Effects and underlying mechanisms of damming on carbon and nitrogen cycles and transport in rivers of Southwest China: project introduction

Southwest China is the primary area for damming rivers to produce hydroelectric energy and store water. River damming has changed hydrodynamic, chemical, and biological processes, which are related to sinks and sources of greenhouse gases and carbon and nitrogen fluxes of different interfaces. Here, I provide an introduction to a river damming-related foundation, the National Key R&D Program of China (2016YTA0601000). Supported by the foundation, we carried out research on multi-processes/multi-interfaces of carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles in a dammed river system and have produced important results, as presented in this issue of the journal.     

High-temperature carbon reduction of silica: A novel approach for oxygen isotope analysis of biogenic opal

A new technique has been developed for the determination of the oxygen isotope composition from biogenic silica. The iHTR method (inductive high temperature carbon reduction) is based on the reduction of silica by carbon with temperatures of up to 1830°C (maximum T 2200°C) to produce carbon monoxide for isotope analysis. Basically, samples of silica are mixed with graphite and filled into a sample holder made of a glassy carbon rod. The rod is introduced into a glassy carbon cylinder liner closed at the top which itself is enclosed by a double-walled glass vessel. The glassy carbon rod is inductively heated under vacuum to the temperature needed for quantitative conversion of the particular silica material to CO. The most critical process of dehydration (in the case of opal) and reduction to CO is routinely achieved in the iHTR device. Weakly bound oxygen and oxygen-containing contaminants, like hydroxyl groups, as well as remaining minor organic constituents are volatilized stepwise under high vacuum at temperatures of 850°C and 1050°C without isotopic exchange before the reduction of the silica. After completion of dehydration, the temperature is raised to the value needed for silica reduction. For both biogenic silica and quartz a temperature of 1550°C was found to be adequate. The technical design with a standard preparation routine and various test experiments is presented proving the reliability and capability of the new iHTR method, especially with respect to fresh diatom materials and diatom opal. The amount of sample material necessary at present is ∼1.5 mg of silica and the reproducibility achieved for natural samples is better than ±0.15‰. Replicate analysis of the quartz standard NBS28 resulted in a δ¹⁸O value of 9.62‰ ± 0.11‰ (n = 17).     

Connecting the cycles: Impact of sediment,carbon and nutrient erosion on GHG emissions

Soil erosion and depositon are often considered to generate an unintentional, but significant sink sink for atmospheric GHGs. This study highligts the need for a full account of all emissions associated with agriculture when assessing the impact of soil erosion on climate.     

Deep-sea biogenic silica: new structural and analytical data from infrared analysis - geological implications

The main parameters of infrared spectra have been investigated for marine siliceous skeletons and for silica polymorphs. From infrared (IR)data, the mean values for the Si-O bond length (1.62 Å) and for the Si-O-Si angle (about 142°6) are inferred for biogenic silica. A model is proposed for the molecular structure of biogenic, amorphous silica, which consists of a discontinuous, three-dimensional framework of short chains of [SiO₄] tetrahedra, bounded with apical hydroxyls. According to the relationship between the structure of the silica polymorphs and their infrared spectra, it is shown that a quantitative analysis of biogenic silica seems to be possible in quartz-rich sediments. Some geological implications of these data are emphasized, including the processes of siliceous skeleton sedimentation and diagenetic evolution.     

Evolution of biogeochemical cycles under anthropogenic loads: Limits impacts

Human activities pathogenically modify biogeochemical cycles via introducing vast amounts of chemical elements and compounds into biotic cycles and inducing evolutionary transformations of the organic world of the biosphere. The adverse phenomena develop cascadewise, as is illustrated by the increase in the content of carbon dioxide and acid-forming compounds, enrichment of aquatic environments by metals, and pollution with persistent organic pollutants and biogenic elements. Analogies with the past are utilized to estimate the possible implications of the evolution of anthropogenically induced processes. The organic world is proved to react to anthropogenic impacts by means of active microevolutionary processes. The key reaction mechanisms of organisms and transformations of populations and ecosystems under the modified conditions are demonstrated. A review of literature data is used to show how anthropogenic emissions of CO₂, NO_x, P, toxic compounds and elements increases on a global scale, and how ocean acidification, eutrophication, water withdrawal, etc. are simultaneously enhanced. The methodology of estimating anthropogenic loads is discussed as a scientifically grounded strategy of minimizing anthropogenic impacts on natural ecosystems.     

Surface chemistry and reactivity of biogenic silica

The surface chemistry of cultured diatoms was compared to that of biosiliceous material in Southern Ocean sediments, using potentiometric titrations and aluminum adsorption experiments. Aerosil 200, a well-studied synthetic amorphous silica, served as reference solid. Surface charge development and aluminum adsorption on cultured diatom shells were comparable to Aerosil. The surface chemical properties of biosiliceous material buried to depths of 15-25 cm in Southern Ocean sediments, however, deviated markedly from those of the cultured diatoms. In pH range 4-8.5, the surface charge density was systematically lower for biogenic silica from the sediments. In addition, the aluminum adsorption edge on the biosiliceous sediments was shifted to higher pHs by about 0.4 units. The results indicate that ionizable surface silanol groups on diagenetically altered diatom shells are less abundant and, possibly, less acidic than on freshly cultured diatoms. The observed differences in surface chemical structure are consistent with the progressive loss of reactivity, or aging, of biogenic silica which promotes its preservation in sediments.     

Benthic fluxes and the cycling of biogenic silica and carbon in two southern California borderland basins

Benthic fluxes in two southern California borderland basins have been estimated by modeling water column property gradients, by modeling pore water gradients and by measuring changes in concentration in a benthic chamber. Results have been used to compare the different methods, to establish budgets for biogenic silica and carbon and to estimate rate constants for models of CaCO₃ dissolution. In San Pedro Basin, a low oxygen, high sedimentation rate area, fluxes of radon-222 (86 ± 8 atoms m⁻² s⁻¹), SiO₂ (0.7 ± 0.1 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹), alkalinity (1.7 ± 0.3 meq m⁻² d⁻¹), TCO₂ (1.9 ± 0.3 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹) and nitrate (−0.8 ± 0.1 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹) measured in a benthic chamber agree within the measurement uncertainty with fluxes estimated from modeling profiles of nutrients and radon obtained in the water column. The diffusive fluxes of radon, SiO₂ and TCO₂ determined from modeling the sediment and pore water also agree with the other approaches. Approximately 33 ± 13% of the organic carbon and 37 ± 47% of the CaCO₃ arriving at the sea floor are recycled. In San Nicolas Basin, which has larger oxygen concentrations and lower sedimentation rates than San Pedro, the fluxes of radon (490 ± 16 atoms m⁻² s⁻¹), SiO₂ (0.7 ± 0.1 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹), alkalinity (1.7 ± 0.3 meq m⁻² d⁻¹), TCO₂ (1.7 ± 0.2 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹), oxygen (−0.7 ± 0.1 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹) and nitrate (-0.4 ± 0.1 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹) determined from chamber measurements agree with the water column estimates given the uncertainty of the measurements and model estimates. Diffusion from the sediments matches the lander-measured SiO₂ and PO₄³⁻ (0.017 ± 0.002 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹) fluxes, but is not sufficient to supply the radon or TCO₂ fluxes observed with the lander. In San Nicolas Basin 38 ± 9% of the organic carbon and 43 ± 22% of the CaCO₃ are recycled. Approximately 90% of the biogenic silica arriving at the sea floor in each basin is recycled. The rates of CaCO₃ dissolution determined from chamber flux measurements and material balances for protons and electrons are compared to those predicted by previously published models of CaCO₃ dissolution and this comparison indicates that in situ rates are comparable to those observed in laboratory studies of bulk sediments, but orders of magnitude less than those observed in experiments done with suspended sediments.     

筑坝对山区河流碳动力学的影响

流域的地貌和气候特征及干流筑坝等是影响河流碳动力学的主要因素。本文对干流下游筑坝的华南山地丘陵区河流增江的碳循环过程做了系统研究。结果表明,山地丘陵为主的流域地貌特征提高了增江河流碳的输出通量;而亚热带湿润气候和较高的森林覆盖率以及缺乏碳酸盐岩的流域地质背景使得溶解有机碳（DOC）构成增江河流碳的主要成分;光化学分解可以解释在秋季较强紫外线辐射下河水较低的DOC含量。受大坝影响河段水流速度的变缓为水生生物量的增加提供了条件,使得颗粒有机碳（POC）中来源于水生生物量的贡献率上升、有机物的C/N比降低。流速变缓的河道中藻类的生长导致水体CO₂分压低于大气中的CO₂分压。增江流域DOC和POC的输出通量分别为25.08×10⁵g/km²·a和11.58×10⁵g/km²·a。本文为研究自然因素和人类活动对河流碳循环过程及通量的影响提供了一个典型案例。

     

Mixed biogenic and hydrothermal quartz in Permian lacustrine shale of Santanghu Basin,NW China: implications for penecontemporaneous transformation of silica minerals

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The cycling of various isomorphs of authigenic silica minerals is a complex and long-term process. A special type of composite quartz (Qc) grains in...     

A molecular and carbon isotope biogeochemical study of biomarkers and kerogen pyrolysates of the Kimmeridge Clay Facies: palaeoenvironmental implications

Structures and carbon isotopic compositions of biomarkers and kerogen pyrolysis products of a dolomite, a bituminous shale and an oil shale of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation (KCF) in Dorset were studied in order to gain insight into (i) the type and extent of water column anoxia and (ii) changes in the concentration and isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the palaeowater column. The samples studied fit into the curve of increasing δ¹³C of the kerogen (δ¹³C_TOC) with increasing TOC, reported by Huc et al. (1992). Their hypothesis, that the positive correlation between TOC and δ¹³C_TOC is the result of differing degrees of organic matter (OM) mineralisation in the water column, was tested by measuring the δ¹³C values of primary production markers. These δ¹³C values were found to differ on average by only 1‰ among the samples, implying that differences in the extent of OM mineralisation cannot fully account for the 3‰ difference in δ¹³C_TOC. The extractable OM in the oil shale differs from that in the other sediments due to both differences in maturity, and differences in the planktonic community. These differences, however, are not likely to have significantly influenced δ¹³C_TOC either. All three sediments contain abundant derivatives of isorenieratene, indicating that periodically euxinia was extending into the photic zone. The sediments are rich in organic sulfur, as revealed by the abundant sulfur compounds in the pyrolysates. The prominence of C₁-C₃ alkylated thiophenes over n-alkanes and n-alkenes is most pronounced in the pyrolysate of the sediment richest in TOC. This suggests that sulfurisation of OM may have played an important role in determining the TOC-δ¹³C_TOC relationship reported by Huc et al. (1992).     

Reactivity of biogenic silica: Surface versus bulk charge density

Acid-base titrations were carried out at three different ionic strengths (0.01, 0.1 and 0.7 M NaCl) on a range of marine and continental biosiliceous materials. The large variability in electrical charging behavior of the various materials is consistent with the existence of two pools of ionizable groups, one on the outer surface of and the other within the silica particles. The relative amounts of internal and external silanols were estimated by fitting a two-site complexation model to excess proton versus pH curves obtained at the different ionic strengths. For fresh diatom frustules and phytoliths, as well as recently deposited biosiliceous sediments, the abundance of internal silanols was of the same order of magnitude as, or exceeded, that of silanols on the external surface. Older biosiliceous materials exhibited lower proportions of internal groups, while a decrease in the relative amount of internal silanols was also observed for diatom frustules artificially aged in seawater. The existence of internal ionizable functional groups explains measured charge densities of biogenic silicas that largely exceed the theoretical site density of silica surfaces. Variations in the relative abundance of internal versus surface silanols further explain the non-uniform dependence of electrical charging on ionic strength, the lack of correlation between total charge density and dissolution kinetics, and the variable 950 cm⁻¹ peak intensity in the infrared spectra of biogenic silicas. Dissolution rates correlate positively with the external charge, rather than the total charge build-up, as expected if dissolution only involves the removal of silicate units from the external surfaces of the particles. The progressive reduction with time of the internal to external silanol concentration ratio represents one of the mechanisms altering the material properties that affect the recycling and preservation of biogenic silica in earth surface environments.     

Distribution and sources of carbon,nitrogen, phosphorus and biogenic silica in the sediments of Chilika lagoon

The present study investigated the spatial and vertical distribution of organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and biogenic silica (BSi) in the sedimentary environments of Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon. Surface and core sediments were collected from various locations of the Chilika lagoon and were analysed for grain-size distribution and major elements in order to understand their distribution and sources. Sand is the dominant fraction followed by silt + clay. Primary production within the lagoon, terrestrial input from river discharge and anthropogenic activities in the vicinity of the lagoon control the distribution of OC, TN, TP and BSi in the surface as well as in the core sediments. Low C/N ratios in the surface sediments (3.49–3.41) and cores (4–11.86) suggest that phytoplankton and macroalgae may be major contributors of organic matter (OM) in the lagoon. BSi is mainly associated with the mud fraction. Core C5 from Balugaon region shows the highest concentration of OC ranging from 0.58–2.34%, especially in the upper 30 cm, due to direct discharge of large amounts of untreated sewage into the lagoon. The study highlights that Chilika is a dynamic ecosystem with a large contribution of OM by autochthonous sources with some input from anthropogenic sources as well.     

喀斯特生态系统生物地球化学过程与物质循环研究:重要性、现状与趋势

喀斯特地质与生态系统是地球表层系统中的重要组成部分,其变化将对其他地区以及整个地球系统产生影响.生物地球化学循环是全球和区域变化研究的核心内容,而生态系统的演化与系统内水分和养分的生物地球化学循环密切相关。因此,我们有必要将喀斯特生态系统纳入到更大区域或全球生态系统中进行分析研究,在充分研究认识整个喀斯特生态系统物质生物地球化学循环规律的基础上,进一步研究喀斯特生态系统的全球变化响应或影响机制,为喀斯特生态系统优化调控对策和措施提供科学基础。研究生态系统演化过程中物质的生物地球化学循环规律,是研究植物适生性、物种优化配置和适应性生态系统调控机理的关键基础。在介绍前人工作基础的同时,本文全面而概括地总结了我们近年利用元素、同位素(如δ13C、δ15N、δ34S、87Sr/86Sr)示踪和化学计量学理论和方法对喀斯特生态系统中不同界面和流域中物质的生物地球化学循环及其生态环境效应的研究成果。认识到:喀斯特流域生物地球化学循环活跃,相互耦合,并与流域生态环境变化相互制约;人类活动正干预流域物质的自然生物地球化学循环过程,并导致相应的生态和环境效应;全球变化科学深化有赖于区域生态环境变化及物质生物地球化学循环的研究。这些认识是我们将来系统深入开展喀斯特以及其他流域生态系统物质生物地球化学循环研究的重要方向。     

Production and pelagic dissolution of biogenic silica in the Southern Ocean

Vertical distributions of particulate silica, and of production and dissolution rates of biogenic silica, were determined on two N-S transects across the Pacific sector of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current during the austral spring of 1978. Particulate silica profiles showed elevated levels in surface water and near the bottom, with low (35–110 nmol Si · 1^?1) and vertically uniform values through the intervening water column. Both the particulate silica content of the upper 200 m and the production rate of biogenic silica in the photic zone increased from north to south, reaching their highest values near the edge of the receding pack ice. A significant, but variable, fraction (18–58%) of the biogenic silica produced in the surface layer was redissolving in the upper 90–98 m. Net production of biogenic silica in the surface layer (production minus dissolution) was proceeding at a mean rate of ca. 2 mmol Si · m^?2 · day^?1. This is ca. 4 times greater than the most recent estimate of the mean accumulation rate of siliceous sediments beneath the ACC. We estimate, based on mass balance, that the mean dissolution rate of biogenic silica in subsurface water column in the Southern Ocean is 1.2–2.9 mmol Si · m^?2 · day^?1.     

Numerical SPH analysis of debris flow run-out and related river damming scenarios for a local case study in SW China

A smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) numerical modeling method implemented for the forward simulation of propagation and deposition of flow-type landslides was combined with different empirical geomorphological index approaches for the assessment of the formation of landslide dams and their possible evolution for a local case study in southwestern China. The SPH model was calibrated with a previously occurred landslide that formed a stable dam impounding the main river, and it enabled the simulation of final landslide volumes, and the spatial distribution of the resulting landslide deposits. At four different sites on the endangered slope, landslides of three different volumes were simulated, respectively. All landslides deposited in the main river, bearing the potential for either stable impoundment of the river and upstream flooding scenarios, or sudden breach of incompletely formed or unstable landslide dams and possible outburst floods downstream. With the empirical indices, none of the cases could be identified as stable formed landslide dam when considering thresholds reported in the literature, showing up the limitations of these indices for particular case studies of small or intermediate landslide volumes and the necessity to adapt thresholds accordingly for particular regions or sites. Using the occurred benchmark landslide as a reference, two cases could be identified where a complete blockage occurs that is more stable than the reference case. The other cases where a complete blockage was simulated can be considered as potential dam-breach scenarios.     

Climatic influences on the oxygen isotopic composition of biogenic silica in prairie grass

Samples of Calamovilfa longifolia were collected from across the North American prairies to investigate the relationship between the oxygen-isotope composition of biogenic silica (phytoliths) deposited in this grass and relative humidity, temperature, and the oxygen-18 enrichment of soil water relative to local precipitation. The δ¹⁸O values of silica in nontranspiring tissues were controlled by soil-water composition and temperature, whereas the oxygen-18 content of silica formed in leaf and inflorescence tissues was enriched further by transpiration. Accurate calculation of growing temperature was possible only when the oxygen-isotope compositions of both stem silica and soil water were known. However, the oxygen-isotope values of stem phytoliths can be used to calculate the variation in the isotopic composition of soil water across a North American temperature gradient.As plant organic matter decays and phytoliths are transferred to the soil, the temperature and soil-water signals carried by the oxygen-isotope composition of silica from nontranspiring tissues can be masked by the oxygen-18 enrichment of phytoliths from transpiring tissues. However, the overall oxygen-isotope composition of a soil-phytolith assemblage can be related to temperature using an empirical relationship based on temperature and the difference between soil-phytolith and estimated soil-water oxygen-isotope compositions.     

Molecular orbital modeling of aqueous organosilicon complexes: implications for silica biomineralization

Researchers recently have proposed that hypercoordinate Si-organic complexes can form in biologically relevant fluids, and they have reported the first evidence for a transient organosilicon complex generated within the life cycle of an organism (Kinrade et al., 2001b, 2002). These interpretations are based upon peak assignments of ²⁹Si NMR spectra that invoke Si-polyol (e.g., Si-sorbitol) complexes with Si in five- and six-fold coordination states. However, ab initio analyses of the proposed organosilicon structures do not reproduce the experimentally observed ²⁹Si NMR chemical shifts (Sahai and Tossell 2001, 2002 and this work). In place of the originally proposed structures, we have modeled one of the observed δ²⁹Si values with a 5-fold Si-disorbitol complex involving 5-membered ring configurations (i.e., Si-O-C-C-O). The calculated δ²⁹Si value of this new structure closely matches the observed δ²⁹Si peaks in the −100 to −102 ppm range. Likewise, ²⁹Si NMR peaks near −144 ppm were well fit by a model complex in which a 6-fold Si was complexed to three sorbitol molecules in 5-membered ring configurations. The ability to reproduce the observed NMR peaks using molecular orbital calculations provides support for the controversial role of hypercoordinate organosilicon species in the uptake and transport of silica by biological systems. The existence of such complexes in turn may explain other puzzles in Si biogeochemistry, such as the persistence of dissolved silica in concentrated biological fluids, the biofractionation of Si isotopes, and fractionation of Ge from Si.     

碳同位素和水化学在示踪贵阳地下水碳的生物地球化学循环及污染中的应用

地下水污染影响碳的生物地球化学循环,碳的演化也能够反映地下水的污染状况。对贵阳城区地下水的水化学、溶解无机碳含量及其碳同位素进行了分析。研究结果表明,地下水化学以SO4·HCO3-Ca·Mg型和HCO3-Ca·Mg型为主,化学组分分析结果表明,水化学特征主要受岩性控制。地下水中溶解无机碳表现形式主要为HCO-3,丰水期由于稀释作用其含量减少。而丰水期δ13CDIC较枯水期偏负,生物成因无机碳占比重大。结合碳同位素和NO-3等人为活动输入物质的负相关性尝试对城区地下水污染分区,结论为贵阳市区中部、东北部以及西郊农业区地下水受污染较为严重。     

金沙江上游沃达滑坡发育特征与堵江危险性分析

金沙江上游沃达滑坡自1985年开始出现变形,现今地表宏观变形迹象明显,存在进一步失稳滑动和堵江的风险。采用遥感解译、地面调查、工程地质钻探和综合监测等方法,分析了沃达滑坡空间结构和复活变形特征,阐明了滑坡潜在复活失稳模式,并采用经验公式计算分析了滑坡堵江危险性。结果表明:沃达滑坡为一特大型滑坡,体积约28.81×106 m3,推测其在晚更新世之前发生过大规模滑动;滑坡堆积体目前整体处于蠕滑变形阶段,局部处于加速变形阶段;复活变形范围主要集中在中前部,且呈现向后渐进变形破坏特征,复活区右侧变形比左侧强烈。滑坡存在浅层和深层两级滑面,平均埋深分别约15.0,25.5 m,相应地可能出现两种潜在失稳模式:滑坡强变形区沿浅层滑带滑动失稳时,形成的堵江堰塞坝高度约87.2 m;滑坡整体沿深层滑带滑动失稳时,形成的堵江堰塞坝高度约129.2 m。沃达滑坡存在形成滑坡-堵江-溃决-洪水链式灾害的危险性,建议进一步加强滑坡监测,针对性开展排水、加固等防治工程。