The use of terrestrial ecoregions as a regional-scale screen for selecting representative reference sites for water quality monitoring

A process has been developed to select watersheds that are representative of terrestrial ecoregions and that are relatively undisturbed by human activity. Using an existing land classification system at two hierarchical levels of resolution, representative subsets (ecodistricts) of large-scale ecoregions were selected, on the basis of their physiographic, biological, and climatological attributes, to represent the ecoregions. This was achieved using a frequency distribution analysis of existing attribute data and choosing the ecodistrict most closely resembling the most common set of conditions for that ecoregion. Within each ecodistrict, river basins were selected through a best-judgement evaluation of land use, coupled with an assessment of the size and location of each river basin, in order to meet the condition of minimal human impact. Preliminary assessment of water quality data collected from six watersheds selected in this way suggests that the process is effective in targeting regional scale river basins exhibiting the desired characteristics.     

三峡库区场地建筑安全评价研究

三峡水库自 2 0 0 3年蓄水后 ,水对斜坡 (滑坡 )的软化作用和库岸再造大大改变了库区的工程地质条件 ,库区的地质灾害严重制约了库区移民迁镇工程 ,场地建筑安全评价显得尤为重要。笔者根据库区工程地质的特点 ,提出了场地建筑适宜性评价的指标体系 ,建立了场地建筑安全评价人工神经网络模型。通过对红石包滑坡进行各种工况下的稳定性评价 ,利用稳态坡形、坡角工程地质类比法对红石包进行库岸再造的预测 ,对三峡库区巴东县新城区红石包油库建筑进行安全评价。为库区移民迁镇工作提供科学依据。     

Development of synthetic criteria for the ecological evaluation of woodlots and woodlot units

Different criteria have been proposed for the rapid ecological evaluation of wooded areas. It is difficult, however, to determine the criteria most likely to yield results similar to those that would be obtained through detailed surveys and exhaustive evaluation. In order to identify such synthetic criteria, data from a detailed evaluation of Montreal Urban Community woodlots were studied with the help of multivariate analysis. This detailed evaluation was undertaken at two levels—woodlot unit and the woodlots themselves—using 16 different criteria.At the woodlot unit level, area and abundance indices of shade intolerant species in the tree layer could be used as synthetic criteria, while at the woodlot level the ecological value of the constituent units stand out as the first synthetic criterion. These results are compared with criteria proposed in the literature, and the use of multivariate analysis in ecological evaluation is briefly discussed.     

场地污染土壤调查及评估探讨

提出场地土壤污染控制应从源头抓起,应控制搬迁企业移交土地后先拆迁平整,后进行土地利用性质变更的做法.在场地污染土壤调查中应重视对原址企业的历史沿革、平面布局、生产工艺等调查.指出多环境要素调查的重要性,以及调查过程要注意的事项.对土壤评估标准及引用的选择进行了探讨.     

Remediation of metal polluted mine soil with compost: co-composting versus incorporation

Trace element contamination of post-industrial sites represents a major environmental problem and sustainable management options for remediating them are required. This study compared two strategies for immobilizing trace elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, and As) in mine spoil: (1) co-composting contaminated soil with organic wastes and (2) conventional incorporation of mature compost into contaminated soil. Sequential chemical extraction of the soil was performed to determine temporal changes in trace element fractionation and bioavailability during composting and plant growth. We show that mine spoil can be co-composted successfully and this action causes significant shifts in metal availability. However, co-composting did not lead to significant differences in metal partitioning in soil or in plant metal uptake compared with simply mixing mine spoil with mature compost. Both treatments promoted plant growth and reduced metal accumulation in plants. We conclude that co-composting provides little additional benefit for remediating trace-element-polluted soil compared with incorporation of compost.     

Environmental bonds and the challenge of long-term carbon sequestration

The potential to capture carbon from industrial sources and dispose of it for the long-term, known as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), is widely recognized as an important option to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions. Specifically, CCS has the potential to provide emissions cuts sufficient to stabilize greenhouse gas levels, while still allowing for the continued use of fossil fuels. In addition, CCS is both technologically-feasible and commercially viable compared with alternatives with the same emissions profile. Although the concept appears to be solid from a technical perspective, initial public perceptions of the technology are uncertain. Moreover, little attention has been paid to developing an understanding of the social and political institutional infrastructure necessary to implement CCS projects. In this paper we explore a particularly dicey issue--how to ensure adequate long-term monitoring and maintenance of the carbon sequestration sites. Bonding mechanisms have been suggested as a potential mechanism to reduce these problems (where bonding refers to financial instruments used to ensure regulatory or contractual commitments). Such mechanisms have been successfully applied in a number of settings (e.g., to ensure court appearances, completion of construction projects, and payment of taxes). The paper examines the use of bonding to address environmental problems and looks at its possible application to nascent CCS projects. We also present evidence on the use of bonding for other projects involving deep underground injection of materials for the purpose of long-term storage or disposal.     

Distribution patterns of octylphenol and nonylphenol in the aquatic system at Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve, a subtropical estuarine wetland in Hong Kong

Spatial and temporal distribution of octylphenol （OP） and nonylphenol （NP） in Mai Po Marshes, a subtropical estuarine wetland in Hong Kong, were investigated. Surface water samples were collected every month from 11 sites during the period of September- December 2004. Concentrations of OP and NP ranged from 11.3 to 348 ng/L and from 29 to 2591 ng/L, respectively. The high levels of NP and OP were found in November and December than in September and October. The levels of OP and NP have no significant spatial differences except September. Total organic matter in the sediments appeared to be an important factor in controlling the fate of these compounds in the aquatic environment.     

Analytic hierarchy process helps select site for limestone quarry expansion in Barbados

Site selection is a key activity for quarry expansion to support cement production, and is governed by factors such as resource availability, logistics, costs, and socio-economic-environmental factors. Adequate consideration of all the factors facilitates both industrial productivity and sustainable economic growth. This study illustrates the site selection process that was undertaken for the expansion of limestone quarry operations to support cement production in Barbados. First, alternate sites with adequate resources to support a 25-year development horizon were identified. Second, technical and socio-economic-environmental factors were then identified. Third, a database was developed for each site with respect to each factor. Fourth, a hierarchical model in analytic hierarchy process (AHP) framework was then developed. Fifth, the relative ranking of the alternate sites was then derived through pair wise comparison in all the levels and through subsequent synthesizing of the results across the hierarchy through computer software (Expert Choice). The study reveals that an integrated framework using the AHP can help select a site for the quarry expansion project in Barbados.     

A contaminated site investigation: comparison of information gained from geophysical measurements and hydrogeological modeling

The investigation of contaminated sites is usually a long and expensive process. It is therefore desirable to use a combination of methodologies in an integrative approach that can reduce redundant information gathering. The objective of this study was to examine the usefulness of 2 non-intrusive exploration techniques in a contaminated site investigation. Borehole positioning based on geophysical measurements was compared to positioning based on the Bayesian expert system for flow-field modeling. The goal set at the field site was the assessment of the type and load of contaminants transported from the landfill site to the adjacent aquifer and the extent of leachate plumes within the groundwater. The two methods made different demands on information gathering and were found to be complementary. The geophysical approach focused attention on the waste compartments at the site and on mixing plumes in the adjacent aquifer but could not, without prior information, provided information on the flow field. The Bayesian approach to flow-field modeling determined areas of greatest model uncertainty at the model boundaries. The model highlighted areas of greatest uncertainty that might otherwise have been overlooked and provided information on the most likely mean direction of the leachate plumes. It was concluded that both methods contribute to a site investigation and should be used before additional drilling is carried out.     

许家窑-侯家窑遗址年代学研究进展

人类的起源与演化一直是考古学及其他学科研究的重点。泥河湾盆地,是我国古人类文化的重要组成部分,在泥河湾盆地的许家窑-侯家窑遗址,正处于现代人起源、扩散的关键时期,为解决我国甚至东亚的现代人起源问题具有举足轻重的作用。前人对遗址进行过多次系统挖掘,开展了一系列不同方法的年代学工作,然而其文化层年代却有较大的争议。本文对许家窑-侯家窑遗址文化层的年代进行系统总结,通过对前人用不同测年方法获得年代进行综合对比。结果表明：不同方法测定的许家窑-侯家窑遗址文化层的年代差距过大,难以确定文化层的年代。许家窑-侯家窑遗址文化层的年代的不确定,严重影响了众多学者对于我国现代人起源的进一步研究。年代测量方法虽然众多,但是不同测年方法,有着不同的测年区间,因此后期需要根据许家窑-侯家窑遗址的年代区间来选择适合的测量方法,并使用不同材料来进行对比分析获得最为准确的年代。