Ecosystem Impacts of Geoengineering: A Review for Developing a Science Plan

Geoengineering methods are intended to reduce climate change, which is already having demonstrable effects on ecosystem structure and functioning in some regions. Two types of geoengineering activities that have been proposed are: carbon dioxide (CO(2)) removal (CDR), which removes CO(2) from the atmosphere, and solar radiation management (SRM, or sunlight reflection methods), which reflects a small percentage of sunlight back into space to offset warming from greenhouse gases (GHGs). Current research suggests that SRM or CDR might diminish the impacts of climate change on ecosystems by reducing changes in temperature and precipitation. However, sudden cessation of SRM would exacerbate the climate effects on ecosystems, and some CDR might interfere with oceanic and terrestrial ecosystem processes. The many risks and uncertainties associated with these new kinds of purposeful perturbations to the Earth system are not well understood and require cautious and comprehensive research.     

高温载硫活性炭的制备及脱汞能力研究

研究了载硫温度、硫炭比(简称S/C),吸附温度等因素对载硫活性炭的硫含量、脱汞能力以及硫损失的影响,探讨载硫活性炭制备的工艺条件优化。结果表明,不同载硫温度下制备的载硫活性炭的气态Hg0吸附能力远强于原料活性炭;载硫温度不同时,负载到活性炭孔隙或表面上的硫的形态不同,导致了脱汞能力的差异,较合适的载硫温度为350℃;S/C为5%(质量分数,下同)时,随着吸附温度的升高,载硫活性炭的气态Hg0吸附量降低;在一定的载硫温度下,原料中S/C越高时,制备的载硫活性炭的硫含量越高、气态Hg0吸附能力越强,但其硫损失率也越高,从实际的使用效果来看,较合适的S/C为10%。     

聚合硫酸铁/高锰酸钾/二氧化氯组合工艺用于聚氯乙烯废水回收的工程化研究

采用聚合硫酸铁复配高锰酸钾混凝结合二氧化氯氧化的组合工艺成功解决了某厂聚氯乙烯生产废水回收工艺CODMn不达标问题。工程运行结果表明,当原水CODMn=30～48 mg/L,浊度=25～46 NTU时,在CFe=16.8 mg/L,CKMnO4=45 mg/L,CClO2=20 mg/L的条件下,出水CODMn<10 mg/L,浊度<0.5 NTU,达到工业循环补给水的水质要求。     

High-molecular weight sulfur-containing aromatics refractory to weathering as determined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Biomarkers and low-molecular weight polyaromatic compounds have been extensively studied for their fate in the environment. They are used for oil spill source identification and monitoring of weathering and degradation processes. However, in some cases, the absence or presence of very low concentration of such components restricts the access of information to spill source. Here we followed the resistance of high-molecular weight sulfur-containing aromatics to the simulated weathering condition of North Sea crude oil by ultra high-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. The sulfur aromatics in North Sea crude having double bond equivalents (DBE) from 6 to 14 with a mass range 188-674 Da were less influenced even after 6 months artificial weathering. Moreover, the ratio of dibenzothiophenes (DBE 9)/naphthenodibenzothiophenes (DBE 10) was 1.30 and 1.36 in crude oil and 6 months weathered sample, respectively reflecting its weathering stability. It also showed some differences within other oils. Hence, this ratio can be used as a marker of the studied crude and accordingly may be applied for spilled oil source identification in such instances where the light components have already been lost due to environmental influences.     

An international registration and tracking system for greenhouse gas emissions trading: elements,possibilities, problems and issues for further discussion

International emissions trading under the Kyoto Protocol or an alternative international regime need a registration system to prevent the creation of fake emission permits. We suggest a two-tier system consisting of an International Registry (IR) and a set of national registries. National registries have to adhere to a set of minimum standards. The IR maintains accounts for countries and private entities. The latter would thus be ensured against expropriation. We suggest that permits should become fungible across all Kyoto Mechanisms, and are allocated a serial number to allow tracking. The IR should collect fees for adaptation and administration. It should also be charged with reallocation of emission budgets owing to various causes, enforcing of eventual caps, and discounting of permits owing to non-compliance. We discuss the registration process and a timetable for the set-up of the registries. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of neighborhood traffic density on the respiratory health of elementary schoolchildren

Background

Several studies have found that living near major roadways is associated with an increase in respiratory illness but few studies have measured the volume and type of traffic.

Objective

We investigated the relation between traffic volume and respiratory health of 2328 children 9 to 11 years old in the city of Windsor, Canada.

Methods

We identified the roadways within a 200 meter radius of the child's neighborhood using the latitude and longitude of the residential postal code. Traffic exposure was defined as the sum of the annual volume of vehicles on all of these roadways. Volume was calculated using sensors to detect passing vehicles (simple traffic counts), and by counts and direction of traffic at intersections (turning movement counts). Ventilatory lung function was measured by spirometry and airway inflammation by exhaled nitric oxide (eNO).

Results

The odds ratio between an interquartile increase in truck turning movement counts and chest congestion was 1.20 (1.06-1.35). The percentage of predicted FVC declined 0.68%, (95% CI 1.32, 0.03) for an interquartile increase in simple traffic counts (33,787 vehicles daily). Among those with self-reported asthma, effect sizes were larger. Percentage predicted FEV₁ declined 1.84% (95% CI 0.07, 3.61) associated with an interquartile range increase in turning movement counts. No statistically significant change was detected between traffic measures and exhaled nitric oxide.

Conclusions

Our findings provide further support for the hypothesis that neighborhood exposure to traffic-related air pollution increases respiratory symptoms and reduces ventilatory function in children, especially those with self-reported asthma.     

二氧化氯应用于二次供水安全消毒的静态研究

采用二氧化氯（ClO2）作为二次供水的消毒剂进行静态实验研究,考察了ClO2投加量、氨氮与CODMn浓度及pH对ClO2衰减及消毒副产物氯酸盐（ClO3^-）和亚氯酸盐（ClO2）的生成影响,并建立了ClO3-和ClO2生成浓度的经验预测模型。结果表明：前4h内,随着消毒剂初始投加浓度提高,ClO2的衰减速率增加,4h后降解则较缓慢。ClO2加入水中,立即有ClO3^-与ClO2^-生成,4h后基本达到稳定,且随着药剂投加量的增加,ClO3^-和ClO2-的生成量逐渐增大。氨氮、CODMn及pH的升高,可加速ClO2的衰减,同时可促进ClO3^-和ClO2-的生成。其中,氨氮浓度从0．085mg／L升高到0．585mg／LClO3^-与ClO2-的生成浓度分别增加了6．49μg／L和8．32μg／L;CODMn从1．13mg／L升高到3．13mg／L,ClO3^-与ClO2-的生成浓度分别增加了13．75μg／L和9．23μg／L;pH从6．49升高到8．45,ClO3^-与ClO2-的生成浓度分别增加了13．28μg／L和10．01μg／L。     

二氧化硫排放测算方法与控制对策探讨

二氧化硫作为衡量企业减排成绩和环境效益的重要指标,其计算方法的选取尤为重要。通过对几种常用二氧化硫排放测算方法的研究及比较,选取了物料衡算法作为长庆油田公司第一采气厂天然气净化厂环境统计分析的基本计算依据,确定了二氧化硫排放问题的关键影响因素,同时从环境统计学角度给出了二氧化硫达标排放的控制指标及建议,为有效开展二氧化硫及其他污染物的排放问题研究,提供技术指导及方法依据。     

Developing spatially stratified N(2)O emission factors for Europe

We investigate the possibility to replace the – so-called – Tier 1 IPCC approach to estimate soil N₂O emissions with stratified emissions factors that take into account both N-input and the spatial variability of the environmental conditions within the countries of the European Union, using the DNDC-Europe model. Spatial variability in model simulations is high and corresponds to the variability reported in literature for field data. Our results indicate that (a) much of the observed variability in N₂O fluxes reflects the response of soils to external conditions, (b) it is likely that national inventories tend to overestimate the uncertainties in their estimated direct N₂O emissions from arable soils; (c) on average over Europe, the fertilizer-induced emissions (FIE) coincide with the IPCC factors, but they display large spatial variations. Therefore, at scales of individual countries or smaller, a stratified approach considering fertilizer type, soil characteristics and climatic parameters is preferable.