Dynamics of global oil prices,exchange rate and precious metal prices in India

This study examines cointegration and Granger causality among global oil prices, precious metal (Gold, Platinum and Silver) prices and Indian Rupee–US Dollar exchange rate using daily data spanning from 2nd January 2009 to 30th December 2011. ARDL bounds tests indicate that the series are cointegrated. Toda–Yamamoto version of Granger causality has been employed to establish the causation amongst the variables. The study also examines generalized error variance decomposition of variables due to various shocks in the system. Such information provides insight into the transmission links between the global oil market and the Indian precious metals and foreign exchange market. These have the potential for significant impact in further research, portfolio management and central bank policy design.     

Natural resources,governance and institutional quality: The role of resource funds

This paper investigates the relationship between resource funds, governance and institutional quality in resource-rich countries. The study is motivated by the relatively recent and inconclusive debate on resource funds and on their role in the addressing of the “resource curse”. The estimation results suggest that resource funds may be associated with governance and institutional quality improvements. The analysis complements the debate on the tools of addressing the “resource curse” and on the determinants of governance and institutional quality. The findings remain important for their policy implications. The estimation results suggest that resource funds may prove useful tools in the hands of the policy makers in the attempt to address governance and institutional quality deterioration induced by resource abundance.     

PM_(10)浓度时间序列多时间尺度分析的小波方法

文章利用Morlet小波函数进行小波变换,以乌鲁木齐市的大气污染物时间序列为例,分析了当地PM10的多时间尺度的演变特性。研究结果显示,其年际变化和季节性变化的时间尺度在尺度空间中分布不均匀,受气象和污染源因素影响,具有较明显的局部化特征。     

Sudden high concentration of TSP affected by atmospheric boundary layer in Seoul metropolitan area during duststorm period

Hourly concentrations of TSP, PM(10), PM(2.5) near the surface at Seoul city were examined from March 20 to March 25, 2001 (duststorm event) in order to investigate the effect of a duststorm generated in China on the local aerosol concentration in Korea, The ratios of fine to coarse particles such as TSP to PM(10), TSP to PM(2.5) and PM(10)-PM(2.5) to PM(2.5) showed that a great amount of dust transported from the origin of the duststorm was remarkable with a maximum ratio of 9.77 between TSP and PM(2.5). Back trajectories every 6 h showed the movement of dust particles in the lower atmosphere near 500 m to 1500 m (atmospheric boundary layer), which implied transport from Baotou in inner Mongolia of northern China to the direction of Seoul city in Korea and then the back trajectories passed near the southern border of Mongolia and Baotou through Zengzhou in the midlevels (3000 m) and low levels (500 m) of China, finally reaching Seoul city. So, the TSP concentration at Seoul city was partially influenced by the duststorm, under the prevailing westerly wind and the transported aerosols could influence high concentrations of pollutants of TSP, PM(10) and PM(2.5) in Seoul. The sudden high concentrations of TSP and PM(10) were found for a few hours, especially at 1500 to 1800 LST, March 22. At 1200 LST, before the passage of a cold front through the Korean peninsula, the convective boundary layer (CBL) near Seoul was not shallow, but at 1500 LST, under the frontal passage, the CBL was remarkably thinner (less than 300 m), due to the compression of the boundary layer by the intrusion of cold air. This resulted in the increase of the TSP concentration, even though the mixed layer above maintained almost the same depth. At 1800 LST shortly after the frontal passage, that is, near sunset, the nocturnal cooling of the ground caused air parcels to cool, thereby enhancing the shallower nocturnal surface inversion layer and producing the maximum concentration of TSP of 1388 microg/m(3) near Seoul city.     

Minimizing external indirect health costs due to aerosol population exposure: a case study from Northern Italy

Environmental Agencies require Decision Support Systems, in order to plan Air Quality Policies considering the cost of emission reduction measures and the human health effects (with related social costs). The use of Decision Support Systems is also useful to spread information to general public, explaining the effectiveness of proposed air quality plans. In this paper, a multi-objective approach to control PM10 concentration at a regional level is presented. The problem considers both the internal costs (due to the implementation of emission reduction measures) and the external costs (due to population exposure to high PM10 concentrations). To model PM10 concentrations, a single surrogate model is used for the entire domain, allowing the implementation of a very efficient optimization procedure. The surrogate model is derived through a set of 10 simulations, performed using a Chemistry Transport Model fed with different emission reduction scenarios. The methodology is applied to Northern Italy, a region affected by very high PM10 concentrations that exceed the limit values specified by the EU legislation.     

The National Heritage Resource Act (1999): Can legislation protect South Africa's rare geoheritage resources?

In South Africa, rare geological specimens are protected by the National Heritage Resource Act (1999). These portable geoheritage objects are neither defined nor described in this Act making their geoheritage status questionable. Thirteen categories and criteria for establishing a geological specimen's rarity status are discussed and include (1) rarity as defined by abundance per se; (2) rarity of a particular habit (external shape or form) of a mineral; (3) rare pseudomorphs; (4) rarity of a particular variety of a mineral; (5) rarity of a particular colour of a common mineral; (6) rarity defined by size; (7) rarity defined by quality; (8) a common species, but rare for a particular locality; (9) rarity of associations of minerals; (10) rarity determined by source being depleted, exhausted or mined out; (11) rare inclusions in minerals; (12) previously rare, now common specimens and (13) miscellaneous criteria that produce rare specimens. Geological specimens (resources) are complex objects when defining their rarity status and multiple rarity factors can apply to single specimens. A lack of clear criteria for defining rare geological specimens appears to place the National Heritage Resource Act (1999) in direct conflict with the more recent Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (2002) which legitimizes the legal exploitation of any mineral resource.     

Promoting ecological sustainable planning for natural stone quarrying. The case of the Orosei Marble Producing Area in Eastern Sardinia

This paper presents an analysis of the main environmental impact factors (noise, vibration, fumes, dust, vehicle traffic) associated with marble quarrying and processing in the Orosei industrial area and their effects. Solutions are also proposed to prevent, mitigate and, where possible, eliminate the impact on the environment. Using three-dimensional topographic models, the authors simulated quarry and industrial processing development, with projections over the next 10, 30 and 50 years. The aim of these simulations was to establish land management planning guidelines for the optimal and environmentally sustainable development of the Orosei Marble industrial area. Lastly, careful quarry development planning is important both for enhancing LCA and for improving production processes through sustainable technologies that yield green label products meeting environmental performance standards.     

鞍山市TSP及PM10相关性分析研究

分别在冬季及夏季选取具有典型气候特性的天气,采集空气中TSP和PM10.根据采样前、后滤膜重量之差及采样标况体积,计算TSP质量浓度,分析了TSP和PM10在大气中污染状况,研究了TSP和PM10的相关性及PM10占TSP的比例,并得出结论:在冬、夏二季TSP和PM10的浓度值变化趋势非常相似,在冬季时TSP和PM10...     

我国主要粮产区PM2.5、PM10时空分布特征及影响因素——以河南省为例

利用2018年河南省PM_2.5、PM₁₀监测数据,结合统计学方法及克里格插值技术,分析河南省PM_2.5、PM₁₀的时空分布特征及影响因素,结果表明:（1）PM_2.5、PM₁₀日均、月均浓度均呈现出“U”型变化特征,PM_2.5/PM₁₀月均值呈现出“W”型变化特征,PM_2.5、PM₁₀季均浓度及其比值均呈现出冬季>秋季>春季>夏季的规律;（2）PM_2.5、PM₁₀月均浓度的空间分布差异较大,而年均浓度则呈现出相似的分布规律,PM_2.5/PM₁₀季均值呈现出不同的空间分布规律,总体上东部及东南部较高,中西部区域较低;（3）PM_2.5、PM₁₀与NDVI、年降水量呈显著负相关,与人口密度、第二产业占比呈显著正相关。研究结论可为粮产区大气污染防治及粮食安全生产提供重要的科学依据。     

沧州市大气污染特征观测研究

利用沧州2009年7月～2011年7月的NOx(NOx=NO+NO2)、O3、SO2以及PM10的观测数据,分析了沧州市大气污染物的日变化、月平均变化、年变化以及季节平均变化特征.结果表明,NOx、PM10日变化为双峰型,O3为单峰.SO2日变化也呈现为双峰型,但是其变化幅度较平缓.NO、NO2、NOx、SO2有较相同的季节变化趋势.NO、NO2、NOx、SO2及PM10冬季值最大,分别为(30.0±18.9)μg·m-3、(50.5±19.8)μg·m-3、(80.5±38.7)μg·m-3、(62.1±34.7)μg·m-3、(201.6±98.5)μg·m-3.臭氧夏季浓度最高,其月均值为(88.0±22.3)μg·m-3.NO、NO2、NOx、O3、SO2及PM10年均值分别为(18.9±14.5)μg·m-3、(37.6±13.0)μg·m-3、(56.5±27.5)μg·m-3、(49.9±16.3)μg·m-3、(31.6±19.5)μg·m-3、(156.7±79.1)μg·m-3.秋冬季污染物主要为NOx(NOx=NO+NO2)、SO2以及PM10,夏季污染物主要为O3.