Factors controlling regional spatial distribution of 53 elements in coastal sea sediments in northern Japan: Comparison of geochemical data derived from stream and marine sediments

In all, 53 elements were analyzed in 1406 coastal sea sediment samples collected from an area off Hokkaido and the Tohoku region of Japan during a nationwide marine geochemical mapping project. The spatial distribution patterns of the elemental concentrations in coastal seas along with the existing geochemical maps in terrestrial areas were used to define natural geochemical background variation and mass transport processes. The terrestrial area is covered by mafic volcanic rocks and accretionary complexes associated with ophiolite, which has small amounts of felsic volcanic rocks and granite. The spatial distribution patterns of elements enriched in mafic lithologies such as Fe (Total Fe₂O₃) and Sc in marine environments are influenced by adjoining terrestrial materials. The spatial distribution patterns of Cr and Ni concentrations, which are highly abundant in ultramafic rocks on land, are used to evaluate the mass transport from land to the sea and the dispersive processes caused by oceanic currents. The scale of mass transport by oceanic currents occurs up to a distance of 100–200 km from the coast along the coastal areas. The regional differences of elements rich in felsic lithologies such as K (K₂O), Nb and La in marine sediments are determined mainly by the relative proportion of minerals and lithic fragments enriching felsic materials to those associated with mafic materials. The spatial distribution of elemental concentration is not always continuous between the land areas and coastal sea areas. That difference is interpreted as resulting from (1) transportation of marine sediments by oceanic currents and storm waves, (2) contribution of volcanic materials such as tephra, (3) occurrence of shell fragments and foraminifera tests and (4) distribution of relict sediments of the last glacial age and early transgression age. Contamination with Cu, Zn, Cd, As, Mo, Sn, Sb, Hg, Pb and Bi was not observed in marine environments because the study area has little anthropogenic activity. Terrestrial materials are the dominant source for these metals. The Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hg, Pb and Bi are abundant in silty and clayey sediments locally because of early diagenetic processes, authigenic precipitation and organic substances associated with these elements. The spatial distribution of As concentration shows exceptions: it is concentrated in some coarse and fine sands on the shelf. The enrichment is explained by adsorption of As, sourced from a coal field, to Fe hydroxide.     

Regional spatial distribution of multiple elements in the surface sediments of the eastern Tsushima Strait (southwestern Sea of Japan)

A total of 402 coastal sea-sediment samples were collected from the continental shelf, slope, and basin off Tsushima Island in the western Sea of Japan, and were analyzed for 51 elements as part of a nationwide marine geochemical mapping project. The samples were compared to potentially related sample sets, and the results were considered from the viewpoint of the origin of marine surface sediments in the western Sea of Japan. The spatial distribution of elemental concentrations in the coastal sea sediments correspond to texture, grain size, the presence of shells and foraminifera, and the mud content of surface marine sediments. Most elemental concentrations increased with increasing mud content. Some samples located in littoral areas included sediment particles apparently supplied from nearby rivers, but their contribution was limited. Overall, the mean chemical compositions of clastic material in coastal sea sediments appear to differ from those of stream sediments in adjacent terrestrial areas. In addition, the geochemistry of the coastal sea sediments cannot be fully explained by the mixing of the material supplied from Korean and Chinese stream sediments, which are the most feasible sources. Coastal sea sediments in the study area are well mixed by transportation processes; therefore, elemental abundances in these marine sediments may be homogenized to such an extent that it is not possible to determine their origin. Alternatively, most of the clastics in the sediment may actually represent relict reworked material, originally formed in the Yellow Sea and Tsushima Strait during the last glacial stage and subsequent transgression.     

The pollution of marine sediments by trace elements in the coastal region of Togo caused by dumping of cadmium-rich phosphorite tailing into the sea

 The marine coastal sediments from Togo have been analysed for the trace elements Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, Zn and Zr to ascertain the geo-ecological impact of dumping of phosphorite tailings into the sea. Trace element concentrations ranged from 2–44 ppm for Cd, 22–184 ppm for Cu, 19–281 ppm for Ni, 22–176 ppm for Pb, 179–643 ppm for Sr, 38–329 ppm for V, 60–632 ppm for Zn and 18–8928 ppm for Zr. Regional distribution of trace elements in the marine environment indicates that the concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, Sr and Zn increase seawards and along the coastal line outwards of the tailing outfall, whereas Cd and Zr showed reversed spatial patterns. Sorting and transport of phosphorite particles by coastal currents are the main factors controlling the distribution of particle-bound trace metals in the coastal environment. The Cd, Sr and Zn concentrations decrease with decreasing grain size in marine coastal sediments, whereas Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn concentrations increase with decreasing grain size. Percolation and shaking experiments were carried out in laboratory using raw phosphate material and artificial sea water. Enhanced mobilization of Cd from phosphorites by contact with the sea water was observed. Received: 11 May 1998 · Accepted: 20 October 1998     

珠江口海域与南黄海海域表层沉积物地球化学特征

对珠江口和南黄海近海海域10个站位的表层沉积物中67种元素进行分析,试图揭示两海域近海表层沉积物中主要元素的地球化学特征,包括分布特征及其控制因素,并通过两海域元素地球化学特征,初步探讨近海沉积环境特征。通过总结两海域表层沉积物中元素含量及分布特征,可以发现,近海海域总体上以陆源沉积为主,除Ca和Sr之外,大多数元素表现出明显的亲陆性。珠江口海域和南黄海海域沉积物元素含量的对比研究显示,前者相对富集As、Cd、Hg、Sb、Sr、Ca、Rb、C,后者相对富集Al2O3、Zr、Hf、Sc、Rb、Ga、Cs、V、Co、Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、K2O、Na2O、B、Ba、I等。与上地壳相比,Ag、As、Bi、Hg、Li、N、Pb、Sb、Se、Cl、Br、I在两海域表层沉积物中均发生明显富集;Mo、Sn均呈现分散趋势;Sr、CaO在南黄海海域明显贫化,K2O、Na2O、Ba则在珠江口海域表现出贫化;其他元素与上地壳元素丰度相近。     

Mercury in bottom sediments of marginal seas of northeast Asia

The analysis of the concentrations and distribution of mercury in bottom sediments of marginal seas in northeastern Asia revealed that its maximum contents are characteristic of areas with an active geodynamic regime and some areas of the Amur Bay in the Sea of Japan subjected to anthropogenic impact. The geochemical associations of mercury with other chemical elements and its background concentrations in bottom sediments of these sea basins are defined.     

中国海域表层沉积物分布规律及沉积分异模式

中国海域拥有宽广的大陆架，同时还有陆坡和深海盆，有众多河流入海并输入巨量的陆源物质，沉积物记录了海陆变迁、环流变化、海平面升降、物质输送和气候变化等环境信息。沉积物的粒度特征可以反映沉积动力、物质来源和搬运距离等，可以通过沉积物粒度组成、参数及各种图解来研究沉积环境的变化。前人对中国海域表层沉积物的粒度分布特征展开了大量的研究，取得了丰富的研究成果，但这些研究多集中在某一海域或区域，缺乏对整个中国海域的表层沉积物类型的宏观系统认识。本文基于中国地质调查局“1：100万海洋区域地质调查项目”获取了中国海域4300个海底表层沉积物样品，通过沉积物粒度分析，结合前人已发表资料，对中国海域表层沉积物的沉积类型特征、物质来源和运移模式等开展了系统的研究。本文把浅海和半深海沉积物按照含砾石和不含砾石主要划分出5个和7个沉积物类型，深海沉积物主要划分了9个沉积类型，研究结果表明：中国海域表层沉积物沉积类型多样、来源复杂，主要受控于物质来源、水动力条件和地形地貌的变化，在东部海域总体呈现“大江大河-宽缓陆架-残留慢速沉积”的条带状沉积分异模式，而在南部海域呈现的是“短源性河流-多类型陆架-重力流快速沉积”的环带状沉积分异模式。本文的结果对研究中国海域沉积物的宏观分布规律提供了基础资料，对理解海洋沉积动力过程具有重要意义，同时沉积物粒度的特征对海底砂矿分布也具有指示意义。     

Palaeoenvironmental control on sediment composition and provenance in the late Quaternary deltaic successions: a case study from the Po delta area (Northern Italy)

Accumulation of continental, deltaic and shallow‐marine sediments in the Po River coastal plain preserves a record of the Late Quaternary sea‐level changes and shoreline migrations. The palaeoenvironmental evolution of this area and the changes in composition and provenance of sediments have been investigated through integrated sedimentological, micropalaeontological (mainly foraminifers) and geochemical analyses of core S1, from the southern part of the Po River delta, within a chronological framework supported by radiocarbon dating and correlations with adjacent core sequences. Eleven lithofacies, grouped into five facies associations, and four palaeontological assemblages provide the basis to define the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of this succession consisting, from the base to the top, of: (i) continental sediments accumulated during the Late Pleistocene; (ii) back‐barrier sediments marking the onset of Holocene sea‐level rise; (iii) transgressive sands deposited during the rapid landward migration of a barrier‐lagoon system; (iv) shallow‐marine and prodelta sediments with faunal associations indicating a gradual approach to the Po River mouth; and (v) sub‐recent delta front sands that form a considerable portion of the present coastal plain. Bulk chemical composition of sediments shows remarkable relationships with palaeoenvironments and locally improves facies characterizations. For example, they reveal carbonate leaching that emphasizes the occurrence of palaeosols in continental deposits or record enrichments in loss on ignition, S and Br, diagnostic of organic‐rich layers in back‐shore sediments. Selected geochemical elements (e.g. Mg and Ni) are particularly effective for the recognition of sediment provenances from the three main source areas observed in the subsurface deposits of the Po River coastal plain (e.g. Apenninic rivers, North Adriatic rivers and Po River). An Apenninic provenance is observed in continental and back‐barrier sediments. A North Adriatic provenance characterizes the transgressive sands and the shallow‐marine deposits; a significant Po River provenance is recorded in sediments related to the onset of the prodelta environment, confirmed by foraminiferal assemblages indicating remarkable increase in fluvial influxes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

以Al/Ti比值为地球化学示踪剂反演海洋古生产力的研究进展

地球化学家通常用Al对其它重金属进行归一化以校正沉积物来源、粒度、矿物组成等方面的影响,因此现代海洋沉积物样品中Al、Ti含量的结果主要用于定量描述陆源输送的贡献。近期研究结果发现,在受陆源物质输送影响较小,沉降颗粒主要以生源颗粒物为主的赤道大洋区,沉积物中出现明显的“过剩铝”信号,“过剩铝”约占沉积物中总铝含量的50％。因此,用沉积物中Al的含量来估算陆源碎屑的比例会导致过高的结果,建议用Ti、Sc作为参比元素校正陆源物质的影响。沉积物中的Al/Ti比值可用来示踪水体中颗粒物的沉降通量和初级生产的改变。综述了近期以Al/Ti比值这种新的地球化学示踪剂反演古生产力的最新研究进展,提出了在我国陆架边缘海开展此项工作可能存在的问题与挑战。     

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGWD): an unseen yet potentially important coastal phenomenon in Canada

Both terrestrial and fresh or marine forces drive underground fluid flows in the coastal zone. Hydraulic gradients on land result in groundwater seepage near shore and may contribute to flows from confined aquifers further out on the shelf. The terrestrial and oceanic forces overlap spatially, so measured fluid advection through coastal sediments may be a result of composite forcing. “Subsurface/submarine groundwater discharge” (SGWD) can be defined as any and all flow of water on continental margins from the seabed to the coast, regardless of fluid composition or driving force. SGWD is typically characterized by low specific flow rates, making detection and quantification difficult. However, because such flows occur over very large areas, the total flux is significant. Discharging fluids, whether derived from land or composed of re-circulated seawater, will react with sediment components. These reactions may substantially increase the concentrations of nutrients, carbon, and metals in the fluids. These fluids are thus a source of biogeochemically important constituents to the coast. Terrestrially derived fluids represent a pathway for the flux of new material to the coast. This may result in diffuse pollution in areas where the discharge of contaminated groundwater occurs. This review presents an historical context of SGWD studies, defines the process in a form that is consistent with our current understanding of the driving forces as well as our assessment techniques, and reviews the estimated global fluxes and biogeochemical implications. This review concludes that, to fully characterize marine geochemical budgets, one must give due consideration to SGWD. New methodologies, technologies, and modeling approaches are required to discriminate among the various forces that drive SGWD, pollutants to evaluate these fluxes more precisely to Canadian coast.     

长江口及其邻近海域表层沉积物中氧化还原敏感性微量元素的环境指示意义

对长江口及其邻近海域表层沉积物和底层悬浮体中氧化还原敏感元素分布规律和富集特征进行了分析与研究。结果表明氧化还原敏感元素在研究区具有明显的“离岸富集”特征,去除粒度效应、陆源碎屑来源组分和有机质的吸附作用等因素的影响之后,氧化还原敏感元素仍显示出在缺氧区的富集。通过同一站位底层悬浮体和沉积物中氧化还原敏感元素含量的分析比较,发现底层水缺氧是导致氧化还原敏感元素Mo、Cd、V等在沉积物中富集的主要原因。Mo、Cd、V等元素的不同富集程度可用来反映缺氧区的缺氧程度。因此,Mo, Cd, V等RSE在长江口外缺氧区及其邻近海域具有氧化还原环境指示意义,可以指示长江口外缺氧区的存在与大体范围,并可在一定程度上用来衡量缺氧区的缺氧程度。U理论上虽然也对环境的氧化还原条件敏感,但由于受陆源碎屑来源组分的影响较大,在长江口外缺氧区的富集并不明显,因此U在研究区不具有氧化还原环境指示意义。     

New insights into geochemical behaviour in ancient marine carbonates (Upper Jurassic Ammonitico Rosso): Novel proxies for interpreting sea‐level dynamics and palaeoceanography

Elemental concentrations in Phanerozoic sea water are known to fluctuate both in time and space. With regard to carbonates precipitated from marine fluids, elemental concentrations in the carbonate crystal lattice are affected by a complex array of equilibrium and non‐equilibrium as well as post‐depositional alteration processes. To assess the potential of carbonate elemental chemostratigraphy, seven Upper Jurassic sections were investigated along a proximal to distal transect across the south‐east Iberian palaeomargin. The aim was to explore stratigraphic and spatial variations in calcium, strontium, magnesium, iron and manganese elemental abundances. The epicontinental geochemical record is influenced by the combination of continental runoff and a significant diagenetic overprint. In contrast, the epioceanic geochemical record agrees with reconstructed open marine sea water values, reflecting a moderate degree of syn‐depositional to early marine pore water diagenesis. Establishing a fair degree of preservation of matrix micrite, a thorough statistical approach was applied and elemental associations tested for their environmental significance. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses revealed a persistent relation between carbonate magnesium, iron and strontium abundances. Processes related to early diagenetic nodulation in Ammonitico Rosso facies most probably account for the incorporation of these elements in the calcium carbonate lattice. The clear decoupling of carbonate manganese abundance with respect to the remaining elements is documented and related to high sea floor spreading rates and hydrothermal activity during the Late Jurassic. The investigation of potential time‐fluctuation of geochemical patterns was approached through variogram computation. The observed temporal behaviour is most likely to be forced by relative sea‐level dynamics, reflecting Late Jurassic palaeoceanographic conditions and potential planetary interactions. The data obtained in this study highlight the utility of elemental data from carbonate matrix micrites as geochemical proxies for studying the influence of remote trigger factors.     

长江口及邻近海域悬浮颗粒重晶石特征与成因探讨

海洋环境中重晶石的形成和保存是元素Ba生物地球化学过程的重要环节,在反演海洋古生产力领域具有重要价值。但是多年来该方面的研究主要集中在深海海域,而对河口及近海海域很少涉及。本研究使用SEM和EDX等方法对长江口及邻近海域5个断面36个站位的悬浮体中的重晶石矿物进行了系统的观察,对重晶石颗粒类型、空间分布和影响因素进行了研究。结果表明:该区重晶石颗粒包含自形晶体、长条状晶体、不规则形态晶体和集合体等4种类型,含少量Sr元素,大部分重晶石颗粒表面出现溶蚀现象;重晶石颗粒粒径主要分布在0.5~3 μm。通过研究发现,长江口及邻近海域悬浮体中重晶石的形成主要受到微环境中生物作用的控制,该区初级生产力的发育状态和重晶石颗粒的沉降差异造成重晶石空间分布具有表层含量较多、由岸向外增加的现象。     

南黄海中部表层沉积物有机质分布与分子组成研究

通过分析南黄海中部501个站位表层沉积物通沉积物有机质、粒度及常量元素特征,了解有机质分布特征及影响因素,并进一步对其中64个站位的进行气相色谱（GC-FID）分析,探讨有机质分子组成。分析表明:南黄海中部总有机碳受水动力影响呈分布西低东高分布,总有机碳与Al2O3含量中值粒径依次相关特性;正构烷烃组成表明有机质主要来源于陆源高等植物,海洋浮游藻类贡献次之,陆源植物中草本植物与木本植物贡献相当,类异戊二烯烃反映了短链正构烷烃明显海洋还原沉积环境;常量元素与正构烷烃参数综合分析表明,南黄海中部陆源有机质主要来自于现代黄河、苏北古黄河输入,体现无机-有机综合分析对有机质物源判断;部分样品具有明显石油源输入特征,细菌对沉积物有机质贡献普遍存在。     

Behavior of Hydrocarbons in the Mouth Parts of Arctic Rivers

The paper reviews data (acquired in 2007–2016) on aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in comparison with data on concentrations of lipids, C_org, and chlorophyll a in the water and bottom sediments the river–sea geochemical barrier (for the Northern Dvina, Ob, Yenisei, and Lena rivers). It was established that the concentrations of anthropogenic hydrocarbons decrease and these compounds precipitate like other organic compounds and particulate matter, where riverine and marine waters mix. Relatively pure water flows in the pelagic zones of seas. In spite of low temperatures in the Arctic, anthropogenic hydrocarbons transform so rapidly that natural compounds dominate in the water and bottom sediments: autochthonous in the seawater and allochthonous in the bottom sediments.     

Geochemistry of the Cauvery Estuary,East Coast of India

Major ion chemistry of water and elemental geochemistry of suspended and surficial sediments collected from the Cauvery Estuary were studied to understand the geochemical processes in this tropical estuarine system. Specific conductance (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and total suspended matter (TSM) increased conservatively with increasing chlorinity. In general, SO₄ ^2?, Na, K, Ca, and Mg showed an increasing trend while H₄SiO₄ and PO₄ ^3? showed a decreasing trend toward the sea. Additional removal mechanisms operating for these ions in the Cauvery Estuary have been identified based on observed concentrations. Factor analysis pointed out the sources contributing to the observed trends in estuarine water chemistry. POC and PON decreased toward the high chlorinity zone. TSM in the Cauvery Estuary were mostly of inorganic nature. Stable carbon isotope values showed that the carbon was equally of marine and terrestrial origin and helped to delineate the contribution of river water and seawater. The ? mean size (a logarithmic grain size scale commonly used by sedimentologists) indicated that the surficial sediments were primarily comprised of coarse and silt, whereas suspended sediments were principally silt and clay. Suspended sediments were enriched in clays compared to surficial sediments. Quartz and feldspar were abundant among detritals while chlorite, kaolinite, and montmorillonite were dominant among clays. Silicon was the most abundant element in the sediments followed by Al, Ca, Na, K, Fe, Mn, and P. Heavy metals were enriched in the suspended sediments compared to the surficial bottom sediments as follows: Fe = 3.5, Mn = 7.4, Pb = 1.1, Zn = 15.2, Cu = 7.4, and Cr = 4.0. The levels of Cd, Cr, Zn, and Fe increased up the middle reaches and then decreased toward the sea due to urban effluent and fertilizer input. Size fractionation studies indicated that the metal concentration in the finer fraction was 50% higher by mass than the coarse silt and fine silt fractions. Chemical fractionation studies showed that the abundance of metals were in the order of residual > organic/sulfide > carbonate > Fe/Mn oxide > exchangeable fractions.     

南极普里兹湾表层沉积物微量元素分布特征及其物源指示意义

利用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪测定了中国南极科考21~27航次期间获取的普里兹湾表层沉积物中Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、Co、Al、Fe、Mn的含量,分析了普里兹湾微量元素的分布特征,结合沉积物粒度分布、生物硅含量,并利用富集系数和主成分分析的方法,探讨了微量元素的物源指示意义。研究结果表明:普里兹湾沉积物中的微量元素含量与南大洋其他海域具有很好的可比性。Cu、Zn、Cr、Co、Fe、Mn含量在陆坡深海区明显高于冰架边缘区和陆架区;Al、Pb含量在冰架边缘区较高;而Cd含量在陆架区相对较高。人类活动对普里兹湾沉积物中的微量元素没有明显的影响,南极大陆岩石风化产物和海洋生物源性沉降是其主要来源。冰架边缘区及陆架破折处P2-9站位的微量元素主要为岩源性输入。陆架区、陆坡深海区的微量元素Cu、Zn、Cr、Co、Fe、Mn明显受到生源性物质输入的影响。而普里兹湾沉积物中Cd则主要来源于硅藻的吸收利用及硅质软泥的富集。     

Freshwater chlorophycean algae in recent marine sediments of the Beaufort, Laptev and Kara Seas (Arctic Ocean) as indicators of river runoff

Freshwater chlorophycean algae are characteristic organic-walled microfossils in recent coastal and shelf sediments from the Beaufort, Laptev and Kara seas (Arctic Ocean). The persistent occurrence of the chlorophycean algae Pediastrum spp. and Botryococcus cf. braunii in marine palynomorph assemblages is related to the discharge of freshwater and suspended matter from the large Siberian and North American rivers into the Arctic shelf seas. The distribution patterns of these algae in the marine environments reflect the predominant deposition of riverine sediments and organic matter along the salinity gradient from the outer estuaries and prodeltas to the shelf break. Sedimentary processes overprint the primary distribution of these algae. Resuspension of sediments by waves and bottom currents may transport sediments in the bottom nepheloid layer along the submarine channels to the shelf break. Bottom sediments and microfossils may be incorporated into sea ice during freeze-up in autumn and winter leading to an export from the shelves into the deep sea. The presence of these freshwater algae in sea-ice and bottom sediments in the central Arctic Ocean confirm that transport in sea ice is an important process which leads to a redistribution of shallow water microfossils.     

The geochemical composition of the terrestrial surface (without soils) and comparison with the upper continental crust

The terrestrial surface, the “skin of the earth”, is an important interface for global (geochemical) material fluxes between major reservoirs of the Earth system: continental and oceanic crust, ocean and atmosphere. Because of a lack in knowledge of the geochemical composition of the terrestrial surface, it is not well understood how the geochemical evolution of the Earth’s crust is impacted by its properties. Therefore, here a first estimate of the geochemical composition of the terrestrial surface is provided, which can be used for further analysis. The geochemical average compositions of distinct lithological classes are calculated based on a literature review and applied to a global lithological map. Comparison with the bulk composition of the upper continental crust shows that the geochemical composition of the terrestrial surface (below the soil horizons) is significantly different from the assumed average of the upper continental crust. Specifically, the elements Ca, S, C, Cl and Mg are enriched at the terrestrial surface, while Na is depleted (and probably K). Analysis of these results provide further evidence that chemical weathering, chemical alteration of minerals in marine settings, biogeochemical processes (e.g. sulphate reduction in sediments and biomineralization) and evaporite deposition are important for the geochemical composition of the terrestrial surface on geological time scales. The movement of significant amounts of carbonate to the terrestrial surface is identified as the major process for observed Ca-differences. Because abrupt and significant changes of the carbonate abundance on the terrestrial surface are likely influencing CO₂-consumption rates by chemical weathering on geological time scales and thus the carbon cycle, refined, spatially resolved analysis is suggested. This should include the recognition of the geochemical composition of the shelf areas, now being below sea level.     

Seasonal and spatial dynamics of trace elements in water and sediment from Pearl River Estuary, South China

In this study, spatial and seasonal dynamics of trace elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, As) in water and sediments were examined in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), South China. The spatial variations of all the studied trace elements in sediments show the general decrease pattern from northwest to southeast side of the PRE, suggesting that the main sources of these trace elements may originate from terrestrial (rock and soil) weathering and human activities (e.g. agricultural, industrial and municipal wastewaters) via riverine inputs. The dissolved Cu, Pb, Cd, As, and Zn in PRE ranged from 0.34 to 3.26, 0.19 to 4.58, 0.0015 to 0.30, 0.16 to 8.18, 3.74 to 36.10 μg/L, respectively. There are obvious seasonal changes of dissolved trace elements in the PRE aquatic system. The maximum seasonal averages of all the dissolved trace elements excluding Zn were observed in summer, whereas dissolved Zn showed the minimum in this season. The overall spatial pattern of all the dissolved trace elements excluding Zn demonstrates decreasing trends from inshore to offshore, and the highest concentrations of dissolved Cu, Cd, As, and Zn appeared in the western part of PRE or the mouths of Pearl River, suggesting strong riverine and anthropogenic local inputs. PCA and correlation analysis show that the geochemical behavior of dissolved Cu and As are complicated and the dynamics of these two elements are controlled by various physicochemical parameters, whereas physicochemical parameters might play a relatively small role in the distributions of other studied trace elements.     

Modelling coincidence and dependence of flood hazard phenomena in a Probabilistic Flood Hazard Assessment (PFHA) framework: case study in Le Havre

Many coastal urban areas and many coastal facilities must be protected against pluvial and marine floods, as their location near the sea is necessary. As part of the development of a Probabilistic Flood Hazard Approach (PFHA), several flood phenomena have to be modelled at the same time (or with an offset time) to estimate the contribution of each one. Modelling the combination and the dependence of several flooding sources is a key issue in the context of a PFHA. As coastal zones in France are densely populated, marine flooding represents a natural hazard threatening the coastal populations and facilities in several areas along the shore. Indeed, marine flooding is the most important source of coastal lowlands inundations. It is mainly generated by storm action that makes sea level rise above the tide. Furthermore, when combined with rainfall, coastal flooding can be more consequent. While there are several approaches to analyse and characterize marine flooding hazard with either extreme sea levels or intense rainfall, only few studies combine these two phenomena in a PFHA framework. Thus this study aims to develop a method for the analysis of a combined action of rainfall and sea level. This analysis is performed on the city of Le Havre, a French urban city on the English Channel coast, as a case study. In this work, we have used deterministic materials for rainfall and sea level modelling and proposed a new approach for estimating the probabilities of flooding.