Analysis of the Trend and Seasonal Cycle of Carbon Monoxide Concentrations in an Urban Area (4 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope Air quality is an field of major concern in large cities. This problem has led administrations to introduce plans and regulations to reduce pollutant emissions. The analysis of variations in the concentration of pollutants is useful when evaluating the effectiveness of these plans. However, such an analysis cannot be undertaken using standard statistical techniques, due to the fact that concentrations of atmospheric pollutants often exhibit a lack of normality and are autocorrelated. On the other hand, if long-term trends of any pollutant’s emissions are to be detected, meteorological effects must be removed from the time series analysed, due to their strong masking effects. Materials and Methods The application of statistical methods to analyse temporal variations is illustrated using monthly carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations observed at an urban site. The sampling site is located at a street intersection in central Valencia (Spain) with a high traffic density. Valencia is the third largest city in Spain. It is a typical Mediterranean city in terms of its urban structure and climatology. The sampling site started operation in January 1994 and monitored CO ground level concentrations until February 2002. Its geographic coordinates are W0°22′52″ N39°28′05″ and its altitude is 11 m. Two nonparametric trend tests are applied. One of these is robust against serial correlation with regards to the false rejection rate, when observations have a strong persistence or when the sample size per month is small. A nonparametric analysis of the homogeneity of trends between seasons is also discussed. A multiple linear regression model is used with the transformed data, including the effect of meteorological variables. The method of generalized least squares is applied to estimate the model parameters to take into account the serial dependence of the residuals of this model. This study also assesses temporal changes using the Kolmogorov-Zurbenko (KZ) filter. The KZ filter has been shown to be an effective way to remove the influence of meteorological conditions on O₃ and PM to examine underlying trends. Results The nonparametric tests indicate a decreasing, significant trend in the sampled site. The application of the linear model yields a significant decrease every twelve months of 15.8% for the average monthly CO concentration. The 95% confidence interval for the trend ranges from 13.9% to 17.7%. The seasonal cycle also provides significant results. There are no differences in trends throughout the months. The percentage of CO variance explained by the linear model is 90.3%. The KZ filter separates out long, short-term and seasonal variations in the CO series. The estimated, significant, long-term trend every year results in 10.3% with this method. The 95% confidence interval ranges from 8.8% to 11.9%. This approach explains 89.9% of the CO temporal variations. Discussion The differences between the linear model and KZ filter trend estimations are due to the fact that the KZ filter performs the analysis on the smoothed data rather than the original data. In the KZ filter trend estimation, the effect of meteorological conditions has been removed. The CO short-term componentis attributable to weather and short-term fluctuations in emissions. There is a significant seasonal cycle. This component is a result of changes in the traffic, the yearly meteorological cycle and the interactions between these two factors. There are peaks during the autumn and winter months, which have more traffic density in the sampled site. There is a minimum during the month of August, reflecting the very low level of vehicle emissions which is a direct consequence of the holiday period. Conclusions The significant, decreasing trend implies to a certain extent that the urban environment in the area is improving. This trend results from changes in overall emissions, pollutant transport, climate, policy and economics. It is also due to the effect of introducing reformulated gasoline. The additives enable vehicles to burn fuel with a higher air/fuel ratio, thereby lowering the emission of CO. The KZ filter has been the most effective method to separate the CO series components and to obtain an estimate of the long-term trend due to changes in emissions, removing the effect of meteorological conditions. Recommendations and Perspectives Air quality managers and policy-makers must understand the link between climate and pollutants to select optimal pollutant reduction strategies and avoid exceeding emission directives. This paper analyses eight years of ambient CO data at a site with a high traffic density, and provides results that are useful for decision-making. The assessment of long-term changes in air pollutants to evaluate reduction strategies has to be done while taking into account meteorological variability     

高锰酸盐指数测定中校正系数K值的变化验证

运用数理统计方法,验证了高锰酸盐指数测定的校正系数K值在4～5h内不会随时间和水样的变化而变化,K值不必每个样品都测定。     

CHEMISTRY OF COALBED METHANE DISCHARGE WATER INTERACTING WITH SEMI‐ARID EPHEMERAL STREAM CHANNELS1

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to examine the chemistry of Coalbed Methane (CBM) discharge water reacting with semi‐arid ephemeral stream channels in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. The study area consisted of two ephemeral streams: Burger Draw and Sue Draw. These streams are tributaries to the perennial Powder River. Samples were collected bimonthly from three CBM discharge points and seven channel locations in Burger Draw and Sue Draw. Samples were also collected bimonthly from the Powder River above and below the confluence of Burger Draw. Before sample collection, the pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured in the field. Samples were transported to the laboratory and analyzed for alkalinity, major cations, and anions. From the measurement of sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg), practical sodium adsorption ratio (SARp) and true sodium adsorption ratio (SARt) were calculated. Results suggest pH and EC of CBM discharge water was 7.1 and 4.3 dS/m, respectively. The CBM discharge water consisted of higher concentrations of sodium and alkalinity compared to other components. The pH of CBM discharge water increased significantly (p = 0.000) in the downstream channel of Burger Draw from 7.1 to 8.84 before it joined with the Powder River. Dissolved calcium concentration of CBM discharge water decreased significantly (p = 0.000) in the downstream channel water. Subsequently, SARp increased approximately from 24 to 29. The SARt also increased significantly (p = 0.001) in the downstream channel water. For instance, SARt of CBM discharge water increased from 32.93 to 45.5 downstream channels after the confluence of Sue Draw with the Burger Draw. The only significant difference in water chemistry above and below the confluence of Burger Draw with the Powder River was pH, which increased from 8.36 to 8.52. The significant increase in SAR values of CBM discharge water in Burger Draw and Sue Draw tributaries suggest a careful monitoring of salinity and sodicity is needed if CBM discharge water is used for irrigation in semi‐arid environments. Results discussed in this study will be useful to downstream water users who depend on water for irrigation.     

江河水质监测断面优化布设方法

江河水质监测断面应掌控水质的时空变化规律.数理统计分析方法可以发现一条河流上现有水质监测断面是否存在功能相似的邻近断面,水环境数值模拟方法可以近似地展现一条河流任意位置的水质情况,二者结合即可解决缺乏实测数据的河流水质监测断面优化布设问题.以我国某条大河为研究实例,运用物元分析法、模糊聚类分析法以及一维水环境数值模型结合物元分析法研究其水质断面优化问题.研究发现该河现有15个监测断面需要去除2个,同时需要增设2个新的水质监测断面.通过实地调查,该优化方法很好地解决了河流水质监测断面的合理布设问题.     

Spatial sampling and the environment: some issues and directions

In this paper we summarize research issues for spatial environmental sampling stemming from a NISS/USEPA workshop held on 21-22 September 1994 at Chapel Hill, NC.     

空间视角下湖北省环境绩效评估及影响因素分析

以湖北省为例,基于压力-状态-响应（PSR）模型构建环境绩效评估指标体系,运用空间自相关和标准差椭圆对湖北省各地区绩效指数空间特征及影响因素进行探讨,结果显示：湖北省各地区环境绩效指数（EPI）均高于60,但普遍处于中等水平,良好及优秀所占比例低.EPI较高的地区主要位于湖北省西部和中部,压力和状态指数从西至东递减,响应指数则呈现东部高于西部高于中部的态势.状态指标绩效指数在空间上显著正相关,即环境质量状况较好（或较差）的地区在空间上集聚.EPI及二级指标绩效指数均以西北-东南为布局方向,且EPI椭圆重心较于基准重心偏向于西南方向.各地区环境指数除受到资源禀赋的影响外,还与城镇化率和人口密度显著相关.     

基于景观结构和空间统计方法的绿洲区生态风险分析——以石羊河武威、民勤绿洲为例

论文以石羊河流域武威、民勤绿洲为研究区域,在ArcGIS 10.0、ArcView 3.2 软件和景观格局分析软件FRAGSTATS的技术支持下,采用干扰度指数、景观脆弱度指数、优势度指数和破碎度等指数,并通过分析景观格局与生态风险度之间的关系,将各景观指数进行栅格叠置运算,从而构建生态风险度,在此基础上,利用GIS局部空间统计方法研究分析了绿洲区景观结构格局和生态风险的时空变化特征及聚集模式。研究结果表明:① 城乡用地快速扩展的同时,耕地和草地景观有较大幅度的降低,优势景观类型由耕地、草地向耕地和建设用地转变;② 武威绿洲生态风险经历了从较高到中度的转变,生态风险整体趋于好转,而民勤绿洲生态风险从中/较高到较高/高变化,生态风险有所恶化;③ 武威绿洲主要为高于平均值的要素趋于聚集,表现为低生态风险小区高度聚集,且聚集度有上升的趋势,而民勤绿洲则主要为低于平均值的要素趋于聚集,高生态风险小区高度聚集,随着时间的推移呈现面积增大、空间扩展的态势。     

The effect of protected areas on forest disturbance in the Carpathian Mountains 1985–2010

Protected areas are a cornerstone for forest protection, but they are not always effective during times of socioeconomic and institutional crises. The Carpathian Mountains in Eastern Europe are an ecologically outstanding region, with widespread seminatural and old‐growth forest. Since 1990, Carpathian countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine) have experienced economic hardship and institutional changes, including the breakdown of socialism, European Union accession, and a rapid expansion of protected areas. The question is how protected‐area effectiveness has varied during these times across the Carpathians given these changes. We analyzed a satellite‐based data set of forest disturbance (i.e., forest loss due to harvesting or natural disturbances) from 1985 to 2010 and used matching statistics and a fixed‐effects estimator to quantify the effect of protection on forest disturbance. Protected areas in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the Ukraine had significantly less deforestation inside protected areas than outside in some periods; the likelihood of disturbance was reduced by 1–5%. The effectiveness of protection increased over time in these countries, whereas the opposite was true in Romania. Older protected areas were most effective in Romania and Hungary, but newer protected areas were more effective in Czech Republic, and Poland. Strict protection (International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN] protection category Ia‐II) was not more effective than landscape‐level protection (IUCN III‐VI). We suggest that the strength of institutions, the differences in forest privatization, forest management, prior distribution of protected areas, and when countries joined the European Union may provide explanations for the strikingly heterogeneous effectiveness patterns among countries. Our results highlight how different the effects of protected areas can be at broad scales, indicating that the effectiveness of protected areas is transitory over time and space and suggesting that generalizations about the effectiveness of protected areas can be misleading.     

基于面积统计的震后烈度评估

选取了较为典型的历史震例,并将这些震例的等震线图数字化.利用这些等震线图数据,直接统计出地震参数和震后不同烈度面积之间的关系,并将该关系和烈度衰减几何模型结合起来,反演震后烈度的具体分布形状,以进行震后烈度分布的预测.     

自助加油站典型静电事故案例分析及防范措施

随着自助加油站在我国的不断推广和普及,其安全防护问题也日益凸显.为了促进我国自助加油站的安全管理,降低自助加油站的运营风险,首先对自助加油站面临的安全风险做了阐述,然后针对国内外自助加油站的典型静电事故案例进行了分析、整理及总结,并在参考和借鉴国外自助加油站相关法规的基础上,提出了一系列有针对性的静电事故防护措施.