The natural capital of forests consists to a great extend of the forests environmental functions for human well-being, which not only include goods and services (source and sink functions) but also include life-support functions that reflect ecosystem performance (ecosystem functioning). Shifting the management approach from a traditional one to one that is more aware of the ecosystem complexity, the idea of 'ecosystem functioning is appearing to tackle gradual declines of ecosystem functions. Within CBDs framework, the Ecosystem Approach has been introduced on account of the necessity for open decision making with strong links between all stakeholders and the latest scientific knowledge due to uncertainty and unpredictability in nature. The Ecosystem Approach is still in need of further elaboration, even though as a concept Ecosystem Approach has been widely accepted. To aim forest enhancement, this approach has been regarded as the most feasible concept for the study area, the Bengawan Solo River Basin - Java, Indonesia. Therefore the principles and operational guidelines will be used to analyse and evaluate the current forest management in those areas of the Bengawan Solo River Basin, in which ecosystem function is the basis for forest development area. This research focuses on ecological functions of forests at various levels of ecosystem management planning, from the forestry sectors point of view.
The broad objective of the research is to gain a fundamental understanding of the surface reaction chemistry of exhaust catalysts operating under cycling conditions. Using an integrated theoretical approach we specifically target NOx abatement, with particular emphasis on the appearance and destruction of surface oxide phases as the reactor conditions cycle from oxidative to reductive during the operation of the NOx Storage Reduction (NSR) catalyst system. Methodologically this requires material-specific, quantitative and explicitly time-dependent simulation tools that can follow the evolution of the system over the macroscopic time-scales of NSR cycles, while simultaneously accounting for the atomic-scale site heterogeneity and spatial distributions at the evolving surface. To meet these challenging demands we will develop a novel multi-scale methodology relying on a multi-lattice first-principles kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) approach. As representative example the simulations will be carried out on a PdO(101)/Pd(100) surface oxide model, but care will be taken to ensure a generalization of the multi-lattice first-principles kMC approach to other systems in which phase transformations may occur and result in a change in the surface lattice structure depending upon environmental variables.
Irrigation in the Yanqi Basin, Sinkiang, China has led to water table rise and soil salination. A model is used to assess management options. These include more irrigation with groundwater, water saving irrigation techniques and others. The model relies on input data from remote sensing.The Yanqi Basin is located in the north-western Chinese province of Xinjiang.This agriculturally highly productive region is heavily irrigated with water drawn from the Kaidu River. The Kaidu River itself is mainly fed by snow and glacier melt from the Tian Mountain surrounding the basin. A very poor drainage system and an overexploitation of surface water have lead to a series of environmental problems: 1. Seepage water under irrigated fields has raised the groundwater table during the last years, causing strongly increased groundwater evaporation. The salt dissolved in the groundwater accumulates at the soil surface as the groundwater evaporates. This soil salinization leads to degradation of vegetation as well as to a loss of arable farmland. 2. The runoff from the Bostan Lake to the downstream Corridor is limited since large amount of water is used for irrigation in the Yanqi Basin. Nowadays, the runoff is maintained by pumping water from the lake to the river. The environmental and ecological system is facing a serious threat.In order to improve the situation in the Yanqi Basin, a jointly funded cooperation has been set up by the Institute of Environmental Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) , China Institute of Geological and Environmental Monitoring (CIGEM) and Xinjiang Agricultural University. The situation could in principle be improved by using groundwater for irrigation, thus lowering the groundwater table and saving unproductive evaporation. However, this is associated with higher cost as groundwater has to be pumped. The major decision variable to steer the system into a desirable state is thus the ratio of irrigation water pumped from the aquifer and irrigation water drawn from the river. The basis to evaluate the ideal ratio between river and groundwater - applied to irrigation - will be a groundwater model combined with models describing the processes of the unsaturated zone. The project will focus on the following aspects of research: (...)
The development of sustainable and efficient energy conversion processes at interfaces is at the center of the rapidly growing field of basic energy science. How successful this challenge can be addressed will ultimately depend on the acquired degree of molecular-level understanding. In this respect, the severe knowledge gap in electro- or photocatalytic conversions compared to corresponding thermal processes in heterogeneous catalysis is staggering. This discrepancy is most blatant in the present status of predictive-quality, viz. first-principles based modelling in the two fields, which largely owes to multifactorial methodological issues connected with the treatment of the electrochemical environment and the description of the surface redox chemistry driven by the photo-excited charges or external potentials.Successfully tackling these complexities will advance modelling methodology in (photo)electrocatalysis to a similar level as already established in heterogeneous catalysis, with an impact that likely even supersedes the one seen there in the last decade. A corresponding method development is the core objective of the present proposal, with particular emphasis on numerically efficient approaches that will ultimately allow to reach comprehensive microkinetic formulations. Synergistically combining the methodological expertise of the two participating groups we specifically aim to implement and advance implicit and mixed implicit/explicit solvation models, as well as QM/MM approaches to describe energy-related processes at solid-liquid interfaces. With the clear objective to develop general-purpose methodology we will illustrate their use with applications to hydrogen generation through water splitting. Disentangling the electro- resp. photocatalytic effect with respect to the corresponding dark reaction, this concerns both the hydrogen evolution reaction at metal electrodes like Pt and direct water splitting at oxide photocatalysts like TiO2. Through this we expect to arrive at a detailed mechanistic understanding that will culminate in the formulation of comprehensive microkinetic models of the light- or potential-driven redox process. Evaluating these models with kinetic Monte Carlo simulations will unambiguously identify the rate-determining and overpotential-creating steps and therewith provide the basis for a rational optimization of the overall process. As such our study will provide a key example of how systematic method development in computational approaches to basic energy sciences leads to breakthrough progress and serves both fundamental understanding and cutting-edge application.
Water repellency (WR) plays a significant role in a large number of soils all over the world. In many regions global warming will lead to drier land surfaces and thus, increasing the likeliness of actual water repellency for such soils. The hydrological effects of WR (surface runoff, water erosion, preferential flow) have been relatively well investigated in the last decades. However, its effect on the energy balance between soil and atmosphere has not been studied yet. We postulate that global warming does not only lead to an increase in WR of soils, but WR has an impact on the energy balance and thus, will lead to a feedback on global warming. In order to test our hypothesis, we want to determine all components of the energy- and water balance between soil and atmosphere for a strongly water repellent soil. As a reference we want to repeat the same measurements for the same soil, at which the WR has been suspended by application of a surfactants. While the laboratory studies aim to give insight into more principle processes, the lysimeter (bare and with plants) and field scale studies shall give information about integrated complex natural processes. The gained knowledge shall be implemented into a numerical simulation tool for modeling water and energy balances in order to predict the effects of WR under different atmospheric conditions and physical soil properties.
One of the fundamental principles in biology is that evolution by natural selection, and therefore the ability of populations to adapt to changing environments, requires heritable variation, i.e. genetically-based variation in phenotypic traits that are under selection. Until recently, such heritable variation was generally thought to require underlying DNA sequence variation. Thus, populations that lack DNA sequence variation were assumed be unable to evolve. However, there is now increasing evidence that epigenetic modifications of the genome, such as DNA methylation or histone modifications - which regulate gene activity and therefore ultimately the phenotype - can be heritable, too, and that there can be epigenetic variation within and among natural populations which is independent of DNA sequence variation. Moreover, epigenetic variation can sometimes be altered direct by the environment, which suggests that such heritable epigenetic variation might be an important and hitherto overlooked component of biodiversity and an additional mechanism for organisms to respond to environmental change. Our project is part of a larger pan-European project (involving partners from the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and France) that attempts to address these exciting questions about the ecological and evolutionary relevance of epigenetic variation and epigenetic inheritance in several connected sub-projects. In our project, we will test the hypothesis that evolution by natural selection can occur even in the absence of DNA sequence variation, based on heritable epigenetic variation only. We will use selection experiments, and a recently developed, unique set of genotypically near-identical but epigenetically distinct recombinant inbred lines (epiRILs) of Arabidopsis thaliana to study epigenetic evolution 'in action'. The specific objectives of our project are (i) to characterise 100+ epiRILs with regard to their drought and pathogen resistance, (ii) to subject replicated experimental populations of these epiRILs to at least 3-4 generations of natural or artificial selection imposed by experimental drought and/or pathogens, and (iii) to quantify the response to this selection both in terms of phenotypic shifts as well as shifts in epigenotype frequencies.
Objective: Space heating accounts for more than 50Prozent of the energy consumption of public & residential buildings, and reduction of this energy demand is a key strategy in the move to low energy/low carbon buildings. The careful management of air flow within a building forms part of this strategy through the control of inlet fresh air and exhaust air, maximising air re-circulation, and minimising the amount of fresh air which is often drawn in through a heat exchanger. However, there is a high risk that the air quality is reduced. Continued exposure to environments with poor air quality is a major public health concern in developed and developing countries. It is estimated that the pollutants responsible for poor air quality cause nearly 2.5 million premature deaths per year world-wide. Significantly, around 1.5 million of these deaths are due to polluted indoor air, and it is suggested that poor indoor air quality may pose a significant health risk to more than half of the world's population. Perhaps surprisingly, remedial action to improve air quality is often easy to implement. Relatively simple measures such as increased air flow through ventilation systems, or a greater proportion of fresh air to re-circulating air are sufficient to improve air quality. Low-energy air purification and detoxification technologies are available which will reduce the concentration of specific pollutants. Similarly, filtration systems (e.g. electrostatic filters) can be switched in to reduce the level of the particulate matter in the air (the principle pollutant responsible for poor health). The INTASENSE concept is to integrate a number of micro- and nano-sensing technologies onto a common detection platform with shared air-handling and pre-conditioning infrastructure to produce a low-cost miniaturised system that can comprehensively measure air quality, and identify the nature and form of pollutants. INTASENSE is a 3-year project which brings together 8 organisations from 5 countries.
Introduction: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change classified SF6 as greenhouse gas, and the Annex I countries are obliged to publish the inventory of SF6 and to reduce emissions. However, survey data show an increasing concentration of SF6 (1), and recent evaluations demonstrate that only 30 Prozent of SF6 emissions are reported (2). Novel regulations and technical development must aim at decreasing SF6 emissions below the natural decomposition rate. For dielectric insulation applications, i.e. in situations where discharges are exceptional, it might be possible to replace SF6 by a different gas or gas mixture. No alternative gas is established, despite an extensive study of the dielectric strength of electron attaching gases in the past (3), (4). As many of the well investigated gases are covered by the Kyoto protocol, new options must be provided by fundamental research. In the present research project, the dielectric strength of alternative gases will be evaluated. There is general agreement, that mixtures of two or more gases are most suitable for replacing SF6 in dielectric insulation applications. Due to 'synergistic effects' the dielectric strength of a mixture can be higher than of pure gases (5), or at least the dielectric strength of a mixture can be higher than the linear combination of the strength of the constituents (6). Various types of synergistic effects have so far been described on the basis of the electron velocity distribution function or on the basis of ion-neutral collisions. Methods: The methods developed for investigating electron attaching gases may be classified to three groups: Phenomenological, macroscopic and microscopic methods. The research strategy of the project at hand is a combination of two established methods. In a Pulsed Townsend Discharge (PTD) experiment the macroscopic parameters of electron-ion swarms in attaching gases are measured. Synergistic effects in gas mixtures will be investigated microscopically by Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The PTD is a traditional method and considerable experience has been gained at the HVL during the years 1980-1990 (7,8). The group of de Urquijo (Mexico) lately used a PTD for studying the alternative gas CF3I (9). In figure 1 the principle of the PTD setup is given. The swarm parameters are obtained from a fit of the analytical expression of the displacement current to the recorded current. Refer to (10) for more details on our swarm parameter experiment SParX. Recently satisfying agreement was achieved between MC simulations and data from PTD experiments (11, 12). The critical issue of these simulations is the availability of a consistent set of cross sections of electron-neutral and ion-neutral collisions. In the present study the output of SParX serves for calibrating the cross sections and the simulations. usw.
Atmospheric CO2 enrichment and climatic warming as well as N deposition affect input and output of carbon and nitrogen in soils. This experiment will assess quasi steady state signals of these fluxes and pools by using experiments by nature , i.e. established gradients of temperature and N input, the major drivers of NPP and the soil C balance. We will test the hypothesis that soil respiration (R) is driven by net primary production rather than temperature (T) per se. We will further test the hypothesis that enhanced nitrogen input (here naturally simulated by stands composed of nitrogen-fixing trees) will facilitate greater carbon sequestration. By selecting topography-driven IPCC T-gradients across identical bedrock chemistry and macroclimate and high vs. low N input (Alnus vs. control) we will thus complement data obtained by other projects which employ shorter-term manipulative tests. The work will be conducted in the Swiss midlands and the Central Alps, in part using existing infrastructure at Furka pass (ALPFOR). Our project accounts for the growing international concern about oversimplistic projections derived from idealized (first principle based) laboratory type response functions to large-scale projections (Körner et al. 2007). Our project leans on theory which had been developed earlier by Raich and Nadelhoffer (1989). However, since the majority of experimental approaches adopt manipulative experiments (for soil warming experiments see the review by Rustad et al. 2001), which will also be adopted within the Swiss COST 639 consortium, we see an urgent need of complementing these studies by works using natural thermal and N-gradients. A lot of reasoning in terms of ecosystem carbon budgets relies on carbon pools. While these are significant and measured in a series of national and international attempts, they are rarely combined with actual flux measurements or vice versa. Our survey will aggregate process rates (litter production, root production, thickness growth of trees, soil CO2-evaluation) and climate, as well as soil data. Our project contributes primarily to the working group 1 agenda of this COST action.
The mission of the TIDE project will be to enhance the broad transfer and take-up of 15 innovative urban transport and mobility concepts throughout Europe and to make a visible contribution to establish them as mainstream measures. The TIDE partners will make a range of new and feasible solutions easily accessible to address key challenges of urban transport such as energy efficiency, decarbonisation, demographic change, safety, access for all and new economic and financial conditions. TIDE will focus on 15 innovative concepts in five thematic clusters: financing models and pricing measures (1), non-motorised transport (2), network and traffic management to support traveller information (3), electric vehicles (4) and public transport organisation (5). Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans will be a horizontal topic to integrate the cluster activities. The project will provide a strong approach in methodology, content and outreach. The needs of practitioners in European cities and regions will be a guiding principle. A particular focus will also be on providing guidance for finding cost-efficient solutions (cost-benefit analysis). The project will refine existing and well proven transferability methodologies and integrate them into an easy to apply handbook. Face-to-Face training and exchange events as well as guidelines and e-learning on how to successfully implement innovative solutions will be the key tools to effectively support a wide range of take-up candidates in overcoming real or perceived barriers to implementation. A broad portfolio of dissemination activities will ensure a high visibility of the project. TIDE will actively support 15 committed cities in developing implementation scenarios. They will demonstrate how to successfully prepare implementation of innovative solutions and provide examples to a wider group of cities. An experienced and committed consortium will ensure that the advanced project approach will achieve a well visible impact.
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