Hydrogen sulphide as a natural air contaminant in volcanic/geothermal areas: the case of Sousaki,Corinthia (Greece)

Volcanic and geothermal areas are one of the major natural sources of H₂S to the atmosphere. Its environmental impact is often the main cause of the opposition to the development of geothermal energy exploitation programs. In this paper, we analyze the air concentrations and dispersion pattern of naturally emitted H₂S at the geothermal area of Sousaki (Corinthia, Greece). Measurements, made with a network of passive samplers, evidence a rapid decrease of concentration values away from the emission points. The fact that the decrease is more pronounced in the summer with respect to the winter indicates that it is not only due to a dilution effect, but also to redox reactions favored by higher temperatures and intense sunlight typical of the summer period.     

我国东北地区晚更新世中晚期环境变化与猛犸象—披毛犀动物群绝灭研究综述

通过对文献资料的总结、统计分析,结合对我国东北地区的实地考察和初步研究结果,论述了我国东北地区晚更新世中晚期以来环境变化与猛犸象—披毛犀动物群演化、灭绝的研究现状和存在问题及其与国际对相应时段猛犸象研究之间的差距。提出加强对我国东北地区晚更新世气候环境的重建、认识气候变化的区域特点和突变性,系统而可靠地建立以猛犸象—披毛犀为主的化石动物年代序列、区分主要类型化石动物年代是研究的关键。以独立的气候环境变化和化石动物的年代序列为参照系,在区域环境变化的框架内讨论化石动物群生存的气候环境、生态特征和灭绝过程,进而探讨动物群演化及灭绝与气候环境变化的关系。这将为认识区域环境突变、动植物对环境变化的响应、我国东北地区晚更新世猛犸象—披毛犀动物群与欧亚大陆其它地区猛犸象之间的内在联系,认识人类演化与生存环境的适应、动植物演替与绝灭的临界条件等一系列重大科学问题提供资料。     

Environmental democratization and water justice in extractive frontiers of Colombia

Mechanisms of democratic participation have been activated in Colombia since 2006 for the purpose of protecting water sources, hydrosocial territories and peasant livelihoods. A chronological perspective on the numerous and varied cases illustrates their cumulative, transformative effect on judicial decisions taken by the high courts, which have endorsed these mechanisms of direct democracy and expanded the scope of democratization to socioenvironmental issues. The process of environmental democratization in Colombia has been gradual, starting with the creation of opportunities for citizen participation in the Constitution of 1991; followed in the first decade of this century by the activation of the mechanisms of democratic participation created; and culminating with the watershed Constitutional Court ruling T-445 of 2016, which confirmed the right of municipalities to consult with their citizens about mining and oil extraction in their territories. The cases are analyzed here through the lens of democratization and transformative and judicialized politics. The paper argues that the reconfiguration of power through the use and contestation of participatory mechanisms reveals an ambiguous state-formation process characterized by repressed democratization. It also demonstrates that the process of environmental democratization that started with the activation of the democratic participation mechanisms introduced in the Constitution of 1991 has been one of transformative democratic politics, in which a dynamic array of political actors have consolidated democratic participation on environmental issues through constitutional lobbying and activism.     

(Re)Connecting spatial literacy with children’s geographies: GPS,Google Earth and children’s everyday lives

This article sets out an agenda for research that (re)connects research on children’s geographies and childhood studies with studies of spatial literacy. Research on children’s environmental cognition and, latterly, spatial literacy, has been artificially and problematically separated from the majority of research in childhood studies. Our fundamental aim in this article is to argue for – and to evidence – greater attention to how spatial literacy and children’s everyday lives are embedded in one another. To support our broader call for a synthetic research agenda, we draw on some more focussed, qualitative empirical material taken from a large-scale project about children’s mobilities and everyday lives in newly-built urban communities. Our analysis focuses upon children’s interpretations of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) tracks of their mobilities, set against a background of Google Earth imagery. In doing so, we showcase one suite of ways in which research on environmental cognition and children’s geographies might proceed together. We demonstrate that children not only displayed analytical skills (for instance, in relation to scaling effects and pattern recognition) but that many also exercised higher-level, critical analysis, especially in relation to errors on Google Earth outputs. Simultaneously, we interrogate the recursive articulation of a range of qualitative indicators of spatial literacy, with children’s everyday mobilities, routines, emotions and memories. The paper analyses how new conceptual languages and technologies being propounded by spatial literacy scholars could afford a more enriched understanding of key contemporary concerns for children’s geographers, and, recursively, what spatial literacy scholars might gain from engaging with (especially qualitative) research prompted by those concerns.     

一种基于Kozeny-Carmen方程改进的渗透率预测新方法

在计算复杂孔隙结构储层渗透率时,常规采用的孔渗指数方法或流动单元分类方法几乎很难准确评价渗透率。针对这一问题,本文提出一种引入修正迂曲度因子的改进的Kozeny-Carmen方程渗透率计算新方法。首先引入迂曲度因子修正Kozeny-Carmen方程,迂曲度因子可以表达为孔隙度与岩电参数的函数;然后对改进的Kozeny-Carmen方程进行推演变换,得到新的流动单元指数,能够更好地将储层进行分类;最后利用自适应神经模糊推理系统建立取心段岩心渗透率与测井曲线的模型,并将此模型应用到非取心段的渗透率评价中。岩心渗透率与预测渗透率的对比验证了该方法的正确性与有效性,且渗透率计算精度较常规孔渗指数方法和流动单元分类方法有较大提高。该方法在南海西部海域莺歌海盆地东方气田储层评价中应用效果良好。     

Behavior and Environmental Effects of Mercury Relevant to the Melt of Alpine Glacier:A Review

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant. As one of the significant cryospheric environmental matrix, snow-ice plays a unique role in Hg biogeochemical cycling, which has drawn a wide attention of scientists. Besides polar regions, a large aggregate of glaciers are distributed in the high elevation of mid-high latitude areas. These alpine glaciers are proximate to human residence and are sensitive to the climate change, which would readily impact the human society, water resource security and water quality. Consequently, investigating the behavior and environmental effects of Hg relevant to the melt of alpine glaciers represents significant scientific and social importance. The deposition and storage of Hg in alpine glacier areas were outlined and the removal characteristics and transformation of Hg during glacier melt process and transport of Hg in glacier-fed river were summarized. Based on this study, we suggested that glacier be one of the potential sources of Hg to the downstream areas. Moreover, it was worth concerning the fate and environmental effects of Hg in the ecosystem fed by the glacier runoff. Eventually, we proposed prospects of the process of Hg release during glacier melt and the hot issues of Hg transport in glacier runoff.     

基质吸力对非饱和离子型稀土抗剪强度的影响

掌握基质吸力对非饱和离子型稀土抗剪强度的影响,对于认清水对矿体强度的弱化作用具有重要意义。现场测试了矿体的土?水特征曲线和抗剪强度,由此得到基质吸力对矿体抗剪强度的影响特性,即随着基质吸力的增大,矿体的内摩擦角略有增大,黏聚力大幅增大。同时,根据进气值所代表的物理意义进行分析可知,当基质吸力小于进气值时,基质吸力对抗剪强度的贡献速率可看成一稳定值;当基质吸力大于进气值时,基质吸力对抗剪强度的贡献速率逐渐减小。由此,以进气值为分界点,提出非饱和强度改进模型,通过改进模型计算得到的抗剪强度贡献值与现场实测值的误差绝对值基本在15%以内,且优于其他模型预测结果,表明本文的非饱和强度改进模型是有效的。     

10,000 years of climate control over carbon accumulation in an Iberian bog(southwestern Europe)

The northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula is home to a unique ecosystem of bogs,which are particularly sensitive to projected climate cha nge.In this context,the rate of carbon(C)accumulation in Chao de Veiga Mol.an intact raised bog,was analysed.Changes in the accumulation rate over the past10 millennia were determined in a peat core of 847 cm in depth,with a high mean rate of peat growth(11 yr cm^-1,0.09 cm yr^-1).An age-depth model was generated from 22 14C dates and fallout radionuclides.Chronological,stratigraphical and physico-chemical data confirmed the existence of a single cycle of peat formation throughout the Holocene and the formation of ombrotrophic peat 9500 years ago.The total mean C content was 50.2%,and over 10 millennia 583 kg C m^-2 accumulated at a mean rate of 35.3 g C m^-2 yr^-1,with a long-term(apparent)rate of carbon accumulation in the catotelm of59.9 g C m^-2 yr^-1.These values are much higher than reported for other Iberian peatlands and are amongst the highest documented for peatlands in the northern hemisphere.The dynamics of C accumulation and other measured parameters reveals important variations throughout the Holocene.They could be associated with the main climatic events described in the northern hemisphere and are highly consistent with models established for northern latitudes.The Chao de Veiga Mol raised bog is unique and of great potential value for carrying out high resolution palaeoenvironmental studies,especially in relation to regional and Iocal modulations in southern Europe.     

Hazardous elements and amorphous nanoparticles in historical estuary coal mining area

In Brazil, intense coal exploitation activities have led to environmental deterioration, including soil mortification, water contamination, loss of ecosystem, and atmospheric contamination. In addition,considerable quantities of sulfur-rich residues are left behind in the mining area; these residues pose grave environmental issues as they undergo sulfide oxidation reactions. When sulfur oxides come in contact with water, extreme acid leachate is produced with great proportions of sulfate, and hazardous elements(HEs), which are identified as coal drainage(CMD). CMD is an environmental pollution challenge, particularly in countries with historic or active coal mines. To prevent CMD formation or its migration, the source must be controlled; however, this may not be feasible at many locations. In such scenarios, the mine water should be collected, treated, and discharged. In this study, data from 2005 to2010 was gathered on the geochemistry of 11 CMD discharges from ten different mines. There are several concerns and questions on the formation of nanominerals in mine acid drainage and on their reactions and interfaces. The detailed mineralogical and geochemical data presented in this paper were derived from previous studies on the coal mine areas in Brazil. Oxyhydroxides, sulfates, and nanoparticles in these areas possibly go through structural transformations depending on their size and formation conditions. The geochemistry of Fe-precipitates(such as jarosite, goethite, and hematite) existent in the CMD-generating coal areas and those that could be considered as a potential source of hazardous elements(HEs)(e.g., Cr) were also studied because these precipitates are relatively stable in extremely low pH conditions. To simplify and improve poorly ordered iron, strontium, and aluminum phase characterization, field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HR-TEM), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction(XRD) and sequential extraction(SE) studies were executed on a set CMD samples from the Brazilian mines. This study aimed to investigate the role of both nanomineral and amorphous phase distribution throughout the reactive coal cleaning rejects profile and HEs removal from the water mine to provide holistic insights on the ecological risks posed by HEs, nanominerals, amorphous phases, and to assess sediments in complex environments such as estuaries.     

The 1984 North Sea conference: A preview

The author outlines the background to the decision to hold an international conference on the protection of the North Sea, and reviews the results that may realistically be expected. He explores the possibilities of achieving progress in pollution control in relation to the discharge of substances from land-based sources; discharges at sea; atmospheric pollution; and the monitoring of coastal waters and the high sea.