Growing up and cleaning up: The environmental Kuznets curve redux

Borrowing from the Kuznets curve literature, researchers have coined the term “environmental Kuznets curve” or EKC to characterize the relationship between pollution levels and income: pollution levels will increase with income but some threshold of income will eventually be reached, beyond which pollution levels will decrease. The link between the original Kuznets curve, which posited a similar relationship between income and inequality, and its pollution-concerned offspring lies primarily with the shape of both curves (an upside-down U) and the central role played by income change. Although the EKC literature has burgeoned over the past several years, few concrete conclusions have been drawn, the main themes of the literature have remained constant, and no consensus has been reached regarding the existence of an environmental Kuznets curve. EKC research has used a variety of types of data and a range of geographical units to examine the effects of income levels on pollution. Changes in pollution levels might also be at least partly explained by countries’ position in the demographic transition and their general population structure, however little research has included this important aspect in the analysis. In addition, few analyses confine themselves to an evaluation for one country of the long-term relationship between income and pollution. Using United States CO₂ emissions as well as demographic, employment, trade and energy price data, this paper seeks to highlight the potential impact of population and economic structure in explaining the relationship between income and pollution levels.     

Prospects of multifunctional agriculture as a facilitator of sustainable rural development: Swedish experience of Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

Agriculture remains one of the dominant activities in rural areas across the European Union (EU), not least in respect of land use and its impact on landscapes. The Agenda 2000 reform of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) introduced rural development as an integrated part of agricultural policy. The present study focuses on the second pillar of CAP. Multifunctional farming, more than any other rural activity, has a role to play in integrating the natural environment with the cultural landscape and socio-economic development. The question of how multifunctional agriculture can facilitate sustainable rural development is addressed in terms of mechanisms and inherent possibilities. Results from a case study in Östergötland in Sweden are discussed in relation to five other European case studies. Some main findings are that Pillar 2 has made it possible for rural inhabitants to continue living in rural areas and that the policies are effective in identifying and supporting new opportunities for farm diversification. The traditional agricultural landscape can be seen as a key component in various diversification activities in rural areas, contributing to economic as well as social and environmental sustainability.     

Model-Experimental Analysis of Variational Assimilation of Dust Concentration with GRAPES Sand-Dust Numerical Forecasting System in a Sand-Dust Storm

为了提高沙尘模式的预报准确率,通过在区域天气数值模式GRAPEs（G10bal／RegionalAs-similationandPrEdictionSystem）的三维变分同化系统中增加沙尘浓度这一控制变量的方法建立了GRAPES-3DVAR-DusT沙尘同化系统。利用中国北方8个观测站提供的沙尘PM10数据和沙尘模式（GRAPEs-CUAcE／Dust系统）提供的背景场,对2008年2月29日-3月1日发生在中国北方的一次沙尘暴天气进行了控制试验和一次同化与间断同化的敏感性试验,结果表明：（1）引入该同化系统后,一次同化和间断同化试验模拟的地面沙尘浓度分布较未同化的控制试验结果更接近卫星监测,而间断同化的结果又好于一次同化;（2）一次同化试验与控制试验对单站PM10浓度的演变预报较差;（3）间断同化试验较准确地再现了单站PM10浓度的连续演变;（4）间断同化试验效果整体上优于一次同化试验。总体而言,引入沙尘同化系统在一定程度上可以提高沙尘模式对沙尘天气的预报准确率。     

2010年沙尘天气对巴彦浩特空气质量的影响

利用巴彦浩特2010年1月至2011年2月PM10、SO2、NO2的逐日监测数据和同一时期气象观测资料,分析巴彦浩特空气污染物特征及PM10浓度与沙尘天气之间的关系。分析结果表明:2010年春、夏、秋三季巴彦浩特的主要污染物是PM10,冬季主要污染物是SO2;沙尘天气是造成巴彦浩特PM10浓度变化的最重要因素;影响巴彦浩特空气质量的沙尘主要来源于其西北方向和西北偏北方向。建议有关部门在巴彦浩特西北地区搞好生态保护与建设,以减轻沙尘天气对巴彦浩特地区空气质量的影响。     

INTEX-B NO2排放源在中国地区的应用与检验

将INTEX-B排放源应用到空气质量模型Model3-CMAQ中,对中国地区对流层NO₂的浓度分布进行了数值模拟,并与OMI卫星对流层NO₂资料进行了对比和验证。结果表明：将INTEX-B排放源应用到Model3-CMAQ模式,模拟的NO₂浓度在中国地区的分布、季节变化规律与卫星资料所得结果一致。敏感性试验表明,工业及电厂排放对NO₂的浓度贡献最大,而交通排放的贡献相对较小,两种排放均主要集中在京津、长江三角洲等经济发达地区。     

基于CBERS的黄河湿地生物量反演研究

本研究以黄河湿地郑州段为研究区,利用RS与GIS技术,基于2009年5月7日获得的CBERS 2B卫星CCD多光谱遥感影像和地面实测植被生物量信息,采用回归算法构建反演模型,经对比分析得到最优计算模型。结果表明,反演模型计算精度达到86.32%,利用CBERS 2B卫星CCD多光谱遥感影像可满足植被生物量的反演需要。     

基于全极化SAR影像的舰船目标检测算法研究

介绍了基于星载极化SAR影像的舰船目标检测的处理流程,针对基于不同杂波模型的CFAR检测法和基于相干信息的2L-IHP检测法,分析实现了瑞利分布、Gauss分布、韦布尔分布、对数正态分布,四种常用杂波分布模型的CA-CFAR检测法,通过实验检测海面舰船目标,发现这四种杂波模型针对不同海况有着不同的适应性,其检测效果也大不相同。而2L-IHP检测法不依赖于海杂波模型,通过子孔径相干提高目标和背景之间的对比度,实验结果表明,该方法能大幅提高海面舰船目标的检测概率。     

区域空气质量数值预报系统CAPPS3在辽宁的应用

利用城市大气污染数值预报系统CAPPS的第三版(CAPPS3),经过安装、调试和本地化、自动化处理,建立起适合于辽宁的区域空气质量数值预报系统,用于预报辽宁的城市污染指数和等级以及各污染物的日均浓度分布.通过模式预报结果与监测资料的对比,发现辽宁14个主要城市SO2、NO2预报准确率的总体水平明显高于PM10.区域污染物浓度分布位置和大小的预报结果与实际情况相符,污染物小时浓度的演变也与实际风场的变化趋势保持一致,表明CAPPS3模式系统能够及时准确地预报出区域污染的形成和发展过程.     

Modeling Methane Emissions from Paddy Rice Fields under Elevated Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Conditions

Methane(CH4 ) emissions from paddy rice fields substantially contribute to the dramatic increase of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.Due to great concern about climate change,it is necessary to predict the effects of the dramatic increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide(CO2 ) on CH4 emissions from paddy rice fields.CH4MOD 1.0 is the most widely validated model for simulating CH4 emissions from paddy rice fields exposed to ambient CO2(hereinafter referred to as aCO2 ).We upgraded the model to CH4MOD 2.0 b...