Chemical and mineralogical composition of Amazon River floodplain sediments,Brazil

The total and exchangeable concentration of major elements and the mineralogical composition of sediments collected along the Amazon River floodplain (várzea) were determined. Average elemental composition (wt%) decreased in the order: Si>Al>Fe>Na>Ca>K>Mg>Ti. There was some spatial variability: the concentration of Al, Na and Mg decreased downstream; the concentration of Fe, K and Ti remained constant; the Si concentration increased toward the Amazon River mouth. Mineralogically, there was a downriver increase in the concentration of quartz and kaolinite, and a concurrent decrease in the concentration of Na- and Ca-plagioclases. On the other hand smectite-vermiculite clay minerals increased and the mica (illite) concentration remained constant. A mass balance indicated that, except for illite, downriver changes in the other minerals were not caused solely by mixing of Amazon River water with water from the major tributaries, which have a distinctly different composition. Therefore, the mass balance indicated that plagioclases and smectite-vermiculite had been lost in the várzea, while kaolinite was formed there.     

Holocene fires in the northern Amazon basin

The ubiquitous occurrence of charcoal in the forest soils of the Upper Rio Negro region of Colombia and Venezuela indicates the presence of frequent and widespread fires in the Amazon Basin, possibly associated with extremely dry periods or human disturbances. Charcoal ranged from 3.12 to 24.76 mg/cm³ in the upper 50 cm of soil and was more abundant in Oxisols and Ultisols than in other soil types. Charcoal dates range from 6260 yr B.P. to the present. Several dates coincide with dry phases recorded during the Holocene. Ceramic shards were found at several sites, and thermoluminescence analysis indicates that their ages range from 3750 to 460 yr B.P. The age of charcoal and shards confirms that this region has been subjected to fire and human disturbances during the past 6000 yr.     

Suspended sediment load in the Amazon basin: An overview

In this report the state of knowledge of sediment transport by rivers of the Amazon drainage basin is reviewed. On an annual basis the Amazon river transports about 1200×10⁶ tons of sediment from the South American continent to the ocean, which puts it among the world's largest rivers in this respect. The main source of sediment is erosion in the Andes mountains and this material is progressively diluted with sediment poor runoff from lowland draining tributaries. Almost half of the Amazon river transport is attributable to one tributary, the Rio Madeira (488×10⁶ t/y). The Rio Negro, which drains the N crystalline shield, has a comparable water discharge to the Rio Madeira, but only contributes 7×10⁶ t/y. In general the sediments in transport are about 1% organic carbon by weight and this results in an annual particulate carbon to the oceans of 13×10⁶ t/y. Total carbon transport, particulate plus dissolved, is about twice this amount.     

Suspended sediment dynamics in the Amazon River of Peru

The erosion and transport of sediments allow us to understand many activities of significance, such as crust evolution, climate change, uplift rates, continental processes, the biogeochemical cycling of pollutants and nutrients. The Amazon basin of Peru has contrasting physiographic and climatic characteristics between the Andean piedmont and the plains and between the north and south of the basin which is why there are 8 gauging stations located along the principal rivers of the Andean piedmont (Marañón, Huallaga, Ucayali) and the plain (Marañón, Tigre, Napo, Ucayali and Amazon rivers). Since 2003, the ORE-Hybam (IRD-SENAMHI-UNALM) observatory has performed out regular measurements at strategic points of the Amazon basin to understand and model the systems, behavior and long-term dynamics. On the Andean piedmont, the suspended yields are governed by a simple model with a relationship between the river discharge and the sediment concentration. In the plain, the dilution effect of the concentrations can create hysteresis in this relationship on a monthly basis. The Amazon basin of Peru has a sediment yield of 541 *10⁶ t year⁻¹, 70% comes from the southern basin.     

210Pb-derived chronology in sediment cores evidencing the anthropogenic occupation history at Corumbataí River basin, Brazil

Activity profiles of excess ²¹⁰Pb combined with chemical data determined in two sediment cores from Corumbataí River basin, São Paulo State, Brazil, provided new insights into the reconstruction of historical inputs of anthropogenic constituents, contributing to improving management strategies of the hydrological resources in the basin since most of the municipalities extensively utilize the waters of Corumbataí River and tributaries for drinking purposes, among other uses. Excellent significant relationships between loss on ignition (LOI) and organic matter were found for sediments of both analyzed profiles. Silica was found to be inversely related to organic matter at both analyzed profiles: its decrease accompanied an increase in the specific surface of the sediments. This relationship was confirmed by a great number of inverse significant correlations among silica and oxides Na₂O, K₂O, CaO, MgO, Al₂O₃, P₂O₅, Fe₂O₃, MnO, and TiO₂. It was possible to identify the role of organic matter on adsorption of several oxides/elements in the core sediments profiles. Apparent sediment mass accumulation rates corresponding to 224 and 802 mg cm⁻² year⁻¹ were obtained, and are compatible with field evidence, indicating a higher value associated with sand mining activities interfering with the natural/normal sedimentation process, due to modifications of the channel drainage.     

Assessing the effects of climate change on the hydrological regime of the Limay River basin

The electricity generation capacity in the Limay River basin is approximately 26% of the total electrical power generation in Argentina. Assessing the potential effects of climate change on the hydrological regime of this basin is an important issue for water resources management. This study explores the presence of trends in streamflow series, evaluates climate sensitivity and studies the effects on the flow regime of predicted changes in precipitation in the basin. In order to identify and quantify changes in observed streamflow series, the Mann–Kendall test, with a modification for autocorrelated data, and an estimator of the magnitude of the trend are applied. In order to evaluate the sensitivity of streamflow to changes in climate, the concept of elasticity is used. Precipitation elasticity of streamflow is used to quantify the sensitivity of streamflow to changes in precipitation and is estimated using a power law model and a linear statistical model in two sub-basins, Aluminé and Nahuel Huapi. The effects on flow regime of the predicted changes in precipitation under different scenarios are studied. Climatic results for different scenarios of growth in greenhouse gases from some General Circulation Models are used as inputs into the proposed models. The analysis identifies decreasing trends in mean and minimum annual flows and in the low flow season. The estimates of the precipitation elasticity imply that changes in precipitation produce similar changes in streamflow and the climatic results for different scenarios show that the variations are moderate.     

“蒸发悖论”在黑河流域的探讨

利用黑河流域12个气象站点1960-2010年的气象资料,运用FAO Penman-Monteith模型计算潜在蒸散量,采用旋转经验正交函数、Mann-Kendall检验等方法系统分析了过去51 a间潜在蒸散量及气温的变化趋势,重点对"蒸发悖论"在黑河流域的规律进行分析.结果表明:根据潜在蒸散量的旋转经验正交函数分区结果,黑河流域可以划分为4个子区."蒸发悖论"仅于1960-1993年存在于黑河流域河西走廊区(Ⅱ区、Ⅲ区);其它各区无"蒸发悖论".1994-2010年由于潜在蒸散量的显著上升,河西走廊区"蒸发悖论"消失.1993年是黑河流域潜在蒸散量变化趋势的一个转折点,1994-2010年黑河流域的潜在蒸散量表现为统计显著的上升趋势.风速的变化是影响黑河流域河西走廊区"蒸发悖论"出现和消失的重要因素.     

Environmental effects of water resource development and use in the Tarim River basin of northwestern China

The unbridled development and use of water resources in the Tarim River basin over the last 50 years have led to a serious degradation of soil (>12×10³ km² of land desertified between the 1960s and 1990s) and water quality (rise in maximum salinity was from 1.3 g l^–1 in 1960, to 4.0 g l^–1 in 1981–1984, and to 7.8 g l^–1 in 1998). Approximately 300 km of the lower reaches of the river course dried up between the 1950s and 1970s, seriously altering the downstream hydrological processes (a 4–6 m drop in groundwater levels from the 1960s to the 1980s, and 0.2 m yr^–1 thereafter) and ecosystems (67% and 50% decrease (1958–1978) in Populus euphratica forest acreage and biomass, respectively). Between the 1950s and 1990s, 3820 km² of P. euphratica forest and 200 km² of shrub- and grassland were lost in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. In this study, based on estimates of soil organic carbon in desertified lands, it has been found that in the last 30 years (1970–2000), approximately 112 Tg of organic carbon (28% originating in the 0–1.0 m soil profile) has been released into the atmosphere as a result of soil degradation in the Tarim River basin. Intensive anthropogenic disturbance has been one of the foremost factors leading to the deterioration of water resources in this region. The key to solving these problems is to enhance the scientific and technical level of monitoring, management, and restoration of water resources and associated water and soil components of local ecosystems.     

黄淮海流域植被覆盖变化对径流的影响

植被是流域水循环过程的重要环境因子之一,植被变化对径流的影响是当前研究的国际前沿和热点问题。以全球变绿最突出的黄淮海流域为研究对象,基于1982-2016年水文气象观测资料及归一化植被指数（NDVI）数据,利用Mann-Kendall等趋势检验方法检测NDVI的时空变化特征。基于Budyko-Fu公式构建黄淮海流域水热耦合模拟模型,分析模拟径流对Budyko-Fu模型参数ω的敏感性;基于参数ω与气候、植被等要素的统计关系,建立利用气候季节性指数和NDVI计算参数ω的经验公式,利用弹性系数法,识别参数ω对NDVI变化的响应,利用复合函数链式求导法则研究NDVI变化对黄淮海流域径流的影响。结果表明:1982-2016年黄淮海流域NDVI呈显著增加趋势;NDVI增加会使模型参数ω增加,进而导致径流量减少;NDVI每增加10%,黄淮海流域径流量平均减少8.3%;植被变化对径流的影响具有显著的空间差异性,气候越干旱、植被条件越差地区的NDVI变化对径流影响越显著。     

Hydrodynamic modelling of the Amazon River: Factors of uncertainty

Hydrodynamic modelling of Amazonian rivers is still a difficult task. Access difficulties reduce the possibilities to acquire sufficient good data for the model calibration and validation. Current satellite radar technology allows measuring the altitude of water levels throughout the Amazon basin. In this study, we explore the potential usefulness of these data for hydrodynamic modelling of the Amazon and Napo Rivers in Peru. Simulations with a 1-D hydrodynamic model show that radar altimetry can constrain properly the calibration and the validation of the model if the river width is larger than 2500 m. However, sensitivity test of the model show that information about geometry of the river channel and about the water velocity are more relevant for hydrodynamic modelling. These two types of data that are still not easily available in the Amazon context.     

渭河沉积物浸出的水文地球化学效应研究

基于渭河咸阳段（中游）和渭南段（下游）沉积物在水更新条件下的浸出实验及水文地球化学模拟,分析了浸出液中3个特征值和8个水化学组分的变化规律及5种矿物质饱和指数的变化特征.结果表明：浸出液中电导率、Eh值和pH值均随着换水量的增加呈现出波动式上升的变化趋势,电导率增加趋势中咸阳段高于渭南段,Eh值增加趋势中渭南段高于咸阳段,说明渭河下游沉积物的颗粒更细,物质还原性更强,浸出液由弱酸性逐步向弱碱性转变;浸出液的HCO₃^-、Cl^-、SO₄^2-含量均表现出随着换水量的增加呈现出先迅速增加,而后逐步减少直至趋于稳定的变化过程,且咸阳段的变化幅度明显高于渭南段,而CO₃^2-含量则呈现不断减少的趋势;Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、Na⁺、K⁺含量均表现出随着换水量的增加呈现出先迅速增加,而后趋于稳定的变化过程,且咸阳段的起始含量和增加幅度均高于渭南段;浸出液中无水石膏、石膏的饱和指数随换水量的增加呈现相同的变化规律,且饱和指数都小于0,咸阳段饱和指数在换水量小于22.5%时溶解能力强,换水量大于22.5%后趋于饱和并开始沉淀的特征,渭南段换水量为12.5%时饱和指数最小,换水量大于或小于12.5%后饱和指数均呈缓慢增加的趋势;方解石、白云石的饱和指数随换水量的增加也呈现相同的变化规律,且饱和指数都大于0,咸阳段在换水量小于12.5%时溶解能力较强,换水量大于12.5%后处于饱和状态并开始沉淀,渭南段在换水量小于5%时溶解能力较强,换水量大于5%后处于饱和状态并开始沉淀;NaCl饱和指数在换水量小于10%时溶解能力较强,换水量大于15%后开始沉淀.咸阳段沉积物中五种矿物质的饱和指数均要大于渭南段,说明渭河中游咸阳段沉积物在水不断更新条件下矿物质溶解能力低于下游渭南段,且沉淀能力较强、沉淀量较大.     

Iron ore mining promotes iron enrichment in sediments of the Gualaxo do Norte River basin,Minas Gerais State,Brazil

The objective of the present study is to assess the influence of iron ore mining on Fe concentrations in fluvial sediments of the Gualaxo do Norte River basin (Minas Gerais State, Brazil). Initially background values were determined for Fe by means of the boxplot representation, the iterative 2σ technique and the calculated distribution function, using geochemical data obtained for alluvial terraces. Geochronologic analyses in carbonaceous materials attested for the proposed background values. After that, chemical analyses of active drainage sediments collected along the entire basin were carried out and a geochemical map of the study area was prepared. The mean background value for Fe is relatively high (8.2 wt %), when compared to the Fe concentration in the Earth’s crust (5.6 wt %). Such background value is strongly associated with the geological characteristics of the region. It was observed that most of the high Fe concentrations were detected in active sediments collected in the main river of the basin and not in its tributaries. This suggests that Fe enrichment is not only linked to the local geology but also to possible increase resulting from accidental leakage of iron ore mining tailings from containment dams and lakes upstream. It is suggested that measures that help stop or minimize such impact be adopted. The large capacity of Fe to adsorb and form complexes with toxic metals implicates in environmental hazards that may not be restricted only to the Gualaxo do Norte river basin, but may affect the other basins downstream.     

Marine muds along the Guyana coast and their origin from the Amazon basin

The mineralogical composition of clay samples from the Amazon basin and the Guyana coast, including samples collected inland and on the continental shelf, was investigated by X-ray diffraction. Also humus content, specific surface and degree of potassium fixation were determined. The muds from the Guyana coast have virtually the same composition as those of the Amazon but are very different from the Guyanese soils and river muds. This suggests that most Guyanese coastal muds come from the Amazon which is confirmed by a consideration of the quantities involved. The only measurable effect of the sea water on the mud particles moving from the Amazon to Venezuela, which takes from one month up to 1000 years, is a decrease in potassium fixation, indicating that some potassium has been taken up from the sea water. The presence of large amounts of soil chlorite in shelf samples may be due to a prolonged contact with sea water but most probably is the result of subaereal conditions during the Pleistocene.     

Hydrograph Separation of the Amazon River: A Methodological Study

The hydrograph separation of the Amazon river was performed using three different methodologies. Were applied isotopic, filter-separation, and mixing methods to estimate the contributions of the surface runoff (event water) and baseflow (pre-event water) components to the total river flow, during the 1973–1974 hydrological years. The importance of the baseflow contribution, mainly during the peak discharge, suggesting that the groundwater plays a much more active and important role in the storm dynamics, was verified. Similar results were obtained for all the methods used, and the applicability of each one was discussed in detail. For the Amazon river basin, the average contribution of the baseflow was 56% of the total river flow, at peak discharge. The average surface runoff contribution, which represents the water capable of mechanical erosion in drainage basins, expressed in terms of the surface runoff coefficient (Kr), was 31.9%, while the mean contribution of the baseflow, expressed by the baseflow coefficient (Kb), was 68.1%.     

Heavy metal distribution in the Godavari River basin

Suspended and bed sediments collected from the entire region of the Godavari River basin were analyzed for Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn. There are pronounced temporal and spatial variations in the heavy metal distributions. The concentrations of heavy metals in the suspended sediments are significantly higher than the bed sediments.Throughout the basin heavy metals are enriched in the finer fractions (<2 µm) of the bed sediments. The average heavymetal composition of the sediments is higher when compared to the average Indian river sediments. Heavy-metal concentration in the two shallow cores collected shows, to some extent, the influence of urbanization. When compared to the other tropical Indian rivers such as the Krishna, the Godavari appears to be a significant contributor of heavy metals to the Bay of Bengal. Considering the enormous sediment load of the Godavari River—170 million tons/yr, the heavy metal fluxes to the Bay of Bengal is very significant. Except for the Pranhita, other tributaries of the Godavari do not contribute significant loads of heavy metals. All the metals show high correlation among themselves and the correlation is more pronounced in suspended sediments than in the bed sediments. The heavy-metal distribution, fractionation, and its relationship with total suspended sediments and depth in various parts of the basin are discussed in detail.     

Biogeochemical behavior of Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke in the Pitinga mining district, Amazon, Brazil

The vegetal species Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke (Rhamnaceae Family) was chosen as a sampling medium for the lateritic surfaces of the Pitinga Mine in the Amazon region, in order to study the biogeochemical behavior of this species and compare it with the chemical composition of a reference plant. The Pitinga mining district is one of the largest producers of tin in the world. This district contains unique deposits of cryolite and rare metals such as Zr, Nb, Ta, Y and REEs related to granitic bodies that intrude into the volcanic and acid pyroclastic rocks. The results showed that the species A. amazonicus predominantly concentrates significant levels of Zr, Nb, Ta, Th, Be, Sc over U, Hf, Ga and In. These elements are characteristic of the mineral paragenesis for the region, suggesting that this plant can provide a representative sampling medium future geochemical exploration programs in the region.     

黄河流域蒸散量分布式模拟

针对传统区域蒸散计算模型中净辐射及其各组成要素的计算直接采用国外经验公式或点上观测资料空间内插的不足,利用基于中国气象站观测资料建立的净辐射及其各组成要素的计算公式和遥感反演的地表反照率,以黄河流域作为研究区域,在考虑地形起伏和下垫面多样性等地表非均匀性因素的基础上,实现了黄河流域净辐射及其各组成要素的分布式模拟;在印证流域尺度存在蒸散互补相关关系的基础上,将净辐射、气温、水汽压等系列要素分布式拟合结果与基于区域蒸散互补理论的AA（Advection-Aridity model）模型耦合,实现了黄河流域蒸散量的分布式模拟。与基于水量平衡的黄河流域多年平均蒸散量空间分布图对照表明,二者趋势分布吻合很好,分区验证的最小相对偏差为1.14%,最大为26.80%,全流域平均相对偏差为1.50%,且分布式蒸散拟合结果更加细致地体现了蒸散量的空间变化情况。集成的区域蒸散分布式模型,以蒸散互补理论为基础,考虑了区域蒸散对近地层大气的反馈作用,仅以数字高程模型和常规气象站观测数据为输入项,应用方便。     

Mainstem and Backwater Fish Assemblages in the Tidal Caloosahatchee River: Implications for Freshwater Inflow Studies

Research strategies for investigating the freshwater-inflow requirements of estuarine fishes often integrate life-history information and correlative analyses of inflow and fish abundance. In tidal rivers, however, some fish have affinities for embayments, oxbows, and smaller tributaries, often referred to collectively as river “backwaters”. The objective of this study was to determine whether freshwater and estuarine fish assemblages differed between backwaters and the mainstem of the tidal Caloosahatchee River, a highly managed river system located in an urban setting in southwest Florida. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling of 21.3-m seine data revealed that fish assemblages did indeed differ between the backwater and mainstem habitats in each of three river sections. Univariate analyses identified species that differed in abundance between the habitats, which included ecologically and economically important fishes in the region. For example, striped mullet Mugil cephalus and pinfish Lagodon rhomboides were more abundant along the river's mainstem; common snook Centropomus undecimalis and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus were more abundant in the river's backwaters. For those species that were more abundant along the mainstem of the river or showed no difference, studies that measure changes in the distribution and abundance of these species with varying inflow along the mainstem of the river are justified. However, for species that were more abundant in backwater areas, geomorphological features should be considered in the design of studies that assess factors affecting fish use.