Estimating Evapotranspiration and Seepage for a Sinkhole Wetland From Diurnal Surface‐Water Cycles1

Abstract: This study used measured diurnal surface‐water cycles to estimate daily evapotranspiration (ET) and seepage for a seasonally flooded sinkhole wetland. Diurnal surface‐water cycles were classified into five categories based on the relationship between the surface‐water body and the surrounding ground‐water system (i.e., recharge/discharge). Only one class of diurnal cycles was found to be suitable for application of this method. This subset of diurnal cycles was used to estimate ET and seepage and the relative importance of each transfer process to the overall water budget. The method has limited utility for wetlands with erratic hydrologic regimes (e.g., wetlands in urban environments). This is due to violation of the critical assumption that the inflow/outflow rate remains constant throughout the day. For application to surface‐water systems, the method is typically applied with an assumed specific yield of 1.0. This assumption was found to be invalid for application to surface‐water systems with a noncylindrical pond geometry. An overestimation of ET by as much as 60% was found to occur under conditions of low pond stage and high water loss. The results demonstrate the high ET rates that can occur in isolated wetlands due to contrasting roughness and moisture conditions (oasis and clothesline effects). Estimated ET rates ranged from 4.1 to 18.7 mm/day during the growing season. Despite these large ET rates, seepage (recharge) was found to be the dominant water loss mechanism for the wetland.     

Work domain analysis for air traffic controller weather displays

INTRODUCTION: Adverse weather conditions have a major impact on National Airspace System (NAS) operations. They create safety hazards for pilots, constrain the usable airspace for air traffic control (ATC), and reduce the overall capacity of the NAS. A system-wide dissemination of weather information to controllers could theoretically improve safety and efficiency. PROBLEM: However, it is currently unclear what weather information would be beneficial for tactical operations. Furthermore, no previous research has empirically evaluated optimal presentation designs for ATC weather displays. Ill-designed weather displays can cause safety hazards by presenting redundant information (i.e., by increasing the cognitive load) and display clutter (e.g., by interfering with the visual extraction of traffic data). METHOD: In the present paper, we outline our use of cognitive work analysis (CWA) techniques for the assessment of weather information needs for terminal controllers. RESULTS: Specifically, we describe how the CWA modeling tools helped us reveal instances in the terminal domain where weather information is lacking or insufficiently disseminated. We used our CWA results to drive the development of weather display concepts and to set up a high-fidelity simulation capability. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: By means of high-fidelity simulations, we can empirically evaluate controller weather information needs in order to propose weather displays for increased aircraft safety and efficiency of terminal operations.     

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.     

城市化与北京增温的协整分析

城市增温现象和城市热岛效应对人居环境的影响日益显著，而城市化是否是城市增温现象的一个主要影响因素，为此。利用协整分析等经济计量方法研究城市化对城市增温现象的影响。协整分析是近年来计量经济学发展的最新成果，能够揭示变量之间存在着的长期均衡变动关系。分析发现，城市化因子与城市气候因子之间存在着协整关系。长期看北京市的年平均最低温度与人口密度基本上处于同步增长状态；短期内城市气温的变动受人口和城市化因素的影响较大。为此可知，北京市70年代以来，城市气温的升高基本上与城市化的发展相一致。二者具有长期协同变动的均衡关系。这些发现对我们制定减缓城市热岛效应的城市规划以及合理人口规模的城市发展战略都有很大的帮助。     

珠江三角洲快速城市化地区生态安全研究——以佛山市为例

借助于统计学分析方法、Landsat7ETM+遥感影像解译及GIS综合评价手段,构建了相对生态压力比值REP、相对剩余生态容量值R REC及相对生态风险度指数RERI,对珠江三角洲快速城市化的典型城市佛山市进行了区域开发的生态承载力分析及生态风险度评价,揭示了佛山市域的生态安全总体态势及问题成因;并从区域可持续发展角度提出应重视在区域开发中尽可能科学合理地维护林地、湿地、农田、城市防护林带等自然及半自然景观要素的系统性与连续性,从宏观尺度上引导城市集聚并对城市化的不良生态后果予以积极预防和有效调控,从而降低城镇化的生态风险。     

Latin American busways: moving people rather than cars

The rapid growth of Latin American urban centres beginning in the 1970s placed a heavy strain upon urban transport service providers. Facing high population growth from a citizenry dependent upon public transport and having limited financial resources to develop car‐based infrastructure, Latin American municipal planners were challenged to create a new transport paradigm. One ingenious response to this dilemma was the busway, a surface metro system that utilizes exclusive right‐of‐way bus lanes. The developers of the Latin American busways astutely observed that the ultimate objective was to swiftly, efficiently and cost‐effectively move people rather than cars. Examples of innovative busway systems are presented from Curitiba, Bogota, Porto Alegre, Quito and Sao Paulo. The low cost, flexibility and speed of the exclusive busways all contribute to extremely high levels of customer satisfaction. Innovative approaches to the design of busway loading stations and simplified ticketing have also helped to reduce operating costs and improve customer flows. Additionally, clear system maps, colour‐coded routing, system safety and cleanliness and superior customer service have helped direct consumer preference towards the busway. The success of busways has also proved that costly subway systems or uncontrolled sprawl are not the only options available to municipal planners. The Latin American busway corridors provide high peak capacities that permit busway corridors to serve the transit requirements of most medium‐ to large‐sized cities. When integrated with progressive land‐use policies, busways can also form the basis of more sustainable urban design by encouraging development corridors with high‐density, mixed‐use land use. The environmental benefits and calming influences afforded cities by busway systems have translated into dramatically improved levels of quality of life indicators, including improvements in health, crime reduction and poverty alleviation. The user‐friendliness and cost‐effectiveness of busway systems have convinced municipal leaders in North America, Europe and Australia to develop similar systems of their own. Latin American busways thus provide a unique example of South to North technology transfer.     

Understanding public perceptions of risk regarding outdoor pet cats to inform conservation action

Free‐ranging domestic cats (Felis catus) incur and impose risks on ecosystems and represent a complex issue of critical importance to biodiversity conservation and cat and human health globally. Prior social science research on this topic is limited and has emphasized feral cats even though owned cats often comprise a large proportion of the outdoor cat population, particularly in urban areas. To address this gap, we examined public risk perceptions and attitudes toward outdoor pet cats across varying levels of urbanization, including along the wildland–urban interface, in Colorado (U.S.A.), through a mail survey of 1397 residents. Residents did not view all types of risks uniformly. They viewed risks of cat predation on wildlife and carnivore predation on cats as more likely than disease‐related risks. Additionally, risk perceptions were related to attitudes, prior experiences with cats and cat–wildlife interactions, and cat‐owner behavior. Our findings suggest that changes in risk perceptions may result in behavior change. Therefore, knowledge of cat‐related risk perceptions and attitudes could be used to develop communication programs aimed at promoting risk‐aversive behaviors among cat owners and cat‐management strategies that are acceptable to the public and that directly advance the conservation of native species.     

城镇化平原河网区下垫面特征变化及洪涝影响研究

城镇化是人类改变地表最深刻、最剧烈的过程之一,针对平原区城镇化引起的洪涝加剧问题,以浙东沿海奉化江流域中下游平原为例,利用高分辨率遥感影像和地形图资料获取1990~2010年间下垫面特征信息,从土地利用类型、河网水系和地面高程3个方面,分析城镇化过程中平原河网地区下垫面特征变化及其对区域洪涝调蓄能力的影响。研究结果表明:平原区城镇化对下垫面的影响不仅表现为城镇不透水面的增加,径流系数的增大,同时城镇扩张过程中农田和水系转化为城镇用地,而后者具有相对较高的防洪标准,使得新建城区地面高程明显增大,河网调蓄能力亦呈不断减少趋势。洪涝模拟显示以上下垫面变化导致区域可调蓄洪涝的空间逐渐减少,洪涝风险程度加大,并呈现向相对低洼地带转移的趋势特征。     

长江沿岸中心城市土地扩张时空演化特征——以宁汉渝3市为例

基于国家新型城镇化与"T"字型发展战略理论内涵,选取长江沿岸上、中、下游中心城市重庆、武汉和南京为实证研究对象,以1980、1990、2000、2010年4期遥感影像资料为基础数据源,通过RS、GIS和景观生态结合分析,分别对其城市扩张强度、城市扩张类型和城市建设用地扩张弹性进行对比分析,并采用景观指数进行了进一步分析和验证,从而系统分析了近30 a来3个城市建设用地扩张的时空特征与内在机理。结果表明:(1)30 a来,南京、武汉和重庆3市城市扩张强度均呈明显上升趋势,总体呈现南京市>武汉市>重庆市,但2000年是一个分水岭,之后重庆市城市扩张增速赶超武汉市,南京市反而增速最低;(2)对城市扩张类型分析表明,南京市始终以边缘式增长为主;武汉市在2000年之前以飞地式扩张主导,2000年之后呈现边缘式增长;重庆市以边缘式增长为主,但2000年之后飞地式增长迅速;(3)从城市建设用地扩张弹性分析表明,1980~2010年南京市土地扩张相比城市人口开始减缓,而武汉市和重庆市在2000年以后城市扩张速度远远超过城市人口增长速度;(4)景观指数验证分析结果显示,遥感分析、地理信息分析和景观生态分析的结合能够很好反映城市建设用地的扩张过程及演化特征。     

城乡结合部生态文明建设存在的问题、原因及对策研究

随着城镇化进程的加快,城乡结合部已经成为城市扩展和蔓延的前沿地带。城乡结合部生态文明建设面临的资源配置不合理、管理缺位而导致的“脏乱差挤”、生态系统脆弱、法律法规不健全、居民生态文明意识淡薄等问题El益突出,从居民生态意识、管理体制、基础设施、经济增长与环境保护的关系、法制管理等方面分析了存在这些问题的原因,从而提出树立生态文明意识、加大投入,强化基础设施建设、发展循环经济,走可持续发展道路、完善管理体制,明确职责范围、加强生态文明法制建设,提高生态文明监管能力等对策建议。