜于偏碱性的环境,因而能有效应用于含盐污染物的治理。结合油田含盐采出废水的特点,介绍了嗜盐菌的特点、嗜盐机制等,及嗜盐菌在含盐采出废水和其它有机污染物处理中的作用,为油田含盐采出废水的处理提供理论基础和技术依据,并为更大范围地推广嗜盐菌在油田含盐采出废水处理中的应用提供技术参考。