Spatial analysis of anthropogenic impact on karst geomorphology (Slovenia)

The objective of this contribution is analyzing, visualizing, interpreting and discussing the impacts of anthropogenic influences on karst geomorphology through various geomorphologically based environmental indicators. The primary data sources are digital terrain models (DTMs) as continuous surface data, supported by aerial photographs, satellite images, topographic maps and databases of natural and anthropogenic features. The sources are supplemented by written information about surface changes and in situ inspections. Spatial analyses as quantitative methods in combination with enhanced visualizations as qualitative methods performed in a geographical information system (GIS) on different data sets are introduced as an important methodology. This enables explaining many anthropogenic influences on the terrain surface (landform), which were not perceived before by classical surveying techniques and verifications.     

Geochemistry and potential use of groundwater in the Rocca Busambra area (Sicily, Italy)

In the Rocca Busambra area (mid-west Sicily, Italy), from November 1999 to July 2002, 23 water points including wells and springs were sampled and studied for their chemical and isotopic compositions. Two rain gauges were also installed at different altitudes, and rainwater was collected monthly to determine the isotopic composition. The obtained results revealed the Rocca Busambra carbonate complex as being the main recharge area on account of its high permeability value. From a chemical view point, two main groups of water can be distinguished: calcium–magnesium–bicarbonate-type and calcium–magnesium–chloride–sulphate-type waters. The first group reflects the dissolution of the carbonate rocks; the second group probably originates from circulation within flyschoid sediments. Three water wells differ from the other samples due to their relatively high Na and K content, which probably is to be referred to a marked interaction with the “Calcareniti di Corleone” formation, which is rich in glauconite [(K, Na)(Fe³⁺, Al, Mg)₂(Si, Al)₄O₁₀(OH)₂]. In accordance with WHO guidelines for drinking water (2004), almost all the samples collected can be considered drinkable, with the exception of four of them, whose NO₃ ⁻, F⁻ and Na⁺ contents exceed the limits. On the contrary, the sampled groundwater studied is basically suitable for irrigation.     

Environmental isotopic and hydrochemical study of groundwater in the Ejina Basin,northwest China

The study investigates the groundwater evolution and its residence time in the Ejina Basin, northwest China according to isotope and hydrochemical analyses results. The groundwater chemistry is mainly controlled by the dissolution of halite, Glauber’s salt, gypsum, dolomite and calcite, also influenced by other processes such as evaporation, ion exchange, and deposition. Based on tritium content in atmospheric precipitation and by adopting a model with exponential time distribution function, the mean residence time of the unconfined aquifer groundwater with fairly high tritium activities (21–49 TU) is evaluated. The results show that these groundwaters have low residence time (5–120 years) and are renewable. In contrast, the deep confined groundwaters are tritium-free and radiocarbon values range from 18.3 to 26.7 pmc. According to the most commonly used ¹⁴C correction models, the radiocarbon groundwater ages were calculated which yield ages of approximately 4,087–9,364 years BP. Isotopic signatures indicate formation of deep confined groundwaters in a colder and wetter climate during the late Pleistocene and Holocene. It is suggested that long-term, rational water usage guide should be set up for the Heihe River Basin as a whole to permit a considerable discharge to the Ejina Basin.     

国外空间规划研究与实践的新动向及对我国的启示

空间规划是可持续发展必不可少的公共管理工具。20世纪90年代以来,人们认识到空间规划应该具有协调和整合空间发展的功能,而不仅仅是部门性的土地利用管理体系;应该关注地域的可持续发展,而不是一味地追求增长;应该关注不同利益人之间共识的形成,而不是简单地分析一定地域空间开发的适宜性和先后顺序。20世纪90年代以来国外空间规划实践的一些新动向： a) 重新分配空间规划的权利和职能; b)注重全纳性的参与; c) 重视空间规划的协调与整合; d)强化空间规划的环境维度; e)增强空间规划的灵活性。基于此对我国的空间规划实践得到几点启示： a)空间发展的战略框架和行动计划相结合; b)形成适合于我国的规划参与机制; c)在增强规划约束性的基础上增加灵活性; d)强化区域层次的空间规划; e)突出空间规划的公共管理职能。     

中国环境经济地理的研究主题展望

全球环境变化与技术经济范式变革对“经济-环境”关系产生深刻影响,但资源环境议题自20世纪80年代以来逐渐淡出全球经济地理研究的视野。2000年以来,环境经济地理逐渐兴起并对此进行反思,但其发展仍处于混沌状态。中国经济地理学科自身的人地关系传统和国家发展的探索与实践,为环境经济地理理论与实践创造了理想条件。环境经济地理并非全新的领域,其可从经济地理理论出发拓展对“经济-环境”关系的认识,据此提出3组研究主题：① 重新认识经济活动的区位,理解变化中的资源环境如何作用于传统与新兴经济活动;② 建立对不同地理尺度下要素流动和主体互动的认知,理解资源环境风险如何在各类关系网络中传递,又将如何重塑各类关系网络;③ 考察多主体在多区域之间、多层级制度背景下的相互作用,理解绿色创新与转型的过程,实现对“经济-环境”关系在不同发展场景下协同演化的认识。     

环境蠕变对农业病虫草鼠害的潜在影响

重点讨论了在全球气候变暖的大背景下,农业病虫草鼠害加重和新的病虫草鼠出现也作为一种蠕变现象正在遭受气候变化的影响和冲击。其主要表现在农业有害生物(病、虫、草、鼠)地理分布范围扩大、越冬界限北移、农田害虫害鼠发育时间缩短、繁殖代数增加、种群增长率加快、发生提早、危害加重、病毒病增加、新病虫草鼠出现等等。     

中国大范围雷暴大风事件(Derechos)研究:时空分布、环境背景和对流系统形态特征

基于2002—2019年高空、地面常规观测资料,卫星云图,部分新一代天气雷达单站资料以及2009年以后的中国雷达拼图资料,采用个例筛选与统计、动态合成分析、层次聚类和雷达图分析等方法,对发生在中国的大范围雷暴大风事件(Derechos)的时空分布、环境背景和对流系统形态特征进行了分析.结果表明:(1)Derechos事...     

Intertidal macrofauna and environmental stress at a riverine–marine boundary

A field experiment was carried out to test the effect of pore water salinity on the macrobenthic assemblages in an estuarine region of the Tagus estuary (Portugal) subjected to wide fluctuations in salinity. The conditions at the experimental site ranged from freshwater (minimum salinity 0.2) to mesohaline (maximum salinity 15.3). The experimental site was affected by an unexpected deposition of fluid mud during summer. Redundancy Analysis discriminated the experimental treatments along the first canonical ordination axis. The analysis also revealed an experimental gradient of increasing environmental stress, in which the minimal presence of organisms corresponded to treatments representing a high level of environmental stress. Sediment dynamics and saline fluctuations were the major factors that, together, determined the low macrofaunal abundance and species diversity at the experimental site. The most abundant macrofaunal species in this harsh environment were the polychaetes Hediste diversicolor and Streblospio shrubsolii.     

Cladoceran community composition in tropical semi-arid highland reservoirs in Tigray (Northern Ethiopia): A metacommunity perspective applied to young reservoirs

A field survey of zooplankton communities was carried out in 32 recently established tropical semi-arid reservoirs in the highlands of Northern Ethiopia with the aim to identify to what extent environmental factors determine species composition of the cladoceran community in such isolated and young reservoirs. To address seasonal variation, the survey was carried out both at the beginning and the end of the dry season. A total of 15 species of cladocerans were identified. Daphnia was the most abundant cladoceran genus, and was present in all reservoirs. Using presence-absence data, no association between cladoceran community composition and geographic distance was found. RDA results indicate that the set of environmental variables that explained cladoceran community composition differed among seasons. Depth, altitude and fish biomass showed a significant association with cladoceran community composition during the wet season, whereas variation in cladoceran community structure was associated with phytoplankton biomass in the dry season. The relative abundance of Daphnia was much higher in the pelagic than in the littoral zone of our study systems. Two key groups of pelagic filter-feeding cladocerans, Diaphanosoma and Daphnia, showed a clear pattern, in which one or the other tended to strongly dominate the community. In addition, we observed a negative association between dominance of Daphnia in the zooplankton community and dominance of cyanobacteria in the phytoplankton community.     

Whitefish wars: Pangasius, politics and consumer confusion in Europe

Rapid growth in production of the farmed Vietnamese whitefish pangasius and its trade with the European Union has provoked criticism of the fish's environmental, social and safety credentials by actors including WWF and Members of the European Parliament and associated negative media coverage. This paper reviews the range of claims communicated about pangasius (identified as a form of mass mediated risk governance), in light of scientific evidence and analysis of data from the EU's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feeds food safety notification system for imported seafood. This analysis shows pangasius to be generally safe, environmentally benign and beneficial for actors along the international value chains that characterise the trade. The case is made that increasingly politicised debates in Europe around risk and uncertainty are potentially counterproductive for EU seafood security and European aquaculture industry, and that the trade in pangasius can contribute to sustainable seafood consumption in a number of ways. Transparent evidence-based assessment and systems for communicating complex issues of risk for products such as pangasius are required in order to support continuance of fair and mutually beneficial trade.