Adaptation of urban water supply infrastructure to impacts from climate and socioeconomic changes: The case of Hamilton,New Zealand

While the relations between climate variables and sectoral water demand have been well established in the literature, few studies have attempted to quantify changes in urban water usage with climate change. Concentrating on the city of Hamilton, New Zealand, we investigate possible water use and infrastructure needs for a range of climate and population projections. We find that water demand (at the monthly aggregate level) is largely driven by changes in population, and not significantly affected by changes in climate. However, as population increases, the effect of climate variables on per capita consumption will be magnified. Monthly aggregate changes may further mask potenially significant short-term shortages. In several scenarios, water supply shortages in 2030 occur with a 30--40% probability, suggesting needs for long-term capacity expansion or aggressive demand side management, rather than implementation of short-term management of water demand.     

Use of mesohabitat‐specific relationships between flow velocity and river discharge to assess invertebrate minimum flow requirements

The benthic macroinvertebrate community in the sixth order lowland River Spree (Germany) was investigated in order to assess ecological effects of a flow reduction. The benthic habitat was composed of visually distinguishable mesohabitats. Eight mesohabitats were delineated, Dreissena‐bank, unionid mussel bed, rip‐rap, coarse woody debris (CWD), alder roots, stable sand, shifting sand and mud. The mesohabitats differed in their physical structure and hydraulic nature. These functional habitats were partly inhabited by distinct invertebrate assemblages. The use of mesohabitat‐specific relationships between flow velocity and discharge seemed the most appropriate approach in order to assess the impact of flow reduction on lotic fauna. In combination with the species‐specific optima and tolerances for flow velocity, this approach can be used to develop a minimum flow level that mitigates the effects of flow reduction and enables the persistence of rheophilic invertebrates in their specific mesohabitat. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Energetic Improvements by N-Oxidation: Insensitive Amino-Hydroximoyl-Tetrazole-2N-Oxides

5-Aminohydroximoyl-2-hydroxytetrazole (3) was synthesized in a three-step synthesis from inexpensive starting materials. This novel tetrazole derivative contains two energetic moieties: an N-oxide as well as an aminohydroximoyl group. Various energetic nitrogen-rich salts such as hydroxylammonium (4), guanidinium (5), aminoguanidinium (6), ammonium (7), and triaminoguanidinium (8) were synthesized. Moreover, zwitterionic 5-amidrazonyl-tetrazole-2-oxide monohydrate (9) was synthesized. Compounds 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10 were structurally characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Additionally, all new compounds were characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and vibrational (infrared [IR], Raman) spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The thermal behavior was studied using differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements and the sensitivities of the compounds toward shock, friction, and electrostatic discharge were determined. Finally, the enthalpies of formation were calculated (atomization method, CBS-4 M enthalpies) and several detonation/propulsion parameters computed with the EXPLO5 code.     

When do increasing carbon taxes accelerate global warming? A note on the green paradox

The “green paradox” by Hans–Werner Sinn suggests that increasing resource taxes accelerate global warming because resource owners increase near-term extraction in fear of higher future taxation. In this note we show that this effect does only occur for the specific set of carbon taxes that increase at a rate higher than the effective discount rate of the resource owners. We calculate a critical initial value for the carbon tax that leads to a decreased cumulative consumption over the entire (infinite) time horizon. Applying our formal findings to carbon taxes for several mitigation targets, we conclude that there is a low risk of a green paradox in case the regulator implements and commits to a permanently mal-adjusted tax. This remaining risk can be avoided by emissions trading scheme as suggested by Sinn—as long as the emission caps are set appropriately and the intertemporal permit market works correctly.     

Variable temperature neutron diffraction studies of single crystals of LiND2

We have synthesized a single crystal of lithium amide (LiNH₂, LiND₂) by melting method, and performed neutron diffraction of the single crystal at variable temperature. LiND₂ is tetragonal structure and I-4 space group. Lattice parameters and unit cell volume of LiND₂ at room temperature, 50 °C, 100 °C, 150 °C and 200 °C were determined. Both of the lattice parameters and the unit cell volume increase with increase of temperature. From these results, we have estimated coefficient of volumetric thermal expansion α_V of LiND₂ to be 222 × 10⁻⁶/K. With increase of temperature, all thermal ellipsoids gradually expand because of thermal vibration.     

Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow over a Single Disk in a Fluid Rotating as a Rigid Body

Laminar heat transfer problem is analyzed for a disk rotating with the angular speed ωin a co-rotating fluid (with the angular speed Ω). The fluid is swirled in accordance with a forced-vortex law, it rotates as a solid body at β= Ω/ω= const. Radial variation of the disk's surface temperature follows a power law. An exact numerical solution of the problem is obtained basing on the self-similar profiles of the local temperature of fluid, its static pressure and velocity components. Numerical computations were done at the Prandtl numbers Pr = 1(?)0.71. It is shown that with increasing βboth radial and tangential components of shear stresses decrease, and to zero value at β= 1. Nusselt number is practically constant at β= 0(?) 0.3 (and even has a point of a maximum in this region); Nu decrease noticeably for larger βvalues.     

Species‐specific fish larvae drift in anthropogenically constructed riparian zones on the Vienna impoundment of the River Danube,Austria: Species occurrence,frequencies, and seasonal patterns based on DNA barcoding

As a result of river regulations over several centuries, followed by restoration measures in recent decades, most of the River Danube shoreline is man‐made, primarily riprap, but some reconstructed gravel banks and riparian side arms. We investigated the effects of these different structures on fish larval dispersal over a 20‐km stretch in Vienna via the use of drift nets. The habitats examined were created 18 years ago when the impoundment of the Danube hydropower station Vienna/Freudenau was constructed. About 15,000 fish larvae were trapped, and a subsample was determined to species level by DNA barcoding. In total, 26 different species were detected, including 10 species that are endangered or in danger of extinction. When species composition was considered, cyprinids become dominant at sites downstream of gravel bars, whereas in riprap sections, the majority of the larvae consist of invasive Gobiidae. Side arm habitats provide spawning and nursery grounds for additional species. Furthermore, clear species‐related seasonal patterns were observed with peak densities and multiple spawning periods of some species being recorded. The largest peak of Percidae occurred in the first half of May, followed by Cyprinidae at the end of May and Gobiidae in mid‐June.     

Green hydropower: a new assessment procedure for river management

Hydropower is the most important renewable electricity source worldwide. It shows clear advantages for the global CO₂ balance but creates serious ecological impacts on a local scale. As a consequence, concern for the conservation of natural river ecosystems is growing within society and more people are willing to pay extra for so‐called ‘green electricity’. The definition of ‘green’, however, is not straightforward and customers cannot directly examine the quality of electricity products. Therefore, credible certification of high ecological standards is essential for successful green electricity marketing. In this paper we introduce a new assessment procedure for evaluating environmentally compatible hydropower production. This so‐called ‘Green Hydro’ concept was developed in the context of a multidisciplinary case study on a 400 MW hydropower scheme in the Southern Alps of Switzerland. The concept guarantees both general standards for different schemes operating in different types of watersheds and flexibility for local particularities. We developed an environmental management matrix that considers basic criteria and eco‐investments and covers five environmental areas of concern (i.e. hydrological character, connectivity, morphology, landscape, and biological communities). The ecological perspective is complemented by five management domains (i.e. instream flow regimes, hydropeaking, reservoir and bedload management, and power plant structures). Applying assessment and modelling tools for the Green Hydro procedure showed that dynamic habitat models allowed quantification of the effects of different instream flow regulations at morphologically distinct sites. In this case, morphological restoration could be more beneficial than increasing the minimum flow. The first experience with the Green Hydro certification is encouraging. So far, 13 facilities have successfully passed the certification procedure. They produce a total of 186 GWh green electricity per year, which is sufficient for the supply of almost 40 000 households in Switzerland. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Einfaches und spezifisches HPLC-Verfahren zur Bestimmung von Cyclamat in fruchtsafthaltigen Getr?nken nach Derivatisierung zu N,N-Dichlorcyclohexylamin

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine HPLC-Methode zur Bestimmung von Cyclamat in fruchtsafthaltigen Getränken vorgestellt, welche auf der Umsetzung von Cyclamat zuN,N-Dichlorcyclohexylamin beruht. Die HPLC-Analyse erfolgt an einer RP 18-Trennsäule mit Hilfe der Detektion bei 314 nm. Es lassen sich Gehalte von 10 bis 800 mg/1 mit einer relativen Standardabweichung von weniger als 2% analysieren. Bei verschiedenen fruchtsafthaltigen Getränken lag die Wiederfmdungsrate für Cyclamat bei 96 bis 99%. Die Einfachheit und Schnelligkeit (Gesamtanalysenzeit ca. 30 min) lassen die Methode insbesondere für die Routineanalytik geeignet erscheinen. Daneben wird eine Methode zur Isolierung von Cyclamat mittels Festphasenextraktion an Amino-Anionenaustauscher beschrieben.

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Simple and specific HPLC procedure for determination of cyclamate in fruit juice beverages after conversion to N,N-dichlorcyclohexylamine

Summary A high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure for the determination of cyclamate in fruit juice beverages is described, which depends on the conversion of cyclamate toN,N-dichlorcyclohexylamine. For HPLC analysis an RP 18 separation system with detection at 314 nm is used. Contents of 10 to 800 mg/L can be detected in about 30 min with a relative standard deviation of less than 2%. Recovery of cyclamate from several fruit juice beverages amounts to 96–99%. This simple and rapid method seems to be very well suited for routine analysis. A method for solid-phase extraction of cyclamate with amino-anion-exchange columns is also presented.

     

Analysis of the diffusive mass transport in the anode side porous backing layer of a direct methanol fuel cell

In this work we present an analysis of the mass transport in the anode side porous backing layer of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The effective transport coefficient of different backing layers at various compressions was measured and compared to two different literature models and a single particle random walk simulation which accounts for details of the geometrical fibre microstructure. Based on the measured values of the effective transport coefficient limiting current densities for diffusive transport were calculated taking into account geometric boundary conditions and anisotropic and inhomogeneous backing layer properties. Comparison with the measured values for the limiting current in fuel cell operation shows qualitative agreement. A systematic underestimation indicates that also other transport processes contribute significantly to the mass transfer at the used experimental setup.