Quantification of the regional carbon cycle of the biosphere: policy, science and land-use decisions

This paper addresses some issues related to the carbon cycle and its utilization by society. Traditional uses for agriculture, forestry, as a source of fuel and other products, and for pastoral farming, among others, have recently been supplemented by identifying its potential for mitigating the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Through the Kyoto Protocol, carbon has become a commodity and the CO(2)-absorbing capability of the vegetation and soils an economically valuable asset. The multi-facetted roles of the C cycle and its sensitivity to human activities present a demand for techniques that permit accurate, timely and affordable characterization of the various components of this cycle, especially on land where most human activities take place. Such techniques must satisfy a range of demands in terms of purpose, clients for the information, and biosphere properties. However, if successful, they offer the potential to support monitoring, reporting, policy setting, and management of terrestrial biospheric resources. The context for these requirements and possibilities is illustrated with reference to the China Carbon Sequestration Project and its findings.     

Assessing the potential of native tree species for carbon sequestration forestry in Northeast China

Although the native forests of China are exceptionally diverse, only a small number of tree species have been widely utilized in forest plantations and reforestation efforts. We used dendrochronological sampling methods to assess the potential growth and carbon sequestration of native tree species in Jilin Province, Northeast China. Trees were sampled in and near the Changbaishan Biosphere Reserve, with samples encompassing old-growth, disturbed forest, and plantations. To approximate conditions for planted trees, sampling focused on trees with exposed crowns (dominant and co-dominant individuals). A log-linear relationship was found between diameter increment and tree diameter, with a linear decrease in increment with increasing local basal area; no significant differences in these patterns between plantations and natural stands were detected for two commonly planted species (Pinus koraiensis and Larix olgensis). A growth model that incorporates observed feedbacks with individual tree size and local basal area (in conjunction with allometric models for tree biomass), was used to project stand-level biomass increment. Predicted growth trajectories were then linked to the carbon process model InTEC to provide estimates of carbon sequestration potential. Results indicate substantial differences among species, and suggest that certain native hardwoods (in particular Fraxinus mandshurica and Phellodendron amurense), have high potential for use in carbon forestry applications. Increased use of native hardwoods in carbon forestry in China is likely to have additional benefits in terms of economic diversification and enhanced provision of "ecosystem services", including biodiversity protection.     

Scenarios of Future Climate and Land-Management Effects on Carbon Stocks in Northern Patagonian Shrublands

We analyzed the possible effects of grazing management and future climate change on carbon (C) stocks in soils of northern Patagonian shrublands. To this aim, we coupled the outputs of three (HadCM3, CSIRO Mk2, and CCSR/NIES) global climate models to the CENTURY (v5.3) model of terrestrial C balance. The CENTURY model was initialized with long-term field data on local biome physiognomy, seasonal phenologic trends, and prevailing land-management systems and was validated with recent sequences of 1-km Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (MODIS-Terra) images and soil C data. In the tested scenarios, the predicted climate changes would result in increased total C in soil organic matter (SOMTC). Maximum SOMTC under changed climate forcing would not differ significantly from that expected under baseline conditions (8 kg m⁻²). A decrease in grazing intensity would result in SOMTC increases of 11% to 12% even if climate changes did not occur. Climate change would account for SOMTC increases of 5% to 6%.     

深埋突出煤层深孔控制爆破致裂机理和防突效果研究

基于理论分析和数值模拟,探究深孔控制爆破技术在深埋低透高瓦斯煤层防突方面的适用性。考虑爆炸波、爆生气体、煤层原始瓦斯压力、煤层地应力对裂隙的作用。研究深埋低透高瓦斯煤层深孔控制爆破裂隙的扩展的过程、机理及防突效果。对比了理论分析结果和典型的现场试验结果。得出的结论是,煤层深孔控制爆破致裂,是在爆炸波的动态冲击震裂和爆生气体及煤层瓦斯压力的尖劈压裂作用下共同完成的;深埋高应力煤层深孔控制爆破机理与常规浅孔采掘爆破机理不同;控制孔在高应力煤层中的导裂作用并不显著,其主要起到卸压孔和抽放孔的作用。几个典型的高应力低透突出煤层的工程实践表明,采用深孔控制爆破技术后,均获得良好的增透效果,且均未发生煤与瓦斯突出事故。     

实施科技兴安战略的思考

科技兴安战略是安全生产工作的指导思想之一,安全生产以"管理为基础,科技为支撑",不断增强安全生产科技进步与创新,是安全发展的动力。我国安全科技发展存在安全科技人才匮乏、安全科技研发投入少、安全基础理论研究滞后、科技研发成果和技术装备推广应用进展缓慢、安全技术支撑平台不健全等突出矛盾和问题。坚持超前感知安全生产科技发展方向、"大、微、智"安全技术装备发展方向,大力实施科技兴安战略,加快安全生产科技研发、推广应用、技术监督三大体系是当前安全科技工作的迫切任务。     

磨料特性对磨料气体射流破煤影响的实验研究

针对磨料气体射流,基于气固两相流理论分析影响磨料速度的因素,在一定喷嘴结构基础上,通过实验研究磨料特性对破煤效果的影响。通过理论分析发现,影响磨料速度的主要因素有磨料密度和磨料粒径。实验结果表明:在射流压力一定条件下,石英砂、石榴石和棕刚玉3种磨料中棕刚玉破煤深度最大,在80,120,200和280目4种不同目数磨料中,120目磨料破煤效果最优。通过分析磨料特性的影响,得出磨料硬度对破煤的影响最大,其次是磨料密度。开展磨料气体射流破煤实验,确定了磨料气体射流中最优射流靶距为70 mm,最佳破煤磨料为120目的棕刚玉磨料。     

V型滤池工艺设计的标准化和智能化探讨

针对V型滤池的设计特点,提出了设计的标准化方法。利用AutoCAD内嵌的Visual LISP语言编程,实现了计算机自动设计、计算及绘图的功能。程序具有人机对话的功能,从而实现了设计的智能化。     

锆改性纳米TiO的光催化性能研究

用溶胶-凝胶法制备了锆改性纳米二氧化钛光催化剂，并用XRD、UV-vis、BET等测定技术对所制得的粉体试样进行了表征。同时以甲基橙及苯酚为模拟污染物，评价了改性后纳米二氧化钛的光催化性能，发现其光催化活性大大高于未改性二氧化钛粉体，并得出当n（Zr）／n（Ti）=5／300时，锆改性纳米二氧化钛样品的光催化活性最高。     

构建新型危险化学品安全管理体制

随着我国经济的快速发展,危险化学品事故频频发生。现行危险化学品安全管理体制存在漏洞是其主要原因。笔者认为现行危险化学品安全管理体制主要存在5个方面不足:管理体制与市场经济体制不符;行业管理未能实现;中介作用没有发挥;工会维权力量薄弱;公众参与严重不足等。为此,建议建立政府、市场和民众相互协调的危险化学品安全管理体制,即“政府监管、市场调节和社会监督”。其中,政府监管包括政府管理和国家监督,市场调节包括企业责任和中介服务,社会监督包括员工维权和公众参与。     

Ethanol From Corn: Clean Renewable Fuel for the Future,or Drain on Our Resources and Pockets?

It is shown here that one burns 1 gallon of gasoline equivalent in fossil fuels to produce 1 gallon of gasoline equivalent as ethanol from corn. When this corn ethanol is burned as a gasoline additive or fuel, its use amounts to burning the same amount of fuel twice to drive a car once. Therefore, the fuel efficiency of those cars that burn corn ethanol is halved. The widespread use of corn ethanol will cause manifold damage to air, surface water, soil and aquifers. The overall energy balance of corn conversion to ethanol demonstrates that 65% of the input energy is lost during the conversion. Carbon dioxide sequestration by corn is nullified when corn ethanol is burned, and there will be additional carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, and sulfur oxide emissions from the fossil fuels used to produce the ethanol. Students in the Spring 2003 CE24 Freshman Seminar offered at U.C. Berkeley by the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.