Might electricity consumption cause urbanization instead? Evidence from heterogeneous panel long-run causality tests

The share of a population living in urban areas, or urbanization, is both an important demographic, socio-economic phenomenon and a popular explanatory variable in macro-level models of energy and electricity consumption and their resulting carbon emissions. Indeed, there is a substantial, growing subset of the global modeling literature that seeks to link urbanization with energy and electricity consumption, as well as with carbon emissions. This paper aims to inform both modelers and model consumers about the appropriateness of establishing such a link by examining the nature of long-run causality between electricity consumption and urbanization using heterogeneous panel methods and data from 105 countries spanning 1971–2009. In addition, the analysis of the time series properties of urbanization has implications both for modelers and for understanding the urbanization phenomenon. We consider total, industrial, and residential aggregations of electricity consumption per capita, three income-based panels, and three geography-based panels for non-OECD countries. The panel unit root, cointegration, and causality tests used account for cross-sectional dependence, nonstationarity, and heterogeneity – all of which are present in the data set. We cannot reject pervasively Granger causality in the urbanization to electricity consumption direction. However, the causality finding that is both the strongest and most similar across the various panels is that of long-run Granger causality from electricity consumption to urbanization. In other words, the employment and quality of life opportunities that access to electricity afford likely encourage migration to cities, and thus, cause urbanization. Also, nearly all countries’ urbanization series contained structural breaks, and the most recent post-break annual change rates suggested that nearly all countries’ rates of urbanization change were slowing. Lastly, future modeling work on energy consumption or carbon emissions should consider subnational scales of analysis, and focus on measures of urban density or urban form rather than national urbanization levels.     

Topographic thresholds for plant colonization on semi‐arid eroded slopes

Soil erosion plays an important role in plant colonization of semi‐arid degraded areas. In this study, we aimed at deepening our knowledge of the mechanisms that control plant colonization on semi‐arid eroded slopes in east Spain by (i) determining topographic thresholds for plant colonization, (ii) identifying the soil properties limiting plant establishment and (iii) assessing whether colonizing species have specific plant traits to cope with these limitations. Slope angle and aspect were surrogates of erosion rate and water availability, respectively. Since soil erosion and water availability can limit plant establishment and both can interact in the landscape, we analysed variations in colonization success (vegetation cover and species number) with slope angle on 156 slopes, as a function of slope aspect. After determining slope angle thresholds for plant colonization, soil was sampled near the threshold values for soil analysis [nitrogen, phosphorous, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), water holding capacity]. Plant traits expressing the plant colonizing capacity were analysed both in the pool of species colonizing the steep slopes just below the threshold and in the pool of species inhabiting gentler slopes and absent from the slopes just below the threshold. Results show that the slope angle threshold for plant colonization decreased from north to south. For the vegetation cover, threshold values were 63°, 50°, 46°, 41° for the north, east, west and south slope aspect classes, respectively, and 65°, 53°, 49° and 45° for the species richness and the same aspect classes. No differences existed in soil properties at slope angle threshold values among slope aspects and between slope positions (just below and above the threshold) within slope aspect classes. This suggests that variations between slope aspect classes in the slope angle threshold result from differences in the colonizing capacity of plants which is controlled by water availability. Long‐distance dispersal and mucilage production were preferably associated with the pool of colonizing species. These results are discussed in the perspective of a more efficient ecological restoration of degraded semi‐arid ecosystems where soil erosion acts as an ecological filter for plant establishment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial and temporal characterization of nutrient net uptake in a vegetated urban stream: Stream bank features leading to net uptake hotspots

Urban stream features can be used to promote nutrient retention; however, their interactions with different hydrological regimes impact nutrient cycling, decrease their retention capacity, and inhibit stream ecosystem functioning. This study analysed the temporal and spatial dynamics of the uptake of three nutrients (nitrate, ammonium, and phosphorus) in an urban drainage stream during high flows. In particular, we studied variations in net uptake along the right margin (with native vegetation and a roots mat) comparatively to the left margin (a non‐rooted grassy bank). Applying the spiralling approach within each subreach on either side, we determined nutrient subreach (sr) retention metrics: uptake rate coefficients , mass transfer rates , and areal uptake rates . Our results showed nitrate (NO₃) and ammonium (NH₄) net uptakes on the right side were higher and more frequent along subreaches where the root mat was more abundant ( [μg m^?2 s^?1] = 22.80 ± 1.13 for NO₃ and 10.50 ± 0.81 for NH₄), whereas on the left side both nutrients showed patchy and inconsistent net uptake patterns despite the homogeneous grass distribution. Net uptake for filtered reactive phosphorus (FRP) was not observed on either side at any flow rate. The impact of hydrological factors such as discharge, travel time, water depth, and concentration, on uptake metrics was studied. Despite increases in travel time as the flow decreased, there was a reduction in net uptake rates, and , on either side. This was attributed to a reduction in water level with declining flows, which decreased hydrologic connectivity with the stream banks, combined with a decrease in water velocity and a reduction in nutrient concentrations. We concluded the rooted bank acted as an effective retention area by systematically promoting net uptake resulting in a twofold increased dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) retention relative to the non‐rooted side where net uptake was spatially localized and highly dynamic. Overall, this work emphasized the importance of strategically sampling close to biologically active surfaces to more accurately determine areas where gross uptake surpasses release process.     

植物根系与边坡土体间的力学特性研究

建立了根土相互作用的力学模型,在限定根在土体中方位的情况下推导出了由于根的加筋作用所增加的土体抗剪强度公式。并在实验室进行了大量常规直剪试验。对试验结果进行了分析,并和理论计算相比较,结果表明：植物根系可以明显提高土体的抗剪强度;随着含水量的增加,土体和根-土复合体的抗剪强度会下降;直根和斜根对根-土复合体抗剪强度的提高是相似的,都是随着根条数的增加而增加,但斜根的加强作用要大些;随着根条数的增加,根-土复合体的c、φ值都会提高。     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地两种灌木有效根系密度分布规律的研究

在塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地通过分层分段挖掘法对滴灌条件下多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosis-sima)和梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)幼苗根区有效根长密度和有效根重密度空间分布进行了研究。结果表明:梭梭幼苗平均有效根系密度为多枝柽柳幼苗的3倍左右。在垂直方向上,两种灌木的有效根系密度的变化因树种而异,多枝柽柳幼苗随土层深度的增加呈指数递减,而梭梭幼苗随土层深度的增加呈单峰型曲线。在水平方向上,两种灌木幼苗有效根系密度均随距离植株基径距离的增加呈指数递减。非线性参数拟合分析表明:采用RD=eA BX CZ函数模型能较好地反映滴灌条件下多枝柽柳幼苗的有效根系密度的空间分布。     

基于地理信息技术油松(Pinus tabuliformis)根长密度估算及空间分布特征分析

 定量研究植物根系的生长发育及时空分布特征是构建根系吸水模型、计算根系吸水量的基础。选择陇中黄土高原定西安家沟流域为研究区,对研究区内的油松(Pinus tabuliformis)吸水根系空间分布特征进行研究。利用剖面法获取不同空间点上的吸水根系,基于地理信息系统技术估算油松吸水根系的根长密度。结果表明：在水平方向上,油松根长密度呈二次曲线分布,吸水根系主要集中在0～400 cm范围内;在垂直方向上,油松吸水根系呈对数分布,吸水根系主要集中在0～100 cm范围内。并构建了油松吸水根系的二维空间分布方程。     

Elastic and Seismic Properties of Dabie-Sulu Ultrahigh Pressure Metamorphic Rocks

Lamé modulus (λ) and shear modulus (μ) are among the most important,intrinsic,elastic constants of rocks.Using λ and μ could be much more advantageous than using P- and S-wave velocities (Vp and Vs).He...     

西双版纳热带季节雨林细根周转的研究

研究了季节雨林0~20 cm土层中≤2 mm细根的生物量、分解量、死亡量、生长量和周转率,并比较了0~10 cm和10~20 cm土层细根生物量的差异。结果表明:0~10 cm的细根生物量明显多于10~20 cm的细根生物量;在0~20 cm土层中,季节雨林活细根和死细根生物量分别为5 418 kg.hm-2和707 kg.hm-2;细根生物量的季节变化显著,其中活细根生物量的最大值出现在5月,最小值出现在8月;年分解量、年死亡量、年生长量和年周转率分别为391 kg.hm-2,1 061 kg.hm-2,3 776 kg.hm-2和0.70 times.a-1。     

Water table and transpiration dynamics in a seasonally inundated Melaleuca quinquenervia forest,north Queensland,Australia

Water table fluctuations and transpiration were monitored in a seasonally inundated Melaleuca quinquenervia floodplain forest at Cowley Beach, north Queensland, Australia. Techniques were developed to reconstruct inundation duration and seasonal and inter‐annual variability at this site using long‐term stream flow data. It was estimated that the median duration of inundation in any year was 75 days with maximum and minimum durations of 167 days and 8 days, respectively. Measurements of individual tree transpiration using heat‐pulse techniques showed a strong relationship between tree size and tree water use, which was used for scaling to stand transpiration. Stand transpiration rates were found to be closely tied to atmospheric drivers of evaporation, and transpiration of M. quinquenervia was found to be unaffected by inundation. This ability to transpire during inundation may be due to physiological adaptations of this species. These adaptations are believed to include dynamic root systems that can quickly respond to rising and falling water tables and dense networks of fine apogeotropic roots, which grow on and within the papery bark. Rates of stand transpiration remained low throughout the study (0·46 mm d^?1, 164 mm y^?1) despite the fact that transpiration was not limited by solar energy inputs or soil moisture deficit. Low stand transpiration was attributed to the low density, stunted nature and small sapwood area of trees at this site. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

沙漠人工植物群落的根系分布及动态

2004年植物生长季,利用根钻取样研究了沙漠4种不同配置类型油蒿与柠条植物群落的根系分布及生长动态;另外,采用挖沟分层取样研究了半固定沙丘两种植物的粗根剖面结构,结果表明：尽管4个样地高峰值和低峰值出现的时间不一致,但沙漠植物细根的生长动态表现为双峰型;整个生长季纯油蒿样地细根密集分布于0~40 cm,其余样地密集分布于10~60 cm;受一年生植物的影响,9月份4个样地表层（0~30 cm）细根的根长密度和根重密度均出现最大值。采用边灌水边取样的办法获得4个样地300 cm深的根系数据,4个样地90%以上的细根分布在0~200 cm层次,其中纯油蒿样地的根系的最大深度是270 cm,其余3个样地均在300 cm以下;细根的根长密度和根重密度随深度而减小且呈指数递减形式（P<0.01）。除纯油蒿样地外的其他3个样地,根瘤的最高值出现在4月份;粗根的根长密度远远小于细根的根长密度。挖沟分层取样研究表明,与柠条相比油蒿具有较高的根冠比;柠条的粗根长主要分布于0~60 cm,粗根重主要分布在0~40 cm;油蒿的粗根分布比柠条的更浅,粗根长主要分布于0~40 cm,粗根重主要分布在0~20 cm。