Downstream Ecological Impacts of Controlled Sediment Flushing in an Alpine Valley River: A Case Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 931-942 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Espa ◽  
G. Crosa ◽  
G. Gentili ◽  
S. Quadroni ◽  
G. Petts
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Alpine Valley ◽  
Sediment Flushing ◽  
Valley River

On the Ethics of International Religious/Spiritual Gatherings and Academic Conferencing in the Era of Global Warming: A Case Study of the Parliament of The World’s Religions Melbourne 2009 - Part 1

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-195
Author(s):  
Almut Beringer ◽  
Steven Douglas
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Peak Oil ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Academic Events ◽  
Special Responsibility

Global climate change and its impacts have ethical dimensions, for instance carbon footprint equity concerns. World issues, including the state of the ecosphere and biodiver­sity, regularly see political leaders, NGOs, business representatives, religious/spiritual orga­nizations, academics, and others engage in international aviation-dependent meetings to address critical challenges facing humanity and the planet. Yet, climate scientists and advocates call for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 to cap the increase in global temperatures to 2ºC. Aviation emissions resulting from international meetings raise questions that are not silenced by GHG emissions offsetting. The era of climate change and ‘peak oil’ poses ethical challenges for holding international in-person religious and academic events, especially when the events propound an environmentalist concern and when aviation use is assumed. This paper raises ques­tions regarding the ecological impacts of large international events and focuses the ‘inconvenient truths’ associated with international aviation in the era of global warming. The Parliament of the World’s Religions, the largest multifaith gathering in the world, serves as a case study. The paper emphasizes the view that faith-based/faith-inspired organizations have a special responsibility for leadership in policy and praxis on the moral imperatives of sustainability, sustainable development and climate justice.

scholarly journals Quantitative assessment of ecological operation effects based on flood pulses and ecology-economic coupling model: a case study of Three Gorges Reservoir, China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiqing Li ◽  
Jing Huang ◽  
Zhiming Xue ◽  
Pengteng Liang ◽  
Yueqiu Wu
Keyword(s):  
Three Gorges Reservoir ◽  
Simulation Method ◽  
Coupling Model ◽  
Flood Pulse ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Three Gorges ◽  
River Ecosystem ◽  
Random Simulation ◽  
Flood Pulses

Abstract Flood pulses are closely related to river ecosystem health. Reservoirs bring many benefits to flood control, power generation, shipping etc., but their attenuation effects on runoff flood pulses should not be ignored. Ecological operation can effectively reduce some negative ecological impacts brought by the reservoir. However, the inability to quantitatively assess ecological effects hinders the promotion of ecological operation in reservoir management. To solve this problem, we proposed 11 flood pulse indicators (FPI), a random simulation method and an ecology-economy coupling model in this study. In addition, we used four major Chinese carps as indicator species and the Three Gorges Reservoir as a case study to test the role of flood pulses in improving the ecological operation effects of the reservoir from the fish protection perspective. The results show that: (1) FPI can be controlled by the reservoir and reflect the flood pulse characteristics of runoff. (2) Random simulation method guides managers to optimize the discharge and formulate eco-friendly operation schemes. (3) Ecology-economy coupling model helps managers analyze the relationship between ecological operation effects and economic benefits. A comprehensive assessment can improve the acceptance of ecological operation, which is conducive to the sustainable development of river ecosystem.

scholarly journals Dynamical Aspects of Wintertime Cold-Air Pools in an Alpine Valley System

2005 ◽  
Vol 133 (9) ◽  
pp. 2721-2740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Günther Zängl
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Cold Pool ◽  
Drainage Flow ◽  
Dynamical Mechanism ◽  
Cold Air ◽  
Ambient Wind ◽  
Alpine Valley ◽  
Ambient Flow ◽  
Alpine Foreland

Abstract This study presents high-resolution numerical simulations in order to examine the dynamical mechanisms controlling the persistence of wintertime cold-air pools in an Alpine valley system. First, a case study of a cold-pool episode is conducted, the formation of which was related to the passage of a warm front north of the Alps. While the preexisting cold air was rapidly advected away in the Alpine foreland, a persistent cold pool was maintained in the inner-Alpine part of the valley system, associated with sustained horizontal temperature differences of up to 10 K over a distance of 30 km. The case study is complemented by a series of semi-idealized simulations, combining realistic topography with idealized large-scale flow conditions. These simulations consider a range of different ambient wind directions in order to investigate their impact on the cold-pool persistence. The results indicate that the most important dynamical mechanism controlling the persistence of cold-air pools in deep Alpine valleys is cold-air drainage toward the Alpine foreland. The preferred direction for such a drainage flow is down the pressure gradient imposed by the (geostrophically balanced) ambient flow. Thus, for a given valley geometry and a given strength of the ambient flow, the probability for persistent cold-air pools mainly depends on the ambient wind direction. If the direction of the imposed pressure gradient matches a sufficiently wide connection to the foreland (a valley or a low pass), then a drainage flow will lead to a rapid removal of the cold air. However, the presence of pronounced lateral constrictions in the connecting valley may strongly reduce the drainage efficiency. Cold-pool erosion by turbulent vertical mixing seems to play a comparatively minor role in deep valley systems as considered in this study.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Suitability of Urban Expansion Based on the Logic Minimum Cumulative Resistance Model: A Case Study from Leshan, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haijun Wang ◽  
Peihao Peng ◽  
Xiangdong Kong ◽  
Tingbin Zhang ◽  
Guihua Yi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Evaluation System ◽  
Urban Expansion ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Expansion Process ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Resistance Factors ◽  
Ecological Barriers

This paper focuses on the suitability of urban expansion in mountain areas against the background of accelerated urban development. Urbanization is accompanied by conflict and intense transformations of various landscapes, and is accompanied by social, economic, and ecological impacts. Evaluating the suitability of urban expansion (UE) and determining an appropriate scale is vital to solving urban environmental issues and realizing sustainable urban development. In mountain areas, the natural and social environments are different from those in the plains; the former is characterized by fragile ecology and proneness to geological disasters. Therefore, when evaluating the expansion of a mountain city, more factors need to be considered. Moreover, we need to follow the principle of harmony between nature and society according to the characteristics of mountain cities. Thus, when we evaluate the expansion of a mountain city, the key procedure is to establish a scientific evaluation system and explore the relationship between each evaluation factor and the urban expansion process. Taking Leshan (LS), China—a typical mountain city in the upper Yangtze River which has undergone rapid growth—as a case study, the logic minimum cumulative resistance (LMCR) model was applied to evaluate the suitability of UE and to simulate its direction and scale. The results revealed that: An evaluation system of resistance factors (ESRFs) was established according to the principle of natural and social harmony; the logic resistance surface (LRS) scientifically integrated multiple resistance factors based on the ESRF and a logic regression analysis. LRS objectively and effectively reflected the contribution and impact of each resistance factor to urban expansion. We found that landscape, geological hazards and GDP have had a great impact on urban expansion in LS. The expansion space of the mountain city is limited; the area of suitable expansion is only 23.5%, while the area which is unsuitable for expansion is 39.3%. In addition, it was found that setting up ecological barriers is an effective way to control unreasonable urban expansion in mountain cities. There is an obvious scale (grid size) effect in the evaluation of urban expansion in mountain cities; an evaluation of the suitable scale yielded the result of 90 m × 90 m. On this scale, taking the central district as the center, the urban expansion process will extend to the neighboring towns of Mianzhu, Suji, Juzi and Mouzi. Urban expansion should be controlled in terms of scale, especially in mountain cities. The most suitable urban size of LS is 132 km2.This would allow for high connectivity of urban-rural areas with the occupation of relatively few green spaces.

scholarly journals Assessing the Ecological Impact of Ultramarathon Events in Protected Natural Sites: ‘Le Grand Raid Réunion’

Heritage ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 749-760
Author(s):  
Sandra Heck
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Future Event ◽  
Outdoor Sports ◽  
Sports Events ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Sport Events ◽  
World Natural Heritage

Outdoor sport events evidently have an impact on the environment. If they are taking place in naturally protected areas this impact is even greater. By taking ’Le Grand Raid Réunion’, an international ultramarathon annually organized in the heart of an UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, as a case study, this paper concentrates on assessing the ecological impact of an outdoor sports event in a protected natural site. On the basis of datasets taken from official logistics lists and from a survey conducted among all event participants the analysis embraces ecological and carbon event footprinting. Measuring those two indicators allows identifying the specific event-related ecological impacts, including diverse variables caused by the athletes, the spectators, and the related organizational requirements. The results of the study thereby have the ability to strongly influence the future event policy and to function as a model for the assessment of the ecological impact of other outdoor sports events.

scholarly journals Assessment of the External Costs of Life Cycle of Coal: The Case Study of Southwestern China

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 4002
Author(s):  
Xiaonan Wang ◽  
Licheng Wang ◽  
Jianping Chen ◽  
Shouting Zhang ◽  
Paolo Tarolli
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
External Costs ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
External Cost ◽  
Sw China ◽  
Lung Cancers ◽  
Full Life Cycle ◽  
Health Accounts

Coal will continue to be the main energy source in China for the immediate future, although the environmental pollution and ecological impacts of each stage in the full life cycle of coal mining, transportation, and combustion generate large quantities of external costs. The Late Permian coals in southwestern (SW) China usually contain high amounts of fluorine (F), arsenic (As), and ash, which together with high-F clays cause abnormally high levels of endemic fluorosis, As poisoning, and lung cancer in areas where coal is mined and burned. In this paper, we estimate the external costs of the life cycle of coal. The results show that the externalities of coal in SW China are estimated at USD 73.5 billion or 284.3 USD/t, which would have accounted for 6.5 % of the provincial GDP in this area in 2018. The external cost of human health accounts for 87.2% of the total external costs, of which endemic skeletal fluorosis diseases and related lung cancers have the most important impact. Our study provides a more precise estimate of externalities compared with its counterparts in other provinces in China. Therefore, several policy recommendations would be proposed to internalize the external cost.

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