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The organisms of the infraorder Nepomorpha (Heteroptera) present complex habitat requirements in headwater streams, usually being related to local substrate conditions. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated how the diversity of Nepomorpha responded to a wide gradient of habitat and ecological conditions. We tested two hypotheses: (1) local substrate composition is the most important factor determining the diversity of Nepomorpha compared to other physical habitat metrics, (2) Nepomorpha assemblage diversity respond more readily to anthropogenic disturbances at local scale. Our results did not corroborate the first hypothesis, and showed that the assemblage diversity was mostly related to water quality and geomorphology, indicating that substrate requirements are not the only important driver. Our second hypothesis was partially corroborated, as all diversity metrics presented significant correlation with human disturbances at both local and catchment spatial scales. These results show that Nepomorpha assemblages have high potential use as ecological indicators, which should be better explored in future biomonitoring studies of anthropogenic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Many environmental assessments of consumer products and household services rely on self-reported data. Life cycle assessments of domestic laundering are no exception. However, potential discrepancies between self-reported behaviour and actual everyday decisions are seldom investigated due to practical challenges in collecting relevant data. This means that environmental impacts relying on such self-reported data are much more uncertain than previously acknowledged. Method: Laundering data was collected at the Chalmers' HSB Living lab (CHSBLL), a combined multi-family house and research facility in Gothenburg. The collection was both done passively (through the washing machines) as well as actively (through surveys to the tenants). RFID-readers were also installed in the machines and a number of clothing items tagged, allowing for identification. The site-specific data was later supplemented with a large statistical representative study for domestic laundering of Swedish households. This unique data quality allowed the comparison of passively collected data with survey data from tenants in a real-life setup, while validating the results from a national perspective. Result and conclusions: The results suggest that consumers have trouble remembering personal choices regarding domestic laundering, meaning that self-reported data are more uncertain than previously thought. In general, the participants overestimated the amount of laundry they washed and underestimated their frequency of washing. Additionally, many participants showed an interest in changing to alternative wash programs although this change failed to materialize when they were presented with this option in real-life. The findings have potential consequences for environmental assessments and implicate those previous estimations underestimate emissions per kg laundry washed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the Piikani Nation's attempts to challenge the Oldman River Dam, as this struggle highlights the challenges Indigenous communities can face in attempting to articulate water and land relationships through the languages and structures of settler colonial law. Completed in 1991, the dam faced multiple forms of opposition by Piikani members, including lawsuits and an attempt by community activists representing the Lonefighters Society to divert the river around an existing irrigation weir. For this article, I focus on how Piikani Nation members attempted to assert their geographic relationships with the Oldman River through participation in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Review process. Within this process, Piikani elders, activists, and community advocates mobilized various conceptions of law, such as treaty rights and Piikani and Blackfoot legal traditions. This article therefore seeks to answer this question: How do Indigenous forms of jurisdiction articulate with Canadian legal and regulatory fora, such as the Environmental Assessment Review process? To answer these questions, I draw from both critical political economy and Indigenous geographies, as I argue that in struggles against the capitalist reterritorialization of Indigenous places, it is through the assertions of competing legal jurisdictions that these struggles tend to find their most profound expression. Specifically, I use the concept of articulation from Marxian political economy, suggesting this theory, in conversation with legal pluralism scholarship, provides a generative framework for critically interrogating how Indigenous legal orders interact with Canadian law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental assessment literature has neglected the distorting effect of cognitive and unconscious motivational biases (CUMB) in environmental assessment processes. This is problematic because CUMB are present in most, if not all, decision-making situations and can significantly distort decision-making processes. This article assesses how debiasing techniques are, or should be, incorporated in (supra)national environmental assessment legislation. The Dutch case study undertaken for this article shows that EU and Dutch legislation do not sufficiently incorporate debiasing techniques to ensure sound environmental decision making. Furthermore, the extent to which Dutch legislation incorporates debiasing techniques was found to be decreasing. Based on these findings, the article presents ways to incorporate debiasing techniques in environmental assessment legislation more generally, and in EU and Dutch legislation in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity loss occurs much faster in the world's freshwaters than in the terrestrial or marine realms, yet worries have been expressed that freshwater systems are not given the same priority as 'land and oceans' in global environmental governance.The Intergovernmental Science–Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is mandated to provide the knowledge basis supporting international environmental agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. To a large extent, the work of IPBES is dependent on voluntary contributions by independent experts from across the world.Here, I present an overview of the various ways in which freshwater experts can contribute to IPBES, ultimately to strengthen the representation of freshwater ecosystems in global environmental governance.Avenues to contribute include participating in the development of IPBES assessment reports that are adopted by the 139 member states, engaging in the external review process of IPBES products, filling in knowledge gaps as identified by IPBES assessment reports to inform upcoming assessments, implementing IPBES outcomes and recommendations in practice, and actively engaging with plenary meetings of government delegations to influence decisions.Actively supporting governments worldwide in making evidence‐based decisions can be intrinsically rewarding and offers several additional benefits. These benefits include the potential for enhanced professional reputation, given the authoritative nature of IPBES products; networking and collaboration opportunities with experts and stakeholders from around the world; and professional development through gaining experience in navigating the science–policy interface on biodiversity and ecosystem services.I conclude with a call to action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the ecological health of waters within the Saudi Arabian Exclusive Economic Zone, by utilizing benthic biotic indices with a marine monitoring dataset covering the years 2013 to 2018. This comprehensive evaluation covered a vast expanse, encompassing 67 distinctive sampling locations characterized by a wide range of depth and salinity gradients. The study examined spatial fluctuations in the benthic community and assessed potential correlations with environmental variables, including salinity, depth, sediment texture, total organic carbon, and other relevant factors. The macrobenthic density varied across the study sites, with an average density of 566 ± 120 ind.m−2. The Shannon diversity index ranged from 3.21 and 5.90, with an average of 4.70 ± 0.52. Based on the average AMBI values, all the locations were categorized as either slightly disturbed or undisturbed. Additionally, the M-AMBI analysis indicated that 95.5 % sites were in good or high ecological status. • Studied 67 locations in the Arabian Gulf from 2013 to 2018, varying in depth and salinity, to assess benthic community changes. • Average macrobenthic density in the Arabian Gulf from 2013 to 2018 was 566 ± 120 ind.m², with a Shannon index of 4.70 ± 0.52. • AMBI values suggest slight disturbance or undisturbed conditions observed during the study period from 2013 to 2018. • M-AMBI analysis shows 95.5% of sites in the study areas are in good or high ecological status based on data from 2013 to 2018. • Continuous benthic monitoring is crucial due to the 'Shifting Baseline' trend, ensuring effective ecosystem management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is becoming a mandatorycomponent of a successful business today. One of the main problems of CSR implementation is the need to evaluatethe organization's activities in this area. In this regard, there is a need for evaluation methods, and at all stages: when planning and justifying specific programs on corporate social responsibility, when summarizing the results of this work. The article analyzes the methods of CSR assessment.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the the policy that, building a beautiful Sichuan and Tuojiang River green development economic belt has been launched, the Tuojiang River Basin has become one of the most important river basins in Sichuan. Building the Tuojiang River Basin as a pioneer area for green development is of vital significance. This paper selected five cities as the research objects, which are Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Neijiang, and Ziyang. Firstly, the paper analyzed the factors affecting the green development of the Tuojiang River Basin, and then combined the PSR model with the “economy-society-resources-nature” indicators to construct a green development indicator system suitable for the Tuojiang River Basin. After that, the entropy weight-grey relational analysis and spatial autocorrelation analysis were used to analyze the green development evaluation system. The results show that average green development levels of Zigong, Luzhou, Deyang, Neijiang and Ziyang are 0.7263, 0.8498, 0.4357, 0.6890 and 0.6856 respectively. Through the spatial analysis, the Moran’s I is 0.104, indicating a significant positive spatial correlation of green development in the Tuojiang River Basin. And the green development level of Ziyang belongs to the high-low agglomeration type. The rest of the areas are not significantly aggregated, and finally suggestions were proposed for improvement.

The Mexican Caribbean is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, considered the second largest reef system globally. This system, as well as inland aquatic ecosystems, are at risk of contamination due to the intensive use of sunscreen by the tourists who visit the Riviera Maya each year. At present, the regulation and management of sunscreens are inconsistent, with most policies and legislation focused on the protected marine areas with little current focus on inland aquatic ecosystems. An estimated 229.76 tons of sunscreen are used annually, with residues putting the health of the marine and freshwater aquatic ecosystems and residents at risk. Groundwater is used recreationally (e.g., tourists swimming in sinkholes or cenotes) and as household drinking water. To understand the environmental impacts of sunscreen use and the management implications, a mixed-methods study was carried out, combining survey and interview data on how tourists use sunscreen and their perceptions of discharge of sunscreens into the water, with analysis of regional, national and international policies and legislation. Our findings of touristic behaviors, gaps in current legislation, and the pollution implications of different sunscreen types provide useful information for future decision-making and the creation of stronger environmental regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision-making in highly altered catchments occurs at different temporal and spatial scales, requiring integration of various datasets and models. This paper introduces two of the components of an environmental multiscale decision support system (EMDSS) for highly altered catchments, designed to make decisions at different time scales. First, an integrated dynamic flow and water quality model is proposed to analyze the river system, including wastewater discharges and water intakes. This integrated model is capable of representing unsteady flow conditions, allowing analysis at different time scales. Second, three postprocessing tools are presented to support short- (hours to days), medium- (days to months), and long- (years to decades) term operational, management, and planning decisions. The water quality component of the model can represent conventional and toxic determinands to simultaneously analyze domestic and industrial pollution throughout a river system. The first postprocessing tool of the EMDSS is useful in defining concentration limits for wastewater discharges for different water users downstream. The second tool allows the assessment of river water quantity and quality to determine water availability for intake extensions and medium-term wastewater flow augmentation. The third makes it possible to simulate and perform effective operational reservoir releases to improve water quality in the river during short-term pollution incidents. The proposed integrated model and postprocessing tools are applied in the upper Bogotá River stretch in Colombia, one of the most altered catchments and polluted rivers in the world. The results obtained illustrate the utility of the proposed EMDSS for river management and decision making regarding water quality at different time scales.

The Mexican Caribbean is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, considered the second largest reef system globally. This system, as well as inland aquatic ecosystems, are at risk of contamination due to the intensive use of sunscreen by the tourists who visit the Riviera Maya each year. At present, the regulation and management of sunscreens are inconsistent, with most policies and legislation focused on the protected marine areas with little current focus on inland aquatic ecosystems. An estimated 229.76 tons of sunscreen are used annually, with residues putting the health of the marine and freshwater aquatic ecosystems and residents at risk. Groundwater is used recreationally (e.g., tourists swimming in sinkholes or cenotes) and as household drinking water. To understand the environmental impacts of sunscreen use and the management implications, a mixed-methods study was carried out, combining survey and interview data on how tourists use sunscreen and their perceptions of discharge of sunscreens into the water, with analysis of regional, national and international policies and legislation. Our findings of touristic behaviors, gaps in current legislation, and the pollution implications of different sunscreen types provide useful information for future decision-making and the creation of stronger environmental regulations.

By the establishment of the Greenland Botanical Survey in 1962 at the Botanical Museum, University of Copenhagen, an era of regular and systematic exploration of the vascular plant flora of Greenland was initiated and it ended in 1996, when funding ended. Preceding this period, the vascular plant flora was mainly known from the results of more sporadic botanical investigations mostly in low arctic West and East Greenland, but after the 1980s, investigations expanded to include the more inaccessible high arctic Northeast and North Greenland. Nowadays, vascular plant species have been collected from most regions of Greenland. So far, three regional phytogeographical studies of South, North, and West Greenland have been published, and at present, two papers dealing with the vascular plant flora of East Greenland are ready for publication. These studies will be the basis for a synopsis of the phytogeography of Greenland and a new edition of the Flora of Greenland. The published distribution maps from South, West, and North Greenland based on these collections have been digitized and used for modelling the regional vegetation and flora and its relation to past glaciations and current climate. The specimens from East Greenland have been entered into a database and will be available for future modelling projects.

Graphical abstract Highlights • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a system after 20 years is re-performed. • Comparison of global result resemble except in one impact category. • Results by Life Cycle (LC) stage generally differ. • Differences on results are mainly caused by three factors. • Technosphere, environmental, and LC Impact Assessment methods changes are assessed. Abstract Purpose The goal of this article is to find out if an old Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study remains valid or not after a period of time. To answer this we re-perform an LCA of a bus stop in the city of Barcelona that was performed about 20 years ago. Methods The LCA of a bus stop, performed and published in 1998, is re-performed and its results compared with those of the original study, keeping the same scope of the original system. The software used by the original study was SimaPro; the data came from IVAM LCA data, BUWAL 250, IDEMAT 96 and PRe4 databases; and CML 1992 impact assessment methodology was used. The new study used thinkstep GaBi6 software; GaBi6 Professional + extension databases; and CML 2001 methodology. The assessment includes an analysis of the key influencing factors that cause the discrepancies, such as models and databases. Moreover, a specific focus on evolution of the methodologies and its influence on the results is described. A 30% of difference between results is accepted as the threshold value to be able to state that the results differ. Results and discussion The overall results obtained in the two studies are quite similar or, at least, comparable. However, when analysing and comparing the systems disaggregated stage by stage, higher differences in each impact category are found. Therefore, the lower discrepancy at system level may be due to coincidence or compensation. The main causes of discrepancy have been found to be: (i) the update of the assessment methodologies and characterization factors, (ii) the improvement of the databases, and (iii) the change in the techno-sphere and the improvement of the environmental policies. Conclusions and recommendations After 15–20 years, LCA results cannot be considered reliable. Results can, however, be used as an indication for the expected order of magnitude of the impacts and for the relative importance of the processes in the different life cycle stages. The comparison is made through one case study only; therefore, it can barely be used as a generalization, neither for the difference in results nor for the sources of discrepancy. Nevertheless, this type of analysis can be considered a first step in quantifying the longevity of LCA results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After decades of inadequate responses to scientists’ warnings about global environmental threats, leading analysts of the science-policy interface are seeking an important shift of research focus. This switch is from continued modeling and diagnoses of biogeochemical conditions in favor of enhanced efforts to understand the many socio-political obstacles to achieving just transformations towards sustainability, and how to overcome them. We discuss why this shift continues to prove elusive. We argue that rarely analyzed mutually reinforcing power structures, interests, needs, and norms within the institutions of global environmental change science obstruct rethinking and reform. The blockage created by these countervailing forces are shielded from scrutiny and change through retreats behind shields of neutrality and objectivity, stoked and legitimated by fears of losing scientific authority. These responses are maladaptive, however, since transparency and reflexivity are essential for rethinking and reform, even in contexts marked by anti-environmentalism. We therefore urge greater openness, self-critique, and power-sharing across research communities, to create spaces and support for conversations, diverse knowledges, and decisions conducive to sustainability transformations.

Biochar is a by-product of thermochemical conversion of biomass or other carbonaceous materials. Recently, it has garnered extensive attention for its high application potential in microbial fuel cell (MFC) systems owing to its high conductivity and low cost. However, the effects of biochar on MFC system performance have not been comprehensively reviewed, thereby necessitating the evaluation of the efficacy of biochar application in MFCs. In this review, biochar characteristics were outlined based on recent publications. Subsequently, various applications of biochar in the MFC systems and their probable processes were summarized. Finally, proposals for future applications of biochar in MFCs were explored along with its perspectives and an environmental evaluation in the context of a circular economy. The purpose of this review is to gain comprehensive insights into the application of biochar in the MFC systems, offering important viewpoints on the effective and steady utilization of biochar in MFCs for practical application. [Display omitted] • Role of biochar as electrode and catalysts in MFC system has been investigated. • The effects of biochar in MFC system on environmental and economy has been reviewed. • Enhancing mechanisms of biochar in MFC system has been studied. • Future researches and challenges to scale-up has been elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water shortage (availability per capita) is a key indicator of vulnerability to water scarcity. Spatial datasets enable the assessment of water shortage on multiple scales. The use of river basins and subbasins as analysis and management units is currently commonplace. An important but less acknowledged fact is that spatial assessments are strongly influenced by the choice of the unit of analysis due to the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP). Climate conditions, agricultural activities, and access to groundwater also influence water availability and demand. In this study, a total of 21 different criteria were used to define areal units of analysis, i.e., zonings, for which water shortage was calculated. Focusing on Monsoon Asia, where water scarcity is a pressing problem, we found that zoning had a considerable impact, resulting in up to three-fold differences in the population under high water shortage (

Mining activities disturb the earth’s geology and destabilise the geo-environment, with a consequent negative impact on sustainability. There is a close link between the mining sector, geology and urban development. A geo-environmental assessment (assessment of the spatial influence of geology on the environment), focusing on the regional geological character and setting, must therefore also lay the foundation for a long-term sustainable assessment of mining-related urban development. This must be done as a specialist study and be part of required environmental assessment on strategic level prior to development. Examples and historical cases of such developments indicate that this assessment must be based on the following three main aspects: •Characterisation of the underlying geology and mining-related structures: Specific geological environments and mining-related structures result in destabilisation and sinkhole development, as well as earth movement enhanced by mining activity, with a negative impact on the sustainability of mining-related urban development. •Characterisation of related natural resources: The physical character, long-term capacity, delineation and setting of all natural resources involved with mining activities affect the sustainability of related urban development. This includes water supply from groundwater resources, as well as the ore-body and natural resources needed to sustain the mining operation and urban development. •Characterisation of geological waste and pollutants: The disturbances of the geology during mining activities give rise to an unnatural interaction with the atmosphere. This results in acid mine drainage, contaminating water resources and pollution of the atmosphere with negative impact on sustainability. This article reviews the impacts of mining activities on the geo-environment and argues that the assessment thereof must be based on an integration of the legal required strategically environmental assessments, eco-efficient evaluations by the mining sector, and within the context of the global debate on sustainability.

• Standardized oil toxicity testing is needed for comparability of study results. • Inconsistencies in reporting may limit test results' utility and interpretation. • Detailed documentation and reporting of technical information are required. • Developed list of key reporting elements/considerations for science communication. • Improved reporting and communication should increase data use in response tools. Standardized oil toxicity testing is important to ensure comparability of study results, and to generate information to support oil spill planning, response, and environmental assessments. Outcomes from toxicity tests are useful in the development, improvement and validation of effects models, and new or revised knowledge could be integrated into existing databases and related tools. To foster transparency, facilitate repeatability and maximize use and impact, outcomes from toxicity tests need to be clearly reported and communicated. This work is part of a series of reviews to support the modernization of the "Chemical Response to Oil Spills: Ecological Effects Research Forum" protocols focusing on technological advances and best toxicity testing practices. Thus, the primary motivation of the present work is to provide guidance and encourage detailed documentation of aquatic toxicity studies. Specific recommendations are provided regarding key reporting elements (i.e., experimental design, test substance and properties, test species and response endpoints, media preparation, exposure conditions, chemical characterization, reporting metric corresponding to the response endpoint, data quality standards, and statistical methods, and raw data), which along with a proposed checklist can be used to assess the completeness of reporting elements or to guide study conduct. When preparing journal publications, authors are encouraged to take advantage of the Supplementary Material section to enhance dissemination and access to key data and information that can be used by multiple end-users, including decision-makers, scientific support staff and modelers. Improving reporting, science communication, and access to critical information enable users to assess the reliability and relevance of study outcomes and increase incorporation of results gleaned from toxicity testing into tools and applications that support oil spill response decisions. Furthermore, improved reporting could be beneficial for audiences outside the oil spill response community, including peer reviewers, journal editors, aquatic toxicologists, researchers in other disciplines, and the public. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater reclamation is an upcoming approach that will significantly affect wastewater treatment systems. Despite the fact that technology for treating wastewater to an effluent water quality that meets various quality standards for reuse is already available and applied, the reuse of water is not just a simple and straightforward road. Significant additional energy and civil infrastructure is required to treat the water to a standard that allows it to be safely reused. The total impact of treating and reusing water may be higher than the environmental benefits. Thus, it is crucial the life-cycle impacts from upstream and downstream processes of various reuse technologies, i.e. production of chemicals, energy use, eutrophication, sludge handling, etc. The present paper provides a comprehensive evaluation considering different reuse purposes, treatment technologies and plant size. The results of this study suggest that all these factors are highly significant for the environmental impact of wastewater treatment systems for non-potable applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision problems are often characterized by a great number of alternative actions and by the complexity of relationships between factors involved in the process. This leads to the determination of alternative choices in uncertainty conditions. In this paper the problem of an energetic and environmental requalification is analyzed. This kind of problem emphasizes the need for integration of economics and environment so a multicriteria approach is required; in particular the analytic hierarchy process is applied and a detailed sensitivity analysis is performed by using a software package, Expert Choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water shortage (availability per capita) is a key indicator of vulnerability to water scarcity. Spatial datasets enable the assessment of water shortage on multiple scales. The use of river basins and subbasins as analysis and management units is currently commonplace. An important but less acknowledged fact is that spatial assessments are strongly influenced by the choice of the unit of analysis due to the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP). Climate conditions, agricultural activities, and access to groundwater also influence water availability and demand. In this study, a total of 21 different criteria were used to define areal units of analysis, i.e., zonings, for which water shortage was calculated. Focusing on Monsoon Asia, where water scarcity is a pressing problem, we found that zoning had a considerable impact, resulting in up to three-fold differences in the population under high water shortage (<1000 m3/cap/year), ranging from 782 million to 2.11 billion. In most zonings, however, the Indus and Yellow River Basins and northwest parts of India and China are under high water shortage. The study indicates that a multizonal and multiscale analysis is needed to minimize skewed or even misleading information that might be produced when using only one zoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the academic and professional career of Prof. Dr. Ricardo Arturo Ronderos (1928-1995) Past President of the "Sociedad Entomológica Argentina" (SEA) (1964-1979) and Director of its journal (RSEA) (1968-1985). His main achievements and contributions to entomology as well as to other fields of the natural sciences are referred taking into account his academic and professional activities carried on during four decades (1954-1994). We also remark his dedication to the training of young researchers, organization of scientific societies, advice to national institutions of science promotion and international entities, mainly those dealing with environmental assessments of projects affecting aquatic macrosystems of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The baseline environmental assessment of projects allows the description of the current situation, determine the date on which the study is conducted without influence of new human actions. The description taken into account biotic, abiotic and socioeconomic factors affecting the project in each of its phases; such influences or impacts have been evaluated for the case of renewable energy, particularly wind and solar energy for the Colombian Caribbean in order to determine the relevance of executing mitigation plans. Among the most friendly energy sources to the environment are the wind and photovoltaic energy, because they do not pollute and do not turn your use does not imply exhaustion of it to meet the energy demand of mankind when leverage resources of solar radiation and wind speed available, providing significant minor impacts compared to traditional power generation systems. This article shows the summary of the results of the environmental assessment of projects solar photovoltaic and wind in the Colombian Caribbean region, with emphasis on the Guajira, which was conducted using the methodology of the baseline, identification and impact assessment using the simplified method Conesa. Within results, it stands out from the impacts are not significant in the stages of construction and dismantling of a solar photovoltaic system, because the production of foundation, soil removal and transport of construction materials and machinery is not permanent but temporary, while in operation impacts are practically nil and reduced the associated maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Assessments of environmental issues are often expected to tackle the perceived disconnect between scientific knowledge and environmental policy making. However, their actual influence on processes of knowledge communication and use remains understudied. We provide one of the first studies of the UK National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA), itself one of the first national-level assessments of ecosystem services. We explore expectations, early experiences, and implications for its role in promoting knowledge use, drawing on both documentary evidence and qualitative analysis of interviews with NEA authors and potential users. Many interviewees expected instrumental use; that is, facts directly assisting problem solving. This matches the rhetoric surrounding the NEA's creation. However, we found more early evidence of interacting conceptual uses (learning), and strategic uses (sometimes deemed misuse). Such uses depend not only on assessment outputs, such as reports, but also on the processes of communication and interaction by which these are created. Thus, planning and analysis of such assessments should deemphasise instrumental use and instead focus on the complex knowledge 'coproduction' processes by which diverse and interacting forms of knowledge use may be realised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An array of feedstock is being evaluated as potential raw material for cellulosic biofuel production. Thorough assessments are required in regional landscape settings before these feedstocks can be cultivated and sustainable management practices can be implemented. On the processing side, a potential solution to the logistical challenges of large biorefineries is provided by a network of distributed processing facilities called local biomass processing depots. A large-scale cellulosic ethanol industry is likely to emerge soon in the United States. We have the opportunity to influence the sustainability of this emerging industry. The watershed-scale optimized and rearranged landscape design ( WORLD) model estimates land allocations for different cellulosic feedstocks at biorefinery scale without displacing current animal nutrition requirements. This model also incorporates a network of the aforementioned depots. An integrated life cycle assessment is then conducted over the unified system of optimized feedstock production, processing, and associated transport operations to evaluate net energy yields ( NEYs) and environmental impacts. A sustainability assessment was conducted in a nine-county region of Michigan for the categories of cellulosic ethanol production, soil characteristics, water quality, and greenhouse gas ( GHG) emissions. Making significant changes such as introducing perennial grasses, riparian buffers and double crops in current landscapes provides the largest absolute NEYs of about 53 GJ/ha while also attaining 120% gains in soil organic carbon, 103% lower nitrogen leaching, and 68% reductions in net GHG emissions (compared to a baseline of current conventional landscapes). Interestingly, minimizing certain environmental impacts also provides greater NEYs. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: One ore-forming element (Cu) and one rock-forming element (SiO2) from stream sediment dataset in Tibet (China) are selected to explore the effects of cell size in geochemical mapping using fractal and multifractal models. Five raster maps for Cu and SiO2 are obtained by the IDW method with the cell sizes of 300m, 500m, 700m, 900m, and 1100m. The results show that (1) whereas raster maps interpolated at different cell sizes have average and standard deviation values similar to those of the original data, their maximum values are lower and their minimum values are higher, indicating that the cell size slightly affects the concentration frequency distribution of geochemical patterns, and that the IDW method smoothens the original data to some extent; (2) the mean absolute error increases as the cell size increases, indicating that the cell size affects the accuracy of prediction; (3) the spatial patterns obtained with different cell sizes have different textures as indicated by different values of multifractal parameters, implying that the cell size affects the spatial texture of geochemical patterns; and (4) different Cu thresholds obtained by C-A fractal model indicates that the cell size slightly affects the delineation of geochemical anomalies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Decision-making in highly altered catchments occurs at different temporal and spatial scales, requiring integration of various datasets and models. This paper introduces two of the components of an environmental multiscale decision support system (EMDSS) for highly altered catchments, designed to make decisions at different time scales. First, an integrated dynamic flow and water quality model is proposed to analyze the river system, including wastewater discharges and water intakes. This integrated model is capable of representing unsteady flow conditions, allowing analysis at different time scales. Second, three postprocessing tools are presented to support short- (hours to days), medium- (days to months), and long- (years to decades) term operational, management, and planning decisions. The water quality component of the model can represent conventional and toxic determinands to simultaneously analyze domestic and industrial pollution throughout a river system. The first postprocessing tool of the EMDSS is useful in defining concentration limits for wastewater discharges for different water users downstream. The second tool allows the assessment of river water quantity and quality to determine water availability for intake extensions and medium-term wastewater flow augmentation. The third makes it possible to simulate and perform effective operational reservoir releases to improve water quality in the river during short-term pollution incidents. The proposed integrated model and postprocessing tools are applied in the upper Bogotá River stretch in Colombia, one of the most altered catchments and polluted rivers in the world. The results obtained illustrate the utility of the proposed EMDSS for river management and decision making regarding water quality at different time scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general public, government regulators, and environmental organizations are increasingly demanding industries to reduce their environmental impacts and report progress. This in turn resulted in numerous requirements for reporting environmental data. Environmental assessments are a useful tool in gathering and documenting this data. The assessments also assist decision makers to quantify impacts of their activities and plan for appropriate mitigation measures. There are different types of environmental assessments, each having specific purpose(s) and addressing specific audience(s). This paper gives an overview of common environmental concerns associated with oil and gas industry and shares insights on types of environmental assessments that are widely used. It discusses general methodologies to define the scope, approach, measurement standards, and reporting. Potential challenges encountered in conducting these assessments in an international arena and under a wide variety of regulatory requirements are addressed. Practical approach in execution of these assessments is described here, and strategy in dealing with the challenges is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a summary of the development of the ambient environmental dose profile for the Savannah River Site (SRS) for specific time periods from 1951-2001. Dose profiles were developed under the Radiation Dose Reconstruction Program of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Internal doses were estimated based on the radionuclide concentrations in the atmosphere, while external doses were estimated on the basis of releases of noble gases and contributions from ambient background radiation.