Environment

Many environmental problems are large scale in terms of geographical units and long-term with regard to time. We therefore find a coincidence of different causes and impacts that qualify the interplay between humans and nature as highly uncertain (“transparency challenge”). In consequence we see a need for innovative analytical methods and modelling approaches to supplement the traditional monitoring-based approach in environmental policy. This should allow capturing different degrees of uncertainty which in general is out of power of any monitoring activity. Moreover, with regard to the design of monitoring approaches it requires collecting and connecting data from different fields of social activities in regard of a divergence of natural and social systems’ boundaries. This requires the provision of sufficient, frequently huge data sets (“availability challenge”) that need to fit with each other (“compatibility challenge”). Even if these challenges are met data processing remains a very complex and time-consuming task which should be supported by a user-friendly infrastructure. We here see a comparative advantage in using the GIS technology and a nested structure for data provision supporting the up and down scaling of information and the access of data from different perspectives (“connectivity challenge”) - a polluters, a victims and a regulators point of view.Coincidence of causes and impacts, transparency challenge, availability challenge, compatibility challenge, connectivity challenge, GIS technology, nested structure of data provision

Environment

Applications of remote sensing technology to wildlife preservation, pest control, strip mining, water quality monitoring, and wetlands mapping were discussed. Economic, political and social factors were also considered

Marine Oil Snow Sedimentation and Flocculent Accumulation (MOSSFA) Workshop

The MOSSFA hypothesis is that the formation of marine snow/oil aggregates and its accumulation at the seafloor is related to events associated with the oil spill, various mitigation measures (e.g., the use of dispersants and in situ burning), and increased sediment-laden fresh water releases from Mississippi River impoundments. If this hypothesis is correct then this phenomenon takes on an added global significance as 85% of deep-water oil exploration occurs adjacent to deltaic systems. To better understand the sequence of events and the oceanographic processes involved, three of the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) funded Centers (C-IMAGE, DEEP-C and ECOGIG), all of which have Principal Investigators involved in the various aspects of the MOSSFA question, received funding to conduct two workshops related to Marine Oil Snow Sedimentation Flocculent Accumulation (MOSSFA). The intent of the first workshop was to bring together researchers working on MOSSFA to provide a synthesis of known facts, identify data gaps and propose follow-up research to help resolve key questions and uncertainties regarding the MOSSFA hypothesis

The evaluation of national accounting matrices with environmental accounts (NAMEA) as a methodology for carrying out a sustainability assessment of the Scottish food and drink sector

This report introduces environmental input-output (IO) accounts for Scotland as an example of a NAMEA framework. It provides an introduction to the use of basic IO multiplier methodology, which can be applied to examine pollution/waste generation and/or resource use under production and consumption accounting principles

Voluntary waste industry protocol for the handling of early collected carbon charges in the landfill sector

The landfill industry, through the Australian Landfill Owners Association and the Australian Local Government Association, has developed this voluntary protocol to ensure that the early collected carbon charges are returned for consumer benefit. Individual landfill owners will have the option to accept to be bound by the protocol. Those who accept shall be identified on the Department of the Environment’s website. The protocol will not override contractual arrangements between landfill operators and their customers. The Minister for the Environment has issued a statement supporting the protocol and calling for wide participation by the landfill industry and other groups in the protocol. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has also encouraged landfill industry participants to work with the Government to negotiate an appropriate solution for the handling of early collected carbon charges

Effect of frost on cereal grain crops

Loss of wheat production due to frost damage is not common in Victoria. However, while the total loss is rarely great, individual growers can suffer heavy losses in some years. The factors exposing crops to loss are discussed along with tips to minimise the potential for frost damage to occur

Decimal growth scale of cereals

Accurate assessment of growth stage is important because the cereal plant\u27s response to herbicide, growth regulator or fertiliser application depends on its stage of development

Energy-water-environment nexus underpinning future desalination sustainability

Energy-water-environment nexus is very important to attain COP21 goal, maintaining environment temperature increase below 2 °C, but unfortunately two third share of CO2 emission has already been used and the remaining will be exhausted by 2050. A number of technological developments in power and desalination sectors improved their efficiencies to save energy and carbon emission but still they are operating at 35% and 10% of their thermodynamic limits. Research in desalination processes contributing to fuel World population for their improved living standard and to reduce specific energy consumption and to protect environment. Recently developed highly efficient nature-inspired membranes (aquaporin & graphene) and trend in thermally driven cycle's hybridization could potentially lower then energy requirement for water purification. This paper presents a state of art review on energy, water and environment interconnection and future energy efficient desalination possibilities to save energy and protect environment