Rain Control Research Articles

The Sound Frontier of Wixaritari Ritual Experts: Liminality, Rain Control, and Protection From Rain

The sound frontier is a state of the senses. It is the ability to perceive a physical presence of sounds circulating in space and time: actions, emotions, and behaviors. In pursuit of analogies of ancestral history and ceremonial practice, Wixaritari ritual experts from Tierra Azul use the word ‘enierika to refer to vision-acoustics and nierika to speak of acoustic-visions at the liminal, divine intersticesof hearing. The rebirth of life is about gaining agency to set and control the duration of rainfall, and master the cycles of darkness-light. As a result of cosmopolitics, the divine iconicity of sound figures into rural land borders, the defense of cosmogonic territory, and the handling of ancestral disagreements.

A Novel Rain Identification and Rain Intensity Classification Method for the CFOSAT Scatterometer

A Novel Rain Identification and Rain Intensity Classification Method for the CFOSAT Scatterometer

Exploring the carbon emission reduction effect of local government attention: an analysis based on an environmental policy perspective.

Government attention and policy implementation are important for achieving environmental goals. This study uses 257 cities in China from 2013-2019 as the sample and measures local government attention through text mining, thus exploring the carbon emission reduction effect of government attention. Threshold regression is further used to examine the role and nonlinear relationship that environmental policies assume in the effect of government attention on carbon emission reduction. The conclusions are as follows: first, government attention can significantly reduce carbon emissions: with a 1% increase in local government attention to environmental protection, China's urban CO2 can be reduced by 0.04%. Second, the impact of government attention on carbon emissions is more significant in cities in non-air pollution prevention areas, in non-SO2 and acid rain control areas, with longer tenure of officials, and with female officials serving during the sample period. Third, the effect of government attention on carbon emission reduction can be significantly increased under policy influence, especially when two policies are implemented in concert. Fourth, market incentive policies play a stronger role in the first place, while traditional energy-saving policies have strong sustainability. In general, the study concludes that municipalities should allocate more attention to the environment, and it gives some reasons supporting policy choices.

Environmental regulation and sectoral disparity in labor demand: evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China

The trade-off between environmental regulation and job creation has been a dilemma for policymakers in the past decades. Exploiting the enterprise-level sample data, we conduct a difference-in-difference-in-differences (DDD) specification to estimate the overall effect of China’s Two Control Zones (TCZ) policy on labor demand, measured as the number of enterprise-level employees. We find that the industrial enterprises in TCZ cities, where the TCZ policy has been implemented after 1998, employed fewer workers in more polluting industries. Furthermore, these employment effects are very heterogeneous among different enterprise ownerships and control zones. The TCZ policy significantly decreased the labor demand in private enterprises or those located in the Acid Rain Control Zones (ARCZ) but had little impact on their state-owned and foreign-invested counterparts or those located in the Sulfur Dioxide Pollution Control Zones (SPCZ).

Traditional Rain Control Practice Through Indigenous Knowledge System and Technology Among Ikire People of Osun State, Southwest Nigeria

This paper aims to trace the history of rain prevention, and examine for documentation, the rituals involved. Traditional rain control in this context is considered as a process involving the making and preventing of rain to modify atmospheric condition of a place using Indigenous Knowledge and Technology (IKT). Rain control ritual is an age-long indigenous knowledge and technology aimed at influencing weather condition. As part of a broadened African society, the art of preventing rainfall is a part of the heritage resources practised by the people of Ikire in Osun State. This ritualistic art which is put to use mainly during socio-cultural gatherings such as festivals, feasts, burials, weddings, and naming ceremonies is called òjòwíwó or òjòmímó in local parlance. The help of rain doctors is sought by people who want to carry out any of these activities during rainy seasons to avoid disruption. Ethnographic method was used to elicit information. Research findings traced the art of rain prevention to Orunmila a god in Yoruba mythology. The rituals involved the use of the details of IKT which is significant in the response of the people to the ever-changing climate

Impact of Regional Development Strategy on the Productivity of Polluting Firms:Evidence From China

This study aims to analyse the heterogeneous impact of the China’s Western Development Strategy (WDS) on the productivity of different types of firms. Based on the heterogeneous firm model and simulation, this study utilizes the WDS as a quasi-natural experiment and uses the difference-in-difference-in-differences (DDD) method to study the heterogeneous impact on the productivity of polluting and non-polluting firms. The WDS has increased the productivity of polluting firms in the western region by 8.0–12.6%, compared to the central region and non-polluting industries. This phenomenon is the result of the environmental cost effect and the migration effect, but not the result of the Porter effect. In addition, this study shows that the heterogeneity of productivity improvement in state-owned firms, large-scale firms, and firms not located in the acid rain and sulfur dioxide control zones is more significant. The study suggests that it is necessary to implement industry-differentiated regional policies, implement different regional preferential policies for polluting firms, and to strengthen environmental regulations, so as to achieve a win-win situation between firm efficiency improvement and environmental protection.

Numerical simulations of compound flooding caused by storm surge and heavy rain with the presence of urban drainage system, coastal dam and tide gates: A case study of Xiangshan, China

Nowadays, most coastal cities have complex drainage systems (i.e., rivers and pipelines) connected to the sea, affecting the flooding during the co-occurrence of rain and storm surges. In this study, this compound flooding is studied by developing a coupled model based on a one-dimensional (1D) hydrological model SWMM and a two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic model ADCIRC. The coupling is achieved by setting the 1D model as a subroutine of the 2D model while the parallel computing scheme of the 2D model is kept using the Message Passing Interface (MPI). The coupled model is applied in Xiangshan, Zhejiang Province, along the eastern coast of China. The model accurately ensures water conservation and reproduces the observed tidal elevation, storm surge, and river water stages during Typhoons Haikui (2012) and Fitow (2013). A series of simulations are carried out to quantify the influences of coastal dams, drainage systems, control of tide gates, rain, and storm surges on the compound flooding. The results show that the drainage system enhances the connectivity between the land and the sea no matter whether the coastal dam exists, leading to faster flooding and draining. Furthermore, when a storm surge occurs, the high surge level can significantly reduce the drainage efficiency of the inland flooding during rain and thus causes more severe flooding hazards. The simulation results also suggest that urban pipelines play an important role in preventing urban flooding caused by rain. And for the prevention of storm surge inundation, an effective gate control strategy is suggested that the gates should be closed when the water levels on both sides of the dam are equal for the first time before the peak of the storm surge and are open when the water levels are equal again. Finally, the flooded area can be divided into the tidal zone, the hydrologic zone, and the transition zone to identify different flood mitigation strategies.

New indices system for quantifying the nexus between economic-social development, natural resources consumption, and environmental pollution in China during 1978–2018

It is meaningful to study how China can maintain the sustainable utilization of natural resources and the continuous improvement of environmental conditions while ensuring the stable development of the economy and society. In this study, a new indices system was proposed for the analysis of nexus among social-economic-natural resource-environment complex systems following the DPSIR (Driving Force - Pressure - State - Impact - Respond) framework, CCD (Coupling Coordination Degree) analysis and VAR (Vector Auto-Regressive) model were applied for quantifying the synergy and trade-off of China in the nexus framework. Results showed that: (1) Although China's rapid development has caused big consumption of natural resources and increasing pollutants discharges during 1978–2018, China has not got into trouble of extreme resource depletion and ecosystem collapse. On the contrary, China guaranteed food supply, stopped forest degradation, and avoided pollution-induced healthy crises & life-shortening. (2) Adjustment of water pollution industries and the increase of wastewater treatment investment contributed 39% and 37% to the reduction of water pollutant discharge, respectively. The contribution of energy structure adjustment to acid rain control was 26%. The pollutants discharged in no less than 70% of the provinces are strictly controlled below the environmental capacity. The increase of fertilizer application and effective irrigated area contributed 32% to China's grain increase, and China's grain self-sufficiency rate has been maintained above 110%. The improvement of the water-saving irrigation rate contributed 28% to the reduction of water consumption. The reduction of comprehensive efficiency contributed 23.8% to the decrease in energy consumptions per GDP. The CCD assessment showed that China has entered a phase of pre-eminently coordinated development since 2013.

Study and Practice on Pollution Control of Rain and Sewage Overflow in Old Urban Area -- Taking the Yangluo Old Urban Areas in Wuhan as an Example

In view of the pollution problem of rain and sewage overflow in old urban area, the pollution characteristics and the pollution load are calculated and analysed, and then it is proposed that the initial rainwater storage technology be used to deal with the rainwater and sewage overflow. Based on the rainfall datas of years in Wuhan, and balance rainfall field controlling rate, annual runoff controlling rate and storage area to determine the initial rainfall storage standard. Then, the benefits of storage and disposal are forecasted. Finally, suggestions for further solving the problem of rain and sewage overflow pollution in the old city are put forward.

The impact of environmental regulation on employment: an empirical study of China's Two Control Zone policy.

Environmental regulations affect employment through productivity output and factor substitution. This paper employs a difference-in-differences (DID) method to investigate the effect of China's Two Control Zones (TCZ) policy on the urban employment in 287 cities from 1994 to 2009. We apply the DID method to two time points: 1998 for policy issuance and 2000 for the policy implementation. From the results of analyses on full-sample cities, the TCZ policy did not contribute to increasing total urban employment. Moreover, a negative impact on employment resulted from sulfur dioxide and acid rain controls in secondary and tertiary industries, respectively. In the acid rain control zone, the TCZ policy increased the average wage of urban workers. Negative effects on employment were observed in larger cities. The policy triggered labor migration from larger to smaller cities, resulting in significant increases in primary and tertiary industry employment in smaller cities, although the effects on mid-size cities were insignificant. This study provides important empirical evidence and insight into the impact of the TCZ policy on urban employment.

Source tagging modeling study of regional contributions to acid rain in summer over Liaoning Province, Northeastern China.

Strong acid rain was recently observed over Northeastern China, particularly in summer in Liaoning Province where alkaline dust largely neutralized acids in the past. This seems to be related to the regional transboundary pollution and poses new challenges in acid rain control scheme in China. In order to delve into the regional transport impact, and quantify its potential contributions to such an "eruption" of acid rain over Liaoning, this paper employs an online source tagging model in coupling with the Nested Air Quality Prediction Modeling System (NAQPMS). Validation of predictions shows the model capability in reproducing key meteorological and chemical features. Acid concentration over Liaoning is more pronounced in August (average of 0.087 mg/m3) with strong pollutant import from regional sources against significant depletion of basic species. Seasonal mean contributions from regional sources are assessed at both lower and upper boundary layers to elucidate the main pathways of the impact of regional sources on acid concentration over Liaoning. At the upper layer (1.2 km), regional sources contribute to acid concentration over Liaoning by 67%, mainly from Shandong (16%), Hebei (13%), Tianjin (11%) and Korean Peninsula (9%). Identified main city-receptors in Liaoning are Dandong, Dalian, Chaohu, Yingkou, Liaoyang, Jinfu, Shengyang, Panjin, Tieling, Benxi, Anshan and Fushun. At lower layer (120 m) where Liaoning local contribution is dominant (58%), regional sources account for 39% in acid concentration. However, inter-municipal acid exchanges are prominent at this layer and many cities in Liaoning are revealed as important sources of local acid production. Seasonal acid contribution average within 1.2 km-120 m attains 55%, suggesting dominance of vertical pollutant transport from regional sources towards lower boundary layer in Liaoning. As direct environmental implication, this study provides policy makers with a perspective of regulating the regional transboundary environmental impact assessment in China with application to acid rain control.

Evaluation of sustainable acid rain control options utilizing a fuzzy TOPSIS multi-criteria decision analysis model frame work

Acid-rain has evolved into a robust, diverse and dynamic spectra of studies in contemporary times. The significant role of rain water harvesting as a major source of water supply, especially in high harvesting potential regions like the Niger delta of Nigeria, the core area of oil exploratory activities and where gas flaring a major cause of acid rain is rife, prompts serious concerns. Unlike previous studies, this is a pioneer effort applicable in generalization, as it goes beyond considering other complimentary acid rain control options like nitrogen oxides (NOx), to capturing both social and institutional factors with crucial sustainability criteria solicited from expert interview into its modelling. It applies the unique and exemplary features of fuzzy TOPSIS to aid the selection of sustainable acid rain control options intrinsic to society, under economic, environmental, social, technical, and institutional factors. Linguistic scales were employs to solicit expert opinions, understanding acid rain dialogues as public policy issues saddled with numerous vagueness and complexity especially in achieving sustainability. Results from data aggregation, normalization and performance ratings, coupled with the weighted distance from the positive and negative ideal solutions indicated that solar as an alternative energy source ranked topmost while hydro and use of NOX burners ranked second and third respectively. The revelations are satisfactory logically and especially consistent with use of NOX burners ranking third, that Nigerian crude is sweet. Hence beyond the general clamor for total elimination of gas flaring, enforcing the use of pollution control devices like NOX burners and a shift to promoting investment in solar plants/energy is considered viable.

The snake on the table: Authority and control of the rain in a Huave oral narrative (Mexico)

In this article I analyze some versions of a mythical Huave narrative, telling the tragic fate of a boy with extraordinary powers who, due to his indiscrete father, is forced by the municipal authorities to repeatedly face a giant snake that causes heavy rains and threatens to flood the village, and is finally killed by it. This tale not only stages the opposite cosmic forces which regulate the delicate climatic balance of the Huave region, but it shows how, since immemorial times, the ability to control rainfall constitutes a major symbolic attribute of the holders of political authority, which inspires important ritual practices and condenses tensions concerning the struggle for power between competing generations and individuals. The conduct of the various protagonists of this narrative also highlights the principles on which authority is based, the axiological and behavioral patterns to which those who aspire to attain and preserve it must adhere, as well as the dangerous consequences that await those who contravene these rules.

豪雨抑制を目的としたクラウド・シーディングの効果・検証とその抑制メカニズムに関する数値実験

豪雨抑制を目的としたクラウド・シーディングの効果・検証とその抑制メカニズムに関する数値実験

Comprehensive Analysis of the Environmental Benefits of Introducing Technology Innovation in the Energy Sector: Case Study in Chongqing City, China

Because of the serious damage caused by acid rain, Chongqing city was designated as an Acid Rain Control Zone by the Chinese Central Government. The main factor responsible for the acid rain is the ever-increasing emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) due to utilization of coal as the primary energy source to meet increasing energy demand. Simultaneously, CO2 emission has dramatically increased with coal utilization. In order to transform the current energy structure, alternative renewable energy technologies must be identified and proved feasible and effective. This research aims to comprehensively analyze the benefits of small-scale hydropower and wind power technologies to reduce SO2 and Greenhouse gases (GHG). For this purpose, we constructed a dynamic comprehensive evaluation model based on an Input-Output (I/O) analysis for the period 2010-2020. The simulation results indicate that the introduction of small scale hydropower and wind power technologies have a positive impact on Chongqing’s socio-economic, environmental and energy development in the first half of the study period. However, the results also show that the scarcity of renewable energy technologies to meet the increasing energy demand as well as the stricter emission constrains affect both economic growth and SO2 and GHG reduction efforts from the latter half of the study period. To address this weakness, the study suggests that additional advanced renewable energy technologies are necessary as well as specific regulations to meet air pollution reduction targets. Last but not least, some feasible policies are proposed by analyzing the potential economic benefit of reducing air pollution and GHG emissions in terms of improved quality of life and environmental conservation. We argue that these benefits could offset the lower GRP growth obtained by the proposed policy.

Ritual fauna from Ratho Kroonkop: a second millennium AD rain control site in the Shashe-Limpopo Confluence area of South Africa

Ratho Kroonkop (RKK) is a hilltop site located in the Shashe-Limpopo Confluence Area (SLCA) of South Africa that was used repeatedly from the K2 to the historic period. Amongst other features, the site contains two rock tanks, which were used for rain control rituals. Faunal remains from rain control sites have not been reported before. A wide variety of animal remains were retrieved from the site, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and molluscs. We use ethnographies from both hunter-gatherers and farmers that have documented evidence that the species found in deposits at RKK were used in rain control rituals. Many of the species identified from RKK had an association with water, rain or potency, appeared burnt black representing rain clouds and have been represented in the region's rock art.

An integrated simulation-monitoring framework for nitrogen assessment: A case study in the Baixi watershed, China

Abstract As the deterioration of drinking water quality has become increasingly severe worldwide, there is a considerable need to accurately identify variable pollution sources. Currently, simulation programs have been shown to be less effective in short-term and detailed simulations. Therefore, this study advanced an integrated framework for simulation by combining the modelling and monitoring methods. A case study was conducted to identify the spatial and temporal distribution of nitrogen (N) in the upstream watershed of a typical drinking water reservoir, in the city of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China. In this study, a watershed model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), was used to estimate N load for the 254 km2 upper stream watershed; while storm runoff samples were also collected to illuminate more detailed processes in the storm event. Based on the model output, the critical N source in Baixi watershed was identified as the forest. The potential nonpoint source (NPS) pollution risk areas were also illustrated as Sub-basin 21, 20 and 26. In addition, the model simulation proved that the Qingshui River contributed more N load than the other two tributaries. Conversely, the short-term and detailed trends were obtained through storm sampling. By analyzing the storm samples, it was clear that the N load into the drinking water reservoir results from a combination of land-use, agricultural activities, as well as atmospheric deposition, especially in the acid rain control region. It could be further inferred that modelling and monitoring could serve as a framework to provide information for N load prediction and protection of drinking water. Using the integrated simulation-monitoring framework, the SWAT model could be used as an effective tool to foretell the potential risk of detrimental NPS conditions, while monitoring could provide an inventory and detailed means to further study short-term trends.

Acid rain and alkalization in southwestern China: chemical and strontium isotope evidence in rainwater from Guiyang

A comprehensive study on the chemical compositions of rainwater was carried out from June 2007 to December 2008 in Guiyang, a city located on the acid rain control zone of southwest China. All samples were analyzed for pH, major anions (F−, Cl−, NO3−, SO42−), major cations (K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+), Sr2+ and Sr isotope. The pH increase is due to the result of neutralization caused by the alkaline dust which contain large amount of CaCO3. It was observed that Ca2+ was the most abundant cation with a volume-weighted mean (VWM) value of 217.6 μeq/L (52.7–1928 μeq/L), accounting for 66% (39%–88%) of the total cations. SO42− was the most abundant anion with VWM value of 237.8 μeq/L (49.6-1643 μeq/L). SO42− and NO3− were dominant among the anions, accounting for 66%–97% of the total measured anions. The Sr concentrations vary from 0.01 to 0.92 μmol/L, and strontium isotopic ratios vary in the range of 0.707684–0.710094, with an average of 0.708092. The elements ratios and the 87Sr/86Sr ratios showed that the solutes of rainwater mainly come from weathering of carbonate and secondary dust input. Moreover, urbanization results in the calcium-rich dust increased and the high concentrations of alkaline ions (mainly Ca2+) have played an important role to neutralize the acidity of rainwater, leading to the increase of arithmetic pH mean value by 0.5 units since 2002. It is worth noting that the emission of SO2 and NOx from the automobile exhaust is increasing and is becoming another important precursor of acid rain now.

Planning of Drainage Engineering for the Apline and Special Terrain Area

Based on the re-planning of rain and sewage pipe network for the whole region of Kangbao Town, the dam of intercepting lake and the flood trench of town boundary will be built, and sewage treatment plant will be set up, then the rain and sewage in the town will be discharged timely, and the drainage problem in the apline and special terrain will be resolved. Adjusting measures to local conditions in the plan, the control and utilization of rain and flood will be studied emphatically, the ecological environment of the lake of Kangbanaoer will be improved. The system of the whole plan of the drainage system is coordinate and feasible, the local water environment will be improved effectively, and the requirement of economic development in low carbon can be reached.

GREEN WALLS RISING WITH THE BUILDING

One of the rapidly developing social and physical processes in the 21st century is urbanization. One of the most negative consequences of the development is the destruction and even vanishing of the natural equilibrium. The solution of the increasing environmental problems worldwide caused improvement of eco-friendly applications. Landscape architecture and architecture developed vertical-live gardens with a quite simple, aesthetic and ecological concept to find solutions to the increase in the CO2 level with the reduce of the green areas, the de-colourization of cold modern buildings as a result of streets changing to grey gradually, the increasing energy problems due to the decrease in the energy sources. The integration of nature and buildings intending to re-gain the green areas destroyed by the mankind caused an increase in the present green-roof systems and the addition of vertical-live gardens to the designs. The vertical gardens acquire similar advantages like rain and waste water control, sound and heat insulation, recycling, flexible use, aesthetic and social benefits as the green-roofs. In this study, the vertical garden systems will be evaluated among the present applications, as they form a resource with their passive climatization, energy effective use and eco-friendly properties.