Developing a Standardized Water Quality Index for Evaluating Surface Water Quality1

Abstract: There is a significant need for a science‐based approach to interpret water‐monitoring data and to facilitate the rapid transfer of information to water resource managers and the general public. The water quality Index (WQI) is defined as a single numeric score that describes the surface water quality condition at a particular time and location. The objective of this paper is to describe the WQI concept and the approach for developing an ecoregion‐specific standardized WQI that meets the needs described above. The premise of the proposed WQI is based on categorizing scientifically documented aquatic life responses to changes in instream water chemistry. The method uses an aggregated procedure that matches the entire range of standardized probable biological responses to standardized narrative water quality evaluation categories and standardized rank score categories. The calculation of WQI and decision‐making process are performed within an Excel spreadsheet software program. The article includes examples of the proposed WQI applications that could enhance effective water resource management and facilitate timely communication of water quality conditions to water resource managers and the general public.     

Computer simulation of the cumulative effects of brushland fire-management policies

A mathematical model simulates the cumulative volume of debris produced from brushland watersheds. Application of this model to a 176-km² (0.678 = mi²) watershed along the southern flank of the Central San Gabriel Mountains permits assessment of expected debris production associated with alternative fire-management policies. The political implications of simulated debris production are evaluated through a conceptual model that links interest groups to particular successional stages in brushland watersheds by means of the resources claimed by each group. It is concluded that in theory, a rotation burn policy would provide benefits to more interest groups concerned about southern California's brushland watersheds than does the current fire exclusion policy.This research was supported by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and by the Office of Water Research and Technology, USDI, under the Allotment program of Public Law 88–379, as amended, and by the University of California. Water Resources Center, as a part of Office of Water Research and Technology Project No. A-058-CAL and Water Resources Center Project UCAL-WRC-499. Support was also provided by the California Agricultural Experiment Station, Berkeley, California.     

Technetium: A toxic waste product of the nuclear fuel cycle: Effects on soybean growth and development

Technetium-99 (⁹⁹Tc) is formed in significant amounts (6.2% fission yield) during fission in both nuclear reactors and nuclear bombs. The effects of technetium on soybeans (Glycine max) were studied in relation to (a) cytochemical events in the apical meristems of germinating seedlings; (b) growth responses to 0, 0.04, 0.2, 1.0, 5.0, and 20.0 ppm Tc; (c) growth responses to varying levels of Tc after a prior 5-day germination on Tc-free media, and (d) response to Tc in the presence of added manganese.By 20 days, reductions in growth were evident at all levels of Tc except 0.04 ppm (Experiment 2). Root growth was most severely affected, and seedling abnormality at 20 ppm was fivefold greater than that of the controls. The effect of 20 ppm Tc was evident at 10 days when the accumulated absorption dose was approximately 25 rads. The first evidence of damage at this dose was a delay in the initiation of the first trifoliate leaf. The shoot meristem size was 1.2-fold smaller than that of the control; however, there was no cytological evidence of radiation-induced damage. Observation of mitotic figures did not reveal any chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, or chromosome bridges. The lowest level of Tc showing toxicity was 0.2 ppm which resulted in a 31% reduction in growth at 20 days. The accumulated dose was 0.5 rad (0.025 rad/day) and thus it seems unlikely that the rapid inhibition of growth and development is due to radiological toxicity. It is quite probable that the growth effects are due to chemical toxicity possibly due to nutrient competition and/or substitution in uptake or metabolism. However, extremely low doses of radiation have been shown to delay the onset of DNA synthesis (possibly by membrane effects) inTradescantia and until the actual mechanism of Tc inhibition is determined a radiation effect cannot be totally ruled out.This research was partially supported by ERDA Contract EY-76-S-02-4139     

ESTIMATION OF SOIL MOISTURE WITH API ALGORITHMS AND MICROWAVE EMISSION1

Large area soil moisture estimations are required to describe input to cloud prediction models, rainfall distribution models, and global crop yield models. Satellite mounted microwave sensor systems that as yet can only detect moisture at the surface have been suggested as a means of acquiring large area estimates. Relations previously discovered between microwave emission at the 1.55 cm wavelength and surface moisture as represented by an antecedent precipitation index were used to provide a pseudo infiltration estimation. Infiltration estimates based on surface wetness on a daily basis were then used to calculate the soil moisture in the surface 0–23 cm of the soil by use of a modified antecedent precipitation index. Reasonably good results were obtained (R²= 0.7162) when predicted soil moisture for the surface 23 cm was compared to measured moisture. Where the technique was modified to use only an estimate of surface moisture each three days an R² value of 0.7116 resulted for the same data set. Correlations between predicted and actual soil moisture fall off rapidly for repeat observations more than three days apart. The algorithms developed in this study may be used over relatively flat agricultural lands to provide improved estimates of soil moisture to a depth greater than the depth of penetration for the sensor.     

基于上海案例的大都市旅游容量及承载力研究

都市旅游容量和承载力问题是事关都市旅游可持续发展、和谐旅游环境建设的重大战略性命题。上海都市旅游发展跨入了由数量扩张向质量提升的重要转型发展期。面临警旅游容量问题的严峻挑战。都市旅游容量管理与调控是一项社会系统工程。实施旅游容量管理与调控不是剥夺或限制公民进入都市旅游和体验的权利。而是根据这种区域的极限容量阀值。疏导进入大都市的旅游流。使之保持警一种合理的、持续的容量态势发展，维系整个区域发展的可持续性。为此。要创新都市旅游容量与承载力管理的制度安排。通过都市旅游产品转型与创新、基础设施技术升级和扩能、都市旅游布局空间战略调整、区域协调与联动、实施旅游可持续指标行动等举措，进一步释放都市旅游容量及承载力潜力，缓解都市中心城区容量压力。促进都市旅游可持续发展。     

科尔沁沙地生态环境质量综合评价

基于研究区2000年土地利用图形数据、土地沙漠化监测数据、环境状况公报数据以及统计年鉴数据，采用中华人民共和国环境保护行业标准《生态环境状况评价技术规范（试行）》HJ／T192—2006）规定的生态环境状况评价的指标体系和计算方法。从旗、县尺度上对科尔沁沙地的生态环境状况进行综合评价。结果表明：2000年科尔沁沙地各旗县的生物丰度指数为22．01-37．96。植被覆盖指数为25．20～45．86，水网密度指数为22．51—30．97。土地退化指数为1．47—21．06。环境质量指数为57．98～59．84，综合生态环境质量指数为25．28～33．25。根据国家生态环境状况分级标准判断．该区域生态环境状况属于较差级别．意昧着该区域植被疆盖度较差。严重干旱少雨．物种较少。存在着明显限制人类生存的因素。     

差异性区域网格化环境管理初探

差异性区域网格化环境管理是在环境状况存在明显分异区域进行环境管理的有效的方式。依托网格化管理在资源整合和信息共事方面的优势．探讨在环境状况差异明显区域构建网格化管理体系的目标、步骤与管理思路。以上海市宝山区的实践为例．根据区内环境现状差异明显的特征。将全区划分为150个网格．从中选取环境矛盾较为突出的网格．开展区域环境综合整治与环境建设．逐年逐块提升区域网格环境状况．实现区域环境网格等级的提升．初步达成区域生态、生产、生活的协调。实践表明．差异性区域网格化管理是建设环境友好型社会的一种有效的环境管理手段。     

用于评价水污染的生物指数

对各国学者所建立的应用较广泛的生物指数作了综述 ,通过分析各种生物指数的优点与缺陷 ,指出了目前建立生物指数方法上的不足 ,并提出了建立生物指数应该采用的更合理的方法。     

Decomposition Analysis of Sectoral Energy Use in Beijing （1981-2005） Using the LMDI Method

This paper aims to identify the main driving force for changes of total primary energy consumption in Beijing during the period of 1981-2005. Sectoral energy use was investigated when regional economic structure changed significantly. The changes of total primary energy consumption in Beijing are decomposed into production effects, structural effects and intensity effects using the additive version of the logarithmic mean Divisia index （LMDI） method. Aggregate decomposition analysis showed that the major contributor of total effect was made by the production effect followed by the intensity effect, and the structural effect was relatively insignificant. The total and production effects were all positive. In contrast, the structural effect and intensity effect were all negative. Sectoral decomposition investigation indicated that the most effective way to slow down the growth rate of total primary energy consumption （TPEC） was to reduce the production of the energy-intensive industrial sectors and improving industrial energy intensity. The results show that in this period, Beijing＇s economy has undergone a transformation from an industrial to a service economy. However, the structures of sectoral energy use have not been changed yet, and energy demand should be increasing until the energy-intensive industrial production to be reduced and energy intensity of the region reaches a peak. As sequence energy consumption data of sub-sectors are not available, only the fundamental three sectors are considered： agriculture, industry and service. However, further decomposition into secondary and tertiary sectors is definitely needed for detailed investigations.     

中国县域资源组合结构的分类研究

按区域经济的发展，遵循资源分布的地域分异规律，论述了中国县域资源的地域组合结构的分类问题。首先对采用多因素综合作用、自然资源与经济资源兼容组合、资源优势、资源系统良性循环等原则进行了必要性的论证；在此基础上重点对其分类方法进行了具体说明，其主要步骤是在确定10种主要的县域资源，建立相关在指标体系的前提下，鉴于威弗组合指数对于划分县域资源组合结构类型的可行性，运用改造过的,角立县域资源地域组合结构类型的划分程序与计算方法。最后，按此分类法，把我国县域资源地域组合结构类型划分为自然资源型、自然资源主导型、自然资源与经济资源混合型、经济资源主导型、经济资源密集类等5个一级类型及其下属的8个二级类型。