Organochlorine residues in the avifauna of Tamil Nadu (Southeast coast of India)

Pollution due to persistent pesticides is not a regional but a global problem. Organochlorine pesticides are persistent chemicals, stored and accumulated in the tissues of a wide variety of invertebrates and vertebrates including marine species. In the present study the organochlorine residues HCHs, DDTs and PCBs were measured in different trophic groups of birds (scavengers, inland piscivores, coastal piscivores, insectivores, granivores and omnivores) collected from Tamil Nadu Coast, India. The residue accumulation as a function of sex did not depict distinct variation. However, females had lower residue levels than males in terms of their mean weight and feeding habits. A continuous monitoring programme is recommended to establish the studied organisms as indicator species.     

Towards a smallholder hydrology for equitable and sustainable water management

Situations of water scarcity challenge sustainability and threaten small users' access to water. In response to this problem, there has been a search for a method of hydrological analysis that can better represent the needs of small water users. While this search is rooted in the debate favouring a more participatory and inclusive allocation of the resource, it also requires a new focus on smallholder hydrology that can confront the gaps and biases found in current hydrological practices in many countries. This article looks at past hydrological practices and also at results of recent studies, highlighting the perspective of smallholder irrigators in surface water planning in Zimbabwe, and groundwater planning in India. These case studies show that wider social forces, not always best science, drive hydrological practices. However, new frameworks focusing on the water user can emerge for more equitable and sustainable water management.     

基于神经网络的东北地区秸秆焚烧预测

选取农作物秸秆露天燃烧严重的东北地区,采用人工神经网络的方法,结合卫星火点和气象数据,开展秸秆露天燃烧预测研究.结果表明：人工神经网络预测模型成功验证了松嫩平原地区2015年10月25日~11月15日的秸秆露天燃烧情况,其准确度为67.1%,经过多次试验,在神经网络建模与验证数据配比为80：20时,预测准确度最高,可达69.7%,同时该模型的稳定性较好.而对不同区域,不同时间段的预测研究表明,人工神经网络较适用于长时间序列的预测.就影响因素而言,相对湿度是影响秸秆露天燃烧的最重要因素.本研究结果可为空气质量模式提供火点预测数据,提高其预报预警能力,为区域联防联控政策的制定提供科技支持.     

Distribution of Iron, Manganese, Zinc and Atrazine in Groundwater in Parts of Palar and Cheyyar River Basins, South India

A study was carried out in a part of Palar and Cheyyar river basin to evaluate the current status of iron, manganese, zinc and atrazine concentrations, their origin and distribution in groundwater. Groundwater samples were collected during post-monsoon (March 1998 and February 1999) and pre-monsoon (June 1999) periods from 41 sampling wells distributed throughout the study area. The groundwater samples were analyzed for trace metals using AAS and atrazine using HPLC. The concentration of the trace elements in groundwater is predominant during pre-monsoon period. Distribution pattern indicates that the concentration of these elements increases from west to northeast and towards Palar river. Lower concentrations in the central part may be due to recharge of fresh water from the lakes located here. During most of the months, as there is no flow in Palar river, the concentrations of trace elements in groundwater are high. Drinking water standards indicate that Mn and Zn cross the permissible limit recommended by EPA during the pre-monsoon period. A comparison of groundwater data with trace element chemistry of rock samples shows the abundance of trace elements both in the rock and water in the order of Fe > Mn > Zn and Fe > Zn > Mn. This indicates that iron in groundwater is derived from lithogenic origin. Further, Fe, Mn and Zn have good correlation in rock samples, while it is reverse in the case of water samples, indicating the non-lithogenic origin of Mn and Zn. Atrazine (a herbicide) was not detected in any of the groundwater samples in the study area, perhaps due to low-application rate and adsorption in the soil materials.     

天然林保护与东北地区水患治理方略

从天然林水文功能出发，阐述了东北地区天然林削减及其与洪涝灾害的关系，提出了东北地区水患治理方略。同时建议建立防汛信息系统，提高暴雨和洪水预报准确率以及防洪保险灾后重建。     

中国东北、内蒙古地区茶藨属果树资源的研究

本文对东北、内蒙古地区茶属果树资源进行了调查,初步查明有１９种、２变种、１变型,并对其特征、特性、生境、分布及利用价值进行了研究,总结了驯化栽培的研究结果,提出了开发利用的建议。     

湘东北中生代基性岩脉微量元素地球化学特征及岩石成因

湘东北中生代基性岩脉可以分为煌斑岩和辉绿岩两类 ,前者形成于 136 .6 1Ma ,后者形成于 86 .18Ma ,与华南中生代主要拉张时期相对应。岩石富集LREE ,Eu负异常不明显 ,其形成主要受地幔部分熔融作用制约。早期煌斑岩类微量元素和Sr、Nd同位素总体上具有富集地幔 (EMⅡ型 )洋岛玄武岩 (OIB)特征 ,富集Nd、P、Cs,而K、Rb、Sr、U、Th等富集程度不明显 ,Ta、Nb略有富集 ,具有软流圈地幔上涌地幔热柱玄武岩岩浆源区性质 ,表现出软流圈地幔上涌部分熔融的成岩特点。晚期辉绿岩类表现出Ta、Nb、Ti亏损 ,但LILE并不富集 ,反映地壳混染程度的增强 ,具有大陆拉张带 (裂谷初期 )形成的玄武岩岩浆源区性质 ,为岩石圈地幔部分熔融形成。二者具有不同的岩浆源区性质 ,从早期到晚期岩浆源区向上迁移并致使部分陆壳物质混入 ,反映由热点式拉张到岩石圈伸展 减薄的作用过程。     

A concept for simultaneous wasteland reclamation, fuel production, and socio-economic development in degraded areas in India: Need, potential and perspectives of Jatropha plantations

The concept of substituting bio‐diesel produced from plantations on eroded soils for conventional diesel fuel has gained wide‐spread attention in India. In recent months, the Indian central Government as well as some state governments have expressed their support for bringing marginal lands, which cannot be used for food production, under cultivation for this purpose. Jatropha curcas is a well established plant in India. It produces oil‐rich seeds, is known to thrive on eroded lands, and to require only limited amounts of water, nutrients and capital inputs. This plant offers the option both to cultivate wastelands and to produce vegetable oil suitable for conversion to bio‐diesel. More versatile than hydrogen and new propulsion systems such as fuel cell technology, bio‐diesel can be used in today's vehicle fleets worldwide and may also offer a viable path to sustainable transportation, i.e., lower greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced mobility, even in remote areas. Mitigation of global warming and the creation of new regional employment opportunities can be important cornerstones of any forward looking transportation system for emerging economies.     

Traditional water bodies and ecosystem services: Empirical evidence from West Bengal,India

Traditional water harvesting systems are multi-functional in nature and provide a variety of ecosystem services that contribute to the overall wellbeing of local people. This study aims to identify and analyze the factors influencing the variations in the level of awareness across households residing around three selected traditional water bodies in the Indian state of West Bengal. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression models have been used to identify and analyze the determinants of household perception on ecosystem services from tank water bodies. Results show that while a majority of households have strong perceptions on the provisioning and cultural ecosystem services of the tanks, the household perceptions on regulating and supporting services of the tank is found to be relatively weak. Households belonging to lower caste and poor are likely to be more dependent on ecosystem services from tanks than upper caste and rich households, and hence they have better perceptions of provisioning ecosystem services. Households’ awareness about provisioning ecosystem services is negatively related to their level of education and wealth. It is observed that household awareness about regulating and supporting ecosystem services is positively associated with the level of education of the households, ownership of tube well and private tanks. While it is essential to consider household perception on all the ecosystem services for sustainable use and management of traditional water harvesting systems, incorporating the local norms, customs and preferences in policy design are critical for achieving effective conservation outcomes.     

中国与印度典型城市道路街尘中多环芳烃与黑碳的对比研究

为探讨城市道路街尘中多环芳烃(PAHs)和黑碳(BC)的分布特征,2007年12月～2009年2月,分别在中国的北京、上海、广州和武汉以及印度的加尔各答采集了城市主干道的街尘.样品处理后分别用GC-MS和元素分析仪进行测定.结果表明,中国主要城市道路街尘中PAHs的含量范围为2.30～22.2μg.g-1,主要是以荧蒽、菲、芘、、苯并(b)荧蒽和苯并(ghi)苝为主要的多环芳烃化合物.印度加尔各答PAHs的含量范围为4.85～30.5μg.g-1,呈现出以2环的萘为主要的PAHs化合物.BC在中国主要城市道路街尘中的含量值高于印度的加尔各答,说明了2个国家可能的不同能源结构和能源消耗.相关分析表明,PAHs与BC在不同的城市显示出不同的特点,可能指示了不同的来源.特征比值法表明城市街尘中的PAHs主要来源于机动车排放,其次来源于燃煤.