A Method for Improving the Management of Controversial Wetland

Valley bottom wetlands in agricultural landscapes often are neglected in national and regional wetland inventories. Although these areas are small, located in the bottomlands of the headwater catchments, and scattered in the rural landscape, they strongly influence hydrology, water quality, and biodiversity over the whole catchment area. Valley bottom wetlands often are considered as controversial wetlands. Awareness of the functional role of wetlands is increasing, in parallel with their progressive disappearance in intensive farming landscapes. The need to improve tools for controlling wetland management is a primary consideration for decision makers and land users. This article proposes a method for the inventory of valley bottom wetlands. The method is based on the functional analysis of potential, existing, and efficient valley bottom wetlands (the PEEW approach). Several indicators are proposed for checking the validity of such an approach. Potential wetlands are delineated by means of a topographic index using topographic and pedoclimatic criteria computed from a Digital Elevation Model and easily accessible databases. Existing wetlands are identified from observed surface moisture, the presence of specific wetland vegetation, or soil feature criteria. Efficient wetlands are defined through a given function, such as flow or pollutant regulation or biodiversity control. An analysis of areas at the limits between potential, existing, and efficient wetlands highlights land cultivated or drained in the past, which currently represents negotiating areas in which rehabilitation and other intended management actions can be implemented.     

Nuclear Weapons Tests and Environmental Consequences: A Global Perspective

The beginning of the atomic age marked the outset of nuclear weapons testing, which is responsible for the radioactive contamination of a large number of sites worldwide. The paper aims to analyze nuclear weapons tests conducted in the second half of the twentieth century, highlighting the impact of radioactive pollution on the atmospheric, aquatic, and underground environments. Special attention was given to the concentration of main radioactive isotopes which were released, such as ¹⁴C, ¹³⁷Cs, and ⁹⁰Sr, generally stored in the atmosphere and marine environment. In addition, an attempt was made to trace the spatial delimitation of the most heavily contaminated sites worldwide, and to note the human exposure which has caused a significantly increased incidence of thyroidal cancer locally and regionally. The United States is one of the important examples of assessing the correlation between the increase in the thyroid cancer incidence rate and the continental-scale radioactive contamination with ¹³¹I, a radioactive isotope which was released in large amounts during the nuclear tests carried out in the main test site, Nevada.     

Simulating Nitrate Leaching Profiles in a Highly Permeable Vadose Zone

An approach is developed to simulate leaching of a dissolved chemical constituent in the vadose zone of an aquifer. Specifically, nitrate loading at the water table for different water table depths, for a range of aquifer permeability values, and for different cases of heterogeneity of the aquifer, are considered. Models from the literature are first used to derive soil–water characteristic curves (water retention and hydraulic conductivity) from a grain size distribution curve for unsaturated conditions. Given infiltration from the surface, the initial conditions for the chemical concentration, and the water content profile, leaching of the chemical in the vadose zone is simulated as a function of both time and depth. The methodology is illustrated for a permeable aquifer. Simulations are undertaken using a finite element code for saturated and unsaturated flow. Different scenarios are simulated depending on the heterogeneity of the aquifer and the depth of the water table. Modeling results show that in the example case studied, nitrate concentration loading at the water table does not depend strongly on the position of the water table, but rather on the material properties of the aquifer. The contribution of this endeavor resides in the methodology which allows a prediction of nitrate leaching using only the grain size property of the aquifer. It allows practitioners to obtain a first assessment of leaching with limited data.     

环境影响评价报告书数据计算及分析自动化系统设计

环境影响报告书的数据计算及分析一般采用人工处理的方法,工作量大且易出错。通过环境影响评价报告书数据计算及分析自动化系统的建立,实现了数据处理计算及分析自动化及系统化,提高了工作效率。     

武陵山经济协作区低碳发展模式选择分析

建立武陵山经济协作区已成为国家的发展战略,选择适合的发展模式至关重要。把经济发展模式划分为传统的经济发展模式和低碳经济发展模式,并对武陵山经济协作区存在的这两种经济发展模式进行分析。从发展前景和政策支持方面考虑,该地区选择低碳发展模式是必然的。武陵山经济协作区发展低碳经济应从开发清洁能源、发展旅游业、转变观念等方面着手。     

Testing a Simple Field Method for Assessing Nitrate Removal in Riparian Zones1

Abstract: Being able to identify riparian sites that function better for nitrate removal from groundwater is critical to using efficiently the riparian zones for water quality management. For this purpose, managers need a method that is quick, inexpensive, and accurate enough to enable effective management decisions. This study assesses the precision and accuracy of a simple method using three ground water wells and one measurement date for determining nitrate removal characteristics of riparian buffer zones. The method is a scaled‐down version of a complex field research method that consists of a large network of wells and piezometers monitored monthly for over two years. Results using the simplified method were compared to those from the reference research method on a date‐by‐date basis on eight sites covering a wide range of hydrogeomorphic settings. The accuracy of the three‐well, 1 day measurement method was relatively good for assessing nitrate concentration depletion across riparian zones, but poor for assessing the distance necessary to achieve a 90% nitrate removal and for estimating water and nitrate fluxes compared to the reference method. The simplified three‐well method provides relatively better estimates of water and nitrate fluxes on sites where ground‐water flow is parallel to the water table through homogeneous aquifer material, but such conditions may not be geographically widespread. Despite limited overall accuracy, some parameters that are estimated using the simplified method may be useful to water resource managers. Nitrate depletion information may be used to assess the adequacy of existing buffers to achieve nitrate concentration goals for runoff. Estimates of field nitrate runoff and buffer removal fluxes may be adequate for prioritizing management toward sites where riparian buffers are likely to have greater impact on stream water quality.     

郯庐断裂带（安徽段）浅层地下水水化学特征、控制因素及水质评价

为研究郯庐断裂带（安徽段）地下水的水化学特征、控制因素和地下水质量.在郯庐断裂带周边的江淮波状平原区、沿江丘陵平原区和皖西山地共采集了86组地下水,综合运用描述性统计、Piper图、Gibbs图、离子比例分析、饱和指数、氯碱指数和熵权水质指数（EWQI）等方法,开展了地下水的水化学特征及控制因素研究,评价了地下水的质量.结果表明,郯庐断裂带（安徽段）周边浅层地下水呈弱碱性,地下水化学类型以HCO₃-Ca·Mg和HCO₃-Na·Ca型为主.水岩相互作用控制地下水化学组分的形成,硅酸盐岩和碳酸盐岩风化作用控制了地下水化学组分的形成.强烈的阳离子交替吸附作用是引起Na⁺富集的重要因素.研究区地下水整体质量较好,但受到一定程度人类活动的污染,江淮波状平原和沿江丘陵平原大部分地下水不适合直接饮用.研究结果对郯庐断裂带（安徽段）周边浅层地下水资源可持续开发利用和环境保护具有重要意义.     

广西国家重点生态功能区县域生态环境与社会经济协调发展关联分析

以广西国家重点生态功能区县域为研究单元,对2015—2020年县域经济社会发展水平和生态环境质量综合水平进行评估,通过权重赋值计算生态环境-社会经济综合实力,综合判断生态环境保护与社会经济发展的协调性。结果表明：研究区域体量小,人均可支配收入低;县域社会经济总体呈正向发展态势,发展速度相对缓慢,低于全区平均县域水平;生态环境综合质量呈现波动变化,部分县域生态环境综合质量增长率为负值;15个县域生态环境质量与社会经济发展为协调,10个县域为基本协调,2个县域处于调和等级。     

Conservation and management of the Bangladesh coastal ecosystem: Overview of an integrated approach

Although the coastal ecosystem of Bangladesh contains a highly functional and structurally diverse ecology, this ecology is gradually being degraded. As a consequence, the quality of life of a large section of the coastal community is in economic decline. This poses a daunting challenge to the sectoral coastal management programmes, active since the 1960s, aiming at simultaneously ameliorating people's livelihood and supporting the ecosystem. These programmes have been reasonably successful in managing the ecosystem, but in many cases, the situation has become worse. The limitations of these programmes include the tendency to adopt an exclusionist approach, a narrowly departmentalized administration and weak management. Currently, the integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) approach is espoused as the main strategy. With the adoption of Bangladesh's Coastal Zone Policy of 2005, the foundation for integrated management was laid. The next realistic target will be to bring about changes in culture and mandate among coastal institutions in favour of integrated management.     

HOW RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS ARE PROTECTED AT LAKE TAHOE1

Riparian ecosystems are designated for special protection from development and disturbance at Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) required protection of Stream Environment Zones (SEZs) in its Regional Plan for the Lake Tahoe Basin in 1987. These zones are identified by the presence of key indicators such as the evidence of surface water flow, riparian vegetation, near‐surface ground water, designated floodplain, and alluvial soils. They are mapped on each potential building site and assigned a setback that is also off limits to building construction. The SEZs are protected to maintain their functions and values, including flood attenuation, water quality enhancement, and wildlife habitat. Strict regulations control use or disturbance of SEZs on public and private property throughout the watershed. The TRPA has set restoration targets to increase the acreage of naturally functioning SEZs in the Tahoe Basin. Many SEZ restoration projects have been designed and implemented, but SEZ restoration targets have not been met. More SEZ restoration projects are being designed and funded each year. Restoration designers would benefit from increased effectiveness monitoring of completed projects and Web‐based dissemination of monitoring results.