Journal of Environmental Sciences - Volume 15, issue 4

Authors: Khan, M.A. | Sharma, M.L.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Earthquake 2001 in Bhuj region of Kachchh district of Gujarat(India) was one of the most devastating earthquakes in the Indian history. This earthquake has caused severe damage to human life and properties. The impact of earthquake on groundwater resources at many locations was significant. Steep rise in static water level due to earthquake was observed at Bhachau and Chandarani. At other location groundwater followed the declining trend.

Keywords: earthquake, geology, groundwater, Bhuj, Kachchh

Citation: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 500-505, 2003

Authors: Wei, Qu-fu | Mather, R.R. | Fotheringham, A.F. | Yang, R.D.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The formation of water-in-crude oil emulsions occurs when crude oils are spilled into sea. The water-in-crude oil emulsions significantly change the properties of the spilled crude oils and in turn influence the choices made relating to oil spill countermeasures. The water-in-crude oil emulsions were characterized using various techniques in this study. The environmental scanning electron microscopy observation of water droplets in the emulsions is also presented. It is a powerful tool in emulsion observations.

Keywords: oil spill, water-in-oil emulsions, oil spill response, DSC, ESEM

Citation: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 506-509, 2003

Authors: Jin, Yi-zhong | Zhang, Yue-feng | Chen, Xiao-ping | Gao, Hua-sheng

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In order to evaluate the applicability of the organic polymeric floeculants (OPF) in the treatment of oil refinery sludge, experiments were conducted to show that OPF have better performance of flocculation than inorganic flocculants. Both the anionic and cationic OPF have satisfactory flocculation efficiency in oil sludge treatment, but the latter are more cost-efficient. Among the over 20 types of flocculants tested, 2 OPF (CPAM-2 and HPAM-2) were selected as the treatment agents, based on their good treatment performances, oil-resistance and economic feasibility. It was demonstrated in the industrial-scale centrifugal dewatering experiments that the application of either CPAM-2 or HPAM-2 …could achieve high treatment efficiency of the oil sludge dewatering and reduce the COD of centrifugal liquid to less than 1000 mg/L. Show more

Keywords: organic polymeric flocculant, oil refinery sludge, sludge dewatering, centrifugal liquid

Citation: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 510-513, 2003

Authors: Peng, Shao-lin | Yang, Liu-chun | Lu, Hong-fang

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The environmental effect of degraded ecosystem's vegetation restoration in low subtropical China was studied. Results indicated that the vegetation recovery on degraded lands significantly ameliorates surrounding environment, increases species diversity, improves soil structure, raises soil fertility, enhances productivity, and promotes regional agricultural production and social economic development dramatically. Through the combining engineering and biological measures, the restoration of degraded ecosystem in low subtropical area is possible and economical. The restoration experience in Xiaoliang, Wuhua and other sites are valuable for other degraded subtropical area was introduced.

Keywords: vegetation restoration, degraded ecosystem, low subtropical zone, environment impact

Citation: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 514-519, 2003

Authors: Zhao, Jing-zhu | Sun, Yi | Bai, Guang-xin | Wu, Gang | Shao, Guo-fan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Vegetation or land cover maps have been made directly or indirectly available for the entire territory of China. The certainties and uncertainties of land cover statistics were analyzed by comparing three data sources: China's Vegetation Map, IGPB DISCover, and University of Maryland Product. Great similarities in the statistics of 7 aggregated land cover types were found among the three data sources, particularly between the two global land cover maps. The per-pixel agreement between any 2 of 3 maps was between 38.0%–51.4%; the per-pixel agreement among all three maps was only 27.1%. Certainties were found in regions where vegetation types are …typical and human land use practice is relatively homogenous; the uncertainties occurred to either vegetation transition zones or regions where land cover types and land use practice are relatively diversified. Systematic and multidisciplinary efforts are necessary to promote accurate mapping of nationwide land cover types in China. Intensive efforts should be made in regions where uncertainties of land cover information are found. Show more

Keywords: uncertainties of land cover, remote sensing, spatial pattern, landscape characterization

Citation: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 520-524, 2003

Authors: Pei, Yuan-sheng | Luan, Zhao-kun | Barber, C. | Williamson, D.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: An artificial effluent lagoon for storing wastewater were excavated in Jiayuguan City since 1994. As a part of a demonstration project of Sino-Australia cooperation, an assessment of the environmental impact of the lagoon was carried out. The assessment was based on field and laboratory tests and predictive model. The main impacts from the lagoon site are likely to be on the groundwater system, and, to a lesser extent, on ambient air quality in the vicinity. Currently it is expected that groundwater is being polluted with effluent from the effluent lagoon. Air pollution (odor nuisance) is mainly caused by untreated effluent …in the irrigation channel. The impact of high total dissolved salt (TDS) on groundwater is likely to be significant in the long run if the lagoon is continuously used. There is, consequently, no likelihood of contamination of surface water system, particularly of the city water supply system, from infiltration of effluent at the lagoon. Show more

Keywords: assessment, environmental impact, groundwater contamination, lagoon

Citation: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 525-530, 2003

Authors: Jiang, Yuan | Kang, Mu-yi | Liu, Zheng | Zhou, Yan-fang

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper, probing into the present situation of urban domestic garbage by analyzing its growing trend, compositional change and regional difference, reveals the problems existing in its disposal and management in China. Meanwhile, a questionnaire was conducted in five big cities around China for surveying urban residents' attitudes towards garbage disposal and management policies and measures. Results showed the output of urban domestic garbage in Chinese cities is ever increasing, and the recoverable materials and energy in garbage composition are also increasing. The population growth, economic development, and increase of residents' expenditure level are the main factors influencing the growing …output and changing composition of the garbage. Information acquired from the questionnaire showed that majority of the urban residents are in favor of the garbage reduction policies and managerial measures and are willing to collaborate with municipal government in battling against garbage.Based on the analysis and questionnaire, some polieymaking-oriented suggestions such as operating the garbage disposal from a social welfare service to a sector of profit-gaining enterprises, transferring the garbage management from passive end control to active source control, promoting the classified garbage collection in cities around China, and charging garbage fees for its cleanup and disposal, have also been put forward in the paper. Show more

Keywords: urban domestic garbage, garbage collection, garbage disposal, garbage management

Citation: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 531-540, 2003

Authors: Chen, Wen-ying

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Emission projection and marginal abatement cost curves (MACs) are the central components of any assessment of future carbon market, such as CDM (clean development mechanism) potentials, carbon quota price etc. However, they are products of very complex, dynamic systems driven by forces like population growth, economic development, resource endowments, technology progress and so on. The modeling approaches for emission projection and MACs evaluation were summarized, and some major models and their results were compared. Accordingly, reduction and cost requirements to achieve the Kyoto target were estimated. It is concluded that Annex I Parties' total reduction requirements range from 503–1304 MtC …with USA participation and decrease significantly to 140–612 MtC after USA' s withdrawal. Total costs vary from 21–77 BUSD with USA and from 5–36 BUSD without USA if only domestic reduction actions are taken. The costs would sharply reduce while considering the three flexible mechanisms defined in the Kyoto Protocol with domestic actions' share in the all mitigation strategies drops to only 0–16%. Show more

Keywords: Kyoto Protocol, emission reduction, abatement cost, flexible mechanisms

Citation: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 541-547, 2003

Authors: Sheng, Xue-bin | Sun, Jian-zhong | Liu, Yun-xia

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The Bashang area is a water-source area and ecological barrier zone for Beijing and Tianjin. The area is located at 200 km from Beijing and Tianjin and is a typical agriculture-pasture-interlacing zone, in which the eco-environment is vulnerable and hence it is sensitive to environmental change. The area is relatively lagged in social and economic development, where the traditional cultivation mode is predominated in agriculture and animal husbandry, but the disturbance by human activity is relatively small. Therefore, in order to reveal the interrelation between eco-environmental change in the area and environmental change in Beijing and Tianjin area, it is …fairly necessary to study the effect of land-use and land-cover change on nutrients in soil in this area. According to the actual situation of changed land use for the limited time period, five series of changed land plots were selected and 4 samples were collected from each series for the study. The samples were collected from different soil-forming levels at the same site in different time. Analysis of the collected samples indicates that in the process of change of land use and land cover, the nutrients in soil, such as organic matter, total N, total P, total K, and available N, P, K, and B, Mo, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Fe, have regularly changed. When the land had changed from grassland and non-irrigated farmland into woodland, and from non-irrigated farmland into irrigated field, the nutrients in soil totally increased. But there exists some exception, i.e. quick-acting N, P, K, and some microelements have appeared to be inconsistent with the mentioned above regularity in some cases. Show more

Keywords: Bashang area, land use change, variation of nutrients

Citation: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 548-553, 2003

Authors: Xu, De-xuan | Zhao, Jian-wei | Ding, Yun-zheng | Ge, Wei-li

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Effective removal of adhesive and fine dusts from flue gas is very difficult. A new method of electrostatic precipitation of the corona discharges with spraying water (CDSW) was introduced. A new electrode configuration and the circulation spraying of water were employed in the method. The efficient electrostatic precipitation for adhesive and fine dusts can be accomplished without any drain water during a long operating period. The fundamental structure, discharge characteristics, mechanism of spraying and precipitation principle of the electrostatic precipitation using CDSW were described and analyzed. The V-I characteristics, spraying state, supplying water quantity, influence of temperature and clean of …the electrodes were researched in series experiments. The treating effects of circulating spraying using the corona plasma at the same time of electrostatic precipitation were investigated. The fundamental theories and experimental data were proposed, in order to effectively remove the adhesive dusts from flue gas using CDSW in practice. Show more

Keywords: aerosol with adhesive dusts, corona discharges with spraying water, electrostatic precipitation

Citation: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 554-561, 2003