The environmental impacts of regional disparity in population and wealth distribution in Nigeria

The disparity in both population and wealth distribution in Nigeria by geo-political zones is well recognized. There is also the recognition that some of the environmental problems in certain sections of the country can be attributed to the imbalance in both population and wealth distribution. Hence the various agitations for environmental resource control in the country. What is lacking however is the research that shows the magnitude of the linkages between the disparity and the environmental degradation in regional context. This provides the basis for this research. To achieve the aim of the research, a STIRPAT model was employed as an analytical tool. The findings show that the southern geopolitical zones are generally more densely populated and wealthier than the northern zones. The south is also experiencing a higher degree of environmental resource degradation attributable to anthropogenic factors. Thus, there is congruence between population density, wealth distribution and environmental degradation in Nigeria. Therefore the achievement of sustainable environment and development in Nigeria requires deliberate policies to mitigate the impact of population concentration and wealth creation on the environment. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

电压闪变测量及其衡量标准的分析

在分析电网电压波动、闪变的定义和各国对电压波动、闪变研究现状的基础上，介绍了几种测量和分析电压波动及闪变的设备及其对电压波动和闪变的测量和评估方法。     

ECONOMIC VALUATION OF RIPARIAN BUFFER AND OPEN SPACE IN A SUBURBAN WATERSHED1

Abstract: This study evaluates the economic value of riparian buffers and open space in a suburban watershed through two nonmarket valuation methods. A contingent valuation survey was implemented in the Dardenne Creek watershed, a suburban watershed of the St. Louis metropolitan area in Missouri, to evaluate the residents' perceptions of and willingness to pay (WTP) for adopting riparian buffers and preserving farmland in a hypothetical real estate market. A hedonic pricing model based on actual sale prices of homes in the watershed was applied to estimate the market value of open space and other environmental conditions such as flood zone and stream proximity in the study area. The results showed that residents' WTP was consistent with the economic values of open space and proximity to streams embedded in existing home prices. Through a better understanding of residents' perceptions and values, riparian buffer and open space programs can be designed and promoted to achieve greater implementation success and environmental benefit.     

LNG accident dynamic simulation: Application for hazardous consequence reduction

The evaluation of exclusion (hazard) zones around the LNG stations is essential for risk assessment in LNG industry. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations have been conducted for the two potential hazards, LNG flammable vapor dispersion and LNG pool fire radiation, respectively, to evaluate the exclusion zones. The spatial and temporal distribution of hazard in complex spill scenario has been taken into account in the CFD model. Experimental data from Falcon and Montoir field tests have been used to validate the simulation results. With the valid CFD model, the mitigation of the vapor dispersion with spray water curtains and the pool fire with high expansion foam were investigated. The spray water curtains were studied as a shield to prevent LNG vapor dispersing, and two types of water spray curtain, flat and cone, were analyzed to show their performance for reduction and minimization of the hazard influencing distance and area. The high expansion foam firefighting process was studied with dynamic simulation of the foam action, and the characteristics of the foam action on the reduction of LNG vaporization rate, vapor cloud and flame size as well as the thermal radiation hazard were analyzed and discussed.     

Environmental management policy in a coastal tourism municipality: the case study of Cervia (Italy)

The sustainability concept applied to human activities implies the need to harmonise the protection of environment with a satisfactory economic and social development. This is particularly true for tourism development: a misuse of the natural resources can cause a degradation of the tourist appeal of the destination, bringing it finally to its economic decline. This problem is particularly important in coastal tourism destinations. The implementation of an environmental management system is a powerful way for progressing towards better environmental performances. In this paper, the main results obtained in applying the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme procedure to the municipality of Cervia, a well-known tourist destination located on the Adriatic coast of Italy are described. This research puts into evidence that the main environmental pressures in the summer season are related to the supply of potable water, the production of solid wastes and wastewater air pollution and noise, etc. However, if correctly planned and managed, tourism can also contribute to environmental protection, to the conservation of biodiversity and to a sustainable use of natural resources.     

主体功能区环境政策体系构建初探

在分析主体功能区环境政策需求的基础上,从环境政策目标、政策手段、政策保障三个层面构建了主体功能区环境政策体系框架。初步确立了各类主体功能区环境政策的宏观目标及微观目标;重点研究了环境准入、污染控制、生态补偿、环境经济等政策措施;从环保绩效考核、环境信息公开、资金保障、法律保障等方面探讨了政策保障体系。本研究为进一步深入开展主体功能区环境政策研究奠定了基础,同时可以为开展主体功能区规划等工作提供参考。     

基于偏离份额法的我国区域科技经费投入“来源—执行”结构分析

科技经费投入既应注重量的提升,又应关注科技经费投入结构的优化,在加大科技经费投入的同时积极优化投入结构是提高科技资源使用效率的途径。采用偏离份额分析法,从科技经费投入的＂来源—执行＂结构角度测算了我国八大经济区的科技经费投入结构,并从科技经费投入的增长效应、结构效应、竞争力三个方面进行分析,反映出区域科技经费投入发展的速度、动力机制和制度特征。     

水位变动下三峡库区消落带植物群落特征

水位变动是湿地的基本特征之一,对湿地生态系统意义重大。为了解水位变动对三峡库区消落带植物群落的影响,于2010年8月对白夹溪消落带植物群落进行调查,采用TWINSPAN分类法对植物群落进行分类。结果表明:共发现维管植物85种,隶属34科70属;植物群落可划分为18个类型,狗牙根等5种群落为白夹溪消落带代表性植物群落;随着淹水程度的加深,群落组成呈现出由旱生植物到湿生植物的过渡趋势;植物群落香农指数、均匀度指数、丰富度指数和生物量指数随水位梯度呈“∧”型变化趋势,辛普森指数呈“∨”型变化趋势。与156 m蓄水周期相比,植物物种数量、群落类型及组成、多样性均发生改变。水位变动是消落带新生湿地植物群落变化的主要驱动因子     

三峡库区消落带典型草本植物淹水浸泡后可溶性有机碳的释放特征

三峡库区消落带出露时草本植被生长旺盛,每年9月底蓄水后植物被淹没并开始腐解,导致有机体分解释放大量可溶性有机碳(DOC),可能对水质产生负面影响.研究选取三峡库区消落带典型草本植物,通过室内模拟浸泡实验,测定上覆水中DOC浓度变化过程,计算其释放速率与通量,旨在查明消落带草本植物淹水后DOC的释放特征,为库区植被修复与管理提供基础数据.结果表明,几种典型草本植物浸泡后上覆水的DOC浓度变化反映出草本植物淹水后DOC释放呈先增后减,后期趋于平稳的变化过程,在15 d左右达到峰值,表明消落带草本植物淹水浸泡后DOC随植物腐解快速释放,随后释放基本稳定,几种典型草本植物的DOC释放过程符合动力学过程.草本植物浸泡后DOC的释放浓度(最大为苦蒿的486.88 mg·L-1±35.97 mg·L-1,最小为稗子的4.18 mg·L-1±1.07 mg·L-1)、释放量(最大为苦蒿的50.54 mg·g-1,最小为水蓼的6.51mg·g-1)存在显著差异,主要受植物基质的影响,特别是植物基质的C/N值.实验浸泡植物的DOC释放量与相应草本植物基质的C/N值呈显著线性关系.     

三峡库区新生消落区沉积物磷形态分析

通过分析三峡库区新生典型消落区上覆水及沉积物中磷的赋存形态,揭示消落区沉积物中磷的分布特征和释放规律. 结果表明,不同类型的新生消落区沉积物磷的分布特征与消落区类型、原有使用背景、临时性使用情况等因素有关. 消落区类型对消落区上覆水ρ(总磷)的影响较弱. 消落区沉积物w(活性磷)与淹没状态相关,由露出到淹没状态活性磷逐渐减少,沉积物中w(钙磷)和w(闭蓄态磷)相对较恒定. 受水陆交替非稳态环境因素的影响,水陆交替沉积物w(总磷)相对较低. 消落区沉积物与上覆水中磷的迁移、转化主要以活性磷的释放和沉积为主.