Climate impact on social systems: the risk assessment approach

A novel approach to the problem of estimating climate impact on social systems is suggested. This approach is based on a risk concept, where the notion of critical events is introduced and the probability of such events is estimated. The estimation considers both the inherent stochasticity of climatic processes and the artificial stochasticity of climate predictions due to scientific uncertainties. The method is worked out in some detail for the regional problem of crop production and the risks associated with global climate change, and illustrated by a case study (Kursk region of the FSU). In order to get local climatic characteristics (weather), a so-called statistical weather generator is used. One interesting finding is that the 3% risk level remains constant up to 1.0–1.1°C rise of mean seasonal temperature, if the variance does not change. On the other hand, the risk grows rapidly with increasing variance (even if the mean temperature rises very slowly). The risk approach is able to separate two problems: (i) assessment of global change impact, and (ii) decision making. The main task for the scientific community is to provide the politicians with different options; the choice of admissible (from the social point of view) critical events and the corresponding risk levels is the business of decision makers.     

RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY FOR KARST AQUIFERS: (2) SOLUTE-TRANSPORT MODELING

Ground-water flow and solute-transport simulation modeling are major components of most exposure and risk assessments of contaminated aquifers. Model simulations provide information on the spatial and temporal distributions of contaminants in subsurface media but are difficult to apply to karst aquifers in which conduit flow is important. Ground-water flow and solute transport in karst conduits typically display rapid-flow velocities, turbulent-flow regimes, concentrated pollutant-mass discharge, and exhibit open-channel or closed-conduit flow. Conventional ground-water models, dependent on the applicability of Darcy`s law, are inappropriate when applied to karst aquifers because of the (1) nonapplicability of Darcian-flow parameters, (2) typically nonlaminar flow regime, and (3) inability to locate the karst conduits through which most flow and contaminant transport occurs. Surface-water flow and solute-transport models conditioned on a set of parameters determined empirically from quantitative ground-water tracing studies may be effectively used to render fate-and-transport values of contaminants in karst conduits. Hydraulic-flow and geometric parameters developed in a companion paper were used in the surface-water model, TOXI5, to simulate hypothetical slug and continuous-source releases of ethylbenzene in a karst conduit. TOXI5 simulation results showed considerable improvement for predicted ethylbenzene-transport rates and concentrations over qualitative tracing and analytical ground-water model results. Ethylbenzene concentrations predicted by TOXI5 simulations were evaluated in exposure and risk assessment models.     

地面水环境质量评价的有时序多目标决策方法

将有时序多目标决策方法应用于地面水环境质量优势的比较，介绍了决策方法的原理和评价步骤。实例分析表明该方法计算过程简便，分辨率高，排序结果与实际环境质量状况相符合。     

浅谈GAM与GM（1,1）模型

对ＧＡＭ水环境预测模型提出了四点不同看法，与有关作者商榷，指出ＧＭ（１，１）模型与ＧＡＭ模型二者并无优劣之差，精度亦相当。     

Estimation of the Thermal Sensitivity of a Dwelling to Variations in Architectural and Behavioural Parameters

The provision of energy for households is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the domestic sector. There is significant scope for energy savings and thus emission reduction in this sector. This paper constructs a bridge between thermal analysis and environmental assessment in the occupancy stage of the dwelling life cycle, approaching both methods as being on a common system Environment–Dwelling–Inhabitant. The importance of the local level in the thermal analysis and assessment of either a dwelling or an inhabitant's behaviour is demonstrated. It is shown that the researcher can choose between natural experiment, computer experiment and mathematical modelling to analyze the system. Such a choice is discussed for two particular methods of thermal analysis. Thermal Nomograms are the result of mathematical modelling, and the Energy Score Sheet is the result of a computer experiment in energy rating. Despite being developed for the purpose of thermal analysis, these methods can also be utilized for environmental assessment at the local level. The discussion centres on Australian conditions where the majority of the population resides in a relatively benign climate wherein behavioural alterations have significant potential for energy savings and environmental impact. The purpose of the paper is to emphasise benefits apart from energy minimisation to promote the use of energy efficient housing strategies.     

Euclidean贴近度水质评价法及其应用

分析了模糊综合评判在水质评价中的缺陷,将模糊数学中的贴近度与经典的Euclidean距离结合,提出Euclidean贴近度水质评价法。结果表明,该评价方法具有科学性、合理性,并且精度高,简单实用。     

应用模糊综合指数法对伊犁河（伊宁段）水质的综合评价

模糊数学法对伊犁河(伊宁段)水质进行综合评价时,由于分别采用地面水环境质量标准中五类标准值的平均值及其中三个标准值,计算后的结果不一致,而模糊综合指数法避免了这类问题的出现,计算结果比较满意.从而表明,该法是对模糊数学法的进一步改进.     

基于网格空间数据的晋陕蒙接壤区生态环境综合评价

晋陕蒙接壤区是典型的生态过渡带、生态脆弱带。文章在调查研究的基础上 ,选取了 1 3个评价指标 ,应用层次分析法确定其权重 ,并将各个因子分级标准化和定量赋值 ,再用加权求和法得到每个评价单元的环境质量综合评价指数。根据环境综合评价指数将环境质量分为较好 (≥ 8)、一般 (≥ 6～ <8)、较差 (≥ 4～ <6)、恶劣 (<4) 4级。结果表明 :晋陕蒙接壤区的环境质量大多处于较差等级 ,较好、一般、较差、恶劣等级的面积比例分别为 2 .2 % ,2 8% ,5 7.4%和1 2 .4%     

苏南地区农村河塘底泥中重金属污染调查与评价

对苏南地区农村河塘底泥中重金属的污染物状况及分布特征进行了调查,分别在镇江、宜兴和常州采集了农村居民生活区、农田附近和养殖厂周围13个底泥样品,对底泥中的5种重金属Zn、Cu、Cd、Pb、Cr质量比进行了分析研究,并利用Hakason生态风险指数法评价了底泥中5种重金属对其所在水域的污染程度,对水域和周围环境造成的潜在风险影响.结果表明,苏南地区部分农村河塘底泥已受到轻度的重金属污染,部分采样点Cd、Cu和Zn已达到中度污染;不同类型底泥的重金属的污染程度趋势为:居民生活区＞养殖厂周围＞农田附近.     

徐州城市表层土壤中重金属的富积、分布特征与环境风险

研究了徐州城市表层土壤的21个样品中30种元素的富集与分布特征。结果表明,与我国土壤元素的背景值(算术平均值)相比,表层土壤中Zn、Cd、As、Hg、Sb、Sn、Ag等元素富集大;Fe、Se、Sc、Ba、Bi、Pb、Cu、Ni、Cr、Mn、Mo、Be、Ti、Al、Ga、Li、Co等元素的富集较小。污染元素的空间分布特征显示了Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd等元素主要与交通运输等扩散污染源相关,而元素As、Sb的空间分布主要与工业污染源(点源)有关。环境风险指数的计算结果表明,表层土壤中重金属污染具有较大的环境风险,其中属于中等环境风险级别以上的样品占近40%,而且高风险区域主要集中在钢铁厂和化机厂等工业区范围内。