A Tidal Flow Model for the Gulf of Kachchh,India

A vertically integrated model has been used to study the tidal circulation and currents in the Gulf of Kachchh along the west coast of India. The model is fully nonlinear and uses a semiexplicit finite difference scheme to solve the basic hydrodynamic equations on a staggered grid. The model is forced by prescribing the tides along the open boundary of the model domain. The flow is simulated both with and without the presence of the proposed tidal barrage across the Hansthal Creek in the Gulf of Kachchh. The results show a considerable change in the behavior of the tidal flow in the presence of the barrage.     

Rights-based management in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean tuna fishery: Economic and environmental change under the Vessel Day Scheme

Defining, strengthening and enforcing rights over fisheries resources is frequently identified as central to overcoming ‘the tragedy of the commons’ and associated environmental and economic challenges in fisheries systems. Though economic theory generally suggests that output control (e.g. quotas) creates the strongest incentives for efficiency and conservation, input controls (e.g. on effort) remain common. This paper explores the rationale for, and implications of, employing a transferable effort scheme in one of the largest and most valuable fisheries. In 2007, eight Pacific Island countries implemented the Vessel Day Scheme with the aims of strengthening their rights over tuna resources and control over economic and environmental trends. Four years since implementation, the scheme has significantly increased economic returns for the island states and generated improvements in data reporting. However, it has not generated a firm limit on fishing effort and its structure has made it difficult to directly target the biological concerns of individual species within the multi-species fishery. In the future, outcomes of the Vessel Day Scheme will continue to be tempered by the structural limitations of effort-based regulatory scheme, market conditions in the sector and the willingness of firms and island states to clarify, abide by and enforce the technical components of the scheme.     

Coastal exposure to oil spill impacts from the Finisterre Traffic Separation Scheme

This study analyzes the coastal exposure to potential oil spills coming from the various corridors that constitute the Finisterre Traffic Separation Scheme (NW Iberia). A Lagrangian model was executed with results from a realistic configuration of an ocean model during 2012, validated here against High-Frequency (HF) radar-derived surface currents. Virtual particles were released each hour and followed during the next 4 days. A series of maps summarize which regions would be impacted and when. We have learnt, for example, that Cape Finisterre is the most affected area under a wide range of scenarios and that a sensitive area such as the National Park of the Atlantic Islands would require protective actions in less than 24 h if oil spills from the south eventually occurred. A complete analysis by corridor and during specific wind events is available through a web tool, which could be useful for decision makers in case of contingency.     

海洋环流模式对平流方案与分辨率的敏感性

文中将中国科学院大气物理研究所大气科学和地球流体力学数值模拟国家重点实验室（LASG）发展的准全球海洋环流模式（LICOM）,从水平分辨率、垂直分辨率、平流方案3个方面分别采用不同的方案,进行组合试验,研究这些因素对于海洋环流（特别是热带海洋）的重要影响。8组试验表明,水平分辨率的提高,对于流场的改进有显著作用,能够使流场达到与实际非常接近的强度;调整的垂直分辨率,上层海洋的加密,能够使热带太平洋上层海洋的模拟改进;引入的两步保形平流方案,能够使得热带太平洋海温的模拟有所改进,这种改进的效果在低分辨率的情况下,尤为明显。同时,8组试验也一致地表现出等温线的密集程度比实际情况稀疏,这反映了模式在物理过程,特别是混合过程的描述方面,还有值得改进的地方。     

Harnessing the wind: A case study of applying Flettner rotor technology to achieve fuel and cost savings for Fiji's domestic shipping industry

For over 5000 years, humans have successfully harnessed the power of wind to transport people and goods across the world's oceans. This research expands on previous studies of the unique Flettner rotor propulsion system and the demonstrable success in reducing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Recent examples such as Enercon's E-ship 1 have proven seaworthy and economically viable along major shipping routes. The remote Pacific island countries (PICS), however, have the unique characteristics of retaining a remarkable seafaring heritage while remaining on the periphery of global commerce. With data obtained from a field study of Fiji's domestic shipping, this research analyzes the potential for implementing Flettner rotor systems to achieve more economically viable alternatives to the current situation. The findings show that with an incremental approach and the addition of a government fuel savings incentive, the Government Shipping Franchise Scheme (GSFS) subsidies could be significantly lowered for Fiji's ten uneconomical shipping routes. Four scenarios of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 25% fuel savings contrast the baseline data on one extreme with a zero-emissions scenario on the other. The most likely fuel savings scenario of between 10% and 15% results in a 20-year government savings of between 348,042 and 522,063 U.S. dollars and a 20-year cumulative reduction in CO₂ emissions of between 2931 and 4396 t. The paper concludes that Flettner rotors show promising results in reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions and recommends future studies in collaboration with the Fiji government to develop practical strategies of implementation.     

不同边界层参数化方案对江苏地区一次平流雾过程的模拟影响

边界层参数化方案的选取在平流雾的预报准确度上起着决定性的作用。本文利用WRF模式对2013年3月18~19日发生在江苏地区的一次平流雾过程进行数值模拟试验,对耦合不同闭合方式边界层参数化方案的试验结果与实测气象数据进行对比分析,评估了他们对此次平流雾的模拟效果,探讨了边界层高度对此次平流雾的生成和发展的影响。研究结果表明:（1）耦合不同边界层方案的WRF模式对地面气象要素的模拟结果均呈现气温偏低、湿度和风速偏大的特征。（2）QNSE方案对气温的模拟能力最强;ACM2方案对相对湿度的模拟性能最好;YSU方案对风速的模拟效果最佳。不同边界层方案的模拟结果在垂直方向上的差别主要表现在低空相对湿度上:QNSE方案预报的湿度更大。（3）综合TS（Threat Score）和BS（Bias Score）两个评分指标来看,ACM2方案对雾区分布的模拟效果最好。三个边界层方案对此次平流雾的模拟结果在江苏沿海站点的预报评分较高,在距海较远站点的预报评分表现较差。YSU方案对东南沿海地区的雾区预报评分较高;QNSE方案对长江沿江区域的雾区预报评分较高;ACM2方案对沿海地区、尤其对沿海北部地区的有较好的预报效果。（4）QNSE方案对此次平流雾的生成时间、出现地点预报比较准确。（5）平流雾的生成与发展阶段模拟雾区覆盖范围与边界层高度关系十分紧密,适当强度的湍流混合作用有助于平流雾在地面的生成与发展;但是过强的湍流混合作用会导致大雾过早的消散。     

模式低空急流结构与水汽输送精度的数值试验

本文所使用的中尺度模式ＭＭ４改进了水汽平流的计算精度，引入了Ｐｒａｔｈｅｒ和Ｂｏｔｔ两种高精度正定闰流差分格式。首先探讨了仅考虑模式平流过程的情况下不同平流差分格式的误差特征对模式结果的可能影响。结果显示：ＭＭ４中原有的水汽平流差分格式在水汽梯度较大处产生水汽负值，而引入搞精度格式能正确模拟水汽为分布的特征，对不同精度的水汽平流分格式作了数值试验，不同格式下模式的低突急流结构有较明显差别，水汽输送     

Assessing the EU ETS with a bottom-up,multi-sector model

The European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is the central pillar of the EU response against climate change. This trading mechanism is considered, from the theoretical point of view, as the most cost-effective method to reduce GHG. However, previous studies show that the agents who participate in these markets may behave in a way that may lead to inefficient CO₂ prices, creating doubts about the static and dynamic efficiency of the system. This article analyses these possible anomalies by first trying to model the ETS in a more realistic way, addressing some of the limitations of previous models, and second, by comparing the results with real market transactions. For this, a bottom-up, multi-sector model has been built, which represents the EU ETS in an integrated, cross-sectoral way, paying particular attention to the interactions among the most emissions intensive industries. The results show the benefits of this modelling approach and how it better reflects real market conditions. Some preliminary conclusions regarding the behaviour of the agents in the ETS market are also presented.

POLICY RELEVANCE

Low allowance prices in the EU ETS have put into question the dynamic efficiency of the EU ETS system, prompting various ideas for structural reform. However, determining the right reform also requires estimating correctly how agents will respond to it. This article proposes a tool to realistically simulate the EU ETS under the assumption of rational agents, and compare it to real market outcomes, in order to understand better the behaviour of agents in this carbon market, and therefore how to design better policies.     

Exploring socio-hydrological determinants of crop yield in under-performing irrigation schemes: pathways for sustainable intensification

ABSTRACT

Understanding the human–water–food–climate nexus is central to achieving sustainable intensification (SI) in agriculture. This research uses a socio-hydrological approach to understand the underpinning for implementing SI in the Gezira Irrigation Scheme, Sudan, by integrating vegetation indices derived from remote sensing, ancillary, gridded soil and precipitation data, supplemented by interviews with 393 farmers. The productivity gap was estimated as the difference between the potential and actual productivities. Based upon data on farmers’ socio-economic status and field practices, a regression tree model was built to determine the factors that control the sorghum yield. The model revealed that the financial status of farmers and access to water are the most influential factors on sorghum yield. A conceptual framework that elucidates SI and its bi-directional feedback to the environment, society and the economy is proposed. Implementing SI in the scheme has implications on water and food security in Sudan and beyond its borders.     

黄河三角洲滩涂区海堤护岸结构方案优化实证研究

海堤护岸是抵御和减轻风暴潮灾害的根本措施,是从根本上消除风暴潮对沿岸人民生命财产安全威胁的最有效措施之一。黄河三角洲沿海滩涂广阔平坦,多为沙质和淤泥质,沟壑交错,海堤护岸的建设量大面广,所以对区域内海堤护岸的建设方案进行比较优化,更显得十分必要。文章通过具体的工程案例,阐述了建于黄河三角洲滩涂区的海堤护岸结构方案的比选与优化步骤与方法,这无疑对建于滨海滩涂区的海堤护岸的方案优化具有直接的参考与借鉴意义。