UCL open environment最新文献

{"title":"Assessing SDG indicator 6.4.2 'level of water stress' at major basins level.","authors":"Riccardo Biancalani,&nbsp;Michela Marinelli","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper describes a method to disaggregate indicator 6.4.2 (level of water stress) by major river basins. The analysis was performed using the GlobWat soil water balance model and global geospatial data consistent with national statistics published in AQUASTAT, the FAO's global information system on water and agriculture. When a river basin spans across more than one country, the water stress calculated by country can be very different from that calculated by the river basin as the counting of the renewable freshwater resources from one country to another is highly dependent on the official agreement and treaties that regulate the flow of those resources between countries. This problem is solved hydrologically once the accounting of the water resources is done on the major river basin as a whole. The disaggregation by the river basin allows the identification of hotspots where actions should be prioritised and reveals that the area affected by a high or critical water stress spans across all continents with the exception of Oceania. It also offers the possibility of an analysis of freshwater withdrawals by sector, which may become crucial for the definition of water management policies in the context of the economic development of a country.</p>","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"3 ","pages":"e026"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10208326/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9526491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Basic considerations on the practical method for predicting sound insulation performance of a single-leaf window.","authors":"Yohei Tsukamoto,&nbsp;Kimihiro Sakagami,&nbsp;Takeshi Okuzono,&nbsp;Yoshihiro Tomikawa","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As a basic study of a practical method for predicting the sound insulation performance of windows, this report presents a study of the sound reduction index of windows with single glazing, below a critical frequency. First, the results calculated by an existing theory for a single plate for the sound reduction indices are compared with measured results of actual windows to assess the theory's applicability for evaluating the sound insulation performance of windows. Then, a regression analysis is employed to measure the results of a certain number of actual windows to explore a further development of a more practical prediction. The following findings were obtained: (1) Sound reduction indices of actual fixed windows are predictable using Sewell's transmission theory for a single plate. However, sound reduction indices of openable windows, especially those of sliding windows, are strongly affected by gaps in the window frame. Therefore, predicting sound reduction indices of all windows accurately is difficult if using only one theory. (2) The frequency slope of the window reduction index is much lower than that of the mass law. Regression analyses indicate that the frequency slope of the reduction index of all examined windows is 3.0 dB per octave, on average.</p>","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"3 ","pages":"e018"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10208327/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9896942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influences on single-use and reusable cup use: a multidisciplinary mixed-methods approach to designing interventions reducing plastic waste.","authors":"Ayşe Lisa Allison,&nbsp;Fabiana Lorencatto,&nbsp;Mark Miodownik,&nbsp;Susan Michie","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An estimated 2.5-5 billion single-use coffee cups are disposed of annually in the UK, most of which consist of paper with a plastic lining. Due to the difficulty of recycling poly-coated material, most of these cups end up incinerated or put in landfills. As drinking (take-away) hot beverages is a behaviour, behaviour change interventions are necessary to reduce the environmental impacts of single-use coffee cup waste. Basing the design of interventions on a theoretical understanding of behaviour increases the transparency of the development process, the likelihood that the desired changes in behaviour will occur and the potential to synthesise findings across studies. The present paper presents a methodology for identifying influences on using single-use and reusable cups as a basis for designing intervention strategies. Two behaviour change frameworks: The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour (COMB) model of behaviour, were used to develop an online survey and follow-up interviews. Research findings can inform the selection of intervention strategies using a third framework, the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW). The application of the methodology is illustrated in relation to understanding barriers and enablers to single-use and reusable cup use across the setting of a London university campus. We have developed a detailed method for identifying behavioural influences relevant to pro-environmental behaviours, together with practical guidance for each step and a worked example. Benefits of this work include it providing guidance on developing study materials and collecting and analysing data. We offer this methodology to the intervention development and implementation community to assist in the application of behaviour change theory to interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"3 ","pages":"e025"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10171405/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9525573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A simple and quick sensitivity analysis method for methane isotopologues detection with GOSAT-TANSO-FTS.","authors":"Edward Malina,&nbsp;Jan-Peter Muller,&nbsp;David Walton","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Measurements of methane isotopologues can differentiate between different source types, be they biogenic (e.g. marsh lands) or abiogenic (e.g. industry). Global measurements of these isotopologues would greatly benefit the current disconnect between 'top-down' (knowledge from chemistry transport models and satellite measurements) and 'bottom-up' (<i>in situ</i> measurement inventories) methane measurements. However, current measurements of these isotopologues are limited to a small number of <i>in situ</i> studies and airborne studies. In this paper we investigate the potential for detecting the second most common isotopologue of methane (¹³CH₄) from space using the Japanese Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite applying a quick and simple residual radiance analysis technique. The method allows for a rapid analysis of spectral regions, and can be used to teach university students or advanced school students about radiative transfer analysis. Using this method we find limited sensitivity to ¹³CH₄, with detections limited to total column methane enhancements of >6%, assuming a desert surface albedo of >0.3.</p>","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"3 ","pages":"e013"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10208337/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9526497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ticking time bomb: implications of the COVID-19 lockdown on e-waste management in developing countries.","authors":"Oluwadamilola A Adejumo,&nbsp;Olubisi F Oluduro","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the course of events globally since the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in late 2019 giving further credence to the long-standing belief that the world is indeed a global village. There have been different responses by countries to the raging pandemic including the imposition of lockdowns, quarantine and isolation. The imposition of lockdowns, whether full or partial, has not been without major consequences, which has led to information, communication and technological (ICT)-based measures to minimise the effect of the lockdown and as an alternative to physical interactions. The use of ICT devices to bridge the gaps created by the lockdown on schools, businesses and other sectors has led to the increased use of electronic devices. The challenge of electronic waste (e-waste) management in developing countries has been around for a while and the increased use of electronic devices is likely to compound the challenge during and post COVID-19. Whilst the development of ICT-based options as viable alternatives to face-to-face interactions may not be a negative development, this article argues that the existing frameworks are inadequate to manage the resultant increase in e-waste in most developing countries and that there is need now more than ever before for developing countries to exercise caution in embracing these ICT-based options without putting in place measures to ensure that there is increased capacity to manage and dispose of the e-waste created.</p>","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"3 ","pages":"e023"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10171415/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9526499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improved bathymetry leads to >4000 new seamount predictions in the global ocean - but beware of phantom seamounts!","authors":"Chris Yesson,&nbsp;Tom B Letessier,&nbsp;Alex Nimmo-Smith,&nbsp;Phil Hosegood,&nbsp;Andrew S Brierley,&nbsp;Marie Hardouin,&nbsp;Roland Proud","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Seamounts are important marine habitats that are hotspots of species diversity. Relatively shallow peaks, increased productivity and offshore locations make seamounts vulnerable to human impact and difficult to protect. Present estimates of seamount numbers vary from anywhere between 10,000 to more than 60,000. Seamount locations can be estimated by extracting large, cone-like features from bathymetry grids (based on criteria of size and shape). These predicted seamounts are a useful reference for marine researchers and can help direct exploratory surveys. However, these predictions are dependent on the quality of the surveys underpinning the bathymetry. Historically, quality has been patchy, but is improving as mapping efforts step up towards the target of complete seabed coverage by 2030. This study presents an update of seamount predictions based on SRTM30 PLUS global bathymetry version 11 and examines a potential source of error in these predictions. This update was prompted by a seamount survey in the British Indian Ocean Territory in 2016, where locations of two putative seamounts were visited. These 'seamounts' were targeted based on previous predictions, but these features were not detected during echosounder surveys. An examination of UK hydrographic office navigational (Admiralty) charts for the area showed that the summits of these putative features had soundings reporting 'no bottom detected at this depth' where 'this depth' was similar to the seabed reported from the bathymetry grids: we suspect that these features likely resulted from an initial misreading of the charts. We show that 15 'phantom seamount' features, derived from a misinterpretation of no bottom sounding data, persist in current global bathymetry grids and updated seamount predictions. Overall, we predict 37,889 seamounts, an increase of 4437 from the previous predictions derived from an older global bathymetry grid (SRTM30 PLUS v6). This increase is due to greater detail in newer bathymetry grids as acoustic mapping of the seabed expands. The new seamount predictions are available at https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.921688.</p>","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"3 ","pages":"e030"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10171409/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9518327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of lockdown on activities of daily living in the built environment and wellbeing.","authors":"Sudhir Kumar Pasala,&nbsp;Lakshmi Gumpeny,&nbsp;Madhu Kosuri,&nbsp;Snehalatha Tippana,&nbsp;Gumpeny R Sridhar","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In an effort to arrest the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, a nationwide lockdown was declared in India in March 2020. To assess how personal built environments affected the citizens in the first few weeks, an explorative online survey was conducted, eliciting responses about work habits before the lockdown, psychological wellbeing, time spent in various activities, characteristics of those who worked from home, and food and sleep patterns. We received 121 (76 male and 45 female) responses with an average age of 35.5 years [max: 70 years, min: 18 years, standard deviation (SD): 12.9 years]. The major difference caused by the lockdown was a reduction in the time taken and distance travelled of the commute to workplaces, which was an average of 30 minutes and 9.5 km, respectively. In terms of diet, subjects who were vegetarian did not experience any difference, unlike those who were non-vegetarians (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The results show an association of the dependent variable of 'feeling in general' with predictor variables of 'energy, pep, vitality' and 'feel healthy to work' during the pandemic, whereas the predictor variables of 'energy, pep, vitality', 'happy and satisfied personal life', 'feel healthy to work' show an association with the dependent variable of 'feeling in general' before the lockdown with a significance of <i>p</i> < 0.02 and R² = 0.51 and R² = 0.60, respectively. Among those who worked from home in constrained environments, people found spaces and seemed to adapt reasonably well to the built environment with employees showing a preference for working from bedrooms and students for working from 'sit-out' (outside) spaces (<i>p</i> < 0.05). There was no change in the quality or quantity of sleep during the lockdown. This study in the early weeks of the lockdown documents the way in which individuals lived through it in terms of the built environment at home.</p>","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"3 ","pages":"e017"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10171407/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9525570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergies and trade-offs between sanitation and the sustainable development goals.","authors":"Priti Parikh,&nbsp;Loan Diep,&nbsp;Pascale Hofmann,&nbsp;Julia Tomei,&nbsp;Luiza C Campos,&nbsp;Tse-Hui Teh,&nbsp;Yacob Mulugetta,&nbsp;Ben Milligan,&nbsp;Monica Lakhanpaul","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To better leverage opportunities arising out of sustainable and inclusive management of sanitation services there is a need for robust and comprehensive evidence of the wide-ranging benefits that sanitation can deliver. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a comprehensive framework for sustainable development broken down into 169 interconnected Targets which are articulated under 17 Goals. Based on a methodology developed at University College London (UCL), this study identifies linkages between sanitation and the 169 Targets corroborated by published evidence. We show that there are synergies between sanitation and all 17 Goals and 130 (77%) of the Targets, and trade-offs for 28 (17%) of the Targets. We identified 83 Targets (49%) that call for action in the sanitation sector. The results demonstrate the far-reaching benefits that can be unlocked from investment in sanitation, which extend beyond health and spread across sectors. The evidence base for the 17 Goals establishes links that can inform cross-sectoral action, collaborations and investment across governance levels for integrated sanitation solutions. The research provides different stakeholders with a framework that can be applied to context-specific cases and projects. We propose a range of recommendations to policy makers, practitioners and researchers who seek to take this study further to help achieve the SDGs.</p>","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"3 ","pages":"e016"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10208324/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9896938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Community responses to climate change: Editorial call for submissions to <i>UCL Open: Environment</i> Special Series.","authors":"Carla-Leanne Washbourne,&nbsp;Sarah Bell,&nbsp;Dan Osborn","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000028","url":null,"abstract":"UCL Open: Environment is committed to sharing peer-reviewed knowledge about environmental issues, including climate change. In this special series we are encouraging contributions from authors engaged in producing knowledge about climate change in and with local communities. The published articles and case studies will meet our usual standards of quality and originality, whilst fulfilling the need for wider recognition of transdisciplinary, community-based knowledge. This special series will include research articles, case studies and commentaries about community-level responses to climate change. We hope that all submissions will be based on work done in collaboration with or led by non-traditional research communities.","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"3 ","pages":"e028"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10208348/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9896941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How did the 'state of emergency' declaration in Japan due to the COVID-19 pandemic affect the acoustic environment in a rather quiet residential area?","authors":"Kimihiro Sakagami","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000009","DOIUrl":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.000009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic caused lockdowns in many countries worldwide. Acousticians have made surveys to monitor how cities became quieter under the lockdown, mainly in central areas in cities. However, there have been few studies on the changes in the acoustic environment due to the pandemic in the usually quieter residential areas. It may be expected to be different from the effect in 'originally noisy' areas. Also, the effect could be different in Japan, because the 'state of emergency' declaration there was different to lockdowns elsewhere. Considering these circumstances, this article reports the results of noise monitoring and makes some observations on the acoustic environment in residential areas far from city centres, to provide an example of how the acoustic environment was affected by the state of emergency declaration due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. The results showed that the reduction of noise levels was somewhat less than that reported in large cities. Also, comparing the results after the cancellation of the state of emergency, the noise level increased again. However, observations of noise sources imply that a possible change in human behaviour may have also affected the acoustic environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"2 ","pages":"e009"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10208345/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9525607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}