^226Ra and ^228Ra in the Seawater of the Western Yellow Sea

1Introduction Therearefourradiumisotopesinnature,ofwhich224Ra,226Raand228Rahavebeenwidelyinvestigated inmarineresearch,butthespecificactivityof223Rais toolowtobemeasured,therefore,itsapplicationsarelimited(Moore,1969;Broeckeretal.,1976;KuandLin,1976;Nozak…     

九龙江河口区水体中的226Ra和228Ra

用ＭｎＯ２－纤维富集大体积水样中的Ｒａ同位素，并用直接射气法测定２２６Ｒａ和２２８Ａｃ的β计数法测定２２８Ｒａ的方法，研究了九龙江河口区２２６Ｒａ，２２８Ｒａ的行为，结果表明：在该河口区２２６Ｒａ，２２８Ｒａ均呈非保守行为，２２６Ｒａ，２２８Ｒａ的最高值分别在盐度为１９和９处测得。２２８Ｒａ／２２６Ｒａ）Ａ．Ｒ．值在盐度小于１９的区域约为３左右。与世界其他河口区相比，九龙江河口区的２２６Ｒａ，２２     

北太平洋亚热带环流区表层水中226Ra和228Ra的分布与变化

对1999年9～10月采自北太平洋亚热带环流区的19份表层海水样品的Ra同位素分析表明。研究海域表层水中的^226Ra、^228Ra放射性比度分别介于0．67～0．92、0．08～0．30Bq／m^3之间，平均值分别为0．74、0．11Bq/m^3．^226Ra/^228Ra)A．R．活度比的变化范围为0．11～0．44，平均值为0．19．上述数值明显低于近岸海域水体的相应值，表现为典型的开阔大洋水的特征．从空间分布的特征看，研究海域Ra同位素含量与^226Ra/^228Ra)A.R.值均呈均匀分布态势．将本研究结果与历史数据进行对比后发现，本研究获得的^226Ra、^228Ra放射性比度比20世纪60～80年代得到的数据来得低，可能与水体层化作用加强导致的Ra补充量的减少以及生物生产力升高导致的Ra迁出量的增加有关．北太平洋亚热带环流区表层水中Ra同位素的时间变化与文献报道的该海域叶绿素a、硅酸盐、磷酸盐含量与初级生产力的历史变化趋势相吻合．     

南极普里兹湾及其邻近海域表层水镭同位素的分布及应用

中国第27次南极科学考察期间(2010年12月30日至2011年1月16日),对普里兹湾及其邻近海域表层海水进行了226Ra和228Ra的分析,结果表明:226Ra和228Ra比活度的变化范围分别为1.47—2.43Bq/m3和0.17—0.45Bq/m3,平均值分别为2.13Bq/m3和0.29Bq/m3,228Ra/226Ra)A.R.(228Ra与226Ra的活度比)的变化范围为0.08—0.20,平均值为0.14。根据盐度和226Ra的质量平衡方程,计算出研究海域表层水中冰融水、南极夏季表层水和普里兹湾中深层水的份额。研究海域表层水中温度、盐度、226Ra、228Ra、228Ra/226Ra)A.R.和冰融水份额的空间分布显示,在埃默里冰架前沿海域,西侧海域较东侧海域具有低温、高盐、高226Ra、低228Ra、低228Ra/226Ra)A.R.、低冰融水份额的特征,证实埃默里冰架下水体东进西出的运动规律。根据埃默里冰架前沿东、西侧水体228Ra/226Ra)A.R.的差异,估算出埃默里冰架下表层水体东进西出所经历的时间为1.85a。此外,在普里兹湾湾口中部海域(66.5—67.5°S,72°—74°E),观察到次表层水的上升通风作用,该区域较高的228Ra含量和228Ra/226Ra)A.R.证明这些表层水体并非来自湾外绕极深层水的上涌,而可能来自湾内埃默里冰架输出水体。     

北黄海水体的226Ra和228Ra

用锰纤维富集-射气法测定了北黄海海水中的镭同位素226Ra和228Ra,研究了该海域水体中镭同位素的含量和分布.研究结果表明北黄海水体夏季226Ra的比活度为1.80～4.35 Bq/m3,平均值为3.06 Bq/m3;冬季226Ra的比活度为2.08～5.20 Bq/m3,平均值为3.28 Bq/m3.北黄海夏季228Ra的比活度为3.85～25.60 Bq/m3,平均值为10.60 Bq/m3;冬季228Ra的比活度为3.14～15.60Bq/m3,平均值为7.66 Bq/m3.该数据范围和中国近海其他海域、孟加拉湾、泰国昭披耶河口、濑户内海等海域相近.北黄海东北部海域,渤海海峡靠近山东半岛的海区和中北部海区表层镭同位素活度较高.C1断面镭同位素的分布特征从镭同位素的方面证实了渤海海峡水交换表现为北进南出特征这一结论的正确性.226Ra和228Ra的垂直分布较为复杂,大部分站位呈现出底层活度变高的趋势,其他少数站位呈现出中间层活度高的分布特征,不同来源的镭同位素输入至该海域形成了这样的分布特征.     

地下卤水中镭的富集与测定方法研究

以自配人工卤水，采用硫酸钡（镭）共沉淀法富集其中的镭，同时用γ谱仪同步测量^226Ra和^228Ra的含量。不同pH和共沉淀剂作用下的化学及放化回收率计算表明，该方法操作简单，回收率高，适用于地下卤水及其它水体较高含量^226Ra、^228Ra的同步测定。用该方法测定的莱州湾地下卤水^226Ra和^228Ra含量分别为0．341Bq／L和1．615Bq／L，远高于海水中镭的含量。     

高分辨电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定铀矿石样品中234U/238U、230Th/232Th和228Ra/226Ra同位素比值 

采用氢氟酸-硝酸-盐酸混合酸密闭消解含铀矿石样品,用阴离子交换树脂、阳离子交换树脂和锶特效树脂逐级分离富集铀、钍和镭。使用高分辨电感耦合等离子体质谱(HR-ICPMS)测定分离纯化液中234U/238U2、30Th/232Th和228Ra/226Ra同位素。比值的测量精密度取决于比值的大小和对应核素浓度的大小。对质量浓度为10 ng/mL天然铀测量液,234U/238U的测量精密度优于1.2%;对230Th质量浓度为0.6ng/mL且230Th和232Th质量浓度接近的测量液,230Th/232Th的测量精密度为1.2%;对228Ra质量浓度为0.48 pg/mL且228Ra和226Ra质量浓度接近的测量液,228Ra/226Ra的测量精密度为4.0%。     

Mary Anning,Alfred Nicholson Leeds and Steve Etches. Comparing the three most important UK ‘amateur’ fossil collectors and their collections

Mary Anning, Alfred Nicholson Leeds and Steve Etches form part of a long line of individuals who furnished a substantial addition to our understanding of marine and terrestrial ecosystems through collecting significant numbers of superb fossils. For all three collectors, fossils became a factor that dominated their lives, and their fossil collecting led to the discovery of numerous taxa new to science. Extensive collecting was made possible by the fortunate circumstances of living ‘in the right place at the right time’, close to fine-grained UK Jurassic deposits (Lagerstätten) with well-preserved large Jurassic marine reptiles. All three were highly-motivated and developed a considerable skill sets for discovering, collecting, preparing, conserving and displaying fossils. They developed personal and professional interactions with family and friends, and university and museum professionals, although their collecting resulted in variable recognition of their work. Each collector can be considered a complex mix of amateur and professional: Mary Anning, a professional fossil collector and amateur palaeontologist; Alfred Leeds transitioned from amateur to professional fossil collector, but remained an amateur palaeontologist; and Steve Etches has remained an amateur fossil collector and palaeontologist. However, all three exhibited an entirely professional outlook to collecting, and should be considered professionals of the highest degree. The impact of Mary Anning, Alfred Nicholson Leeds and Steve Etches has been critical for the development of Palaeontology as a science, and without whom palaeontology, with all its associated benefits to a wide scientific and non-scientific audience, would not be as rich as we currently know it.     

Establishing a high-resolution surface sediment chronology with multiple dating methods – Testing 137Cs determination with Nurmijärvi clastic-biogenic varves

The uppermost 50 cm of sediments from the 23 m deep lacustrine basin of Nurmijärvi, a lake in south-central Finland, are composed of the clastic-biogenic type of varves. We use multiple dating methods to render a sediment chronology that is as precise and accurate as possible for future paleoenvironmental research on this high-fidelity sedimentary archive. The 250-year-long varve chronology contains a chronological error of ±2%, as estimated based on repeated varve counts. The varve-based chronology was verified with the vertical distribution of ¹³⁷Cs by comparing variations in the paleomagnetic relative declination of the surface sediments with instrumental observations and a calculated representation of declination features in Finland. A comparison of the sediment cesium content using two gamma counters, different sediment pretreatments, and normalization of the ¹³⁷Cs concentration with masses and accumulation rates of different sediment components revealed that the AD 1986 fallout peak from the Chernobyl accident is the dominant feature in the studied sediments, regardless of the sample pretreatment or normalizing procedure. The vertical distribution of the AD 1986 peak in sediments with clastic-biogenic varves is fairly narrow, thus providing an accurate age-depth marker for the recent deposits. However, the Nurmijärvi section also reveals a ca. 10-year-long period of catchment-to-basin ¹³⁷Cs mobilization and redeposition after the AD 1986 fallout, as well as significant downwards diffusion of the Chernobyl-derived cesium in the sediment. This study highlights the ways in which the quality of surface sediment chronology needs to be considered and secured prior to comparisons between paleoproxy records and instrumental observations.     

Tracing of Peroxidase Activity in Humic Lake Water

An enzyme assay was developed for studies on peroxidase activities in humic lake water. 3,4-Dimethoxybenzyl alcohol (veratryl alcohol, VeraOH) was used as tracer substrate, and peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) activity was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The chemical stability of VeraOH and its application as peroxidase substrate was tested under light and dark conditions, different hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentrations and humic matter contents. VeraOH was stable under low UV radiation at in situ conditions in lake water (<0.010...0.25 kJ m^–2 d^–1), laboratory conditions (<0.05...0.30 kJ m^–2 d^–1), and low (1...100 μM) H₂O₂ concentrations. However, peroxides oxidized VeraOH above 1...10 mM H₂O₂ concentration in sterile Millipore-Q and humic lake water. Dark incubations showed little VeraOH oxidation products. The developed peroxidase assay was tested in the growth medium of Phanerochaete chrysosporium and a bacteria isolate (P.M.D. 20.4.3.1) from mesohumic lake Pääjärvi. Peroxidase activities were also measured in natural microbial communities under standard laboratory and under in situ conditions in humic lake water. Incubation times of about 5 to 12 days were usually needed to record significant (P < 0.05) peroxidase activities, in lake waters. In situ peroxidase activities varied in pelagial surface water (0...0.5 m) on a seasonal scale between 74 nmol L^–1 h^–1 and 273 nmol L^–1 (mean: 176 nmol L^–1 h^–1) and within the water column between 110 nmol L^–1 h^–1 and 800 nmol L^–1 h^–1 (mean: 500 nmol L^–1 h^–1) in polyhumic lake Mekkojärvi.