Detecting the intertidal morphologic change using satellite data

Previous research has suggested that competitive bottlenecks may exist for the Mediterranean grey mullets (Osteichthyes, Mugilidae) at the fry stage with the exotic Cyprinus carpio (Osteichthyes, Cyprinidae) playing a central role. As a consequence, the structure of grey mullet assemblages at later stages is thought to reflect previous competition as well as differences in osmoregulatory skills. This paper tests that hypothesis by examining four predictions about the relative abundance of five grey mullet species in 42 Western Mediterranean estuary sites from three areas (Aiguamolls de l'Empordà, Ebro Delta and Minorca) differing in the salinity level and occurrence of C. carpio. Field data confirmed the predictions as: (1) Liza aurata and Mugil cephalus were scarce everywhere and never dominated the assemblage; (2) Liza saliens dominated the assemblage where the salinity level was higher than 13; (3) Liza ramado always dominated the assemblage where the salinity level was lower than 13 and C. carpio was present; and (4) Chelon labrosus dominated the assemblage only where the salinity level was lower than 13 and C. carpio was absent. The catch per unit effort of C. labrosus of any size was smaller in the presence of C. carpio than where it had not been introduced, which is in agreement with the juvenile competitive bottleneck hypothesis. Discriminant analysis confirmed that the assemblage structure was linked to the salinity level and the occurrence of C. carpio for both early juveniles and late juveniles as well as adults. The data reported here reveal that the structure of grey mullet assemblages inhabiting Mediterranean estuaries is determined by salinity and competitive interactions at the fry stage.     

Spatial variation in organic matter utilization by benthic communities from Yura River–Estuary to offshore of Tango Sea,Japan

We investigated the distribution of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N of organic matter among benthic communities from the upper estuary of Yura River to offshore of Tango Sea, Japan, to determine spatial variation in utilization of organic matter by benthic communities. The δ¹³C values of benthic animals ranged from −27 to −15‰ in the upper estuary, −21 to −15‰ in the lower estuary, −20 to −16‰ in the shallow coast (5–10 m depths), −18 to −16‰ in the deep coast (30–60 m depths) and −19 to −15‰ in offshore (100–150 m depths) stations. Adapting the dual isotope values to mixing models, we estimated the relative contributions of potential food sources to the benthos diet. Phytoplankton and macroalgae that intruded the estuary in summer were utilized as alternative food aside from the terrestrial-origin organic matter assimilated by the estuarine benthic consumers. Resuspended benthic microalgae were important source of energy in the shallow coastal stations, while abundant supply of phytodetritus fueled the deep coastal and offshore benthic food webs. Spatial difference in the diet of benthic communities depends largely on the shifts in the primary carbon source. Thus, benthic communities are important link of autochthonous/allochthonous production and secondary production in the continuous river–estuary–marine system.     

Methylene blue transport in a sand-illite mixture and its implications for contaminant transport

Understanding contaminant transport in clay-containing soils is critical for accurate prediction of the travel distances of contaminants and for the design and implementation of corresponding remediation plans. This study examined the breakthrough behavior of methylene blue (MB) through sand-illite mixtures using laboratory soil-column experiments at five inlet concentrations, three flow rates, and five illite contents. Kinetic and equilibrium adsorption tests were performed to evaluate the maximum adsorption capacities of the sand and illite used in the soil-column experiments. In addition, the bed efficiency, MB saturation, and adsorption rate were calculated to quantitatively describe the observed breakthrough curves. The observed breakthrough curves, bed efficiencies, MB saturations, and adsorption rates in this study demonstrated the presence of a threshold illite content of ~10% for the adsorption efficiency of contaminants. This implies the need to evaluate the threshold clay content for accurate predictions of contaminant transport through gap-graded clay-containing soils.

     

市级区域自动站信息处理系统的开发和应用

介绍了钦州市区域自动站信息处理系统的体系结构、主要功能、特点以及实施意义。通过建立区域自动站信息资料处理系统,对各市局乃至各区域站的历史资料进行剥离,实现各区域站历史资料的独立存档、统计,便于对区域气象站历史资料进行开发和应用。     

Hydrogeochemistry and environmental isotopes of ground water in Jeju volcanic island,Korea: implications for nitrate contamination

Ground water from springs and public supply wells was investigated for hydrochemistry and environmental isotopes of ³H, ¹⁸O and D in Jeju volcanic island, Korea. The wells are completed in a basaltic aquifer and the upper part of hydrovolcanic sedimentary formation. Nitrate contamination is conspicuous in the coastal area where most of the samples have nitrate concentrations well above 1 mg NO₃ N/l. Agricultural land use seems to have a strong influence on the distribution of nitrate in ground water. Comparison of stable isotopic compositions of precipitation and ground water show that ground water mostly originates from rainy season precipitation without significant secondary modification and that local recharge is dominant. ³H concentration of ground water ranged from nearly zero to 5 TU and is poorly correlated with vertical location of well screens. The occurrence of the ³H‐free, old ground water is due to the presence of low permeability layers near the boundary of the basaltic aquifer and the hydrovolcanic sedimentary formation, which significantly limits ground water flow from the upper basaltic aquifer. The old ground water exhibited background‐level nitrate concentrations despite high nitrate loadings, whereas young ground water had considerably higher nitrate concentrations. This correlation of ³H and nitrate concentration may be ascribed to the history of fertilizer use that has increased dramatically since the early 1960s in the island. This suggests that ³H can be used as a qualitative indicator for aquifer vulnerability to nitrate contamination. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of groundwater quality in Kinmen Island using multivariate analysis and geochemical modelling

Kinmen is located in the south‐west of Mainland China and mainly has two islands, Large Kinmen and Leiyu. Residents in Kinmen have drunk groundwater over several decades. This work characterized the quality of groundwater in Kinmen using factor analysis (FA), cluster analysis (CA) and geochemical simulation. The factor scores were plotted spatially to illustrate the groundwater quality and were used to discuss the grouped relationship using CA. Salinization, redox and organic matter factors are identified from 17 hydrochemical measurements in 18 wells. Acidic and oxidizing groundwater with nitrate‐N pollution is distributed mainly in the west of Large Kinmen. Saline groundwater is distributed to the north‐east of Large Kinmen and in the south of Leiyu. Groundwater with organic matter is present throughout Leiyu. Five groups of the groundwater quality divided by CA can be interpreted according to one to three factors. The grouped characteristics of the groundwater quality help the local government and industries to plan the use and protection of groundwater resources. Furthermore, a geochemical simulation was used to demonstrate the formation processes of the acidic and oxidizing groundwater properties in granitic sediments. A large amount of the precipitation of the kaolinite and magnetite releases concentrations of hydrogen ion and raises the redox potential in the aquifers. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Major and trace element composition of Skaergaard plagioclase; geochemical evidence for changes in magma dynamics during the final stage of crystallization of the Skaergaard intrusion

Plagioclase separates from the Layered Series (LS), Upper Border Series (UBS), and Marginal Border Series (MBS) of the Skaergaard intrusion were analyzed to examine major and trace element variations. In general, plagioclase from the LS, UBS, and MBS show similar trends in major elements vs. crystallization: SiO₂, Na₂O, and K₂O progressively increase, and CaO and MgO progressively decrease with fractionation. No abrupt changes in the trends of major components of Skaergaard plagioclase during the differentiation of the intrusion are observed. Trace elements in plagioclase reflect changes in the Skaergaard magma and changes in plagioclase distribution coefficients with differentiation. Sr, Ga, and probably Ba are included elements in Skaergaard plagioclase, but were excluded from the other cumulus phases, and as a result systematically increased in the magma and plagioclase during differentiation. Be, Cs, Hf, Rb, Ta, U, and Zr, and the transition metals Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Sc, V, and Zn were excluded elements in Skaergaard plagioclase, and remained low in plagioclase during differentiation. Changes in the abundances of these elements in plagioclase during differentiation reflect changes in their abundance in the magma. With the exception of the lower zone, which is enriched in the light rare earth elements, rare earth elements in LS plagioclase, in general, increase with differentiation of the Skaergaard intrusion, but decrease dramatically at the UZa/UZb boundary where abundant apatite first appears. Rare earth elements in UBS plagioclase followed a similar trend to LS plagioclase, except during the initial and final stages of differentiation. UBS plagioclase is much more enriched in rare earth elements during the final 20% of crystallization, except for Eu, which is similar in plagioclase from the two series. The observed trends suggest that the floor and roof sequences became isolated from each other and that the floor sequence may have been more reducing and the roof sequence more oxidizing during the final 20% of crystallization. As the Skaergaard magma ceased convection, or convected as isolated cells, during the final stages of differentiation, volatile elements may have accumulated in the UBS magma, resulting in an increase in ƒO₂, and a decrease in Eu/Sm in UBS plagioclase. The observed trends of rare earth elements in plagioclase from the LS and UBS fit well with theoretical calculations that assume closed-system crystallization, and would be difficult to reconcile with any model requiring significant discharge of magma from the chamber during the final 20% of crystallization. The enrichment of light rare earth elements in plagioclase, suggests that the lower part of the intrusion re-equilibrated with a late, light rare earth element-rich fluid or melt. The recharge model proposed by earlier workers to explain anomalous Sr and Nd isotopes appears unlikely in light of the two to fourfold enrichment of light rare earth elements in these samples. Received: 1 October 1999 / Accepted: 14 May 2000     

Primary ‘cut-and-fill’ channels and gravitational diagenetic features

Ore beds with fluorite and sphalerite occur in the Cave-In-Rock fluorite district, Illinois in the upper part of the Mississippian System; in the upper parts of the Fredonia and Joppa Members of the Ste. Genevieve Formation and in the upper part of the Downeys Bluff Formation. Sedimentary structures within the upper two horizons are described and discussed. Primary cut-and-fill channels usually contain broken pieces of dolomite, limestone, shale, sandstone, fluorite and sphalerite. Some of the channels show geopetal features. Horizontal stylolitic seams bend downward and their thicknesses increase while their amplitudes decrease near and along the channel slopes. Another geopetal feature consists of clastic shale fragments which have mechanically filled from above into an open crack formed in the hydroplastic carbonate mud below. A number of features known as collapsed structures prove to be cut-and-fill structures of primary origin. During the compaction, carbonate beds were reduced in thickness by at least 37% through styloitization. The relationships between primary sedimentary channels and fluorite-sphalerite ore rocks suggest that the latter may have been deposited during or after the formation of such sedimentary structures, i. e., during various stages of diagenesis.

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Zusammenfassung Die Fluorit-Zinkblende-Vorkommen des Cave-In-Rock Distrikts von Illinois treten stratigraphisch in den oberen Partien des Mississippian System, speziell in der Fredonia und Joppa Serie der Ste. Genevieve Formation und in der Downeys Bluff Formation auf. Einige sedimentäre Strukturen in diesen beiden oberen Horizonten werden beschrieben und diskutiert. Primäre cut-and-fill channels enthalten im allgemeinen Bruchstücke von Dolomit, Kalk- und Sandstein, Schieferton, Fluorit und Zinkblende. Einige channels zeigen geopetale Gefüge, d. h. horizontale stylolithische Lagen sind mit zunehmender Mächtigkeit und abnehmender Amplitude der Fältelung in der Nähe oder entlang der Flanken der channel Strukturen nach unten durchgebogen. Ein weiteres geopetales Gefüge besteht aus Schieferton-Fragmenten, die mechanisch in eine offene Spalte des darunterliegenden hydroplastischen Karbonatschlammes eingesunken sind. Eine Anzahl von Gefügen, bekannt als collapsed structures scheinen cut-and-fill und slump Strukturen von primär subaquatischer Herkunft zu sein. Während der Diagenese wurden Karbonatbänke durch Stylolithbildung um mindestens 37% der ursprünglichen Mächtigkeit reduziert. Die Beziehungen zwischen den primären sedimentären channels und dem Fluorit-Zinkblende-Erz deuten darauf hin, daß das letztere während oder nach der Bildung der sedimentären Strukturen abgelagert wurde, d. h., während verschiedener Perioden der Diagenese.