Atmospheric deposition and isotope biogeochemistry of zinc in ombrotrophic peat

Zinc isotope ratios were measured in the top sections of dated ombrotrophic peat cores in Finland to investigate their potential as proxies for atmospheric sources and to constrain post depositional processes affecting the geochemical record. The peat deposits were located in Hietajärvi, a background site well away from any point pollution source and representing ‘background’ conditions, in Outokumpu, next to a mining site, and in Harjavalta, next to a smelter. Measured total concentrations, calculated excess concentrations and mass balance considerations suggest that zinc is subjected to important biogeochemical cycling within the peat. Significant isotopic variability was found in all three peat bogs, with heavier zinc in the deeper and lighter zinc in the upper sections. Isotope ratios and concentrations correlated in the two peats located next to dominant point sources, i.e. the smelting and mining site, suggesting that zinc isotopes trace pollution sources. Concentration and isotope peaks were offset from the period of mining and smelting activity, supporting migration of zinc down the profile. The δ⁶⁶Zn_JMC (where δ⁶⁶Zn = [(⁶⁶Zn/⁶⁴Zn)_sample/(⁶⁶Zn/⁶⁴Zn)_JMC-standard − 1] × 10³) of the top section sample at the remote Hietajärvi site was 0.9‰ and we suggest this represents the regional background isotope signature of atmospheric zinc. The deeper sections of the peat cores show isotopically heavier zinc than any potential atmospheric source, indicating that post depositional processes affected the isotopic records. The large variations encountered (up to 1.05‰ for δ⁶⁶Zn) and Rayleigh modelling imply that multiple fractionation of zinc during diagenetic alterations occurs and nutrient recycling alone cannot explain the fractionation pattern.We propose that zinc isotopes are amenable to identify different atmospheric zinc sources, including zinc derived from anthropogenic activities such as mining and smelting, but multiple biogeochemical processes seriously affect the record and they need to be evaluated and assessed carefully if zinc isotopes are used in terrestrial paleorecords.     

Partially elastic collisions in dense matter

The effects of partially elastic collisions on a dense system of particles moving in Keplerian orbits are studied. As in the case of a low-density system (Hämeen-Anttila, 1975), evolution leads to the formation of separate ringlets. The results reveal an anisotropic structure of matter, which may explain some peculiarities in the photometry of Saturn's rings.     

Climate of scepticism: US newspaper coverage of the science of climate change

This two-part study integrates a quantitative review of one year of US newspaper coverage of climate science with a qualitative, comparative analysis of media-created themes and frames using a social constructivist approach. In addition to an examination of newspaper articles, this paper includes a reflexive comparison with attendant wire stories and scientific texts. Special attention is given to articles constructed with and framed by rhetoric emphasising uncertainty, controversy, and climate scepticism.     

Mobility and retention of heavy metals, arsenic and sulphur in podzols at eight locations in northern Finland and Norway and the western half of the Russian Kola Peninsula

The mobility and retention of heavy metals, arsenic and sulphur in podzols from eight areas located north of the Arctic Circle in Finland, Norway and Russia were determined by analyzing the < 2.0 mm fraction, using an ammonium acetate (pH 4.5) extraction in addition to a concentrated nitric acid digestion for the humus samples, and a hot aqua regia digestion for the mineral soil samples. Total C, H and N concentrations were determined in humus and mineral soil samples with a CHN analyser.Ni, Cu, Co and As were strongly enriched in the humus layer in the contaminated sites (Monchegorsk, Kurka, Zapoljarnij) when compared to their concentrations in the parent tills and in podzols from the background sites. In most study sites the illuvial layer showed a low capacity to retain the metals and As, the exception included a strongly eroded profile at Monchegorsk, where Ni was tightly fixed in the illuvial layer while Cu was mobile. In contrast to metals, airborne S was not accumulated in the humus layer, but was accumulated in the illuvial layer, more markedly at eroded sites than in places where the humus was covered as at Monchegorsk.