BACKGROUND Pollutants may affect pollen allergenicity and thus the prevalence of allergies. Although a few studies are available in literature, the connection between pollution and the allergenic potential of pollen has yet to be clearly defined. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of traffic-related pollution on the allergenicity of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) polle...

Protection Island, Washington, is one of the most important nesting sites for Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens) in the Puget Sound area. Changes in the numbers and distribution of nests in a Glaucous-winged Gull colony on Violet Point, Protection Island, were tracked from 1980 to 2010. The colony grew steadily until the early 1990s, then declined to about half its former level. The main...

This study compared three broadband emissivity (BBE) datasets from satellite observations. The first is a new global land surface BBE dataset known as the Global Land Surface Satellite (GLASS) BBE. The other two are the North American ASTER Land Surface Emissivity Database (NAALSED) BBE and University of Wisconsin Global Infrared Land Surface Emissivity Database (UWIREMIS) BBE, which were deriv...

Laser measurements have been used in a fluvial context since 1984, but the change detection possibilities of mobile laser scanning (MLS) for riverine topography have been lacking. This paper demonstrates the capability of MLS in erosion change mapping on a test site located in a 58 km-long tributary of the River Tenojoki (Tana) in the sub-arctic. We used point bars and river banks as example ca...

Limited data on microbial partitioning between the freely suspended and particulate attached phases during transport along overland flow pathways have resulted in high uncertainty in bacterial fate and transport models and the application of these models to watershed management plans. The objectives of this study were to examine differences in attachment between E. coli and enterococci in runof...

In areas that are occasionally inundated by floods, it is essential to know the quantity and density of vegetation that can be allowed while avoiding flooding beyond the intended floodplains. An unsteady flow model was developed for a channel with vegetated floodplains, to take into account the retention effects of the vegetated areas on flood wave conveyance. A one-dimensional (1D) unsteady fl...

Widespread contamination of California water bodies by the organophosphate insecticides diazinon and chlorpyrifos is well documented. While their usage has decreased over the last few years, a concomitant increase in pyrethroid usage (e.g., permethrin) (replacement insecticides) has occurred. Vegetated agricultural drainage ditches (VADD) have been proposed as a potential economical and environ...

QuikSCAT backscatter is generally higher over urban areas than surrounding vegetated areas. Azimuthal anisotropy has been observed over some urban areas, but the strength of the azimuthal anisotropy in the urban backscatter signal has not been well quantified. This study investigates radar azimuthal anisotropy in urban areas. QuikSCAT L1B σ observations are compared for urban, non-urban, and un...

Groundwater nitrogen processing was examined in a restored black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus) marsh to assess its potential for removing land-derived nitrogen pollution. Two restoration designs, one initially planted at 50% cover (half density plots) and the other one at 100% cover (full density plots), were compared with non-vegetated controls. The introduction via groundwater of a NO3(-) s...

[1] Dekker and Rietkerk [2005] (hereinafter referred to as DR) raise some valid points regarding our paper ‘‘Multiple equilibrium states and the abrupt transitions in a dynamical system of soil water interacting with vegetation’’ [Zeng et al., 2004] (hereinafter referred to as XZ). We appreciate the opportunity to clarify these issues here and hope this dialogue (between scientists working on h...