Towards sustainable consumption: Predicting the impact of social‐psychological factors on energy conservation intentions in Northern Cyprus

The incessant demand and consumption of energy services among individuals’ is increasing throughout the world. Individuals’ electricity consumption in Northern Cyprus has risen considerably. However, the demand for electrical energy services on the island is heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels has adverse effects on its environment. Therefore, sustainable energy consumption is required and individuals are targeted for energy conservation to reduce electricity consumption. Against this background, using the Structural Equation Modeling approach, this research incorporates social‐psychological factors; personal norms, positive and negative emotions into the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model to assess the relationships among the variables, explain their impact on consumers’ electricity conservation intentions and enhance the explanatory power of the model. Data was conveniently obtained from a quantitative sample of 400 electricity consumers. The results indicate that negative emotions have the strongest significant influence on intentions, but personal norms have the least effect on intentions to save electricity. Furthermore, the study revealed that our expanded TPB model can provide improved explanatory power more than the original TPB. Policy implications, limitations and future research are discussed.     

Positive perceptions of green and open space as predictors of neighbourhood quality of life: implications for urban planning across the city region

The provision of green and open space in the face of wider development pressure is a key urban challenge. Despite this, few studies have critically investigated the quality of life implications of such provision. This paper focuses on perceptions of built environment factors and their influence on neighbourhood quality of life. Data are drawn from a household survey questionnaire completed by 483 residents living in three neighbourhoods in Dublin, Ireland – an inner city neighbourhood, a suburb and a peri-urban settlement. Positive perceptions of green and open space were identified as important predictors of high levels of neighbourhood satisfaction, surpassed only by dwelling characteristics. This suggests that development strategies which fail to provide for properly planned green and open spaces may be detrimental to neighbourhood quality of life. Furthermore, the results suggest a need for design solutions which consider neighbourhood typology in achieving improved neighbourhood quality of life.     

Variations in Newspaper Coverage on Water in the U.S. Intermountain West

Water is a salient issue in the Intermountain West of the United States (U.S.), with concerns ranging from water scarcity and drought to intermittent flooding and water quality risks. This paper investigates coverage of water issues across seven newspapers in the core of the U.S. Intermountain West region. Newspapers have the potential to set agendas and influence perceived salience of issues among consumers. The Intermountain West region shares common concerns about water supply and demand, climate change, and water quality. We investigate whether or not local daily newspaper coverage of water issues provides a more local or regional sensitivity. Findings from this exploratory study reveal differences in water coverage across local daily newspapers. The overall volume of water‐related articles differed across newspapers as did proportion of articles on specific water topics and connecting issues. Coverage of local issues was more dominant than might be expected given mass media trends, but water geography in articles extended across the U.S. and the world in every newspaper studied. Variations in newspaper coverage of water issues suggests more local nuance persists despite the experience of common water issues across the region.     

降水量与城市大气环境关系——以113个环保重点城市为例

为研究降水量与大气污染物之间的关系,依据2017年全国113个环保重点城市大气质量数据,得出城市聚类空间分布规律及两者之间线性拟合方程。基于南北降水量分布特性与城市空气污染指数,采用模糊聚类法对具有不同亲疏程度的城市进行类别划分,运用Spearman相关性与拟合方程对大气污染特征值与降水量进行分析。结果表明：随着聚类种数增多,城市聚集在空间分布上由“环环相套”发展为“依流域分布”,降水量与大气污染物浓度呈现负向关联性,晋冀鲁豫陕省份污染最严重。采用Kolmogorov-Smirnov检验法,得出NO₂、O₃、PM_2.5总体分布符合正态分布,SO₂、PM₁₀、CO既不符合正态分布,也不符合均匀、指数分布,它们与降水量的相关系数为：-0.316、-0.238、-0.332、-0.617、-0.574、-0.695;线性拟合方程系数处于 [-0.031, -0.008] 之间,降水量与大气污染物浓度之间负相关性明显。研究结果有助于了解和认识降水量对城市大气环境变化的影响。     

人为热对广州高温天气影响的数值模拟个例分析

基于广州市2009,2000和1990年工业、交通、生活能源统计数据,通过能源清单法估算出广州市对应年份的人为热排放量,再通过在WRF模式中引入2009,2000和1990年的下垫面数据和人为热排放方案,对2005,2012和2017年广州市的3次持续高温过程进行模拟,从而评估不同年代人为热排放水平对广州市极端高温天气的影响.结果表明,模拟的2m气温较为准确,能合理模拟出城市地区的热岛效应,但对极端高温的模拟略有偏低,而引入人为热有助于改善模拟结果.在case2012中,2009,2000和1990年3种人为热排放水平使广州城市下垫面的平均气温分别上升0.53,0.44和0.13℃,热岛强度增强0.43,0.38和0.13℃.3个模拟个例的结果均表明,日间的人为热排放比夜间大,但夜间气温及热岛强度的变化比日间要明显.     

2007—2016年嘉峪关市城市绿地生态评价及障碍因子分析

对城市绿地进行科学评价有助于人们正确认识和改造城市绿地建设,为城市绿地规划和管理提供参考。以2007—2016年嘉峪关市城市绿地为研究对象,从数量、结构、功能三个方面构建评价指标体系,通过障碍度模型,识别影响城市绿地生态水平的障碍因子。结果表明：（1）10 a来嘉峪关市城市绿地生态水平整体呈波动上升趋势,级别由较低等级提高到高等级,但目前城市绿地生态水平属于低层次、不稳定的高等级阶段,城市绿地建设工作压力还很大。（2）从准则层看,嘉峪关市城市绿地生态水平的主要威胁变化较为明显,数量指标和结构指标是主要障碍因子;从指标层看,各年份主要障碍因子不尽相同,最大障碍因子历经了从人均公园绿地面积、树种丰富度到净化空气能力的演变。     

长株潭城市群气溶胶时空分布与传输规律

为研究长株潭城市群大气污染时空演化特征及潜在传输规律,采用2008~2016年中分辨率成像光谱仪（MODIS）MAIAC气溶胶光学厚度（AOD）数据,分析长株潭城市群近10a来AOD演化特征.在此基础上,利用拉格朗日混合型单粒子轨迹模式（HYSPLIT）及全球资料同化系统（GDAS）气象要素数据研究大气污染物潜在传输规律.结果表明,长株潭城市群AOD呈现下降趋势,并以春、夏季下降幅度最为显著.空间上,AOD总体呈北高南低、西高东低分布特征,并与经济发展、城市化水平等因素密切相关.此外,长株潭城市群大气污染物向外长距离传输（>1500km）、中距离传输（500~1500km）以及局地传输（0~500km）比率分别为17.89%、36.45%和45.66%,主要影响湖北、江西、安徽、广东、广西、江苏和浙江等地区.研究结果有助于理解长株潭城市群大气污染的时空变化规律,同时为区域“联防联控”、建设“美丽中国”提供科学的辅助依据.     

成渝城市群碳排放空间关联结构演化及影响因素

本文基于社会网络分析法（SNA）以及二次分配程序（QAP）方法,利用成渝城市群2005~2016年面板数据,对成渝城市群碳排放空间关联性及影响因素进行研究.结果表明：①成渝城市群碳排放空间关联性显著,呈现出复杂的网络结构形态,样本期内,网络密度由0.16增长至0.68,关联关系数从38个增长为162个.②重庆、成都、绵阳和南充等城市位于网络的中心地位,发出了较多的关联关系,同时发挥着中介作用.③碳排放空间关联网络被划分成为5个层级,层级结构整体较为稳定,然而第一层级与第二层级存在较为严重的断层现象.④空间距离、人口数量差异以及经济水平差异是碳排放关联性的主要驱动因素.城市间空间距离越近、人口数量与经济水平差异越大,越容易产生碳排放关联关系.     

基于多源数据的大气细颗粒物对北京市城市热岛的影响研究

在土地利用方式改变、能源消耗持续增长、人口膨胀的共同作用下,城市热岛效应日趋显著。大气细颗粒物（PM_2.5）污染不断加剧,对城市热岛强度也产生了一定的影响。利用地面空气质量监测站点的逐小时PM_2.5污染监测数据、气象监测站点的日均数据和MODIS地表温度数据,结合土地利用类型,划分城郊气象站点和地表温度采样点,分别计算北京市日均PM_2.5浓度、冠层城市热岛强度和地表城市热岛强度,并计算地表城市热岛强度指数,得出热岛强度空间分布图。经过对PM_2.5与冠层城市热岛强度、地表城市热岛强度及其空间分布的相关性分析,得出以下结论：（1）北京市地表城市热岛强度的月、季间变化明显,主要受土地覆盖类型影响,夏季高于冬季,冠层城市热岛强度的月、季间变化较小;（2）PM_2.5质量浓度与冠层城市热岛强度、地表城市热岛强度均呈显著负相关,相关系数分别为?0.5199和?0.6115;（3）昼间地表城市热岛强度与PM_2.5质量浓度的相关性高于夜间;（4）PM_2.5质量浓度变化对地表城市热岛的空间分布有着显著的影响。随着PM_2.5质量浓度的增加,强热岛空间范围向城区缩减。     

基于能值分析的西安市三个发展核心区可持续性研究

本文基于能值分析和城市复合生态系统的理论与方法,从生态环境系统及社会经济系统两方面,对西安市灞桥区、雁塔区和未央区2014年的基础数据进行计算整理,通过分析三个发展核心区的能值利用效率,排除废物流能值对系统的消极影响,构建基于能值利用效率(EUE)的系统可持续发展程度指标(EUSDI),确切评估三个区城市复合生态系统的可持续发展能力。结果表明:灞桥区可持续发展指数为0.1545,雁塔区为0.0906,未央区为0.0579。灞桥区能值利用效率为较高的94.81%,可更新资源较为丰富,但较为依赖不可更新资源与外部输入产品;雁塔区能值利用效率为较低的86.57%,社会经济发展程度较高,但可更新资源较贫乏,人口过于集中对环境造成很大压力;未央区能值利用率为较低的84.93%,该区可更新资源较少,工业生产消耗大量不可更新资源,"三废"的排放也严重影响了该区的生态环境。