Comparative study of top soil magnetic susceptibility variation based on some human activities

An investigation of the effect of some human activities on the magnetic susceptibility and frequency dependent susceptibility was conducted on top soil samples from, a commercial area, a motor park and a school environment in Jalingo, Taraba State, N-E Nigeria. The purpose was to assess the variation of magnetic susceptibility with different land use, detect pollution hotspots using magnetic proxy parameters and evaluate the contribution of superparamagnetic (SP) grain size contribution to the magnetic susceptibility from calculation of the frequency dependence of magnetic susceptibility (MS). The results of the mass specific low frequency magnetic susceptibility measurements showed significant enhancement with values ranging from 67.8 − 495.3 × 10⁻⁸ m³kg⁻¹ with a mean value of 191.61 × 10⁻⁸ × m³kg⁻¹ for the Jalingo College of Education (JCOE) data; 520.1 − 1612.8 × 10⁻⁸ m³kg⁻¹ with a mean value of 901.34 × 10⁻⁸ m³kg⁻¹ for the Jalingo main Market (JMM) and 188.5 − 1203.6 × 10⁻⁸m³kg⁻¹ with an average value of 574 92 × 10⁻⁶ m³kg⁻¹ for the Jalingo Motor Park (JMP). The significant magnetic enhancement indicates high concentration of ferrimagnetic minerals in the soil and hence increased pollution. The magnetic susceptibility of the different land use studied decreased in the order commercial area (market) > motor park > school premises. The results of the percentage frequency dependence susceptibility showed that most of the samples had a mixture of SP and coarse multi domain grains or SP grains < 0.05 µm. The value of χ_fd% range from 2.68 to 13.80% with an average value of 8.67% in the JCOE samples, 0.49 to 10.04% with an a-verage of 5.05% in the JMM samples and 0.56 to 13.04% with an average value of 5.86% in the JMP samples.     

Modeling of diffusion behavior of humic acid and Nd in the presence of humic acid in compacted bentonite

The diffusion behavior of HA and Nd in the presence of HA in compacted bentonite was investigated experimentally by means of the through-diffusion method. Breakthrough of HA is observed in 1 and 0.1 mol dm⁻³ NaCl solution and is more significant with a lower dry density such as 1.2 Mg m⁻³. The one dimensional diffusion model taking parallel complexation equilibrium into account was fitted to the experimentally obtained breakthrough curves and concentration profiles, and the diffusion parameters, such as effective diffusivity and rock capacity factor, were evaluated. The obtained effective diffusivity, around 10⁻¹¹ m² s⁻¹, for HA and Nd–HA is comparable to the previously reported value. Using these parameters, predictive calculations were performed to evaluate the effect of HA concentration and sorption distribution coefficient. It is indicated that the effect of sorption distribution coefficient is significant only for a short period and that relatively low HA concentrations might bring higher diffused mass depending on the diffusion behavior of dominant species.     

Tidal motions in the Dover Straits as a variational inverse of the sea level and surface velocity data

The M₂ tidal component of the flow in the Dover Straits is reconstructed using a natural combination of two independent data sources: HF Ocean Surface Current Radar (HF OSCR) system and coastal tidal measurements. The method used is the variational data assimilation technique into a quasi-linearized finite element tidal model. The model uses triangular elements with horizontal resolution varying from 800 to 1200 m. It is controlled by the boundary conditions at open boundaries, which are adjusted to fit the available data in an optimal way. A “weak” formulation of the dynamical constraints is used. The interpolation scheme allows small (0.01%) deviations from the exact dynamics specified by the model. The optimal state of M₂ parameters (sea surface elevation and depth-averaged velocities) is used to map both the M₂ tidal flux through the strait and the M₂ energy flux. The respective values obtained are the tidal flux amplitude 1.18±0.09×10⁶ m³ s⁻¹, the net residual transport (Stoke's drift) 40±3×10³ m³ s⁻¹, and the net energy flux 1.19±0.09×10¹⁰ W. These figures within the statistically estimated error band are in the close agreement with those obtained by Prandle et al., 1993. A rigorous error analysis is performed using an explicit inversion of the Hessian matrix, associated with the assimilation scheme. As a result, error charts for M₂ velocities and sea surface elevation are obtained. It is shown that OSCR data combined with coastal level measurements and constrained by dynamics is able to provide quite accurate velocity estimates whose errors vary within the range of 0.05–0.45 m s⁻¹ depending upon the location. Error maps also enable us to determine areas requiring better coverage by data, thus forming a basis of optimization approach to the design of the HFR measurements. The use of variational assimilation technique in providing integrated interpolation patterns from various sources of data demonstrates its capabilities in relation to future oceanographic monitoring systems of shelf circulation.     

Fine-sediment transport associated with cold-front passages on the shallow shelf,Gulf of Mexico

The eastern part of the chenier plain of the Louisiana coast has been prograding seaward over the last few decades while much of the rest of the Louisiana coast is experiencing high erosion rates. The source of sediment is the Atchafalaya River, which has been delivering sediment to the coastal ocean since the 1940s. Researchers have suggested that the repeated passage of cold fronts during winter and early spring plays an important role in delivering sediment to the coast. A sediment-transport study on the Atchafalaya coast was conducted between October 1997 and March 2001, which included several field experiments in early March, the period of high discharge from the Atchafalaya and frequent cold-front activity. A combination of shipboard profiling and time-series measurements from a bottom tripod and array of wave sensors on the inner shelf has resulted in a data set that illustrates the mechanism of onshore transport. For a cold-front passage sampled in 2001, during pre-front conditions, sediment is resuspended and mixed throughout the water column, with transport rates onshore and to the west of 53 and 184 g s⁻¹ m⁻¹, respectively. Post-front conditions also result in onshore transport due to onshore flow (upwelling) in the lower meter of the water column and formation of a high-concentration bottom layer. Post-front onshore transport rates are 32 g s⁻¹ m⁻¹ and most of the transport occurs in the bottom meter of the water column. The repeated cycling of cold-front passages leads to a positive feedback with transport onshore during both pre- and post-front conditions, and effective attenuation of wave energy over the muddy inner shelf inhibits erosion at the coast. Thus, the chenier-plain coast is experiencing high progradation rates (up to 29 m yr⁻¹), while most of the Gulf coast is eroding.     

Scattering coefficients in the mantle revealed from the seismogram envelope analysis based on the multiple isotropic scattering model

At longer periods, scattered ScS waves sometimes dominate over coda waves at large lapse times. Examining recordings of seismic envelopes at 9 IRIS seismic stations of regional earthquakes with focal depths deeper than 150 km in periods from 1 to 20 s for a wide lapse time range up to 2000 s, we found significant frequency dependence. The coda decay gradient at short periods is steeper than that at longer periods; however, the change of coda gradient associated with the ScS arrival becomes distinct as the period becomes longer. In particular, a clear offset of coda amplitude appears in central Asia for 10 and 15 s period bands. The multiple isotropic scattering process of S-waves in the heterogeneous mantle can be simply simulated by using the Monte Carlo simulation method based on the radiative transfer theory in scattering media. Assuming a two-plane-layer attenuation structure and smoothed velocity model of the PREM, we estimated the average total scattering coefficients of S-waves such as 7.52 × 10^− 4∼1.32 × 10^− 3 km^− 1 and 2.08 × 10^− 4∼6.23 × 10^− 4 km^− 1 at 4 s, and 4.51 × 10^− 4∼7.37 × 10^− 4 km^− 1 and 2.80 × 10^− 5∼2.71 × 10^− 4 km^− 1 at 10 s, for the lithosphere and the upper mantle and for the lower mantle, respectively. Our results indicate that scattering occurs mostly in the lithosphere and the upper mantle and support that medium heterogeneity spreads over the whole mantle though its scattering power is small. Strong scattering occurs beneath central Asia and Papua New Guinea, whereas the scattering beneath Italy and regions of east Russia is much weaker. The numerical calculation enables us to confirm that much stronger scattering than intrinsic attenuation causes the offset behavior with coda decay gradient change after the ScS arrival for 4 and 10 s period bands in some regions.     

Volume and mass changes of the Greenland ice sheet inferred from ICESat and GRACE

This study examines the recent evolution of the Greenland ice sheet and its six major drainage basins. Based on laser altimetry data acquired by the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), covering the period September–November 2003 to February–March 2008, ice surface height changes and their temporal variations were inferred. Our refined repeat track analysis is solely based on ICESat data and is independent of external elevation models, since it accounts for both ice height changes and the local topography. From the high resolution ice height change pattern we infer an overall mean surface height trend of −0.12 ± 0.006 m yr⁻¹. Furthermore, the largest changes could be identified at coastal margins of the ice sheet, exhibiting rates of more than −2 m yr⁻¹. The total ice volume change of the entire ice sheet amounts to −205.4 ± 10.6 km³ yr⁻¹. In addition, we assessed mass changes from 78 monthly Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) solutions. The Release-04 gravity field solutions of GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam cover the period between August 2002 and June 2009. We applied an adjusted regional integration approach in order to minimize the leakage effects. Attention was paid to an optimized filtering which reduces error effects from different sources. The overall error assessment accounts for GRACE errors as well as for errors due to imperfect model reductions. In particular, errors caused by uncertainties in the glacial isostatic adjustment models could be identified as the largest source of errors. Finally, we determined both seasonal and long-term mass change rates. The latter amounts to an overall ice mass change of −191.2 ± 20.9 Gt yr⁻¹ corresponding to 0.53 ± 0.06 mm yr⁻¹ equivalent eustatic sea level rise. From the combination of the volume and mass change estimates we determined a mean density of the lost mass to be 930 ± 11 kg m⁻³. This value supports our applied density assumption 900 ± 30 kg m⁻³ which was used to perform the volume–mass-conversion of our ICESat results. Hence, mass change estimates from two independent observation techniques were inferred and are generally in good agreement.     

Uncertainty in seasonal snow reconstruction: Relative impacts of model forcing and image availability

There are many areas of uncertainty when solving the inverse problems of snow water equivalent (SWE) reconstruction. These include (i) the ability to infer the Final Date of the Seasonal Snow (FDSS) cover, particularly from remote sensing; (ii) errors in model forcing data (such as air temperature or radiation fluxes); and (iii) weaknesses in the snow model used for the reconstruction, associated with both the fidelity of the equations used to simulate snow processes (structural uncertainty) and the parameter values selected for use in the model equations. We investigate the trade-offs among these sources of uncertainty using 10,000 station-years worth of data from the western US SNOTEL network. Model structural and parameter uncertainty are eliminated by using a perfect model scenario i.e. comparing results to modelled control runs. The model was calibrated for each station-year to ensure that the model simulations reflect reality. Results indicate that for a temperature index model, a ±5 days error in FDSS gives a median −25%/+32% error in maximum SWE. A 1 °C air temperature bias produces a SWE error larger than a 5 days error in the FDSS for 50% of the 10,000 cases. Similarly, a 5 days error in FDSS could be accounted for by a net radiation error of 13 W m⁻² or less during the melt period, in 50% of cases. Mean absolute errors of 1 °C or more are typically reported in the literature for air temperature interpolations at high elevations. Observed solar radiation during the melt season can differ by 30 W m⁻² over relatively short distances, while estimates from reanalysis (NARR, ERA-Interim, MERRA, CFSRR) and GOES satellites typically span more than 40 W m⁻². Using data from both MODIS sensors (Terra & Aqua) at all snow covered points in the western US, a consecutive 5 days gap in imagery at time of FDSS is likely to occur only 5–10% of the time. This work shows that errors in model forcing data are at least as important, if not more, than image availability when reconstructing SWE.     

Dominance patterns in macroalgal and phytoplankton biomass under different nutrient loads in subtropical coastal lagoons of the SE Gulf of California

Nine macroalgal blooms were studied in five coastal lagoons of the SE Gulf of California. The nutrient loads from point and diffuse sources were estimated in the proximity of the macroalgal blooms. Chlorophyll a and macroalgal biomass were measured during the dry, rainy and cold seasons. Shrimp farms were the main point source of nitrogen and phosphorus loads for the lagoons. High biomasses were found during the dry season for phytoplankton at site 6 (791.7 ± 34.6 mg m⁻²) and during the rainy season for macroalgae at site 4 (296.0 ± 82.4 g m⁻²). Depending on the season, the phytoplankton biomass ranged between 40.0 and 791.7 mg m⁻² and the macroalgal biomass between 1 and 296.0 g m⁻². The bulk biomass (phytoplankton + macroalgal) displayed the same tendency as the nutrient loads entering the coastal lagoons. Phytoplankton and macroalgal biomass presented a significant correlation with the atomic N:P ratio.     

Parametric exponentially correlated surface emission model for L-band passive microwave soil moisture retrieval

Surface soil moisture is an important parameter in hydrology and climate investigations. Current and future satellite missions with L-band passive microwave radiometers can provide valuable information for monitoring the global soil moisture. A factor that can play a significant role in the modeling and inversion of microwave emission from land surfaces is the surface roughness. In this study, an L-band parametric emission model for exponentially correlated surfaces was developed and implemented in a soil moisture retrieval algorithm. The approach was based on the parameterization of an effective roughness parameter of H_p in relation with the geometric roughness variables (root mean square height s and correlation length l) and incidence angle. The parameterization was developed based on a large set of simulations using an analytical approach incorporated in the advanced integral equation model (AIEM) over a wide range of geophysical properties. It was found that the effective roughness parameter decreases as surface roughness increases, but increases as incidence angle increases. In contrast to previous research, H_p was found to be expressed as a function of a defined slope parameter m = s²/l, and coefficients of the function could be well described by a quadratic equation. The parametric model was then tested with L-band satellite data in soil moisture retrieval algorithm over the Little Washita watershed, which resulted in an unbiased root mean square error of about 0.03 m³/m³ and 0.04 m³/m³ for ascending and descending orbits, respectively.     

Quantities,composition, and sources of beach debris in Korea from the results of nationwide monitoring

This study assessed the levels of marine debris pollution and identified its main sources in Korea. The surveys were bimonthly conducted by NGO leaders and volunteers on 20 beaches from March 2008 to November 2009. The quantities of marine debris were estimated at 480.9 (±267.7) count ⋅ 100 m⁻¹ for number, 86.5 (±78.6) kg ⋅ 100 m⁻¹ for weight, and 0.48 (±0.38) m³ ⋅ 100 m⁻¹ for volume. The level of marine debris pollution on the Korean beaches was comparable to that in the coastal areas of the North Atlantic ocean and South Africa. Plastics and styrofoam occupied the majority of debris composition in terms of number (66.7%) and volume (62.3%). The main sources of debris were fishing activities including commercial fisheries and marine aquaculture (51.3%). Especially styrofoam buoy from aquaculture was the biggest contributor to marine debris pollution on these beaches.     

Phosphorus retention and release by sediments in the eutrophic Mai Po Marshes,Hong Kong

This study examined the phosphorus retention and release characteristics of sediments in the eutrophic Mai Po Marshes in Hong Kong. Results of chemical fractionation show that the sum of inorganic P pools exceeded 50% of the total sediment P content, with the redox-sensitive iron-bound P (Fe(OOH) ≈ P) being the dominant P fraction. Given the considerable average Fe(OOH) ≈ P concentration of 912 μg g⁻¹, Mai Po sediments demonstrated a great potential to release bioavailable P under low sediment redox potentials. This was further supported by the high mean anaerobic P flux of 31.8 mg m⁻² d⁻¹ recorded in Mai Po sediment cores, indicating the role of bottom sediments as a net P source. Although sediments in Mai Po had appreciable Langmuir adsorption maxima (1642–3582 mg kg⁻¹), the high zero equilibrium P concentrations (0.02–0.51 mg L⁻¹) obtained suggest that sediment sorption processes would contribute to sustaining the eutrophic conditions in overlying water column even with a further reduction in external P load. Concerted efforts should be made to reduce internal loading of P, especially under reducing conditions, to complement the implementation of zero discharge policy for Deep Bay for effective eutrophication abatement and long-term water quality improvement in the Mai Po Marshes.     

Toxicities of antifouling biocide Irgarol 1051 and its major degraded product to marine primary producers

Irgarol 1051 (2-methythiol-4-tert-butylamino-6-cyclopropylamino-s-triazine) is an algaecide commonly used in antifouling paints. It undergoes photodegradation which yields M1 (2-methylthio-4-tert-butylamino-6-amino-s-triazine) as its major and most stable degradant. Elevated levels of both Irgarol and M1 have been detected in coastal waters worldwide; however, ecotoxicity effects of M1 to various marine autotrophs such as cyanobacteria are still largely unknown. This study firstly examined and compared the 96 h toxicities of Irgarol and M1 to the cyanobacterium Chroococcus minor and two marine diatom species, Skeletonema costatum and Thalassiosira pseudonana. Our results suggested that Irgarol was consistently more toxic to all of the three species than M1 (96 h EC50 values: C. minor, 7.71 μg L⁻¹ Irgarol vs. >200 μg L⁻¹ M1; S. costatum, 0.29 μg L⁻¹ Irgarol vs. 11.32 μg L⁻¹ M1; and T. pseudonana, 0.41 μg L⁻¹ Irgarol vs. 16.50 μg L⁻¹ M1). Secondly, we conducted a meta-analysis of currently available data on toxicities of Irgarol and M1 to both freshwater and marine primary producers based on species sensitivity distributions (SSDs). Interestingly, freshwater autotrophs are more sensitive to Irgarol than their marine counterparts. For marine autotrophs, microalgae are generally more sensitive to Irgarol than macroalgae and cyanobacteria. With very limited available data on M1 (i.e. five species), M1 might be less toxic than Irgarol; nonetheless this finding warrants further confirmation with additional data on other autotrophic species.     

Preconcentration of trace multi-elements in water samples using Dowex 50W-x8 and Chelex-100 resins prior to their determination using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)

This work presents a solid phase extraction (SPE) method for simultaneous preconcentration of trace elements in water samples prior to their ICP-OES determination. Dowex 50W-x8 and Chelex-100 resins were used as SPE sorbent materials for preconcentration of trace Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn. The optimum sample pH, eluent concentration and sample flow rates were found to 6, 3.0 mol L⁻¹ and 3.0 mL min⁻¹, respectively. In terms of multi-element preconcentration capabilities, Dowex 50W-x8 appeared to be a better sorbent. The recoveries for all the tested analytes were >95%. However, Chelex-100 showed a better performance in terms of recovery (>95%) towards Cu, Fe and Zn. Under optimized conditions using Dowex 50W-x8, the relative standard deviations for different metals were <3%. The limits of detection and limits of quantification ranged from 0.01–0.39 μg L⁻¹ and 0.05–0.1.3 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The accuracy of the preconcentration method was confirmed by spike recovery test and the analysis of certified reference materials. The SPE method was applied for preconcentration of the analyte ions in tap water, bottled water and wastewater samples.     

Spatial and seasonal variability of sediment oxygen consumption and nutrient fluxes at the sediment water interface in a sub-tropical lagoon (New Caledonia)

In order to quantify the spatial and seasonal variations of sediment oxygen consumption and nutrient fluxes, we performed a spatial survey in the south west lagoon of New Caledonia during the two major seasons (dry and wet) based on a network of 11 sampling stations. Stations were selected along two barrier reef to land transects representing most types of sediments encountered in the lagoon. Fluxes were measured using ex-situ sediment incubations and compared to sediment characteristics. Sediment oxygen consumption (SOC) varied between 500 and 2000 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹, depending on season and stations. Nutrient effluxes from sediment were highly variable with highest fluxes measured in muddy sediments near the coast. Inter-sample variability was as high as seasonal differences so that no seasonally driven temperature effect could be observed on benthic nutrient fluxes in our temperature range. Nutrient fluxes, generally directed from the sediment to the water column, varied between −5.0 and 70.0 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹ for ammonia and between −2.5 and +12.5 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹ for PO₄ and NO₂₊₃. SOC and nutrient fluxes were compared to pelagic primary production rates in order to highlight the tight coupling existing between the benthic and pelagic compartments in this shallow tropical lagoon. Under specific occasions of low pelagic productivity, oxygen sediment consumption and related carbon and nutrient fluxes could balance nearly all net primary production in the lagoon. These biogeochemical estimates point to the functional importance of sediment biogeochemistry in the lagoon of New Caledonia.     

Mercury levels in selected bycatch fish species from industrial shrimp-trawl fishery in the SE Gulf of California

Baseline Hg concentration in bycatch fish from the SE Gulf of California were determined in muscle and liver of 19 species. Levels of Hg in muscle were compared with legal limits of this element in national and international legislation. Considering all fish species, mean concentrations in liver (2.458 ± 1.997 μg g⁻¹) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in muscle (0.993 ± 0.670 μg g⁻¹). The sequence of averaged Hg concentrations in most ichthyofauna was liver > muscle. Highest level of Hg in muscle (2.556 μg g⁻¹) and liver (7.515 μg g⁻¹) corresponded to Diapterus peruvianus and Ophioscion strabo, respectively. Considering muscle samples, none of the species had levels of Hg above the limit (1.0 μg g⁻¹ wet weight) in the Mexican legislation; with respect to the Japanese (0.4 μg g⁻¹ wet weight) and British (0.3 μg g⁻¹ wet weight) legislations, 26.3% and 31.6% of the species respectively, were above the corresponding limits.     

Magnetic susceptibility and Cs-137 inventory variability as influenced by land use change and slope positions in a hilly,semiarid region of west-central Iran

The objective of this study was to explore the slope position and land use change effects on the variability in magnetic susceptibility and ¹³⁷Cs inventory as the soil redistribution indicators in a hilly semiarid calcareous area in Iran. The selected study area is located in a hilly region with pasture and cultivation land use of Fereydunshahr, Isfahan Province in west-central Iran. In the two mentioned dominant ecosystems, four slope positions including summit, shoulder, backslope and footslope were identified and in each land use and slope position, three cores were selected to collect 72 soil samples from three depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–30 cm) in an area of 15 × 15 cm. Additional 28 soil samples were collected from the reference site for soil loss and deposition calculations by using the Cs-137 measurement. The results of the study with the use of the Cs-137 technique showed that the average soil loss in the pasture land (46.4 t ha^− 1 yr^− 1) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the average soil loss in the cultivated land (80.4 t ha^− 1 yr^− 1). The highest soil loss in both land uses was obtained in the shoulder position, 60.1 and 84.4 t ha^− 1 yr^− 1, respectively, for the pasture and cultivated lands. Moreover, the highest rates of soil deposition was observed in a footslope position in both land uses and they were 34 and 32.4 t ha^− 1 yr^− 1 for the pasture and cultivated lands, respectively. Magnetic susceptibility was significantly (p < 0.05) greater in pasture (χ_lf = 41.51 × 10^− 8 m³/kg) than in the cultivated land (χ_lf = 34.90 × 10^− 8 m³/kg). The pasture land with a lower soil loss rate, indicated significantly higher magnetic susceptibility in all landform positions as compared to that in the cultivated land. The results of the correlation analysis showed that among the studied soil physico-chemical properties, χ_lf (r = 0.83, p < 0.01) in the pasture land had the highest correlation with the Cs-137 inventory. Throughout the non-linear regression analysis, χ_lf was introduced for relating soil parameters and the cesium inventory explained 68% and 79% of the total variability of ¹³⁷Cs in the pasture and cultivated lands, respectively. The results implied that the variability in the magnetic susceptibility within the hillslope is consistent with the variation of the Cs-inventory; and the results thus demonstrate the slope and land use effects on soil redistribution.     

Inorganic carbon and nutrient fluxes on the Arctic Shelf

Historic data from the Russian-American Hydrochemical Atlas of Arctic Ocean together with data from the TRANSDRIFT II 1994 and TUNDRA 1994 cruises have been used to assess the spatial and inter-annual variability of carbon and nutrient fluxes, as well as air–sea CO₂ exchange in the Laptev and western East Siberian Seas during the summer season. Budget computations using summer data of dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) gives that the Laptev Sea shelf is a net sink of DIP and DIN of 2.5×10⁶, 23.2×10⁶ mol d⁻¹, respectively, while it is a net source of DIC (excluding air–sea exchange) of 1249×10⁶ mol d⁻¹. In the East Siberian Seas the budget computations give 0.5×10⁶, −11.4×10⁶ and −173×10⁶ mol d⁻¹ (minus being a sink) for DIP, DIN, and DIC, respectively. In summers, the Laptev Sea Shelf is net autotrophic while the East-Siberian Sea Shelf is net heterotrophic, and both systems are weak net denitrifying. The Laptev Sea Shelf takes up 2.1 mmol CO₂ m⁻² d⁻¹ from atmosphere, whereas the western part of the East-Siberian Sea Shelf loose 0.3 mmol CO₂ m⁻² d⁻¹ to the atmosphere. The variability of DIP, DIN and DIC fluxes during summer in the different regions of the Laptev and East Siberian Seas depends on bottom topography, river runoff, exchange with surrounding seas and wind field.     

A reassessment of current volcanic emissions from the Central American arc with specific examples from Nicaragua

The Central American volcanic arc supplies a significant proportion of the persistent annual global sulphur dioxide emissions from volcanoes. In November/December 2003, we completed a survey of the arc section from Mombacho to San Cristóbal in Nicaragua recording individual mean fluxes of 800, 530 and 220 Mg day^− 1 in the plumes from San Cristóbal, Telica and Masaya, respectively. An assessment of fluxes published since 1997 along the entire Central America arc yields a mean total arc flux of SO₂ of 4360 Mg day^− 1 or 8–16% of the annual estimated global volcanic SO₂ flux to the troposphere. New field data shows that Masaya volcano continues to show stable HCl/SO₂ and HF/SO₂ ratios, suggesting a sustained flux of these components of ∼ 220 and 30 Mg day^− 1, respectively (1997 to 2004). Masaya's plume composition also appears to have been stable, between 2001 and 2003, with respect to all the particulate species measured, with significant fluxes of SO₄²⁻ (4 Mg day^− 1), Na⁺ (0.9–1.3 Mg day^− 1) and K⁺ (0.7 Mg day^− 1). Extrapolating the Masaya plume species ratios to the entire Central American arc gives mean HCl and HF fluxes of 1300 and 170 Mg day^− 1 and a particulate sulphate flux of 40 Mg day^− 1 for 1997 to 2004, although without further understanding of the degassing processes and sources at depth of these different volatiles, these arc-scale estimates should be treated with caution. Combining our arc scale mean SO₂ flux with published measurements of volcanic gas compositions with respect to CO₂ and H₂O allows us to estimate mean CO₂ fluxes of 4400–9600 Mg day^− 1 and H₂O fluxes of 70,000–78,000 Mg day^− 1 for the arc. Preliminary comparisons of these estimates of outgassing rates with published volatile input fluxes into the Central American subduction zone, suggest that Cl is more efficiently recycled through the subduction zone than CO₂. The results for H₂O are inconclusive.     

A combined glass dissolution/diffusion experiment in Boom Clay at 30 °C

At the appropriate times, silica diffusion in clay is possibly the rate determining process for the dissolution of vitrified waste disposed of in a clay layer. For testing this hypothesis, combined glass dissolution/silica diffusion experiment are performed. SON68 glass coupons doped with the radioactive tracer ³²Si are sandwiched between two cores of humid Boom Clay, heated to 30 °C. Due to glass dissolution, ³²Si is released and diffuses into the clay. At the end of an experiment, the mass loss of the glass coupon is measured and the clay core is sliced to determine the diffusion profile of the ³²Si released from the glass in the clay.Both mass loss and the ³²Si diffusion profile in the clay are described well by a model combining glass dissolution according to a linear rate law with silica diffusion in the clay. Fitting the experiments to this model leads to an apparent silica diffusion coefficient in the clay between 7 × 10⁻¹³ m²/s and 1.2 × 10⁻¹² m²/s. Previously determined values from diffusion experiments at 25 °C are around 6 × 10⁻¹³ m²/s (In-Diffusion experiments) and 2 × 10⁻¹³ m²/s (percolation experiments). The maximal glass dissolution rate for glass next to clay is around 1.6 × 10⁻⁷ g glass/m² s (i.e. 0.014 g glass/m² day). In undisturbed clay, the measured silica concentration is around 5 mg/L. Combining these values with the previously measured (In-Diffusion experiments) product of accessible porosity and retardation factor, leads in two ways to a silica glass saturation concentration in clay between 8 and 10 mg Si/L.Another candidate for the rate determining process of the dissolution of vitrified waste disposed in a clay layer is silica precipitation. Although silica precipitation due to glass dissolution has been shown experimentally at 90 °C, extending the model with silica precipitation does not lead to much better fits, nor could meaningful values of a possible precipitation rate be obtained.     

Distribution and source apportionments of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in mariculture sediments from the Pearl River Delta,South China

Surface and core sediments collected from six mariculture farms in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) were analyzed to evaluate contamination levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The ∑PCBs (37 congeners) concentrations ranged from 5.10 to 11.0 ng g⁻¹ (mean 7.96 ng g⁻¹) in surface and 3.19 to 22.1 ng g⁻¹ (mean 7.75 ng g⁻¹) in core sediments, respectively. The concentrations were significantly higher than that measured in the sediments of their corresponding reference sites, whereby the average enrichment percentages were 62.0% and 42.7% in surface and core sediments, respectively. Significant correlations (R² = 0.77, p < 0.05) of PCB homologue group proportions between fish feeds and surface mariculture sediments suggested that fish feed input was probably the main source for the enrichment of PCBs. Due to the fact that PCBs could be transferred along food chains, PCB contamination in fish feeds and mariculture sediments should not be overlooked.