Impact of climate change and variability on water resources in Heihe River Basin

Studies indicate that the climate has experienced a dramatic change in the Heihe River Basin with scope of temperature rise reaching 0.5-1.1 o C in the 1990s compared to the mean value of the period 1960-1990, precipitation increased 18.5 mm in the 1990s compared to the 1950s, and 6.5 mm in the 1990s compared to the mean value of the period 1960-1990, water resources decreased 2.6×10 8 m 3 in the 1990s compared to the 1950s, and 0.4×10 8 m 3 in the 1990s compared to the mean value of the period 1960-1990. These changes have exerted a greater effect on the local environment and socio-economy, and also made the condition worsening in water resources utilizations in the Heihe Rver Basin.

Differences and Links between the East Asian and South Asian Summer Monsoon Systems:Characteristics and Variability

This paper analyzes the differences in the characteristics and spatio–temporal variabilities of summertime rainfall and water vapor transport between the East Asian summer monsoon（EASM） and South Asian summer monsoon（SASM） systems. The results show obvious differences in summertime rainfall characteristics between these two monsoon systems. The summertime rainfall cloud systems of the EASM show a mixed stratiform and cumulus cloud system, while cumulus cloud dominates the SASM. These differences may be caused by differences in the vertical shear of zonal and meridional circulations and the convergence of water vapor transport fluxes. Moreover, the leading modes of the two systems＇ summertime rainfall anomalies also differ in terms of their spatiotemporal features on the interannual and interdecadal timescales. Nevertheless, several close links with respect to the spatiotemporal variabilities of summertime rainfall and water vapor transport exist between the two monsoon systems. The first modes of summertime rainfall in the SASM and EASM regions reveal a significant negative correlation on the interannual and the interdecadal timescales. This close relationship may be linked by a meridional teleconnection in the regressed summertime rainfall anomalies from India to North China through the southeastern part over the Tibetan Plateau, which we refer to as the South Asia/East Asia teleconnection pattern of Asian summer monsoon rainfall. The authors wish to dedicate this paper to Prof. Duzheng YE, and commemorate his 100 thanniversary and his great contributions to the development of atmospheric dynamics.

Online differential pressure reset method with adaptive adjustment algorithm for variable chilled water flow control in central air-conditioning systems

Central air-conditioning systems predominantly operate under partial load conditions.The optimization of a differential pressure setpoint in the chilled water system of a central air-conditioning system leads to a more energy-efficient operation.Determining the differential pressure adjustment value based on the terminal user's real-time demand is one of the critical issues to be addressed during the optimal control process.Furthermore,the online application of the differential pressure setpoint optimization method needs to be considered,along with the stability of the system.This paper proposes a variable differential pressure reset method with an adaptive adjustment algorithm based on the Mamdani fuzzy model.The proposed method was compared with differential pressure reset methods with reference to the chilled water differential temperature,outdoor temperature,and linear model based on the adjustment algorithm.The energy-saving potential,temperature control effect,and avoidance of the most unfavorable thermodynamic loop effects of the four methods were investigated experimentally.The results indicated that,while satisfying the terminal user's energy supply demand and ensuring the avoidance of the most unfavorable thermodynamic loop,the proposed adaptive adjustment algorithm also decreased the differential pressure setpoint value by 25.1%—59.1%and achieved energy savings of 10.6%-45.0%.By monitoring the valve position and supply air temperature of each terminal user,the proposed method exhibited suitable online adaptability and could be flexibly applied to buildings with random load changes.

Characterization of the Genetic Diversity of Trachemys dorbigni and Phrynops hilarii

The utilization of RAPD and ISSR molecular markers is proposed to initiate studies of genetic variability in Phrynops hilarii（Chelidae） and Trachemys dorbigni（Emydidae）, two species of fresh water turtles distributed in South America. Three primers of RAPD and four of ISSR were selected and the amplified products of these markers were evaluated by electrophoretic runs in agarose and polyacrylamide gels. The levels of heterozygosity, Shannon index and different allele numbers were slightly higher in P. hilarii for both types of markers. Levels of polymorphism were also higher in P. hilarii than T. dorbigni and both were elevated compared to those recorded for other species. The fact that similar results were obtained with both types of markers for all estimates of diversity highlights the usefulness and validity of the RAPD technique. The molecular markers used were found potentially useful for analysing future temporal and spatial distribution of genetic diversity in both species, expanding scales work.

Implementing the GEOSS water strategy: from observations to decisions

In 2014,The GEOSS Water Strategy–From Observations to Decisions was published and steps were taken to implement the Strategy’s recommendations.The Strategy highlighted priority areas where the application of Earth observations to water research and water management decisions would have significant scientific and societal benefits.This article reviews the implementation of the Strategy’s recommendations over the past eight years.After a review of the Strategy’s assessment of the needs for water observations and their applications,it then reviews actions taken in response to the Strategy’s recommendations in its four major themes:improved data acquisition for Essential Water Variables,research and product development,interoperability,and capacity development.It highlights significant achievements in the implementation of the Strategy including some motivated by factors beyond this Strategy,reviews actions taken by participating agencies and programs for each of the main themes and summarizes the remaining challenges in achieving the Strategy’s full implementation.The article not only is an update for the Water Community regarding the GEOSS Water Strategy,but it is also an example of how other communities could develop and promulgate a set of strategic recommendations,monitor progress,and carry out assessments of their effectiveness.

From laboratory to on-site operation:Reevaluation of empirically based electric water chiller models

Chiller model is a key factor to building energy simulation and chiller performance prediction.With spread of new types of electric water chillers that have higher performance and wider operating range,new challenges have been faced by building energy simulation tools and their chiller models.This work takes a new type of electric water chiller as a case study and reevaluates eight typical empirically based models for predicting the energy performance of electric water chiller to verify whether they are suitable for the new type of chiller,using both laboratory test data from chiller manufacturer and online monitoring data from on-site operation of a central cooling plant with chillers of the same type.The prediction ability of the chiller models(including model prediction accuracy and generation ability)in laboratory test and on-site operation situations are examined.The results show that the existing models can well describe the chiller performance in the laboratory test situation but perform poorly in the on-site operation situation.As the best two models in the laboratory dataset,the overall prediction errors of DOE-2 and GN model increase more than 250%and 75%respectively in the field dataset.The big discrepancy of model prediction accuracy in the two situations is mainly due to the differences of evaporator and condenser water flow rates between the laboratory and on-site operation datasets,which indicates the limitations of the empirical chiller models and implies further research in future in order to improve the suitability and reliability of chiller model.

Extreme massive hydraulic fracturing in deep coalbed methane horizontal wells:A case study of the Linxing Block,eastern Ordos Basin,NW China

Deep coal seams show low permeability,low elastic modulus,high Poisson’s ratio,strong plasticity,high fracture initiation pressure,difficulty in fracture extension,and difficulty in proppants addition.We proposed the concept of large-scale stimulation by fracture network,balanced propagation and effective support of fracture network in fracturing design and developed the extreme massive hydraulic fracturing technique for deep coalbed methane(CBM)horizontal wells.This technique involves massive injection with high pumping rate+high-intensity proppant injection+perforation with equal apertures and limited flow+temporary plugging and diverting fractures+slick water with integrated variable viscosity+graded proppants with multiple sizes.The technique was applied in the pioneering test of a multi-stage fracturing horizontal well in deep CBM of Linxing Block,eastern margin of the Ordos Basin.The injection flow rate is 18 m^(3)/min,proppant intensity is 2.1 m^(3)/m,and fracturing fluid intensity is 16.5 m^(3)/m.After fracturing,a complex fracture network was formed,with an average fracture length of 205 m.The stimulated reservoir volume was 1987×10^(4)m^(3),and the peak gas production rate reached 6.0×10^(4)m^(3)/d,which achieved efficient development of deep CBM.