A multi-scale study on land use and land cover quality change: The case of the Yellow River Delta in China

This paper presents a case study of the Yellow River Delta in China, to trace land use and land cover changes during the past 20 years, with an emphasis on land quality changes. Three sets of data are used in this case study: remote sensing data derived from satellite images; crop yield data from statistics; and soil data collected by the researchers in the field. Our study reveals that at the regional scale, LUCC has taken place in a positive direction: vegetation cover has been expanding and crop yields per hectare have been on rise. However, while the overall eco-environment has improved, the improvement is uneven across the Delta region. At local levels, some areas show signs of increased salinization and declining organic content. Both natural forces and human activities are responsible for the LUCC, but human activities play a more important role. While some impacts of human activities are positive, the damages are often long-lasting and irreversible. We also conclude that it is necessary to use both macro data (such as remote sensing data) and micro data (data collected in the field) to study land quality change. The former are efficient in examining land quality changes at the regional scale, the latter can serve to verify ground patterns revealed from macro data and help to identify local variations, so as to get a comprehensive understanding of LUCC and promote sustainable land use and land management. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

G-Probe-1 - An International Proficiency Test for Microprobe Laboratories - Report on Round 1 : February 2002 (TB-1 Basaltic Glass)

Results are presented for round one of a new international proficiency testing programme designed for microprobe laboratories involved in the routine analysis of silicate minerals. The sample used for this round was TB-1, a basaltic glass fused and prepared by the USGS. Thirty nine laboratories contributed data to this round, the majority of major element results being undertaken by EPMA and the majority of trace elements by LA-ICP-MS. Assigned values were derived from the median of results produced by nine selected laboratories that analysed powdered material by conventional ICP-MS, INAA and XRF techniques using bulk powders of the sample. Submitted microprobe results were evaluated using a target precision calculated using the Horwitz function, adopting the same criteria as those used for "applied" geochemistry laboratories in the companion GeoPT proficiency testing programme for laboratories involved in the routine bulk analysis of silicate rocks. An evaluation of results from participating microprobe laboratories indicated that overall, data were compatible with this precision function. A comparison between the performance of bulk and microprobe techniques used in the analysis of the basaltic glass showed remarkably good agreement, with significant bias only observed for the major oxide MgO.     

Hydration and refractive indices of Holocene tephra glass in Hokkaido, Northern Japan

Refractive indices of incompletely hydrated tephra glasses vary widely. Thus, glass refractive index is not a practical indicator for identifying Holocene tephras. Hydration near the surface of tephra glass shards can be removed by either hydrofluoric acid treatment or annealing for 12 h at 400°C. The annealing procedure is a particularly reliable and simple way to dehydrate tephra glasses. Standard deviations (s) of refractive indices for glasses after 12 h annealing are small (s=0.0014–0.0018), in contrast with untreated glasses (s=0.0034–0.0405). The refractive indices of dehydrated tephra glasses are 0.006–0.014 lower than those of the untreated (hydrated) glasses. Using the 400°C 12-h annealing procedure, values for the refractive indices of eight Holocene tephras in Hokkaido were obtained. These refractive indices are useful indicators for identification and correlation of Holocene tephras.     

Water availability for the greening of Kuwait

Water resources for agricultural development and landscape enhancement in Kuwait are very scarce; the quality is saline (brackish), and the soil texture is sandy, incapable of holding nutrients and moisture. Most of the rainfall in Kuwait either evaporates due to the high temperatures or percolates through the soil. The rainfall is not sufficient to recharge the underground water supply. A variety of alternative water sources have been studied, including seawater desalination and wastewater treatment. Wastewater treatment proved to be convenient due to the relatively low salinity detected in the treated water. Furthermore, the amount of wastewater is expected to increase as more residential areas are connected to the sewage system as the population increases.

The development of a greenery plan for Kuwait requires intensive water management. This goal can be achieved through manpower training in landscape development, selection of plants tolerant to arid environments, usage of appropriate irrigation and drainage systems, promotion of greenery programs within public and the governmental agencies for their direct participation in urban area beautification, and extension of wastewater treatment techniques.     

河流水质风险评价的灰色-随机风险率方法

提出了量化影响河流水质的随机不确定性与灰色不确定性的水质超标灰色－随机风险率概念，建立了水质超标灰色－随机风险率评价模型。在水质单项参数评价模型中，将河流污染物浓度变量的分布处理成灰色概率分布，将污染物浓度超过水质类别标准值的风险率处理成灰色概率，即水质超标灰色－随机风险率。在水质综合评价模型中，河流水环境系统被考虑为担任某一使用可能的可靠性系统，而任意一种水质参数超标意味着河流水体使用功能不能得到应有的保证，也即表明水体综合评价超标，最后借鉴系统可靠性分析的理论和方法计算水质综合超标率。该方法应用于黄河花园口断面重金属污染风险评价。     

中国东部地区耕地土壤肥力变化趋势研究

随着人口、资源和环境之间的矛盾日趋尖锐,中国耕地土壤肥力及其变化日益为世人所关注。本文利用最近20年东北地区的吉林和黑龙江省,华北地区的北京市和河北省以及长江下游地区的江苏和浙江省的15个县市180个样本点的土壤数据资料,分析了20世纪80年代以来东部地区农业土壤肥力的演变趋势。结果表明,从总体上看,东部地区除土壤速效钾下降和酸碱性有所退化外,农业土壤的有机质、全氮和速效磷平均含量都增加了。在空间分布上,土壤肥力的变化趋势存在明显差异。长江下游和华北地区的平均肥力提高,东北地区下降。另外,除华北地区的土壤酸碱性有改善外,长江下游和东北地区土壤都存在酸化倾向。     

209国道许家湾滑坡的成因及治理对策

结合许家湾滑坡灾害点的地质背景资料和现场勘察结果，从滑坡区的地貌、区域地质构造、地层岩性、土壤特性、水文地质特征以及人类工程活动等方面分析滑坡成因机制。指出同向多层次结构的边坡类型、山高坡陡及地表水汇集走廊的地貌特征、发育多组密集节理的区域地质构造、软硬互层的地层岩性、土体的残余强度特性等是滑坡形成的内因；而人为削坡、强降雨和破坏植被营造水耕梯田等人类活动所造成的流水浸蚀，是滑坡形成的诱发空子。基于滑坡稳定性的定量计算，确定了采用抗滑挡土墙、格构式地梁和垫梁组成抗滑系统，并布置了由树枝笼渗沟构成的排水系统等工程治理措施。现场监测结果表明滑坡治理措施卓有成效。     

硅酸盐细菌GY03菌株的絮凝特性

从土壤中筛选分离到一株硅酸盐细菌GY03菌株，对其絮凝特性进行了研究。结果表明，GY03菌株营养要求简单，在生长的同时合成胞外高聚物，具有良好的絮凝性能。GY03菌株所产絮凝物质有88％以上分布在细胞表面，该絮凝剂的絮凝活性随菌体生长量的增加而同步增高，不同金属离子对GY03菌株絮凝活性有影响。实验条件下，1h内GY03菌株所产生的微生物絮凝剂对高岭土悬浮液絮凝率为78％，经放置24h后最高絮凝率可达98％，对制药废水浊度去除率为78．1％～94．7％，COD去除率为48．0％-87．5％，生活污水浊度去除率为85．3％～92．5％，对墨汁溶液的脱色率为53．2％以上。因而认为该菌株是一种很有应用前景的絮凝剂产生菌。     

光催化氧化法处理难降解废水的研究进展

综述了光催化氧化处理难降解废水的研究现状及发展趋势。介绍了影响光催化氧化反应速率的因素及光催化氧化法在处理难降解废水中的应用。