The potential biomass for energy production in the Czech Republic

Biomass production is a promising alternative for the Czech Republic's (CZ) agricultural sector. Biomass could cover the domestic bio-energy demand of 250 PJ a⁻¹ (predicted for 2030), and could be exported as bio-fuels to other EU countries. This study assesses the CZ's biomass production potential on a regional level and provides cost–supply curves for biomass from energy crops and agricultural and forestry residues. Agricultural productivity and the amount of land available for energy crop production are key variables in determining biomass potentials. Six scenarios for 2030 with different crop-yield levels, feed conversion efficiencies and land allocation procedures were built. The demand for food and fodder production was derived from FAO predictions for 2030. Biomass potential in the CZ is mainly determined by the development of food and fodder crop yields because the amount of land available for energy crop production increases with increasing productivity of food and fodder crops. In most scenarios the NUTS-3 regions CZ020, 31 and 32 provided the most land for energy-crop production and the highest biomass potentials. About 110 PJ a⁻¹, mostly from agricultural and forestry residues, can be provided from biomass when the present Czech agricultural productivity is maintained. About 195 PJ a⁻¹ (105 PJ from energy crops) can be provided when production systems are optimised with regard to fertilizer regimes and 365 PJ a⁻¹ (290 PJ from energy crops) when the yield level of Dutch agriculture is reached. Costs for woody biomass decrease with increasing plantation yield and range between 2.58 and 4.76 € GJ⁻¹. It was concluded that Czech agriculture could provide enough biomass for domestic demand and for export if agricultural productivity is increased.     

先锋植物修复介导的根际微域对铅锌冶炼废渣中重金属的形态分异特性影响

为研究金属冶炼废渣堆场内典型先锋草本植物对废渣养分及重金属形态的影响,以开展植被重建5年的铅锌冶炼废渣堆场上先锋草本植物（三叶草,Trifoliumrepens;黑麦草,Loliumperenne）根际微域为研究对象,分析在生态修复过程中两种草本植物根际微域不同粒径废渣（<0.25、0.25~0.5、0.5~1、1~2、2~5、>5 mm）中重金属含量与赋存形态及养分的分异特征。结果表明:废渣内植物养分主要分布在<1 mm的小粒径废渣中;植物根际与非根际废渣中有机质与全氮含量总体上随废渣粒径增加呈先升高后降低的趋势,而有效氮、有效磷含量则随废渣粒径增加呈降低趋势;两种草本植物对废渣养分的改善效果主要表现为三叶草>黑麦草>对照,并表现出明显的根际效应（根际>非根际）。两种植物修复作用显著影响废渣重金属含量及其赋存形态在不同粒径中的分布:（1）三叶草根际废渣Pb、Cu含量显著低于对照,并促使Cd向残渣态转化;（2）黑麦草根际不同粒径废渣Cu、Cd含量发生再分配,在细小粒径（<0.5 mm）废渣中的含量显著降低;（3）两种植物根际废渣酸可溶解态Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn的比例明显降低,且比例随废渣粒径增加而上升。综上,三叶草和黑麦草作为废渣堆场生态修复的先锋植物,可为外来优势植物的自然定居创造良好的植生条件,并对细小粒径废渣扩散迁移生态风险的控制具有重要意义。      

Applying the building energy simulation test (BESTEST) diagnostic method to verification of space conditioning equipment models used in whole-building energy simulation programs

Validation of building energy simulation programs consists of a combination of empirical validation, analytical verification, and comparative analysis techniques. An analytical verification and comparative diagnostic procedure was developed to test the ability of whole-building simulation programs to model the performance of unitary space-cooling equipment that is typically modeled using manufacturer design data presented as empirically derived performance maps. This procedure is based on the International Energy Agency (IEA) building energy simulation test (BESTEST) diagnostic method and systematically tests whole-building energy simulation software by comparing results from such software to analytical solutions that were developed for the test cases. Field trials of the new procedure were conducted by researchers from nations participating in the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC) Programme Task 22, using a number of detailed hourly simulation programs from Europe and the US, including: CA-SIS, CLIM2000, ENERGYPLUS, PROMETHEUS, TRNSYS-TUD, and two versions of DOE-2.1E. This article also includes discussion about simulation validation methodologies.     

Towards a methodology for mapping ‘regions for sustainability’ using PPGIS

There is debate about the problems of communication between scientists, planners and stakeholder, and the scale at which environmental planning should take place. A review of the literature reveals that the concept of holistic landscape ecology is gaining ground in the scientific community. It also becomes clear that participation by stakeholders is not only important in satisfying the requirements of Agenda 21 but also of ensuring cooperation by local inhabitants in the final plan. Moreover, participation is becoming accepted as a vehicle for the planners to gain access to local knowledge, which is a vital complement to scientific knowledge. The challenge is to create a methodology that will overcome the shortfalls currently encountered and allow participants to be proactive in their definition of their landscape. This is possible by extending the experiments in public participation geographical information systems so long as care is taken to overcome problems in public unfamiliarity with the technology. The purpose of this paper is to draw together research in the fields of landscape ecology and planning to enable the formulation of a methodology for achieving greater and more proactive input in participation. The methodology proposed is currently actionable and this paper also points to the potential for a new emphasis in research.     

Relation between landform and vegetation in alpine regions of Wallis,Switzerland. A multiscale remote sensing and GIS approach

The analysis of habitat factors for the distribution of vegetation based on the analysis of landform characteristics is an important aspect in the process of understanding high mountain ecology. Therefore in the present study a GIS and remote sensing based approach is followed to produce different scale vegetation maps for a study area in the Western Alps (Switzerland). As spatial information on site factors is commonly lacking in mountain areas, the use of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a potential substitute for use in vegetation analyses, as it highly correlates with temperature, moisture, geomorphological processes and disturbance factors. Thus it is crucial to analyse the capabilities of a DEM for indicating habitat conditions in a landscape characterised by high topodiversity and a patchwork of microclimatic habitats. Appropriate landform parameters have been derived, indicating temperature and moisture distribution, exposure towards wind, snow etc. Using contingency tables and principal components analysis the overall influence of topography and landform on vegetation distribution was analysed. Nevertheless, the lack of information on the human dimension leads to some uncertainties in the interpretation of spatial patterns of vegetation. Additionally landform classification schemes decomposing the landscape into basic landform-elements only proved useful for characterising azonal, non-altitudinal vegetation classes.