Anthropogenic Parameters Research Articles

Numerical and Experimental Testing of Normality in the Functioning of the Bearings System

A highly efficient seismic protection of bridges have been demonstrated by the passive control systems with me- chanical links with selective viscoelastic energy dissipation through viscous friction and dry friction. These systems are able to take over the deformations and movements caused by temperature variations, those due to seismic activities and from road traffic. A number of natural factors such as atmospheric and anthropogenic parameters, such as shock and vibration from road traffic, lead to the degradation of the viscoelastic bonds of passive control systems based on rubber molding. The presence of the elastic and dissipative nonlinear forces in the functioning of antiseismic systems inevitably leads to quantitative and qualitative changes of the structural responses of bridges and viaducts both in time and spectral domains. The implications of these changes on the integrity and stability of the bridge or viaduct sections may be from the simplest to the most severe depending on the type of seismic excitation to which they are subjected. For these reasons, it is imperative that we should identify and quantify the degree of nonlinearity of antiseismic systems embedded in the structure of bridges and viaducts in order to prevent accidents with severe socioeconomic implications. In this way can determine the dependence of the nonlinear behavior of the bearing system and the degree of degradation of their viscoelastic links. From a theoretical point of view the following parameters of the vi- bration of the system will be comparatively analyzed: the displacement and acceleration of the bridge deck in time and frequency domains, the hysteretic loop, the representation in the plane of phases, the power spectral density and the spectrograms of the acceleration signals. From an experimental point of view there will be identified and plotted the parameters able to provide information regarding the abnormal operation of the bearings from the elastomer: system acceleration, representations in time and frequency and its spectrogram.

Numerical and Experimental Testing of Normality in the Functioning of the Bearings System

A highly efficient seismic protection of bridges have been demonstrated by the passive control systems with mechanical links with selective viscoelastic energy dissipation through viscous friction and dry friction. These systems are able to take over the deformations and movements caused by temperature variations, those due to seismic activities and from road traffic. A number of natural factors such as atmospheric and anthropogenic parameters, such as shock and vibration from road traffic, lead to the degradation of the viscoelastic bonds of passive control systems based on rubber molding. The presence of the elastic and dissipative nonlinear forces in the functioning of antiseismic systems inevitably leads to quantitative and qualitative changes of the structural responses of bridges and viaducts both in time and spectral domains. The implications of these changes on the integrity and stability of the bridge or viaduct sections may be from the simplest to the most severe depending on the type of seismic excitation to which they are subjected. For these reasons, it is imperative that we should identify and quantify the degree of nonlinearity of antiseismic systems embedded in the structure of bridges and viaducts in order to prevent accidents with severe socioeconomic implications. In this way can determine the dependence of the nonlinear behavior of the bearing system and the degree of degradation of their viscoelastic links. From a theoretical point of view the following parameters of the vibration of the system will be comparatively analyzed: the displacement and acceleration of the bridge deck in time and frequency domains, the hysteretic loop, the representation in the plane of phases, the power spectral density and the spectrograms of the acceleration signals. From an experimental point of view there will be identified and plotted the parameters able to provide information regarding the abnormal operation of the bearings from the elastomer: system acceleration, representations in time and frequency and its spectrogram.

Balancing Energy Development and Conservation: A Method Utilizing Species Distribution Models

Alternative energy development is increasing, potentially leading to negative impacts on wildlife populations already stressed by other factors. Resource managers require a scientifically based methodology to balance energy development and species conservation, so we investigated modeling habitat suitability using Maximum Entropy to develop maps that could be used with other information to help site energy developments. We selected one species of concern, the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (LPCH; Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) found on the southern Great Plains of North America, as our case study. LPCH populations have been declining and are potentially further impacted by energy development. We used LPCH lek locations in the state of Kansas along with several environmental and anthropogenic parameters to develop models that predict the probability of lek occurrence across the landscape. The models all performed well as indicated by the high test area under the curve (AUC) scores (all >0.9). The inclusion of anthropogenic parameters in models resulted in slightly better performance based on AUC values, indicating that anthropogenic features may impact LPCH lek habitat suitability. Given the positive model results, this methodology may provide additional guidance in designing future survey protocols, as well as siting of energy development in areas of marginal or unsuitable habitat for species of concern. This technique could help to standardize and quantify the impacts various developments have upon at-risk species.

Classification of worldwide drainage basins through the multivariate analysis of variables controlling their hydrosedimentary response

Quality and amount of waters and sediments conveyed within large drainage basins are crucial for human societies and biodiversity concerns. This work aims to determine the factors controlling the hydrosedimentary response (water discharge and sediment load) of 24 worldwide large drainage basins. In this respect, eleven geomorphologic and climatic variables routinely used in the literature were considered and others as fractal dimension, elongation and mean channel slope are novel for such an issue. In addition, two variables, land cover and lithology indexes, somewhat different from the literature in terms of calculation principles, were also included. All these variables were then subjected to multivariate statistical analyses (CA and PCA) and confronted in a matrix correlation. On the whole, our results display that water discharge is controlled by runoff, precipitation, basin area, elongation and fractal dimension while sediment load is governed by runoff, precipitation and maximum elevation. Mean channel slope and land-use have a minor role while other parameters (hypsometry, lithology, length, slope, mean elevation and temperature) do not play a significant role in the hydrosedimentary response. Such statistical analyses also bring out a classification of these drainage basins, comprising five to six main clusters which are ranged according to the main variables ruling their hydrosedimentary response. Two clusters are essentially governed by geomorphometric parameters (area, elongation, fractal dimension, mean elevation and hypsometry) while one cluster is rather controlled by transfer processes (runoff) and by active tectonic (maximum elevation). Hydrosedimentary response of arctic and continental rivers is controlled by low temperature while two drainage basins show any trend. A comparison of our results with other previous works dealing with this same issue points to some significant disagreements essentially based on the number of drainage basins considered, the number of nature of variables used and the analytical methods carried out. Despite their obvious influence, anthropogenic impacts are not considered in this study. In foreseeable works dealing with such issue, anthropogenic parameters would be required for a better description of hydrosedimentary responses of these large drainage basins.

Analytical estimations of the efficiency of climate warming prevention by controlled aerosol emissions into the stratosphere

Analytical solutions of globally averaged energy-balance model to estimate the efficiency of controlled forcing on the climate in the result of sulfate aerosol emissions into the stratosphere are obtained. According to obtained results, the sulfate aerosol emissions, needed to prevent the warming, make up from 2 to 12 Mt S/year in the end of the 21st century depending on the anthropogenic impact scenario and aerosol parameters. In the case of the cessation of such compensative emissions of sulfate aerosols, the global temperature increase rate may reach 3 K per decade, that is several times more than values, derived when taking account of greenhouse effect only.

Identification of anthropogenic parameters for a regional nitrogen balance model via field investigation of six ecosystems in China

To evaluate the impact of human behavior (with regard food consumption, waste disposal and farming method) on nitrogen flow, a field investigation was conducted in six typical ecosystems in China. A number of parameters for regional nitrogen balance models were identified during the investigation. The results show that the average per-capita daily protein intake is 107 g. While there is an insignificant difference in total protein intake among the different ecosystems, protein intake from all food groups, except for eggs, is significantly different (P ≤ 0.05). Differences in diet, along with those in socio-economic conditions, reflect differences in the characteristics of the ecosystems. Regarding per-capita annual potential nitrogen loading from human excrement, a considerable difference exists between the urban rich and the rural poor. In urban areas, approximately 1.02 kg N is returned to farmlands and 5.49 kg N is directly discharged into rivers. In rural regions, on the other hand, approximately 4.33 kg N is returned to farmlands and 1.60 kg N is directly discharged into rivers. Furthermore, urea and mixed fertilizers constitute the most common chemical fertilizers in the study area. Fertilizer diversification is practiced in a range of agricultural lands, paddy-fields and irrigated plains. In the oasis and paddy-field agricultural systems, many of the agricultural by-products (e.g., straw) are burned or mixed with base-fertilizers and plowed into the soil. In irrigated agricultural systems, over 70% of agricultural by-products are recycled as livestock feed. In most instances, livestock excrement is directly reduced in the pasturelands or reused in the fields as manure. Occasionally, as in the case of large-scale breeding, excrements are usually abandoned.

Determination of Spatial and Seasonal Distribution of Surface Sediment Contamination in an Irish River and Estuarine System

Abstract An investigation of sedimentary matrices in a polluted Irish river and estuary was undertaken to determine the distribution both spatially, and more importantly seasonally, of metal and organometal contamination on a monthly basis over 2 years. No previous investigations in Ireland have undertaken such a detailed analytical regime. The Tolka River and Estuary, Dublin, Ireland, is a typical Irish urban river and estuarine system, and it was chosen for this study as it has significant metal and organometal contaminant loading arising from the urban environment in general but also specific sources including a closed landfill. A 1-month sampling and analysis regime was devised to optimize riverine and estuarine analysis to determine seasonality of contaminant distribution. Between August 2003 and January 2005, contaminant concentrations within the surface sediment of the river and estuarine system were analyzed monthly from 20 sampling points. Six metals (cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)) and an organometal (tributyltin (TBT)) were analyzed using differential pulse polarography. This assessment created an extensive database to determine spatial and seasonal distributions of contaminants over time and various in situ environmental and anthropogenic parameters that influence these distributions. It was found that contaminant concentrations within surface sediment are highly variable seasonally. Contaminant concentrations were observed to gradually increase (30–120 %) in spring to a maximum at the end of summer, which was followed by a decrease in winter months (30–60 %); e.g., at one estuarine site in February 2004, lead concentrations of 148.5 ppm were recorded, followed by a gradual increase to 312.1 ppm in July and a subsequent decrease to 131.1 ppm in January 2005. This paper presents the final 12 months of contaminant analysis as this period provided the clearest illustration of contaminant spatial and seasonal distributions.

Key natural and anthropogenic parameters enhancing the effect of sea level rise: The case of Israel's Mediterranean coast

Sea level rise (SLR) adversely impacts groundwater quality and capacity of coastal regions. The objectives of this paper are to determine key natural and anthropogenic parameters which may influence and enhance adverse SLR impact upon coastal environments, as well as to assess these natural and anthropogenic components contributing to SLR, and enhance adverse effects of SLR on the environment. This would enable assessment of vulnerability of coastal areas. Components are evaluated in this paper by averaging data relative to respective measured parameters, along with given weightings and assessed ratings, vis-à-vis world maximal reference values. Israel's Mediterranean coast is utilized as an example for such an approach. This can indicate where operational long-term planning measures would be recommended, along with development of effective monitoring and the carrying out of helpful engineering and ecological activities.

Using GIS to study the coastal geomorphology of the Acheloos river mouth in West Greece

In this paper the counteractive dynamic marine and river environments responsible for a river mouth’s and a delta’s modulation is studied. The Acheloos River (West Greece) was chosen as the case study due to the recent changes taken place in its basin. The aim of this study is to analyze the present dominant environment and the impact of human activity on this balance. A GIS database was developed and updated in order to provide access for future use and computer analysis (both spatial and chronological). The study, includes an estimation of the delta forming processes, the impact of the anthropogenic parameters on these processes, and, finally, their representation.

What Determines the Current Presence or Absence of Permafrost in the Torneträsk Region, a Sub-arctic Landscape in Northern Sweden?

In a warming climate, permafrost is likely to be significantly reduced and eventually disappear from the sub-Arctic region. This will affect people at a range of scales, from locally by slumping of buildings and roads, to globally as melting of permafrost will most likely increase the emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas methane, which will further enhance global warming. In order to predict future changes in permafrost, it is crucial to understand what determines the presence or absence of permafrost under current climate conditions, to assess where permafrost is particularly vulnerable to climate change, and to identify where changes are already occurring. The Torneträsk region of northern sub-Arctic Sweden is one area where changes in permafrost have been recorded and where permafrost could be particularly vulnerable to any future climate changes. This paper therefore reviews the various physical, biological, and anthropogenic parameters that determine the presence or absence of permafrost in the Torneträsk region under current climate conditions, so that we can gain an understanding of its current vulnerability and potential future responses to climate change. A patchy permafrost distribution as found in the Torneträsk region is not random, but a consequence of site-specific factors that control the microclimate and hence the surface and subsurface temperature. It is also a product of past as well as current processes. In sub-Arctic areas such as northern Sweden, it is mainly the physical parameters, e.g., topography, soil type, and climate (in particular snow depth), that determine permafrost distribution. Even though humans have been present in the study area for centuries, their impacts on permafrost distribution can more or less be neglected at the catchment level. Because ongoing climate warming is projected to continue and lead to an increased snow cover, the permafrost in the region will most likely disappear within decades, at least at lower elevations.

Towards a multidisciplinary and integrated strategy in the assessment of adverse health effects related to air pollution: The case study of Cracow (Poland) and asthma

Complex interaction between anthropogenic activities, air quality and human health in urban areas, such as in Cracow sustains the need for the development of an interdisciplinary and integrated risk-assessment methodology. In such purpose, we propose a pilot study performed on asthmatics and based on a combined use of a biomarker, such as metallothionein 2A (MT-2A) in the characterization of human exposure to one or a mixture of pollutants and of Geographical Information Systems (G.I.S.) which integrates climatic and urban anthropogenic parameters in the assessment of spatio-temporal dispersion of air pollutants. Considering global incidence of air pollution on asthma and on peripheral blood lymphocytes MT-2A expression should provide a complementary information on biological risks linked to urban anthropogenic activities. Such study would help for the establishment of a sustainable development in urban areas that can maintain the integrity of air quality and preserve human health.

Allergy and Asthma connection—from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

Complex interaction between anthropogenic activities, air quality and human health in urban areas, such as in Cracow sustains the need for the development of an interdisciplinary and integrated risk-assessment methodology. In such purpose, we propose a pilot study performed on asthmatics and based on a combined use of a biomarker, such as metallothionein 2A (MT-2A) in the characterization of human exposure to one or a mixture of pollutants and of Geographical Information Systems (G.I.S.) which integrates climatic and urban anthropogenic parameters in the assessment of spatio-temporal dispersion of air pollutants. Considering global incidence of air pollution on asthma and on peripheral blood lymphocytes MT-2A expression should provide a complementary information on biological risks linked to urban anthropogenic activities. Such study would help for the establishment of a sustainable development in urban areas that can maintain the integrity of air quality and preserve human health.

The Situation of the German Elbe Tributaries — Development of the Loads in the Last 10 Years

AbstractFrom 1991 to 1996 intensive investigations (“Leitprojekt Elbe 2000”) were performed on the water and sediment quality of the German Elbe tributaries. Schwarze Elster, the Mulde river system (Freiberger Mulde, Zwickauer Mulde, andVereinigte Mulde), Saale and its tributaries Ilm and Unstrut, Weiße Elster, and Havel and Spree were considered. These important tributaries have a catchment area of approximately 86 000 km2 and they are together more than 2 500 km long.The concentrations of different metals (e.g., Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, or Zn) were determined. Furthermore, the alkali and alkaline earth elements and the concentrations of anions such as Cl—, NO, and SO were analyzed in the water samples. In addition, conductivity, pH, redox potential, and temperature were measured directly at the sampling location. Together 21 700 pieces of data for water samples and 8 300 pieces of data for sediment samples formed the base for the statistical evaluation and interpretation.The water samples of the German Elbe tributaries are characterized by high salt loads (Ca, Mg, Na, Cl—, and conductivity), resulting from mining in the southern Harz region. In the sediments the concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn were identified as the most important anthropogenic parameters. The elements Co, Fe, Mn, and Ni were detected as typical background elements.

A vegetation analysis of the pastoral landscapes of upland Wales, UK

Abstract. The upland moorlands of Wales are situated on the oceanic fringe of western Europe, and have experienced a long history of pastoral management. Recent vegetation data are analysed to assess the relative contribution of abiotic and anthropogenic factors to variation in habitat composition among the major upland ranges of this region. From a numerical analysis of plant community cover data, recorded from 65 sites covering 260 000 ha, a six‐cluster site classification emerged with striking biogeographical coherence. Direct gradient analysis and variance partitioning revealed strong correlation between vegetation composition and spatially‐structured climatic gradients, in particular temperature, rainfall and oceanicity; differences in bedrock geology appear to have a lesser role. The analysis also indicates a close correlation between habitat variation and anthropogenic parameters, especially grazing intensity, burning frequency, and sulphur and nitrogen deposition levels. At this regional scale, anthropogenic impacts appear to have accentuated, rather than obscured, vegetation patterns which are primarily determined by climate and other abiotic variables. The findings have considerable relevance for conservation planning and also for predictive studies on the consequences of climatic change for the biota of the uplands of southern Britain.

A vegetation analysis of the pastoral landscapes of upland Wales, UK

Abstract The upland moorlands of Wales are situated on the oceanic fringe of western Europe, and have experienced a long history of pastoral management. Recent vegetation data are analysed to assess the relative contribution of abiotic and anthropogenic factors to variation in habitat composition among the major upland ranges of this region. From a numerical analysis of plant community cover data, recorded from 65 sites covering 260000 ha, a six-cluster site classification emerged with striking biogeographical coherence. Direct gradient analysis and variance partitioning revealed strong correlation between vegetation composition and spatially-structured climatic gradients, in particular temperature, rainfall and oceanicity; differences in bedrock geology appear to have a lesser role. The analysis also indicates a close correlation between habitat variation and anthropogenic parameters, especially grazing intensity, burning frequency, and sulphur and nitrogen deposition levels. At this regional scale, anth...

A guideline for the evaluation of the soil radon potential based on geogenic and anthropogenic parameters

Following a brief review about radon (222Rn) in soils, this study gives a compilation and evaluation of important parameters of the soil 222Rn potential. Because investigations of the potential are usually limited to rural areas, anthropogenic or urban effects have not attracted much attention so far. Measurements within the densely populated Ruhr district (Germany) present some new insights into geogenic and anthropogenic parameters on the soil 222Rn potential. According to their importance, seven parameters were strung in aranking system, which can be applied in both rural and urban areas: made grounds, geology, relief, vegetation cover, tectonics, soil sealing, traffic vibrations. While the first four parameters control the soil 222Rn potential on a more regional scale, the last three can modify it locally. Furthermore, an evaluation of the potential within a ten-point-system is proposed. The advantage of the system lies in the possibility to estimate the soil 222Rn potential of any site on a local scale. Common classifications and rankings, based on insufficiently scaled maps, can be included in the proposed system.

Estuarine macrobenthic community structure in the Hawkesbury River, Australia: relationships with sediment physicochemical and anthropogenic parameters.

Macrobenthic community assemblage diversity and abundance were monitored on both Cowan and Berowra Creeks in the estuarine reaches of the Hawkesbury River, Sydney Australia during 1997-1998. Natural sediment physicochemical differences were assessed, along with low-level anthropogenic contaminants including copper, lead, zinc, phosphorus and nitrogen. Contaminant levels at all sites were below sediment guideline values for biological effects. Natural physicochemical sediment differences were the main determinants in species assemblage patterns among sites. Three groupings of sites with similar assemblages were observed during February 1998. Berowra Creek sites, which were higher in organic content and silt/clay (and thus metals and nutrients), higher in pH and lower in salinity, were similar in terms of contributions by the polychaetes Ceratoneresis aequisetis, Scoloplos normalis, the isopod Cyathura hakea and the bivalve mollusc Soletellina alba. Sites on upper Cowan Creek, higher in organic content, silt/clay (nutrients and metals) and lower in salinity, were similar and separated from other sites in terms of the polychaete Carazziella victoriensis and the gastropod mollusc Nassarius jonasii. Sites lower in Cowan Creek, tended to be higher in sand content, more saline and lower in organic content and thus nutrient and metal concentrations. These sites were similar in terms of contributions of the polychaete Sigalion bandaensis and the bivalve molluscs, Mysella vitrea and Tellina deltoidalis. The biotic assemblage patterns were not maintained temporally, suggesting the importance of monitoring over time to assess possible future impacts. Aggregating species data to the family level resulted in similar site discrimination. Site differences were less distinct at higher taxonomic levels and suggests future monitoring at the family level is sufficient to detect assemblage differences among sites. The results obtained represent the difficulty in detecting responses to low-level contamination at the community level, and provide a sound anticipatory baseline for the assessment of future possible anthropogenic disturbance in the Hawkesbury River.

Application of a global model to the study of Arctic basin pollution: radionuclides, heavy metals and oil hydrocarbons

The status of pollution of the Arctic basin is studied in ecological terms, and the interactions of the Arctic ecosystem with the global system are estimated. A spatial simulation model for the kinetics of pollutants in the Arctic basin is proposed in which the ecological and spatial distribution of the hydrological parameters is taken into account. The model includes blocks describing the flows of pollutants in the trophic chains, the exchange between the water–ice system and the atmosphere and the interaction of the water ecosystem with the global biosphere–climate system. A global model controls the inputs of the simulation model and makes it possible to compute the dynamics of the distribution of pollutants between the Arctic aquatories, which include the Central basin and the peripheral seas. The model uses both published data and the data of the US/Russian expedition to Siberia accomplished in the summer of 1995. Climatic and anthropogenic processes are described in the form of scenarios. The results of computer experiments are given demonstrating the advantages of the simulation model to forecast and to estimate the dynamics of radionuclides, heavy metals and oil hydrocarbons in the Arctic Seas. The total and local pictures of the spatial distribution of pollutants in the Arctic basin are given as functions of various environmental and anthropogenic parameters. It is concluded that the use of the global biospheric model enables the consideration of the interactions between the Arctic basin environment and adjoining territories. This allows estimates to be made of the consequences of the anthropogenic impact on the Arctic ecosystem.