Influences of grass and moss on runoff and sediment yield on sloped loess surfaces under simulated rainfall

It is important to evaluate the impacts of grasses on soil erosion process so as to use them effectively to control soil and water losses on the Loess Plateau. Laboratory-simulated rainfall experiments were conducted to investigate the runoff and sediment processes on sloped loess surfaces with and without the aboveground parts of grasses and moss (GAM: grass and moss; NGAM: no grass and moss) under slope gradients of 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25° and 30°. The results show that runoff from GAM and NGAM plots increased up to a slope gradient of 10° and decreased thereafter, whereas the runoff coefficients increased with gradient. The average runoff rates and runoff coefficients of NGAM plots were less than those of GAM plots except for the 5° slope. This behaviour may be due to the reduction in water infiltration under moss. The difference between GAM and NGAM plots in average runoff rates varied from 1·4 to 8%. At the same gradients, NGAM plots yielded significantly (α = 0·05) more sediment than GAM plots. Average sediment deliveries for different slopes varied from 0·119 to 3·794 g m⁻² min⁻¹ from GAM plots, and from 0·765 to 16·128 g m⁻² min⁻¹ from NGAM plots. Sediment yields from GAM plots were reduced by 45 to 85%, compared with those from the NGAM plots. Plots at 30° yielded significantly higher sediments than at the other gradients. Total sediments S increased with slope gradients G in a linear form, i.e. S = 9·25G − 39·6 with R² = 0·77*, for the GAM plots, and in an exponential model, i.e. S = 40·4 exp(0·1042G) with R² = 0·93**, for the NGAM plots. In all cases, sediment deliveries decreased with time, and reached a relative steady state at a rainfall duration of 14 min. Compared with NGAM plots, the final percentage reductions in sediment delivery from GAM plots were higher than those at the initial time of rainfall at all slopes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Plankton Assemblage Structure in a High Altitude Saline Lake,Namuka Co in Northern Tibet,China

The seasonal variations in biomass, abundance, and species composition of plankton in relation to hydrography were studied in saline lake Namuka Co, northern Tibet, China. The sampling was carried out at approximately monthly intervals from June 2001 to July 2002. The salinity ranged from 5.5 to 26 g/L. The mean annual air and water temperature showed a clear seasonal pattern, which was approximately 4.4 and 7.4°C, respectively, with the lowest water temperature in winter (from December to March, −1°C) and the highest in June and July (18°C). The results showed that 36 taxa of phytoplankton and 16 taxa of zooplankton were identified. Both the biomass and abundance of total phytoplankton were lower in the winter and peaked once or twice during the summer and spring in the early August (8.23 mg/L and 158.2 × 10⁶ ind./L). The seasonal variation in total zooplankton biomass and abundance was characterized by lower values in both winter and early spring, and one maximum (90.5 mg/L and 935 ind. L⁻¹) occurred in the late summer. Major phytoplankton species were Gloeothece linearis, Oscillatoria tenuis, Gloeocapsa punctata, Ctenocladus circinnatus, Ulothrix sp., and Spirogyra sp. And major zooplankton species included Vorticella campanula, Brachionus plicatilis, Daphniopsis tibetana, Cletocamptus dertersi, Arctodiaptomus stewartianus. The production of D. tibetana was 420.3 g m³ a⁻¹. The total number of plankton species has a significant negative correlation with the salinity.     

1960年以来太湖水生植被演变

太湖的富营养化污染日益严重,针对太湖水生植被的研究工作非常重要,然而全面的太湖水生植被调查已经有将近二十年未见报道.基于2014年夏季全湖水生植被调查结果,结合历史资料,比较分析1960年以来太湖水生植被演变情况.结果表明,1960年以来,共有23种水生植物从太湖消失,其中1981、1997和2014年分别消失7、4和12种.从分布区面积来看,1960年以来太湖水生植被总体呈北部湖区水生植被消失,东北部、东部及南部湖区水生植被分布区面积持续扩张的态势,1981年全湖水生植被分布区面积占8%,到2014年已经有33.82%的水面有水生植被分布.从生物量组成来看,太湖水生植被先升后降,从1960年的10×10⁴ t,持续上升到1988年的44.72×10⁴ t,1997年下降到36×10⁴ t,2014年进一步下降到29.09×10⁴ t.但挺水植被以外的水生植被,尤其是浮叶植被的生物量一直保持上升态势.总生物量的下降与东太湖挺水植被大面积消失有关,到2014年全湖挺水植被生物量比重仅占5.15%,东太湖沼泽化问题已不复存在.从群落组成变化情况来看,苦草（Vallisneria natans）群落分布区面积锐减,马来眼子菜（Potamogeton malaianus）和荇菜（Nymphoides peltatum）分布区持续扩张.目前太湖水生植被管理面临的主要问题是北部湖区水生植被恢复和东部湖区水生植被过量生长.     

Sediment-transport competence of rain-impacted interrill overland flow

Laboratory experiments to determine the maximum size of sediment transported in shallow, rain-impacted flow were conducted in a recirculating flume 4·80 m long and 0·50 m wide. Rainfall intensities were varied between 51 and 138 mm h⁻¹, flow was introduced from a header tank into the flume at rates ranging from 0 to 0·64 l s⁻¹, and experiments were conducted on gradients between 3·5 and 10°. The following equation was developed: ML = (REFE)^1·6363 in which M is particle mass, L is distance moved in unit time (cm min⁻¹), RE is rainfall energy (J m⁻² s⁻¹) and FE is flow energy (J m⁻² s⁻¹). This equation can be used to predict sediment-transport competence of interrill overland flow. The equation is limited in its utility insofar as it has been developed using quartz grains and takes no account of variations in absorption of rain energy by natural ground surfaces. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation of equatorial wave momentum fluxes using MST radar winds observed at Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E)

A method of computing the vertical flux of zonal momentum (associated with equatorial waves) from the zonal and vertical components of the winds measured by the Indian MST radar at Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E) is presented. The application of the method to the radar data gives flux values of 16×10⁻³, 8.0×10⁻³ and 5.5×10⁻³ m² s⁻² for slow Kelvin (12-day period), fast Kelvin (5.33-day period) and Rossby-gravity (RG) (3.43-day period) waves, respectively, in the upper troposphere. These flux values compare quite well with the values 4×10⁻³ m² s⁻² and 1×10⁻³ m² s⁻² obtained from radiosonde zonal wind and temperature data by Wallace and Kousky, 1968for slow Kelvin and RG waves, respectively. An estimate of the error in the fluxes gives a value of ∼ 1.2×10⁻³ m² s⁻².     

CRONUS-Earth calibration samples from the Huancané II moraines,Quelccaya Ice Cap,Peru

The Huancané II moraines deposited by the Quelccaya Ice Cap in southern Peru were selected by the CRONUS-Earth Project as a primary site for evaluating cosmogenic-nuclide scaling methods and for calibrating production rates. The CRONUS-Earth Project is an effort to improve the state of the art for applications of cosmogenic nuclides to earth-surface chronology and processes. The Huancané II moraines are situated in the southern Peruvian Andes at about 4850 m and ∼13.9°S, 70.9°W. They are favorable for cosmogenic-nuclide calibration because of their low-latitude and high-elevation setting, because their age is very well constrained to 12.3 ± 0.1 ka by 34 radiocarbon ages on peat bracketing the moraines, and because boulder coverage by snow or soil is thought to be very unlikely. However, boulder-surface erosion by granular disintegration is observed and a ∼4% correction was applied to measured concentrations to compensate. Samples from 10 boulders were analyzed for ¹⁰Be, ²⁶Al, and ³⁶Cl. Interlaboratory bias at the ∼5% level was the largest contributor to variability of the ¹⁰Be samples, which were prepared by three laboratories (the other two nuclides were only prepared by one laboratory). Other than this issue, variability for all three nuclides was very low, with standard deviations of the analyses only slightly larger than the analytical uncertainties. The site production rates (corrected for topographic shielding, erosion, and radionuclide decay) at the mean site elevation of 4857 m were 45.5 ± 1.6 atoms ¹⁰Be (g quartz)⁻¹ yr⁻¹, 303 ± 15 atoms ²⁶Al (g quartz)⁻¹ yr⁻¹, and 1690 ± 100 atoms ³⁶Cl (g K)⁻¹ yr⁻¹. The nuclide data from this site, along with data from other primary sites, were used to calibrate the production rates of these three nuclides using seven global scaling methods. The traditional Lal formulation and the new Lifton-Sato-Dunai calibrations yield average ages for the Huancané samples that are in excellent-to-good agreement with the radiocarbon age control (within 0.7% for ¹⁰Be and ³⁶Cl and 6% for ²⁶Al). However, all of the neutron-monitor-based methods yielded ages that were too young by about 20%. The nuclide production ratios at this site are 6.74 ± 0.34 for ²⁶Al/¹⁰Be in quartz and 37.8 ± 2.3 (atoms ³⁶Cl (g K)⁻¹) (atom ¹⁰Be (g SiO₂)⁻¹)⁻¹ for ³⁶Cl/¹⁰Be, in sanidine and quartz, respectively.     

Litterfall,litter and associated chemistry in a dry sclerophyll eucalypt forest and a pine plantation in south-eastern Australia: 1. Litterfall and litter

Litterfall was measured in a dry schlerophyll eucalypt forest and a nearby Pinus radiata plantation of similar tree density and basal area near Canberra in south-eastern Australia. Total annual litterfall for the eucalypts was 329 g m⁻², compared with 180 g m⁻² for the pines, with the bark component being 52 g m⁻² for eucalypts and zero for pines. Barkfall did not occur for the eucalypts during the drought of 1982–1983 but complete bark shedding occurred during the subsequent very wet year when barkfall was 177 g m⁻² for Eucalyptus rossii and 146 g m⁻² for Eucalyptus mannifera (9·3 and 7·6 g m⁻² of basal area, respectively). Barkfall of E. rossii responded to rainfall in the period autumn to early summer, whereas E. mannifera responded to summer rainfall. In the eucalypt forest floor-litter was stratified into a surface layer where the components were substantially intact, and a cohesive layer where the components were fragmented and bound together by fungal hyphae. The amount and residence times of loose and cohesive floor-litter were 1056 g m⁻² and 3·2 years, respectively, for the loose litter layer; and 1164 g m⁻² and 3·5 years for the cohesive layer. The litter biomass represented 17% of the estimated total above-ground biomass of 127 tonnes ha⁻¹. A previous study showed roots to be 25% of total biomass, suggesting a total biomass of 167 tonnes ha⁻¹. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The transport of aggregates associated with soil organic carbon under the rain-induced overland flow on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Organic carbon (OC) is easily enriched in sediment particles of different sizes due to aggregate breakdown and selective transport for sheet erosion. However, the transport of aggregate-associated OC has not been thoroughly investigated. To address this issue, 27 simulated rainfall experiments were conducted in a 1 m × 0.35 m box on slope gradients of 15°, 10°, and 15°and under three rainfall intensities of 45 mm h⁻¹, 90 mm h⁻¹ and 120 mm h⁻¹. The results showed that OC was obviously enriched in sediment particles of different sizes under sheet erosion. The soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations of each aggregate size class in sediments were different from those in the original soil, especially when the rainfall intensity or slope was sufficiently low, such as 45 mm h^–1 or 5°, respectively. Under a slope of 5°, the SOC enrichment ratios (ERocs) of small macroaggregates and microaggregates were high but decreased over time. As rainfall intensity increased, OC became enriched in increasingly fine sediment particles. Under a rainfall intensity of 45 mm h^–1, the ERocs of the different aggregate size classes were always high throughout the entire erosion process. Under a rainfall intensity of > 45 mm h^–1 and slope of > 5°, the ERocs of the different aggregate size classes were close to 1.0, especially those of clay and silt. Therefore, the high ERocs in sediments resulted from the first transport of effective clay. Among total SOC loss, the proportion of OC loss caused by the transport of microaggregates and silt plus clay-sized particles was greater than 50%. We also found that low stream power and low water depth were two requirements for the high ERocs in aggregates. Stream power was closely related to sediment particle distribution. Flow velocity was significantly and positively related to the percentage of OC-enriched macroaggregates in the sediments (P > 0.01). Our study will provide important information for understanding the fate of SOC and building physical-based SOC transport models. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Monthly record of the Cl and 36Cl fallout rates in a deciduous forest ecosystem in NE France in 2012 and 2013

This study aims at determining the chlorine and chlorine-36 fallout rates in an experimental beech forest site located in NE France (48°31′55″ N, 5°16′8″ E). A monthly record of Cl and ³⁶Cl concentrations in rainfall samples collected above the canopy was performed during two years, from March 2012 to February 2014. The results show that the Cl concentrations mainly originate from sea-spray while the ³⁶Cl concentrations originate from the stratosphere and therefore present a seasonal dependency. Abrupt and important inputs of ³⁶Cl from the stratosphere indeed yield sharp increases of the recorded concentrations during the spring-summer. We also show that a too short sampling period might bias the determined ³⁶Cl fallout rate. To smooth the seasonal and sporadic bursts of ³⁶Cl, a minimum of 6 months sampling period is required. A mean ³⁶Cl fallout rate of (77 ± 21) atoms m⁻² s⁻¹ can be deduced from our study, which is 45% higher than the modelled value. This discrepancy suggests more studies aiming at measuring the ³⁶Cl fallout rate worldwide are necessary.     

Magnetic signature of indoor air pollution: Household dust study

The combination of magnetic and geochemical methods was used to determine the mineralogy, grain size and domain structure of magnetic particles in indoor dust collected in 195 sites in Warsaw, Poland. Data show an asymmetric distribution of magnetic susceptibility (χ) in the wide range of 20–1514 × 10^?8 m³ kg^?1. Comparison of magnetic parameters shows that the internal dust contains outside pollution characteristic for air and soil. More than 90% of indoor dust samples were characterized by roughly uniform magnetic mineralogy, typical for fine grained magnetite (diameter of 0.2–5 μm), and grain size between pseudo-single-domain and small multi-domain with small contribution of superpara-magnetic particles (～10%). Samples with χ larger than 220 × 10^?8 m³ kg^?1 contain mainly magnetite and an anthropogenic metallic Fe with T _C > 700°C. The indoor dust contains, characteristic for the urban areas, spherical magnetic particles originated from fossil fuel combustion processes and mixture of irregular angular iron-oxides grains containing other elements, including Na, Ca, Al, Si, K, S, Mn, Cl, and Mg.     

Anisotropic P-wave attenuation measured from a multi-azimuth surface seismic reflection survey

A system of aligned vertical fractures produces azimuthal variations in stacking velocity and amplitude variation with offset, characteristics often reported in seismic reflection data for hydrocarbon exploration. Studies of associated attenuation anisotropy have been mostly theoretical, laboratory or vertical seismic profiling based. We used an 11 common‐midpoint‐long portion of each of four marine surface‐seismic reflection profiles, intersecting each other at 45° within circa 100 m of a common location, to measure the azimuthal variation of effective attenuation, Q⁻¹_eff and stacking velocity, in a shallow interval, about 100 m thick, in which consistently orientated vertical fracturing was expected due to an underlying salt diapirism. We found qualitative and quantitative consistency between the azimuthal variation in the attenuation and stacking velocity, and published amplitude variation with offset results. The 135° azimuth line showed the least apparent attenuation (1000 Q⁻¹_eff= 16 ± 7) and the fastest stacking velocity, hence we infer it to be closest to the fracture trend: the orthogonal 45° line showed the most apparent attenuation (1000Q⁻¹_eff= 52 ± 15) and slowest stacking velocity. The variation of Q⁻¹_eff with azimuth φ is well fitted by 1000Q⁻¹_eff = 34 − 18cos[2(φ+40°)] giving a fracture direction of 140 ± 23° (±1SD, derived from ‘bootstrapping’ fits to all 11⁴ combinations of individual common‐midpoint/azimuth measurements), compared to 134 ± 47° from published amplitude variation with offset data. The effects of short‐window spectral estimation and choices of spectral ratio bandwidth and offset ranges used in attenuation analysis, individually give uncertainties of up to ±13° in fracture direction. This magnitude of azimuthal variation can be produced by credible crack geometries (e.g., dry cracks, radius 6.5 m, aspect ratio 3 × 10⁻⁵, crack density 0.2) but we do not claim these to be the actual properties of the interval studied, because of the lack of well control (and its consequences for the choice of theoretical model and host rock physical properties) and the small number of azimuths available here.     

Processes controlling rapid temperature variations on rock surfaces

In arid environments, thermal oscillations are an important source of rock weathering. Measurements of temperature have been made on the surface of rocks in a desert environment at a sampling interval of 0·375 s, with simultaneous measurements of wind speed, air temperature, and incoming shortwave radiation. Over timescales of hours, the temperature of the rock surface was determined primarily by shortwave radiation and air temperature, while rapid temperature variations, high dT/dt, at intervals of seconds or less, were determined by wind speed. The maximum values of temperature change and time spent above 2°C min^?1 increased at high measurement rates and were much higher than previously reported. The maximum recorded value of dT/dt was 137°C min^?1 and the average percentage time spent above 2°C min^?1 was ～70 ± 13%. Maximum values of dT/dt did not correlate with the maximum values of time spent above 2°C min^?1. Simultaneous measurements of two thermocouples 5·5 cm apart on a single rock surface had similar temperature and dT/dt values, but were not correlated at sampling intervals of less than 10 s. It is suggested that this is resulting from rapid fluctuations due to small spatial and timescale wind effects that are averaged out when data is taken at longer sampling intervals, ～10 s or greater. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lithological and hydrological controls on water composition: evaporite dissolution and glacial weathering in the south central Andes of Argentina (33°–34°S)

Lithological and hydrological influence on fluvial physical and chemical erosion was studied in a glacierized sedimentary basin with high evaporite presence. Suspended particulate matter (SPM), total dissolved solids (TDS) and major ion concentrations were analysed for 2 years of different hydrologic condition: (i) 2009–2010, Q = 100% average; and (ii) 2010–2011, Q = 60% average. Annual hydrograph was simple regime‐type with one peak in summer related to snow melting. The intra‐annual SPM and TDS variations were directly and inversely associated to Q, respectively. Snow chemistry showed continental influence (Na⁺/Ca²⁺ = 0.17), and atmospheric input of TDS was <1% of the total exported flux. River water was highly concentrated in Ca²⁺ and SO₄²⁻ (~4 mmol l⁻¹) and in Na⁺ and Cl⁻ (~3 mmol l⁻¹). Ca²⁺/SO₄²⁻ and Na⁺/Cl⁻ molar ratios were ~1 and related to Q, directly and inversely, respectively. Major ion relationships suggest that river chemistry is controlled by evaporite (gypsum and halite) dissolution having a summer input from sulfide oxidation and carbonate dissolution, and a winter input from subsurface flow loaded with silicate weathering products. This variation pattern resulted in nearly chemostatic behaviour for Ca⁺, Mg²⁺ and SO₄²⁻, whereas Na⁺, Cl⁻ and SiO₂ concentrations showed to be controlled by dilution/concentration processes. During the 2009–2010 hydrological year, the fluxes of water, SPM and TDS registered in the snow melting–high Q season were, respectively, 71%, 92% and 67% of the annual total, whereas for equal period in 2010–2011, 56% of water, 86% of SPM and 54% of TDS annual fluxes were registered. The SPM fluxes for 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 were 1.19 × 10⁶ and 0.79 × 10⁶ t year⁻¹, whereas TDS fluxes were 0.68 × 10⁶ and 0.55 × 10⁶ t year⁻¹, respectively. Export rates for 2009–2010 were 484 t km² year⁻¹ for SPM and 275 t km² year⁻¹ for TDS. These rates are higher than those observed in glacierized granite basins and in non‐glacierized evaporite basins, suggesting a synergistic effect of lithology and glaciers on physical and chemical erosion. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Formation of Humic-like Substances in Mixed and Pure Cultures of Aquatic Microorganisms

A natural decay of plant and animal biomass in aquatic environments results in the release of different simple structured organic substances into water. In our laboratory experiments we investigated whether some of them, e.g., starch or peptone, and also a complex yeast biomass can be transformed into humic-like substances by natural assemblages and some pure cultures of aquatic microorganisms. After a 6 months incubation most of the cultural media enriched with those natural organic substrates turned dark in color and humic-like substances (HS) could be isolated. However, the original substrate organic carbon was mainly mineralized in microbial cultures, and only about 3 % C was converted into HS. Total yields of HS differed in dependence of the individual substrate used (peptone > yeast > starch), the origin of inoculum (river > lake > groundwater), and the incubation temperature (20°C > 10°C). According to their elemental composition, and their spectroscopical and electrophoretic characteristics the microbially formed HS resembled natural aquatic humic matter, but were higher in aliphatic constituents (carbohydrates, peptides) and lower in aromatic structures. HS-like substances were also obtained from pure cultures of a bacterium Bacillus sphaericus and a fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides. The ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotopic contents of the microbially produced HS differed in dependence on the microbial inoculum and the type of organic substrates used, but in general they indicated anabolic processes to be mainly responsible for the humification of the simple organic substrates used in our experiments.     

Nitrogen fluxes in a high elevation colorado rocky mountain basin

Measured, calculated and simulated values were combined to develop an annual nitrogen budget for Loch Vale Watershed (LVWS) in the Colorado Front Range. Nine-year average wet nitrogen deposition values were 1·6 (s=0·36) kg NO₃-N ha⁻¹, and 1·0 (s=0·3) kg NH₄-N ha⁻¹. Assuming dry nitrogen deposition to be half that of measured wet deposition, this high elevation watershed receives 3·9 kg N ha⁻¹. Although deposition values fluctuated with precipitation, measured stream nitrogen outputs were less variable. Of the total N input to the watershed (3·9 kg N ha⁻¹ wet plus dry deposition), 49% of the total N input was immobilized. Stream losses were 2·0 kg N ha⁻¹ (1125 kg measured dissolved inorganic N in 1992, 1–2 kg calculated dissolved organic N, plus an average of 203 kg algal N from the entire 660 ha watershed). Tundra and aquatic algae were the largest reservoirs for incoming N, at approximately 18% and 15% of the total 2574 kg N deposition, respectively. Rocky areas and forest stored the remaining 11% and 5%, respectively. Fully 80% of N losses from the watershed came from the 68% of LVWS that is alpine. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimate of influence of U-Th-K radiogenic heat on cooling process of granitic melt and its geological implications

The U-Th-~(40)K concentrations of granite are on 1―2 orders of magnitude greater than those of basal- tic-ultrabasic rocks. Radiogenic heat of a granitic melt has significant influence on the cool- ing-crystallization period of the melt. In this paper we derived a formula to calculate prolongation period (tA) of cooling-crystallization of a granitic melt caused by radiogenic heat. Calculation using this for- mula and radioactive element concentrations (U=5.31×10-6; Th=23.1×10-6; K=4.55%) for the biotite adamellite of the Jinjiling batholith shows that the tA of the adamellite is 1.4 times of the cooling period of the granitic melt without considering radiogenic heat from the initial temperature (Tm=960℃) to crystallization temperature (Tc=600℃) of the melt. It has been demonstrated that the radiogenic heat produced in a granitic melt is a key factor influencing the cooling-crystallization process of the granitic melt, and is likely one of the reasons for inconsistence between emplacement ages and crystallization ages of many Meso-Cenozoic granitoids.     

Distribution,inventory and turnover of benthic organic biomass in the Strait of Georgia,Canada, in relation to natural and anthropogenic inputs

Recently compiled databases facilitated estimation of basin-wide benthic organic biomass and turnover in the Strait of Georgia, an inland sea off western Canada. Basin-wide organic biomass was estimated at 43.1 × 10⁶ kg C and production was 54.6 × 10⁶ kg C yr⁻¹, resulting in organic biomass turnover (P/B) of 1.27 × yr⁻¹. Organic biomass and production for sub-regions were predictable from modified organic flux (r² > 0.9). P/B declined significantly with increasing modified organic flux, suggesting greater biomass storage in high flux sediments. Biomass and production were highest, and P/B lowest near the Fraser River. Annual basin-wide benthic production was 60% of previously estimated oxidized organic flux to substrates, which agrees with proportional measurements from a recent, localized study.Deviations from expected patterns related to organic enrichment and other stressors are discussed, as are potential impacts to benthic biomass and production, of declining bottom oxygen, increasing bottom temperature and potential changes in riverine input.     

Equilibrium,Thermodynamic, and Kinetic Studies on Lead (II) Biosorption from Aqueous Solution by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Biomass

This paper presents a biosorption procedure for the preconcentration of Pb²⁺ ions using Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass. The influence of several factors including pH, biomass dosage, contact time, and temperature on biosorption efficiency were optimized. At optimum value of all the equilibrium, thermodynamic, and kinetic parameters of Pb²⁺ ion biosorption was investigated by testing the Langmuir and Freundlich models and first and second order kinetic models were applied. The biosorption capacity of S. cerevisiae biomass was determined 89.6 mg/g, while the retained Pb²⁺ ions by S. cerevisiae were reversibly eluted using 5 mol/L HNO₃. Due to the high stability of S. cerevisiae the applied biomass can be used successively ten times with a slightly decrease (about 20%) in the recovery of Pb²⁺ ions. The calculated thermodynamic parameters, ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS° showed that the biosorption of Pb²⁺ ion onto S. cerevisiae biomass was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic under examined conditions. The results of kinetic analysis showed that the biosorption processes of Pb²⁺ ions onto S. cerevisiae biomass followed pseudo second order kinetics.     

Gully erosion in Mangatu Forest,New Zealand,estimated from digital elevation models

The methodology and errors involved in determining the amount of sediment produced during two (19·5 and 33·2 year) periods by 11 (c. 0·01 − >0·20 km²) gullies within a 4 km² area in the headwaters of the Waipaoa River basin, New Zealand, using sequential digital elevation models are described. Sediment production from all gullies within the study area was 0·99 ± 0·03 × 10⁶ t a⁻¹ (2480 ± 80 t ha⁻¹ a⁻¹) during the period from 1939 to 1958. It declined to 0·62 ± 0·02 × 10⁶ t a⁻¹ (1550 ± 50 t ha⁻¹ a⁻¹) during the period from 1958 to 1992, when many of the smaller gullies were stabilized by a programme of afforestation, which commenced in 1960. Both figures are very high by global standards. The two largest (the Tarndale and Mangatu) gully complexes together generated 73 and 95 per cent of the sediment in the specified time periods, but the latter amount is equivalent to only c. 5 per cent of the total annual sediment load of the Waipaoa River. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantification of the hydraulic diffusivity of a bentonite-sand mixture using the water head decrease measured upon sudden flow interruption

This paper presents a new modelling approach to quantify the hydraulic diffusivity of low-permeability unconsolidated porous media under confined saturated-flow conditions in the laboratory. The derived analytical solution for the transient variation of the hydraulic head after flow interruption was applied to experimental data obtained from continuous measurements of the water pressure at two locations in the soil column. Three soil samples made of a mixture of natural bentonite (at different mass fractions) and medium sand were studied during a series of stepwise constant flow rates of water. The numerical results well fit the experimentally measured decrease of the dimensionless hydraulic head. The study shows that the increase of the mass fraction of bentonite in the soil sample from 10 to 30% is accompanied by a strong decrease of the hydraulic diffusivity from 2.4 × 10⁻² to 1.1 × 10⁻³ m² s⁻¹, which is clearly due to the decrease of the hydraulic conductivity of the soil sample. The specific storages obtained for each of the three samples are in the same order of magnitude and seem to decrease with the increase of mass fraction of bentonite. However, they clearly reflect the predominant portion of the compressibility of the porous medium compared with that of water. Compared with reported literature values for clayey soils, the specific storage values in this study are slightly higher, varying within the range of 2 × 10⁻³ to 8.1 × 10⁻³ m⁻¹._. The experimental results also give insight into the limitations of the modelling approach. In the case of low-permeability soils (K < 2 × 10⁻⁶ ms⁻¹) and steady-flow conditions with low Reynolds numbers, for example, Re < 0.003, it is recommended to choose a time duration for flow interruption between subsequent flow rate steps of longer than 5 s. For high-permeability porous media, to increase the precision of the quantified hydraulic diffusivity, it might be useful to select a measuring frequency significantly higher than 1 Hz.