Branch Of Environmental Science Research Articles

Permaculture Design: On the Practice of Radical Imagination

Permaculture design is a concept that aims at transforming not only agriculture, but also city planning, architecture, development, etc. In short it aims to change human habitats. It is part of a new ecological paradigm that is currently spreading in popularity from the urban gardening movement to various other alternative movements such as the slow movement, sustainable architecture, etc. Permaculture design defines itself as building on systems theory (as formulated in particular by Howard Thomas Odum and Christopher Alexander). However I would like to propose that the afterlife of systems theory as expressed in the concept of permaculture, first developed by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, should not only be sought in theoretical and analytical discourse. Instead we can understand permaculture as a form of figurative, ecological reasoning; a form of radical imagination drawn from the composite knowledge of a heterogeneous network of actors. Permaculture is thus neither a branch of environmental science nor an environmental political movement. Rather the philosophy of permaculture design questions the division between theory and practice or between rationality and sensibility. In permaculture design, these modes of knowledge are inextricably linked in explorations of patterns. In this article, I attempt to delineate the ways in which permaculture design is rooted in the practical knowledge of systems. I shall limit myself to exploratory drilling, as it were, in three aspects of permaculture design thought. First, I describe permaculture thought as a form of practical knowledge that generated through a kind of visual thinking in patterns. Second, I describe permaculture thought as a type of thinking in which radical imagination and speculation play an active role. Third, I present permaculture thought as systems theory thought. However it departs from the idea of control inherent to systems theory, drawing instead from the equally popular (and colorful) Gaia hypothesis, which posits Earth as an intelligent, material assembly that modifies thought processes.

Rapid Nondestructive Spectrometric Measurement of Temperature-Dependent Gas−Liquid Solubility Equilibria

Gas-liquid solubility equilibria (Henry's Law behavior) are of basic interest to many different areas. Temperature-dependent aqueous solubilities of various organic compounds are of fundamental importance in many branches of environmental science. In a number of situations, the gas/dissolved solute of interest has characteristic spectroscopic absorption that is distinct from that of the solvent. For such cases, we report facile nondestructive rapid measurement of the temperature-dependent Henry's law constant (K(H)) in a static sealed spectrometric cell. Combined with a special cell design, multiwavelength measurement permits a large range of K(H) to be spanned. It is possible to derive the K(H) values from the absorbance measured in the gas phase only, the liquid phase only (preferred), and both phases. Underlying principles are developed, and all three approaches are illustrated for a solute like acetone in water. A thermostatic spectrophotometer cell compartment, widely used and available, facilitates rapid temperature changes and allows rapid temperature-dependent equilibrium measurements. Applicability is shown for both acetone and methyl isobutyl ketone. Very little sample is required for the measurement; the K(H) for 4-hydroxynonenal, a marker for oxidative stress, is measured to be 56.9 ± 2.6 M/atm (n = 3) at 37.4 °C with 1 mg of the material available.

Microbial deterioration of historic stone

Environmental science has traditionally focused on conservation of natural resources. However, there is a second, little known, branch of environmental science that deals with the conservation of cultural resources. Many historic stone structures, archeological sites, and objects are at risk, and in need of protection, as a result of physical, chemical, and biological weathering. Because these structures are often large and located outdoors, they pose particular conservation challenges that require collaborative efforts between conservators and scientists. Historic stone supports large and diverse communities of microorganisms that colonize both the stone surface and the porous interior. In many cases, microbial processes have been implicated in the deterioration of the stone. The study of the role of microorganisms in this process is in its infancy, but recent findings have important implications for the preservation of cultural resources and for our understanding of weathering in natural systems.

Antarctica and environmental change: closing remarks

The purpose of this contribution is to summarize the papers and discussions, to bring out the highlights, and to focus on outstanding problems and uncertainties. Sixteen years ago Sir Vivian Fuchs and I organized a similar meeting on research in the Antarctic. Since then there has been an explosion of interest in all branches of environm ental science in this region. There have been major advances in theory, and improved technology made possible by the rapid development of electronics has made data collection and analysis easier; but above all the difference between the two meetings is in the development of large-scale numerical modelling as a tool. Also there has been an increasing realization of the value of comparisons between the two polar regions, which is brought out by the contributions to this meeting. The meeting has been distinguished by the quality of the science, the clarity of exposition and excellent visual presentations. It is also striking how much crossfertilization between disciplines has occurred