Organochlorine contaminants in a coastal lagoon in Argentina: Analysis of sediment, crabs, and cordgrass from two different habitats

Burrowing crabs (Chasmagnathus granulata), sediment collected from inside and outside crab burrows as well as outside the crab bed, and cordgrass (Spartina densiflora) were collected from intertidal mudflat and cordgrass marsh habitats and analyzed for concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and organochlorine (OC) compounds to test the hypothesis that there are differences in the distribution and bioaccumulation of OC contaminants in coastal lagoon habitats in Argentina. PCB concentrations were relatively low, although the penta- and hexachlorobiphenyl detected in sediments and biota indicated that there had been direct inputs of PCBs into the ecosystem. Heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, endosulfan sulphate, chlordane compounds, DDT and metabolites, and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) were the major pesticides detected in sediment and biota samples. When lipid-normalized concentration data for all OC pesticides in crabs were summed together (ΣOCC), there were higher concentrations in crabs from the cordgrass habitat in comparison to crabs from the mudflat. In sediment samples, there were no significant differences in percent organic matter of marsh and mudflat sediments, but the concentrations of ΣOCC normalized to organic carbon were higher in the sediments collected in the cordgrass marsh. Samples of rhizomes and roots from the cordgrass contained high concentrations of OC compounds and it was estimated that 2.4 kg of heptachlor epoxide, the most abundant OC pesticide, may be present in the total cordgrass root biomass in Mar Chiquita lagoon. These data indicated that the cordgrass in coastal lagoon environments is an important factor in determining the distribution of persistent contaminants, and that a significant portion of the total burden of these hydrophobic compounds may be deposited in cordgrass biomass.     

苏北潮滩湿地不同生态带碳、氮、磷分布特征*

通过对比苏北潮滩湿地不同生态带的表层以及柱状沉积物中总有机碳、总氮、总磷和有机磷含量,并结合不同植被不同植株部位中碳、氮、磷的含量变化,分析了潮滩沉积物中碳、氮、磷的垂向和水平分布特征与规律,探讨了不同生态带以及潮滩植被对碳、氮、磷等生源要素的富集作用。对比分析结果表明:苏北潮滩湿地各生态带对不同的测量指标有着不同的富集作用,互花米草滩的总有机碳、总氮和有机磷含量要远大于其他几个生态带,光滩沉积物中总磷的含量最高; 粒度效应是控制互花米草前缘地带以及互花米草滩沉积物中有机碳和氮分布的一个重要因素,盐蒿和芦苇滩中有机碳和氮的分布更多的是受粒度之外的其他因素影响; 不同生态带表层沉积物中的C/N比值分布,大致可反映其有机物来源的差异,而不同生态带中柱状沉积物中的C/N比值相对接近,很难根据C/N比值大小来对不同生态带中的有机物来源进行判断,这可能是埋藏在柱状沉积物中的有机物更多的受到了早期成岩作用造成的。植被对潮滩湿地中碳、氮、磷的分布有着重要影响,3种物质在互花米草、盐蒿和芦苇中的含量差别不是很大,因此潮滩植被对沉积物中上述3种物质的贡献差别主要是由不同植被的生物量和其所处环境的沉积动力差异造成的。     

海南岛新村、黎安潟湖表层沉积物有机质分布与来源分析

通过对海南省陵水县新村港(33个)和黎安港(11个)表层沉积物样品的粒度、总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)的测定分析, 得出了双潟湖表层沉积物的粒径与有机质的分布特征, 并利用C/N 比值计算了不同有机质来源的贡献率。研究结果表明:1)新村港和黎安港潟湖表层沉积物的平均粒径分别为0~8ø和6~8ø, 呈由岸及湖心粒径逐渐减小的趋势; 2)新村港表层沉积物TOC的含量介于0.027 % ~2.660 %, 平均值为1.06 %, TN的含量介于0.018 % ~1.461 %, 平均值为0.748 %, 在人类活动明显的村落附近区域TN值很高, 去除人类活动影响的这些值后, TOC和TN的空间分布均与平均粒径具有较好的相关性, 即呈湖中心含量较高、近岸含量较低的特征; 黎安港表层沉积物TOC的含量介于0.216 % ~1.950 %, 平均值为1.15 %, TN的含量介于0.019 % ~1.460 %, 平均值为0.45 %, 由于沉积物粒径空间分异小, TOC和TN的空间分布较均匀; 3)新村港表层沉积物C/N 比介于0.037~33.000之间, 平均值为4.73, 利用C/N 比估算得到陆源有机碳贡献率达1 % ~99 %, 平均值为47 % 。C/N 比值和陆源有机碳贡献率在新村港南北两侧近岸表层沉积物中比潟湖中心高, 这是由于北侧河流和南侧南湾岭陡坡雨水携带的植物碎屑为近岸沉积物提供了较为丰富的陆源有机质; 黎安港表层沉积物C/N 比介于1.1~11.5之间, 平均值为6.51, 整体值小于12, 有机质的C/N 比与陆源有机质贡献率的空间分布与新村港存在较大差异, 其有机质主要为海源。人类活动对新村港内有机质沉积影响明显。     

Impact of human activities on the central Mediterranean offshore: Evidence from Hg distribution in box-core sediments from the Ionian Sea

Total Hg concentrations have been measured for five box-core sediments collected seawards of the Augusta industrial area (SE Sicily). In more coastal sediments, upcore increasing Hg concentrations, exceeding the Hg background concentration estimated for the Strait of Sicily, indicate Hg contamination over time due to the industrial area development. Strong correlation between total organic C (TOC) and Hg concentrations was found only for core BX2, that displays organic C to total N (C/N) ratios indicative of autochthonous organic matter. For other sediments, high Hg enrichment factors with respect to TOC indicate, in addition to Hg trapping by TOC, other factors as responsible for Hg accumulation. In the presence of some contribution of detrital organic matter, Hg is mainly adsorbed onto the mineral component of the bottom sediments probably because TOC is saturated by Hg excess. Contaminant impact affected also the open sea environment. Main drivers of Hg flux towards the offshore were dredged materials, which repeatedly discharged sediment, resulting in substantial increases in TOC contents and high C/N ratios. Consistent with the geochemistry of recent turbidites, these anomalous sedimentary inputs induced sediment redox environment modifications, constrained by Mn peaks, which affected Hg distribution.     

Simulation of polychlorinated biphenyls transport in the vadose zone

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are the main constituents of clophen (the liquid of the electric transformers and capacitors) and have been characterized as potential human carcinogens. PCBs can be a hazardous contaminant of soil and groundwater. We used the mathematical model variably saturated 2D flow and transport (VS2DT model) to simulate the transport of PCBs from the soil surface to groundwater for a time period of 30 years. We also used a mathematical model to simulate the colloid-facilitated PCB transport, under saturated flow conditions. The results showed that PCBs dissolved in water cannot be transported to large depths in unsaturated soils, because of their strong sorption onto soil and low solubility in water. For soils with very low or no organic matter content, PCB transport is much faster and the probability of groundwater contamination is much higher. PCBs can partition to colloids originating from dissolved organic matter in groundwater. Colloid-facilitated PCB transport is faster compared to PCB transport in aqueous solution with no colloids present.     

长江口水下三角洲表层沉积物有机质分布特征

根据对长江口水下三角洲31个表层样沉积物粒度、总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)的测定,得出了粒度及有机质的分布特征,利用C/N比分析有机质来源及不同来源的贡献率。研究结果表明: 1)长江口水下三角洲表层沉积物平均粒径介于3~8Φ之间,存在由陆向海变细的趋势; 2)TOC含量在0.1% ~1.2% 之间,平均值为0.52%; TN含量介于0.02% ~0.08% 之间,平均值为0.057% 。TOC和TN含量的分布特征相似,具有自陆向海、由低至高的变化趋势,这主要是受到沉积物粒径的影响,但是TOC在崇明岛东侧和九段沙东侧有两个高值点,可能与人类活动或局地因素有关; 粒度校正之后,TOC含量在0.40% ~1.67% 之间,平均值为0.68%; TN的含量介于0.05% ~0.10% 之间,平均值为0.07% 。TOC含量在近岸地区略高,TN含量是北部地区略高于南部地区,并且TOC和TN都在崇明岛东侧和九段沙东侧有两个高值点; 3)C/N比值在6~16之间,平均值为9.6; 利用C/N比值估算得到的陆源有机碳含量在35% ~90% 之间,平均值为60% 。C/N比和陆源有机碳含量在长江口南支外围邻近海域表层沉积物中较高,表明南支带来了大量的陆源有机质入海,并呈舌状向东北方向凸出; 而在长江北支附近其值相对较低,表明北支径流影响相对减弱,潮流作用相对增强。研究表明,长江南支是主要的陆源有机质入海通道,而进入水下三角洲之后陆源有机碳分布受到了河口混合过程的显著影响。     

鸭绿江河口西岸潮间带柱状沉积物中重金属的分布特征及其对流域变化的响应

2010年和2011年在鸭绿江西水道和西岸潮间带共采集4根柱状样,通过对2mPb测年、粒度、总有机碳、重金属元素等多指标综合分析,探讨了：（1）鸭绿江河口西水道和西岸潮间带柱状沉积物中重金属的垂向分布及其来源：（2）重金属分布的粒度控制作用：（3）不同时期的粒度和重金属分布变化及其对流域变化的响应。结果表明：f1）Cu和zn可能来源于有机质降解的内源释放：Cr和Ni表征了岩石风化剥蚀形成陆源碎屑的自然来源：Cd和Pb反映了人类活动的影响。（2）除西岸潮间带的Cd和Pb含量可能部分受来源影响外,研究区的粒度效应是控制鸭绿江地区重金属含量分布的最主要因素。（3）粒度变化与流域演变密切相关,重金属含量对流域变化和人类活动响应明显,大致以1940年、1970年、1995年为界分为四个沉积阶段：1940年以前,自然演变对鸭绿江河口西岸潮间带的重金属分布控制明显,而1940年来至今,人类活动的控制作用日益凸显。     

Relationship between organic matter and mercury in recent lake sediment: The physical–geochemical aspects

This study addresses the physical geochemical aspects of the relationship between Hg and organic matter in recent sediment from eutrophic lakes in central Alberta, Canada. The types of organic matter in the sediment are classified based on their degree of thermal degradation and their petrographical characteristics. This study uniquely applies the methods conventionally used in petroleum geosciences (Rock-Eval^® analyses and organic petrology) to investigate the relationship between various types of organic matter and the concentration of Hg in sediment.The results show that the total organic carbon (TOC) in sediment represents the sum of various organic compounds, which may play a completely different role in the distribution and accumulation of Hg. Strong correlations between TOC and the concentration of Hg in the studied sediment arise mainly from the thermally labile portion of organic matter released during pyrolysis under 300 °C. These compounds primarily consist of easily degradable algal-derived lipids and various pigments, which are petrographically described as soluble organic matter (SOM). The preserved SOM in sediment is commonly entrapped within the cell walls of phytoplankton and also appear as surface coating on sediment particles. The strong affinity between Hg and SOM is due not only to its chemical reactivity, but also to the physical characteristic of these labile compounds. The SOM may provide a substrate with enormous surface area by concentrating on the finer sediment size fractions and potentially acting as a “concentrator” for Hg and other organic-associated elements. Lastly, the quantity of the SOM has been calculated as an “elemental concentrator” portion of the TOC, which plays the most important role in the distribution of Hg in sediment.     

Grain size,geochemistry and organic pollutants in modern fluvial deposits in eastern Moravia (Czech Republic)

Modern fluvial deposits from both small and large rivers were studied at 14 monitoring sites over 2 years (4 successive sampling seasons) in the area of eastern Moravia (Czech Republic). Grain size, geochemistry, content of persistent organic pollutants (PAHs, PCBs, HCHs, DDTs, HCBs and PeCB) and TOC were examined with the aim to understand their mutual relations and seasonal variations in sediment character and pollutant content. Sand and silt fraction predominate and the clay content is relatively low. Differences in provenance for various river systems were recognised. Both regional and seasonal variations in terms of content of persistent organic pollutants were documented. The content of TOC and mud was shown to play an important role in the accumulation of chlorinated persistent organic pollutants PCBs, HCHs, DDTs and HCB.     

The effects of surface area, grain size and mineralogy on organic matter sedimentation and preservation across the modern Squamish Delta, British Columbia: the potential role of sediment surface area in the formation of petroleum source rocks

Surface sediment samples were collected from the Squamish River Delta, British Columbia, in order to determine the role of sediment surface area in the preservation of organic matter (OM) in a paralic sedimentary environment. The Squamish Delta is an actively prograding delta, located at the head of Howe Sound.Bulk total organic carbon (TOC) values across the Squamish Delta are low, ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 wt.%. The carbon/total nitrogen ratio (C_org/N) ranges from 6 to 17, which is attributed to changes in OM type and facies variations. The <25-μm fraction has TOC concentrations up to 2.0 wt.%, and a C_org/N ratio that ranges from 14 to 16. The 53–106-μm fraction has higher TOC concentrations and C_org/N ratios relative to the 25–53-μm fraction. The C_org/N ratio ranges from 9 to 18 in the 53–106-μm fraction and 5.5–10.5 in the 25–53-μm fraction. Surface area values for bulk sediments are low (0.5–3.0 m²/g) due to the large proportion of silt size material. Good correlation between surface area and TOC in bulk samples suggests that OM is adsorbed to mineral surfaces. Similar relationships between surface area and TOC were observed in size-fractionated samples. Mineralogy and elemental composition did not correlate with TOC concentration.The relationships between surface area, TOC and total nitrogen (TN) can be linked to the hydrodynamic and sedimentological conditions of the Squamish Delta. As a result, the Squamish Delta is a useful modern analogue for the formation of petroleum source rocks in ancient deltaic environments, where TOC concentrations are often significantly lower than those in source rocks formed in other geological settings.     

长江口表层沉积物孢粉相特征及其在碳循环中的意义

选自长江口F2-F5站住的4个表层沉积物及其粒度分级（1～8Ф）样品,经过孢粉相和热解检测,探讨有机质特征及其在碳循环中的命运。未分级样品的孢粉相主要由木质组织、丝炭和黑团块组成,显示陆地输入有机质的贡献巨大。样品分级后,孢粉相面貌发生显著变化。细粒的8函中无定形为主,其他粒级（2～7Ф）中主要由结构有机质组成。细粒的...     

Source and Biogeochemical Distribution of Organic Matter in Surface Sediment in the Deep Oligotrophic Lake Fuxian,China

The source, quantity and quality of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) were investigated in the surface sediments of Lake Fuxian, a deep oligotrophic lacustrine system in China. Granulometry, biochemical organic composition, bulk organic proxies and their stable isotopes were determined in the surface sediments (0–4 cm). The values of δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and atomic ratio of total organic carbon to total nitrogen (TOC/TN) indicated that the sediments in the large partial lake were influenced by autochthonous organic matter. The concentrations of TOC, protein (PRT) and total hydrolysable amino acids may be mainly modulated by phytodetritus sinking from euphotic zones since they correlated significantly with chlorins. Otherwise, the lack of correlation between chlorins concentrations and carbohydrate (CHO) and lipid (LIP) indicated that the latter may have an additional terrestrial source. The highest sediment quantity was found in the deepest station NC owing to its fine sediment. Stations near northwestern shore accumulated more SOM than other littoral stations, which was in accordance with sewage discharge strength. Degradation quality indices, such as chlorin index, degradation index, PRT/CHO, and LIP/CHO, were in general agreement in showing the degraded status of SOM in Lake Fuxian. No clear spatial patterns were found in sediment degradation quality, which may be influenced by bottom oxygen concentration in the deep stations.     

长江口-杭州湾及其邻近海域不同粒级沉积有机碳分布特征

通过对长江口、杭州湾、舟山海域及东海陆架4个海区表层沉积物样品的粒度敏感组分分析,发现东海陆架与长江口具有相似的三级组分物质组成,杭州湾与舟山海域具有相似的两级组分物质组成.综合4个区域粒级组分分布特征,采用湿分法将4个海域表层沉积物样品分成6个粒级:＜0.004 mm,0.004～0.025 mm,0.025～0.063 mm,0.063～0.125 mm,0.125～0.250 mm和＞0.250 mm,分别提取各级组分和全样进行有机碳及同位素测试.定量分析各级组分有机碳含量、来源及物质组分,除杭州湾海域粗粒级外,基本上＜0.004 mm的粘土组分有机碳含量最高;富集在杭州湾海域粗颗粒中的有机质主要来源于陆源植物碎屑.沉积物颗粒大小、物质组成类型是不同粒级有机质富集的主要控制因素.     

兰州市宛川河中段表层沉积物中重金属元素迁移富集特征

通过对兰州市宛川河中段双店子河段表层沉积物元素分析,结合有机质含量和粒度测试,运用聚类分析和相关分析的方法,研究了重金属元素在河流表层沉积环境中的分布及迁移富集等地球化学行为与特征。结果表明Zn元素在研究河段有轻度污染;相关分析表明重金属元素含量与沉积物粒度之间无显著相关性,重金属元素主要是在固-液平衡体系中、通过多相化学反应形成沉淀。污染源分析表明,造纸污水的排放是造成研究区域中上游河段有机质含量较高的主要原因,大分子有机物质的存在不仅改变了此段河流沉积物粒度的变化,且有机质对重金属元素的富集有一定减缓作用。     

应用岩石热解数据S2-TOC相关图进行烃源岩评价

应用岩石热解数据评价烃源岩的传统方法具有一定的局限性。由于矿物基质的吸附或“死碳”的影响,有机质类型的“范氏图解”往往夸大烃源岩有机质类型的非均质性。对松辽盆地上白垩统不同有机质丰度和有机质类型的烃源岩生烃动力学研究表明,它们具有相似的生烃动力学特征,说明尽管有机质丰度存在较强的非均质性,但其有效源岩类型（区别于应用范氏图划分的有机质类型）是一致的。这些烃源岩的岩石裂解烃（S2）与有机质丰度（TOC）的相关系数很高,与生烃动力学的分析结果一致,表明应用S2-TOC相关图划分烃源岩的有机质类型可以更真实地反映烃源岩的有效源岩类型,S2-TOC相关图是评价烃源岩有效源岩类型的有效手段。过去岩石热解数据用于反映烃源岩成熟度的主要指标是tmax,tmax对于偏Ⅱ／Ⅲ型的烃源岩比较适用,而对于Ⅰ型烃源岩,由于生油窗内变化不明显,tmax不能完全反映有机质的成熟过程;而且tmax也受运移油等其他因素影响。不同成熟度的烃源岩的S2-TOC图分析结果显示,随着成熟度的增加,S2-TOC的回归斜率和TOC逐渐减小;利用不同成熟度的烃源岩建立的S2-TOC图可用于评价烃源岩的成熟度。松辽盆地不同沉积相中烃源岩的S2-TOC相关图的特征表明。只要有有利的有机质保存条件,各沉积相下均可发育优质的烃源岩;S2-TOC相关图可以反映烃源岩形成的沉积环境和有机质保存条件。     

Sediment trace metals and PCB input history in Lake Anna, Virginia, USA

Damming of the North Anna River in 1972 created Lake Anna, a cooling water source for the Dominion nuclear power plant as well as a popular recreation site in Spotsylvania and Orange counties, Virginia, USA. Previously dated (210-Pb) sediment cores from seven locations within the lake and three locations in the adjoining Waste Heat Treatment Facilities (WHTF) were analyzed for trace metals (Al, Ba, Zn, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to examine the environmental evolution of the reservoir system. The reservoir has a history of mining activities in its watershed and unusually elevated concentrations of PCBs were found in fish tissues from previous studies. Therefore, dated sediment cores provided the framework for both the temporal and spatial analysis of possible sources and flux histories for both trace metals and PCBs. The trace metals results suggest that, though the upper reaches are relatively less impacted, the old mine tailings from the now ceased mining activities in the watershed of Contrary Creek tributary continue to dominate the sediment chemistry of the lower portion of the lake basin, signified by sediment enrichment of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn. Lagoon-2 of the WHTF also seems to be receiving unusually high loadings of Cd (12.5 ± 1.07 μg/g) that is probably associated with waste materials from the nuclear power plant that maintains the lagoons. PCB sediment concentrations were relatively low in the lower sections of the basins with values typically being <3.5 ng/g. The upper reaches of the basin had several PCB hotspots, with the surface sediments of Terry’s Run tributary having values as high as 53.13 ng/g. The spatial distribution of PCBs seems to suggest the upper reaches of the basin as the probable source, with the unusually high concentrations near bridges suggesting a possible link between the PCBs and old bridge fill materials. The oldest lacustrine sediments also had relatively high trace metals and PCB values signifying a probable role of soil disruption and sediment reconcentration during reservoir construction.     

长江口吴淞-浏河滨岸带沉积物AVS和SEM含量的空间分布特征

对长江口吴淞-浏河滨岸带37个站位沉积物中酸可挥发性硫化物（AVS）和同时可提取态重金属（SEM）含量及其空间分布特征进行了研究。结果表明,SEM在37个站位沉积物中浓度范围为0．20～1．37μmol／g,平均值为0．74μmol／g;AVS的浓度范围为0．20—0．80μmol／g,平均值为0．23μmol／g;沉积物中AVS含量与总有机碳（TOC）和含水率呈显著正相关关系,而SEM分别与TOC和含水率呈显著正相关关系,与沉积物中值粒径呈显著负相关关系。依据SEM／AVS比值评价方法以及美国EPA（SEM—AVS）差值评价方法对沉积物中重金属的生物有效性的判断表明,除了B2站点无显著生物毒性外,吴淞-浏河滨岸带沉积物中重金属对水生生物均处于中等毒性水平。     

下扬子宣泾地区二叠系大隆组页岩含气量主控因素分析——以港地1井为例

下扬子地区发育了寒武系、志留系和二叠系3套有利成藏的页岩,资源潜力大,但存在页岩含气量主控因素不明确的问题。为此,以下扬子宣泾地区港地1井为依托,钻遇的70.1 m厚上二叠统大隆组富有机质页岩为目的层,对岩心系统取样并应用对比分析法,在纵向上连续动态地进行包括矿物成分、孔隙结构、总有机碳(Total Organic Carbon,TOC)、镜质体反射率(vitrinite reflectance,Ro)和有机质类型等研究工作,深入分析TOC、Ro和有机质类型等地球化学指标与含气量之间的对应关系,从而厘定了影响含气量的关键地球化学参数。分析结果表明:TOC与页岩含气量之间存在强正相关关系;在有机质成熟阶段中期,Ro与含气量之间相关性偏弱,对含气量变化没有明显的影响;有机质类型对页岩含气量有重要影响,但是两者的相关性弱于TOC。通过对大隆组页岩从顶部到底部的系统分析,探索了用一套完整页岩在纵向上分析含气量影响因素的新方法。     

可可西里地区湖泊深钻揭示的中更新世以来环境变化

以青藏高原腹地可可西里地区湖泊沉积钻孔BDQ06（35°13'05"N,93°55'52"E;孔深106 m）为研究对象,基于古地磁测年建立的年代框架,通过对BDQ06孔沉积物粒度、总有机碳、有机碳同位素（δ¹³C_org.）及C/N值等气候环境代用指标的分析,重建了可可西里地区中更新世以来的古气候古环境演化序列。根据各环境指标的变化特征将中更新世以来古气候演化划分为5个阶段：929~660 ka B.P.,气候以暖湿冷干交替变化为主;660~480 ka B.P.,与前一阶段相比气候暖湿程度降低;480~360 ka B.P.,气候较为干旱;360~160 ka B.P.,气候不稳定、波动幅度增大;160~5 ka B.P.,气候再次转为暖湿冷干的变化特征。929~610 ka B.P.期间气候出现4次明显的冷干时期,时间上与MIS 22、MIS 20、MIS 18和MIS 16阶段相对应,此后气候表现出明显的趋冷、趋干特征,可能主要受全球变冷的"中更新世革命"（MPT）的影响;360 ka B.P.开始出现频率增强的暖湿气候波动,说明气候不稳定,显示出明显的区域性特征;160 ka B.P.左右出现的较为干冷的时段,与倒数第二次冰期气候相一致,之后环境温度呈现出快速上升的趋势,气候演化进入末次间冰期-末次冰期模式,表现出全球气候一致的特征。整体上,BDQ06孔记录的气候环境演变特征与全球气候变化在冷暖事件上保持一致,但在持续时间、变化强度上存在一定区域性差异。

     

Variability of organic carbon isotope and C/N in the Hemudu Area,Hangzhou Bay and its environmental implications in the Holocene

With the purpose of tracing the variations of the organic matter sources of sediments, a sample column (25.96 m in size) from the Hemudu Area of Hangzhou Bay was put through AMS¹⁴C dating and biogeochemical analysis. TOC and TN presented similar variation trends, suggesting the same and stable sources of organic matter; the bad correlation between the grain size and TOC content indicated that the organic matter occurrence was neither controlled by the grain size nor the surface absorption of the fine particles, but it may has something to do with the complicated sedimentary hydrodynamic force, the input of organic matter and microbial action. Judging on the basis of C/N ratio and δ¹³C_TOC, the organic carbon in sediments was a mixture of terrigenous and marine organic carbon, testifying to the land-sea interaction characteristic of the study area. The indexes experienced abrupt changes at about 6.5 ka BP, when the lighter terrigenous organic carbon made an increased proportion to the heavier marine organic carbon. The phenomenon reflected the enclosure of the lagoon and the reduced exchange interactions with the seawater of open seas.