Heavy metals in water, ice and biological material from Spitsbergen, Svalbard

Concentrations of heavy metals Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd, Hg and Co were determined in surface waters, glacier ice and plant and animal materials from three regions in Spitsbergen, Svalbard. The concentrations of these metals in two samples of surface waters and in the vascular plants from Spitsbergen were found to be lower than what is commonly found in Cental Europe. Elevated concentrations were found in old ice from the surface of a glacier. The concentrations of heavy metals in algae were lower than in vascular plants. The concentrations of metals in the samples of feathers and animal hair from Spitsbergen were higher than what is common for Central Europe.     

乌鲁木齐地区冰川、河、湖水中重金属形态及分布特征

本文研究乌鲁木齐地区冰川,河流和湖泊水中重金属铜、铅、锌和镉的背景值及存在形态的分配。     

Seasonal variations in heavy metals concentrations in Mt. Qomolangma Region snow

The concentrations of heavy metals Ba, Pb, Cu, Zn and Co in snow pit collected in September, 2005 from the accumulation area of the East Rongbuk Glacier (6523 m a.s.l.), which lies on the northern slope of Mt. Qomolangma, were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Concentrations (pg/ml) of heavy metals are Ba2-227, Co2.8-15.7, Cu10-120, Zn29-4948 and Pb14-142, respectively. The δ18O was determined by MAT-252. The time period of the snow pit spans from autumn 2005 to summer 2004. Seasonal variations of the concentrations and δ18O are observed, of which Pb, Cu, Zn and Co are much lower in summer monsoon season than that in non summer monsoon season, suggesting that different sources of heavy metals contributed to the site. EFc (crustal enrichment factors) is Co3.6, Cu27, Pb33 and Zn180, respectively. Higher EFc values of Pb, Cu and Zn suggest that Pb, Cu especially Zn are mainly contributed by anthropogenic sources.     

Recent heavy metal accumulation in Dongjiu and Xijiu lakes,East China

Taihu Lake has been recognized as a seriously contaminated waterbody with regard to Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn over the last two decades. The input of pollutants has increased due to economic and social development and population increase. Seventy percent of the pollutants in Taihu Lake comes from rivers, with the Yili River being a major source of pollutants. Lakes Xijiu and Dongjiu are connected to the Yili River and Taihu Lake and are sites where material is preferentially deposited because of hydrodynamic conditions. Sediment cores were collected from Xijiu Lake (core XJ-1) and Dongjiu Lake (core DJ-5) to investigate anthropogenic heavy metal contamination. Concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn gradually increased since the late 1930s, peaked in 1970, and then dropped slightly. A sudden increase in concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn occurred in 1991 and peaked again in 1996, then dropped markedly. Maximum concentration of Cd in core XJ-1 was 21.2 mg kg⁻¹ and mean concentration was 12.1 mg kg⁻¹. In core DJ-5, the maximum and mean concentrations were 6.9 and 5.4 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Cr showed a pattern of variation different from the other heavy metals, but its concentration also dropped after peaking in 1996. Enrichment factors and anthropogenic factors revealed that human activities in the catchment played a key role in the heavy metal contamination. Increases in Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentration were caused by industrial development, particularly from non-ferrous metal smelting industries. The recent drop in Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations is attributed to pollution reduction measures instituted by the government. Cr was influenced by both natural and anthropogenic processes.     

珠穆朗玛峰地区雪冰中重金属浓度与季节变化

对2005 年9 月采自珠穆朗玛峰北坡海拔6523 m 的东绒布冰川积累区一批雪坑样品中重金属Ba, Co, Cu, Zn 和Pb 的浓度利用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪进行了测试, 重金属浓度范围分别为(pg/ml); Ba2~227、Co2.8~15.7、Cu 10~120、Zn29~4948、Pb14~142。并利用气体稳 定同位素质谱仪MAT-252 对样品稳定氧同位素比率(δ¹⁸O) 进行了测试, 雪坑样品对应的时间为2004 年夏到2005 年秋, δ¹⁸O和重金属元素的浓度都存在着季节变化特征。在夏季风期间δ¹⁸O 值和重金属元素的浓度都很低,而在非夏季风期间δ¹⁸O值和重金属元素浓度升高,反映了不同的水汽来源对重金属浓度季节变化的影响及其环境意义。Co, Cu, Pb, Zn 的地壳富集系数(EF_c) 分别为: 3.6、27、33、180, 表明该地区Pb, Cu, Zn 已经受到了人类活动的污染, 其中Zn 受到的污染最大。     

A test of the integrity of metal records in sediment cores based on the documented history of metal contamination in Lac Dufault (Québec, Canada)

There is an important volume of published information on Lac Dufault (Québec) which describes the history of metal inputs over 70 years and the changes that occurred in the lake as a result of this contamination. We used this abundant source of chronological markers to test the hypothesis that lake sediments can provide true historical records of trace metal loading from metal mining. Sediment cores were obtained from the deepest zone of the lake (19 m). The sediments were dated using ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs and they were analyzed for total elemental concentrations (Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, P, Pb, S, Zn). Metal profiles in the sediment core preserved the distinct signatures of different mine exploitations documented in the lake watershed. In particular, the core recorded: the beginning of industrialization in 1926; increasing sedimentation rates associated with perturbations in the lake watershed; the maximum of sediment [Cu] and the contemporary exploitation of ore bodies rich in Cu; the maximum of sediment [Fe] and the contemporary production of pyrite by a mining operation; the low sediment [Cu] and [Zn] in the 1950s and the low contemporary production of these metals by mining operations; the maximum of sediment [Cd] and the contemporary production of Cd by a subsequent mining operation. Anomalies in the distribution of ²¹⁴Pb activities in sediments reflected the intensity of acid mine drainage (AMD). There is good evidence that the lake resisted acidification from this AMD for the last thirty years. Overall, our results support the thesis that profiles of sedimentary Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Fe levels reflect the past history of metal input to Lac Dufault.     

珠穆朗玛峰地区雪冰中重金属浓度与季节变化

The concentrations of heavy metals Ba, Pb, Cu, Zn and Co in snow pit collected in September, 2005 from the accumulation area of the East Rongbuk Glacier (6523 m a.s.l.), which lies on the northern slope of Mt. Qomolangma, were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Concentrations (pg/ml) of heavy metals are Ba2-227, Co2.8-15.7, Cu10-120, Zn29-4948 and Pb14-142, respectively. The δ¹⁸O was determined by MAT-252. The time period of the snow pit spans from autumn 2005 to summer 2004. Seasonal variations of the concentrations and δ¹⁸O are observed, of which Pb, Cu, Zn and Co are much lower in summer monsoon season than that in non summer monsoon season, suggesting that different sources of heavy metals contributed to the site. EF_c (crustal enrichment factors) is Co3.6, Cu27, Pb33 and Zn180, respectively. Higher EF_c values of Pb, Cu and Zn suggest that Pb, Cu especially Zn are mainly contributed by anthropogenic sources. Foundation: National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40501014; No.40871058 Author: Duan Jianping (1981–), Ph.D. Candidate, specialized in climate and environmental change.     

The Icelandic Laki volcanic tephra layer in the Lomonosovfonna ice core, Svalbard

The largest sulphuric acid event revealed in an ice core from the Lomonosovfonna ice cap, Svalbard, is associated with the densest concentration of microparticles in the ice core at 66.99 m depth. Electron microscope analysis of a volcanic ash particle shows it has the same chemical composition as reported for debris from the eruption of Iceland's Laki fissure in 1783 and confirms the identification of the tephra. Most of the particles in the deposit are not ash, but are common sand particles carried aloft during the eruption event and deposited relatively nearby and downwind of the long-lasting eruption. The tephra layer was found 10–20 cm deeper than high sulphate concentrations, so it can be inferred that tephra arrived to Lomonosovfonna about 6–12 months earlier than gaseous sulphuric acid precipitation. The sulphuric acid spike has a significant cooling impact recorded in the oxygen isotope profile from the core, which corresponds to a sudden drop in temperature of about 2°C which took several years to recover to previous levels. These data are the first particle analyses of Laki tephra from Svalbard and confirm the identification of the large acidic signal seen in other ice cores from the region. They also confirm the very large impact that this Icelandic eruption, specifically the sulphuric acid rather than ash, had on regional temperatures.     

Accumulation in Svalbard glaciers deduced from ice cores with nuclear tests and Chernobyl reference layers

Mean net annual balance and the related spatio-temporal variations have been determined on the basis of well-dated artificial layers in shallow ice cores (Chernobyl, 1986, and atmospheric thermonuclear tests, mainly in 1961-62 in Novaya Zemlya). Seventy ice cores from 13 Svalbard glaciers have been analysed. On each glacier, in its accumulation area and at the highest elevation, one ice core was recovered down to about 40 m and sampled for radioactivity measurements to determine the 1986 and 1962-63 layer (1954 was the initial date of the nuclear tests). For each glacier, at least five complementary ice cores from the accumulation area were analysed to determine the Chernobyl reference layer. Six ice cores exhibit both the Chernobyl and nuclear tests layers and are of special interest in this study.
This work provides new data on the deposition rates of natural and artificial radioisotopes. Using ice cores samples from the Arctic glaciers, even with superimposed ice accumulation, it is possible to distinguish between the Chernobyl and the nuclear tests fallouts. This work also shows that the mean annual net balance did not significantly change for at least five ice core locations in the Svalbard glaciers for the two periods extending from 1963 to 1986 to the recent date of drilling.     

1860s以来巢湖沉积物金属元素富集特点及其对人类活动的指示意义

根据对巢湖CH1钻孔沉积物进行²¹⁰Pb比活度测试和粒度、磁学、金属元素分析,在推算沉积速率并建立沉积物年代学标尺的基础上,分析了沉积物金属元素富集与粒度组成和磁学特性间的关系。在对沉积物金属元素含量进行粒度校正后,发现大约自沉积速率推算年代1860s A.D.起,沉积物Cu、Zn元素开始出现非自然水平富集,是化石燃料高温燃烧、金属冶炼与机械制造等人为活动影响所致。这与始自1861年,以生产枪炮、弹药、火轮船为主的中国近代第一个兵工厂——安庆内军械所,在时间上与可能的金属污染性质上是完全一致的,说明巢湖沉积物金属元素的非自然水平富集,是对这一时期区域工业发轫与人类工业活动的沉积响应。     

南极洲乔治王岛柯林斯冰帽冰芯层位和密度变化的一般特征

柯林斯冰帽两支冰芯层位记录证实了该冰帽主冰穹顶部（海拔约７００ｍ）属暖渗浸带，小冰穹顶部（海拔约２５０ｍ）属渗浸带。雪、冰的层位分布和密度变化包含了一定的测年信息。主冰穹顶冰芯密度－深度曲线在表层呈现韵律性变化，与层位记录中的融化冻结现象相对应，据此粗略划分年层，断定当地年积累雪层厚度为３－３．５ｍ，折合水当量１６５０－１９２５ｋｇ／ｍ２ａ，年平均积累速率约为２．０ｍ／ａ（冰当量）。主冰穹顶成冰深度为３８－３９ｍ，此深度以上密度自上而下缓慢增加，但以下由于含水层的出现，密度迅速升高，在５－６ｍ区间达到９００ｋｇ／ｍ３。小冰穹冰芯除表层外，密度基本在８００－９００ｋｇ／ｍ３之间，冰芯中雪冰互层，存在污化面，４０ｍ以下发现很厚的火山灰沉积物。小冰穹平均年积累率约为０．７ｍ／ａ（冰当量），成冰深度７－８ｍ，成冰年限为１０年左右     

The significance of lake sediments geochemistry in environmental reconstruction of south Hongshan Lake, northwestern Tibetan Plateau during the past 150 years

1 IntroductionPast Global Changes (PAGES) is one of the important IGBP (International Geo-Biosphere Program) core programs, of which the objectives are to obtain and interpret all kinds of palaeoclimate records, understand the history of environment and ecological change, and provide basic material and necessary test for the establishment and improvement of climate forecasting models. Because the research of climatic and environmental changes on short time scale is the key connection bet…     

王港潮滩重金属Pb、Zn和Cu积累规律及污染评价

对15年来王港潮滩重金属Pb 、Zn、Cu积累规律和污染状况进行了研究,第一次测到了王港地区²¹⁰Pb的本底值为1.16dpm/g,校正了前人对王港地区沉积速率的研究。研究表明,王港潮滩现代平均沉积速率为4.13cm/a;王港潮滩重金属垂直方向的含量变化具有趋同性; Cu、Zn的归一化值在15年内相对Pb的归一化值稳定,其中Cu的波动范围在0.4~2之间,Zn在1.5~2.6之间狭小的范围内波动;Pb归一化以后在4个柱状样中,都表现出随时间的变化发生了较大的波动,可能受人类活动影响较大。采用瑞典科学家Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法对王港潮滩重金属的潜在生态危害进行了评价分析,并与单因子指数评价比较,对王港污染状况进行综合性的评价。结果显示,Pb为该区域的主要污染因子。王港近岸海域表层沉积物中Cｕ 、Pｂ、Zn的潜在生态危害指数均小于95,总体王港潮滩重金属污染状况属于潜在轻微生态危害。     

Permafrost in Svalbard: a review of research history, climatic background and engineering challenges

This paper reviews permafrost in High Arctic Svalbard, including past and current research, climatic background, how permafrost is affected by climatic change, typical permafrost landforms and how changes in Svalbard permafrost may impact natural and human systems. Information on active layer dynamics, permafrost and ground ice characteristics and selected periglacial features is summarized from the recent literature and from unpublished data by the authors. Permafrost thickness ranges from less than 100 m near the coasts to more than 500 m in the highlands. Ground ice is present as rock glaciers, as ice-cored moraines, buried glacial ice, and in pingos and ice wedges in major valleys. Engineering problems of thaw-settlement and frost-heave are described, and the implications for road design and construction in Svalbard permafrost areas are discussed.     

Distribution of Chemical Constituents in Superimposed Ice from Austre Brøggerbreen, Spitsbergen

10 m and 2.3 m ice cores were obtained on Austre Brøggerbreen, Spitsbergen in Svalbard (78°53 ' N, 11°56 ' E, 450 m a.s.l.) in September 1994 and in March 1995, respectively. Stratigraphy, bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, and major ions were obtained from the core samples.
The chemical effect of meltwater percolation through snow/ice is examined. Good correlation between Cl⁻ and Na⁺ was obtained. The ratio of Cl⁻ to Na⁺ was 1.14 which was nearly the same value as in bulk sea water. However, the variation of Cl⁻/Na⁺ shows that higher ratio occured in the bubble-free ice. Furthermore the Cl⁻ ions remain in higher concentration than SO ₄ ²⁻ or Na⁺ ions.     

A surge of Perseibreen, Svalbard, examined using aerial photography and ASTER high resolution satellite imagery

The identification of surge activity is important in assessing the duration of the active and quiescent phases of the surge cycle of Svalbard glaciers. Satellite and aerial photographic images are used to identify and describe the form and flow of Perseibreen, a valley glacier of 59 km² on the east coast of Spitsbergen. Heavy surface crevassing and a steep ice front, indicative of surge activity, were first observed on Perseibreen in April 2002. Examination of high resolution (15 m) Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite imagery confirmed this surge activity. Perseibreen retreated by almost 750 m between 1961 and 1990. Between 1990 and the summer of 2000, Perseibreen switched from retreat and its front began to advance. Rapid advance was underway during the period June 2000 to May 2001, with terminus advance at over 400 m yr⁻¹. Between May and August 2001 the rate increased to over 750 m yr⁻¹. The observed crevasse orientation indicates that ice was in longitudinal tension, suggesting the down-glacier transfer of mass. Ice surface velocities, derived from image correlation between ASTER images, were 2-2.5 m d⁻¹ between May and August 2001. The glacier was flowing at a relatively uniform speed with sharp velocity gradients located close to its lateral margins, a velocity structure typical of ice masses in the active phase of the surge cycle. The stress regime is extensional throughout and the surge appears to be initiated low on the glacier. This is similar to the active-phase dynamics of other Svalbard tidewater glaciers. Perseibreen has probably been inactive since at least 1870, a period of about 130 years to the present surge which defines a minimum length for the quiescent phase.     

平顶山矿区丘陵坡地土壤重金属分布及污染特征

对平顶山矿区周边丘陵坡地土壤进行采样,分析了Cu、Zn、Cr、Ni、Pb 在不同海拔与矿区下风向不同距离处的分布特征及污染水平。结果表明：① 矿区丘陵坡地土壤存在不同程度的重金属累积,以Ni、Cr、Cu累积较重。② 五种元素均在矿区、坡底附近及近坡顶含量较高,而在矿区下风向以50 m内含量最高,之后呈递减趋势。③ Cu、Cr、Pb 随坡度减小而含量增大,Zn、Ni 在坡度5°~15°时含量最大;土地利用对坡面土壤重金属的分布不产生明显影响,林地、草地、坡耕地之间重金属含量也无显著差别。④ 五种元素均在矿区附近产生污染,矿区以下存在Cu、Ni、Pb污染,而矿区以上只有Ni 出现轻度污染;矿区下风向Cu、Ni 污染且迁移距离较远,Cr、Pb 仅在100 m内出现轻度污染,Zn 尚未达到污染水平。⑤ Ni、Cu、Pb 以人为活动源为主,Cr 和Zn以自然源为主。     

Stratigraphic and Morphologic Constraints on the Weichselian Glacial History of Northern Prins Karls Forland, Western Svalbard

Uncertainty remains if ice–free marginal areas existed on the west coast of Svalbard during the Late Weichselian. Field mapping and correlation to well dated raised beach sequences on nearby Brøggerhalvøya reveal the existence of two generations of raised beach deposits on northern Prins Karls Forland. Distinct beach ridges rise up to the inferred Late Weichselian marine limit at 18 m a.s.l. Discontinuous pre–Late Weichselian beach deposits rise from the Late Weichselian marine limit up to approximately 60 m a.s.l. Expansion of local glaciers during the Late Weichselian is indicated by the limited distribution of a till that overlies parts of the older beach sequence. Stratigraphic data and chronological control indicate deposition in a shallow marine environment before 50 ka bp . Correlation to stratigraphic sites on western Svalbard suggests deposition at c . 70 ±10 ka. Glaciotectonic structures disclose expansion of local glaciers into the For–landsundet basin during stage 4 or late stage 5 high relative sea level. Palaeotemperature estimates derived from amino acid ratios indicate that during the time interval c . 70 to 10 ka the area was exposed to cold subaerial temperatures with low rates of racemization. Pedogenesis and frost–shattered clasts at the contact between c . 70 ka deposits and Holocene deposits further indicate a prolonged period of subaerial polar desert conditions during this time interval. The evidence suggests that the Barents Sea ice sheet did not extend across northern Prins Karls Forland during the Weichselian. It is inferred that during the Late Weichselian, ice was drained throughout the major fjords on the west coast of Svalbard and that relatively large marginal areas experienced polar desert conditions and minor expansions of local glaciers.     

Spatial variations of Pb,As, and Cu in surface snow along the transect from the Zhongshan Station to Dome A,East Antarctica

The spatial distributions of lead, arsenic, and copper(Pb, As, and Cu, respectively) in surface snow along the transect from the Zhongshan Station to Dome A, East Antarctica, are presented. The mean concentrations of Pb, As, and Cu are1.04±1.56 pg/g, 0.39±0.08 pg/g, and 11.2±14.4 pg/g, respectively. It is estimated that anthropogenic contributions are dominant for Pb, As, and Cu. Spatially, Pb concentrations show an exponentially decreasing trend from the coast inland, while a moderate decreasing trend is observed for Cu concentrations in the coastal area(below 2,000 m above sea level(a.s.l.)).In the intermediate area(2,000–3,000 m a.s.l.), the concentrations and enrichment factors of all these elements show high variability due to the complicated characteristics of climate and environment. On the inland plateau(above 3,000 m a.s.l.),the high concentrations of As and Pb are induced by high deposition efficiency, the existence of polar stratospheric precipitation, and the different fraction deposition to East Antarctica. The extremely high concentrations with maximum values of9.59 pg/g and 69.9 pg/g for Pb and Cu, respectively, are suggested to result mainly from local human activities at the station. Our results suggest that source, transport pathway, and deposition pattern, rather than distance from the coast or altitude, lead to the spatial distributions of Pb, As, and Cu; and it is further confirmed by spatial variations of the three metals deposited over the whole continent of Antarctica.     

Late Quaternary glacial and environmental history of Kongsøya, Svalbard

On western Kongsøya, Svalbard, three coarsening-upwards sequences of marine to littoral sediments, separated by tills, are recognised in sections at ca 50-92 m above present sea level. These sequences show major glaciations in the northern Barents Sea, resulting in substantial glacioisostatic downpressing of Kongsøya. Till fabrics indicate ice movements controlled by the local topography, while glaciotectonic deformations suggest that ice moved from an ice divide northeast of Kongsøya. independent of the local topography. The stratigraphical evidences show two pre-Holocene ice-free periods, when the climate was similar to or slightly warmer than at present. The age of these periods is not clear. It is suggested that the elder ice free interval is older than isotope stage 5e. The younger ice free interval could be of Eemian or Early Weichselian age. The uppermost succession of sublittoral-littoral sediments is of early Holocene age. It relates to the high (≥100 m) postglacial marine limit, dated to approximately 10,000 bp.