城門郊野公園錄得超過120種蝴蝶
(星島) 09月 30日 星期日 11:48AM
環境局局長邱騰華 出席「蜆殼綠趣遊蹤－尋找蝴蝶」之「蜆殼觀蝶日」時表示，城門郊野公園內共錄得超過120種蝴蝶，當中超過90種在蝴蝶園 內找到。邱騰華指出，政府一向都致力保育生態環境免受侵
害，對蝴蝶而言，理想的棲息環境更為重要。就以城門郊野公園為例，漁農自然護理署 除在公園範圍內建立了蝴蝶園，更種植了蜜源植物和幼蟲寄主植物，目的是為稀有的蝴蝶及其幼蟲提供合適的棲息及繁殖地方。在保育蝴蝶的同時，也讓大家一同享受賞蝶的樂趣。現時，城門郊野公園內共錄得超過120種蝴蝶，當中超過90種在蝴蝶園內找到，定能滿足各位觀蝶愛好者的眼福；而各位攝影發燒友亦會大有收穫。香港雖然面積不大，但卻擁有豐富的蝴蝶品種，十分適宜進行觀蝶活動。為保育蝴蝶，漁護署 在多個重要的蝴蝶棲息地點進行定期監察，了解蝴蝶生態狀況和優化生境。此外，對於金裳鳳蝶、紅珠鳳蝶和紅鋸蛺蝶等稀有品種，漁護署更制定保育計劃，確保它們得到全面的保護。另一方面，政府亦與環保團體保持緊密的合作，例如於2005年開展的「自然保育管理協議試驗計劃」，便是其中一項以保育大埔 鳳園的蝴蝶及其生境為目標的計劃，成效相當顯著。有見及此，環境及自然保育基金委員會已同意撥款，延續有關管理協議計劃。該計劃現正接受申請，歡迎各非政府機構提交建議，在須優先加強保育的地點推行保育工作。他又稱，今年的「蜆殼綠趣遊蹤 －尋找蝴蝶」活動已是第4年舉辦，主辦機構每年都新猷不斷，無論是前年的「影蝶大賽」、去年的「蝴蝶兵團」，以至今年的「觀蝶路線選舉」，主辦機構都投入大量資源。今年有超過6000名市民投下選票，選出「香港最佳觀蝶路線」，可見這項活動深受歡迎。
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Amazonian forest 'more resilient'
Amazonian forest 'more resilient'
The Amazon rainforest may be more resistant to rising temperatures than has been believed.
Researchers found that during the 2005 drought, many parts of the rainforest "greened", apparently growing faster.
This finding contrasts with some computer models of climate change, which forecast that the Amazon would dry out and become savannah.
Writing in the journal Science, the researchers say it is unclear how the forest would respond to a long drought.
"We measured the changes between the drought (of July to September 2005) and an average year," explained study leader Scott Saleska from the University of Arizona, Tucson, US.
Some of the models, in particular the Hadley Centre group, became famous for predicting collapse of the Amazon and a change into savannah
Scott Saleska
"And what we saw was that there was more photosynthesis going on, more capacity to take up carbon dioxide than in an average year," he told the BBC News website.
The scientists used the Modis (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) instrument on the US space agency's (Nasa) Terra satellite to make their observations.
Some areas of the Amazon had seen reduced growth during the drought, but these were regions heavily impacted by human activities.
Clear skies
It has been thought that stressed trees in drought conditions would try to preserve their water by reducing loss through leaves (transpiration), with this shut-down having a consequent knock-on for photosynthesis.
This, in turn, would be expected to exacerbate the drought by interrupting the supply of water into the atmosphere, a supply which contributes to rainfall.
"Some of the models, in particular the Hadley Centre group (part of the UK Met Office), became famous for predicting collapse of the Amazon and a change into savannah," said Dr Saleska.
"There's a prompt response to the initial drought: trees down (transpiration), they release less water to the atmosphere so there's less to recycle as rain; and in that model world, it pushes the forest over the edge.
"We've tested whether that mechanism is there, and found it's not there on a short timescale. That doesn't mean the forest won't collapse, but it says that the scenario in that model is not right in that particular [situation]."
Although increased photosynthesis in drought conditions might appear counter-intuitive, the group said it could be explained if the trees were still able to access water reserves with deep root systems.
Persistent bright skies during a drought would allow more sunlight through to the leaves, driving photosynthesis and leading to the "greening" seen from space.
Model refinement
Chris Jones from the UK's Hadley Centre for Climate Change commended the study, and said it demonstrated the importance of using real-world observations to challenge and fine-tune the models.
He added that the Hadley and Saleska teams were sharing data.
The British researcher agreed that the satellite images showed up the short-term constraints of the Hadley model, but did not overturn the long-term predictions of his group.
"The key thing here is that the tree roots access water deeper than is often represented in models," he told BBC News.
"In most models, including ours, this goes down to about three metres, which for most of the world's vegetation is fine. But these (Amazon) trees can clearly go deeper than that, so while our model predicts they would suffer during a couple of months of drought, in reality they have access to a much deeper store which doesn't respond on that timescale."
He said, however, that a climatic shift to longer and more frequent drought conditions would eventually diminish the deep-water stores, and make the trees suffer.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/7003788.stm
Published: 2007/09/24 13:53:35 GMT
© BBC MMVII
Lovelock urges ocean climate fix
Lovelock urges ocean climate fix
By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website
Two of Britain's leading environmental thinkers say it is time to develop a quick technical fix for climate change.
Writing in the journal Nature, Science Museum head Chris Rapley and Gaia theorist James Lovelock suggest looking at boosting ocean take-up of CO2.
Their idea, already being investigated by a US firm, involves huge flotillas of vertical pipes in the tropical seas.
The two scientists say they doubt that existing plans for curbing carbon emissions can work quickly enough.
The stakes are terribly high
James Lovelock
"We are taking the very strong line that we are not going to save the planet by the regular approaches like the Kyoto Protocol or renewable energy," Professor Lovelock told BBC News.
"What we have to do is to look at it in a systems sense, or a Gaian sense, and see if it's curable by direct action."
Natural cycles
Professor Rapley, who has just moved to head up the Science Museum from a similar post at the British Antarctic survey, said the two men developed the ocean pipes concept during country walks in James Lovelock's beloved Devon.
It's worth investigating these kinds of ideas, but premature to start deploying them
Ken Caldeira
Unbeknown to them, a US company, Atmocean, had already begun trials of a very similar technology.
Floating pipes reaching down from the top of the ocean into colder water below move up and down with the swell.
As the pipe moves down, cold water flows up and out onto the ocean surface. A simple valve blocks any downward flow when the pipe is moving upwards.
Colder water is more "productive" - it contains more life, and so in principle can absorb more carbon.
One of the life-forms that might benefit, Atmocean believes, is the salp, a tiny tube which excretes carbon in its solid faecal pellets, which descend to the ocean floor, perhaps storing the carbon away for millennia.
Atmocean CEO Phil Kithil has calculated that deploying about 134 million pipes could potentially sequester about one-third of the carbon dioxide produced by human activities each year. But he acknowledges that research is in the early stages.
"There is much yet to be learned," he told BBC News. "We need not only to move towards the final design and size (of the pipes), but also to characterise the ecological effects.
"The problem we would be most concerned about would be acidification. We're bringing up higher levels of CO2 along with the nutrients, so it all has to be analysed as to the net carbon balance and the net carbon flux."
Atmocean deployed experimental tubes earlier this year and gathered engineering data. The pipes brought cold water to the surface from a depth of 200m, but no research has yet been done on whether this approach has any net impact on greenhouse gas levels.
The company says a further advantage of cooling surface waters in regions such as the Gulf of Mexico could be a reduction in the number of hurricanes, which need warm water in order to form.
And Professors Lovelock and Rapley suggest that the ocean pipes could also stimulate growth of algae that produce dimethyl sulphide (DMS), a chemical which helps clouds form above the ocean, reflecting sunlight away from the Earth's surface and bringing a further cooling.
Ethical fix
In recent years, scientists have developed a wide range of technical "geo-engineering" ideas for curbing global warming.
Seeding the ocean with iron filings to stimulate plankton growth, putting sunshades in space, and firing sulphate aerosols into the atmosphere from a giant cannon have all been proposed; the iron filings idea has been extensively tested.
But the whole idea of pursuing these "technical fixes" is controversial.
There's evidence that the Earth's response to climate change might be going faster than people have predicted
Chris Rapley
"One has to understand what the consequences of doing these things are," commented Ken Caldeira from the Carnegie Institution at Stanford University in California, who has published a number of analyses of geo-engineering technologies.
"There are scientific questions of safety and efficacy; then there are the broader ethical, social and political dimensions, and one of the most disturbing is that if people start getting the idea that technical fixes are available and cheaper than curbing carbon emissions, then people might start relying on them as an alternative to curbing emissions.
"So I think it's worth investigating these kinds of ideas, but premature to start deploying them."
Chris Rapley does not believe ideas like the ocean pipes are complete answers to man-made global warming, but may buy time while society develops a more comprehensive response.
"It's encouraging to see how much serious effort is going into technical attempts to reduce carbon emissions, and the renewed commitment to finding an international agreement," he said.
"But in the meantime, there's evidence that the Earth's response to climate change might be going faster than people have predicted. The dramatic loss of ice in the Arctic, for example, poses a serious concern for the northern hemisphere climate."
High stakes
Professor Rapley said the letter to Nature, one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals, was intended to get people thinking about the concept of technical fixes rather than just to advocate ocean pipes.
"If you think of how the science community has organised itself," he said, "with the World Climate Research Programme, the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, International Polar Year and so on - you've got all this intensive interdisciplinary collaboration figuring out what Earth systems are up to and figuring out how they work, but we don't have a similar network working across the entire piece as to what we can actually do to mitigate and adapt."
He said there was a need for some sort of global collaboration to explore potential climate-fixing technologies.
"Geo-engineering is one of the types of thing that are worth investigating," opined Ken Caldeira, "and yes, the amount of effort going into thinking of innovative solutions is far too little.
"If we can generate 100 ideas, and 97 are bad and we land up with 3 good ones, then the whole thing will have been worthwhile; so I applaud Lovelock and Rapley for thinking along these lines."
He observed that human emissions of greenhouse gases are bringing huge changes to natural ecosystems anyway, so there was nothing morally difficult in principle about deliberately altering the same natural ecosystems to curb climatic change.
But changing patterns of ocean life could potentially have major consequences for marine species. Whales that feed on krill, for example, could find their favourite food displaced by salps.
These would all have to be investigated, James Lovelock acknowledged.
But, he said, it is time to start. "There may be all sorts of ecological consequences, but the stakes are terribly high."
HOW THE PUMPS MIGHT WORK
1. Buoy: Helps hold the pump in position
2. Pump: James Lovelock believes the tubes would be about 100m long to access deep cold water, and 10m wide; Phil Kithil thinks 200m long and 3m wide could be optimum
3. Valve: Could be at the top or bottom of the pipe; top perhaps preferable for maintenance. Water is drawn through the open valve on wave down slopes; no external power needed
4. Cold water: On wave up slopes, cool water spills out of the pump
5. Pump sites: Locations could also be chosen to reduce hurricane risk by cooling surface waters
Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/7014503.stm
Published: 2007/09/26 17:01:53 GMT
© BBC MMVII
By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website
Two of Britain's leading environmental thinkers say it is time to develop a quick technical fix for climate change.
Writing in the journal Nature, Science Museum head Chris Rapley and Gaia theorist James Lovelock suggest looking at boosting ocean take-up of CO2.
Their idea, already being investigated by a US firm, involves huge flotillas of vertical pipes in the tropical seas.
The two scientists say they doubt that existing plans for curbing carbon emissions can work quickly enough.
The stakes are terribly high
James Lovelock
"We are taking the very strong line that we are not going to save the planet by the regular approaches like the Kyoto Protocol or renewable energy," Professor Lovelock told BBC News.
"What we have to do is to look at it in a systems sense, or a Gaian sense, and see if it's curable by direct action."
Natural cycles
Professor Rapley, who has just moved to head up the Science Museum from a similar post at the British Antarctic survey, said the two men developed the ocean pipes concept during country walks in James Lovelock's beloved Devon.
It's worth investigating these kinds of ideas, but premature to start deploying them
Ken Caldeira
Unbeknown to them, a US company, Atmocean, had already begun trials of a very similar technology.
Floating pipes reaching down from the top of the ocean into colder water below move up and down with the swell.
As the pipe moves down, cold water flows up and out onto the ocean surface. A simple valve blocks any downward flow when the pipe is moving upwards.
Colder water is more "productive" - it contains more life, and so in principle can absorb more carbon.
One of the life-forms that might benefit, Atmocean believes, is the salp, a tiny tube which excretes carbon in its solid faecal pellets, which descend to the ocean floor, perhaps storing the carbon away for millennia.
Atmocean CEO Phil Kithil has calculated that deploying about 134 million pipes could potentially sequester about one-third of the carbon dioxide produced by human activities each year. But he acknowledges that research is in the early stages.
"There is much yet to be learned," he told BBC News. "We need not only to move towards the final design and size (of the pipes), but also to characterise the ecological effects.
"The problem we would be most concerned about would be acidification. We're bringing up higher levels of CO2 along with the nutrients, so it all has to be analysed as to the net carbon balance and the net carbon flux."
Atmocean deployed experimental tubes earlier this year and gathered engineering data. The pipes brought cold water to the surface from a depth of 200m, but no research has yet been done on whether this approach has any net impact on greenhouse gas levels.
The company says a further advantage of cooling surface waters in regions such as the Gulf of Mexico could be a reduction in the number of hurricanes, which need warm water in order to form.
And Professors Lovelock and Rapley suggest that the ocean pipes could also stimulate growth of algae that produce dimethyl sulphide (DMS), a chemical which helps clouds form above the ocean, reflecting sunlight away from the Earth's surface and bringing a further cooling.
Ethical fix
In recent years, scientists have developed a wide range of technical "geo-engineering" ideas for curbing global warming.
Seeding the ocean with iron filings to stimulate plankton growth, putting sunshades in space, and firing sulphate aerosols into the atmosphere from a giant cannon have all been proposed; the iron filings idea has been extensively tested.
But the whole idea of pursuing these "technical fixes" is controversial.
There's evidence that the Earth's response to climate change might be going faster than people have predicted
Chris Rapley
"One has to understand what the consequences of doing these things are," commented Ken Caldeira from the Carnegie Institution at Stanford University in California, who has published a number of analyses of geo-engineering technologies.
"There are scientific questions of safety and efficacy; then there are the broader ethical, social and political dimensions, and one of the most disturbing is that if people start getting the idea that technical fixes are available and cheaper than curbing carbon emissions, then people might start relying on them as an alternative to curbing emissions.
"So I think it's worth investigating these kinds of ideas, but premature to start deploying them."
Chris Rapley does not believe ideas like the ocean pipes are complete answers to man-made global warming, but may buy time while society develops a more comprehensive response.
"It's encouraging to see how much serious effort is going into technical attempts to reduce carbon emissions, and the renewed commitment to finding an international agreement," he said.
"But in the meantime, there's evidence that the Earth's response to climate change might be going faster than people have predicted. The dramatic loss of ice in the Arctic, for example, poses a serious concern for the northern hemisphere climate."
High stakes
Professor Rapley said the letter to Nature, one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals, was intended to get people thinking about the concept of technical fixes rather than just to advocate ocean pipes.
"If you think of how the science community has organised itself," he said, "with the World Climate Research Programme, the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, International Polar Year and so on - you've got all this intensive interdisciplinary collaboration figuring out what Earth systems are up to and figuring out how they work, but we don't have a similar network working across the entire piece as to what we can actually do to mitigate and adapt."
He said there was a need for some sort of global collaboration to explore potential climate-fixing technologies.
"Geo-engineering is one of the types of thing that are worth investigating," opined Ken Caldeira, "and yes, the amount of effort going into thinking of innovative solutions is far too little.
"If we can generate 100 ideas, and 97 are bad and we land up with 3 good ones, then the whole thing will have been worthwhile; so I applaud Lovelock and Rapley for thinking along these lines."
He observed that human emissions of greenhouse gases are bringing huge changes to natural ecosystems anyway, so there was nothing morally difficult in principle about deliberately altering the same natural ecosystems to curb climatic change.
But changing patterns of ocean life could potentially have major consequences for marine species. Whales that feed on krill, for example, could find their favourite food displaced by salps.
These would all have to be investigated, James Lovelock acknowledged.
But, he said, it is time to start. "There may be all sorts of ecological consequences, but the stakes are terribly high."
HOW THE PUMPS MIGHT WORK
1. Buoy: Helps hold the pump in position
2. Pump: James Lovelock believes the tubes would be about 100m long to access deep cold water, and 10m wide; Phil Kithil thinks 200m long and 3m wide could be optimum
3. Valve: Could be at the top or bottom of the pipe; top perhaps preferable for maintenance. Water is drawn through the open valve on wave down slopes; no external power needed
4. Cold water: On wave up slopes, cool water spills out of the pump
5. Pump sites: Locations could also be chosen to reduce hurricane risk by cooling surface waters
Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/7014503.stm
Published: 2007/09/26 17:01:53 GMT
© BBC MMVII
Thursday, September 27, 2007
觀塘兒童心肺病遠超沙田 能見度低日子佔全年50％ 污染物增 (明報) 09月 25日 星期二 05:10AM
【明報專訊】本港空氣污染問題近年備受關注，可持續發展委員會引用研究指出，每立方米空氣中各項污染物的總量每增加10毫克，市民患上各類污染影響兒童心肺功能，與空氣質素相對較佳的沙田 區比較，在污染情惡劣的觀塘區生活的兒童，罹患各類呼級疾病的機會較高，相差幅度由31%至98%不等。
可持續發展委員會在今年6月開始就未來空氣改善措施進行為期3個月的諮詢，截至上周五共接獲2萬多份回應，諮詢期將於下月中屆滿，結果將於12月公布。
空氣改善諮詢逾2萬份回應
身為委員會更佳空氣質素支援小組成員的譚一翔指出，本港能見度偏低的日子，已由10年前佔全年15％，大幅增至目前50％。當空氣中污染物數量增加，因患呼吸道疾病而死亡、入院及引致哮喘 個案數目，亦隨之上升。
譚一翔指出，空氣中有可吸入懸浮粒子、氮氧化物、二氧化硫等不同污染物，中大和港大多項研究顯示，每立方米空氣中各項污染物的總量每增加10毫克，市民患上各類呼吸疾病引致死亡的機會，會增加0.8％至3.4％。研究發現，在每立方米空氣中，二氧化硫每增加10毫克，因心臟病 引致的死亡率便增加2.8％；臭氧每增加10毫克，市民入院個案會增加2.2％。
2000年訪問數千兒童
本身為兒科醫生的譚一翔表示，中大在2000年一項有關空氣污染影響兒童心肺功能的研究，調查了數千名兒童，發現沙田區（低污染地區）兒童心肺功能較觀塘區（高污染地區）兒童為佳，兩者心肺功能指數，分別為29.9和27.8。
若以發病情計，觀塘區兒童患各項呼吸系統症狀較沙田區兒童為多，除鼻敏感及支氣管炎外，餘下8項呼吸系統症狀均以觀塘區兒童為多，多出比率由31%至98%不等。
譚一翔表示，呼吸道疾病是兒童較易患上的疾病，但近年未見明顯上升趨勢。對於近期有學校因空氣污染嚴重而更改運動會時間和日期，譚一翔表示，這反映了本港空氣問題嚴重。
Last Updated: Monday, 24 September 2007, 13:53 GMT 14:53 UK
Amazonian forest 'more resilient'
The Amazon rainforest may be more resistant to rising temperatures than has been believed.
Researchers found that during the 2005 drought, many parts of the rainforest "greened", apparently growing faster.
This finding contrasts with some computer models of climate change, which forecast that the Amazon would dry out and become savannah.
Writing in the journal Science, the researchers say it is unclear how the forest would respond to a long drought.
"We measured the changes between the drought (of July to September 2005) and an average year," explained study leader Scott Saleska from the University of Arizona, Tucson, US.
"And what we saw was that there was more photosynthesis going on, more capacity to take up carbon dioxide than in an average year," he told the BBC News website.
The scientists used the Modis (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) instrument on the US space agency's (Nasa) Terra satellite to make their observations.
Some areas of the Amazon had seen reduced growth during the drought, but these were regions heavily impacted by human activities.
Clear skies
It has been thought that stressed trees in drought conditions would try to preserve their water by reducing loss through leaves (transpiration), with this shut-down having a consequent knock-on for photosynthesis.
This, in turn, would be expected to exacerbate the drought by interrupting the supply of water into the atmosphere, a supply which contributes to rainfall.
"Some of the models, in particular the Hadley Centre group (part of the UK Met Office), became famous for predicting collapse of the Amazon and a change into savannah," said Dr Saleska.
"There's a prompt response to the initial drought: trees down (transpiration), they release less water to the atmosphere so there's less to recycle as rain; and in that model world, it pushes the forest over the edge.
"We've tested whether that mechanism is there, and found it's not there on a short timescale. That doesn't mean the forest won't collapse, but it says that the scenario in that model is not right in that particular [situation]."
Although increased photosynthesis in drought conditions might appear counter-intuitive, the group said it could be explained if the trees were still able to access water reserves with deep root systems.
Persistent bright skies during a drought would allow more sunlight through to the leaves, driving photosynthesis and leading to the "greening" seen from space.
Model refinement
Chris Jones from the UK's Hadley Centre for Climate Change commended the study, and said it demonstrated the importance of using real-world observations to challenge and fine-tune the models.
He added that the Hadley and Saleska teams were sharing data.
The British researcher agreed that the satellite images showed up the short-term constraints of the Hadley model, but did not overturn the long-term predictions of his group.
"The key thing here is that the tree roots access water deeper than is often represented in models," he told BBC News.
"In most models, including ours, this goes down to about three metres, which for most of the world's vegetation is fine. But these (Amazon) trees can clearly go deeper than that, so while our model predicts they would suffer during a couple of months of drought, in reality they have access to a much deeper store which doesn't respond on that timescale."
He said, however, that a climatic shift to longer and more frequent drought conditions would eventually diminish the deep-water stores, and make the trees suffer.
【明報專訊】本港空氣污染問題近年備受關注，可持續發展委員會引用研究指出，每立方米空氣中各項污染物的總量每增加10毫克，市民患上各類污染影響兒童心肺功能，與空氣質素相對較佳的沙田 區比較，在污染情惡劣的觀塘區生活的兒童，罹患各類呼級疾病的機會較高，相差幅度由31%至98%不等。
可持續發展委員會在今年6月開始就未來空氣改善措施進行為期3個月的諮詢，截至上周五共接獲2萬多份回應，諮詢期將於下月中屆滿，結果將於12月公布。
空氣改善諮詢逾2萬份回應
身為委員會更佳空氣質素支援小組成員的譚一翔指出，本港能見度偏低的日子，已由10年前佔全年15％，大幅增至目前50％。當空氣中污染物數量增加，因患呼吸道疾病而死亡、入院及引致哮喘 個案數目，亦隨之上升。
譚一翔指出，空氣中有可吸入懸浮粒子、氮氧化物、二氧化硫等不同污染物，中大和港大多項研究顯示，每立方米空氣中各項污染物的總量每增加10毫克，市民患上各類呼吸疾病引致死亡的機會，會增加0.8％至3.4％。研究發現，在每立方米空氣中，二氧化硫每增加10毫克，因心臟病 引致的死亡率便增加2.8％；臭氧每增加10毫克，市民入院個案會增加2.2％。
2000年訪問數千兒童
本身為兒科醫生的譚一翔表示，中大在2000年一項有關空氣污染影響兒童心肺功能的研究，調查了數千名兒童，發現沙田區（低污染地區）兒童心肺功能較觀塘區（高污染地區）兒童為佳，兩者心肺功能指數，分別為29.9和27.8。
若以發病情計，觀塘區兒童患各項呼吸系統症狀較沙田區兒童為多，除鼻敏感及支氣管炎外，餘下8項呼吸系統症狀均以觀塘區兒童為多，多出比率由31%至98%不等。
譚一翔表示，呼吸道疾病是兒童較易患上的疾病，但近年未見明顯上升趨勢。對於近期有學校因空氣污染嚴重而更改運動會時間和日期，譚一翔表示，這反映了本港空氣問題嚴重。
Last Updated: Monday, 24 September 2007, 13:53 GMT 14:53 UK
Amazonian forest 'more resilient'
The Amazon rainforest may be more resistant to rising temperatures than has been believed.
Researchers found that during the 2005 drought, many parts of the rainforest "greened", apparently growing faster.
This finding contrasts with some computer models of climate change, which forecast that the Amazon would dry out and become savannah.
Writing in the journal Science, the researchers say it is unclear how the forest would respond to a long drought.
"We measured the changes between the drought (of July to September 2005) and an average year," explained study leader Scott Saleska from the University of Arizona, Tucson, US.
"And what we saw was that there was more photosynthesis going on, more capacity to take up carbon dioxide than in an average year," he told the BBC News website.
The scientists used the Modis (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) instrument on the US space agency's (Nasa) Terra satellite to make their observations.
Some areas of the Amazon had seen reduced growth during the drought, but these were regions heavily impacted by human activities.
Clear skies
It has been thought that stressed trees in drought conditions would try to preserve their water by reducing loss through leaves (transpiration), with this shut-down having a consequent knock-on for photosynthesis.
This, in turn, would be expected to exacerbate the drought by interrupting the supply of water into the atmosphere, a supply which contributes to rainfall.
"Some of the models, in particular the Hadley Centre group (part of the UK Met Office), became famous for predicting collapse of the Amazon and a change into savannah," said Dr Saleska.
"There's a prompt response to the initial drought: trees down (transpiration), they release less water to the atmosphere so there's less to recycle as rain; and in that model world, it pushes the forest over the edge.
"We've tested whether that mechanism is there, and found it's not there on a short timescale. That doesn't mean the forest won't collapse, but it says that the scenario in that model is not right in that particular [situation]."
Although increased photosynthesis in drought conditions might appear counter-intuitive, the group said it could be explained if the trees were still able to access water reserves with deep root systems.
Persistent bright skies during a drought would allow more sunlight through to the leaves, driving photosynthesis and leading to the "greening" seen from space.
Model refinement
Chris Jones from the UK's Hadley Centre for Climate Change commended the study, and said it demonstrated the importance of using real-world observations to challenge and fine-tune the models.
He added that the Hadley and Saleska teams were sharing data.
The British researcher agreed that the satellite images showed up the short-term constraints of the Hadley model, but did not overturn the long-term predictions of his group.
"The key thing here is that the tree roots access water deeper than is often represented in models," he told BBC News.
"In most models, including ours, this goes down to about three metres, which for most of the world's vegetation is fine. But these (Amazon) trees can clearly go deeper than that, so while our model predicts they would suffer during a couple of months of drought, in reality they have access to a much deeper store which doesn't respond on that timescale."
He said, however, that a climatic shift to longer and more frequent drought conditions would eventually diminish the deep-water stores, and make the trees suffer.
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Please mark the dates on your schedule and remind each other on posting news here.
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Hey, seems some of you have forgotten to update our news blog here.
Please mark the dates on your schedule and remind each other on posting news here.
Also, you are highly recommended to come here and read the news DAILY! If you are interested in a particular topic, download/copy it and keep it as one of your 4 newspaper which have to be handed in every month.
It is meaningless if we keep all the news but without anyone reading them.
Make good use of resources for your learning.
Let me know if you have any problems.
Cheers,
Miss Chow
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
抗暖化 全球七成人支持
(明報) 09月 26日 星期三 05:10AM
明報專訊】冰川的存亡與全球溫度息息相關。英國 廣播公司周二公布一項跨國民調，訪問了21個國家共2.2萬人，65％受訪者認為必須「盡快採取重大措施」對抗暖化，其中西班牙最多人支持（91％）
，印度則最少（37％），全球最大溫室氣體排放國的美國，59％受訪者呼籲採取緊急行動，中國有七成受訪者支持。
布殊缺席峰會疑另起爐灶
150多國代表周一出席席聯合國氣候峰會，聯合國秘書長潘基文周一表示，「懷疑的時期已經過去」，氣候變化問題急須解決。多達80個國家的元首出席這次會議，但美國總統布殊卻缺席。他將於周四、周五在華盛頓 主持一個氣候問題會議，與另外15個主要排放國的代表共商，有論者質疑堅拒《京都議定書》減排方案的布殊，是想繞過聯合國另起爐灶。
BBC今次的調查指出，平均有73％受訪者贊成由發達國家提供財政及技術援助，換取發展中國家減排溫室氣體，支持這樣做的以中國佔最多（90％），印度最少（47％），美國有七成人亦贊同這安排。
路透社
(明報) 09月 26日 星期三 05:10AM
明報專訊】冰川的存亡與全球溫度息息相關。英國 廣播公司周二公布一項跨國民調，訪問了21個國家共2.2萬人，65％受訪者認為必須「盡快採取重大措施」對抗暖化，其中西班牙最多人支持（91％）
，印度則最少（37％），全球最大溫室氣體排放國的美國，59％受訪者呼籲採取緊急行動，中國有七成受訪者支持。
布殊缺席峰會疑另起爐灶
150多國代表周一出席席聯合國氣候峰會，聯合國秘書長潘基文周一表示，「懷疑的時期已經過去」，氣候變化問題急須解決。多達80個國家的元首出席這次會議，但美國總統布殊卻缺席。他將於周四、周五在華盛頓 主持一個氣候問題會議，與另外15個主要排放國的代表共商，有論者質疑堅拒《京都議定書》減排方案的布殊，是想繞過聯合國另起爐灶。
BBC今次的調查指出，平均有73％受訪者贊成由發達國家提供財政及技術援助，換取發展中國家減排溫室氣體，支持這樣做的以中國佔最多（90％），印度最少（47％），美國有七成人亦贊同這安排。
路透社
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
日探測船今鑽地幔 深入地底7000米揭暖化之謎
(明報) 09月 21日 星期五 05:10AM
【明報專訊】日本探測船「地球」號（Chikyu）今天起會在東京以南太平洋一處水深2500米的海洋鑽探，從海底向下鑽入7000米深的地心，是人類首次嘗試鑽入地幔層，盼能揭示氣候暖化秘密、尋找有助
解釋生命起源的微生物及了解地震成因。
這個名為「綜合大洋鑽探」（IODP）的計劃由歐美及日本海洋科技中心合作進行，將會在太平洋南海海槽相對較薄的海層勘探，目標是鑽入地殼與地幔之間的界面——莫霍洛維奇不連續面（Mohorovicic Discontinuity，簡稱莫霍面）。
由地面至地球中心的距離約為6378公里，因此今次鑽探雖然會進入地幔，但離地球中心仍相距甚遠。「地球」號會抽取岩層樣本，但由於地底炙熱的熔岩、天然氣或石油層極為危險，所以鑽探速度會很慢，預計1年後才深入地幔，整項計劃預計到2012年完成。人類在海洋鑽探地心的舊紀錄是2111米。
裝感應器預測地震
「地球」號由日本三菱重工業公司建造，全長210米、闊38米、排水量5.7萬多噸、一次最遠可航行2.74萬米，是全球最大的海洋探測船。船上裝有最先進的航行控制系統、航海圖、雷達系統及全球最高的鑽井架。同時，亦配備石油探測公司先進的技術，在抽取岩層樣本同時亦會注入泥漿。船上亦有裝上泄壓閥，以減低地下壓力。
在「地球」號成功探出洞後，它將會在洞中放置感應器監測地震。過去的地震監測只能在地震發生數分鐘後才作緊急通告，但新的感應器將可預測地震發生的時間及地點，將可大大減少傷亡人數。
抽取深層岩石 盼找微生物
另外，「地球」號亦會抽取地底深層岩石及泥漿樣本，協助研究地球千萬年前的氣候狀及生命起源。部分微生物可在高溫高壓的環境中生存，若微生物亦證實可在地殼深處及地幔生存，它們則擁有的生物特性（如耐熱），有助人類研究生物科技。
「地球」號曾於06年進行試探，但因機件故障而中途放棄。
【明報專訊】日本探測船「地球」號（Chikyu）今天起會在東京以南太平洋一處水深2500米的海洋鑽探，從海底向下鑽入7000米深的地心，是人類首次嘗試鑽入地幔層，盼能揭示氣候暖化秘密、尋找有助
解釋生命起源的微生物及了解地震成因。
這個名為「綜合大洋鑽探」（IODP）的計劃由歐美及日本海洋科技中心合作進行，將會在太平洋南海海槽相對較薄的海層勘探，目標是鑽入地殼與地幔之間的界面——莫霍洛維奇不連續面（Mohorovicic Discontinuity，簡稱莫霍面）。
由地面至地球中心的距離約為6378公里，因此今次鑽探雖然會進入地幔，但離地球中心仍相距甚遠。「地球」號會抽取岩層樣本，但由於地底炙熱的熔岩、天然氣或石油層極為危險，所以鑽探速度會很慢，預計1年後才深入地幔，整項計劃預計到2012年完成。人類在海洋鑽探地心的舊紀錄是2111米。
裝感應器預測地震
「地球」號由日本三菱重工業公司建造，全長210米、闊38米、排水量5.7萬多噸、一次最遠可航行2.74萬米，是全球最大的海洋探測船。船上裝有最先進的航行控制系統、航海圖、雷達系統及全球最高的鑽井架。同時，亦配備石油探測公司先進的技術，在抽取岩層樣本同時亦會注入泥漿。船上亦有裝上泄壓閥，以減低地下壓力。
在「地球」號成功探出洞後，它將會在洞中放置感應器監測地震。過去的地震監測只能在地震發生數分鐘後才作緊急通告，但新的感應器將可預測地震發生的時間及地點，將可大大減少傷亡人數。
抽取深層岩石 盼找微生物
另外，「地球」號亦會抽取地底深層岩石及泥漿樣本，協助研究地球千萬年前的氣候狀及生命起源。部分微生物可在高溫高壓的環境中生存，若微生物亦證實可在地殼深處及地幔生存，它們則擁有的生物特性（如耐熱），有助人類研究生物科技。
「地球」號曾於06年進行試探，但因機件故障而中途放棄。
大西洋地殼裂口露地幔
(明報) 03月 06日 星期二 05:10AM
【明報專訊】科學家在大西洋海底地殼發現一個大缺口，顯露地殼下的地幔，英國科學家周一已派遣探測船研究缺口成因。
英國麥克勞德教授表示，位處佛德角及加勒比海中間的大西洋中脊有一處直徑數以千計平方公里的缺口。「正常來說，兩塊板塊（在中脊處）向兩邊移動時會形成缺口；為填補缺口，地幔會向上升，上升時化成熔岩。但這裏的地殼出了問題，不懂自我修復。」
研究隊伍乘坐探測船「庫克」號到大西洋海底缺口處，再派機械潛艇到缺口，採集地幔樣本。研究員希望用潛艇的攝影鏡頭，透過這個被喻為「地球內部之窗」的缺口，一窺地底內部秘密世界。麥克勞德說：「地殼形成是地球最重要的運作機制之一，影響海洋的化學結構。我們希望能藉此對板塊構造過程增加理解。
【明報專訊】科學家在大西洋海底地殼發現一個大缺口，顯露地殼下的地幔，英國科學家周一已派遣探測船研究缺口成因。
英國麥克勞德教授表示，位處佛德角及加勒比海中間的大西洋中脊有一處直徑數以千計平方公里的缺口。「正常來說，兩塊板塊（在中脊處）向兩邊移動時會形成缺口；為填補缺口，地幔會向上升，上升時化成熔岩。但這裏的地殼出了問題，不懂自我修復。」
研究隊伍乘坐探測船「庫克」號到大西洋海底缺口處，再派機械潛艇到缺口，採集地幔樣本。研究員希望用潛艇的攝影鏡頭，透過這個被喻為「地球內部之窗」的缺口，一窺地底內部秘密世界。麥克勞德說：「地殼形成是地球最重要的運作機制之一，影響海洋的化學結構。我們希望能藉此對板塊構造過程增加理解。
東亞地幔積水 大如北冰洋
(明報) 03月 06日 星期二 05:10AM
【明報專訊】美國科學家分析稱，東亞地下的地幔藏有體積大如北冰洋的水分，是首次有像顯示地幔深處存在如此多水。
美國地質學家懷塞辛與學生勞倫斯分析了全球逾60萬幅地震震波圖，發現地震波在亞洲由印尼至俄羅斯一帶地底傳送時，有受阻及輕微減慢現象，從而推斷東亞地底約700至1400公里處的地幔岩層含有大量水分。懷氏說：「水分會稍稍減慢地震波的速度；地震波（在這地帶明顯）受阻但只輕微減速，與碰上水分的情況十分吻合。」
北京地底積水特別多
懷塞辛亦發現地震波在北京地底受阻情特別厲害，還把這命名為「北京反常」現象。他強調，那些水並不是像海洋般的積水，而是鎖在地幔岩石內的水分，體積只佔岩石的0.1％；但因含水的岩石面積廣泛，故加起來水分的體積有北冰洋般大。
海洋板塊與大陸板塊相遇時，海洋板塊因較重會向下衝，隱沒到大陸板塊底下。懷氏指正常來說海洋板塊在衝到約100公里深時，地球內部的熱力會逼出岩石內的水；但沿太平洋火環東部的海洋板塊情況有異，要向下衝至更深的地底，岩石內的水才會完全蒸發。
助了解火山區成因
懷氏說，今次發現可助科學家了解火山區的成因。史丹福大學的地球物理學斯利普指出，當地球還年輕時，地球深處的水分會以火山氣體的形式向上蒸發，形成海洋；但隨地球年紀漸長，核心冷卻時，水分會回到地幔，這對地球的地理穩定來說是好事。香港大學 地球科學系副教授陳龍生接受本報訪問時表示，其實地幔岩石內的總體水分含量十分高，估計含量超過整個地球海水的體積。他指出，地震波在地底受阻減速的原因可能有很多，故東亞地幔藏大量水分，只能算是一個理論模型。
【明報專訊】美國科學家分析稱，東亞地下的地幔藏有體積大如北冰洋的水分，是首次有像顯示地幔深處存在如此多水。
美國地質學家懷塞辛與學生勞倫斯分析了全球逾60萬幅地震震波圖，發現地震波在亞洲由印尼至俄羅斯一帶地底傳送時，有受阻及輕微減慢現象，從而推斷東亞地底約700至1400公里處的地幔岩層含有大量水分。懷氏說：「水分會稍稍減慢地震波的速度；地震波（在這地帶明顯）受阻但只輕微減速，與碰上水分的情況十分吻合。」
北京地底積水特別多
懷塞辛亦發現地震波在北京地底受阻情特別厲害，還把這命名為「北京反常」現象。他強調，那些水並不是像海洋般的積水，而是鎖在地幔岩石內的水分，體積只佔岩石的0.1％；但因含水的岩石面積廣泛，故加起來水分的體積有北冰洋般大。
海洋板塊與大陸板塊相遇時，海洋板塊因較重會向下衝，隱沒到大陸板塊底下。懷氏指正常來說海洋板塊在衝到約100公里深時，地球內部的熱力會逼出岩石內的水；但沿太平洋火環東部的海洋板塊情況有異，要向下衝至更深的地底，岩石內的水才會完全蒸發。
助了解火山區成因
懷氏說，今次發現可助科學家了解火山區的成因。史丹福大學的地球物理學斯利普指出，當地球還年輕時，地球深處的水分會以火山氣體的形式向上蒸發，形成海洋；但隨地球年紀漸長，核心冷卻時，水分會回到地幔，這對地球的地理穩定來說是好事。香港大學 地球科學系副教授陳龍生接受本報訪問時表示，其實地幔岩石內的總體水分含量十分高，估計含量超過整個地球海水的體積。他指出，地震波在地底受阻減速的原因可能有很多，故東亞地幔藏大量水分，只能算是一個理論模型。
Monday, September 24, 2007
南生圍鋪渠挖泥恐趕候鳥
明報) 09月 24日 星期一 05:10AM
【明報專訊】擁珍貴紅樹林的「候鳥天堂」南生圍，每年秋冬都會吸引數千隻候鳥前來棲息過冬，但本報發現，上址近日受渠務、鋪設電纜及河道挖泥三大工程「圍攻」，大量草地變成爛泥地，沙塵滾滾。有市民擔心上址生態會受工程破壞，亦憂慮這些基建工程意味地產發展商快將在區內建設大型屋苑，候鳥終有一天無處容身（見另稿）。
政府回應時強調會採取多項措施，以免影響候鳥，例如大部分工程將於11月至明年3月間停工，漁護署 亦會定期派員視察。有環保人士指工程承建商能否嚴守當局訂出的環保要求，須拭目以待。
佈滿紅樹林 年數千候鳥過冬
南生圍位於元朗錦田河及山貝河畔，佈滿魚塘及紅樹林，環境優美寧靜，除吸引不少市民來郊遊及拍照外，每年12月至翌年2月期間，都會有數千隻候鳥在南生圍一帶棲息過冬，當中以鸕鶿為主，亦有蒼鷺、黑臉琵鷺、紅嘴鷗等，候鳥的先頭部隊10月便會到港。但近日有網民及本報讀者投訴，上址近月工程不斷，草坪及景觀大受破壞，擔心影響候鳥。
記者曾兩度前往上址觀察，發現南生圍一帶受三大工程影響，錦田河有躉船疑在挖泥，一段長約3.6公里的南生圍路，大片草坪更因渠務署的污水渠工程及中電鋪電纜工程致面目全非，多處草地變成爛泥地，其中以地底污水渠鋪設工程滋擾較大，由於要挖出逾兩米深的坑道，故沿路堆積了大量用以穩固泥坑的鐵條及渠管，而渠務及電纜工程預料明年中才能完工。
上址亦有履帶式工程車及挖泥車在施工，沙塵滾滾，並發出噪音，馬路上不時有大型車輛進出。遠離馬路的魚塘暫未受工程直接影響，而記者觀察當日，只見零星鷺鳥飛過及在錦田河濕地棲息。
施工塵大噪音強 零星雀鳥停留
綜合渠務署、環保署 、漁護署及中電的回應，當局早已考慮到上址的生態價值，故已採取多項措施減低工程對環境的影響。其中由土木工程拓展署負責的錦田河清淤挖泥工程，一直都有監察水質，並預期於下月完工。
至於鋪設電纜及污水渠工程，均會於11月至明年3月期間大致停工，免影響候鳥，工程完成後承建商更須復原草地或補償植樹。不過在這段「停工期」，一些不帶噪音的工程，如「人手挖掘地面探坑」仍會繼續。
生態影響程度視乎承建商
長春社理事吳祖南指出，上述工程難免會對過冬的候鳥有影響，但由於工程似已避開大部分魚塘，影響未必很大。他相信政府已為工程施工設立規限，以減低對環境影響，但承建商遵守的情如何，仍有待觀察。
【明報專訊】擁珍貴紅樹林的「候鳥天堂」南生圍，每年秋冬都會吸引數千隻候鳥前來棲息過冬，但本報發現，上址近日受渠務、鋪設電纜及河道挖泥三大工程「圍攻」，大量草地變成爛泥地，沙塵滾滾。有市民擔心上址生態會受工程破壞，亦憂慮這些基建工程意味地產發展商快將在區內建設大型屋苑，候鳥終有一天無處容身（見另稿）。
政府回應時強調會採取多項措施，以免影響候鳥，例如大部分工程將於11月至明年3月間停工，漁護署 亦會定期派員視察。有環保人士指工程承建商能否嚴守當局訂出的環保要求，須拭目以待。
佈滿紅樹林 年數千候鳥過冬
南生圍位於元朗錦田河及山貝河畔，佈滿魚塘及紅樹林，環境優美寧靜，除吸引不少市民來郊遊及拍照外，每年12月至翌年2月期間，都會有數千隻候鳥在南生圍一帶棲息過冬，當中以鸕鶿為主，亦有蒼鷺、黑臉琵鷺、紅嘴鷗等，候鳥的先頭部隊10月便會到港。但近日有網民及本報讀者投訴，上址近月工程不斷，草坪及景觀大受破壞，擔心影響候鳥。
記者曾兩度前往上址觀察，發現南生圍一帶受三大工程影響，錦田河有躉船疑在挖泥，一段長約3.6公里的南生圍路，大片草坪更因渠務署的污水渠工程及中電鋪電纜工程致面目全非，多處草地變成爛泥地，其中以地底污水渠鋪設工程滋擾較大，由於要挖出逾兩米深的坑道，故沿路堆積了大量用以穩固泥坑的鐵條及渠管，而渠務及電纜工程預料明年中才能完工。
上址亦有履帶式工程車及挖泥車在施工，沙塵滾滾，並發出噪音，馬路上不時有大型車輛進出。遠離馬路的魚塘暫未受工程直接影響，而記者觀察當日，只見零星鷺鳥飛過及在錦田河濕地棲息。
施工塵大噪音強 零星雀鳥停留
綜合渠務署、環保署 、漁護署及中電的回應，當局早已考慮到上址的生態價值，故已採取多項措施減低工程對環境的影響。其中由土木工程拓展署負責的錦田河清淤挖泥工程，一直都有監察水質，並預期於下月完工。
至於鋪設電纜及污水渠工程，均會於11月至明年3月期間大致停工，免影響候鳥，工程完成後承建商更須復原草地或補償植樹。不過在這段「停工期」，一些不帶噪音的工程，如「人手挖掘地面探坑」仍會繼續。
生態影響程度視乎承建商
長春社理事吳祖南指出，上述工程難免會對過冬的候鳥有影響，但由於工程似已避開大部分魚塘，影響未必很大。他相信政府已為工程施工設立規限，以減低對環境影響，但承建商遵守的情如何，仍有待觀察。
Sunday, September 23, 2007
颱風導致浙江五死三失蹤
(明報) 09月 19日 星期三 10:55PM
颱風韋帕進入浙江省，目前已導致五人死亡，三人失蹤，死亡和失蹤原因均為強降雨引發泥石流掩埋。
中國氣象局監測信息顯示，熱帶風暴韋帕目前已進入安徽省境內，預計周四凌晨轉向北偏東方向進入江蘇省，明天上午進入黃海。
截至今晚六時，浙江、福建、上海、江蘇等省（市）緊急轉移安置二百六十八萬多人，倒塌房屋九千六百餘間，損壞房屋四點二萬多間，因災直接經濟損失六十六億多元人民幣。
颱風韋帕進入浙江省，目前已導致五人死亡，三人失蹤，死亡和失蹤原因均為強降雨引發泥石流掩埋。
中國氣象局監測信息顯示，熱帶風暴韋帕目前已進入安徽省境內，預計周四凌晨轉向北偏東方向進入江蘇省，明天上午進入黃海。
截至今晚六時，浙江、福建、上海、江蘇等省（市）緊急轉移安置二百六十八萬多人，倒塌房屋九千六百餘間，損壞房屋四點二萬多間，因災直接經濟損失六十六億多元人民幣。
受反氣旋影響空氣轉差
中新網9月16日電 香港天文臺表示﹐由于正受著一個大陸反氣旋影響﹐空氣污染情況仍會維持數天﹐15日路邊監測站錄得甚高的空氣污染水平﹐不少市民出街都要掩鼻而行。醫生呼吁患有心臟病或呼吸系統毛病的人士﹐減少體力消耗及戶外活動。 (chinesenewsnet.com)
據香港大公報報道﹐15日路邊監測站錄得最高介乎110至120的甚高空氣污染水平﹐包括銅鑼灣﹑中環﹑旺角等“重災區”﹐其余各區路邊監測站亦錄得偏高至甚高水平﹐預測香港16日大致天晴﹐氣溫介乎27至32度﹐吹微風﹐展望隨後數天天晴﹐但有煙霞。 (chinesenewsnet.com)
天文臺高級科學主任吳炳榮表示﹐由于有一個大陸反氣旋影響華南地區﹐所以香港15日天晴﹐預計未來一兩天仍會有煙霞﹐主要由于風勢微弱﹐空氣中的微粒較難吹散所致。 (chinesenewsnet.com)
據香港大公報報道﹐15日路邊監測站錄得最高介乎110至120的甚高空氣污染水平﹐包括銅鑼灣﹑中環﹑旺角等“重災區”﹐其余各區路邊監測站亦錄得偏高至甚高水平﹐預測香港16日大致天晴﹐氣溫介乎27至32度﹐吹微風﹐展望隨後數天天晴﹐但有煙霞。 (chinesenewsnet.com)
天文臺高級科學主任吳炳榮表示﹐由于有一個大陸反氣旋影響華南地區﹐所以香港15日天晴﹐預計未來一兩天仍會有煙霞﹐主要由于風勢微弱﹐空氣中的微粒較難吹散所致。 (chinesenewsnet.com)
Geologists: Ethiopian Plateau Spurred Human Evolution
Larry O'Hanlon, Discovery News
Sept. 18, 2007 — The geologic rise of the Ethiopian Plateau may have happened millions of years later than thought, and just in time to nudge along the evolution of modern humans, say the authors of a new study.
Using elevation data collected by the space shuttle, orbiting satellites and radioisotope dating of various rock layers found in the walls of the Nile River Gorge, the researchers believe they have narrowed down the timing of the final phase of the plateau's uplift to less than three million years ago.
That's just in time to cause the drying out of east Africa and the creation of the pedestrian-friendly savannas on which humans evolved.
"I think we've proved that [the Ethiopian Plateau] is very young," said Nahid Gani, a geologist at the University of Utah. She and her husband Royhan Gani, also a geologist, and Mohamed Abdelsalam of the University of Missouri, report their findings in the September issue of GSA Today, published by the Geological Society of America.
Some previous estimates of the plateau's age put its rise at around 30 million years ago — far too early for it to have directly affected the immediate ancestors of Homo sapiens, who arose in the valley just a few million years ago.
To arrive at the more recent date, the researchers turned the question upside down. Rather than dating the plateau's uplift directly, they studied the effects of the one thing in the region that responds instantly to any change in elevation — the Blue Nile River. Like all rivers, it naturally shifts its course as the land around it changes, to form the most natural slope from its source to the sea.
As the plateau rose, it raised the river's source and steepened the river's overall slope. That steepening made the river flow faster and with more erosive power. The result is the mile-deep Nile Gorge — what Nahid Gani refers to as the Grand Canyon of Africa.
The history of the gorge is one key to uncovering the timing of the plateau's uplift. To uncover that history, the team integrated topographic maps collected from space with field work and previous studies on the dates of volcanic eruptions and other events in the region's geological history.
Ultimately, they determined that the Blue Nile eventually carved out more than 22,400 cubic miles of rock from the area, not at a constant rate, but in three pulses that reflect major geologic events. The last phase, which began six million years ago, may have been caused by foundering of a deep part of the earth's crust, which let the plateau rise like ship losing ballast.
In any case, the researchers estimate that the plateau rose more than 3,000 feet in just the last few million years, creating "The Roof of Africa" — a plateau with a mean elevation of 8,000 feet. That's high enough to wring moisture out of monsoonal air moving east across Africa, leaving the Ethiopian Rift Valley drier and drier, and dominated by grasslands instead of forests.
"So (human ancestors) had to walk across that savanna," said Royhan Gani. And walking on two feet, as independent studies have shown, is the most efficient way for an ape to cross large distances.
A simultaneous drop in the Rift Valley's elevation also contributed to the drying, said geologist Martin Williams of the University of Adelaide in Australia.
"The African Rift has been going down and widening," Williams told Discovery News. "The real drying out of Ethiopia proper began 3 to 2 1/2 million years ago." Just in time, perhaps, to drive the evolution of our ancestors.
Sept. 18, 2007 — The geologic rise of the Ethiopian Plateau may have happened millions of years later than thought, and just in time to nudge along the evolution of modern humans, say the authors of a new study.
Using elevation data collected by the space shuttle, orbiting satellites and radioisotope dating of various rock layers found in the walls of the Nile River Gorge, the researchers believe they have narrowed down the timing of the final phase of the plateau's uplift to less than three million years ago.
That's just in time to cause the drying out of east Africa and the creation of the pedestrian-friendly savannas on which humans evolved.
"I think we've proved that [the Ethiopian Plateau] is very young," said Nahid Gani, a geologist at the University of Utah. She and her husband Royhan Gani, also a geologist, and Mohamed Abdelsalam of the University of Missouri, report their findings in the September issue of GSA Today, published by the Geological Society of America.
Some previous estimates of the plateau's age put its rise at around 30 million years ago — far too early for it to have directly affected the immediate ancestors of Homo sapiens, who arose in the valley just a few million years ago.
To arrive at the more recent date, the researchers turned the question upside down. Rather than dating the plateau's uplift directly, they studied the effects of the one thing in the region that responds instantly to any change in elevation — the Blue Nile River. Like all rivers, it naturally shifts its course as the land around it changes, to form the most natural slope from its source to the sea.
As the plateau rose, it raised the river's source and steepened the river's overall slope. That steepening made the river flow faster and with more erosive power. The result is the mile-deep Nile Gorge — what Nahid Gani refers to as the Grand Canyon of Africa.
The history of the gorge is one key to uncovering the timing of the plateau's uplift. To uncover that history, the team integrated topographic maps collected from space with field work and previous studies on the dates of volcanic eruptions and other events in the region's geological history.
Ultimately, they determined that the Blue Nile eventually carved out more than 22,400 cubic miles of rock from the area, not at a constant rate, but in three pulses that reflect major geologic events. The last phase, which began six million years ago, may have been caused by foundering of a deep part of the earth's crust, which let the plateau rise like ship losing ballast.
In any case, the researchers estimate that the plateau rose more than 3,000 feet in just the last few million years, creating "The Roof of Africa" — a plateau with a mean elevation of 8,000 feet. That's high enough to wring moisture out of monsoonal air moving east across Africa, leaving the Ethiopian Rift Valley drier and drier, and dominated by grasslands instead of forests.
"So (human ancestors) had to walk across that savanna," said Royhan Gani. And walking on two feet, as independent studies have shown, is the most efficient way for an ape to cross large distances.
A simultaneous drop in the Rift Valley's elevation also contributed to the drying, said geologist Martin Williams of the University of Adelaide in Australia.
"The African Rift has been going down and widening," Williams told Discovery News. "The real drying out of Ethiopia proper began 3 to 2 1/2 million years ago." Just in time, perhaps, to drive the evolution of our ancestors.
希臘東南部卡爾帕索斯島發生規模5.6地震,未傳出人員受傷
(路透社) 09月 23日 星期日 04:35PM
路透雅典電---希臘官員稱，該國東南部卡爾帕索斯(Karpathos)島周日早上發生規模5.6地震，但未造成人員受傷。
雅典地球動力學研究所官員對路透說：「震央在卡爾帕索斯島西南方海域，規模5.6。該地區這種規模的地震很常見。」
消防隊表示，卡爾帕索斯島感受到震度，但未接獲人員受傷報告。(完)
--翻譯 烏雲高娃;審校 李婷儀
路透雅典電---希臘官員稱，該國東南部卡爾帕索斯(Karpathos)島周日早上發生規模5.6地震，但未造成人員受傷。
雅典地球動力學研究所官員對路透說：「震央在卡爾帕索斯島西南方海域，規模5.6。該地區這種規模的地震很常見。」
消防隊表示，卡爾帕索斯島感受到震度，但未接獲人員受傷報告。(完)
--翻譯 烏雲高娃;審校 李婷儀
Friday, September 21, 2007
一 片 迷 濛 空 氣 嚴 重 污 染
本 港 空 氣 污 染 嚴 重 ， 維 港 上 空 一 片 迷 濛 ， 若 空 氣 改 善 ， 維 港 將 會 像 圖 中 廣 告 般 的 清 晰 。
(星島日報報道)本港空氣質素持續欠佳，三個路邊監測站昨日都錄到甚高的空氣污染水平，中環的空氣污染指數更達到一百四十三。環境局局長邱騰華表示關注，指空氣質素欠佳，是因為天氣轉冷及區域性污染所致。天文台解釋是華南地區風勢流動慢，有利懸浮粒子停留，與陽光進行光化作用後，令臭氧增加；預計風勢到了周三或周四才會增大，屆時空氣情況才有所改善。 本港空氣質素昨日連續第二天欠佳，環保署在三個路邊監測站的錄得的空氣污染水平，大部分時間均屬於偏高至甚高水平；中環的空氣污染指數於昨日六時至九時期間，一度最高達一百四十三，而旺角及銅鑼灣的空氣污染指數，亦曾經分別高達一百三十四及一百二十八。 天文
台科學主任李子祥解釋，近日沿岸氣壓的梯度十分弱，代表華南地區的風勢流動很慢，有利懸浮粒子停留，與陽光進行光化作用後，令臭氧增加。他表示空氣情況今天亦不會有太大改善，預計到了周三或周四時，風勢才會稍大，吹偏北至西北風，能見度才有所改善，但估計屆時仍會出現煙霞。 環境局局長邱騰華接受本報訪問表示，本港空氣質素欠佳是受氣候及區域因素影響，重申政府正採取三管齊下措施改善空氣污染，繼續與廣東省商討解決污染問題。他上周四曾前往廣州，與廣東省環保局等多個部門商討環保議題，廣東省方面亦正積極採取措施，要求電廠加裝脫硫及脫硝裝置，關閉高污染的小型火力電廠、鋼鐵廠及水泥廠，期望年底前能有確切措施改善緩和空氣污染。 在本港方面，他表示當局正爭取在今年內，就停車熄匙進行廣泛諮詢，以減少路邊汽車排放廢氣。政府亦逐年收緊兩電排放上限，減少主要污染源頭。他強調，暑假期間的持續藍天，為政府帶來鼓舞，相信只要本港與內地做好環境保護，就可以擁有藍天。 地球之友環境事務經理朱漢強認為，本港當局一直未有沒有正面回應空氣問題，早前空氣質素似乎有所改善，只是由於風向有所配合所致。
本 港 空 氣 污 染 嚴 重 ， 維 港 上 空 一 片 迷 濛 ， 若 空 氣 改 善 ， 維 港 將 會 像 圖 中 廣 告 般 的 清 晰 。
(星島日報報道)本港空氣質素持續欠佳，三個路邊監測站昨日都錄到甚高的空氣污染水平，中環的空氣污染指數更達到一百四十三。環境局局長邱騰華表示關注，指空氣質素欠佳，是因為天氣轉冷及區域性污染所致。天文台解釋是華南地區風勢流動慢，有利懸浮粒子停留，與陽光進行光化作用後，令臭氧增加；預計風勢到了周三或周四才會增大，屆時空氣情況才有所改善。 本港空氣質素昨日連續第二天欠佳，環保署在三個路邊監測站的錄得的空氣污染水平，大部分時間均屬於偏高至甚高水平；中環的空氣污染指數於昨日六時至九時期間，一度最高達一百四十三，而旺角及銅鑼灣的空氣污染指數，亦曾經分別高達一百三十四及一百二十八。 天文
台科學主任李子祥解釋，近日沿岸氣壓的梯度十分弱，代表華南地區的風勢流動很慢，有利懸浮粒子停留，與陽光進行光化作用後，令臭氧增加。他表示空氣情況今天亦不會有太大改善，預計到了周三或周四時，風勢才會稍大，吹偏北至西北風，能見度才有所改善，但估計屆時仍會出現煙霞。 環境局局長邱騰華接受本報訪問表示，本港空氣質素欠佳是受氣候及區域因素影響，重申政府正採取三管齊下措施改善空氣污染，繼續與廣東省商討解決污染問題。他上周四曾前往廣州，與廣東省環保局等多個部門商討環保議題，廣東省方面亦正積極採取措施，要求電廠加裝脫硫及脫硝裝置，關閉高污染的小型火力電廠、鋼鐵廠及水泥廠，期望年底前能有確切措施改善緩和空氣污染。 在本港方面，他表示當局正爭取在今年內，就停車熄匙進行廣泛諮詢，以減少路邊汽車排放廢氣。政府亦逐年收緊兩電排放上限，減少主要污染源頭。他強調，暑假期間的持續藍天，為政府帶來鼓舞，相信只要本港與內地做好環境保護，就可以擁有藍天。 地球之友環境事務經理朱漢強認為，本港當局一直未有沒有正面回應空氣問題，早前空氣質素似乎有所改善，只是由於風向有所配合所致。
Thursday, September 20, 2007
國際專家籲港一半水域禁捕魚
(明報) 09月 20日 星期四 05:10AM
【明報專訊】「香港的海岸公園容許捕魚，但即使小孩也明白，捕魚等於殺魚，你說保護，卻容許別人殺，很愚蠢！」1970年代為新西蘭設立首個海岸保護區的生物學家Bill Ballantine認為，香港絕對有條件領導海岸保育工作，建議港府把一半水域劃為海岸保護區。
目前，全港只有鶴嘴屬禁止捕魚的海岸保護區，面積僅佔全港水域0.02%，另外4個海岸公園佔全港水域約2%，公園內部分範圍容許持牌者作有限度捕魚。
Ballantine指出，若以為花很少工夫管理，便可達到保育目的，是十分愚蠢的。他形容香港較其他地方捕魚活動更密集，對海洋破壞亦相應更多，「與其做一些微小、小心但效果不大的保育，不如大規模去做」。
他認為，中國可支持香港領導海洋保育工作，香港亦可參考新西蘭：「我們犯過很多錯誤，你們不用再犯……保護區不能容許捕魚，這不是理論，而是我們從實踐中得知。」
Ballantine說，新西蘭曾容許部分漁民在保護區捕魚，結果令生物數量減少。那新西蘭政府如何面對漁業的反對聲音？「你一聽這些就知是胡說，當政府興建機場或其他想建的設施時，誰理會他們？這明顯是藉口！」
他表示，新西蘭成立首個海岸保護區後，區內的海洋生物種類較區外多，每年更吸引30萬人到保護區，增加1200萬新西蘭元（6848萬港元）的收入，不論對經濟、生態和社會發展也有幫助。
Ballantine以一句話總結逾40年的保育經驗﹕「要自然和不被騷擾。」「水族館見到的是不自然，像我小時去動物園，見到獅子走上走落，我們的孩子又學到什麼？」
Ballantine明日下午2時半及22日早上11時，會分別在香港城市大學 和香港大學 主持公開論壇。
【明報專訊】「香港的海岸公園容許捕魚，但即使小孩也明白，捕魚等於殺魚，你說保護，卻容許別人殺，很愚蠢！」1970年代為新西蘭設立首個海岸保護區的生物學家Bill Ballantine認為，香港絕對有條件領導海岸保育工作，建議港府把一半水域劃為海岸保護區。
目前，全港只有鶴嘴屬禁止捕魚的海岸保護區，面積僅佔全港水域0.02%，另外4個海岸公園佔全港水域約2%，公園內部分範圍容許持牌者作有限度捕魚。
Ballantine指出，若以為花很少工夫管理，便可達到保育目的，是十分愚蠢的。他形容香港較其他地方捕魚活動更密集，對海洋破壞亦相應更多，「與其做一些微小、小心但效果不大的保育，不如大規模去做」。
他認為，中國可支持香港領導海洋保育工作，香港亦可參考新西蘭：「我們犯過很多錯誤，你們不用再犯……保護區不能容許捕魚，這不是理論，而是我們從實踐中得知。」
Ballantine說，新西蘭曾容許部分漁民在保護區捕魚，結果令生物數量減少。那新西蘭政府如何面對漁業的反對聲音？「你一聽這些就知是胡說，當政府興建機場或其他想建的設施時，誰理會他們？這明顯是藉口！」
他表示，新西蘭成立首個海岸保護區後，區內的海洋生物種類較區外多，每年更吸引30萬人到保護區，增加1200萬新西蘭元（6848萬港元）的收入，不論對經濟、生態和社會發展也有幫助。
Ballantine以一句話總結逾40年的保育經驗﹕「要自然和不被騷擾。」「水族館見到的是不自然，像我小時去動物園，見到獅子走上走落，我們的孩子又學到什麼？」
Ballantine明日下午2時半及22日早上11時，會分別在香港城市大學 和香港大學 主持公開論壇。
印尼今地震 新加坡也有感覺
【中央社╱新加坡二十日專電】
2007.09.20 08:00 pm
印尼蘇門答臘日前發生強震後，今天再度發生地震。印尼氣象局今天表示，西蘇門答臘今天發生規模六點七的地震，震央大概和上周強震的地點差不多。地震後尚未傳出災情，印尼當局也未發佈海嘯警報。
根據印尼氣象局偵測的地震狀況，這起地震發生在印尼時間二十日下午三時四十分（台灣時間二十日下午四時四十分），地震的震央位於西蘇門答臘西南部帕南鎮的外海大約一百二十五公里處，地震深度約為海底七十六公里。
印尼西蘇門答臘島外海上周才發生規模八點四的強震，造成二十三人死亡，印尼氣象局研判，今天的這起地震是上星期強震後的餘震。
此外，新加坡的電子媒體在下午印尼發生地震時，也接獲許多來自新加坡東部、東北部居民的電話，指他們在下午四時四十分左右感受到地震的晃動。
2007.09.20 08:00 pm
印尼蘇門答臘日前發生強震後，今天再度發生地震。印尼氣象局今天表示，西蘇門答臘今天發生規模六點七的地震，震央大概和上周強震的地點差不多。地震後尚未傳出災情，印尼當局也未發佈海嘯警報。
根據印尼氣象局偵測的地震狀況，這起地震發生在印尼時間二十日下午三時四十分（台灣時間二十日下午四時四十分），地震的震央位於西蘇門答臘西南部帕南鎮的外海大約一百二十五公里處，地震深度約為海底七十六公里。
印尼西蘇門答臘島外海上周才發生規模八點四的強震，造成二十三人死亡，印尼氣象局研判，今天的這起地震是上星期強震後的餘震。
此外，新加坡的電子媒體在下午印尼發生地震時，也接獲許多來自新加坡東部、東北部居民的電話，指他們在下午四時四十分左右感受到地震的晃動。
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Firm leadership urged in fight for better air (STANDARD) 09月 18日 星期二 05:30AM
Hong Kong and Guangdong should examine the possibility of establishing cross-border air quality jurisdiction and create a specialized agency to be responsible for managing air q
uality, a think-tank says.
The think-tank Civic Exchange in a report on air pollution also said the SAR should learn from London and Los Angeles on having strong government leadership for air quality management.
It says the government should learn from the two cities, which have reaped benefits from tougher emission targets and innovative anti-pollution measures.
"There is an urgent need to devise a comprehensive air quality management plan to bring various stakeholders together," Civic Exchange chief executive Christine Loh Kung-wai said.
She added that air pollution has become the most serious environmental problem for Hong Kong as it is affecting public health and the city's ability to attract foreign investment.
Loh said political leadership and multi-stakeholder collaboration were critical to the successes of London and Los Angeles in improving air quality.
The government should follow Los Angeles's example of introducing more stringent air quality objectives and set stricter emission standards to curb growing pollutant emission trends.
According to the report, the city managed to improve critical levels of air pollution suffered during the 1970s and 1980s through tough policies, which were opposed by businesses or specific industries.
"Air quality jurisdictions defined along topographic patterns in the State of California may be pointing out a way forward for Hong Kong," the report said.
On electronic road pricing system, the think-tank advised the government to follow London's congestion charging scheme, and set up a low emission zone. "If you look at what other financial centers do to improve the air quality... perhaps [business people] don't need to worry about money or people to be relocated from Hong Kong," Loh said.
The report comes after a weekend of high levels of air pollution in Hong Kong, with the roadside air pollution index reaching the "very high" level.
The Hong Kong Observatory explained this was due to a high-pressure weather system.
The bad air quality situation is expected to last until Friday.
Hong Kong and Guangdong should examine the possibility of establishing cross-border air quality jurisdiction and create a specialized agency to be responsible for managing air q
uality, a think-tank says.
The think-tank Civic Exchange in a report on air pollution also said the SAR should learn from London and Los Angeles on having strong government leadership for air quality management.
It says the government should learn from the two cities, which have reaped benefits from tougher emission targets and innovative anti-pollution measures.
"There is an urgent need to devise a comprehensive air quality management plan to bring various stakeholders together," Civic Exchange chief executive Christine Loh Kung-wai said.
She added that air pollution has become the most serious environmental problem for Hong Kong as it is affecting public health and the city's ability to attract foreign investment.
Loh said political leadership and multi-stakeholder collaboration were critical to the successes of London and Los Angeles in improving air quality.
The government should follow Los Angeles's example of introducing more stringent air quality objectives and set stricter emission standards to curb growing pollutant emission trends.
According to the report, the city managed to improve critical levels of air pollution suffered during the 1970s and 1980s through tough policies, which were opposed by businesses or specific industries.
"Air quality jurisdictions defined along topographic patterns in the State of California may be pointing out a way forward for Hong Kong," the report said.
On electronic road pricing system, the think-tank advised the government to follow London's congestion charging scheme, and set up a low emission zone. "If you look at what other financial centers do to improve the air quality... perhaps [business people] don't need to worry about money or people to be relocated from Hong Kong," Loh said.
The report comes after a weekend of high levels of air pollution in Hong Kong, with the roadside air pollution index reaching the "very high" level.
The Hong Kong Observatory explained this was due to a high-pressure weather system.
The bad air quality situation is expected to last until Friday.
Investors `not put off' by bad air (STANDARD) 09月 06日 星期四 05:30AM
Foreign investors have not been put off by reports of Hong Kong's declining air quality, an adviser to the Sustainable Development Council said yesterday.
He was responding to a recent environmental report by the American Chamber of Commerce which said overseas professionals were refusing to relocate to Hong Kong because of the poor air quality.
The report also said 57 percent of the chamber's 89 members would probably invest more money elsewhere.
But the council's subcommittee chairman Otto Poon Lok-to said more multinational companies were moving their headquarters to Hong Kong.
According to InvestHK, 1,228 companies set up regional headquarters in Hong Kong last year, a 5 percent increase compared with 2005.
Poon said the Amcham report may be correct with regard to its own members but did not reflect the whole picture of foreign investment.
Despite positive investment trends, Poon agreed the problem of poor air quality was one that had to be tackled. "Whether or not foreign investment is discouraged, we should work harder to improve our air quality," he said.
The council sent out public questionnaires in June on air quality and other matters.
Poon said since then three public forums have been held and 6,300 replies from the public had been received in the consultation which ends in October.
SCARLETT CHIANG
Foreign investors have not been put off by reports of Hong Kong's declining air quality, an adviser to the Sustainable Development Council said yesterday.
He was responding to a recent environmental report by the American Chamber of Commerce which said overseas professionals were refusing to relocate to Hong Kong because of the poor air quality.
The report also said 57 percent of the chamber's 89 members would probably invest more money elsewhere.
But the council's subcommittee chairman Otto Poon Lok-to said more multinational companies were moving their headquarters to Hong Kong.
According to InvestHK, 1,228 companies set up regional headquarters in Hong Kong last year, a 5 percent increase compared with 2005.
Poon said the Amcham report may be correct with regard to its own members but did not reflect the whole picture of foreign investment.
Despite positive investment trends, Poon agreed the problem of poor air quality was one that had to be tackled. "Whether or not foreign investment is discouraged, we should work harder to improve our air quality," he said.
The council sent out public questionnaires in June on air quality and other matters.
Poon said since then three public forums have been held and 6,300 replies from the public had been received in the consultation which ends in October.
SCARLETT CHIANG
New buses en route to less pollution (STANDARD) 08月 31日 星期五 05:30AM
New World First Bus and Citybus are to spend HK$150 million on 28 double- decker buses which emit much fewer emissions,while improving exhaust filters for most of their other buses by the end of the year.
But a company spokesman admitted the 28 Euro IV-standard buses will only make up 2 percent of the company's fleet of close to 1,600 buses.
Citibus operations and engineering chief Paul Li Kwong-wai said yesterday the 28 buses will cost about HK$100 million.
They are fitted with engines which cut emissions through an advanced technology which converts nitrogen oxides into harmless water vapor and nitrogen gas.
The company is investing a further HK$50 million to install diesel particulate filters on all its Euro II buses.
The company owns 90 pre-Euro buses, 400 Euro I buses, 1,000 Euro II buses and 100 Euro III buses.
Li said the filters sharply decrease emission of particulates.
"With the diesel particulate filters, there will be no black smoke," Li said. SCARLETT CHIANG
New World First Bus and Citybus are to spend HK$150 million on 28 double- decker buses which emit much fewer emissions,while improving exhaust filters for most of their other buses by the end of the year.
But a company spokesman admitted the 28 Euro IV-standard buses will only make up 2 percent of the company's fleet of close to 1,600 buses.
Citibus operations and engineering chief Paul Li Kwong-wai said yesterday the 28 buses will cost about HK$100 million.
They are fitted with engines which cut emissions through an advanced technology which converts nitrogen oxides into harmless water vapor and nitrogen gas.
The company is investing a further HK$50 million to install diesel particulate filters on all its Euro II buses.
The company owns 90 pre-Euro buses, 400 Euro I buses, 1,000 Euro II buses and 100 Euro III buses.
Li said the filters sharply decrease emission of particulates.
"With the diesel particulate filters, there will be no black smoke," Li said. SCARLETT CHIANG
Unilever fined over pollution
Unilever (China) has been penalised for discharging substandard waste water, state media reported, in what appears to be a toughening stance against foreign-owned offenders.
The State Environmental Protection Administration (Sepa) yesterday said the multinational's factory in Hefei , Anhui , was found in May to be discharging waste water with an amount of COD - chemical oxygen demand - that breached the permissible level.
The company, which manufactures well-known household brands such as Dove, Lux, Kellogg's and Lipton, was fined 100,000 yuan and ordered to remedy the situation.
"Be they domestic or foreign-invested, all enterprises must comply with China's environmental laws and regulations. Our supervision treats all enterprises by the same standard," Sepa was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
Unilever is not the only foreign company feeling the heat as Beijing tries to prove its determination to tackle water pollution. It was announced last week that Hitachi Construction
Machinery (China) in Hefei had been penalised for the same offence. Sepa confirmed that both companies had taken steps to rectify the problems.
In the case of Unilever, the pipe suspected of carrying the substandard water has been disabled, a COD monitor has been installed, water treatment facilities have been upgraded and the factory has joined a monitoring network with the provincial and local environmental agencies.
The head of the environmental watchdog said at a separate forum yesterday that water pollution remained a serious problem and standards had to be raised to prevent new projects from polluting lakes and rivers, according to Xinhua.
All projects that would lead to the discharge of heavy metals or organic pollutants into rivers and lakes being rehabilitated would be rejected in the next 10 years, Sepa director Zhou Shengxian said. So would projects that discharged nitrous or phosphorous substances into closed or semi-closed bodies of water, he said.
The State Environmental Protection Administration (Sepa) yesterday said the multinational's factory in Hefei , Anhui , was found in May to be discharging waste water with an amount of COD - chemical oxygen demand - that breached the permissible level.
The company, which manufactures well-known household brands such as Dove, Lux, Kellogg's and Lipton, was fined 100,000 yuan and ordered to remedy the situation.
"Be they domestic or foreign-invested, all enterprises must comply with China's environmental laws and regulations. Our supervision treats all enterprises by the same standard," Sepa was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
Unilever is not the only foreign company feeling the heat as Beijing tries to prove its determination to tackle water pollution. It was announced last week that Hitachi Construction
Machinery (China) in Hefei had been penalised for the same offence. Sepa confirmed that both companies had taken steps to rectify the problems.
In the case of Unilever, the pipe suspected of carrying the substandard water has been disabled, a COD monitor has been installed, water treatment facilities have been upgraded and the factory has joined a monitoring network with the provincial and local environmental agencies.
The head of the environmental watchdog said at a separate forum yesterday that water pollution remained a serious problem and standards had to be raised to prevent new projects from polluting lakes and rivers, according to Xinhua.
All projects that would lead to the discharge of heavy metals or organic pollutants into rivers and lakes being rehabilitated would be rejected in the next 10 years, Sepa director Zhou Shengxian said. So would projects that discharged nitrous or phosphorous substances into closed or semi-closed bodies of water, he said.
Monday, September 17, 2007
乾旱嚴峻悉尼永久制水
受全球暖化影響，澳洲新南威爾士省面對極為嚴峻的乾旱問題，當局決定，將目前實施的用水限制定為永久措施，直至水壩的貯水量回復至六成半至七成滿時，才會考慮放寬限制。水壩七成滿或放寬新南威爾士省○三年起，禁止在日間用灑水機噴灑草地及花園，亦不准用膠水管噴水清洗私人車路，新建或翻新一萬公升以上容量的游泳池都要提出申請。省長伊馬昨日稱，數據顯示全球暖化已令悉尼盆地的雨量減少，到二○三○年，悉尼的蒸發率將達百分之八，炎熱日子亦會倍增，基於這種嚴峻情況，當局惟有將用水限制升級為永久性，再配合海水化淡廠，以 確保悉尼有穩定食水供應。
上周新南威爾士省的水壩貯水量是五成九，對上一次全滿已是一九九八年的事。伊馬說，當水壩達到六成半至七成滿時，才會考慮放寬限制。但當地傳媒就指，實行永久用水限制是確保永遠不需要開動海水化淡廠，因當局規定，水壩貯水量低至三成時才會用上海水化淡的手段供應食水。
受全球暖化影響，澳洲新南威爾士省面對極為嚴峻的乾旱問題，當局決定，將目前實施的用水限制定為永久措施，直至水壩的貯水量回復至六成半至七成滿時，才會考慮放寬限制。水壩七成滿或放寬新南威爾士省○三年起，禁止在日間用灑水機噴灑草地及花園，亦不准用膠水管噴水清洗私人車路，新建或翻新一萬公升以上容量的游泳池都要提出申請。省長伊馬昨日稱，數據顯示全球暖化已令悉尼盆地的雨量減少，到二○三○年，悉尼的蒸發率將達百分之八，炎熱日子亦會倍增，基於這種嚴峻情況，當局惟有將用水限制升級為永久性，再配合海水化淡廠，以 確保悉尼有穩定食水供應。
上周新南威爾士省的水壩貯水量是五成九，對上一次全滿已是一九九八年的事。伊馬說，當水壩達到六成半至七成滿時，才會考慮放寬限制。但當地傳媒就指，實行永久用水限制是確保永遠不需要開動海水化淡廠，因當局規定，水壩貯水量低至三成時才會用上海水化淡的手段供應食水。
鹹水草紮食物 市民商販稱不實際
昔日街市以報紙及鹹水草包紮蔬菜肉類的境況將重現眼前。為鼓勵市民減少濫用膠袋，環保團體下月將在3個街市推行為期5個月的「街市減用膠袋計劃」，以鹹水草代替膠袋包紮食物。不過，有市民指鹹水草紮魚，外觀不佳又「污糟」；愛護動物協會更提醒商販，小心構成虐畜。 「街市減用膠袋計劃」首階段將在油麻地街市、深水埗膆河街街市及柴灣漁灣街市推行，綠領行會免費提供鹹水草予參與商販。油麻地街市內130多個商販中，已有40個決定參加計劃，主要為菜檔及雞檔。 綠領行總幹事何漢威表示，街市濫用膠袋情況嚴重。何說：「買一枚薑用一個膠袋，到另一檔買兩個蕃茄又用另一個膠袋，在街市逛逛，不難發現滿手都是膠袋的市民。」 油麻地街市檯商聯會主席陳袁輝表示，鹹水草較幾仙一個的膠袋便宜，且鹹水草的硬度，無論魚、菜、肉、蛋，都能紮實。不過，大部分市民都不能接受用鹹水草包紮濕貨。蕭太表示，用鹹水草紮魚，攜帶時會很「污糟」，所以一定要用膠袋包好。李小姐亦不能接受，並指帶上公共交通工具亦很不方便。 賣菜40多年的劉先生亦指，即使環保亦不會主動以鹹水草包紮貨物。他指，顧客購物時常會叫他給多一兩個膠袋，若他不給，顧客會選擇不光顧，為免生意受影響，他不會參與計劃。 何漢威承認，推行使用鹹水草有一定難度，但希望活動可推廣減用膠袋概念，令市民自覺地把不同食物放進同一個膠袋，或以鹹水草綑綁，再放入環保袋。 愛護動物協會則稱，不建議用鹹水草綑綁任何活魚，協會發言人表示，如果鹹水草是穿過魚腮及魚鰭，會令魚本身痛苦，有機會構成虐畜。
昔日街市以報紙及鹹水草包紮蔬菜肉類的境況將重現眼前。為鼓勵市民減少濫用膠袋，環保團體下月將在3個街市推行為期5個月的「街市減用膠袋計劃」，以鹹水草代替膠袋包紮食物。不過，有市民指鹹水草紮魚，外觀不佳又「污糟」；愛護動物協會更提醒商販，小心構成虐畜。 「街市減用膠袋計劃」首階段將在油麻地街市、深水埗膆河街街市及柴灣漁灣街市推行，綠領行會免費提供鹹水草予參與商販。油麻地街市內130多個商販中，已有40個決定參加計劃，主要為菜檔及雞檔。 綠領行總幹事何漢威表示，街市濫用膠袋情況嚴重。何說：「買一枚薑用一個膠袋，到另一檔買兩個蕃茄又用另一個膠袋，在街市逛逛，不難發現滿手都是膠袋的市民。」 油麻地街市檯商聯會主席陳袁輝表示，鹹水草較幾仙一個的膠袋便宜，且鹹水草的硬度，無論魚、菜、肉、蛋，都能紮實。不過，大部分市民都不能接受用鹹水草包紮濕貨。蕭太表示，用鹹水草紮魚，攜帶時會很「污糟」，所以一定要用膠袋包好。李小姐亦不能接受，並指帶上公共交通工具亦很不方便。 賣菜40多年的劉先生亦指，即使環保亦不會主動以鹹水草包紮貨物。他指，顧客購物時常會叫他給多一兩個膠袋，若他不給，顧客會選擇不光顧，為免生意受影響，他不會參與計劃。 何漢威承認，推行使用鹹水草有一定難度，但希望活動可推廣減用膠袋概念，令市民自覺地把不同食物放進同一個膠袋，或以鹹水草綑綁，再放入環保袋。 愛護動物協會則稱，不建議用鹹水草綑綁任何活魚，協會發言人表示，如果鹹水草是穿過魚腮及魚鰭，會令魚本身痛苦，有機會構成虐畜。
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Floods cause chaos across Africa
Floods cause chaos across Africa
Around a million people have been affected by floods in Africa, and more than 150 people have been killed after a long period of heavy rain.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes across 14 countries, and some towns and villages are completely underwater.
The United Nations said it is worried that more rain may be on the way, and the floods could lead to disease.
Ghana, Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda are some of the worst hit countries.
Click here to find out more about flooding
The UN says 500,000 people had been affected in West Africa and a further 500,000 in Sudan, and the numbers were rising.
In Ghana the flood water has covered all the land normally used in that country to grow food.
George Azi Amoo, co-ordinator of Ghana's disaster management body, told the BBC: "Some villages and communities have now been totally wiped off the map of Ghana."
Dozens of people are thought to have been killed in Sudan, where the floods are the worst that most people can remember.
Around a million people have been affected by floods in Africa, and more than 150 people have been killed after a long period of heavy rain.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes across 14 countries, and some towns and villages are completely underwater.
The United Nations said it is worried that more rain may be on the way, and the floods could lead to disease.
Ghana, Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda are some of the worst hit countries.
Click here to find out more about flooding
The UN says 500,000 people had been affected in West Africa and a further 500,000 in Sudan, and the numbers were rising.
In Ghana the flood water has covered all the land normally used in that country to grow food.
George Azi Amoo, co-ordinator of Ghana's disaster management body, told the BBC: "Some villages and communities have now been totally wiped off the map of Ghana."
Dozens of people are thought to have been killed in Sudan, where the floods are the worst that most people can remember.
颱風「百合」吹襲濟州島
(星島) 09月 16日 星期日 02:52PM
颱風「百合」吹襲南韓 濟州島，280班國內外航機取消，1萬5千名旅客滯留。 颱風為濟州帶來超過200毫米雨量，3000艘船在港內避風，海事當局禁止渡輪及漁船出海。氣象人員預測，「百合」將於凌晨吹襲南韓本島。
颱風「百合」吹襲南韓 濟州島，280班國內外航機取消，1萬5千名旅客滯留。 颱風為濟州帶來超過200毫米雨量，3000艘船在港內避風，海事當局禁止渡輪及漁船出海。氣象人員預測，「百合」將於凌晨吹襲南韓本島。
Saturday, September 15, 2007
港珠澳橋口岸需填海100公頃
受粵港澳三地政府委託，進行港珠澳大橋工程可行性研究的中交公路規劃設計院，已就「三地三檢」模式下三地口岸的選址，完成初步研究。結果顯示，本港口岸的整體面積約需90至100公頃(約相等於6個維園)，以容納口岸設施及車輛緩衝區；路政署委託顧問進行選址研究，並挑選了3個方案，包括在赤鱲角機場以西興建人工島、在機場東北面填海，以及在大蠔灣填海。該署稍後會進行環境影響評估，找出對環境影響最小的方案。
路政署向離島區議會提交的文件顯示，港珠澳大橋香港口岸選址的研究範圍分為3個區域，包括機場島以西、機場島/東涌，以及大蠔灣/小蠔灣。機場島以西海域鄰近機場和船隻航道，顧問考慮了3個人工島方案，當中兩個方案選址接近䃟石灣和沙螺灣村，可能對村民帶來空氣、噪音及景觀影響，因此建議在機場島西面興建人工島，遠離居民、機場水道及中華白海豚的活躍區，但該方案仍有缺點，可能干援飛機跑道附近的氣流，從而影響飛機升降。
機場島/東涌方面，由於機場島的大部分土地已發展，沒有足夠土地興建口岸，東涌灣又具有珍貴生態，亦不適合作為香港口岸的選址，因此建議在機場東北位置填海，以設置口岸。至於生態敏感的大蠔灣及小蠔灣，顧問建議在擬建大嶼山物流園的選址西面填海，鄰近物流園及小蠔灣交通樞紐，可與這些設施互相配合，但缺點是旅客往返機場或新界西北的路程將會增加。
路政署向離島區議會提交的文件顯示，港珠澳大橋香港口岸選址的研究範圍分為3個區域，包括機場島以西、機場島/東涌，以及大蠔灣/小蠔灣。機場島以西海域鄰近機場和船隻航道，顧問考慮了3個人工島方案，當中兩個方案選址接近䃟石灣和沙螺灣村，可能對村民帶來空氣、噪音及景觀影響，因此建議在機場島西面興建人工島，遠離居民、機場水道及中華白海豚的活躍區，但該方案仍有缺點，可能干援飛機跑道附近的氣流，從而影響飛機升降。
機場島/東涌方面，由於機場島的大部分土地已發展，沒有足夠土地興建口岸，東涌灣又具有珍貴生態，亦不適合作為香港口岸的選址，因此建議在機場東北位置填海，以設置口岸。至於生態敏感的大蠔灣及小蠔灣，顧問建議在擬建大嶼山物流園的選址西面填海，鄰近物流園及小蠔灣交通樞紐，可與這些設施互相配合，但缺點是旅客往返機場或新界西北的路程將會增加。
Most Polar Bears Gone By 2050, Studies Say
Two-thirds of the world's polar bears could disappear by 2050 as global warming continues to melt the Arctic's sea ice, according to a series of U.S. government studies released last Friday.
The new findings paint a sobering picture for polar bears, whose dependence on sea ice makes them particularly vulnerable to warming temperatures.
"Our results have demonstrated that as the sea ice goes, so goes the polar bear," said Steven Amstrup, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) wildlife research biologist in Anchorage, Alaska, and leader of the polar bear studies.
USGS conducted the studies to help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determine whether polar bears warrant protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. That decision is due in January 2008.
Kassie Siegel is a climate change activist with the Center for Biological Diversity in Joshua Tree, California. The new studies, she said, represent a watershed moment in the climate crisis.
"If we don't change the path that we're on now, then it will be too late," she said. "Polar bears will become extinct."
Polar Bears and Sea Ice
Scientists estimate that 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears live throughout the Northern Hemisphere in areas that are covered by sea ice for extensive periods.
Polar bears eat mostly seals and other fatty marine mammals that they hunt from the ice.
In some places—like the southern end of polar bear range in Canada's Hudson Bay—the sea ice melts in the summer. The bears then come onto land, where they have insufficient food until the sea ice refreezes in the fall.
Those bears, USGS's Amstrup said, may be the first to die off. As the sea ice melts sooner each summer, the bears will be forced to come ashore earlier and face food shortages before they have stored enough fat to last through the season
The new findings paint a sobering picture for polar bears, whose dependence on sea ice makes them particularly vulnerable to warming temperatures.
"Our results have demonstrated that as the sea ice goes, so goes the polar bear," said Steven Amstrup, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) wildlife research biologist in Anchorage, Alaska, and leader of the polar bear studies.
USGS conducted the studies to help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determine whether polar bears warrant protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. That decision is due in January 2008.
Kassie Siegel is a climate change activist with the Center for Biological Diversity in Joshua Tree, California. The new studies, she said, represent a watershed moment in the climate crisis.
"If we don't change the path that we're on now, then it will be too late," she said. "Polar bears will become extinct."
Polar Bears and Sea Ice
Scientists estimate that 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears live throughout the Northern Hemisphere in areas that are covered by sea ice for extensive periods.
Polar bears eat mostly seals and other fatty marine mammals that they hunt from the ice.
In some places—like the southern end of polar bear range in Canada's Hudson Bay—the sea ice melts in the summer. The bears then come onto land, where they have insufficient food until the sea ice refreezes in the fall.
Those bears, USGS's Amstrup said, may be the first to die off. As the sea ice melts sooner each summer, the bears will be forced to come ashore earlier and face food shortages before they have stored enough fat to last through the season
Global Warming May Be Keeping Gray Whale Numbers Down
Eastern gray whales were once three to five times more numerous in the Pacific Ocean than today, and climate change may be the cause of the population decline, a new study says.
According to a recent census, about 22,000 eastern gray whales currently live in the Pacific.
Experts had thought this to be around the whales' natural population level, because of widespread die-offs of gray whales between 1999 and 2001 that plunged the animals to 18,000 individuals.
But scientists studying whale DNA have concluded that the Pacific whale population previously ranged from 76,000 to 118,000.
"Our results suggest that rather than looking at this historical carrying capacity as the cause behind these die-offs, we might be better off looking at the changing conditions on the gray whale feeding ground that we know are occurring," said Elizabeth Alter, a doctoral biology student at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
Alter is the lead author on the study, which appears this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academies of Science.
DNA Discovery
Gray whales, which can reach a length of more than 50 feet (16 meters) and a weight of 36 tons, were extensively hunted in the 19th century.
The western, or Asian population remains one of the world's most endangered whale populations. Only 120 western individuals now remain, primarily because of continued whaling.
The eastern gray whale population, however, is one of the few that is believed to have fully recovered to its pre-whaling numbers. In 1994 the whales were even removed from the U.S. list of endangered and threatened species.
But the new study suggests that the eastern population may in fact still be depleted from its historical levels.
According to a recent census, about 22,000 eastern gray whales currently live in the Pacific.
Experts had thought this to be around the whales' natural population level, because of widespread die-offs of gray whales between 1999 and 2001 that plunged the animals to 18,000 individuals.
But scientists studying whale DNA have concluded that the Pacific whale population previously ranged from 76,000 to 118,000.
"Our results suggest that rather than looking at this historical carrying capacity as the cause behind these die-offs, we might be better off looking at the changing conditions on the gray whale feeding ground that we know are occurring," said Elizabeth Alter, a doctoral biology student at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
Alter is the lead author on the study, which appears this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academies of Science.
DNA Discovery
Gray whales, which can reach a length of more than 50 feet (16 meters) and a weight of 36 tons, were extensively hunted in the 19th century.
The western, or Asian population remains one of the world's most endangered whale populations. Only 120 western individuals now remain, primarily because of continued whaling.
The eastern gray whale population, however, is one of the few that is believed to have fully recovered to its pre-whaling numbers. In 1994 the whales were even removed from the U.S. list of endangered and threatened species.
But the new study suggests that the eastern population may in fact still be depleted from its historical levels.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Noise a big bugbear for one million residents
One million Hong Kongers are living in a noisy environment, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong has discovered.
According to a DAB survey of 755 people last month, about one-quarter of homeowners said they regretted buying their flats because of noise problems.
But when asked what they would consider when buying a property, only 7 percent of respondents said they considered the environment an important factor, while 36 percent cared most about the location.
The DAB's Choy So-yuk said the result showed one-fourth of owners regretted buying their property, "which is quite an alarming situation."
"Many owners complained to the government that there was a lot of noise coming from nearby facilities," she said, adding that developers should improve building designs.
According to a DAB survey of 755 people last month, about one-quarter of homeowners said they regretted buying their flats because of noise problems.
But when asked what they would consider when buying a property, only 7 percent of respondents said they considered the environment an important factor, while 36 percent cared most about the location.
The DAB's Choy So-yuk said the result showed one-fourth of owners regretted buying their property, "which is quite an alarming situation."
"Many owners complained to the government that there was a lot of noise coming from nearby facilities," she said, adding that developers should improve building designs.
臨汾列全球十大污城 安徽田營同上榜
明報 09月 14日 星期五
美國一個獨立環保組織選出全球十大最污染城市，大部分分佈在中國、俄羅斯及印度，而中國的田營及山西臨汾也上榜。
十大主要分佈中印俄
總部位於紐約的「鐵匠研究所」（Blacksmith Institute），花了7年於全球400地點蒐集資料，列出污染最嚴重的10個城市。研究稱，這些污染城市可能導致多達1200萬人患病，包括哮喘、呼吸道疾病、畸胎及嬰兒夭折等。不過，基於未能掌握每個國家的衛生健康資料，研究所並未有將污染城市排名。
部分孩童有鉛中毒象
在十大污染城市中，俄羅斯及蘇聯前加盟成員國共有4個城市上榜，包括冷戰時期化武中心捷爾任新斯基及1986年核電廠意外地切爾諾貝爾。中國及印度各有兩個城市上榜。中國煤炭工業中心山西臨汾及主要鉛生產基地田營都被批評污染嚴重。報告更指出，部分田營的小童有中鉛毒徵狀，包括學習障礙、腦部受損及腎臟功能衰退。
秘魯99％兒童血含鉛量過高
在秘魯的拉奧羅亞，由於受重金屬礦業影響，有99％兒童血液內含鉛量過高。在非洲贊比亞卡布韋，於重金屬礦場附近生活的兒童及從事礦業的青年，體內含鉛量已接近致命水平。
此外，鐵匠研究所還列出了「污染三十大」城市，中國有6個上榜，除臨汾和田營外，還包括浙江花溪、甘肅 蘭州、新疆烏魯木齊和貴州萬山。
美國一個獨立環保組織選出全球十大最污染城市，大部分分佈在中國、俄羅斯及印度，而中國的田營及山西臨汾也上榜。
十大主要分佈中印俄
總部位於紐約的「鐵匠研究所」（Blacksmith Institute），花了7年於全球400地點蒐集資料，列出污染最嚴重的10個城市。研究稱，這些污染城市可能導致多達1200萬人患病，包括哮喘、呼吸道疾病、畸胎及嬰兒夭折等。不過，基於未能掌握每個國家的衛生健康資料，研究所並未有將污染城市排名。
部分孩童有鉛中毒象
在十大污染城市中，俄羅斯及蘇聯前加盟成員國共有4個城市上榜，包括冷戰時期化武中心捷爾任新斯基及1986年核電廠意外地切爾諾貝爾。中國及印度各有兩個城市上榜。中國煤炭工業中心山西臨汾及主要鉛生產基地田營都被批評污染嚴重。報告更指出，部分田營的小童有中鉛毒徵狀，包括學習障礙、腦部受損及腎臟功能衰退。
秘魯99％兒童血含鉛量過高
在秘魯的拉奧羅亞，由於受重金屬礦業影響，有99％兒童血液內含鉛量過高。在非洲贊比亞卡布韋，於重金屬礦場附近生活的兒童及從事礦業的青年，體內含鉛量已接近致命水平。
此外，鐵匠研究所還列出了「污染三十大」城市，中國有6個上榜，除臨汾和田營外，還包括浙江花溪、甘肅 蘭州、新疆烏魯木齊和貴州萬山。
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Government to spend billions to clean water
Source:South China Morning Post
Date of issue:10/9/2007 Monday 00:03am
Topic related: the trouble of water
The government will outlay billions of yuan over the next five years to secure drinking water supplies and rehabilitate its many seriously contaminated water sources, a key government water pollution adviser said yesterday.
Zheng Binghui , director of the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences' Institute of Water Environment, said the exact budget amount was under discussion at high central government levels but it would be at least 1 trillion yuan, half of which the Ministry of Construction has suggested would go to securing drinking water sources at three river and three lake areas that feed half of the provinces on the mainland.
The targeted rivers are the Huai, the Hai and the Liao and the lakes are Tai, Chao and Dianchi, Dr Zheng told the annual meeting of the China Association for Science and Technology in Wuhan yesterday.
In a State Council meeting last month, Premier Wen Jiabao urged cities to expand the capacity of existing water storage facilities, locate new sources, and upgrade water treatment systems and urban water supply networks.
Governments at all levels must secure drinking water for urban areas, Mr Wen said, and the most urgent issues were substandard or polluted drinking water sources in some urban centres and the inability of some cities to generate enough supplies.
Dr Zheng said nearly half of all urban drinking water sources failed to meet national standards in 1981, and, in 1998, the failure rate was more than 83 per cent, according to studies carried out by his institute.
Their latest survey suggests more than 450 drinking water sources in key national environmental protection cities could not meet the standards, a number six times higher than the official figure. But these results have not been made available to the mainland public.
"If we release these figures to the public, there will be total havoc ... The figures we reported to the central government are classified," he said.
"There is only one correct figure you and Xinhua can report, and that is the official figure."
Speaking in English to a multinational audience, Dr Zheng said Hunan , Anhui , Jiangsu and Shanxi provinces were the worst in terms of drinking water safety.
"For the river-type water sources, Hunan province and Anhui province had the lowest rate of meeting national standards, just 60.28 per cent and 46.7 per cent respectively; for lake and reservoir type water sources, the lowest rates were in Anhui province with 71.4 per cent and Jiangsu province with 30.7 per cent."
Nearly half of the undergound water sources in Shanxi were not suitable for drinking, he said.
In terms of the mainalnd's high-profile algal outbreaks this year, Dr Zheng said lake and reservoir type water resources were serious polluted and nutrient levels generally exceeded standards.
"Seventy-five per cent of the lakes show [excessive nutrient levels] to a different extent. The drinking water sources in the Three Gorges Reservoir tributaries are in danger."
Dr Zheng said existing controls covering protected source water areas were ineffective.
"In Hubei province, investigations showed that unauthorised construction existed in 23 water source protection zones.
"In Ningxia , in a centralised drinking water source protection zone there are 73 enterprises with ... annual ammonia emissions of 1,023 tonnes."
Date of issue:10/9/2007 Monday 00:03am
Topic related: the trouble of water
The government will outlay billions of yuan over the next five years to secure drinking water supplies and rehabilitate its many seriously contaminated water sources, a key government water pollution adviser said yesterday.
Zheng Binghui , director of the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences' Institute of Water Environment, said the exact budget amount was under discussion at high central government levels but it would be at least 1 trillion yuan, half of which the Ministry of Construction has suggested would go to securing drinking water sources at three river and three lake areas that feed half of the provinces on the mainland.
The targeted rivers are the Huai, the Hai and the Liao and the lakes are Tai, Chao and Dianchi, Dr Zheng told the annual meeting of the China Association for Science and Technology in Wuhan yesterday.
In a State Council meeting last month, Premier Wen Jiabao urged cities to expand the capacity of existing water storage facilities, locate new sources, and upgrade water treatment systems and urban water supply networks.
Governments at all levels must secure drinking water for urban areas, Mr Wen said, and the most urgent issues were substandard or polluted drinking water sources in some urban centres and the inability of some cities to generate enough supplies.
Dr Zheng said nearly half of all urban drinking water sources failed to meet national standards in 1981, and, in 1998, the failure rate was more than 83 per cent, according to studies carried out by his institute.
Their latest survey suggests more than 450 drinking water sources in key national environmental protection cities could not meet the standards, a number six times higher than the official figure. But these results have not been made available to the mainland public.
"If we release these figures to the public, there will be total havoc ... The figures we reported to the central government are classified," he said.
"There is only one correct figure you and Xinhua can report, and that is the official figure."
Speaking in English to a multinational audience, Dr Zheng said Hunan , Anhui , Jiangsu and Shanxi provinces were the worst in terms of drinking water safety.
"For the river-type water sources, Hunan province and Anhui province had the lowest rate of meeting national standards, just 60.28 per cent and 46.7 per cent respectively; for lake and reservoir type water sources, the lowest rates were in Anhui province with 71.4 per cent and Jiangsu province with 30.7 per cent."
Nearly half of the undergound water sources in Shanxi were not suitable for drinking, he said.
In terms of the mainalnd's high-profile algal outbreaks this year, Dr Zheng said lake and reservoir type water resources were serious polluted and nutrient levels generally exceeded standards.
"Seventy-five per cent of the lakes show [excessive nutrient levels] to a different extent. The drinking water sources in the Three Gorges Reservoir tributaries are in danger."
Dr Zheng said existing controls covering protected source water areas were ineffective.
"In Hubei province, investigations showed that unauthorised construction existed in 23 water source protection zones.
"In Ningxia , in a centralised drinking water source protection zone there are 73 enterprises with ... annual ammonia emissions of 1,023 tonnes."
Greens want open space in district
The Source:The Standard
Date of issue:Thursday, September 13, 2007
topic related: city
Environmental group GreenSense wants the whole West Kowloon cultural district to be open areas without land set for commercial use.
This was the group's reaction to the government's new plan for the harbor- side cultural district.
Under the new plan announced yesterday, the government has set the maximum overall plot ratio for the whole site at 1.81 and a height restriction of 50 to 100 meters.
But GreenSense said the restrictions are not enough as the government will sell some of the land for commercial use and developers will build high-rise buildings at the site.
GreenSense president Tam Hoi- pong explained that any high-rise building will affect air flow and create a "wall effect."
Tam said: "I think the government has already made enough money to develop the cultural facilities at the site. It does not need to sell any land for commercial use to finance the project."
He said nearby buildings at the cultural district are all very tall and they have already blocked air flows.
Hong Kong Observatory senior scientific officer Leung Wing-mo said the height restriction and maximum plot ratio will not alleviate the "heat-island" problem in Hong Kong.
"But at least it will not worsen the heat-island effect," Leung added.
The effect is the phenomenon of urban air and surface temperatures being higher than rural areas as tall buildings and narrow streets trap heat and reduce air flow. SCARLETT CHIANG
Date of issue:Thursday, September 13, 2007
topic related: city
Environmental group GreenSense wants the whole West Kowloon cultural district to be open areas without land set for commercial use.
This was the group's reaction to the government's new plan for the harbor- side cultural district.
Under the new plan announced yesterday, the government has set the maximum overall plot ratio for the whole site at 1.81 and a height restriction of 50 to 100 meters.
But GreenSense said the restrictions are not enough as the government will sell some of the land for commercial use and developers will build high-rise buildings at the site.
GreenSense president Tam Hoi- pong explained that any high-rise building will affect air flow and create a "wall effect."
Tam said: "I think the government has already made enough money to develop the cultural facilities at the site. It does not need to sell any land for commercial use to finance the project."
He said nearby buildings at the cultural district are all very tall and they have already blocked air flows.
Hong Kong Observatory senior scientific officer Leung Wing-mo said the height restriction and maximum plot ratio will not alleviate the "heat-island" problem in Hong Kong.
"But at least it will not worsen the heat-island effect," Leung added.
The effect is the phenomenon of urban air and surface temperatures being higher than rural areas as tall buildings and narrow streets trap heat and reduce air flow. SCARLETT CHIANG
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
億年岩石老而彌堅 《地質考察指引》面世 港岩石具特色價值高 (明報) 09月 12日 星期三
【明報專訊】拆、拆、拆。香港常被人詬病，沒有一樣舊東西可以抵擋得住城市發展的大潮流。但其實有些事物已經留在香港4億年，並且透過自己的形態，告訴你香港環境千百萬年的變遷，你要拆走他亦很困難，因為它就是岩石。
深入西貢 萬宜水庫 東壩，面前是一幅幅幾十呎高、線條紋理清晰的火山岩石柱牆，部分石柱經過逾億年的地殼變動和擠壓，扭曲形成不同有趣的圖案。
萬宜水庫多角形岩石柱 世界罕有
土木工程署總土力工程師兼工程地質學家吳國材解釋，萬宜水庫的六角形火山岩石柱，是酸性的凝灰岩，直徑有半米至1米半，厚度足有400公尺，一直延伸至地底，論柱狀的大小屬世界罕有，雖然還不及果洲群島的火山岩石柱，但該處交通較方便，於開發水庫時又已移除岩石上的植物，市民可看到獨有的流紋質凝灰岩層中的扭曲岩層，極有考察價值。
吳國材說，岩石都已有過千萬年歷史，由於石質堅固，不擔心會受到風化摧殘破壞，但他指出，岩石及化石最大的破壞者，其實是人類的塗鴉和擅自採集，「岩石一旦被破壞了，一定不可以再還原，若隨便拿走的話，它們便會從此消失於大自然」。他又提醒，若走近山坡觀察，要小心避免被山上的落石擊中。
“土木工程拓展署轄下的土力工程處最新出版的《香港地質考察指引》，適合修讀地理的學生及有興趣到野外觀岩的普羅市民。它介紹了24個可以看到特色岩石的好去處，並教導如何乘坐公共交通工具到每個目的地，其中馬屎洲、荔枝莊及東平洲，已被漁農自然護理署 評定為「具特殊科學價值地點」，特別值得市民一遊。《指引》售66元，已在政府刊物銷售處有售，另外政府亦將1000本分發到全港各中學及公共圖書館，供有興趣的市民借閱。”
科學家警告北極冰山面積今夏創新低 (星島) 09月 12日 星期三
科學家警告北極冰山面積今夏創新低 (星島) 09月 12日 星期三 02:57PM
正當人人都擔心全球氣候暖化 、北極 的冰山迅速融化及可能造成大災難之際，位於美國 科羅拉多州博爾頓市的國家冰雪數據中心（NSIDC）的科學家發出最新警告，指北冰洋上的冰山和冰層面積，在今年
夏季創下了歷來最低紀錄。國家冰雪數據中心利用人造衛星數據和影象，進行分析，現時估計北冰洋的冰山和冰層面積，只得424萬平方公里，比半個美國還要少。這個數字，較2005年9月創下的低紀錄532萬平方公里，減少了兩成。國家冰雪數據中心的高級研究科學家塞里茲形容，北極冰山和冰層減少的速度，「令人震驚」。他說：「這是我們過去30年見過的最大減幅，令人感到咋舌。」大部分科研人員本來預測，將來每年夏季的幾個月，北冰洋上的冰山和冰層將會消失，但相信這種情況要等到2070年之後，才會出現。不過，如果估計這種情況會提早在2030年降臨，一點也不稀奇。
正當人人都擔心全球氣候暖化 、北極 的冰山迅速融化及可能造成大災難之際，位於美國 科羅拉多州博爾頓市的國家冰雪數據中心（NSIDC）的科學家發出最新警告，指北冰洋上的冰山和冰層面積，在今年
夏季創下了歷來最低紀錄。國家冰雪數據中心利用人造衛星數據和影象，進行分析，現時估計北冰洋的冰山和冰層面積，只得424萬平方公里，比半個美國還要少。這個數字，較2005年9月創下的低紀錄532萬平方公里，減少了兩成。國家冰雪數據中心的高級研究科學家塞里茲形容，北極冰山和冰層減少的速度，「令人震驚」。他說：「這是我們過去30年見過的最大減幅，令人感到咋舌。」大部分科研人員本來預測，將來每年夏季的幾個月，北冰洋上的冰山和冰層將會消失，但相信這種情況要等到2070年之後，才會出現。不過，如果估計這種情況會提早在2030年降臨，一點也不稀奇。
颱 風 吹 襲 日 本 2 死 76 傷
颱 風 「 菲 特 」 昨 日 凌 晨 登 陸 日 本 神 奈 川 縣 ， 為 東 京 和 關 東 地 區 帶 來 狂 風 暴 雨 ， 一 名 76 歲 老 翁 被 塌 樹 擊 中 死 亡 ， 另 有 一 人 死 亡 和 76 人 受 傷 ， 最 少 一 人 失 蹤 。 多 摩 川 河 沿 岸 有 30 多 名 露 宿 者 被 氾 濫 河 水 走 ， 需 要 當 局 出 動 直 升 機 及 救 生 艇 拯 救 。 颱 風 令 200 多 班 國 內 航 班 停 飛 ， 受 影 響 乘 客 多 達 36,700 人 ， 東 京 部 份 鐵 路 停 駛 ， 664 間 房 屋 被 水 淹 或 被 強 風 吹 毀 ， 至 少 80,000 戶 沒 電 力 供 應 。 法 新 社
港億年火山岩「鬼斧神工」(12-9-2007)
萬 宜 水 庫 的 火 山 岩 地 貌 有 如 「 鬼 斧 神 工 」 。
(星島日報報道)岩石是記錄地球歷史的時鐘，讓人們置身時光隧道，追溯遠古的世界景況。香港的土地，超過一半是在六千五百萬年至二億年前之間形成，不少更是因火山爆發後岩漿冷卻而成的凝灰岩和花崗岩，例如萬宜水庫東壩旁的六角形火山岩石柱，極具氣勢，令人難免讚歎大自然的鬼斧神工。 土木工程拓展署總土力工程師吳國材表示，香港的地質歷史達四億一千七百萬年泥盆紀之久，最多的岩石為花崗岩及火山岩，共佔香港超過一半的範圍，約在一億四千萬年至一億八千萬年前之間形成，兩者都相當堅硬，維港兩岸的平地多為花崗岩，高地則多為火山岩。 要近距離欣賞火山岩，理想地點非萬宜水庫莫屬。 東壩除鋪上大量工
字錨形石蔚為奇觀外，由於港府在七十年代建水庫而鑿山，邊坡亦可見大片六角形的火山岩柱，岩柱深入地下四百米，當中更有呈「S」形，令人歎為觀止。 吳國材解釋，這現象相信由於火山湧出的岩漿在不同時間凝固，上面的重量向下壓令下面的岩柱變形。 為向市民推廣香港地質的普及知識及觀賞指南，土木署近日出版了《香港地質觀察指引》，介紹香港二十四處具有特色的地質地貌觀察點，並列出交通路及評述，方便市民按圖索驥，每本港幣六十六元，部分會向送往各學校及圖書館。
(星島日報報道)岩石是記錄地球歷史的時鐘，讓人們置身時光隧道，追溯遠古的世界景況。香港的土地，超過一半是在六千五百萬年至二億年前之間形成，不少更是因火山爆發後岩漿冷卻而成的凝灰岩和花崗岩，例如萬宜水庫東壩旁的六角形火山岩石柱，極具氣勢，令人難免讚歎大自然的鬼斧神工。 土木工程拓展署總土力工程師吳國材表示，香港的地質歷史達四億一千七百萬年泥盆紀之久，最多的岩石為花崗岩及火山岩，共佔香港超過一半的範圍，約在一億四千萬年至一億八千萬年前之間形成，兩者都相當堅硬，維港兩岸的平地多為花崗岩，高地則多為火山岩。 要近距離欣賞火山岩，理想地點非萬宜水庫莫屬。 東壩除鋪上大量工
字錨形石蔚為奇觀外，由於港府在七十年代建水庫而鑿山，邊坡亦可見大片六角形的火山岩柱，岩柱深入地下四百米，當中更有呈「S」形，令人歎為觀止。 吳國材解釋，這現象相信由於火山湧出的岩漿在不同時間凝固，上面的重量向下壓令下面的岩柱變形。 為向市民推廣香港地質的普及知識及觀賞指南，土木署近日出版了《香港地質觀察指引》，介紹香港二十四處具有特色的地質地貌觀察點，並列出交通路及評述，方便市民按圖索驥，每本港幣六十六元，部分會向送往各學校及圖書館。
Monday, September 10, 2007
公屋現金收廢物 紙回收量20倍 (09月 10日)
公共屋村3年前試行「以物易物」廢物回收計劃，讓清潔商派發日用品鼓勵居民交出廢物，但成效不顯。房屋署最近放寬改以金錢利誘，居民只要走多幾步到回收商攤檔丟棄廢紙爛鐵，便可輕易換取數元至數十元。有參與的屋村錄得驚人回收升幅，一年來廢紙回收量升20倍。
9屋村參與試驗計劃
房屋署去年10月在4個屋村推行「現金換回收物料」試驗計劃，由回收商或清潔承辦商在村內公共範圍擺檔。計劃現踏入第二期，有9個屋村參與（見表）。
油塘鯉魚門村是參加計劃的屋村之一，回收攤檔每天開放4小時，居民每交出1公斤報紙或廢紙，可獲得0.8元，膠樽每公斤收0.5元，鋁罐每個0.1元。
管理該村的房屋事務經理何笑興表示，計劃推行近1年，居民反應踴躍，回收廢紙最多，回收攤檔及固有的樓層回收箱合共收集的廢紙量，與去年同期單靠樓層回收比較，上升了20倍。不少居民還帶同子女送交廢物到回收站，以作環保教育。
房署規管 確保回收價公道
在該村擺檔的回收商代表陳國雄表示，房屋署容許回收商入村，對街坊同樣有好處。「若果要阿公阿婆推車送廢紙，老遠走到街舖給回收商，又要上斜路，他們都辛苦，試過有長者過馬路被車撞。」
陳的攤檔每日收到約1噸廢紙，膠樽、廢鐵則收約200公斤，他再將廢物交至大回收廠，賺取400至500元。他認為現金對街坊吸引力較高，3年前曾參加以物易物回收計劃，一天只收得200公斤廢紙，居民反應冷淡，對紙巾、食油、即食麵、文具等換領品沒有興趣，有街坊寧願走遠一點拿廢物到街舖回收商換領現金。
陳國雄認為房屋署可起規管作用，確保回收價格公道，「例如房屋署見廢紙回收價由800元1噸升至1200元，便會要求我們給予居民多一些回收費，由每公斤6毫加至8毫」。
房屋署高級房屋事務經理葉汝新亦承認，現金較以物易物有效，回收攤檔亦可補足樓層回收的不足，「確有少數街坊會順手牽羊，到大廈垃圾房取去回收的廢物變賣」。
該試驗計劃完畢後，房屋署會研究是否拓展至更多屋村。
9屋村參與試驗計劃
房屋署去年10月在4個屋村推行「現金換回收物料」試驗計劃，由回收商或清潔承辦商在村內公共範圍擺檔。計劃現踏入第二期，有9個屋村參與（見表）。
油塘鯉魚門村是參加計劃的屋村之一，回收攤檔每天開放4小時，居民每交出1公斤報紙或廢紙，可獲得0.8元，膠樽每公斤收0.5元，鋁罐每個0.1元。
管理該村的房屋事務經理何笑興表示，計劃推行近1年，居民反應踴躍，回收廢紙最多，回收攤檔及固有的樓層回收箱合共收集的廢紙量，與去年同期單靠樓層回收比較，上升了20倍。不少居民還帶同子女送交廢物到回收站，以作環保教育。
房署規管 確保回收價公道
在該村擺檔的回收商代表陳國雄表示，房屋署容許回收商入村，對街坊同樣有好處。「若果要阿公阿婆推車送廢紙，老遠走到街舖給回收商，又要上斜路，他們都辛苦，試過有長者過馬路被車撞。」
陳的攤檔每日收到約1噸廢紙，膠樽、廢鐵則收約200公斤，他再將廢物交至大回收廠，賺取400至500元。他認為現金對街坊吸引力較高，3年前曾參加以物易物回收計劃，一天只收得200公斤廢紙，居民反應冷淡，對紙巾、食油、即食麵、文具等換領品沒有興趣，有街坊寧願走遠一點拿廢物到街舖回收商換領現金。
陳國雄認為房屋署可起規管作用，確保回收價格公道，「例如房屋署見廢紙回收價由800元1噸升至1200元，便會要求我們給予居民多一些回收費，由每公斤6毫加至8毫」。
房屋署高級房屋事務經理葉汝新亦承認，現金較以物易物有效，回收攤檔亦可補足樓層回收的不足，「確有少數街坊會順手牽羊，到大廈垃圾房取去回收的廢物變賣」。
該試驗計劃完畢後，房屋署會研究是否拓展至更多屋村。
Sunday, September 9, 2007
環保團體轟西半山規劃現屏風效應
環保團體環保觸覺，批評政府無正視半山區塞車及屏風樓問題，批出十二份位於西半山的圖則，大部將興建三十至五十層高樓宇，料未來會加劇西半山交通問題及屏風效應。環保觸覺指出，該十二份位於西半山的圖則，其中甘棠第附近，更將會有五十層高的高樓，勢令甘棠第變成狹谷。他們要求發展局及運輸局，盡快加強半山區的規劃限制，減少屏風樓問題，以及按申訴專員的建議，收緊建築物條例，讓屋宇署 可按建築密度否決圖則。
權威地圖集改版展現環境災難 (09月06日)
全球氣候暖化與人為因素，令地球地理出現顯著變化，專門出版世界地圖集的英國 《泰晤士報世界地圖集》（Times Atlas），便因為過去4年間氣候變遷導致全球景觀出現巨大變化，不得不
在即將推出的第12版中，大幅修訂內容。地圖集總編輯表示，「環境災難正活現人類眼前」。
地貌急變 相隔4年改新版
受溫室效應影響，海水水位不斷上升，多處海岸線出現變化，《泰晤士報世界地圖集》的製圖師因此必須重繪海岸線，並重新將不同的陸地分類，以反應地貌改變。另外，湖泊面積減少、冰川溶化，都會在新版地圖集中修訂。第11版地圖集於2003年出版，對於這份有百多年歷史、但只曾改版11次的地圖集而言，今次相隔4年就要發行新版，顯示地球面貌正急劇改變。
以河流為例，中國的黃河 、美國 的科羅拉多河及伊拉克 的底格里斯河，每年夏天都出現乾涸情，有時甚至出口淤塞，令河水無法順利流出海。中東名勝死海的水位，亦比50年前降低了25米；太平洋多個島國都受到海水水位上升威脅，其中全球最低的國家圖瓦魯，最高點離海平面僅5米，隨時有被水淹危機。
「著名地理特徵快消失」
另外，有些地貌改變是受到人為灌溉計劃影響，像位於中亞的鹹海，由於水源被引用去灌溉棉花田，湖面面積在過去40年大幅縮減3/4。非洲的乍得湖面積，更比1963年減少95%。
《泰晤士報世界地圖集》總編輯阿什沃斯說：「我們眼睜睜看環境災難發生，真的很害怕在不久的將來，許多著名的地理特徵會永遠消失……我們自1895年起便印製地圖，因此我們很清楚過去百多年來地貌的變化。無可否認，部分地區的變化確實很大，以鹹湖為例，消失的面積，就等同半個英格蘭 地區。」他又說：「許多地方的外形都在改變，像孟加拉的海平面每年上升3公分，對海岸線造成不可思議的影響。」
城市化加快 威脅水源
除了地貌變化，地圖集也會記錄人類的人文活動和變化。地圖集指出，人類城市化的速度令人憂慮，估計今年內城市人數目將首次超過鄉村人，到2030年每5個人就有3個住在城市。阿什沃斯說，超級城市主要是在亞洲出現，若趨勢進一步加劇，就可能會造成嚴重物流問題，包括水源和環境威脅。
在即將推出的第12版中，大幅修訂內容。地圖集總編輯表示，「環境災難正活現人類眼前」。
地貌急變 相隔4年改新版
受溫室效應影響，海水水位不斷上升，多處海岸線出現變化，《泰晤士報世界地圖集》的製圖師因此必須重繪海岸線，並重新將不同的陸地分類，以反應地貌改變。另外，湖泊面積減少、冰川溶化，都會在新版地圖集中修訂。第11版地圖集於2003年出版，對於這份有百多年歷史、但只曾改版11次的地圖集而言，今次相隔4年就要發行新版，顯示地球面貌正急劇改變。
以河流為例，中國的黃河 、美國 的科羅拉多河及伊拉克 的底格里斯河，每年夏天都出現乾涸情，有時甚至出口淤塞，令河水無法順利流出海。中東名勝死海的水位，亦比50年前降低了25米；太平洋多個島國都受到海水水位上升威脅，其中全球最低的國家圖瓦魯，最高點離海平面僅5米，隨時有被水淹危機。
「著名地理特徵快消失」
另外，有些地貌改變是受到人為灌溉計劃影響，像位於中亞的鹹海，由於水源被引用去灌溉棉花田，湖面面積在過去40年大幅縮減3/4。非洲的乍得湖面積，更比1963年減少95%。
《泰晤士報世界地圖集》總編輯阿什沃斯說：「我們眼睜睜看環境災難發生，真的很害怕在不久的將來，許多著名的地理特徵會永遠消失……我們自1895年起便印製地圖，因此我們很清楚過去百多年來地貌的變化。無可否認，部分地區的變化確實很大，以鹹湖為例，消失的面積，就等同半個英格蘭 地區。」他又說：「許多地方的外形都在改變，像孟加拉的海平面每年上升3公分，對海岸線造成不可思議的影響。」
城市化加快 威脅水源
除了地貌變化，地圖集也會記錄人類的人文活動和變化。地圖集指出，人類城市化的速度令人憂慮，估計今年內城市人數目將首次超過鄉村人，到2030年每5個人就有3個住在城市。阿什沃斯說，超級城市主要是在亞洲出現，若趨勢進一步加劇，就可能會造成嚴重物流問題，包括水源和環境威脅。
意大利埃特納火山爆發 (09月 05日)
意大利南端西西里島的著名火山埃特納火山爆發，噴發出熾熱的岩漿和濃黑的煙霧。
雖然看上去似乎對當地居民十分危險，但意大利當地政府部門仍然認為目前火山爆發仍不足以對當地居民的生活構成嚴重威脅，因此只是加強了對火山的嚴密監控。當地的主要機場由於火山爆發造成能見度降低而被迫關閉。此次火山噴發也吸引了大量遊客慕名前來。
埃特納火山是歐洲最大、最高、最活躍的火山，海拔3200米。主要火山口海拔3323米。周圍還有200多個較小的火山錐。據文獻記載，埃特納火山已有500多次爆發歷史，被稱為世界上噴發次數最多的火山。自本月1日起，火山的活動就開始加劇。
該火山最猛烈的爆發則是在公元1669年，持續了4個月之久，熔岩噴發量達7.8億立方米，滾滾熔岩沖入附近的卡塔尼亞市，使整個城市成為一片火海，2萬人因此而喪生。18世紀以來，埃特納火山爆發更加頻繁，但基本沒有造成嚴重損失。
雖然看上去似乎對當地居民十分危險，但意大利當地政府部門仍然認為目前火山爆發仍不足以對當地居民的生活構成嚴重威脅，因此只是加強了對火山的嚴密監控。當地的主要機場由於火山爆發造成能見度降低而被迫關閉。此次火山噴發也吸引了大量遊客慕名前來。
埃特納火山是歐洲最大、最高、最活躍的火山，海拔3200米。主要火山口海拔3323米。周圍還有200多個較小的火山錐。據文獻記載，埃特納火山已有500多次爆發歷史，被稱為世界上噴發次數最多的火山。自本月1日起，火山的活動就開始加劇。
該火山最猛烈的爆發則是在公元1669年，持續了4個月之久，熔岩噴發量達7.8億立方米，滾滾熔岩沖入附近的卡塔尼亞市，使整個城市成為一片火海，2萬人因此而喪生。18世紀以來，埃特納火山爆發更加頻繁，但基本沒有造成嚴重損失。
五級颶風菲利克斯狂襲中美洲,造成四死還可能引發土石流 (09月 05日)
尼加拉瓜卡貝薩斯港電---颶風菲利克斯(Felix)週二侵襲中美洲，在尼加拉瓜的加勒比海岸一港口造成損害，至少導致四人死亡，還可能在宏都拉斯及瓜地馬拉引發致命土石流。菲利克斯以五級颶風威力侵襲陸地，大肆破壞尼加拉瓜北部的卡貝薩斯港(Purto Cabezas)，呼嘯的狂風掀開房屋及避難所的屋頂，摧毀一間教堂。被連根拔起的樹在空中飛舞，而數以千計民眾擠在港口的兩所學校中避難。鎮上及海岸區附近有四人死亡，包括一名小女孩。菲利克斯令整個中美洲心驚膽顫，深怕1988年米奇颶風導致約一萬人死亡的悲劇重演。菲利克斯緊接著另外一個五級颶風狄恩而來。狄恩颶風上個月在加勒比海及墨西哥造成27人死亡。這是自1851年有紀錄以來，第一次兩個五級大西洋颶風在同一季節中登陸，也是第四次同一年中出現一個以上五級颶風。菲利克斯在通過尼加拉瓜北部時，已經減弱為一級颶風，但然非常危險。約有七萬宏都拉斯人撤離至避難所，但仍有1.5萬人左右無法找到交通工具，被迫留在家中忍受暴風侵襲。宏都拉斯首都德古斯加巴當局告訴市區遭洪水威脅的一萬名群眾要撤離，否則警方將強制將他們撤到安全地點。
熱浪襲南加州43度高溫16人熱死 (09月 05日)
美國南加州地區持續受到熱浪侵襲，多個地區過去一周錄得攝氏43度的高溫，而持續的酷熱天氣已導致至少16人死亡。單是洛杉磯 縣便有12人喪生，包括一對年老夫婦被發現倒斃家中，當時氣溫超出攝氏43度。南加州近日的高溫天氣令到該區用電量急增，以致電力不勝負荷，一度有超過五十萬戶停電。在炎熱天氣下，至少已有16人抵受不住高溫喪命。當中洛杉磯的氣溫曾在周一高達攝氏43度，一對年屆80多歲的長者夫婦便懷疑因為屋內未有裝設空調，因此熱死。當地另有9人在高溫下喪生。其中一名26歲青年上周六在高溫下踏單車，其後失去聯絡，最終發現熱死。在周日，一名居於汽車屋的53歲婦人被發現倒斃車廂內。聖貝納迪諾縣有3人死亡，其中一名死者屍體在美國海軍陸戰隊基地發現，死者的友人亦脫水不適。據報死者失蹤了一天，顯然因為脫水死亡。據悉兩人非法在美軍基地內收集廢棄金屬，但後來兩人失散，結果一死一脫水。在里弗塞德，也有一人熱死。
逾九成用戶滿意樓宇食水水質 (09月 05日)
水務署 署長陳志超表示，該署委託顧問公司進行的一項「樓宇食水水質」意見調查發現，超過九成受訪者均對本港食水水質感到滿意。此外，調查顯示大部分受訪者了解定期維修大廈內部供水系統的重要性，亦了解若水質出現問題，不能單指是由於水務署過濾食水有所不足或東江水水源質素欠佳所引致。陳志超指出，事實上，經水務署濾水廠處理後的食水與其他先進國家一樣，品質優良，加上如果樓宇的內部供水系統得到妥善管理及維修，自來水是可以直接飲用的。「樓宇食水水質」意見調查結果顯示，住宅用戶及物業管理公司均對本港食水水質持正面看法。與二○○二年的調查相比，住宅用戶對自來水的氣味、清澈無顏色和無雜質等範疇的滿意程度都有顯著上升。但居於十至二十年樓齡樓宇的住戶，對整體及個別範疇的水喉水質素滿意程度相對較低，正好反映這些樓齡的樓宇，其供水裝置或設備可能已出現銹蝕及老化的情況，但卻未至於必須徹底更換的階段。另外，接近四成的受訪住宅用戶認為翻新供水裝置或設施，是各項樓宇大型翻新項目之中最為重要的一項。
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
天文台香港公園設自動氣象站
天文台在香港公園安裝了一個自動氣象站予市民了解區內最新溫度的資料。自動氣象站是由太陽能發電，將收集得來的資料經無線電傳送回天文台，市民可以由天文台的網頁或者電話查詢等途徑，取得該區的溫度資料，資料每10分鐘會更新一次。這個氣象站是配合天文台「一區一站」的計劃，希望達致在18區，每區最少設立一個氣象站的目標。
觀塘重建規劃 城規周五審核
膠袋費不用於環保 料每年2億直接撥庫房
港府曾構思將徵收的膠袋費用，用於推動環保，但政府消息人士昨日表示，不宜將兩者掛，擔心令市民誤以為付出膠袋費，等於支持環保，因此日後徵收的膠袋費，會直接撥入庫房，承諾政府會致力推動環保工作。綠領行動總幹事何漢威對此表示失望，批評政府不願承諾將部分徵款用於環保，會阻礙回收業發展。
政府完成膠袋收費的公眾諮詢，消息人士表示，社會普遍支持透過徵費減少濫用膠袋，當中只有小部分機構，如香港零售管理協會及香港塑料袋業廠商會表示反對。消息強調，目前每個港人每日使用約3個膠袋，普遍高於外國，因此有必要透過具阻嚇力措施，減少濫用。
恐市民感「買膠袋支持環保」
何漢威指出，政府不願將收費撥歸庫房的理據不足，「怎會有市民認為付款購買膠袋是支持環保？」他批評政府難以自圓其說。他說，政府估計徵收膠袋費每年可帶來2億元收入，「該筆款項與政府龐大盈餘比較不算什麼，賣一塊地都有幾十億元收入，但對回收業就是天文數字，環保署早前才撥款1000萬元供申請進行環保活動，金額實在太小」。他認為應「取之環保，用之環保」。
環保署於5月至7月期間，成功訪問1000名市民，66％受訪者支持向膠袋徵費；76％人認為，每個膠袋徵收0.5元具阻嚇力；89％人同意有減用膠袋的空間；78％人表示若政府實施徵費，會減少使用膠袋。消息表示，會於新立法年度向立法會提交條例草案，若新法例於明年中通過，可望於2008年底正式實施。
66%受訪者支持徵費
香港零售管理協會早前批評環保署高估業界耗用膠袋量，質疑收費成效，政府消息人士昨日承認，協會的調查於06年進行，環保署則於05年在堆填區實地統計，因此有出入。政府指收費後，每年可減少10億個膠袋，佔受規管零售商戶約一半消耗量，但協會06年自行統計顯示，全年消耗量僅7.7億個。消息人士昨日改口風，指減少10億個膠袋「並非鐵定目標」，強調徵費目的是減少濫用膠袋，不應在這個問題上爭拗。
政府完成膠袋收費的公眾諮詢，消息人士表示，社會普遍支持透過徵費減少濫用膠袋，當中只有小部分機構，如香港零售管理協會及香港塑料袋業廠商會表示反對。消息強調，目前每個港人每日使用約3個膠袋，普遍高於外國，因此有必要透過具阻嚇力措施，減少濫用。
恐市民感「買膠袋支持環保」
何漢威指出，政府不願將收費撥歸庫房的理據不足，「怎會有市民認為付款購買膠袋是支持環保？」他批評政府難以自圓其說。他說，政府估計徵收膠袋費每年可帶來2億元收入，「該筆款項與政府龐大盈餘比較不算什麼，賣一塊地都有幾十億元收入，但對回收業就是天文數字，環保署早前才撥款1000萬元供申請進行環保活動，金額實在太小」。他認為應「取之環保，用之環保」。
環保署於5月至7月期間，成功訪問1000名市民，66％受訪者支持向膠袋徵費；76％人認為，每個膠袋徵收0.5元具阻嚇力；89％人同意有減用膠袋的空間；78％人表示若政府實施徵費，會減少使用膠袋。消息表示，會於新立法年度向立法會提交條例草案，若新法例於明年中通過，可望於2008年底正式實施。
66%受訪者支持徵費
香港零售管理協會早前批評環保署高估業界耗用膠袋量，質疑收費成效，政府消息人士昨日承認，協會的調查於06年進行，環保署則於05年在堆填區實地統計，因此有出入。政府指收費後，每年可減少10億個膠袋，佔受規管零售商戶約一半消耗量，但協會06年自行統計顯示，全年消耗量僅7.7億個。消息人士昨日改口風，指減少10億個膠袋「並非鐵定目標」，強調徵費目的是減少濫用膠袋，不應在這個問題上爭拗。
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