2015年10月南京霾污染过程分析

为探讨南京秋季霾污染过程发生的主要影响因素,利用南京信息工程大学太阳光度计观测霾污染发生天气下AOD（aerosol optical depth,气溶胶光学厚度）数据,计算AE_440-1020（?ngstr?m Exponent,波长指数）以及a₂（光谱曲率）,结合CALIPSO（Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations）卫星气溶胶组分分析以及MODIS（Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer）火点数据,对2015年10月南京霾污染过程进行分析.结果表明:2015年10月出现的两次霾污染过程期间南京地区AE_440-1020均高于1.0并且a₂呈负值,其中10月16日AQI达到峰值（201）,AOD₅₀₀达1.51,AE_440-1020达1.37,a₂达-0.77;这两次较为严重的霾污染过程均主要由人为因素（工业污染、城市建设、生物质燃烧、汽车尾气排放等）产生的细粒子所致.后向轨迹分析发现,2015年10月16日南京地区霾污染天气发生的主要原因是区域型污染,同时受长距离输送影响,大量携带人为因素产生的细粒子以及少量沙尘等污染物的空气团途经内蒙古、山东等地到达南京,加剧了当日的污染程度;2015年10月23日南京地区霾污染天气的发生则主要受长距离输送影响,同时也受到区域型污染影响,加剧了当日的污染程度.研究显示,在稳定的气象条件下,较高的相对湿度、较低的地表风速、低混合层高度以及贴地逆温的出现是诱发霾污染天气产生的有利气象条件.      

Artificial Groundwater Recharge Zones Mapping Using Remote Sensing and GIS: A Case Study in Indian Punjab

Artificial groundwater recharge plays a vital role in sustainable management of groundwater resources. The present study was carried out to identify the artificial groundwater recharge zones in Bist Doab basin of Indian Punjab using remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) for augmenting groundwater resources. The study area has been facing severe water scarcity due to intensive agriculture for the past few years. The thematic layers considered in the present study are: geomorphology (2004), geology (2004), land use/land cover (2008), drainage density, slope, soil texture (2000), aquifer transmissivity, and specific yield. Different themes and related features were assigned proper weights based on their relative contribution to groundwater recharge. Normalized weights were computed using the Saaty’s analytic hierarchy process. Thematic layers were integrated in ArcGIS for delineation of artificial groundwater recharge zones. The recharge map thus obtained was divided into four zones (poor, moderate, good, and very good) based on their influence to groundwater recharge. Results indicate that 15, 18, 37, and 30 % of the study area falls under “poor,” “moderate,” “good,” and “very good” groundwater recharge zones, respectively. The highest recharge potential area is located towards western and parts of middle region because of high infiltration rates caused due to the distribution of flood plains, alluvial plain, and agricultural land. The least effective recharge potential is in the eastern and middle parts of the study area due to low infiltration rate. The results of the study can be used to formulate an efficient groundwater management plan for sustainable utilization of limited groundwater resources.     

Metal-oxide coated Graphene oxide nano-composite for the treatment of pharmaceutical compound in photocatalytic reactor: Batch,Kinetics and Mathematical Modeling using Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalyst has gained constant interest in the treatment of wastewater because of its greater stability, lower cost,...     

Hydrothermal synthesis of meso/macroporous BiVO4 hierarchical particles and their photocatalytic degradation properties under visible light irradiation

An ordered hierarchical meso/macroporous monoclinic bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) particle was fabricated for the first time by a simple two-step melamine template hydrothermal method followed by calcination. The physiochemical parameters of as-prepared porous materials were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman, Barrett–Emmett–Teller, and UV–vis techniques. The nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurement and pore size distribution curve suggest that meso/macropores exist in these hierarchical microarchitectures. Further, it is found that melamine plays a significant role in the formation of porous BiVO₄ particles, and when a known amount of melamine was added, the surface area and pore size of such porous BiVO₄ particles were increased. The photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared hierarchical BiVO₄ samples were measured for the photodegradation of Congo red aqueous dye solution under visible light irradiation. Surprisingly, the porous BiVO₄ particles showed outstanding photocatalytic activities than polycrystalline BiVO₄ sample. The possible enhancement of such catalytic performance has also been further discussed.     

Pyrene remediation by Trametes maxima: an insight into secretome response and degradation pathway

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The rapid pace of economic development has resulted in the release of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the environment. Microbial...     

Green method of stemming the tide of invasive marine and freshwater organisms by natural filtration of shipping ballast water

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Marine and freshwater pollution caused by transport of invasive species in shipping ballast water is a major global problem and will increase in...     

How should support for climate-friendly technologies be designed?

Stabilizing global greenhouse gas concentrations at levels to avoid significant climate risks will require massive "decarbonization" of all the major economies over the next few decades, in addition to the reduced emissions from other GHGs and carbon sequestration. Achieving the necessary scale of emissions reductions will require a multifaceted policy effort to support a broad array of technological and behavioral changes. Change on this scale will require sound, well-thought-out strategies. In this article, we outline some core principles, drawn from recent social science research, for guiding the design of clean technology policies, with a focus on energy. The market should be encouraged to make good choices: pricing carbon emissions and other environmental damage, removing distorting subsidies and barriers to competition, and supporting RD&D broadly. More specific policies are required to address particular market failures and barriers. For those technologies identified as being particularly desirable, some narrower RD&D policies are available.     

Development of controlled release formulations of azadirachtin-A employing poly(ethylene glycol) based amphiphilic copolymers

Controlled release (CR) formulations of azadirachtin-A, a bioactive constituent derived from the seed of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae), have been prepared using commercially available polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and laboratory synthesized poly ethylene glycol–based amphiphilic copolymers. Copolymers of polyethylene glycol and various dimethyl esters, which self assemble into nano micellar aggregates in aqueous media, have been synthesized. The kinetics of azadirachtin-A, release in water from the different formulations was studied. Release from the commercial polyethylene glycol (PEG) formulation was faster than the other CR formulations. The rate of release of encapsulated azadirachtin-A from nano micellar aggregates is reduced by increasing the molecular weight of PEG. The diffusion exponent (n value) of azadirachtin-A, in water ranged from 0.47 to 1.18 in the tested formulations. The release was diffusion controlled with a half release time (t_1/2) of 3.05 to 42.80 days in water from different matrices. The results suggest that depending upon the polymer matrix used, the application rate of azadirachtin-A can be optimized to achieve insect control at the desired level and period.