Scenic Sites Research Articles

Numerical Modeling to Assess DNAPL Movement and Removal at the Scenic Site Operable Unit Near Baton Rouge, Louisiana: A Case Study

Detailed three-dimensional multifluid flow modeling was conducted to assess movement and removal of dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) movement at a waste site in Louisiana. The site's subsurface consists of several permeable zones separated by (semi) confining clays. In the upper subsurface, the two major permeable zones are, starting with the uppermost zone, the +40- and +20-MSL (mean sea level) zones. At the site, a total of 23,000 m3 of DNAPL was emplaced in an open waste pit between 1962 and 1974. In this period, considerable amounts of DNAPL moved into the subsurface. By 1974 a portion of the DNAPL was removed and the waste site was filled with low-permeability materials and closed. During this process, some of the DNAPL was mixed with the fill material and remained at the site. Between 1974 and 2000, no additional DNAPL recovery activities were implemented. In an effort to reduce the DNAPL source, organic liquid has been pumped through a timed-pumping scheme from a total of 7 wells starting in calendar year 2000. The recovery wells are screened in the lower part of the waste fill material. In site investigations, DNAPL has been encountered in the +40-MSL but not in the +20-MSL zone. The following questions are addressed: (1) Where has the DNAPL migrated vertically and laterally? (2) How much further is DNAPL expected to move in the next century? (3) How effective is the current DNAPL pumping in reducing the DNAPL source? The computational domains for the simulations were derived from 3-D interpolations of borehole logs using a geologic interpretation software (Earthvision™). The simulation results show that DNAPL primarily entered the subsurface in the period 1962–1974, when the waste site was operational. After 1974, the infiltration rates dropped dramatically as a result of the infilling of the waste pit. The simulation results indicate that DNAPL moved from the pit into the underlying +40-MSL zone through two contact zones at the west side of the pit. Lateral movement of the DNAPL body has been relatively slow as a result of the high viscosity and the rapidly decreasing driving force after the waste pit was filled in. For all simulations, lateral movement of DNAPL in the period 1962–2001 is predicted to be less than 60 m from the two contact areas, while additional movement in the next century is expected to be less than 30 m. No DNAPL is predicted to enter the +20-MSL zone, which agrees with site information. The simulations also clearly demonstrate the minimal effect of the current pumping scheme on source reduction and DNAPL movement.

Scenic screening sites of Sussex

Scenic screening sites of Sussex

Agri-environmental schemes and the European agricultural landscapes: the role of indicators as valuing tools for evaluation

In Europe most conservation values, from biodiversity to scenic sites, are integral parts of agricultural landscapes. When these landscapes change as a result of agricultural policies, natural values ‐ species, habitats, landscapes ‐ are usually affected. Until recently however, these values have not been part of agricultural policies. The impacts of such new policies are difficult to evaluate because landscapes are complex and diverse, and the effects of policy are rarely immediate or causal. This paper evaluates the potential effects of Agri-environmental Regulation EC 2078/92 on European agricultural landscapes through the use of agri-environmental indicators (AEIs) on policy effects. After discussing the general framework of the evaluation methodology through the use of AEIs, we distinguish two types of agri-environmental policy (AEP) effects: policy performances and policy outcomes. The impediments to direct measurement of policy outcomes are stated. The potential for measuring policy performances are checked in two case study areas, one in Spain and one in Denmark, characterized by extensive agricultural land-uses and by the dual process of intensification/abandonment that is threatening their natural values. Both study areas are currently targeted by agri-environmental schemes under Reg. 2078/92. The realisability or availability of suitable statistical data to construct and report each AEI is stated for both types of effects. A problem of scale and content is found in most of the available statistics for assessing policy outcomes and the need for data at farm level is concluded to be indispensable if policy performances are to be measured. Effects of policy performance are measured for key selected AEIs in each study area on the basis of the results of a field survey based on questionnaires of participating and non-participating farmers in the AEP schemes. The main effects may be catalogued as improvement effects or protection effects since they represent a change in participant over non-participant farmers’ decisions. Finally, the importance of this type of policy evaluation approach is discussed in the light of the likely future development of AEP in the European Union.

Religious sites as tourism attractions in Europe

Europe's religious tourism system is described with emphasis on the fulfillment of the expectations of visitors ranging from devout pilgrims to secular tourists at three types of attractions. These are pilgrimage shrines with strong emphasis on religious devotions, but with few characteristics to attract secular tourists; shrines that function as devotional centers and religious tourism attractions because of various combinations of historical, artistic, and scenic site characteristics; and places where religious festivals are the principal attractions. Problems related to conflicting interests of pilgrims and tourists are discussed along with some examples of management strategies designed to minimize these conflicts.

Designing for Nature in Cities: A Case-study of the Hill Area of the Summer Villa Estate, Chengde, China

The Summer Villa estate was famous for its wildness, preservation of Nature, pleasant climate, and beautiful scenery in the Qing Dynasty when the natural ecosystems were strictly conserved by the Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong (1703–93). Plants on the estate played an important role in this embellishment, 28 out of the 72 noted scenic sites being named after plants or plant etc. materials. The estate has been seriously destroyed in the last 150 years by wars, fires, and natural disasters, before the foundation of the new China. The damage was especially serious in the Hill Area, comprising some 80% of the estate.The present vegetation in the Hill Area is the result of reafforestion in the 1950s. Seven different plant communities, composed of natural and artificial elements, are now found there, most extensive of which is the Pinus tabulaeformis artificial forest with Vitex chinensis dominating the shrub layer. Some of these communities are unsuitable for the scenic spots on which they stand, some are not adaptable to the habitats, some have problems such as consisting of single species — so resulting in susceptibility to pests and offering little possibility for birds to make their nests and mammals to colonize.The natural environment in the estate is becoming widely degraded, with serious SO2 and Pb pollution caused by tourism and urbanization. Plants — especially needleleaf trees — are sensitive to these pollutants.This paper discusses the process of designing for Nature in the Hill Area of the Summer Villa estate, much of the work being concerned with problems of the present vegetation and the best approach to deal with them. To create Nature for the City of Chengde and at the same time recover the natural beauty in the Summer Villa estate, much attention is paid to the natural characteristics of suitable plants — especially those ‘historical’ natural species which can adapt to the present habitats. Five subsidary landscape areas with different plant characteristics in different habitats have been designed. Maps of the ‘historical’ natural vegetation, the present vegetation, and designs for Nature in the Hill Area, have been drawn and are here reproduced for practical use.

Tourist geography of Xi'an

Xi'an is located at 15' 34 ° N, 108 ° E. Named Changan in the ancient time, it is one of the oldest capital cities in Chinese history. It boasts magnificent rich cultural relics, well-known historical sites, art treasures and modern historical monuments. With its rich variety of natural conditions, it has plenty of scenic spots and famous sites all around it. Hence it enjoys exceptional advantages in tourist resources. As a political, economic and cultural centre of Shaanxi province, it is a worldfamous tourist city.

Tidal sedimentary structures from upper precambrian rocks of the Ming Tombs District, Beijing (Peking), China

The Ming Tombs District is a famous historic and scenic site in the vicinity of Beijing. The Proterozoic strata of this region contain many types of tidal sedimentary structures. This paper deals mainly with tidal or shallow water sedimentary structures from carbonates but some examples are also described from silicilclastic rocks. The structures include burrow-like tube fillings (from the nearly 2 Ga old Changzhougou Formation), herringbone cross stratification, double-crested interference ripple marks, and lenticular and flaser bedding from carbonate rocks of the Gaoyuzhuang Formation. Well developed sedimentary structures in these upper Precambrian rocks indicate that tidal conditions prevailed throughout deposition of most of a 4500 m thick succession. Supratidal, intertidal and subtidal environments have all been recognised. Widespread occurrence of tidal sedimentary structures in carbonate rocks suggests that they were mainly deposited under the influence of physical processes.

I-70 Glenwood Canyon—Design Concept

A critical section of Interstate Route I-70 follows the Colorado River through Glenwood Canyon in western Colorado. Physical constraints imposed by the narrow winding Canyon, coupled with environmental concerns, present a major design and construction challenge. A design team of architects, environmentalists, geologists, and engineers made a detailed on-site evaluation of the project and reviewed such data as river flooding records; snowfall and winter icing problems; existing vegetation, fish, and wildlife species and habitats; and recreational and scenic sites. The recommended design embodies a terraced concept, avoiding excavation of the canyon walls. The design meets Interstate criteria for 50-mph (80-km/hr) speeds, with two 24-ft (7.3-m) roadways plus 10-ft (3-m) shoulders on the right side of each roadway. Access is provided to several scenic points, with picnic and restroom facilities, access to the river, and hiking trails. A bicycle path is provided through the entire section.