Air pollution transport in the Balkan region and country-to-country pollution exchange between Romania, Bulgaria and Greece

US EPA Models-3 system is used for calculating the exchange of ozone pollution between three countries in southeast Europe. For the purpose, three domains with resolution 90, 30 and 10 km are chosen in such a way that the most inner domain with dimensions 90 × 147 points covers entirely Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.The ozone pollution levels are studied on the base of three indexes given in the EU Ozone Directive, mainly accumulated over threshold of 40 ppb for crops (AOT40C, period May–July), number of days with 8-h running average over 60 ppb (NOD60) and averaged daily maximum (ADM). These parameters are calculated for every scenario and the influence of each country emissions on the pollution of the region is estimated and commented.Oxidized and reduced sulphur and nitrogen loads over the territories of the three countries are also determined. The application of all scenarios gave the possibility to estimate the contribution of every country to the S and N pollution of the others and detailed blame matrixes to be build.Comparison of the ozone levels model estimates with data from the EMEP monitoring stations is made.     

Development of an integrated decision-support model for density management within jack pine stand-types

The objectives of this study were to (1) develop a modular-based structural stand density management model (SSDMM) and corresponding algorithmic analogue for natural (naturally regenerated stands without a history of density regulation) and managed (naturally or artificially regenerated stands with a history of density regulation) jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) stand-types, and (2) demonstrate the utility of the model in operational density management decision-making. Employing an Ontario-centric database consisting of 262 and 221 tree-list measurements obtained from 91 and 139 permanent and temporary sample plots situated within natural and managed stand-types, respectively, combined with data derived from density control experiments and sawmill simulation studies, six integrated estimation modules were constructed: Module A consisted of the parameterization of the core yield–density relationships which together drive the entire yield prediction system (e.g., size–density relationships for quadratic mean diameter, dominant height, mean volume, and mean live crown ratio, and site-specific height–age relationships); Module B consisted of the development of Weibull-based parameter prediction equation systems for recovering diameter distributions and composite height-diameter equations for height estimation; Module C consisted of the development of composite taper equations for predicting log products and stem volumes; Module D consisted of the development of allometric-based composite biomass equations for each above-ground component (bark, stem, branch and foliage) from which biomass estimates and associated carbon-based equivalents were derived; Module E consisted of the development of sawmill-specific composite equations for estimating chip and lumber volumes; and Module F consisted of the development of composite equations for estimating wood density and mean maximum branch diameter. The utility of the model was demonstrated by simultaneously contrasting a set of complex density management regimes (commercial thinning and variable planting densities) in terms of a broad array of stand-level yield outcomes and performance measures: overall productivity, log-product distributions, biomass production and carbon yields, recoverable products (chip and lumber volumes) and associated monetary values, economic efficiency, duration of optimal site occupancy, structural stability, and fibre attributes (wood density and mean maximum branch diameter). In summary, the modular-based SSDMM provides the analytical foundation for evaluating the likelihood of realizing a multitude of stand-level objectives when designing density control regimes for jack pine stand-types.     

Modelling of the relationship moisture content to nutrient transformation rate in river sediments

The modelling of the transformation processes in the river sediments is an important and still not investigated problem that is a key for water quality. The relation between nutrients transformation rate and moisture in sediments was investigated by means of analogous modelling. The mathematical dependences of the connection were derived, and only two of them were linear—at the early stage of COD (organic) change and at the late stage of transformation of phosphates that metabolically connected the biodegradation of organics with oxidative phosphorylation. The rest mathematical dependences were the polynomials of third order. This study confirmed that the leading factors which influence the transformation rate of nutrients are the sediment surface, particular organic matter and porosity of the medium, as well as the concentration on the sediment surface of micro-organisms, enzymes, co-metabolites, etc. The presented data from ecological modelling of the transformation processes in the parafluvial sediments showed how can the hydrological models be enlarged and enriched in their application to the key and critical (risk) fluctuations in the river functioning. The mathematical dependences and coefficients were extracted in our complex study to be included in HSPF model as an enlarged module. As far as the investigated transformation processes in the parafluvial have more universal significance, the results can be applied in the other models, bounded river water and sediment quality.     

Initial phase modelling in numerical explosion applied to process safety

The utilisation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in process safety has increased significantly in recent years. The modelling of accidental explosion via CFD has in many cases replaced the classical Multi Energy and Brake Strehlow methods. The benefits obtained with CFD modelling can be diminished if proper modelling of the initial phase of explosion is neglected. In the early stages of an explosion, the flame propagates in a quasi-laminar regime. Proper modelling of the initial laminar phase is a key aspect in order to predict the peak pressure and the time to peak pressure. The present work suggests a modelling approach for the initial laminar phase in explosion scenarios. Findings are compared with experimental data for two classical explosion test cases which resemble the common features in chemical process areas (confinement and congestion). A detailed analysis of the threshold for the transition from laminar to turbulent regime is also carried out. The modelling is implemented in a fully 3D Navier–Stokes compressible formulation. Combustion is treated using a laminar flamelet approach based on the Bray, Moss and Libby (BML) formulation. A novel modified porosity approach developed for the unstructured solver is also considered. Results agree satisfactorily with experiments and the modelling is found to be robust.     

环境空气 PM2．5、PM10相关性及污染水平研究

PM2．5能够透过人体组织,对健康产生重要影响,研究环境空气中PM2．5的污染特征具有实际意义。以遂宁市大气连续采样监测数据为基础,利用SPSS软件对可吸入颗粒物PM10和细颗粒物PM2．5进行相关性分析,建立回归方程并预测2012年PM2．5日均浓度值。结果表明,PM2．5和PM10呈显著相关,回归模型 R2为0．618,标准估计误差为0．023630。PM2．5预测值为60μg／m3,超过国家一级标准限值,且PM2．5污染水平高于PM10,细颗粒物是城市大气污染控制的重要污染物。     

工业碳减排绩效及其影响因素动态分解

进入21 世纪以来,中国工业碳排放总量仍在波动中增长。为了考查近10 a 来中国工业碳减排绩效,并定量分析影响工业碳减排的主要因素对碳减排的贡献变化情况,论文通过构建中国工业碳排放数据库并运用“精确”的Laspeyres 分解方法,对中国2001-2010 年36 个工业行业CO₂减排的影响因素进行了动态分解,研究结果表明：①虽然中国工业CO₂排放总量在不断增加,但CO₂排放增长率和工业碳排放强度双双降低,在考察周期内,CO₂排放总量从2001 年 2.89×10⁹ t 增长到2010 年7.16×10⁹ t,工业碳排放量增长率则从2003 年最高值18.86%持续下降至2009 年的5.77%,工业整体碳排放强度由2001 年的29.14 t/104元下降到2010 年的18.12 t/10⁴ 元;②工业经济规模不断增加是工业CO₂排放增加的主导因素,技术进步和结构调整则有效抑制了CO₂的增加,10 a 间规模效应对CO₂排放总量增加的贡献度年均达到191.81%,但是由于受到技术进步效应和结构调整效应的共同作用,10 a 来总效应值年均只有109.15%;③较之技术进步效应,结构调整效应对工业CO₂减排的贡献度更大,结构调整效应累计促进碳减排达2.07× 10⁹ t,而技术进步效应促进减排的总量只有1.14×10⁹ t。论文认为,着力中长期减排政策的制定,以保证技术进步在碳减排中持续发挥作用,同时充分挖掘结构调整对减排作用潜力是中国实现工业碳减排的务实选择。     

基于生物化学性质的固体废物厌氧降解特征参数

为了更简便有效地预测固体废物的厌氧降解参数,通过代表性单组份废物的生物化学甲烷潜力实验,研究了甲烷产生潜力,降解速率和碳贮藏因子这3种厌氧降解参数与生物化学性质的关系.结果表明,通过因子分析,可用多糖、蛋白质、脂肪和木质素4种成分替代C、H、N、多糖、蛋白质、脂肪、半纤维素、纤维素和木质素9种成分;再通过偏最小二乘回归数值分析,在厌氧降解参数与多糖、蛋白、脂肪、木质纤维素之间建立线性关系.结果表明,脂肪和多糖含量越高,甲烷产生潜力和降解速率就越大;木质素含量越高,则碳贮藏因子越大.蛋白质含量的增加会导致甲烷产生潜力的减小.研究建立的线性方程可为预测固体废物厌氧降解参数提供一种新的方法.     

Removal of Novacron Golden Yellow dye from aqueous solutions by low-cost agricultural waste: Batch and fixed bed study

The present work describes the removal of Novacron Golden Yellow (NGY) dye from aqueous solutions using peanut hulls. The experiments were performed with native, pretreated and immobilised forms of peanut hulls. The effect of various operational parameters (pH, biosorbent dose, initial dye concentration and temperature etc.) was explored during batch study. NGY showed maximum removal at low pH and low biosorbent dose. High initial dye concentration facilitated the biosorption process. Maximum dye removal with native, pretreated and immobilised biomass was found to be 35.7, 36.4 and 15.02 mg/g respectively. The experimental data were subjected to different kinetic and equilibrium models. The kinetic data confirmed the fitness of pseudo-second-order rate law for NGY biosorption. The equilibrium modelling was carried out by Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin models. The isothermal data of NGY removal were best described by Freundlich adsorption isotherm. Negative values of Free energy change (Δ G⁰) for NGY with native and pretreated biomass depicted the spontaneous nature of biosorption process. In column mode, the effects of bed height, flow rate and initial dye concentrations were optimised. Maximum NGY biosorption (7.28 mg/g) was observed with high bed height, low flow rate and high initial concentration in continuous mode. Bohart–Adams model best fitted to the data obtained from column studies. The results indicated that the peanut hulls could be used effectively for the removal of dyes containing wastewater.     

Mapping cumulative impacts of mining on sediment retention ecosystem service in an Australian mining region

Mining development can potentially lead to cumulative impacts on ecosystems and their services across a range of scales. Site-specific environmental impact assessments are commonly assessed for mining projects; however, large-scale cumulative impacts of multiple mines that aggregate and interact in resources regions have had little attention in the literature and there are few examples where regional-scale mining impacts have been assessed on ecosystem services. The objective of this study is to quantify regional-scale cumulative impacts of mining on sediment retention ecosystem services. We apply the sediment delivery ratio model of Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs to calculate and map the sediment retention and export using a synthetic catchment model and a real case study under different mining scenarios in an Australian mining region. Two impact indices were created to quantify the cumulative impacts associated with a single mine and the interactions between multiple mines. The indices clarified the magnitude of impacts and the positive/negative impacts associated with regional-scale sediment retention and export. We found cumulative impacts associated with multiple mines’ interaction occurred but the influence of these interactions was relatively weak. This research demonstrated the potential for utilising ecosystem services modelling for the quantitative assessment of the cumulative impacts. Such research provide decision-makers and planners with a tool for sustainable regional and landscape planning that balances the needs of mining and the provision of ecosystem services.