Using Spatial Data to Explore Landholder Awareness and Concern about Dryland Salinity

This paper draws upon research in Victoria's Goulburn Broken Catchment exploring landholder responses to dryland salinity. It has been assumed that part of the explanation for limited adoption of recommended practices was that landholders were unaware of the extent of dryland salinity. Socio-economic data from a mail survey was combined in a Geographic Information System (GIS) with other layers, including the location of discharge sites and depth to saline ground water. Comparisons of expert maps and landholder identified salinity sites suggested that landholders in the upper catchment had excellent knowledge of the current extent of salinity on their property. At the same time, the expert maps failed to predict half of the saline-affected sites identified by landholders. It seems that the extensive community education effort undertaken in this region had been successful in raising salinity awareness. Our research also highlighted that most landholders were not concerned about the impacts of dryland salinity and appear to believe they can 'live with salt'. This is an important issue because the small, diffused amounts of salt exported from these properties in the upper catchment are/will have a substantial impact downstream. The research methodology and findings have important policy and management implications, and these are discussed.     

Analysis of Sediments and Soils by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Using Matrix Corrections Based on Fundamental Parameters

Wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WD-XRF) is widely used for the analysis of soils and sediments using well characterised procedures. However, difficulties can occur with samples such as unknowns containing small amounts of ore materials and samples collected from contaminated sites where trace elemental concentrations can exceed the concentration range for routine analysis. We studied the performance of a commercially available method, based on fundamental parameters (FP) to correct matrix effects. The spectrometer was originally calibrated with elemental or simple compound calibrants. Samples were analysed as pressed powder pellets. Eighteen sediment and soil reference materials, three of them with certified values for some of their constituents, were used to evaluate accuracy, by comparing results with recommended values and their standard deviations (RV ± 2s) or certified values and their confidence intervals (CV ± Cl). When results fell systematically outside these intervals, calibrations were refined with geochemical reference materials. The best agreement of results with recommended and certified values was obtained when the contents of H₂O and C in each sample were included as matrix constituents during calculations. The detection limits of trace elements tended to be relatively high, because the measuring conditions employed were not maximised for sensitivity. The main advantage of the method tested was that it enabled the analysis of samples with high concentrations of trace elements and the determination of elements such as F, Bi, Sb and W, which are not commonly included in quantitative XRF analysis of geological samples.     

Homogeneity of the Geochemical Reference Material BRP-1 (Paraná Basin Basalt) and Assessment of Minimum Mass

Reference materials (RM) are required for quantitative analyses and their successful use is associated with the degree of homogeneity, and the traceability and confidence limits of the values established by characterisation. During the production of a RM, the chemical characterisation can only commence after it has been demonstrated that the material has the required level of homogeneity. Here we describe the preparation of BRP-1, a proposed geochemical reference material, and the results of the tests to evaluate its degree of homogeneity between and within bottles. BRP-1 is the first of two geochemical RM being produced by Brazilian institutions in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the International Association of Geoanalysts (IAG). Two test portions of twenty bottles of BRP-1 were analysed by wavelength dispersive-XRF spectrometry and major, minor and eighteen trace elements were determined. The results show that for most of the investigated elements, the units of BRP-1 were homogeneous at conditions approximately three times more rigorous than those strived for by the test of "sufficient homogeneity". Furthermore, the within bottle homogeneity of BRP-1 was evaluated using small beam (1 mm²) synchrotron radiation XRF spectrometry and, for comparison, the USGS reference materials BCR-2 and GSP-2 were also evaluated. From our data, it has been possible to assign representative minimum masses for some major constituents (1 mg) and for some trace elements (1-13 mg), except Zr in GSP-2, for which test portions of 74 mg are recommended.     

GGR Biennial Critical Review: Analytical Developments Since 2014

This GGR biennial critical review covers developments and innovations in key analytical methods published since January 2014, relevant to the chemical, isotopic and crystallographic characterisation of geological and environmental materials. In nine selected analytical fields, publications considered to be of wide significance are summarised, background information is provided and their importance evaluated. In addition to instrumental technologies, this review also presents a summary of new developments in the preparation and characterisation of rock, microanalytical and isotopic reference materials, including a précis of recent changes and revisions to ISO guidelines for reference material characterisation and reporting. Selected reports are provided of isotope ratio determinations by both solution nebulisation MC‐ICP‐MS and laser ablation‐ICP‐MS, as well as of radioactive isotope geochronology by LA‐ICP‐MS. Most of the analytical techniques elaborated continue to provide new applications for geochemical analysis; however, it is noted that instrumental neutron activation analysis has become less popular in recent years, mostly due to the reduced availability of nuclear reactors to act as a neutron source. Many of the newer applications reported here provide analysis at increasingly finer resolution. Examples include atom probe tomography, a very sensitive method providing atomic scale information, nanoscale SIMS, for isotopic imaging of geological and biological samples, and micro‐XRF, which has a spatial resolution many orders of magnitude smaller than conventional XRF.     

中国东部土壤温度、湿度变化的长期趋势及其与气候背景的联系

利用1971—2000年中国722站逐月的土壤温度资料和1981—1998年178站逐旬的土壤湿度观测资料,分析了中国东部土壤温度、湿度变化的长期趋势及其与气温、降水变化的关系。结果表明：①我国东部土壤温度的变化在年际—年代际时间尺度上存在明显的区域性差异,其中东北地区表现为持续上升型,而西北东部—华北、江淮和西南—华南地区均为先降后升型;②1970—2000年代,土壤温度的变化在东北以及西北东部—华北地区有显著的上升趋势,而在江淮和西南—华南地区,总体而言变化趋势不显著。此外,1980—1990年代,各区域土壤湿度的变化趋势均不显著;③在年际—年代际尺度上,各区域土壤温度和气温的变化具有显著的正相关关系,而土壤湿度与土壤温度的变化普遍呈负相关关系,其中尤以西北东部—华北地区最为显著。而在较长的时间尺度上,土壤湿度与降水的变化仍然存在较好的正相关关系。     

2001年1月26日高纬磁层顶通量管事件的观测研究

2001年1月26日11:10～11:40UT, ClusterⅡ卫星簇位于午后高纬磁鞘边界层和磁鞘区,此 时行星际磁场Bz为南向. 本文对在此期间观测到的多次磁通量管事件作了详细的研究 ,获得一系列的新发现：（1）高纬磁鞘边界层磁通量管的出现具有准周期性,周期约为78s ,比目前已知的磁层顶向阳面FTE的平均周期（8～11min）小得多. （2）这些通量管都具有 强的核心磁场;其主轴多数在磁场最小变化方向,少数在中间变化方向,有些无法用PAA判 定其方向（需要用电流管PAA确定）,这与卫星穿越通量管的相对路径有关. （3）每个事件 都存在很好的HT参考系,在HT参考系中这些通量管是准定常态结构;所有通量管都沿磁层顶 表面运动,速度方向大体相同,都来自晨侧下方. 通量管的径向尺度为1～2RE, 与通 常的FTE通量管相当. （4）起源于磁层的强能离子大体上沿着管轴方向由磁层向磁鞘运动; 起源于太阳风的热等离子体沿管轴向磁层传输. 通量管为太阳风等离子体向磁层输运和磁层 粒子向行星际空间逃逸提供了通道. （5）每个通量管事件都伴随有晨昏电场的反转,该电 场为对流电场.     

极光亚暴期间的南极中山站地磁共轭点位置研究

通过对北极斯瓦尔巴特( Svalbard )岛Longyearbyen台站的 极光扫描光度计和地磁 观测数据在地磁亚暴膨胀相期间的对比分析,发现扫描光度计记录中的极光边缘的快速极向 运动和地磁数据x分量的陡峭负弯之间有着良好的对应关系,地磁数据可用来研究两极 高纬 地区极光亚暴的地磁共轭特征. 对南极中山站、挪威Troms Svalbard台链和东格陵兰岛 地 区共15个地磁台站在7个典型极光亚暴事件中的地磁数据进行对比分析后发现, 中山站的地 磁共轭点位置存在明显的漂移特征,漂移的范围在斯瓦尔巴特岛与东格陵兰岛之间,纬度值 与CGM模型值近似.     

人类活动与气候变化对科尔沁沙质草地植被的影响

1992—2006年在科尔沁沙地开展了草地放牧和封育试验,分析研究了人类放牧活动和气候变化对草地植被的影响。研究结果表明：①人类放牧活动对沙质草地植被具有显著影响,其中轻度放牧可使原退化草地植被盖度、高度、物种丰富度和多样性明显提高,中度放牧下虽然草地植被盖度和高度有所下降,但对物种丰富度和多样性无不良影响,持续过度放牧可以导致草地植被迅速破坏;②围栏封育可以促进退化草地植被盖度、高度、物种丰富度和植物多样性得到较快恢复,其恢复速度是草层高度＞植被盖度＞物种丰富度＞多样性;③暖湿气候有利于草地维持较高的植被盖度、高度、物种丰富度和多样性,而持续干旱会导致相应指标的明显下降,多雨时期气温变化对植被的影响较大,干旱时期降水变化对植被的作用较强。     

互花米草入侵下福建漳江口红树林湿地土壤生态化学变化

采集了福建云霄漳江口米草入侵下红树林自然湿地保护区内红树林群落、米草群落、红树林—米草交互群落以及光滩的剖面土壤样品,分析了土壤的总养分库、有效养分库及微生物活性等指标。结果表明,不同植被群落下土壤理化性质均存在明显差异。土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、阳离子交换量和微生物生物量碳、氮在同一深度的含量变化为：红树林>红树林—米草混作>米草>光滩;土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶、磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶等酶活性指标也表现出相似的变化趋势。从深度变化而言,上述各项土壤质量指标均随剖面深度而降低。米草入侵后土壤的各项养分指标均有明显下降,湿地土壤生态化学性质发生了明显的退化。土壤有机碳、土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量以及土壤蔗糖酶与磷酸酶活性对滨海湿地土壤退化的反映最为强烈, 可以作为指示性指标。     

Determination of Reference Values for NIST SRM 610–617 Glasses Following ISO Guidelines

We present new reference values for the NIST SRM 610–617 glasses following ISO guidelines and the International Association of Geoanalysts’ protocol. Uncertainties at the 95% confidence level (CL) have been determined for bulk‐ and micro‐analytical purposes. In contrast to former compilation procedures, this approach delivers data that consider present‐day requirements of data quality. New analytical data and the nearly complete data set of the GeoReM database were used for this study. Data quality was checked by the application of the Horwitz function and by a careful investigation of analytical procedures. We have determined quantitatively possible element inhomogeneities using different test portion masses of 1, 0.1 and 0.02 μg. Although avoiding the rim region of the glass wafers, we found moderate inhomogeneities of several chalcophile/siderophile elements and gross inhomogeneities of Ni, Se, Pd and Pt at small test portion masses. The extent of inhomogeneity was included in the determination of uncertainties. While the new reference values agree with the NIST certified values with the one exception of Mn in SRM 610, they typically differ by as much as 10% from the Pearce et al. (1997) values in current use. In a few cases (P, S, Cl, Ta, Re) the discrepancies are even higher.