Determination of groundwater discharge rates and water residence time of groundwater‐fed lakes by stable isotopes of water (18O, 2H) and radon (222Rn) mass balances

Lacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD) and the related water residence time are crucial parameters for quantifying lake matter budgets and assessing its vulnerability to contaminant input. Our approach utilizes the stable isotopes of water (δ¹⁸O, δ²H) and the radioisotope radon (²²²Rn) for determining long‐term average and short‐term snapshots in LGD. We conducted isotope balances for the 0.5‐km² Lake Ammelshainer See (Germany) based on measurements of lake isotope inventories and groundwater composition accompanied by good quality and comprehensive long‐term meteorological and isotopic data (precipitation) from nearby monitoring stations. The results from the steady‐state annual isotope balances that rely on only two sampling campaigns are consistent for both δ¹⁸O and δ²H and suggested an overall long‐term average LGD rate that was used to infer the water residence time of the lake. These findings were supported by the good agreement of the simulated LGD‐driven annual cycles of δ¹⁸O and δ²H lake inventories with the observed lake isotope inventories. However, radon mass balances revealed lower values that might be the result of seasonal LGD variability. For obtaining further insights into possible seasonal variability of groundwater–lake interaction, stable water isotope and radon mass balances could be conducted more frequently (e.g., monthly) in order to use the derived groundwater discharge rates as input for time‐variant isotope balances.     

Validation of Aura Microwave Limb Sounder water vapor and ozone profiles over the Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent region during boreal summer

We present validation studies of MLS V2.2 and V3.3 water vapor(WV) and ozone profiles over the Tibetan Plateau(Naqu and Lhasa) and its adjacent region(Tengchong) respectively by using the balloon-borne Cryogenic Frost point Hygrometer and Electrochemical Concentration Cell ozonesonde. Coincident in situ measurements were selected to compare the MLS V2.2 and V3.3 WV and ozone profiles for understanding the applicability of the two version MLS products over the region. MLS V2.2 and V3.3 WV profiles respectively show their differences within ?2.2±15.7%(n=74) and 0.3±14.9%(n=75) in the stratosphere at and above 82.5 h Pa. Accordingly, at 100 h Pa, the altitude approaching the tropopuase height, differences are within 9.8± 46.0%(n=18) and 23.0±45.8%(n=17), and they are within 21.5±90.6%(n=104) and 6.0±83.4%(n=99) in upper troposphere. The differences of MLS ozone are within ?11.7±16.3%(n=135, V2.2) and 15.6±24.2%(n=305, V3.3) at and above 82.5 h Pa. At 100 h Pa, they are within ?3.5±54.4%(n=27) and ?8.7±41.6%(n=38), and within 18.0±79.1%(n=47) and 34.2±76.6%(n=160) in the upper troposphere. The relative difference of MLS WV and ozone profile has significant oscillation and scatter at upper troposphere and lower stratosphere partly due to the stronger gradients of WV and ozone concentrations here as well the linear interpolation of sonde data for the intercomparison. At and below 70 h Pa, the relative differences of MLS ozone are significantly larger over Lhasa during the Tibetan Plateau "ozone valley" season, which is also the Asian Summer Monsoon period. The MLS ozone differences over the three sites are similar in their vertical distributions during that period. A simple linear correlation analysis between MLS and sonde profiles indicates that the sensitivity of MLS profile products is related to concentrations at each pressure level. The MLS V3.3 product sensitivity is slightly improved for WV at and above 82.5 h Pa, whereas it is not obvious for ozone. The possible factors contributing to the differences of the MLS profile products of WV and ozone are discussed.     

Mercury isotope fractionation during photoreduction in natural water is controlled by its Hg/DOC ratio

Photoreduction of Hg in natural water plays a crucial role in the production of elemental Hg and its biogeochemical cycle. Solar irradiation and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in water are considered to be the major factors inducing Hg photoreduction. We investigated Hg isotope fractionation during photoreduction and its relationship with Hg/DOC ratios. Both mass dependent (MDF) and mass independent fractionation (MIF) was observed. MIF enriched ¹⁹⁹Hg and ²⁰¹Hg in the reactant Hg(II) and thus, significantly enhanced the fractionation between odd and even isotopes. This direction of MIF is consistent with magnetic isotope effect as the underlying cause for the odd isotope enrichment in reactants. MIF also occurred in dark controls. But in the absence of light, ¹⁹⁹Hg and ²⁰¹Hg were enriched in the product Hg(0), which is not explained by magnetic isotope effects. We propose that nuclear volume effect dominated Hg isotope fractionation under these conditions. The reduction kinetics and isotope fractionation during photoreduction strongly correlated to Hg/DOC concentration ratios. Although different reduction kinetics and fractionation factors were measured at different Hg/DOC ratios, the same Hg/DOC ratios led to almost identical results. The degree of MIF for the two odd isotopes was also affected by Hg/DOC ratios. For this reason, it is critical to study Hg photoreduction at a near-natural Hg/DOC ratio in order to better simulate natural conditions. We suggest that differences in Hg-DOC binding, which varies with Hg/DOC ratios, may be responsible for the relationship between Hg/DOC ratios and Hg photoreduction.     

Late Pleistocene and Holocene history of Lake Terrasovoje,Amery Oasis,East Antarctica,and its climatic and environmental implications

A 5.52 m long sediment sequence was recovered from Lake Terrasovoje, Amery Oasis, East Antarctica, in order to reconstruct the regional environmental history. The basal sediments, which are dominated by glacial and glaciofluvial clastic sediments, attest to a Late Pleistocene deglaciation of the lake basin. These sediments are overlain by 2.70 m of laminated algal and microbial mats and a few interspersed moss layers. Radiocarbon dating, conducted on bulk organic carbon of 12 samples throughout the organic sequence, provides a reliable chronology since the onset of biogenic accumulation at c. 12,400 cal. year BP. Successful diatom colonization, however, was probably hampered by extensive ice and snow cover on the lake and restricted input of nutrients until 10,200 cal. year BP. A subsequent increase of nutrient supply culminated between 8600 and 8200 cal. year BP and is related to warm summer temperatures and reduced albedo in the catchment. Warm conditions lasted until 6700 cal. year BP, supporting the establishment of a diatom community. Colder temperatures from 6700 cal. year BP culminated in several periods between 6200 and 3700 cal. year BP, when high amounts of sulphur and low abundances of diatoms were deposited due to a perennial ice and snow cover on the lake. During the late Holocene, relatively warm conditions between 3200 and 2300 cal. year BP and between 1500 to 1000 cal. year BP, respectively, indicated by high accumulation of organic matter and reducing bottom water conditions, were interrupted and followed by colder periods.     

Weakening and strain localization produced by syn-deformational reaction of plagioclase

There are many observations in naturally deformed rocks on the effects of mineral reactions on deformation, but few experimental data. In order to study the effects of chemical disequilibrium on deformation we have investigated the hydration reaction plagioclase + H₂OM more albitic plagioclase + zoisite + kyanite + quartz. We utilized fine-grained (2-6 µm) plagioclase aggregates of two compositions (An54 and An60), both dried and with 0.1-0.4 wt% H₂O present, in shear deformation experiments at two sets of conditions: 900 °C, 1.0 GPa (in the plagioclase stability field) and 750 °C, 1.5 GPa (in the zoisite stability field). Dry samples and those deformed in the plagioclase stability field underwent homogeneous shearing by dislocation creep, but samples with 0.1 to 0.4 wt% water deformed in the zoisite stability field showed extreme strain localization into very narrow (~1-3 µm) shear bands after low shear strain. In these samples the microstructures of reaction products in the matrix differ from those in the shear bands. In the matrix, large (up to 400 µm) zoisite crystals grew in the direction of finite extension, and relict plagioclase grains are surrounded by rims of recrystallized grains that are more albitic. In the shear bands, the reaction products albitic plagioclase, zoisite, white mica, and traces of kyanite form polyphase aggregates of very fine-grained (<0.1 µm) dislocation-free grains. Most of the sample strain after % ~2 has occurred within the shear bands, within which the dominant deformation mechanism is inferred to be diffusion-accommodated grain boundary sliding (DAGBS). The switch from dislocation creep in dry samples deformed without reaction to DAGBS in reacted samples is associated with a decrease in flow stress from ~800 to <200 MPa. These experiments demonstrate that heterogeneous nucleation driven in part by chemical disequilibrium can produce an extremely fine-grained polyphase assemblage, leading to a switch in deformation mechanism and significant weakening. Thus, localization of deformation in polyphase rocks may occur on any pressure (P),temperature (T)-path where the equilibrium composition of the constituent minerals changes.     

A note on momentum transfer in the bottom mixed layer of the West European Basin

Summary About 20 benthic storms, originated by deep reaching eddies, have been observed between September '83 and May '86 in the deep West European Basin. First results show, that these eddies influence the dispersion of tracers in the near-bottom layers significantly, e.g. due to deformation by shear. This paper is an attempt to estimate the eddy viscosity tensor in the bottom mixed layer. It will be examined as in to how far benthic storms and vortices result in changes of momentum transfer within this layer. The results indicate that the influence of these phenomena is mainly restricted on meso-scale processes.

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Über den Impulsaustausch in der durchmischten Bodenschicht des Westeuropäischen Beckens

Zusammenfassung Zwischen September 83 und Mai 86 wurden in der Tiefsee des Westeuropäischen Beckens 20 benthische Stürme beobachtet, die durch tiefreichende Wirbel verursacht wurden. Erste Ergebnisse zeigen, daß diese Wirbel die Ausbreitung von Stoffen in den bodennahen Schichten erheblich beeinflussen können, z. B. durch Deformation von Wasserkörpern infolge von Scherung. In dieser Arbeit wird versucht, den Impulsaustauschtensor in der durchmischten Bodenschicht abzuschätzen. Ferner wird untersucht, inwieweit benthische Stürme oder Wirbel den Impulsaustausch in dieser Schicht beeinflussen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß sich ihr Einfluß im wesentlichen auf mesoskalige Prozesse beschränkt.

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Contribution à l'étude des transports d'énergie dans la couche profonde du bassin ouest-européen de l'Atlantique Nord

Résumé Une vingtaine de tempêtes benthiques provoquées par des tourbillons à fort développement vertical ont été observées de septembre 1983 à mai 1986 dans les profondeurs du bassin ouest-européen de l'Atlantique Nord. Les premiers résultats montrent que ces tourbillons exercent une influence significative sur la dispersion des traceurs disposés dans les couches proches du fond, par suite des déformations dues au cisaillment. Une tentative d'estimation du tenseur de viscosité du tourbillon dans la couche de mélange profonde est proposée dans la présente contribution, qui étudie dans quelle mesure les tempêtes benthiques et les systèmes tourbillonnaires engendrent des modifications du transfert d'énergie cinétique au sein de cette couche. Les résultats semblent indiquer que l'influence de ces phénomènes n'est surtout sensible que pour les processus méso-échelle.

     

Modelling the responses of mature forest trees to air pollution

Systems analysis of the responses of forest trees to air pollutants led to mathematical models which represent the essential life processes of mature trees (photosynthesis, respiration, growth etc.) under ‘normal’ conditions and — especially — under pollution strees. Computer simulations using these models have made it possible to test and analyse the consequences of — known or hypothetical — pollution effects. The simulation runs have led to the identification of three distinct behavioural modes (growth, stagnation, breakdown) and corresponding stable and unstable system states. The results have produced new insights and contributed to the understanding of the dieback process of spruce and beech trees. The presentation will concentrate on the most recent and most complex of the hitherto existing models, theBeech model.