EVALUATION OF THE OPERATIONAL OZONE FORECAST MODEL OF THE ZAMG WITH MEASUREMENTS OF THE AUSTRIAN AIR QUALITY NETWORK

Operational model forecasts of ozone concentrations are compared to the observations of about 150 air quality stations in Austria. Evaluations of the last three summers revealed that exceedances of the information threshold could be predicted quite well by the model. Investigation of a heat period in summer 2006 indicates possible sources of precursors. The Lagrangian particle model LASAT (www.janicke.de) is used additionally to the chemical model CAMx (www.camx.com) to show the dispersion of the plumes of stacks with high emissions of NOx in the vicinity of Vienna. For two months in summer 2007 sensitivity studies with different input parameters were performed. Model runs with different parameterisations for the vertical diffusion coefficient (Kv) are conducted and experiments with different values of the minimum values of Kv in the lower levels show the influence of this parameter on the nocturnal ozone decrease for different sites. Different model runs with variable boundary conditions at the top of the modelling domain as well as variable total ozone column data are performed

IIASA/EQU Justice Framework: A descriptive guideline for science and policy

The consideration of justice has become a critical area of focus for researchers, as awareness is increasing that (perceived) injustices are a main barrier for effectively tackling the interconnected global grand challenges, such as the climate and the biodiversity crises. Insufficient attention to perceptions of justice is a major issue slowing progress on climate change and other major policy issues. Justice, however, is difficult to grasp as it is a multi-dimensional and culturally diverse term and is in many instances of global socio-environmental issues not formally institutionalized. This working paper introduces the first version of the IIASA/EQU justice framework, which comprehensively outlines justice in its multiple aspects with the aim to facilitate justice assessment across diverse research and policy contexts. It is thus a descriptive framework with no normative objectives. The framework is grounded in philosophy and is applied and tested in a variety of applications, to be useful for research and decision-making. It is meant to be accessible across disciplines, powerful in terms of capacity to express a variety of justice ideas, and modular so researchers can select and deploy the aspects that are most appropriate or useful. The framework as presented here serves as a baseline for further refinement, expansion, applications, and evaluation across disciplines, subject areas, and cultural backgrounds

Propionate Formation from Cellulose and Soluble Sugars by Combined Cultures of <i>Bacteroides succinogenes</i> and <i>Selenomonas ruminantium</i>

Succinate is formed as an intermediate but not as a normal end product of the bovine rumen fermentation. However, numerous rumen bacteria are present, e.g., Bacteroides succinogenes , which produce succinate as a major product of carbohydrate fermentation. Selenomonas ruminantium , another rumen species, produces propionate via the succinate or randomizing pathway. These two organisms were co-cultured to determine if S. ruminantium could decarboxylate succinate produced by B. succinogenes . When energy sources used competitively by both species, i.e. glucose or cellobiose, were employed, no succinate was found in combined cultures, although a significant amount was expected from the numbers of Bacteroides present. The propionate production per S. ruminantium was significantly greater in combined than in single S. ruminantium cultures, which indicated that S. ruminantium was decarboxylating the succinate produced by B. succinogenes. S. ruminantium , which does not use cellulose, grew on cellulose when co-cultured with B. succinogenes . Succinate, but not propionate, was produced from cellulose by B. succinogenes alone. Propionate, but no succinate, accumulated when the combined cultures were grown on cellulose. These interspecies interactions are models for the rumen ecosystem interactions involved in the production of succinate by one species and its decarboxylation to propionate by a second species. </jats:p

H ₂ Production by <i>Selenomonas ruminantium</i> in the Absence and Presence of Methanogenic Bacteria

Selenomonas ruminantium is a nonsporeforming anaerobe that ferments carbohydrates primarily to lactate, propionate, acetate and CO 2 . H 2 production by this species has not been previously reported. We found, however, that some strains produce trace amounts of H 2 which can be detected by sensitive gas chromatographic procedures. H 2 production is increased markedly, in some cases almost 100-fold, when the selenomonads are co-cultured with methane-producing bacteria. Growth of the methane-producing bacteria depends on H 2 production by the selenomonads and the subsequent use of H 2 for the reduction of CO 2 to CH 4 . Although no free H 2 accumulates in the mixed cultures, the amount of H 2 formed by the selenomonads can be calculated from the amount of methane produced. These studies indicate that the conventional methods for measuring H 2 production by pure cultures do not provide an adequate estimate of an organism's potential for forming H 2 in an anaerobic ecosystem where H 2 is rapidly used, e.g., for formation of CH 4 . </jats:p

Nutritional Requirements of <i>Selenomonas ruminantium</i> for Growth on Lactate, Glycerol, or Glucose

The nutritional requirements of Selenomonas ruminantium HD4 for growth on glucose, glycerol, or lactate were investigated to clarify the results of previous studies and to relate the nutrition of the organism to its physiology. The organism required l -aspartate, CO 2 , p -aminobenzoic acid, and biotin for growth on a lactate-salts medium that contained small amounts of dithiothreitol. Aspartate could be replaced by l -malate or fumarate but not by succinate or l -asparagine. Requirements for growth with glycerol as an energy source were similar, except that aspartate was not required. With glucose as the energy source, neither aspartate nor p -aminobenzoic acid was required, but a requirement for volatile fatty acids, which could be met by n -valerate, was observed. CO 2 was required for growth on lactate or glycerol but not on glucose on complex media containing Trypticase and yeast extract. Sulfide could be used as the sole source of sulfur. </jats:p