The regime of dissolved gases and organic matter in Selenga basin rivers

The gas regime and active reaction of water in Selenga basin rivers are analyzed. It is shown that, in the lower reaches of the Selenga and Uda rivers, which experience the highest anthropogenic impact, the minimal values of hydrogen index were recorded in under-ice period, while in the rivers of Chikoi, Khilok, Dzhida, and Temnik, during spring flood and summer freshets. The concentrations of organic substances are heterogeneous and vary widely under the effect of matter input with major tributaries and wastewater discharge from GOS. It has been established that the concentrations of readily oxidizable organic substances in 28–33% of the taken samples are above the established standards on maximal allowable concentrations in the period of open river channels. In spring and autumn, the organic matter in the rivers of the basin is mostly represented by soil terrigenous material.     

Suspended and Dissolved Forms of Nutrients: Their Relationships and Interaction in the Major Tributaries of the Caspian Sea

Normal annual data are used to evaluate the within-year variations in the concentrations of biogenic substances (organic and mineral components of N and P, dissolved organic carbon, inorganic Si) in the major tributaries of the Caspian Sea. Variations in the concentrations of biogenic substances are analyzed, the relationships between their mass concentrations in individual months are evaluated, and correlation between the organic and mineral components of N and P and their aggregated fractions are established. The obtained high-significance correlation between the concentrations of N and P components suggests that the rates of biochemical processes of biogenic substance transformation taking place in the water of tributaries are commensurable.     

Dissolved and suspended organic mater in the Amur and Songhua River water

Results of studying the concentration of total, dissolved, and suspended organic matter in the water of the Amur and its main tributaries (the rivers of Bureya, Songhua, etc.) in 2005–2006 are presented. A high concentration of organic matter of anthropogenic origin was recorded in the water of the Songhua River, which has a significant effect on the Amur water quality. The export of organic matter with the Amur River water into the Amur Liman was accessed.     

Seasonal and spatial variation in suspended matter,organic carbon,nitrogen, and nutrient concentrations of the Senegal River in West Africa

The Senegal River is of intermediate size accommodating at present about 3.5 million inhabitants in its catchment. Its upstream tributaries flow through different climatic zones from the wet tropics in the source area in Guinea to the dry Sahel region at the border between Senegal and Mauritania. Total suspended matter, particulate and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen as well as nutrient concentrations were determined during the dry and wet seasons at 19 locations from the up- to downstream river basin. The aims of the study were to evaluate the degree of human interference, to determine the dissolved and particulate river discharges into the coastal sea and to supply data to validate model results. Statistical analyses showed that samples from the wet and dry season are significantly different in composition and that the upstream tributaries differ mainly in their silicate and suspended matter contents. Nutrient concentrations are relatively low in the river basin, indicating low human impact. Increasing nitrate concentrations, however, show the growing agriculture in the irrigated downstream areas. Particulate organic matter is dominated by C4 plants during the wet season and by aquatic plankton during the dry season. The total suspended matter (TSM) discharge at the main gauging station Bakel was about 1.93 Tg yr⁻¹ which is in the range of the only available literature data from the 1980s. The calculated annual discharges of particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) are 55.8 Gg yr⁻¹, 54.1 Gg yr⁻¹, and 5.3 Gg yr⁻¹, respectively. These first estimates from the Senegal River need to be verified by further studies.     

三峡水库支流甲烷排放研究进展

甲烷(CH₄)对全球温室效应有着较大的贡献。三峡水库自2003年蓄水以来,其CH₄排放问题已受到广泛关注。但三峡水库反季节的运行方式,使支流库湾CH₄的产生和传输过程受到多方面的影响,进而导致其CH₄排放效应尚不十分明确。本文综述了三峡水库支流CH₄排放的研究进展,典型支流的CH₄排放通量普遍高于干流,位于三峡水库库尾的部分支流CH₄排放通量高于三峡水库库首及库中支流。大多数典型支流的CH₄通量在夏季均达到全年峰值,而在冬季高水位运行期均处于相对较低的水平。同时本文主要从水环境条件、水动力条件、人类活动及气象条件4个方面阐述了三峡水库支流CH₄排放的影响因素。1)水环境条件:支流水华后藻类衰亡分解过程会驱动CH₄释放,且藻类的演替过程会加剧CH₄的产生;温度可以直接影响CH₄的生成速率和消耗速率,也能通过促进藻的生长间接影响CH₄排放;支流相对较低的甲烷氧化菌丰度是其CH₄通量较高的原因之一。2)水动力条件:蓄水期CH₄主要以扩散的方式进行释放,支流较低的流速促进了悬浮物的沉积,上游沉积物中的CH₄含量高于下游;泄水期CH₄主要以冒泡的方式进行释放,下游沉积物中TOC急剧增加,但干流的入侵会削弱支流的温度分层,破坏藻类生长环境,间接影响CH₄通量。3)人类活动:农业耕作使支流水体中的营养物浓度增加,甲烷氧化菌的丰富度降低,细菌群落的营养相关代谢增强;建设用地扩大、支流筑坝增加抑制了有机物的传输,增加了水体中的产CH₄底物,促进了CH₄的产生。4)气象条件:降雨会携带更多营养物质进入支流,同时会增加水体浊度、破坏水体的温度分层,从而对CH₄的产生和传输过程造成影响。最后对未来的研究热点进行了展望,以期为三峡水库CH₄排放的控制和管理提供参考。     

Balance evaluation of the role of lateral inflow in water quality formation in the reservoirs of the water divide reach of the Moscow Canal

Estimates of the chemical load of reservoirs in the water divide reach of the Moscow Canal in terms of phosphates, ammonium ion, nitrates, chlorides, organic matter (by permanganate oxidability), and BOD are given. Matter fluxes for lateral tributaries are compared with the fluxes along the canal, and the obtained relationships are used to evaluate seasonal variations in the role of lateral inflow in water quality formation in the reservoirs. The role of tributaries is shown to increase with decreasing volumes of Volga water transfer.     

Nutrient Transport into the White Sea with River Runoff

Averaged data from long-term observations of concentrations of mineral-nutrient fractions along with fragmentary data and indirect estimates of organic-component concentrations in the tributaries of the sea (the Niva, the Onega, the Northern Dvina, the Mezen, and the Kem rivers) are analyzed. Monthly variations in the concentrations of the major nutrients in the river water flowing into the sea are characterized, and relationships between them in different seasons are determined. Annual nutrient transport into the White Sea by river water is assessed based on characteristics of river runoff and nutrient concentrations using a mathematical model. Wide variations are established in the ratios of organic and mineral fractions of nutrients delivered into the sea. The shares of mineral components in the total runoff of N_tot and P_tot into the sea are found to be equal to 18.1 and 18.8%, respectively.     

Specific features of Lake Ladoga ecosystem under the effect of anthropogenic eutrophication

The evolution of Lake Ladoga ecosystem under the effect of a long period of critical anthropogenic phosphorus load is analyzed. It is shown that relatioships between organic matter accumulation and mineralization with considerable predominance of destruction over autochthonous production have formed in the lake by the moment when the input of P of anthropogenic origin dropped to the estimated admissible level. Studying the transformation of aquatic organic matter of tributaries in the water of Lake Ladoga suggest that a considerable portion of it, primarily, the conservative humic fraction, is now involved in turnover and serves as an additional source of C and P both for producer and destructor organisms. The processes taking place in Lake Ladoga suggest the allochthonous variant of ecosystem evolution.     

Current State of Water Resources of Gusinoe Lake (Western Transbaikalia)

Seasonal and spatial dynamics of the concentrations of major ions, biogenic elements, organic matter, and microelements in Gusinoe Lake water are studied. The economic activity on lake coast has caused an increase in the concentrations of sulfate, sodium, and biogenic and organic matter in areas subject to direct technogenic impact. Lake areas subject to different technogenic impacts were found to differ in water mineralization and pH and the concentrations of microelements. The concentrations of Mo and Sr in lake water are 12–14 and 2–4 times greater than Russian MACs for water bodies used for fishery, respectively.     

新疆艾比湖主要入湖河流精河与博尔塔拉河三维荧光光谱特性及其与水质的关系

以艾比湖主要入湖河流——精河与博尔塔拉河为研究对象,分别分析了精河与博尔塔拉河的水体溶解性有机质(DOM)的组成结构及水质参数与荧光指数的关系.利用平行因子分析法对三维荧光光谱(EEM)分析发现,精河与博尔塔拉河均含有C1(260/420 nm)腐殖酸等有机质、C2(240,240/490 nm)UVC类腐殖质、C3(220/280,300/450 nm)蛋白质类有机质和C4(260,270/530 nm)类腐殖质,且不同荧光组分结构具有一定差异性.为了进一步了解DOM组分特征,采用三维荧光区域积分法分析各区域标准体积百分比,结果表明精河与博尔塔拉河EEM的区域Ⅰ与区域Ⅱ蛋白质有机质含量最高,区域Ⅲ富里酸含量最低.相关性分析表明,主要入湖河流的水质参数与荧光指数中,自生源指数(BIX)与总氮(TN)浓度以及腐殖化指数(HIX)与铵态氮(NH_4~+-N)浓度的相关性较强,相关系数分别为0.831和0.684,且具有显著性;HIX与TN浓度的相关系数为0.604,达到显著性水平.进而对相关性较强的水质参数与荧光指数进行3次拟合,其中HIX与NH_4~+-N浓度的拟合效果最好,相关性系数为0.908,其次是BIX与TN浓度,相关性系数为0.844.总之,通过分析精河与博尔塔拉河三维荧光特征,以及探讨荧光指数与水质参数的关系,可为治理干旱区水环境问题提供理论依据和参考.     

Deep melting and sodic metasomatism underneath the highly oblique-spreading Lena Trough (Arctic Ocean)

Abyssal peridotites collected along the highly oblique-spreading Lena Trough north of Greenland and Spitsbergen have mineral compositions that are similar to residual abyssal peridotites, except for high sodium concentrations in clinopyroxene (cpx). Most samples are lherzolites with light rare earth element (REE)-depleted cpx trace element patterns, but significantly fractionated middle to heavy REE ratios at relatively high heavy REE concentrations. Such characteristics can only be explained by initial melting of a garnet peridotite followed by low degrees of melting in the stability field of spinel peridotite. The residual garnet signature requires either a high potential temperature of the upwelling mantle, or elevated solidus-lowering water contents. The limited spinel field melting suggests a deep cessation of melt extraction, possibly because of the presence of a thick lithospheric cap. This is consistent with the extremely low effective spreading rate and the vicinity to a passive continental margin, which allow conductive cooling to reach deeper levels than commonly estimated for faster mid-ocean ridges. High sodium concentrations in cpx are neither explainable by melt refertilization, nor by a simple diffusion mechanism. The efficient fractionation of sodium from the light REE requires post-melting metasomatism, which is typically restricted to the subcontinental lithosphere. This might imply that the Lena Trough peridotites represent unroofed subcontinental mantle, from which no melt was extracted during the opening of the Lena Trough. It is more likely that sodic metasomatism occurred after partial melting underneath the Lena Trough, and that such an enrichment process is responsible for elevated sodium concentrations in abyssal peridotites elsewhere. Sodium in cpx of residual peridotites can therefore not serve as an indicator of partial melting or melt refertilization.     

Distribution of 137Cs in the Lena River estuary-Laptev Sea system.

Surface sediment samples in the Laptev Sea have average 137Cs content of 7.1 Bq kg(-1), a value intermediate between that of the western Kara Sea (23 Bq kg(-1) and the East Siberian Sea (4.2 Bq kg-'). Both surface sediment content and sediment inventory of 137Cs in the Laptev Sea sediments show significant variability, and the influence of a variety of environmental factors.137Cs concentrations in the Laptev Sea surface sediments range from 0.8 to 16 Bq kg(-1). There is a marked increase in 137Cs content of surface sediment samples collected near the Lena River delta, and a local enrichment in the 137Cs inventories at these sites is also evident. Fine-grained mixed-layer illite/ smectite rich sediments in the estuary provide effective adsorption sites to fix 137Cs, in spite of desorption processes associated with low salinities in estuarine mixing. The Lena River-Laptev Sea mixing zone is a major site of sea-ice production. River and shelf sediments are incorporated into sea-ice formed in this region (Holmes and Creager, 1974). The irregular 137Cs activity profiles of the Lena River estuary cores indicate disturbance or removal of 137Cs-laden sediments via sea-ice related processes. Lena River and Estuary sediments may have served as a secondary source (i.e. other than direct fallout) of 137Cs in sea-ice. North-east of the Lena River estuary, sediment contains a thin layer of 137Cs-bearing material over an erosion surface. The 137Cs-laden surface layer may be the result of transient deposition of estuarine sediments being delivered by sea-ice or spring floods.     

Organic Matter in Water Bodies in Especially Protected Natural Territories: Case Study of Tributaries of Lake Pleshcheyevo,Yaroslavl Oblast,and Tributaries of the Tadenka River in Prioksko-Terrasnyi Nature Reserve,Moscow Oblast

Water Resources - Indirect chemical characteristics of organic matter concentration were determined in small streams in especially protected natural territories, including 15 tributaries of Lake...     

Heavy Metals in Bottom Sediment in the Upper and Lower Volga

Heavy metal concentrations in bottom sediment in some reaches of the Upper (the Ivankovo Reservoir) and Lower Volga (from Volgograd to the mouth offshore area). The bottom sediment in the Ivankovo Reservoir are shown to be heavily polluted by Cu and Zn and to a lesser extent, by Co and Ni; heavy pollution with Ni and Cr and moderate pollution with Zn and Mn were recorded in the Lower Volga. Principal component procedure was used to assess bottom sediment pollution. The role of organic matter in the formation of the Ivankovo Reservoir bottom sediment pollution with heavy metals is shown to be moderate because of the weak correlation between heavy metal concentration and organic matter content of bottom sediment. The same is true for the Lower Volga because of low organic matter content of bottom sediment. The major role in the redox cycle of elements is shown to belong to Fe in the Ivankovo Reservoir and Mn in the Lower Volga.     

Sources of particulate and dissolved organic carbon in the St Lawrence River: isotopic approach

We investigate sources of both dissolved and particulate organic carbon in the St Lawrence River from its source (the Great Lakes outlet) to its estuary, as well as in two of its tributaries. Special attention is given to seasonal interannual patterns by using data collected on a bi‐monthly basis from mid‐1998 to mid‐2003. δ¹³C measurements in dissolved inorganic carbon, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC), as well as molar C : N in particulate organic matter (POM), are used to bring insight into the dynamic between aquatic versus terrigenous sources. In addition, ¹⁴C activities of DOC were measured at the outlet of the St Lawrence River to its estuary to assess a mean age of the DOC exported to the estuary. In the St Lawrence River itself, aquatically produced POC dominates terrestrially derived POC and is depleted in ¹³C by approximately 12‰ versus dissolved CO₂. In the Ottawa River, the St Lawrence River's most important tributary, the present dataset did not allow for convincing deciphering of POC sources. In a small tributary of the St Lawrence River, aquatically produced POC dominates in summer and terrestrially derived POC dominates in winter. DOC seems to be dominated by terrestrially derived organic matter at all sampling sites, with some influence of DOC derived from aquatically produced POC in summer in the St Lawrence River at the outlet of the Great Lakes and in one of its small tributaries. The overall bulk DOC is relatively recent (¹⁴C generally exceeding 100% modern carbon) in the St Lawrence River at its outlet to the estuary, suggesting that it derives mainly from recent organic matter from topsoils in the watershed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial-temporal variations in organic matter of the Sea of Azov

The spatial-temporal variations in the amount and biochemical composition of organic matter and the rates of its transformations in the ecosystems of the Russian part of the Sea of Azov are analyzed. Maximum OM concentrations are typical for Taganrog Bay. A characteristic feature of the Sea of Azov is a large proportion of particulate organic matter, which in summer in Taganrog Bay exceeded 35%. It is shown that not only the concentration of organic matter changes from season to season, but also its elementary (C_org, N_org, and P_org) and biochemical composition (proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids). The major biochemical compound of dissolved organic matter is shown to be carbohydrates (13–28%), and that of particulate matter is protein (44–51%). The hydrolytic (phosphatase and protease) and oxidation-reduction enzymes of electron-transport system demonstrate a high activity in summer. The estimated short turnover times of phosphates and protein suggest the rapid and complete utilization of organic matter in the Sea of Azov.     

Photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter from streams in the western Lake Superior watershed

The input and fate of dissolved organic matter (DOM) can have important consequences for coastal zone productivity in large lakes and oceans. Chromophoric DOM (CDOM) is often delivered to coastal zones from rivers and streams and affects light penetration in a water column. CDOM can protect biota from damaging ultraviolet (UV) light by acting as sunscreen, resulting in increased ecosystem productivity. Alternatively, CDOM can decrease ecosystem productivity by absorbing light needed for photosynthesis and forming photoreaction products that are harmful to coastal zone biota. Increased urbanization of watersheds and seasonal differences in weather patterns change the delivery pathways, reactivity, input, and energy flow of DOM (and its CDOM component) into aquatic systems. This study investigated the effects of watershed and season on the concentrations and potential photodegradation of stream-derived DOM in Lake Superior tributaries, chosen to be geographically and geologically similar but differing in land use. Organic carbon analysis, UV–Visible spectrophotometry, and terrestrial (land use) analysis were used to investigate differences among samples and sample treatments. The major differences in DOM concentration and photochemical response appeared seasonal rather than site specific, with snow-melt samples showing stronger and more consistent changes in UV–Visible parameters while base-flow samples showed stronger and more consistent losses in DOC.     

Spectrophotometric discrimination of river dissolved organic matter

There is a need to be able to differentiate the dissolved organic matter (DOM) fraction in river waters. Research in the 1970s and 1980s has attempted to utilize both absorbance and fluorescence to distinguish between DOM fractions in river waters, but both were limited by the available technology. Total organic carbon content has, therefore, been widely used as a standard method of measuring DOM concentration, although it has little power to differentiate DOM fractions. Recent advances in fluorescence spectrophotometry enable rapid and optically precise analysis of DOM. Here, we show how a combination of both fluorescence and absorbance can be used to discriminate statistically between spatial variations of DOM in tributaries in a small catchment of the Ouseburn, NE England. The results of the discriminant analysis suggest that about 70% of the samples can be correctly classified to its tributary. Discriminant function 1 explains 60·8% of the variance in the data and the fulvic‐like fluorescence intensity has the largest absolute correlation within this function; discriminant function 2 explains a further 21·5% of the variance and the fulvic‐like fluorescence emission wavelength has the largest absolute correlation within this function. The discriminant analysis does not correctly classify all tributaries every time, and successfully discriminates between the different tributaries 70% of the time. Occasions when the tributary waters are less well discriminated are due to either episodic pollution events (at two sites) or due to tributaries that have strong seasonal trends in spectrophotometric parameters, which allows the sites to be misclassified. Results suggest that spectrophotometric techniques have considerable potential in the discrimination of DOM in rivers. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sulfate reduction in natural water bodies: 2. Empirical models for process rate assessment

Empirical models that are used to assess sulfate reduction rates in the aquatic environment and bottom sediments of water bodies are discussed. Such models, with different detail, take into account the effect of the major habitat factors (the concentrations of organic matter, its components, and sulfates; ambient temperature; the numbers and activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria) on matter oxidation transformation during the sulfate reduction process. Improvements in the empirical models are proposed with the aim to more adequately account for the effect of environmental factors on the sulfate reduction rate distribution in water bodies. Validation of such models and the assessment of their parameters are demonstrated against available observational data collected at appropriate water bodies.     

Spatial patterns in macroinvertebrate assemblages in surface-flowing waters of a glacially-influenced floodplain

We examined the spatial structure of macroinvertebrate assemblages in surface-flowing waters of a glacially-influenced floodplain. The floodplain main-channel responded longitudinally to changes in hydrology with evident coarse-scale zones of upwelling and downwelling; the lower floodplain main channel fell dry in late winter. Physico-chemical attributes differed among tributaries and the main channel. The main channel had lower values of conductivity, alkalinity and nitrate–N than tributaries, with right-side (east-facing) tributaries having the highest values. Left-side (west-facing) tributaries flowing over an exposed rock-face had warmer water temperatures than the main channel and right-side tributaries. The biomass of benthic organic matter and periphyton was highest in right-side tributaries, followed by main channel sites then left-side tributaries. Similarly, macroinvertebrate density and richness were higher in right-side tributaries, intermediate in main channel sites, and lowest in left-side tributaries. Macroinvertebrate assemblages clearly differed between main channel sites, right-side tributaries, and left side tributaries based on an NMDS analysis. Minor differences were observed among main channel sites, although most upstream sites showed some structural differences from downstream sites. Ephemeropterans and plecopterans were most common in main channel sites and right-side tributaries, whereas chironomids and trichopterans also were common in right-side tributaries. Although the main channel changed longitudinally in physico-chemical characteristics, no real patterns of zonation were evident in macroinvertebrate assemblages. Coarse spatial patterns in macroinvertebrate assemblages in the floodplain were reflected in the physico-chemical differences between the main channel and tributaries, and between left-side and right-side tributaries. We conclude that coarse-scale floodplain properties enhance the overall diversity of lotic macroinvertebrates. Consequently, floodplain alterations that reduce surface water heterogeneity/connectivity limits the potential macroinvertebrate diversity of floodplains.