Simulating potential vegetation distribution in a mountainous region of the Eastern Tibetan Plateau:A case study of Barkam County

The main objective of this study is to simulate the potential vegetation types on the basis of environmental parameters.The paper took Barkam County in a mountainous region of the Eastern Tibetan Plateau as the study area.The vegetation distribution was mapped in 1994 and 2007 based on TM remote sensing images by object-oriented interpretation method.We overlaid the two maps to find out the vegetation patches which have not changed,and took them as stable types.Fifty per cent of the stable patches were randomly sampled to operate the logistic regression with related environmental parameters;others were used as test data of simulated results.Seven environmental parameters were mapped,including elevation,slope,aspect,surface curvature,solar radiation,temperature and precipitation,based on DEM data and meteorological site data by GIS technology.The relationship between the spatial distribution of vegetation and environmental variables were quantified by logistic regression.The distribution probabilities of each vegetation type were calculated.Finally,the spatial distribution of potential vegetation was simulated.This research can provide a scientific basis for vegetation restoration and ecological construction in this area.     

Accelerating progress on salt iodisation in Sudan: time for action

This paper uses a public health approach to examine briefly: (a) the progress of universal salt iodisation (USI) in Sudan; (b) the roles of the main actors involved; and (c) the main issues around accelerating USI. The literature, especially that coming from the UN agencies, is analysed and experiences from the recently revitalised USI programme, and related relevant meetings, are distilled. In Sudan the prevalence of goitre is 22 per cent. It is assumed that productivity among the people affected is reduced by 5–25 per cent. Little apparent progress has been made with USI. The Government of Sudan, UN multilateral agencies, international consultative groups, bilateral agencies, global and national non-governmental organisations and, increasingly, the private sector must work together to find innovative approaches to increase awareness of the broader social, public health and nutritional contexts, and to advocate for increased national nd international funding.     

Energy Supply Potentials and Needs, and the Environmental Impact of their Use in Sudan

Sudan is an agricultural country with fertile land, plenty of water resources, livestock, forestry resources, and agricultural residues. An overview of the energy situation in Sudan is introduced with reference to the end uses and regional distribution. Energy sources are divided into two main types; conventional energy (biomass, petroleum products, and electricity); and non-conventional energy (solar, wind, hydro-electricity, etc.). Sudan possesses a relatively high abundance of solar radiation, and moderate wind speeds, hydro, and biomass energy resources. The application of the new and renewable sources of energy available in Sudan is now a major issue in future energy strategic planning and for an alternative to fossil conventional energy. Sudan is an important case study in the context of renewable energy. It has a long history of meeting its energy needs through renewables. Sudan's renewables' portfolio is broad and diverse, due in part to the country's wide range of climates and landscapes. Like many of the African leaders in renewable energy utilization, Sudan has a well-defined commitment to continue research, development, and implementation of new technologies. Sustainable low-carbon energy scenarios for the new century emphasize the untapped potential of renewable resources. Rural areas of Sudan can benefit from this transition. The increased availability of reliable and efficient energy services stimulates new development alternatives. It is concluded that renewable, environmentally friendly, energy must be encouraged, promoted, invested, implemented, and demonstrated by full-scale plants, especially for use in the remote rural areas of Sudan.     

Pioneering observation of atmospheric volatile organic compounds in Hangzhou in eastern China and implications for upcoming 2022 Asian Games

Understanding the emission sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is critical for air pollution mitigation. Continuous measurements of atmospheric VOCs were conducted from January to February in Hangzhou in 2021. The average measured concentration of total VOCs (TVOCs) was 38.2 ± 20.9 ppb, > 42% lower than that reported by previous studies at the urban center in Hangzhou. The VOC concentrations and proportions were similar between weekdays and weekends. During the long holidays of the Spring Festival in China, the concentrations of TVOCs were ∼50% lower than those during the regular days, but their profiles showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). Further, we deduced that aromatics and alkenes were the most crucial chemicals promoting the formation of O₃ and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in Hangzhou. According to interspecies correlations, combustion processes and solvent use were inferred as major VOC emission sources. This study provides implications for air quality improvements before and during the upcoming Asian Games that will be hosted in Hangzhou in 2022.     

宁波盆地白垩系古地磁特征兼论馆头组朝川组和方岩组的层位归属

浙东宁波盆地白垩纪陆相火山岩系,经古地磁研究表明,以往认为时代属于早白垩世早期的馆头组,晚期朝川组和晚白垩世早期的方岩组均呈正向磁化,平均磁化方向基本一致。据绝对年龄和古生物旁证,磁化时间属白垩纪中期正向极性超时。因此,馆头组的层位应作相应的提高,从白垩系下部上升到白垩系中部;朝川组随之位于其上。方岩组纳入白垩系中部,在馆头组之下还应有一套以正负极性交迭为特征的白垩纪早期沉积物。从而对以往所谓的上侏罗统磨石山群的时代提出疑问。从古地磁方向特征的规律,支持了白垩系三分说。     

Climate and the eastern repository: A comparative study

We present a comparison of the climate in prospective states or sites under consideration for the eastern repository for high-level nuclear waste in the United States.We found that atmospheric conditions over several south-eastern sites rank lower than the other prospective areas in effective dispersal, as perFederal Register 10CFR 960.5-2-3 (1984). Also, damage rates in North Carolina and Virginia, and death rates in Virginia, from tropical storms and hurricanes exceed those of the other candidate states. These storms, as well as other mechanisms, subject piedmont Virginia and North Carolina to a high frequency of flash flooding. Death rates from all weather-related causes (including winter storms, tornadoes, and weather-related vehicle accidents) are also highest in Virginia and North Carolina. This finding is rather surprising in light of tornado and blizzard frequencies in northern candidate states.Based upon a 20-year study of damage and mortality figures from the US Department of Commerce publicationStorm Data for all weather-related causes, Virginia and North Carolina rank highest. If this is taken as a measure of relative compliance withFederal Register potentially adverse condition 960.5-2-3[c][2] pertaining to the history of severe weather phenomena in relation to repository siting, then these states are the least favorable from a climatic viewpoint.     

Watershed surveys to support an assessment of the regional effects of acidic deposition on surface water chemistry

Through the Direct/Delayed Response Project (DDRP), the United States Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to assess the risk to surface waters from acidic deposition in three regions of the eastern United States: the Northeast Region, the Southern Blue Ridge Province, and the Mid-Appalachian Region. The central policy question being addressed by the DDRP is: Within the regions of concern, how many surface water systems (lakes, streams) will become acidic due to current or altered levels of acidic sulfur deposition, and on what time scales? The approach taken by the DDRP is to select a statistically representative set of watersheds in each region of concern and to project the future response of each watershed to various assumed levels of acidic deposition. The probability structure will then be used to extrapolate the watershed-specific results to each region. The data will be used also for statistical investigation of hypothesized relationships between current surface water chemistry and watershed characteristics. Because the needed terrestrial data base was not available, regional watershed surveys were conducted to meet the specific data needs of the DDRP. Maps (1∶24,000) of soils, vegetation, land use, depth to bedrock, and bedrock geology were made for each watershed. The soils were grouped into sampling classes based on their hypothesized response to acidic deposition. Randomized sampling of these classes provided regional means and variances of soil properties that can be applied to individual watersheds. Because of DDRP's need for consistency within and among regions, unique quality control/quality assurance activities were developed and implemented. After verification and validation, the DDRP data base will be made publicly available. This will be a unique and useful resource for others investigating watershed relationships on a regional scale. The results of these surveys and the conclusions of the DDRP will be presented in several future papers. The current paper gives an overview of the context, rationale, logistical considerations, and implementation of these surveys, with special emphasis on the field activities of watershed mapping and soil sampling. This discussion should be useful to those planning, implementing, and managing survey activities in support of regional assessments of other environmental concerns, who are likely to face similar choices and constraints.     

An experimental test of female choice relative to male structural coloration in eastern bluebirds

Several experimental studies have shown that female birds use ornamental melanin and carotenoid plumage coloration as criteria in mate choice. Whether females choose mates based on natural variation in structural coloration, however, has not been well established. Male eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) display brilliant ultraviolet (UV)-blue plumage coloration on their head, back, wings, and tail, which is positively correlated with condition, reproductive effort, and reproductive success. We experimentally tested the hypothesis that female eastern bluebirds prefer as mates males that display brighter structural coloration by presenting breeding-condition females with males of variable coloration. We conducted two types of mate-choice experiments. First, females chose between males whose coloration was manipulated within the natural range of variation in the population; feathers were either brightened with violet marker or dulled with black marker. Second, females chose between males with naturally dull or bright plumage coloration. In both manipulated and unmanipulated coloration trials, female choice did not differ significantly from random with respect to structural coloration. We found no support for the hypothesis that the UV–blue coloration of male eastern bluebirds functions as a criterion in female mate choice.     

两性复配修饰黏土对苏丹草修复Cu2+污染紫色土的影响

为了探索添加吸附材料对植物修复Cu²⁺污染土壤的影响,选取不同十二烷基二甲基甜菜碱 （BS-12）和十四烷基磺酸钠 （STS）复配修饰比例（50%BS-12+25%STS、50%BS-12+50%STS和50%BS-12+100%STS）的膨润土作为吸附材料,将其分别以1%的质量比加入到紫色土（PS）中,形成PS（对照）、PBS₂₅（50%BS-12+25%STS修饰膨润土混合紫色土）、PBS₅₀和PBS₁₀₀四种混合土样。采用盆栽实验对比苏丹草在0（CK）、50、100、200和500 mg/L Cu²⁺污染混合土样中的发芽率、株高、地上部和根系生物量,并分析混合土样和苏丹草对Cu²⁺污染的修复效果。结果显示,随着Cu²⁺处理浓度的增加,苏丹草在PS上的种子发芽率逐渐降低,而在各PBS土样上的发芽率基本保持先增加后稳定的趋势;不同Cu²⁺污染混合土样上的苏丹草株高均随生长时间的增加而增加。苏丹草地上部、根系干重和鲜重在PBS₂₅、PBS₅₀土样上均随Cu²⁺处理浓度的增大而降低,而在PS和PBS₁₀₀土样上均随Cu²⁺处理浓度的增加先增加后降低,峰值分别出现在200和100 mg/L的Cu²⁺处理。Cu²⁺污染处理下苏丹草各生理指标之间均保持中度以上正相关关系,且相关系数表现为PBS₁₀₀最高、PBS₂₅和PBS₅₀次之、PS最低的趋势。各混合土样对Cu²⁺的吸附能力表现为PBS₂₅ > PBS₅₀ > PBS₁₀₀ > PS,苏丹草对Cu²⁺的富集含量表现为PS > PBS₁₀₀ > PBS₅₀ > PBS₂₅的趋势,苏丹草联合两性复配黏土修复Cu²⁺污染紫色土的修复率达99%以上。