Seeing the local in the global: Political ecologies, world-systems, and the question of scale

Scale, as concept, has featured prominently in political ecology and remains, even if implicitly, a crucial point of analytical reference. Recent studies, drawing from both human geography and ecology, have sought to demonstrate how scales, rather than pre-existing ontologically, are both socially and environmentally produced. Given the different scales through which social and environmental processes occur, the study of society-environment relations can be improved by analysing varying scalar configurations of interaction. This recent and promising methodological corrective would greatly benefit from a dialogue with world-systems approaches, which integrate diverse scale-producing processes and to some extent overlap in scope with political ecology. World-systems perspectives, by focusing on the long-term systemic character of people-environment relations, effectively connect micro- to macro-scale social and ecological processes and explain long-term internal dynamics and interrelations of systems at different scales. Conversely, world-systems approaches could learn much from political ecologists’ consideration of nonhuman processes into understandings of scale and society-environment relations, which has a long tradition in geography, as well as from the more context-sensitive analytical framework brought to those understandings. Case studies are discussed to demonstrate not only how these two perspectives could be integrated, but also how explanations of environmental change can be thereby improved. Combining the two approaches provides the basis for a more ecologically oriented world-systems paradigm and, in political ecology, for greater sensitivity to socially large-scale systemic processes and, given the originally anti-capitalist underpinnings of both paradigms, for more political coherence.     

Brazilian vs. Paraguayan streams: Differences in water quality in a cross-border subtropical region

Monitoring programs are among the first steps to develop robust management strategies, especially in international transboundary waters. Understanding how water quality parameters are impacted by different types of land use promotes a baseline for stakeholders to define the best governance for the management of water resources. Seeking to provide this type of information, we sampled 24 streams – 12 in Brazil and 12 in Paraguay – in February, April, July, September, and November 2019. We determined water quality parameters, grouped into three categories: morphometric, physical and chemical, and nutrients. We explored differences in water quality parameters between countries, and over a one-year sampling. We also tested whether Brazilian and Paraguayan streams are impacted by agriculture, urbanization, and forest cover. Finally, we performed a partial RDA to test the influence of land use on water quality parameters and controlled spatial autocorrelation by including spatial variables (dbMEM) as a condition. Most of the water quality parameters showed significant differences between countries; only turbidity, and pH, presented significant differences between countries and sampling periods, and only water temperature varied significantly along the year. We did not find evidence that different types of land use are causing physical and chemical variance in Brazilian and Paraguayan streams (R² = 0.06, p = 0.68). In conclusion, the results evidenced that the main differences in the water quality parameters occur between countries. Based on the results, transboundary governance can use these data to implement integrated water resources management cooperation.     

Impact of the blockage ratio on the transport of sediment in the presence of a hydrokinetic turbine: Numerical modeling of the interaction sediment and turbine

Interactions between hydrokinetic turbines and near scale and far scale bed sediment particles are considered a critical area of assessment; however, a limited number of research studies have been published to address this issue. The current paper explores the influence of the blockage ratio on the morphology evolution downstream from a hydrokinetic turbine. A modeling framework is derived to predict the significant transport induced by a turbine installed on the erodible fluvial sandy bed surface, such as the Eulerian multi-phase model for the sediment and the Blade Element Momentum Theory (BEMT) for the turbine, using the open source platform OpenFOAM. Two configurations of different blockage ratios are considered. The configurations show differences in the bed morphology and the sediment transport. It has been shown for both configurations that the scour capabilities are enhanced below the turbine due to the acceleration of the flow and increasing local shear stress on the sediment.     

Progress of Long-Chain Alkyl Diols in Marine Environmental Reconstruction

Long-chain alkyl diols contain an alkyl chain with alcohol groups at C1 and at the middle position of carbon chain, which exist widely in seas, rivers and lakes. It has been proven that these compounds are relatively resistant to degradation and have an extended occurrence in the geological record. In addition, they are relatively easy to identify. Therefore, long-chain alkyl diols can be used as potential biomarkers to trace the past change in paleoenvironment and paleoclimate. Although the sources of long-chain alkyl diols are still uncertain, the studies indicate that 1, 13 and 1, 15-diols are mainly produced by eustigmatophytes, while 14-diols are mainly from diatom Proboscia. So far, some proxies based on long-chain alkyl diols have been established to indicate the change in diatom productivity, upwelling intensity, salinity, sea surface temperature, riverine organic matter input and surface seawater nutrient concentration, which are significant for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Current research and application of long-chain alkyl diols proxies were summarized, which would be helpful for further studying the source of long-chain alkyl diols and the application of relevant proxies in China’s marginal sea.     

Mapping the Stakeholders: Using Social Network Analysis to Increase the Legitimacy and Transparency of Participatory Scenario Planning

Participatory scenario planning (PSP) processes rely on accurate stakeholder identification to develop a key set of critical uncertainties. While many stakeholder analysis methods are able to identify stakeholders and describe their relationships, we found these efforts to have limited use in the fast-moving and in-depth approach of PSP research. We find that social network analysis (SNA) is an efficient, objective, and transparent approach to stakeholder identification in highly contested natural resource management issues. We present a case study of our research on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula to describe how SNA’s ability to contextualize the relations between actors can benefit participatory research.     

Evaluating the influence of mixture composition on the kinetics of salt damage in wall paintings using time lapse video imaging with direct data annotation

This paper presents an examination of the timescale of phase transition behaviour of a series of salts known to cause damage to wall paintings and other cultural property. The rate of deliquescence and crystallisation of single salts (nitromagnesite and halite) under different RH regimes, and the extent to which this was affected when mixed with other salts (niter, nitratite and gypsum), was investigated. The study was conducted using simple conventional techniques (mass measurements over time) and also using an innovative new method: timelapse video imaging with online data annotation. The results demonstrate the synergy gained from combining video imaging with environmental data in reference to time in the study of salt phase changes: where it revealed new information concerning the kinetics of deliquescence and crystallisation. The implications of these results for the implementation of environmental control measures within historic buildings are discussed.

Population dynamics, socioeconomic change and land colonization in northern Jordan, with special reference to the Badia Research and Development Project area

The paper reports on preliminary observations from northern Jordan aimed at testing the view that people migrate from areas of relatively high potential for cultivation to the marginal semi-arid/arid frontier because of social differentiation, political factors or environmental constraints. Cultivated areas have been mapped from multi-date remotely sensed imagery, a typology of fields in the area has been constructed, and their dynamics between 1972 and 1992 analysed. In addition, semi-structured interviews with farmers attempted to understand the reasoning behind village growth, changing farming systems and cultivation practices. The findings are discussed in the context of the area's demography and national and regional shifts in economic policy.     

SPOT image used in river water suspendedsediment and its environmental background analysis

1IntroductionRemotesensinghasbeen1'idelyusedinenvironmentalinveshgahonandmonitoring.Thecharacteristicsofremotesensing,suchaslarge-scale.simultalleous,mulh-form,mulh-specialandmulti-resoluhon.makeitmuchbettertilantileordjnalymedlods,andlakeanimpoftalltroleincoastalwaterqualitymonitoringl'1,includingremotesensingofchlorophyll,suspendedsediment,oilpollution,etc.AJnongwhichsuspendedsedimentremotesensingisanimportalltduct,whichhasbeenresearchedbymanyscientists.andmanytheorehcalandexperimentalmodels…     

Exploitation or 'Wise Use' of the Coongie Lakes,South Australia: Issues arising from a petroleum exploration proposal

The exploitation of natural resources within areas that are valued for their environmental qualities raises competing emotions. This paper considers a proposal to undertake petroleum exploration in an area of recognised environmental value, namely, the Coongie Lakes of far north-east South Australia. In development cases such as this, the level of inquiry needs to address environmental, social, cultural and economic issues from a range of interest groups; therefore, the process of assessment is a crucial factor in minimising conflict and meeting the wishes of the stakeholders. In the example of Coongie Lakes, the chosen method failed. This paper discusses the perspectives of the major stakeholders, the process of assessment undertaken, and the criticisms directed at this process. The apparent inadequacies of the assessment process undertaken are then highlighted, and an alternative assessment procedure suggested.     

冲绳海槽海底地形的补偿模式研究Ⅱ.冲绳海槽均衡响应函数的地质解释

本文从区域补偿模式和实验均衡理论出发,利用重力和地形资料计算了冲绳海槽的均衡响应函数.结果表明,冲绳海槽南段弹性板有效厚度和补偿深度明显大于中段.结合其他地质地球物理资料解释认为,产生这种差异的原因主要是南、中两段岩石圈温度和补偿机制的不同所致.