This paper investigates the impact of anthropogenic heat on formation of urban heat island (UHI) and also determines which factors can directly affect energy use in the city. It explores literally the conceptual framework of confliction between anthropogenic heat and urban structure, which produced UHI intensity and affected energy consumption balance. It then discusses how these two factors can be affected and gives implication to the city and then focuses on whether actions should be taken for balancing adaptation and mitigation of UHI effects. It will be concluded by making the three important strategies to minimise the impact of UHI on energy consumption: landscaping, using albedo materials on external surfaces of buildings and urban areas, and promoting natural ventilation.

No abstract

Most of the developing countries have solid waste management problems. Solid waste strategic planning requires accurate prediction of the quality and quantity of the generated waste. In developing countries, such as Malaysia, the solid waste generation rate is increasing rapidly, due to population growth and new consumption trends that characterize society. This paper proposes an artificial neural network (ANN) approach using feedforward nonlinear autoregressive network with exogenous inputs (NARX) to predict annual solid waste generation in relation to demographic and economic variables like population number, gross domestic product, electricity demand per capita and employment and unemployment numbers. In addition, variable selection procedures are also developed to select a significant explanatory variable. The model evaluation was performed using coefficient of determination (R(2)) and mean square error (MSE). The optimum model that produced the lowest testing MSE (2.46) and the highest R(2) (0.97) had three inputs (gross domestic product, population and employment), eight neurons and one lag in the hidden layer, and used Fletcher-Powell's conjugate gradient as the training algorithm.

a b s t r a c tRivers, which provide 90% of the readily available freshwater, are key components of global water resource system. Terengganu River experienced deterioration in water quality, resulting from the sedimentation, anthropogenic, geomorphology problems and unsustainable development management around the river basin. This study was implemented to prove the sedimentation problem especially the formation of total suspended solid (TSS) and annual sediment load (SL). The technique of analysis of primary data obtained which determine according with the procedure TSS and SL. The results showed that the highest average of TSS (mg/L) is 67.2 (wet season) and 128.2 (dry season) which are class III. While the highest turbidity is 43.57 (wet season) and 21.57 (dry season) which are Class II based on National Water Quality Standard (NWQS). The highest annual average estimation for annual SL flow out from the Terengganu River Basin is 6,846.709 tonnes/km 2 /year (Manir River Basin) the lowest in the Pauh River Basin is 2.850 tonnes/km 2 /year. The statistical analysis proved the weak regression relationship between TSS, river discharges (Q), SL and area of catchment caused by the anthropogenic factors and uncertain climate changes. Furthermore, the water in the Terengganu River was classified under class III caused by the active land use activities especially industrial and development but it is still suitable for recreational activities and safe for body contact because its water quality index is not less than 65% which early stage of Class II. The contributors of sedimentation problems are from unsustainable land use such as sand mining activities which effectively trap the bed sediments, backflow that carries out high sediments, as well as sedimentation produced due to the river bank erosion. This study suggests the sedimentation management methods including land use settlement, cliff erosion problems, settlement and negotiable of uncontrolled development operations in Terengganu River and the integration of river management methods based on integrated river basin management in Terengganu River Basin is recommended.

The Antarctic continent is known to be an unpopulated region due to its extreme weather and climate conditions. However, the air quality over this continent can be affected by long-lived anthropogenic pollutants from the mainland. The Argentinian region of Ushuaia is often the main source area of accumulated hazardous gases over the Antarctic Peninsula. The main objective of this study is to report the first in situ observations yet known of surface ozone (O) over Ushuaia, the Drake Passage, and Coastal Antarctic Peninsula (CAP) on board the RV Australis during the Malaysian Antarctic Scientific Expedition Cruise 2016 (MASEC'16). Hourly O data was measured continuously for 23 days using an EcoTech O analyzer. To understand more about the distribution of surface O over the Antarctic, we present the spatial and temporal of surface O of long-term data (2009-2015) obtained online from the World Meteorology Organization of World Data Centre for greenhouse gases (WMO WDCGG). Furthermore, surface O satellite data from the free online NOAA-Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) database and online data assimilation from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)-Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate (MACC) were used. The data from both online products are compared to document the data sets and to give an indication of its quality towards in situ data. Finally, we used past carbon monoxide (CO) data as a proxy of surface O formation over Ushuaia and the Antarctic region. Our key findings were that the surface O mixing ratio during MASEC'16 increased from a minimum of 5 ppb to ~ 10-13 ppb approaching the Drake Passage and the Coastal Antarctic Peninsula (CAP) region. The anthropogenic and biogenic O precursors from Ushuaia and the marine region influenced the mixing ratio of surface O over the Drake Passage and CAP region. The past data from WDCGG showed that the annual O cycle has a maximum during the winter of 30 to 35 ppb between June and August and a minimum during the summer (January to February) of 10 to 20 ppb. The surface O mixing ratio during the summer was controlled by photochemical processes in the presence of sunlight, leading to the depletion process. During the winter, the photochemical production of surface O was more dominant. The NOAA-AIRS and ECMWF-MACC analysis agreed well with the MASEC'16 data but twice were higher during the expedition period. Finally, the CO past data showed the surface O mixing ratio was influenced by the CO mixing ratio over both the Ushuaia and Antarctic regions. Peak surface O and CO hourly mixing ratios reached up to ~ 38 ppb (O) and ~ 500 ppb (CO) over Ushuaia. High CO over Ushuaia led to the depletion process of surface O over the region. Monthly CO mixing ratio over Antarctic (South Pole) were low, leading to the production of surface O over the Antarctic region.