Spatiotemporal Features of Severe Air Pollution in Northern Taiwan (8 pp)

Background, Aims and Scope This research attempted to identify the dominant factors simultaneously affecting the airborne concentrations of five air pollutants with principal component analysis and to determine the meteorologically related parameters that cause severe air-pollution events. According to the definition of subPSI and PSI values through the U.S. EPA, the historical raw data of five criteria air pollutants, SO2, CO, O3, PM10 and NO2, were calculated as daily subPSI values. In addition to the airborne concentrations, this study simultaneous collected the surface meteorological parameters of the Taipei meteorological station, established by the Central Weather Bureau. Methods Principal component analysis was conducted to screen severe air pollution scenarios for five air pollutants: SO2, CO, O3, PM10 and NO2. The concentrations of various air pollutants measured at 17 air-quality stations in northern Taiwan from 1995 to 2001 were transformed into daily subPSI values. The correlation analysis of the five air pollutants and four meteorological parameters (wind speed, temperature, mixing height and ventilation rate) were included in this research. After screening severe air pollution scenarios, this study recognized the synoptic patterns easily causing the severe air-pollution events. Results and Discussion Analytical results showed that the eigenvalues of the first two principal components for SO2, CO, O3, PM10 and NO2 were greater than 1. The first component of five air pollutants explained 64, 64, 67, 76 and 63% of subPSI variance for SO2, CO, O3, PM10 and NO2, respectively. Only the correlation coefficient of NO2 and CO had statistically significant positive values (0.82); other pollutant pairs presented medium (0.4 to 0.7) or low (0 to 0.4) positive values. The correlation coefficients for air pollutants and three meteorological parameters (wind speed, mixing height and ventilation index) were medium or low negative values. In northern Taiwan, spring was most likely induced high concentrations and the component scores of the first component for SO2, CO, PM10 and NO2; summer was the worst season that caused high O3 episodes. Consequently, the analytical results of factor loadings for the first principal component and emission inventory of various sources revealed that mobile sources were dominant factors affecting ambient air quality in northern Taiwan. Conclusion According to the results of principal component analysis for the five air pollutants, the first two of 17 components were cited as major factors and explained 71% of subPSI variance. Based on the inventory of NOx emissions and the isopleth diagram of factor loading for the first component, mobile sources in the southwest Taipei City accounted for the highest factor loading values and emission inventory values. Synoptic analysis and principal component analysis demonstrated that three types of weather patterns (high-pressure recirculation, prefrontal warm sector and the southwesterly wind system) easily caused the severe air-pollution scenarios. In summary, if severe air-pollution days occurred, the average meteorological parameters experienced adverse conditions for diffusing air pollutants; that is, the average values of wind speed, mixing height and ventilation index were lower than 2.1 ms-1, 360 m and 800 m2s-1, respectively. If one of the three synoptic patterns were to occur in combination with adverse meteorological conditions, severe air-pollution events would be developed. Recommendation and Outlook By utilizing synoptic patterns, this work found three weather systems easily caused severe air-pollution events over northern Taiwan. Analytical results showed, respectively, the wind speed and mixing height were less than 2.1 m/s and 360 m during severe air-pollution events.     

Gap analysis of water governance in Northern Iran: A closer look into the water reservoirs

The amount of rainfall in Mazandaran province of Northern Iran is high. Mazandaran has man-made water reservoirs called Ab-bandan, to collect rainfall for irrigating rice farms during the growing seasons. However, rice farms face water scarcity because only a small amount of rainfall is being stored in Ab-bandans, while either the remaining water runs off into the sea, or causes water-logging or flooding. This research addresses Ab-bandans governance gaps in the Mazandaran province, using the ‘Multi-level Governance Framework’ introduced by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). A modified Delphi technique with face-to-face interviews and a ranking round is used to identify Ab-bandans governance gaps. The identified gaps are classified into seven categories by applying the OECD's framework. In each of the categories there is one most important gap: the lack of a specific law for Ab-bandans, lack of long-term and strategic planning, low recognition of Ab-bandans at the national level, insufficient budget, lack of water user associations, lack of research in practice, and lack of using technology. The findings show that lack of a specific law for Ab-bandans in the country's water law is the most acute gap of all. In addition, the analysis highlights the fact that the policy category is the most critical one. The identified gaps are interlinked and exacerbate each other, therefore, a holistic perspective is needed to understand and resolve them. This study recommends a reform in the country’s water law, improved linkage between levels of government, co-operation among organizations involved in Ab-bandans management, and participation of local stakeholders in planning.     

Temporal and spatial variation of nitrogen and phosphorus and eutrophication assessment for a typical arid river—Fuyang River in northern China

Based on water quality surveys over 2 years(July to December,in 2014 and 2015) in a typical arid river in northern China the Xingtai segment of the Fuyang River basin — the variation of nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) was analyzed.The extent of water eutrophication of this segment was also assessed using a universal index formula for eutrophic evaluation and a logarithmic power function.The results showed that the average concentration of total N(TN) was 27.2 mg/L(NH_3-N,63.5%),total P(TP) was 2.0 mg/L(solution reactive phosphorus,68.8%).Temporal and spatial variations of N and P in this segment were observed.Concentrations of N and P in the arid season were higher than those in the rainy season.Spatially,the N and P concentrations followed the same trend;i.e.,higher in the city segment than in the suburbs,and decreasing along the river.The water eutrophication in the studied segment reached extremely high levels at all times(eutrophication index ≥76.3).Spatially,its trend was clearly linked with N and P.Water shortage,pollution accumulation and a weak self-purification function are the main reasons for the prominent eutrophication in this segment.     

花岗岩风化壳的不均一性与海岸带的可蚀性研究——以南海北大陆海岸带为例

海岸带岩土动力学特征的差异是影响海岸侵蚀过程与方向的重要因素之一。南海北大陆海岸带主要由花岗岩风化边坡组成。通过对该海岸带的北东翼及西南翼典型花岗岩风化壳剖面的黏土矿物及风化指标研究发现,两者存在不均一性：横向上,北东翼黏土矿物主要以高岭石、伊利石为主;西南翼黏土矿物主要以高岭石、伊利石和绿泥石为主,两翼均未见较明显的蒙脱石。相同层位比较,西南翼黏土矿物总量高于北东翼。垂向上,自地表到深部,北东翼黏土矿物组合及总量无明显的分层性,而西南翼则呈明显的分层性且地表含量明显高于深部。海岸带的风化作用也存在明显的不均一性：表现为横向上,北东翼海岸带风化程度要稍弱于西南翼;垂向上,北东翼化学风化指标n（Al2O3）/n（SiO2）,n（Fe2O3＋Al2O3）/n（SiO2）,n（TiO2）/n（Al2O3）、CIA在风化壳中呈无规律变化,而西南翼则呈明显的分层性,这种分层基本与表土层、红土层及砂土层成一定的对应关系。从化学可蚀性指标来看,由南海北大陆海岸带花岗岩风化壳演化而成的土壤均为强抗蚀性,但相同层位比较,北东翼可蚀性要稍弱于西南翼剖面。研究认为,组成南海北大陆海岸带的花岗岩风化壳之黏土矿物与风化作用的不均一性可很大程度影响海岸带的可蚀性。     

华北地区霾期间对流层中低层气溶胶垂直分布

基于美国宇航局(NASA)的CALIPSO星载激光雷达监测数据,通过分析总后向散射系数、体积退偏比和色比,对华北地区2007年1月1日至2008年12月31日期间出现灰霾时对流层中低层气溶胶光学和微物理特性的垂直分布进行了研究.结果表明:灰霾期间对于4 km以下的对流层中低层大气总体来说,非球形气溶胶出现频率略高于球形气溶胶,小粒径气溶胶出现频率高于大粒径气溶胶.在4 km以下的大气中,气溶胶出现频率在1 ～2 km高度范围内最高,在2～3 km高度范围内最低;球形气溶胶在2～3 km高度范围内出现频率最高,非球形气溶胶出现频率在1 ～2 km高度范围内最高;大粒径气溶胶在l～2 km高度范围内出现频率最高,小粒径气溶胶在0～1 km高度范围内出现频率最高.     

浙北平原富硒土壤资源区硒来源的定量分离

明确硒元素含量不同来源组分(自然背景组分和外源输入组分)贡献率是评价富硒土地资源是否具有可持续利用性的前提.以嘉兴市秀洲富硒土地资源区为研究区域,通过地学分析和多元统计交互验证,将该区域土壤硒来源定性分离为自然背景组分和含外源输入组分,并采用频数分布函数为工具,对硒含量不同来源组分的贡献率进行定量分离.结果表明,秀洲区富硒土地硒含量来源自然背景组分的贡献率占90%,外源输入组分占10%,表明秀洲区富硒土地资源具有可持续开发利用的潜力.     

Spatial and seasonal variability of dissolved oxygen and nutrients in the Southern Adriatic coastal waters

The main objective of this paper is to present vertical and horizontal patterns of dissolved oxygen and nutrients found during four seasonal surveys (March, June, September and December 2000) in the Southern Adriatic Sea coastal waters. The multivariate technique Principal Component Analysis has been applied to our dataset considering the following parameters: seawater temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, silicate). The resulting plot shows in a self-explanatory way that a seasonal trend was not observable in the investigated period and that no significant differences occur between the stations sampled in the Taranto Gulf and those along the Adriatic coast. Water column stratification persists in all seasons, except in spring, in the shallowest stations. The surface layer is characterized by a low nutrient content. The influence of the Northern Adriatic Surface Water in the Southern Adriatic sub-basin seems to be very low and can be traced by nitrate and silicate only in spring and winter. Regarding deep waters, nitrate distribution shows an increasing gradient moving from the coast to the open sea, having the lowest concentration in the shelf area and the highest in the most offshore stations of the Otranto Strait. In the Otranto Strait area the vertical distributions of physical and chemical parameters show, at middle depths, the inflow of Levantine Intermediate Water, traced by both the maximum of salinity, nitrate and phosphate and the minimum of oxygen. The LIW signal is lost moving northward. The outflow of Adriatic Dense Water is less evident, being traced only in spring by an oxygen increase at the bottom layer in the shelf area. The N:P ratio is highly variable but in the range already observed in the Southern Adriatic, suggesting a P-limitation, which can both contribute to the low primary productivity of the area and support the N:P ratio anomaly of the Eastern Mediterranean.     

祁连山北坡中段降水稳定同位素特征及水汽来源分析

依据祁连山北坡中段8个站点的降水样品,结合同期气象数据,从降水同位素特征、影响因素以及水汽来源等方面进行分析,结果表明:①研究区降水稳定同位素季节变化明显,表现为夏半年富集,冬半年贫化的特征;在空间尺度上δ18O值随海拔的升高而减小,年降水δ18O的海拔效应为-0. 19‰/100 m;②各站点的局地大气降水线的斜率和截距表现为随海拔的增加而增加的趋势,表明2 000 m以上的高海拔山区受到更强烈的局地再循环水汽的影响;③研究区降水中稳定同位素温度效应显著,δ18O的温度效应为0. 64‰,且仅在夏季存在微弱的降水量效应;④研究区云下蒸发作用显著.在5、6、7和8月,研究区降水δ18O的平均雨滴蒸发率分别为23%、11%、12%和16%,云下蒸发富集率46%、27%、38%和32%;⑤在夏季连续降雨条件下,研究区降水的水汽来源主要为西风水汽,同时受到局地蒸发水汽的影响.本研究结果有助于进一步了解内陆河水文循环过程,为进一步开展干旱区同位素水文研究奠定基础.     

青藏高原北部土壤正构烷烃氢同位素及物源意义

采用正构烷烃及其单体氢同位素组成特征相结合的方法研究了青藏高原北部多年冻土区表层土壤正构烷烃（C₂₁~C₃₃）的生物来源.研究表明：表层土壤中正构烷烃呈双峰型和三峰型的分布特征,表明其具有多个生物来源.长链长正构烷烃（C₂₅~C₃₃）主要来源于陆源高等植物.表层土壤中长链长正构烷烃（C₂₅~C₃₃）中奇碳数正构烷烃的δD值比偶碳数的整体偏轻,原因可能是两者的生物合成途径不同.对中等链长正构烷烃聚类分析后分为两种类型,类型I的中等链长正构烷烃（C₂₁~C₂₄）主要来源于陆源高等植物,类型Ⅱ的中等链长正构烷烃主要来源于细菌等微生物降解的产物.表层土壤样品（FHS-10、TG2-10和TG3-10）中等链长的正构烷烃δD值最轻,应为δD值偏轻的水源和细菌等微生物降解共同作用的结果.