Impacts of Changes in Precipitation Amount and Distribution on Water Resources Studied Using a Model Rainwater Harvesting System

Water supply reliability is expected to be affected by both precipitation amount and distribution changes under recent and future climate change. We compare historical (1951‐2010) changes in annual‐mean and annual‐maximum daily precipitation in the global set of station observations from Global Historical Climatology Network and climate models from the Inter‐Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISI‐MIP), and develop the study to 2011‐2099 for model projections under high radiative forcing scenario (RCP8.5). We develop a simple rainwater harvesting system (RWHS) model and drive it with observational and modeled precipitation. We study the changes in mean and maximum precipitation along with changes in the reliability of the model RWHS as tools to assess the impact of changes in precipitation amount and distribution on reliability of precipitation‐fed water supplies. Results show faster increase in observed maximum precipitation (10.14% per K global warming) than mean precipitation (7.64% per K), and increased reliability of the model RWHS driven by observed precipitation by an average of 0.2% per decade. The ISI‐MIP models show even faster increase in maximum precipitation compared to mean precipitation. However, they imply decreases in mean reliability, for an average 0.15% per decade. Compared to observations, climate models underestimate the increasing trends in mean and maximum precipitation and show the opposite direction of change in reliability of a model water supply system.     

Highly efficient conversion of sugarcane bagasse pretreated with liquid hot water into ethanol at high solid loading

Liquid hot water (LHW), an environmental-friendly physico-chemical treatment, was applied to pretreat the sugarcane bagasse (SCB). Tween80, a non-ionic surfactant, was used to enhance the enzymatic hydrolysis of the pretreated SCB. It found that 0.125 mL Tween80 /g dry matter could make the maximum increase (33.2%) of the glycan conversion of the LHW-pretreated SCB. A self-designed laboratory facility with a plate-and-frame impeller was applied to conduct batch hydrolysis, fed-batch hydrolysis, and the process of high-temperature (50°C) fed-batch hydrolysis following low-temperature (30°C) simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) which was adopted to overcome the incompatible optimum temperature of saccharification and fermentation in the SSF process. After hydrolyzing LHW-pretreated SCB for 120 h with commercial cellulase, the total sugar concentration and glycan conversion obtained from fed-batch hydrolysis were 91.6 g/L and 68.3%, respectively, which were 9.7 g/L and 7.3% higher than those obtained from batch hydrolysis. With Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y2034 fermenting under the non-sterile condition, the ethanol production and theoretical yield obtained from the process of SSF after fed-batch hydrolysis were 55.4 g/L and 88.3% for 72h, respectively, which were 15.5 g/L and 24.7% higher than those from separate fed-batch hydrolysis and fermentation. The result of this work was superior to the reported results obtained from the LHW-pretreated SCB.     

太湖流域水环境保护目标责任考核机制研究

建立科学规范的环境保护目标责任考核机制是实现我国环境保护目标的重要手段之一。作为一个自上而下的制度典范,基层环境保护管理部门是环境管理目标的落实者也是被考核的对象。本研究以太湖流域水环境保护基层管理部门面临的水环境保护目标责任考核机制为研究对象,从水环境保护考核指标的设定、考核评价的实施以及考核结果的应用三个方面分析太湖流域水环境保护目标考核机制的实施现状。结果表明,现阶段的考核体系存在考核指标设置不合理、考核过程实施过程成本较高,以及考核结果缺乏对管理部门的激励性等问题。最后,本文从提高现阶段太湖流域水环境保护考核指标设定的科学性、协调不同部门之间的关系以及加强考核结果的公开与合理应用方面对太湖流域水环境保护目标责任考核机制提出了政策建议。     

Molecular tools for bathing water assessment in Europe: Balancing social science research with a rapidly developing environmental science evidence-base

The use of molecular tools, principally qPCR, versus traditional culture-based methods for quantifying microbial parameters (e.g., Fecal Indicator Organisms) in bathing waters generates considerable ongoing debate at the science–policy interface. Advances in science have allowed the development and application of molecular biological methods for rapid (~2 h) quantification of microbial pollution in bathing and recreational waters. In contrast, culture-based methods can take between 18 and 96 h for sample processing. Thus, molecular tools offer an opportunity to provide a more meaningful statement of microbial risk to water-users by providing near-real-time information enabling potentially more informed decision-making with regard to water-based activities. However, complementary studies concerning the potential costs and benefits of adopting rapid methods as a regulatory tool are in short supply. We report on findings from an international Working Group that examined the breadth of social impacts, challenges, and research opportunities associated with the application of molecular tools to bathing water regulations.     

Valuation of ecotoxicological impacts from tributyltin based on a quantitative environmental assessment framework

In the scientific literature, few valuations of biodiversity and ecosystem services following the impacts of toxicity are available, hampered by the lack of ecotoxicological documentation. Here, tributyltin is used to conduct a contingent valuation study as well as cost–benefit analysis (CBA) of measures for improving the environmental status in Swedish coastal waters of the Baltic Sea. Benefits considering different dimensions when assessing environmental status are highlighted and a quantitative environmental assessment framework based on available technology, ecological conditions, and economic valuation methodology is developed. Two scenarios are used in the valuation study: (a) achieving good environmental status by 2020 in accordance with EU legislation (USD 119 household⁻¹ year⁻¹) and (b) achieving visible improvements by 2100 due to natural degradation (USD 108 household⁻¹ year⁻¹) during 8 years. The later scenario was used to illustrate an application of the assessment framework. The CBA results indicate that both scenarios might generate a welfare improvement.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-015-0682-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

中国虚拟水贸易的测算及影响因素研究

本文测算2005年、2007年与2010年3个年度中国虚拟水进出口贸易量,采用投入产出及IO-SDA等方法分解分析其变化的影响因素。研究结果显示部门间用水系数差距都非常大,直接用水系数最大的农业部门857.9 t/万元(3年平均值,下同),与直接用水系数最小的部门差距达600倍之多。完全用水系数最大的也为农业部门1 078.7 t/万元,与完全用水系数最小的部门亦达113倍。各部门的完全用水系数和直接用水系数也存在较大不同,有些部门完全用水系数和直接用水系数差距很大,如服装皮革羽绒及其制品业部门差距达115倍,食品制造及烟草加工业部门差距达618.5 t/万元;而有些部门差距非常小,如农业部门差距仅仅0.24倍,煤炭开采和洗选业部门差距仅为8.2 t/万元。虚拟水出口量和进口量分别从2005年的1 774.3亿t和1 378.7亿t增加到2010年的2 254.1亿t和1 836.5亿t,且出口量一直大于进口量。影响因素分解显示,在此期间,进出口规模的增加是虚拟水贸易量增加的主要影响因素,其中出口规模合计为103 698.8×10~6t,进口规模合计为80 401.2×10~6t。进出口贸易结构的影响在不同部门间存在较大的差异。真实用水系数和真实中间投入技术是虚拟水贸易变化的主要负向因素,其中真实用水系数对虚拟水出口与进口的影响分别为-36 793.2×10~6t和-34 668.3×10~6t,真实中间投入技术对虚拟水出口与进口的影响分别为-1 719.7×10~6t和-1 660.8×10~6t,表明在此期间用水效率和中间投入效率都得到了改善。另外,直接用水系数和中间投入技术分解出的结构效应都不明显,中间投入进口比率效应也不明显。     

贵州省三岔河流域水化学特征及其控制因素

对乌江源区三岔河流域枯水期和丰水期河水样品离子浓度及组成特征分析表明,河水主要的阴阳离子分别是HCO_3~–和Ca~(2+),分别占到总阴离子量的55%和总阳离子量的70%,与喀斯特地区流域相似。主要离子的时空分布的对比分析表明,Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)、Na~+、HCO_3~–、Cl~–枯水期浓度略高于丰水期,而K+、SO_4~(2–)、NO_3~–两期浓度变化相对较小;空间分布的多样化,反映了不同小流域在地质背景、生态环境、人为活动等方面的差异对河水离子的影响。通过Gibbs图分析表明,研究区河水水化学主要受到岩石风化的影响,通过阴阳离子三角图分析表明,研究区河水水化学主要受到碳酸岩盐的影响,并且硫酸广泛参与到岩石风化中,人为活动对流域水化学组成也有一定影响。     

三峡库区消落带水淹初期主要优势草本植物生态位变化特征

根据三峡库区初期水位涨落情况,以空间代替时间法,连续两年对典型消落带区域地上植被进行调查,通过计算生态位宽度和生态位重叠来分析不同水淹时间下优势草本植物生态位的变化特征。结果表明,一年水淹区段在未水淹时,植物生态位宽度普遍较窄,此时生态位明显特化,而第二年水淹极大的增加了适应干湿变化的物种的优势度。水淹前生态位重叠值大于0.5的只有12对,小于0.2种对为189对,其中生态位重叠值为零的为103对;水淹后生态位重叠值大于0.5的有24对,小于0.2种对为53对,其中生态位重叠值为零的为6对,说明生境由干燥到湿润的变化,对湿润环境相对适应的物种存活,优势植物生态位重叠明显增加。经两年水淹区段中,第一年以毛马唐的生态位宽度最高,其余17种物种生态位宽度小于0.2的物种占优势物种的61%,第二年以雾水葛和鳢肠的生态位宽度较大,其余15种物种生态位宽度小于0.2的物种占优势物种的50%,共同出现的物种仅有8种。生态位重叠值大于0.5的种对由5对上升到17对,生态位重叠值为零的种对由10对减低到2对,说明连续水淹产生更加均一的生境类型,对资源要求相似的物种是增加的。     

洞庭湖区血吸虫病疫水人水相互作用关系及防控方案研究

研究洞庭湖区血吸虫病人水相互作用关系及传染防控,是推进湖区社会经济稳定健康发展的重要保障。从水文情势、产业发展、居民行为、城乡建设四方面探讨了洞庭湖区血吸虫病疫水人水相互作用关系,并运用系统动力学模型,设置教育优先方案、生态保护优先方案和城镇化推进方案对其防控方案进行系统仿真模拟和对比分析,研究结果表明:(1)水文等生态因素对于人水接触的影响逐步减少,而社会经济因素则显得越来越重要。(2)系统动力学模型能有效展示血吸虫病各影响因素之间的关系,是研究血吸虫病防控的有效方法之一。(3)依据仿真模拟结果,城镇化推进方案是经济增长、城乡协调、环境友好的最优血防方案。     

陕西省油松混交林木质残体储量与腐烂特征

木质残体是油松针阔混交林的重要组成部分,具有多种的生态功能,对生态系统的稳定和发展有着不可忽视的作用。以陕西省黄龙山林区为研究区域,设置1 hm2(100 m×100 m)的固定样地,研究典型油松针阔混交林木质残体的储量组成、优势树种的空间关系、腐烂特征及密度与含水量,研究结果表明:(1)研究区油松针阔混交林内木质残体的总储量为10.73 t·hm–2,倒木是林分内木质残体的主要来源。在径级组成结构上,径级20 cm以上的木质残体储量占总储量的绝大部分。腐烂等级中,以腐烂等级Ⅱ与腐烂等级Ⅲ的木质残体贮量最多;(2)利用线性模型模拟该林分木质残体的分解密度与含水量,其拟合结果显示木质残体的密度随着腐烂等级的增加而呈现下降趋势,而含水量则随着腐烂等级的增加而呈现升高的趋势;(3)林分内主要研究树种(油松、白桦和山杨)之间在小空间尺度上呈负关联,大尺度下呈正关联,顶级树种与先锋树种间达到互利共生,群落具有较大稳定性。林分内种间竞争的结果将为地带性顶级树种油松代替白桦与山杨等先锋树种。天然油松针阔混交林木质残体的贮量组成及腐烂特征反映了该区森林群落演替后期阶段木质残体的结构特征,本文的研究结果为我国黄土高原针阔混交林生态系统的管理和保护以及可持续经营提供科学依据。