Public Perceptions of Natural Character in New Zealand: Wild Nature Versus Cultured Nature

Results of empirical research undertaken in New Zealand to determine public perceptions of natural character in the biophysical environment are presented and related to recent theoretical literature. The research comprised two distinct case studies using Q method and photographs, in which participants evaluated natural character in terms of their own landscape experiences by ranking the photographs in order of preference. The results confirm prevailing responses to nature recently specified in North American literature, and have some policy implications for environmental management in New Zealand.     

Vertical column abundances of HCN deduced from ground-based infrared solar spectra: Long-term trend and variability

A set of high-resolution IR solar spectra recorded at the International Scientific Station of the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland, from 84/06 to 93/06, and at the National Solar Observatory McMath-Pierce solar telescope facility on Kitt Peak, Arizona, U.S.A. from 78/05 to 92/07 have been analyzed to determine the vertical column abundances of hydrogen cyanide, HCN, above the two stations. The analysis was based on least-squares curve fitting of calculated spectra to the observations encompassing the P4 and the P8 lines of HCN respectively located at 3299.5273 and 3287.2483 cm^–1. The results obtained for the two stations indicate that no significant long-term trend affects either of the two databases; however, this analysis reveals variable increases during springtime of up to a factor of 2 in the HCN total column above the Jungfraujoch and even up to 3 above Kitt Peak. The calculated mean vertical column abundances, excluding the spring observations, are equal to (2.55±0.30)×10¹⁵ molec./cm² (S.D.) and (2.75±0.30)×10¹⁵ molec./cm² respectively above the Jungfraujoch and the Kitt Peak observatories. Based on a realistic volume mixing ratio profile, these columns translate into mean volume mixing ratios equal to 190×10^–12 ppv at the respective altitudes of the stations.