Heavy metal concentrations in water and sediments in Tasik Chini, a freshwater lake, Malaysia

The purpose of this paper are to determine the concentration of heavy metals namely cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) in water and sediment; and to investigate the effect of sediment pH and sediment organic matter on concentration of cadmium, copper and lead in sediment at oxidation fraction. For this purpose the concentration of heavy metals were measured in water and sediments at 15 sites from Tasik Chini, Peninsular Malaysia. The sequential extraction procedure used in this study was based on defined fractions: exchangeable, acid reduction, oxidation, and residual. The concentration of heavy metals in residual fraction was higher than the other fractions. Among the non-residual fractions, the concentration of heavy metals in organic matter fraction was much higher than other fractions collected from all sampling sites. The pH of the sediment in all sites was acidic. The mean pH ranges from 4.8 to 5.5 with the higher value observed at site 15. Results of organic matter analysis showed that the percentage of organic matter present in sediment samples varies throughout the lake and all sites of sediments were relatively rich in organic matter ranging from 13.0% to 34.2%. The highest mean percentage of organic matter was measured at sampling site 15, with value of 31.78%.     

Forecasting Resilience in Arctic Societies: Creating Tools for Assessing Social–Hydrological Systems1

Altaweel, Mark R., Lilian N. Alessa, and Andrew D. Kliskey, 2009. Forecasting Resilience in Arctic Societies: Creating Tools for Assessing Social–Hydrological Systems. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 45(6):1379‐1389. Abstract: Arctic communities are increasingly faced with social–ecological changes that act at variable speeds and spatial scales. Such changes will affect vital resources, particularly water supplies. Currently, there are few computational tools that integrate multiple social and environmental processes in order to aid communities’ adaptation to change through decision support systems. This paper proposes a modeling and simulation approach that can integrate such processes at different spatiotemporal scales in order to address issues affecting community water supplies. In this paper, a modeling and simulation tool is developed and applied to a case study on the Seward Peninsula. Initial results, using both field observations and computation, show projected patterns of water use, perceptions of water availability, and long‐term consumption trends. More broadly, the paper demonstrates the need for developing tools that address issues at the community level for better understanding human and hydrological interactions and policy decisions affecting water supplies.     

Metals pollution and human bioaccessibility of topsoils in Grugliasco (Italy)

Polluted soils can present a significant health risk especially in an urban environment. Most current legislation and health risk frameworks are based on pseudototal metal content. However, only a fraction of these concentrations is available for plant and human uptake. The aim of this work was to study the diffuse metal contamination in the soils of a municipality in Northern Italy in terms of: (i) metal availability, and (ii) metal accessibility to the human body and its relationship to soil properties, considering lead, copper, zinc, nickel, and chromium. Soil metal content was measured simulating availability conditions. Human bioaccessibility was derived from a modified physiologically-based extraction test. The human bioaccessible content was then estimated taking into account the relationships between pseudototal content and selected soil parameters. For the case study, the prediction of human bioaccessibility based on pseudototal content, organic matter and soil texture produced statistically significant models, with r² = 0.60 for Cu, r² = 0.53 for Pb and r² = 0.42 for Zn.     

Validation of Satellite Precipitation Adjustment Methodology From Seven Basins in the Continental United States1

Tobin, Kenneth J. and Marvin E. Bennett, 2012. Validation of Satellite Precipitation Adjustment Methodology From Seven Basins in the Continental United States. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(2): 221‐234. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011.00604.x Abstract: The precipitation science community has expressed concern regarding the ability of satellite‐based precipitation products to accurately capture rainfall values over land. There has been some work that has focused on addressing the deficiencies of satellite precipitation products, particularly on the adjustment of bias. This article outlines a methodology that adjusts satellite products utilizing ground‐based precipitation data. The approach is not a simple bias adjustment, but is a three‐step process that transforms a satellite product based on a ground‐based precipitation product (NEXRAD‐derived Multisensor Precipitation Estimator [MPE] product or rain‐gauge data). The developed methodology was successfully applied to seven moderate‐to‐large sized watersheds from continental United States (CONUS) and northern Mexico over a spectrum of climatic regimes ranging from dry to humid settings. Methodology validation is based on comparison of observed and simulated streamflow generated with SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model using unadjusted and adjusted precipitation products as input. Streamflow comparison is based on mass balance error and Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient. Finally, the contribution of how adjustment to correct misses, false alarms, and bias impacts adjusted datasets and the potential impact that the adjustment methodology can have on hydrological applications such as water resource monitoring and flood prediction are explored.     

基于智能能源网的资源开发与市场匹配模式研究——以煤基低碳能源转化为例

智能能源网是我国＂十二五＂期间完善资源开发及能源转化的重点科研攻关课题。以煤基低碳能源转化为例,提出基于智能能源网的资源开发模式。该模式可从根本上改善我国传统的对原生资源低效和掠夺式的开发方式,提高从原生资源到能源商品整个过程的资源转化效率,在极大程度上减少生产过程中对环境造成的碳排放污染。其市场匹配模式应以政府作为引导主体,按市场化所处的不同阶段积极施行经济和科技体制改革。     

高速公路安全改善项目方案决策研究

针对我国高速公路运营安全特点,在对事故资料、道路设计资料的收集与分析的基础上,将事故黑点和事故多发路段类型划分为撞固定物、追尾及其组合不同类型。结合现场交通运行环境与运行状态调查,分析事故黑点和事故多发路段的成因,提出安全改善对策研究的基本原则,并有针对性地进行了安全改善对策研究,建立高速公路事故黑点和事故多发路段安全改善工程对策集。在决策方法研究中,总结常用安全改善对策的可能效果,提出高速公路安全改善项目方案决策的原则,研究了安全改善对策选择的效用决策方法,并进行了案例分析。     

基于最低成本—周期模型的昆明市空间形态演变研究

在政治经济学背景下,由于政府力量和市场力量相互交融,城市形态演化遵循一定的周期性演变规律。基于1909~2008年间昆明市历史阶段的形态演化资料,运用参与式照片、R指数及高密度填充指数与低密度扩张指数分析了昆明市城市形态演化的周期性规律。结果表明,从理性的微观过程或个体行为及宏观过程或城市实践来看,城市形态演化包含了最低成本周期扩张模型,即低密度的扩张与高密度的填充;低密度的扩张由政府主导的基础设施建设投资所引导,而高密度的回填运动由集体与理性的个体企业所引发,故城市形态的宏观演化,是它本身的内在法则与外部机制的统一体。这一结果有助于解释更多有关土地使用及土地管理的信息,将帮助我们进行规划未来的城市发展。     

Sustainability assessment of national rural water supply program in Tanzania

Sustainability of rural water supply programs in developing countries is still an elusive goal. It is widely accepted that, as a rule, they have failed to deliver benefits to society in the long run. Emphasis has frequently been placed on the short‐term activities. Fast production of new schemes is thus a common strategy, prioritizing the engineering component, while sidestepping social and participatory issues and community empowerment. In 2006, the Government of Tanzania launched a national program to meet water sector targets set out in the Millennium Development Goals by the year 2015. In this study we evaluate key features of the program on a sustained basis. There is evidence that the Government is promoting more sustained facilities, focusing on cost recovery and on ‘decentralization by devolution’. Nevertheless, there are several shortcomings which threaten the long‐term functionality of the infrastructure that has to be built. In light of the implementation of the program, and based on the outputs of its pilot phase, we review the factors that can determine its sustainability.     

Against Oversimplifying the Issues on Relocating Turtle Eggs

Translocating sea turtle eggs at risk from high tides to safer places is one of the most widely undertaken conservation measures on behalf of these species. Recent research work has shown that individual female turtles differ in their nest-site preferences. If more of the nests saved by translocation come from turtles with tendencies to lay near the water, might this perhaps interfere with natural selection? This possibility adds to the controversy already surrounding relocation of turtle nests.     

Multi-indicator assessment of water environment in government environmental auditing

This study focused on a multi-indicator assessment methodology for governmental environmental auditing of water protection programs. The environmental status of Wuli Lake in China was assessed using the global indicators （driver-status-response） developed by the Commission on Sustainable Development, and four additional indicators proposed by the author： water quality, pollution load, aquatic ecosystem status, and lake sediment deposition. Various hydrological, chemical, biological and environmental parameters were used to estimate the values of the indicators for assessment of environmental status of the lake based on time series data sets for twenty years. The indicators proposed can be customized to meeting the needs for particular assessment of water protection programs. This method can be used to evaluate the performance of national environmental protection programs and provide technical support for environmental auditors.