Case study of dust event sources from the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts: An investigation of the horizontal evolution and topographical effect using numerical modeling and remote sensing

A severe dust event occurred from April 23 to April 27, 2014, in East Asia. A state-of-the-art online atmospheric chemistry model, WRF/Chem, was combined with a dust model, GOCART, to better understand the entire process of this event. The natural color images and aerosol optical depth (AOD) over the dust source region are derived from datasets of moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) loaded on a NASA Aqua satellite to trace the dust variation and to verify the model results. Several meteorological conditions, such as pressure, temperature, wind vectors and relative humidity, are used to analyze meteorological dynamic. The results suggest that the dust emission occurred only on April 23 and 24, although this event lasted for 5 days. The Gobi Desert was the main source for this event, and the Taklamakan Desert played no important role. This study also suggested that the landform of the source region could remarkably interfere with a dust event. The Tarim Basin has a topographical effect as a “dust reservoir” and can store unsettled dust, which can be released again as a second source, making a dust event longer and heavier.     

Vulnerability and resilience to climate change in Sorsogon City,the Philippines: learning from an ordinary city?

Sorsogon City is a rapidly urbanising coastal area in the Philippines. Its location, combined with a rapidly changing and growing urban fabric, leaves it vulnerable to both incremental climate change and associated extreme weather events. In this paper, UN-HABITAT data are used to draw out the climate change vulnerabilities and policy responses in Sorsogon City. Vulnerability “hotspots” highlight the spatial intersection of socio-economic justice concerns, particularly in terms of vulnerability to increased cyclone activity. We discuss vulnerabilities of Sorsogon City and its citizens to climate change and measures undertaken through various social, environmental and technical systems and interventions to increase resilience. The paper also attempts to unpick the relationship between the neat, concise reported city and the complexities of urban life using the Sorsogon experiment to consider the limitations of such approaches to governing climate change. We group these under four headings: social simplification in the absence of data; over-governance (and under-representation); quick wins versus strategic investment; and stretching the ecological and vulnerability footprints of the city. The experience of Sorsogon City is then extended to reflect on issues of governance and planning in other Asian coastal cities.     

2010年春季东亚地区沙尘气溶胶和PM10的模拟研究

利用区域空气质量模式系统RAQMS,模拟研究了2010年3月东亚地区PM10气溶胶的时空演变,研究了19~23日沙尘暴暴发的过程,并将模拟结果与中国16个城市的PM10地面观测数据进行了比较.结果显示,模式对于PM10和沙尘具有好的模拟能力,可以合理地反映东亚地区PM10的时空分布和沙尘暴的演变过程;观测值和模拟值的总体相关系数达到0.705,两者平均值分别为124.8,165.5mg/m3.2010年3月份东亚地区PM10平均浓度处在较高水平,沙尘气溶胶是PM10的主要组分.3月东亚地区沙尘排放量约110.4Mt,其中68%重新沉降到地表.     

Plant indicator status and implications for natural disaster management in both developed communities and indigenous communities

Only a few rigorous studies have attempted to focus on the topic of plant indicators in relation to natural disasters, although recently an increasing number of people have realized its significance. In an effort to aid disaster management, this article studied and aimed to improve the status of plant indicators in predicting or signaling natural disasters. Using a qualitative content analysis, the plant indicators’ uncertain status and certain status are systematically compared using specific plants, developed community efforts, indigenous community traditions, and characteristics of natural disaster management. A key tenet is that all stakeholders must change plant indicators’ uncertain status to certain status by comprehensively elaborating on the integration between developed communities and indigenous communities, plant indicators as a research agenda, the inclusion of plant indicators in disaster management policy and local plans, and education and training.     

我国腾冲大气PAHs的可能来源分析

2005年10月22日至2006年10月21日,在云南腾冲一典型背景点进行了每周一次的大气采样,以监测季风期东南亚地区生物质燃烧导致的多环芳烃(PAHs)的输入状况.结果表明,监测期内总PAHs含量为43.1~156ng/m3 (平均值为87.9ng/m3).其中气相PAHs均值为85.8ng/m3,无明显的季节变化;颗粒相PAHs均值为2.35ng/m3,在春季出现显著高值,可能与东南亚生物质燃烧释放的PAHs在南亚季风作用下向腾冲的跨境迁移有关.颗粒相PAHs以毒害性较大的高环PAHs化合物为主,其在偏远地区生态系统中的累积可能带来一定的生态风险.     

Household susceptibility to hydrological change in the Lower Mekong Basin

The hydrological conditions of the Lower Mekong Basin support a multitude of ecosystem services. Processes that influence water flow in the Mekong River will thus have implications for the tens of millions of people whose livelihoods depend on these services. This study presents an assessment of livelihood susceptibility to hydrological change in the Lower Mekong Basin. Using an index‐based approach, susceptibility scores were calculated for 2,703 households. Using those scores, we compared average household susceptibility across the basin, among countries and among eco‐zones. Due to their greater livelihood dependency on water‐related activities, mean household susceptibility was higher in Vietnam than in Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand. Households in Northern Laos also had high susceptibility, which was attributed to their low adaptive capacity. The findings suggest that policies aimed at reducing vulnerability to hydrological change in the Lower Mekong Basin should account for geographic context. Further, they highlight how policies may be able to strategically target the most susceptible households, but that poorly designed policies have the potential to exacerbate vulnerability. In the face of high uncertainty surrounding hydrological change in the Lower Mekong Basin, our assessment of susceptibility should help inform precautionary water management policies and provide baseline information needed for more comprehensive vulnerability assessments.     

重庆近48年来高温天气气候特征及其环流形势

利用重庆23个气象观测站1960~2007年逐日最高气温观测资料,NCEP/NCAR再分析数据集中的高度场格点资料,运用EOF、REOF等方法,探讨重庆高温日数的空间分布特征,并对多高温天气的2006年和少高温天气年7~8月的环流特征进行了分析。结果表明：重庆高温天气主要出现在7~8月份,高温日数具有显著的年代际和区域性差异,20世纪70年代最多,80年代最少,沿长江、乌江为高温多发带。一致性异常分布是重庆高温日数的最主要空间模态;高温日数的异常空间分布可分为以下3个关键区：重庆中西部、重庆东南部、重庆东北部。乌拉尔山至鄂霍次克海地区阻塞高压偏弱,东亚大槽偏浅;100 hPa 高空南亚高压偏东,500 hPa 高空副高偏北偏西,形成一种上高下高的叠加形势是重庆7~8月出现多高温天气的主要原因。     

Twenty five years of industrial development: a study of resource use rates and macro-efficiency indicators for five Asian countries

Economic and population growth in Asia over the last three decades has been unprecedented. While conventional economic indicators have been increasing consistently, indicators of resource and environmental quality have been deteriorating, raising questions about the implications of future growth. Economic growth in the future is considered to be contingent on ensuring a more efficient use of natural resources, while simultaneously striving to reduce environmental impacts. We examine time trends of three efficiency indicators; agricultural efficiency, energy efficiency of economic production and carbon efficiency of energy use, for the five most populous countries in Asia in order to assess whether industrial development has lead to increased resource use efficiency and an associated reduction in total resource use and environmental impacts. Our results indicate that agricultural efficiency has decreased in all five countries. Results are mixed for energy and carbon efficiencies. Where increases in energy and carbon efficiency have occurred, they have been completely overwhelmed by absolute increases in energy use and carbon emissions caused by increases in the scale of economic activity. Based on this analysis, we study the potential for further improvements and policy implications for future food supply, energy consumption and carbon emissions in the region.     

Organochlorine pesticides in soils around Guanting Reservoir,China

Fifty-six representative samples of topsoil were collected around Guanting Reservoir, which is an important water source for Beijing. Concentrations of the insecticides HCH, DDT, and their metabolites were quantified by use of gas chromatography (GC) with electron capture detection (ECD). Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are still present in surface soils in the Guanting area. DDT accounts for about 93% of the total OCP content. Concentrations of α/γ, β/γ, and DDT/DDE are the result not only of historical use, but also of more recent depositions. Statistical analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA), revealed associations between concentrations of OCPs and major soil characteristics. Geographical information system (GIS) technology was used to develop maps of the distributions of OCP concentrations. The areas of greatest contamination were primarily in the central part of the study area and were correlated with greater population density, heavier traffic, and more industrial activity.