HYDROELECTRIC POWER AND SCENIC PROVISIONS OF THE 1950 NIAGARA TREATY1

ABSTRACT: An important international Niagara River management issue concerns allocation of the average 202,000 cubic feet per second river discharge for hydroelectric power and scenic purposes. Major water diversions from Niagara Falls are necessary for power production. Flow is allocated by the 1950 Niagara Treaty which is intended to maximize power benefits and preserve and enhance the scenic fals spectacle. This paper examines the extent to which the Treaty objectives have been achieved. Based on analyses of government documents, engineering data, and falls-viewing patterns, it is concluded that the 1950 Treaty led to enhancement of the falls spectacle and increased power generation. But significant additional power diversions probably are attainable without adverse effect upon the existing falls spectacle. Reducing daytime summer Horseshoe Falls flow and scheduling spring and autumn flow according to viewing patterns are possible means of increasing power diversions. Existing generating facilities could use considerably more water and the value of additional Niagara hydroelectricity is very high in terms of generation-cost savings over alternative power sources. Because of the cultural importance of the falls, Treaty modifications to permit increased power diversions are not recommended without prior public opinion sampling and on-site viewing experiments. These findings highlight the need for more careful study before long-term international agreements are concluded and illustrate the need for more flexible treaty arrangements to permit periodic adjustments for changing conditions.     

我国资源型企业对外直接投资区位选择研究——以铁矿企业为例

世界铁矿资源分布不均匀,导致世界各国对铁矿资源的争夺非常激烈。在资源所在国直接投资是获取铁矿资源的主要方式之一,而投资区位选择又直接关系到铁矿企业与企业所在国对外直接投资的成败。分析了我国铁矿企业对外直接投资现状,指出了其存在的问题,探讨了铁矿资源丰富国家的投资环境,对我国铁矿企业对外直接投资风险的影响,并对我国铁矿企业的对外投资区位选择提出了建议。     

Impact of leakage location and downwind storage tank on the gas dispersion in a typical chemical tank storage area

Toxic gas leakage in a tank area can have catastrophic consequences. Storage tank leakage location (particularly for high leakage) and downwind storage tanks potentially influence gas diffusion in tank areas. In this study, we developed a numerical and experimental method to investigate the impact of a high leakage location and downwind storage tank on gas diffusion based on three (1.05H, 0.90H, and 0.77H, H was the tank height, 22m) leakage field experiments on the leeward side of storage tank, which have been not conducted before. The experiments revealed an unexpected phenomenon: the maximum ground concentration first decreased and then increased with increasing leakage height. The simulations illustrated that the differences in micrometeorological conditions caused the maximum ground concentration of gas emitted from the roof to be higher than that emitted from the tank wall near the storage tank height. The downwind storage tank 1) had little influence on the entire diffusion direction but altered the local diffusion pattern; 2) reduced the maximum ground concentration (∼18.7%) and the distance from the emission source (approximately a storage tank diameter); and 3) had strong influences on the concentration, velocity, turbulence, and pressure on the leeward side. The concentration negatively correlated with the velocity, pressure, and turbulence in the middle of the two storage tanks on wind centerline. Our results can improve understanding of gas dispersion in tank areas and provide references for mitigating loss and protecting lives during emergency response processes.     

优化模型在污泥处理厂选址中的应用

在我国大中城市,污水处理厂的不断兴建使污泥处理问题应运而生。采用混合整数优化模型可以解决污泥处理厂的科学选址问题,达到科学布点、合理运输、节省投资费用的目的。在传统厂群规划模型的基础上将目标规划、周密的约束条件等融于其中,并采用对于线形规划和非线性规划问题适用的LINGO软件进行求解。根据东莞市拟建的36个污水处理厂污泥产生预测情况,对污泥处理厂的设置进行了分析预测,详细对比了建一个、两个、三个污泥处理厂的运输费用、投资费用、运行费用等,最终确定兴建两个规模均为800t/d的处理厂,其位置分别位于东莞市厚街镇和常平镇,为厂址选择和规模提供了科学依据和保障。     

Network design for water quality monitoring of surface freshwaters: a review

To date, many water quality monitoring networks for surface freshwaters have been rather haphazardly designed without a consistent or logical design strategy. Moreover, design practices in recent years indicate a need for cost-effective and logistically adaptable network design approaches. There are many variables that need to be included in a comprehensive yet practical monitoring network: a holistic appraisal of the monitoring objectives, representative sampling locations, suitable sampling frequencies, water quality variable selection, and budgetary and logistical constraints are examples. In order to investigate the factors which affect the development of an effective water quality monitoring network design methodology, a review of past and current approaches is presented.     

藻源性黑水团环境效应:对水-沉积物界面处Fe、Mn、S循环影响

通过室内静态实验培养装置模拟了蓝藻细胞大量聚集、沉降死亡后对水-沉积物界面处Fe、Mn、S循环的驱动作用.结果表明,藻细胞沉降到沉积物表面50min内,溶解氧就消耗殆尽,形成厌氧、强还原环境,使得界面处大量的铁锰氧化物和硫化物发生厌氧还原.实验进行到第4d沉积物-水界面处Fe2+、Mn2+含量达到峰值,含量分别为4.40mg/L、2.35mg/L;实验结束时Fe2+含量表现下降,浓度仅为3.37mg/L;Mn2+急剧降低,浓度为0.97mg/L.而S2-含量变化则表现为第2d达到最高,含量为0.63mg/L;此后浓度一直降低,实验结束后浓度为0.12mg/L.在实验结束后测定的0～1cm处沉积物的ORP值为-150mV,表明沉积物处于强还原状态.藻体死亡引起的黑水团现象,在驱动沉积物中Fe、Mn、S发生强烈的生物地球化学过程的同时,也将对水体生态环境产生极大的影响.     

A reflection on four impactful Ambio papers: The biotic perspective: This article belongs to Ambio’s 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Climate change impacts

Climate change represents one of the most pressing societal and scientific challenges of our time. While much of the current research on climate change focuses on future prediction, some of the strongest signals of warming can already be seen in Arctic and alpine areas, where temperatures are rising faster than the global average, and in the oceans, where the combination of rising temperatures and acidification due to increased CO₂ concentrations has had catastrophic consequences for sensitive marine organisms inhabiting coral reefs. The scientific papers highlighted as part of this anniversary issue represent some of the most impactful advances in our understanding of the consequences of anthropogenic climate change. Here, we reflect on the legacy of these papers from the biotic perspective.     

藻源性黑水团环境效应:对水-沉积物界面氮磷变化的驱动作用

利用自制的静态模拟实验装置,通过连续抽取间隙水来研究藻细胞沉降在沉积物表面后对水-沉积物界面处的N、P变化的驱动作用及影响效果.结果表明,藻细胞沉降后,在50 min内就完全消耗掉水-沉积物界面处的溶解氧,同时水体出现严重的发黑、发臭现象;形成的厌氧、强还原环境,使得死亡的藻细胞在界面处发生强烈的厌氧矿化作用,界面处的水溶性PO34--P、NH 4+-N在实验的第2 d开始向上覆水中扩散,含量不断增加.至实验结束时(实验第8 d),界面处PO34--P、NH 4+-N的含量分别达到4.00 mg/L、39.45 mg/L,分别为同期对照实验样柱中的10倍和241倍(对照样柱中的PO43--P、NH 4+-N的含量分别为0.42 mg/L、0.16 mg/L).藻细胞的厌氧矿化加剧了氮磷营养盐向上覆水的扩散,在加重水体营养盐含量的同时,也为藻华的再次发生提供了物质基础.     

基于安全度与运营格局的油库选址优先级评价方法研究

从安全性和运营角度对油库选址的影响因素及评价指标分析对油库的安全稳定及有效运营具有重要的意义。该文选取与安全和运营有关的人口企业数量、安全管理能力、消防设施规划、地形地质条件、铁路公路数量、市场投资收益、政策支持情况等影响因子进行重要性及合理程度分析,综合运用安全度与运营格局影响因素多元耦合关系,构建了油库区安全与运营评价体系,改进了原有的模糊层次法评价模型,并对某油库区安全度与运营格局进行了评估验证。结果表明:利用改进模糊层次法能够较好地评价不同地址的优先级,评价模型具有一定应用性,能够对不同地址的特点及评价权重进行有效分析,可见油库选址优先级评价方法是实用且有效的。该研究方法及结果可以为油库区地址的优选提供一定参考与建议。     

西成高铁沿线区域A级景区空间点格局研究

通过获取西成高铁沿线8个市级行政区A级景区和高铁站点的地理坐标,利用核密度估计、Ripley′sK函数等方法进行空间点格局分析。结果表明:①西成高铁沿线景区形成了以成都、西安为中心的双热区分布和由成都向乐山、绵阳辐射的次热区分布。②人文遗址类和自然遗迹类景区分别在65km和75km左右的范围内呈聚集分布,现代人造或重建类景区则一直呈聚集分布。③88.4%的景区分布在8个中心城市的“一日游”圈内。