Environmental audits: Proposed terminology

This paper presents a review of the fast developing subject of environmental auditing with the authors proposing a series of definitions. Of particular concern is a move towards the development of an accepted vocabulary for environmental impact assessment, even though the international dimension of the subject makes this a difficult task. Use of the word audit has become an accepted part of EIA vocabulary, however there are several types of audits being undertaken today. Presently, there are no commonly accepted definitions, consequently this paper will attempts to address this issue. Definitions for seven types of environmental audits are suggested, derived from the experience of the authors and from a review of the current literature. It is hoped that by the presentation of these definitions that such terms will be advocated for future EIA work, and thereby reducing confusion that otherwise may occur. The paper concludes with a brief review of the status of auditing.     

Conspecific brood parasitism in an upland-nesting bird: cues parasites use to select a nest

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology - In the animal kingdom, conspicuous colors are often used for inter- and intra-sexual communication. Even though primates are the most colorful mammalian taxon,...     

Estimates of Particle Hygroscopicity during the Southeastern Aerosol and Visibility Study

ABSTRACT

Aerosol water content was determined from relative humidity controlled optical particle counter (ASASP-X) size distribution measurements made during the Southeastern Aerosol and Visibility Study (SEAVS) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during summer 1995. Since the scattering response function of the ASASP-X is sensitive to particle refractive index, a technique for calibrating the ASASP-X for any real refractive index was developed. A new iterative process was employed to calculate water mass concentration and wet refractive index as functions of relative humidity. Experimental water mass concentrations were compared to theoretically predicted values assuming only ammonium sulfate compounds were hygroscopic. These comparisons agreed within experimental uncertainty. Estimates of particle hygroscopicity using a rural aerosol model of refractive index as a function of relative humidity demonstrated no significant differences from those made with daily varying refractive index estimates. Although aerosol size parameters were affected by the assumed chemical composition, forming ratios of these parameters nearly canceled these effects.     

Defending the Wrist Deviation Test for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Screening: A Comparison of Vibration Thresholds and Distal Motor Latency

This research used distal motor latency (DML) and vibration thresholds (VT) to evaluate 84 hand activity and wrist deviation combinations to determine the best association with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Female volunteers, 2 healthy and 2 CTS diagnosed, were age matched and operated a keyboard for 4 hrs a day. Room temperature was 28°C(±2). Beginning DML and VT were taken with a relaxed neutral posture hand. The wrist was deviated in a randomly selected combination, and determinations were taken at 5-min intervals. The trial ended at 20 min or when discomfort was felt. The CTS conditions were discriminated by pain four times, DML once, and VT 14 times. Vibrometry was the most consistent CTS discriminator. The best VT results for wrist positions were obtained with wrist extension and extended extension, whereas the unclenched, clenched, and loaded power grip activities proved to be the most consistent hand activities.     

The dynamics of arsenic in four paddy fields in the Bengal delta

Irrigation with arsenic contaminated groundwater in the Bengal Delta may lead to As accumulation in the soil and rice grain. The dynamics of As concentration and speciation in paddy fields during dry season (boro) rice cultivation were investigated at 4 sites in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. Three sites which were irrigated with high As groundwater had elevated As concentrations in the soils, showing a significant gradient from the irrigation inlet across the field. Arsenic concentration and speciation in soil pore water varied temporally and spatially; higher As concentrations were associated with an increasing percentage of arsenite, indicating a reductive mobilization. Concentrations of As in rice grain varied by 2-7 fold within individual fields and were poorly related with the soil As concentration. A field site employing alternating flooded-dry irrigation produced the lowest range of grain As concentration, suggesting a lower soil As availability caused by periodic aerobic conditions.     

The agricultural impact of opencast coal mining in England and Wales

Opencast coal mining in England and Wales can cause a wide range of environmental problems which are increasingly public issues due to the planned expansion in output and the impact this may have on agriculture and landscape. Opencast mining is reviewed on a county by county basis to identify the variations in the disturbance caused. A detailed review of restoration techniques and the agricultural quality of the restored land is presented, and the role of Planning Authorities is discussed. Significant variations in the impact of opencast operations are identified, especially in relation to the potential for derelict land reclamation and the grade of agricultural land affected. The latter is generally lower grade 3 and below, although in certain areas operations are entering land of higher agricultural and scenic quality. The quality of restoration, while good, still has scope for improvements, such as reducing soil compaction and the subsequent management of the land by the farmer. The impact on agricultural productivity is difficult to assess, but it appears to be only slight in those cases where recent restoration techniques were used and when lower grade agricultural land is taken.     

Evaporation of solutes from water

A model is developed to define the evaporation rates of solutes from water. The rate equation, similar in form to the Knudsen equation, takes into consideration the effect of air and subwater turbulences on the evaporation loss. At given system conditions, the factor accounting for the air turbulence appears to be essentially constant and independent of temperature (3.5–25°C) for various organic chemicals and water. These characteristics allow one to study the rate of evaporation from water and the relative enhancement by subwater mixing for different solutes. This report shows that the volatilization loss of pure substances and solutes with low Henry's law constants is enhanced by air turbulence, not by subwater mixing. However, the loss of volatile solutes (high Henry's law constants) may be promoted both by air turbulence and by subwater mixing, in which the extent of enhancement by liquid mixing is determined primarily by the Henry's law constant. The present model provides a theoretical basis to explain these effects and others, which appear to be important for assessment of pollutant evaporative transport in the environment.     

OPERATING POLICIES FOR A SURFACE/GROUND WATER SYSTEM1

The simulation of the conjunctive use of a surface reservoir and a limestone aquifer is described. The potential yields from each of the sources are of the same order. An important feature of the aquifer is that if the pumpage is reduced, much of the excess water is lost through springs. Five different operating policies are considered which determine whether pumpage should be taken from the reservoir or aquifer. The total safe yields for the historic period 1961–1977 are estimated for each policy and their relative advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The simulation is also carried out for 100 years of generated data to discover the long term consequences.