Quality and Possibilities of Use of Stabilized Sludge Compost Obtained by Inoculation with Geocell‐1 Consortium

Anaerobically stabilized sludge from wastewater treatment is always a challenge from the environmental aspect of management. The agrarian environmental surroundings present a possibility for swift and efficient utilization of compost from anaerobically stabilized sludge in order to increase the quality of the biological product. With intensification of the composting procedure by means of the microbiological consortium Geocell‐1 (Cellvibrio sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens with the addition of micro‐ and macro‐elements), the results show that the compost obtained from stabilized sludge after inoculation is significantly improved in terms of moisture reduction (39–43%), while in the control compost, this value is significantly higher with 61%. The results of the pathogenic effect show a significant reduction in the number of fecal coliform (<1 × 10³) and Enterococcus bacteria (<1 × 10⁴) in the inoculated (treated) compost. With a slight decrease in the concentration of limiting factors such as As, Cd, Cu, a quality biological product can be achieved, which can be safely deposited on soil. The phytotoxicological germination test with white mustard (Sinapis alba) shows a higher number of sprouting plants with a mixture of treated compost and standard soil for flowers 1:1 and 1:4 compared to the control group.     

GLUE: 20 years on

This paper reviews the use of the Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) methodology in the 20 years since the paper by Beven and Binley in Hydrological Processes in (1992), which is now one of the most highly cited papers in hydrology. The original conception, the on‐going controversy it has generated, the nature of different sources of uncertainty and the meaning of the GLUE prediction uncertainty bounds are discussed. The hydrological, rather than statistical, arguments about the nature of model and data errors and uncertainties that are the basis for GLUE are emphasized. The application of the Institute of Hydrology distributed model to the Gwy catchment at Plynlimon presented in the original paper is revisited, using a larger sample of models, a wider range of likelihood evaluations and new visualization techniques. It is concluded that there are good reasons to reject this model for that data set. This is a positive result in a research environment in that it requires improved models or data to be made available. In practice, there may be ethical issues of using outputs from models for which there is evidence for model rejection in decision making. Finally, some suggestions for what is needed in the next 20 years are provided. © 2013 The Authors. Hydrological Processes published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Snowmelt variability in Polar Bear Pass,Nunavut, Canada,from QuikSCAT: 2000–2009

Snowmelt onset and end date estimates are made from QuikSCAT scatterometer measurements in the Canadian High Arctic wetland of Polar Bear Pass (PBP) and the surrounding region of Bathurst Island, Nunavut. In situ data within PBP is used to validate QuikSCAT snowmelt onset/end date estimates. Results indicate that within PBP from 2000 to 2009, the mean snowmelt onset date was Year Day (YD) 162, the mean snowmelt end date was YD179, and the mean snowmelt duration was 17 days. More interannual variability was apparent in snowmelt end date and duration compared with onset, and only snowmelt end date was significantly correlated with mean June air temperature at ?0.78. Cooler air temperatures in 2004 contributed to a long snowmelt duration of 24 days, and the very short snowmelt duration in 2007 of just 11 days was caused by rapid and sustained increases in air temperature. For snowmelt end date and duration the mean spatial pattern revealed two centres of later snowmelt end date/longer snowmelt duration over Bathurst Island. They were separated by early snowmelt end date/short snowmelt duration in PBP. These patterns are in agreement with the spatial distribution of mean May to July air temperature over Bathurst Island and are likely influenced by the local‐scale topography of Bathurst Island. Given the correlation between air temperature and snowmelt end date, we might expect quicker snowmelt under increased warming. The latter process may have implications for the sustainability of the PBP wetland under a warmer climate. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.