Reducing Fertilizer‐Nitrogen Losses from Rowcrop Landscapes: Insights and Implications from a Spatially Explicit Watershed Model

We present conceptual and quantitative models that predict changes in fertilizer‐derived nitrogen delivery from rowcrop landscapes caused by agricultural conservation efforts implemented to reduce nutrient inputs and transport and increase nutrient retention in the landscape. To evaluate the relative importance of changes in the sources, transport, and sinks of fertilizer‐derived nitrogen across a region, we use the spatially explicit SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes watershed model to map the distribution, at the small watershed scale within the Upper Mississippi‐Ohio River Basin (UMORB), of: (1) fertilizer inputs; (2) nutrient attenuation during delivery of those inputs to the UMORB outlet; and (3) nitrogen export from the UMORB outlet. Comparing these spatial distributions suggests that the amount of fertilizer input and degree of nutrient attenuation are both important in determining the extent of nitrogen export. From a management perspective, this means that agricultural conservation efforts to reduce nitrogen export would benefit by: (1) expanding their focus to include activities that restore and enhance nutrient processing in these highly altered landscapes; and (2) targeting specific types of best management practices to watersheds where they will be most valuable. Doing so successfully may result in a shift in current approaches to conservation planning, outreach, and funding.     

An easy method to design gas/vapor relief system with rupture disk

Tank discharge gas/vapor flow problems are frequently encountered in both practice and design. To perform this type of design calculation, the first step is to identify whether the flow is choked or not through a trial-and-error solution of an equation for adiabatic flow with friction from a reservoir through a pipe. Developing a direct method without any trial-and-error to identify a choking condition would be helpful for expediting the flow calculations. This paper presents an easy and quick method to identify the choking of gas flow for an emergency relief system consisting of a rupture disk and vent piping. This greatly simplifies the design calculations. The proposed method for validating the venting adequacy of existing ERS circumvents the iteration calculation and the use of Lapple charts. Three case studies for the design of vent piping for rupture disks support the proposed method.     

Whose lawn is it anyway? Redefining problems and the implementation of municipal stormwater policies

Research of problem definitions typically centres on agenda setting and formulation with less attention given to implementation. In recognition of this gap, this analysis examines the relationship between issue definition, issue redefinition and policy implementation by reviewing two municipal stormwater plans. The results suggest that in larger issue contexts replete with ambiguity and uncertainty, problem definitions are often “tweaked” and adapted during the implementation process. In short, street-level bureaucrats craft “genetically related” but idiosyncratic problem definitions – that fit their own policy-making context. In the case of stormwater, “solutions”; are best described as dynamic policies built upon the values associated with technical expertise, public participation and environmental sustainability.     

Resolution and Analysis of Spatial Variations and Patterns in an Urban Lake with Rapid Profiling Instrumentation

Rapid response vertical profiling instrumentation was used to document spatial variability and patterns in a small urban lake, Onondaga Lake, associated with multiple drivers. Paired profiles of temperature, specific conductance (SC), turbidity (T_n), fluorometric chlorophyll a (Chl_f), and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^?) were collected at >30 fixed locations (a “gridding”) weekly, over the spring to fall interval of several years. These gridding data are analyzed (1) to characterize phytoplankton (Chl_f) patchiness in the lake's upper waters, (2) to establish the representativeness of a single long‐term site for monitoring lake‐wide conditions, and (3) to resolve spatial patterns of multiple tracers imparted by buoyancy effects of inflows. Multiple buoyancy signatures were resolved, including overflows from less dense inflows, and interflows to metalimnetic depths and underflows to the bottom from the plunging of more dense inputs. Three different metrics had utility as tracers in depicting the buoyancy signatures as follows: (1) SC, for salinity‐enriched tributaries and the more dilute river that receives the lake's outflow, (2) T_n, for the tributaries during runoff events, and (3) NO₃^?, for the effluent of a domestic waste treatment facility and from the addition of NO₃^? solution to control methyl mercury. The plunging inflow phenomenon, which frequently prevailed, has important management implications.     

Using GIS to Delineate Headwater Stream Origins in the Appalachian Coalfields of Kentucky

Headwater streams have a significant nexus or physical, chemical, and/or biological connection to downstream reaches. Generally, defined as 1st‐3rd order with ephemeral, intermittent, or perennial flow regimes, these streams account for a substantial portion of the total stream network particularly in mountainous terrain. Due to their often remote locations, small size, and large numbers, conducting field inventories of headwater streams is challenging. A means of estimating headwater stream location and extent according to flow regime type using publicly available spatial data is needed to simplify this complex process. Using field‐collected headwater point of origin data from three control watersheds, streams were characterized according to a set of spatial parameters related to topography, geology, and soils. These parameters were (1) compared to field‐collected point of origin data listed in three nearby Jurisdictional Determinations, (2) used to develop a geographic information system (GIS)‐based stream network for identifying ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial streams, and (3) applied to a larger watershed and compared to values obtained using the high‐resolution National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). The parameters drainage area and local valley slope were the most reliable predictors of flow regime type. Results showed the high‐resolution NHD identified no ephemeral streams and 9 and 65% fewer intermittent and perennial streams, respectively, than the GIS model.     

生活垃圾循环流化床焚烧锅炉飞灰中二噁英热解析特性研究

实际垃圾焚烧系统中飞灰会在尾部烟道堆积并在受热后发生二噁英的再生成、热降解及向烟气解析等协同作用.本文研究了半干法脱硫塔前生活垃圾焚烧飞灰在受热过程中二噁英的质量变化及其气固相分布情况,重点研究了反应温度、含氧量及硫胺基复合阻滞剂的添加等对飞灰中二噁英热解析特性的影响.试验结果表明,250℃时飞灰析出的气相二噁英很少,而450℃时气相二噁英的比例高达99.7%;氧含量对飞灰中二噁英的热解析特性影响较大,当氧含量为6%时,气相二噁英的析出量最大,达到2.87 ng·g-1;350℃时添加硫胺基复合阻滞剂后二噁英总量明显下降,表明阻滞剂能够抑制二噁英再合成,但气相中二噁英的比例从47.69%上升到87.50%.     

基于BP神经网络优化制备Cu-Ce/TiO_2及其光催化活性研究

采用Cu和Ce对TiO2进行改性,基于正交实验设计和BP神经网络研究了Cu-Ce/TiO2中Cu-Ce对TiO2的摩尔百分数、Cu-Ce/TiO2中CuCe摩尔比及Cu-Ce/TiO2烧结温度对Cu-Ce/TiO2光催化降解甲醛溶液性能的影响.同时,对Cu-Ce/TiO2制备方案进行了优化,并运用X射线衍射仪、扫描电子显微镜和紫外-可见分光光度计对最佳条件下制备的Cu-Ce/TiO2进行表征.结果表明,优化的制备条件为Cu-Ce/TiO2中Cu-Ce对TiO2的摩尔百分数为2.88%,Cu-Ce/TiO2中Cu-Ce的摩尔比为1∶1,Cu-Ce/TiO2的烧结温度为570℃.共掺杂Cu离子和Ce离子能有效避免掺杂TiO2晶格内部表层和近表层产生较多的位错,从而抑制晶格畸变增大;诱导TiO2中锐钛矿型晶体向金红石型晶体转变的能力增强,有效抑制电子-空穴对的复合,产生介电局域效应.     

Application of an odd/even predominance of n-alkanes in oil–source rock correlation: taking the lower Paleozoic strata of the Tarim Basin as an example

The composition and distribution of n-alkanes carbon numbers reflect the source of kerogenic organic matter, sedimentary environment, and maturity of the rocks. The comparison results of the n-alkanes GC (gas chromatography) chromatograms in the Tazhong Low Uplift show that the n-alkanes of the source rocks in Upper Ordovician display an odd carbon number predominance. At the same time, Cambrian–Lower Ordovician exhibit an even carbon number predominance. The correlation between oil and source rock illustrates that crude oils in the fields of well TZ10-12 and well TZ24 stem from the Upper Ordovician source rocks. The origins of the crude oils in the fields of well TZ161-162 and well TZ45 are Cambrian–Lower Ordovician. The strata corresponding to the crude oils with odd/even carbon number predominance match the oil–source rock correlation. Thus, the characteristics of odd/even carbon number predominance in n-alkane compounds are effective for oil–source rock correlation in the Tazhong Low Uplift, Tarim Basin.     

内循环厌氧反应器流动模型及反应过程模拟

为揭示内循环厌氧反应器放大过程中所出现的规律,本文对反应器中流动模型和反应过程进行了模拟研究,通过对主反应区的停留时间分布的实验研究,确定了主反应区流型可用一平推流与两个并联的全混流进行串联的三参数组合模型进行模拟.在实验范围内,平推流区所占的体积分数约为36%,两个全混流区所占的体积分数分别为53%和11%.结合厌氧反应动力学方程,应用组合模型模拟了实际反应器的状态,并和实验值进行了对比,发现反应器出口处CH_4体积流量最大误差为9.67%,在可允许的范围内.同时,模拟了基质初始COD和温度变化对反应器出口状态的影响.研究表明,与其它模型相比,组合模型计算简洁,同时又有较好的精度,能够满足反应器的设计需要.