Internal-wave-induced and double-diffusive nutrient fluxes to the nutrient-consuming surface layer in the oligotrophic subtropical North Atlantic

In the literature, an inconsistency exists between estimates of biotically-effected carbon export inferred from large-scale geochemical studies (Jenkins 1982; 47 gC m^–2 a^–1) and local measurements of turbulent nutrient supply (Lewis et al. 1986; 4 gC m^–2 a^–1) in the eastern subtropical North Atlantic. Nutrient supply to the upper ocean by turbulent mixing is reexamined using local standard oceanographic measurements and high-resolution vertical profiles of nutrients averaged over a large region directly comparable to that investigated by Jenkins (1982).Responsible Editor: Franciscus Colijn     

Eutrophication in the Polish coastal zone: the past, present status and future scenarios

In the Baltic Sea eutrophication processes have accelerated in the past 50 years of the 20th century and presently there exists a major ecological problem for this sea. The Polish coastal zone of the southern Baltic Sea is the recipient of riverine inputs from two major sources, namely the Odra and Vistula, as well as a number of smaller rivers along the central coast. Hence, the entire coastal zone remains under severe anthropogenic pressure. The variability of nutrient concentrations, especially the winter nutrient pool in the euphotic zone, summer level of total nitrogen and total phosphorus, together with such eutrophication indicators as water oversaturation with oxygen and the summer oxygen minimum, were analysed in the data time series 1959-2001. The temporal trends were investigated using linear regression and the non-parametric Whirsch test. The future characteristics of the Baltic Sea are discussed taking into account the development of driving forces.     

The inhibition of marine nitrification by ocean disposal of carbon dioxide

In an attempt to reduce the threat of global warming, it has been proposed that the rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations be reduced by the ocean disposal of CO2 from the flue gases of fossil fuel-fired power plants. The release of large amounts of CO2 into mid or deep ocean waters will result in large plumes of acidified seawater with pH values ranging from 6 to 8. In an effort to determine whether these CO2-induced pH changes have any effect on marine nitrification processes, surficial (euphotic zone) and deep (aphotic zone) seawater samples were sparged with CO2 for varying time durations to achieve a specified pH reduction, and the rate of microbial ammonia oxidation was measured spectrophotometrically as a function of pH using an inhibitor technique. For both seawater samples taken from either the euphotic or aphotic zone, the nitrification rates dropped drastically with decreasing pH. Relative to nitrification rates in the original seawater at pH 8, nitrification rates were reduced by ca. 50% at pH 7 and more than 90% at pH 6.5. Nitrification was essentially completely inhibited at pH 6. These findings suggest that the disposal of CO2 into mid or deep oceans will most likely result in a drastic reduction of ammonia oxidation rates within the pH plume and the concomitant accumulation of ammonia instead of nitrate. It is unlikely that ammonia will reach the high concentration levels at which marine aquatic organisms are known to be negatively affected. However, if the ammonia-rich seawater from inside the pH plume is upwelled into the euphotic zone, it is likely that changes in phytoplankton abundance and community structure will occur. Finally, the large-scale inhibition of nitrification and the subsequent reduction of nitrite and nitrate concentrations could also result in a decrease of denitrification rates which, in turn, could lead to the buildup of nitrogen and unpredictable eutrophication phenomena. Clearly, more research on the environmental effects of ocean disposal of CO2 is needed to determine whether the potential costs related to marine ecosystem disturbance and disruption can be justified in terms of the perceived benefits that may be achieved by temporarily delaying global warming.     

Störungen durch flüchtige Substanzen bei der Messung des biologischen Sauerstoffverbrauches mit dem Sapromat

Interferences by Volatile Substances in Measuring the Biological Oxygen Consumption Using the Sapromat Aerobic microbial degradation processes can be well monitored by means of the oxygen consumption. There are special analyzers for these measurements, such as the Sapromat produced by Voith GmbH Heidenheim, Germany. Interference occurs during investigations with (or in the presence of) volatile components of low water solubility, which appear in dissolved state or as an additional phase. Thus, the Sapromat records an apparent oxygen consumption without the participation of microorganisms which is in the order of usual BOD₅-values or even above them and is attributable to physico-chemical reasons and the measuring system used. The present paper points out this phenomenon and investigates the reasons. These are demonstrated and discussed. The results emphasize the urgency of blanks in order to detect abiotic effects using the Sapromat.     

中纬度电离层吸收的冬夏不对称性及吸收与低层大气耦合的可能性

本文对1982-1983年期间北京地区一种连续扫频法的电离层吸收记录及国内几个其它台站的f_(min)记录进行了分析。观测证据表明,中纬度电离层D区的吸收行为在冬天和夏天表现很不相同,夏季主要受太阳控制,而冬季则在太阳控制的基础上迭加其它控制因素。对低层大气30mb等压面高度随时间变化的分析结果也显示了类似的冬夏不对称性。这似乎表明,冬天电离层D区更容易受来自对流层和低平流层中某些过程的影响。这与对流层中激发的行星尺度波在冬季易于垂直向上传播的理论是定性上一致的。     

The distribution of particulate iodine in the Atlantic Ocean

The iodine content of marine suspended matter obtained from thirteen stations in the Atlantic between 75°N and 55°S has been measured. The concentration of particulate iodine is high in the surface, up to 127 ng/kg of seawater being observed. Below the euphotic zone, it drops sharply to 1–2 ng/kg. The iodine-containing particles are probably biogenic. A simple box-model calculation shows that only 3% of the particulate iodine produced in the surface water may reach the deep sea and that the residence time of these particles in the surface water is about 0.1 year.     

Oxygen depletion off the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary

In a survey on the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea on August 20-30 of 1999, we found a hypoxic zone (<2 mg/L) of 13700 km² with an average thickness of 20m at the bottom of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary, with an oxygen minimum value of 1 mg/L. The extension of the dissolved oxygen deficiency extended to the 100m isobath in a southeastward direction along the bottom of the continental shelf of the East China Sea. During the last two decades, the minimum dissolved oxygen values in the low oxygen region of the Changjiang Estuary have decreased from 2.85 mg/L to 1 mg/L. In the hypoxic zone, the apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) was 5.8 mg/L and the total oxygen depletion approximately 1.59 × 10⁶t. The strong halocline above the hypoxic zone, as a result of affluent water from the Changjiang, Taiwan Warm Current (TWC), and the high concentrations of particle organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PON) are the major factors causing the formation of the hypoxic zone. The POC: PON ratios and nutrient concentration distributions in the hypoxic zone suggest that the oxygen deficiency in the bottom water during the summer in the East China Sea off the Changjiang is the result of organic carbon production enhanced by nutrients from the Changjiang and fluvial organic matter input, followed by a shift in regeneration of nutrients in the East China Sea.     

Evidence for toxic cyanobacteria in sediments and the water-sediment interface of a tropical drinking water reservoir

Cyanobacterial blooms in drinking water reservoirs constitute a health risk for humans and animals, especially in tropical zones where climate conditions may favour their prevalence throughout the year. The presence, viability, and toxicity of cyanobacteria were determined in the euphotic zone, in the water-sediment interface, and in the upper sediment fraction of the Riogrande II reservoir (Antioquia, Colombia), which provides drinking water for 1.4 million people. Cyanobacterial identification and quantification were performed in environmental samples of the euphotic zone and of the sediment-water interface. In addition, the effects of environmental parameters on occurrences of cyanobacteria were assessed and two microcystin synthetase (mcy) genes were extracted from water, interface, and sediment samples and quantified using qPCR. The viability of the cells in cultures from these different matrices was determined using chlorophyll-a measurements. Chlorophyll-a concentrations representing the biomass of cyanobacteria were higher at the interface than in the euphotic zone at all sampling sites. The potentially toxic genera Dolichospermum and Microcystis predominated in the euphotic zone and the interface, respectively. Moreover, the copy numbers of mcy genes was higher in cyanobacteria sampled at the interface and the upper sediment layers than in cyanobacteria sampled in the euphotic zone, which were correlated with the order Chroococcales. No impact of variation in environmental conditions on cyanobacterial abundance was observed. Viability of cyanobacterial cultures sampled from the interface and the upper sediment fraction showed the ability of cyanobacteria from several orders to proliferate under lab conditions. These results show that the surface sediment layer from Riogrande II serves as a sink for potentially toxic cyanobacteria which have the potential to recolonize and bloom in the water column.     

太湖真光层深度的计算及遥感反演

真光层是浮游植物进行光合作用的水层,真光层反演有利于初级生产力的进一步估算.利用2007-01-07和2006-084-01两期陆地卫星TM数据与同步水质参数数据,建立太湖水体非色素颗粒物浓度和叶绿素a浓度的反演模型,反演出太湖冬、夏两季的非色素颗粒物、叶绿素a浓度.然后根据在太湖建立的真光层深度与非色素颗粒物、叶绿素a浓度之间的关系模型,计算得到太湖冬、夏两季真光层深度空间分布.结果表明,就整个湖区而言,冬季真光层深度变化范围为0.27-2.28m,均值为0056±0.22m,夏季真光层深度变化范围为0.21-2.03m,均值为0.98±0.24m.从空间上看,冬季时真光层深度的变化规律为:南太湖<西部沿岸<湖心区<胥口湾<贡湖湾<梅梁湾<东太湖<竺山湾;夏季时的变化规律为:西部沿岸<梅梁湾<东太湖<湖心区<贡湖湾<竺山湾<南太湖<胥口湾.从季节上看,夏季真光层深度显著大于冬季,但不同湖区真光层深度季节变化也存在一定差异,其中梅梁湾、贡湖湾、西部沿岸、湖心区、胥口湾、南太湖夏季真光层深度大于冬季,而竺山湾和东太湖夏冬变化则不是很明显.     

Simulating biodegradation of toluene in sand column experiments at the macroscopic and pore-level scale for aerobic and denitrifying conditions

Heterotropic bacteria can degrade organic substrates utilizing different terminal electron acceptors. The sequence of electron acceptor utilization depends on the energy yield of the individual reaction pathway, which decreases as the redox potential decreases. Due to these differences in energy yield, and an inhibiting activity of oxygen on some enzymatic processes, the simultaneous utilization of oxygen and nitrate as terminal electron acceptors may not occur for many degradation processes, unless the oxygen concentration falls below a given threshold level (about 0.2 mg/l).Two sand column experiments were conducted, with toluene as the carbon source, and showed an apparent simultaneous utilization of oxygen and nitrate as electron acceptors in regions where the oxygen concentration was significantly higher (⩾1.1 mg/l) than the above mentioned threshold concentration. Results from aerobic and anaerobic plate-count analyses showed growth of both aerobes and denitrifiers in the zone of the column where simultaneous utilization of oxygen and nitrate was observed. From these observations, it was postulated that the porous media contained oxygen-free microlocations where the denitrifiers were able to degrade the toluene.To simulate the observed dynamics, a dual biofilm model was implemented. This model formulation assumes that the biofilm is composed of two distinct layers, where the outer layer is colonized by aerobic bacteria and the inner layer by denitrifying bacteria. The thickness of the aerobic layer is such that oxygen is depleted at the boundary of these two layers, resulting in oxygen-free microlocations that allows denitrification to proceed, even though oxygen is still present in the bulk fluid phase. The model simulations compared well to the experimental profiles. Model analyses indicated that changes in physical, chemical, and hydrologic parameters could change the length and location of the zone where at the macroscopic level, oxygen and nitrate are utilized simultaneously. Comparisons of the proposed model to macroscopic modeling approaches showed that a dual biofilm model is able to describe the simultaneous utilization of oxygen and nitrate more accurately.     

Temporal-spatial variations of euphotic depth of typical lake regions in Lake Taihu and its ecological environmental significance

Euphotic depth can be defined as the portion of wa- ter column that supports the net primary productivity. Its lower end is the critical depth, namely, the depth measured when the daily net primary productivity is zero[1]. In the ecosystems of oceans, lakes and rivers, phytoplankton live in the euphotic depth and euphotic depth is usually taken as the lower boundary, when studying the primary productivity and biomass of phytoplankton; therefore the corresponding depth is sometimes called the t…     

Phytoplankton production and physiological adaptation on the southeastern shelf of the Agulhas ecosystem

An investigation of phytoplankton production and physiology was undertaken during two research cruises on the southeastern shelf of southern Africa. The data set included photosynthesis-irradiance and active fluorescence parameters, phytoplankton absorption coefficients and HPLC pigment concentrations. Primary production was estimated to vary over a similar range for both cruises within 0.27–3.69 g C m⁻² d⁻¹. Pigment indices indicated that diatoms were dominant on the first cruise and the communities were subject to conditions where the mixed layer was deeper than the euphotic zone and they optimized their photosynthesis to very low light intensities at the bottom and below the euphotic zone. Mixed diatom-flagellate populations were observed during the second cruise where the euphotic zone was deeper than the mixed layer and the populations adapted to irradiances higher in the euphotic zone. In response to a mean lower water column PAR, it was found that these mixed communities increased the proportion of chlorophyll a in the pigment pool and had a higher quantum yield of photochemistry and higher light-limited photosynthetic efficiency.     

Biological response to coastal upwelling and dust deposition in the area off Northwest Africa

Nutrient supply in the area off Northwest Africa is mainly regulated by two processes, coastal upwelling and deposition of Saharan dust. In the present study, both processes were analyzed and evaluated by different methods, including cross-correlation, multiple correlation, and event statistics, using remotely sensed proxies of the period from 2000 to 2008 to investigate their influence on the marine environment. The remotely sensed chlorophyll-a concentration was used as a proxy for the phytoplankton biomass stimulated by nutrient supply into the euphotic zone from deeper water layers and from the atmosphere. Satellite-derived alongshore wind stress and sea-surface temperature were applied as proxies for the strength and reflection of coastal upwelling processes. The westward wind and the dust component of the aerosol optical depth describe the transport direction of atmospheric dust and the atmospheric dust column load.     

High incorporation of carbon into proteins by the phytoplankton of the Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea

High incorporation of carbon into proteins and low incorporation into lipids were a characteristic pattern of the photosynthetic allocations of phytoplankton throughout the euphotic zone in the Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea in 2004. According to earlier studies, this indicates that phytoplankton had no nitrogen limitation and a physiologically healthy condition, at least during the cruise period from mid-August to early September in 2004. This is an interesting result, especially for the phytoplankton in the Alaskan coastal water mass-dominated region in the Chukchi Sea which has been thought to be potentially nitrogen limited. The relatively high ammonium concentration is believed to have supported the nitrogen demand of the phytoplankton in the region where small cells (<5 μm) composed of about 50% of the community, since they prefer to use regenerated nitrogen such as ammonium. In fact, a small cell-size community of phytoplankton incorporated much more carbon into proteins in nitrate-depleted water suggesting that small phytoplankton had less nitrogen stress than large phytoplankton. If the high carbon incorporation into proteins by the phytoplankton in 2004 is a general pattern of the photosynthetic allocations in the Chukchi Sea, they could provide nitrogen-sufficient food for the highest benthic faunal biomass in the Arctic Ocean, sustaining large populations of benthic-feeding marine mammals and seabirds.     

Effect of sediment resuspension on underwater light field in shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River: A case study in Longgan Lake and Taihu Lake

Based on three continuous in situ underwater light field measurement under different wind waves conditions in Longgan Lake, Meiliang Bay of Taihu Lake in July 2003 and littoral zone near TLLER in July 2004, respectively, the effects of sediment resuspension caused by wind waves on PAR diffuse attenuation, absorption coefficients and euphotic depths are analyzed. In Longgan Lake, PAR diffuse attenuation coefficients during small, middle and large wind waves were 1.74, 2.02 and 2.45 m-1, respectively, and the corresponding PAR spectral diffuse attenuations ranged from 0.98 to 2.97, 1.34 to 3.95 and 1.80 to 5.40 m-1, respectively. In Meiliang Bay, PAR diffuse attenuation coefficients were 2.63, 3.72, 4.37 m-1 during small, middle and large wind waves. PAR diffuse attenuation coefficients increased by 41% and 66% from small to middle, large wind waves, respectively. Absorption coefficients integrated over the range of PAR of CDOM, phytoplankton were 0.26, 0.28 m-1; 0.76, 0.49 m-1, respectively during middle and large wind waves. Absorption coefficients integrated over the range of PAR of non-algal particulate matter and total suspended particulate matter increased from 0.94 to 1.73 m-1, and from 1.70 to 2.22 m-1, respectively during middle and large wind waves. Relative contributions of absorption coefficients of non-algal particulate matter to total absorption coefficient integrated over the range of PAR were 44.14%, 65.05%, respectively, during middle and large wind waves. PAR euphotic depths decreased by 0.40, 0.19, 0.20 m from middle to large wind waves in Longganhu Lake, Meliang Bay and littoral zone near TLLER. Significant correlations were found between transparency, PAR diffuse attenuation coefficients, euphotic depths and total suspended paniculate matter, wind velocity, wave height. Most significant correlations were found between transparency, PAR diffuse attenuation coefficients, euphotic depths and inorganic suspended paniculate matter but low correlations for chlorophyll a, dissolved organic carbon. Increase of total suspended paniculate matter, especially inorganic suspended paniculate matter caused by wind waves was the dominant factor affecting underwater light field in shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River based on observations at three stations.     

Limnology of an equatorial high mountain lake — Lago San Pablo, Ecuador: The significance of deep diurnal mixing for lake productivity

Equatorial high mountain lakes are a special type of lake occurring mainly in the South American Andes as well as in Central Africa and Asia. They occur at altitudes of a few thousand meters above sea level and are cold-water lakes (<20 °C). Relatively little is known about them. A long-term limnological study was therefore undertaken at Lake Lago San Pablo, Ecuador to analyze the basic limnological processes of this lake, which has a tendency for eutrophication. Lago San Pablo is spread over an area of 668 hectares, has a maximum depth of 35 m, and is located 2660 m above sea level. Its thermal stratification is a monomictic one, with only 1–2 °C difference between the epi- and hypolimnion; overturn is achieved by strong winds during the dry summer period. The stratification phase is characterized by an oxygen deficit in the lower part of the hypolimnion. Besides, strong convective currents occur due to nocturnal cooling, and partial lake mixing was observed during the nocturnal period. This type of lake mixing is called atelomixis, which is characterized by the partial mixing of isolated layers (difference in temperature or ionic content) during stratification. The nutrient level of the lake is quite high: mean P_total concentration = 0.22 mg/l, mean N_total = 1.05 mg/l, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) > 0.01 mg/l, and soluble inorganic nitrogen > 0.2 mg/l. Nitrogen and phosphorus are available in the epilimnion all year round (N_{sol. inorg·.} = 0.3 to 1.7 mg/l N, SRP = 0.04 to 0.63 mg/l P). The N/P ratio is sometimes > 14, sometimes < 10, indicating a variability of the limiting nutrient factor. Considering the nutrient level, the phytoplankton biomass is quite low (about 4,000 cells per ml on average; maximum cell number: 13,000 in 1998 and 10,000 in 1999). The mean epilimnic chlorophyll content (Chl a was 10 mg/l in 1998 and 11 g/l in 1999, and the maximum Chl a content was 16 and 22 g/l in 1998 and 1999, respectively.Phytoplankton production can be limited by nutrients, mainly nitrogen, but convective currents can also cause a significant loss of biomass. The lake's euphotic zone is smaller than its epilimnic zone, indicating that light radiation is limiting in the deeper water body, this is caused by a weak thermocline due to destratification by nocturnal cooling, the atelomixis.     

Enhancement of In Situ Bioremediation of BTEX-Contaminated Ground Water by Oxygen Diffusion from Silicone Tubing

A field study of oxygen-enhanced biodegradation was carried out in a sandy iron-rich ground water system contaminated with gasoline hydrocarbons. Prior to the oxygen study, intrinsic microbial biodegradation in the contaminant plume had depleted dissolved oxygen and created anaerobic conditions. An oxygen diffusion system made of silicone polymer tubing was installed in an injection well within an oxygen delivery zone containing coarse highly permeable sand. During the study, this system delivered high dissolved oxygen (DO) levels (39 mg/L) to the ground water within a part of the plume. The ground water was sampled at a series of monitors in the test zone downgradient of the delivery well to determine the effect of oxygen on dissolved BTEX, ground water geochemistry, and microbially mediated biodegradation processes. The DO levels and Eh increased markedly at distances up to 2.3 m (7.5 feet) downgradient. Potential biofouling and iron precipitation effects did not clog the well screens or porous medium. The increased dissolved oxygen enhanced the population of aerobes while the activity of anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogens decreased. Based on concentration changes, the estimated total rate of BTEX biodegradation rose from 872 mg/day before enhancement to 2530 mg/day after 60 days of oxygen delivery. Increased oxygen flux to the test area could account for aerobic biodegradation of 1835 mg/day of the BTEX. The estimated rates of anaerobic biodegradation processes decreased based on the flux of sulfate, iron (II), and methane. Two contaminants in the plume, benzene and ethylbenzene, are not biodegraded as readily as toluene or xylenes under anaerobic conditions. Following oxygen enhancement, however, the benzene and ethylbenzene concentrations decreased about 98%, as did toluene and total xylenes.     

Phytoplankton production characteristics in the upper and lower pools of Volga reservoir HPPs

Data of field observations of 1989–1991 were used to analyze the habitat conditions and the structural–functional characteristics of phytoplankton in near-dam reaches of Volga reservoirs. Averaged data show negative trends, manifesting themselves in a decline in the characteristics of phytoplankton development and production–destruction processes in the lower pools of HPPs against the background of a decrease in water temperature, water transparency, and dissolved oxygen content. Saprobity indices show water quality in near-dam reaches to correspond to β-mesosaprobic zone and not to deteriorate in the lower pools, despite the decline in organic matter destruction. By the combination of abiotic characteristics and phytoplankton production indices, the upper and lower pools of Volga HPP reservoirs occupy close positions in the shortest network and fall in the clusters formed by stations in appropriate reservoirs.     

Water column characterisation on the Azores platform and at the sea mounts south of the archipelago

This study provides data concerning the hydrography and water chemistry of the Atlantic region between 29-38° N and 27-31° W, and establishes background values for dissolved Cu, Cd, Pb and As. Three water masses were identified: the Eastern North Atlantic Central Water (ENACW), the Mediterranean Water (MW) and the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW). The ENACW exhibits a clear meridional gradient of temperature and salinity, with comparatively high values at the southern sites and lower values on the Azores platform. The ENACW, which includes the euphotic zone, also had comparatively high concentrations of oxygen and lower concentrations of nutrients and metals. The Cu, Cd and Pb results suggest that new background concentrations for OSPAR Region V (the Wider Atlantic) should be established as follows: 0.15-13nM for Cu, 0.05-1.4nM for Cd and 0.03-5nM for Pb. The background concentrations of As for OSPAR Region V should be 7-28nM.     

芦山地震前后龙门山断裂带南段视应力研究

利用四川台网数字地震记录资料,计算了2008年汶川地震之后、2013年芦山地震之前5年内,龙门山断裂带南段ML3.0级以上地震视应力随时间的变化,以及芦山M7.0级地震序列的视应力值及其时空分布特征.结果表明：①从芦山地震之前1年的时间开始,龙门山断裂带南段有视应力的上升过程;②芦山地震余震序列视应力存在几次比较突出的视应力与震级相关性的被打破以及视应力的突降异常,且在震后3个小时之后,视应力即有明显下降的过程;③从归准化的芦山地震序列视应力σapp的空间分布来看,视应力高值区域分布在主震的西南方向和整个余震区东南边缘,并且这两个高视应力区正好分布在该断层面与华南地块紧密接触的边缘;④主震西侧有一片视应力相对较高的区域;⑤主震以北区域的视应力则相对较低.