Resistance of the diffusive boundary layer to salt release from saline sediments to freshwater

The diffusive boundary layer （DBL） is the zone for matter exchange between surface water and aquatic sediments. To elucidate the influence of DBL on salt release from saline sediments to freshwater, two experiments with or without wind blowing were conducted. According to the experiments, a 3.5 cm DBL is formed above the smoothed sediments at a steady wind field and this thickness is greater than other studies. The observed flux of salt through the DBL is 6% larger than the calculated value from Fick＇ s first law. The results indicate that molecular diffusion is the dominant mechanism for salt transport through the DBL. The presence of DBL suppresses the hydrodynamic enhancement for matter exchange between sediments and overlying water. Therefore, salts in the sediments of a polder reservoir may influence the water quality chronically.     

Statistical analysis of estuarine profiles: II application to arsenic in the Tamar estuary (S.W. England)

By combining field observations with a statistical approach and a simple but effective estuarine analogue, the main features of the cycling of arsenic in the Tamar estuary have been elucidated. As(III) and As(V) enrichment in the water column is due to a combination of localized inputs and effective recycling of sediment interstitial waters. The profiles of As(V) are similar to those of NH₄⁺ and are dominated by an estuarine maximum resulting from an input from the sediments. As(III) profiles are correlated with those of dissolved manganese and exhibit both fresh water and estuarine maxima. As(III) appears to be effectively removed at the freshwater/brackish water interface by a combination of heterogenous oxidation, catalysed by hydrous manganese dioxide, and adsorption on to iron oxyhydroxide. The estuarine distribution of As(III) within the water column is consistent with the published rates of oxidation of As(III) to As(V) by both inorganic and microbiological processes. The reduction of As(V) to As(III) in the sediments is incomplete. On the basis of our observations a tentative estuarine arsenic cycle is presented.     

Determining the age of water and long-term transport timescale of the Chesapeake Bay

The concept of age of water (AW) is applied to the Chesapeake Bay to investigate the long-term transport properties for dissolved substances. A real-time calibrated hydrodynamic Chesapeake Bay model in 3 Dimensions (CH3D), employing a boundary-fitted curvilinear grid, is used for the study. The long-term transport properties, represented by AW, are investigated under the conditions of low river inflow of 1995 and high river inflow of 1996, as well as for constant mean inflows. The influences of freshwater, density-induced circulation, and wind-induced transport on age distribution have been investigated. Model results show that river inflows, wind stress, and density-induced circulation play important roles in controlling the long-term transport in the Bay. The model results shows that it requires 120–300 days for a marked change in the characteristics of the pollutant source discharged into the Bay from the Susquehanna River to affect significantly the conditions near the mouth under different hydrodynamic conditions. An increase of river discharge results in increases of downstream residual current and gravitational circulation, and thus reduces AW. The density-induced circulation contributes to the transport substantially. The dissolved substances discharged into the Bay are transported out of the Bay more rapidly when the estuary becomes more stratified. Southeasterly and southwesterly winds have strong impacts on the transport compared to the northeasterly and northwesterly winds. The former increases lateral and vertical mixing significantly. Consequently, the gravitational circulation is reduced and the transport time is increased by 50%. The model results provide useful information for understanding the long-term transport processes in the Bay.     

大亚湾养殖区沉积物–水界面氮磷的释放通量及其在水体中的扩散迁移

为了更好地跟踪水产养殖活动对海湾水环境的影响,于2011年10月采集了3个具有代表性的大亚湾海域水产养殖区的水样和底泥样品,研究了底泥含水率、孔隙率、密度以及孔隙水中的氨氮和可溶活性磷酸盐的垂直分布。采用经典的Fick定律,计算了氮和磷在沉积物-水界面的释放速率和年释放量。基于环境水力学理论,应用水平二维数学模型,计算了氮和磷在沉积物-水界面释放之后在海水中的扩散迁移时空分布。结果表明,澳头、深水港、虎头门采样点沉积物-水界面的氨氮年释放量分别为13.5、5.2、0.56t·a-1,可溶活性磷酸盐的释放量分别为0.34、0.03、0.02t·a-1,使水产养殖区域沉积物成为极具潜力的污染内源。释放到海水中的氮和磷受潮流、风、水深的影响,其扩散迁移范围呈长条形带状分布。每个养殖区域的污染带长度约为1km,横向宽度约为50m。该区域的海水极易呈富营养化状态。     

Determination and ecological risk assessment of arsenic and mercury in sediments from the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent East China Sea

Arsenic(As) and mercury(Hg) are pollutants presented in marine environment. A process of atomic fluorescence spectrometry was proposed for the simultaneous determination of As and Hg in marine sediment samples(n =38) collected from the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent East China Sea. The proposed method used an optimized pretreatment procedure in an aqua regia–H_2 O digestion system. Recoveries of As and Hg increased to97% and 98%, respectively, with suitable precisions(2.7%–4.1%) under optimized process conditions. As and Hg were widely presented in these samples, with the ranges of content values were 2.39–8.77 μg/g for As and48.03–410.8 ng/g for Hg. Results indicate that anthropogenic factors strongly influence the abundances of As and Hg in investigated samples. The preliminary environmental risk assessment was investigated using the I_(geo)accumulation index(I_(geo)) and anthropogenic contribution rate(M). Findings reveal that Hg demonstrates a strong ecological risk(with average values of 1.3 and 72% for I_(geo) and M, respectively) in the sediments from the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent East China Sea. Therefore, Hg should be considered in future investigations.     

象山港沉积物类型变化及沉积环境现状评价

根据2002年6~7月对象山港进行生态调查所获得的资料,评价了象山港水域的沉积物类型变化和沉积环境质量状况,结果表明:与20世纪80年代相比,象山港沉积物类型已发生了较大的变化,由80年代的粉砂质粘土、粘土质粉砂、粘土-粉砂-砂及砾砂4种沉积物类型变为2002年的粉砂质粘土、砂、砂-粉砂、粘土-砂、砂-粉砂-粘土、中细砂、中砂7种沉积物类型。象山港沉积物的质量良好,底质中总氮的含量较高,普遍出现超标现象;部分测站的多氯联苯(PCB)略有超标,各测站总磷硫化物、有机质、石油类等指标均符合一类标准。     

The effect of tidally induced changes in the creekbank water table on pore water chemistry

Water moved into the creekbank sediments in direct response to the changing levels of the water table caused by the tides. The net water loss of the sediments was 3–30% on each low tide and this loss was confined to within 4 m (horizontal) of the creek. The replacement of this water by incoming tidal water could not supply sufficient nutrients for the growth of creekbank Spartina. However, during ebb tide there was a replacement of water in the creekbanks with nutrient-rich water from the marsh interior as demonstrated by the large changes in pore water chemistry over a tidal cycle. The concentration and the range of a chemical parameter depended upon the stage of the tide, the tidal range, the time of year and (for salinity) the rainfall patterns of the month preceding sampling. Over a single tidal cycle the maximum ranges were: salinity ‰, 26–33; alkalinity, 2·5–13·6 med 1^?1, ammonia, 2–400 μm, sulfate, 23·5–29 mmol 1^?1. Measurable concentrations of sulfide were only found in a few samples. This high nutrient water can supply nitrogen and probably other nutrients to Spartina.     

The geochemistry of iron and manganese in the waters and sediments of Bolstadfjord,S.W. Norway

The distributions of dissolved and solid phase Fe and Mn have been variously determined in vertical profiles through the water column and sediments at three stations in Bolstadfjord, S.W. Norway. Elevated concentrations of dissolved and suspended particulate Fe and Mn are associated with restricted deep waters as a result of redox reactions and with river discharge. The basin sediments are anoxic throughout but because of the greatly restricted circulation, remobilized Fe and Mn appear to remain predominantly trapped within the fjord. Differentiation of Fe and Mn occurs to the extent that Fe sulphide precipitation is ubiquitous in the sediments whereas the entrapment of Mn, probably through Mn carbonate precipitation, is found only in the sediments of the more seaward basin (maximum Mn content of 1·5% by weight).     

Nereis diversicolor and copper contamination effect on the erosion of cohesive sediments: A flume experiment

The effect of bioturbation on the erodability of natural and manipulated copper spiked sediments (3 μmol Cu g⁻¹ dw) was investigated using sediments collected in the Tagus estuary and Nereis diversicolor (900 ind m⁻²). The input of particulate matter and Cu into the water column as a result of erosion was quantified in an annular flume at 7 shear velocities (1–13 cm s⁻¹). The biogeochemical characteristics of the sediment were analysed in depth down to 8 cm. Cu contamination elicited lower levels of eroded matter and lower shear strength profiles. Eroded matter and sediment shear strength values were higher (up to 1.7 kg m⁻²) in the presence of N. diversicolor, whose effect was less pronounced under contamination. Sediment erodability was not only related to hydrodynamics but was highly affected by the biogeochemical characteristics and contamination of the sediments.     

The role of two sediment-dwelling invertebrates on the mercury transfer from sediments to the estuarine trophic web

The annual total and organic mercury bioaccumulation pattern of Scrobicularia plana and Hediste diversicolor was assessed to evaluate the potential mercury transfer from contaminated sediments to estuarine food webs. S. plana was found to accumulate more total and organic mercury than H. diversicolor, up to 0.79 mg kg⁻¹ and 0.15 mg kg⁻¹ (wet weight) respectively, with a maximum annual uptake of 0.21 mg kg⁻¹ y⁻¹, while for methylmercury the annual accumulation was similar between species and never exceeded 0.045 mg kg⁻¹ y⁻¹. The higher organic mercury fraction in H. diversicolor is related to the omnivorous diet of this species. Both species increase methylmercury exposure by burrowing activities and uptake in anoxic, methylmercury rich sediment layers. Integration with the annual biological production of each species revealed mercury incorporation rates that reached 28 μg m⁻² y⁻¹, and to extract as much as 11.5 g Hg y⁻¹ (of which 95% associated with S. plana) in the 0.4 km² of the most contaminated area, that can be transferred to higher trophic levels. S. plana is therefore an essential vector in the mercury biomagnification processes, through uptake from contaminated sediments and, by predation, to transfer it to economically important and exploited estuarine species.     

Influence of basin-scale and mesoscale physical processes on biological productivity in the Bay of Bengal during the summer monsoon

Physical forcing plays a major role in determining biological processes in the ocean across the full spectrum of spatial and temporal scales. Variability of biological production in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) based on basin-scale and mesoscale physical processes is presented using hydrographic data collected during the peak summer monsoon in July–August, 2003. Three different and spatially varying physical processes were identified in the upper 300 m: (I) anticyclonic warm gyre offshore in the southern Bay; (II) a cyclonic eddy in the northern Bay; and (III) an upwelling region adjacent to the southern coast. In the warm gyre (>28.8 °C), the low salinity (33.5) surface waters contained low concentrations of nutrients. These warm surface waters extended below the euphotic zone, which resulted in an oligotrophic environment with low surface chlorophyll a (0.12 mg m⁻³), low surface primary production (2.55 mg C m⁻³ day⁻¹) and low zooplankton biovolume (0.14 ml m⁻³). In the cyclonic eddy, the elevated isopycnals raised the nutricline upto the surface (NO₃–N > 8.2 μM, PO₄–P > 0.8 μM, SiO₄–Si > 3.5 μM). Despite the system being highly eutrophic, response in the biological activity was low. In the upwelling zone, although the nutrient concentrations were lower compared to the cyclonic eddy, the surface phytoplankton biomass and production were high (Chl a – 0.25 mg m⁻³, PP – 9.23 mg C m⁻³ day⁻¹), and mesozooplankton biovolume (1.12 ml m⁻³) was rich. Normally in oligotrophic, open ocean ecosystems, primary production is based on ‘regenerated’ nutrients, but during episodic events like eddies the ‘production’ switches over to ‘new production’. The switching over from ‘regenerated production’ to ‘new production’ in the open ocean (cyclonic eddy) and establishment of a new phytoplankton community will take longer than in the coastal system (upwelling). Despite the functioning of a cyclonic eddy and upwelling being divergent (transporting of nutrients from deeper waters to surface), the utilization of nutrients leading to enhanced biological production and its transfer to upper trophic levels in the upwelling region imply that the energy transfer from primary production to secondary production (mesozooplankton) is more efficient than in the cyclonic eddy of the open ocean. The results suggest that basin-scale and mesoscale processes influence the abundance and spatial heterogeneity of plankton populations across a wide spatial scale in the BoB. The multifaceted effects of these physical processes on primary productivity thus play a prominent role in structuring of zooplankton communities and could consecutively affect the recruitment of pelagic fisheries.     

海水淡化排海浓盐水对胶州湾盐度分布影响

为考察海水淡化产生的浓盐水对胶州湾盐度分布的影响,利用POM模式,建立了胶州湾盐度扩散模型,分别以现有海水淡化量和2010年规划海水淡化量所排放的浓盐水量为输入条件,模拟计算了胶州湾盐度的分布和变化。模拟显示,2010年2月、5月、8月和10月胶州湾整个湾内平均盐度分别为30.9895,30.8040,30.0221和30.2306,较2008年分别增加约0.0276,0.0274,0.0212和0.0205。浓盐水排放位置附近局部海域盐度增加明显,如黄岛浓盐水排放点附近海域,2月大潮涨潮时盐度超过31.55的水域面积较2008年增加0.24 km2,并且出现0.08 km2盐度超过32.00的水域;2月大潮落潮时盐度超过31.55水域面积比2008年增加0.53 km2左右,盐度超过32.00的面积增加约0.16 km2。2月、5月、8月和10月最高值分别达到40.23,36.66,37.94和37.87。结合前期室内实验结果可以看出,2月份的盐度最高值超过对胶州湾浮游植物生长有明显影响的非检测浓度(38.62)。这表明,按2010年规划的海水淡化规模所产生的排海浓盐水尽管对整个胶州湾的盐度分布影响不大,但会导致局部海域盐度明显增加,从而可能会对该海域浮游植物生长造成一定影响。     

雨滴对水-气界面溶解氧与pH扩散影响的平面光极观测方法

水-气界面是一个重要的物质交换过程界面,对生态系统及生物地球化学循环过程有着重要影响。自然界的降雨可以改变水体表面平衡状态,提高气体在界面的通量交换速率,使得水体界面溶解氧和pH的水平、垂直方向浓度分布发生变化。本文利用平面传感膜具有高时空分辨率、可提供两维浓度分布信息的特点,开展了雨滴对水-气微界面层中的氧气扩散和pH值分布变化模拟实验,采用双参数平面光极同步测量获取低溶解气体在水-气界面的两维分布浓度变化。实验结果证明在受风速、温度影响较小区域,降雨过程对调节表层水体的溶解氧含量和pH值变化具有重要作用,雨滴可以打破水-气界面的微表层平衡机制,促进大气中氧气在表层水体的溶解,使得水面垂直方向23 mm内的溶解氧平均升高2.3 mg/L;降雨对水面12 mm之内表层水体pH值产生的影响较为明显,pH值平均降低了0.2~0.4个单位,表明降雨雨滴促进大气在水-气界面的迁移进程,溶解的CO₂使得表层水体向酸性方向转化。本文提出的基于平面光极两维观测方法为评估低风速、高降雨或低降雨区域的海岸带溶解氧和pH值的变化提供高空间分辨率的水-气界面实时观测新的技术支撑。     

电厂温排水对湛江湾海水温升的数值模拟及生态影响评价

为了清晰了解温排水入海后的时空输移路径和温升范围,及其对海洋环境的影响,以湛江湾内的某电厂为例,应用ECOMSED海洋模式计算其温排水的时空输移路径及温升范围,并结合野外生态调查结果评价其对湛江湾内海洋生态环境的影响.结果表明：某电厂温排水导致湛江湾水体温升大于4℃、2℃、1℃的面积分别为0.110、0.480、1.629 km2,相对于约190 km2的湛江湾海域,影响面积很小;夏季浮游植物丰度随温度升高的变化率分别为-8.534%、-3.573%、-1.613%,浮游动物丰度随温度升高的变化率分别为-4.964%、-1.896%、-0.802%,温排水对浮游动、植物的影响夏季较冬季显著.某电厂温排水对湛江湾内海洋生态环境的影响即使在高温季节也不明显.     

人工岛建设对海口湾沉积特征与泥沙运移的影响

近年来,人工岛被广泛应用于沿海地区的填海造陆工程以快速获得优质土地,但大面积的人工岛建设会对近岸海底沉积物的分布模式及输运过程产生重要影响。为认识人工岛建设后沉积物变化与运移特征,本文以南海明珠人工岛对海口湾的影响为例,根据人工岛建设前后分别在海口湾近岸采集的底质表层沉积物分析了沉积物特征变化,结合沉积动力分析及粒径趋势分析等方法,讨论了人工岛建设对海口湾表层沉积物性质及运移的影响。研究结果表明,在人工岛建设后,湾内表层沉积物细粒组分增加、粒径减小、分选变差;人工岛修建造成的海口湾沉积动力条件减弱是湾内沉积物变细、泥沙运移方向改变的重要原因。     

南极普里兹湾暖水涌升陆架过程及在陆架上的时空分布特征分析

Hydrographic observations collected by conductivity-temperature-depth(CTD) and instrumented elephant seals on the Prydz Bay continental shelf during 2012 and 2013 are used to characterize the intrusion of modified circumpolar deep water.As a regular occurrence,modified circumpolar deep water(MCDW) intrudes onto the shelf mainly between 150–300 m layer of 73°–75°E and then turns southeast affected by the cyclonic gyre of the Prydz Bay.The southernmost point of the warm water signal is captured on the east front of Amery Ice Shelf during March 2012.In terms of vertical distribution,MCDW occupies the central layer of 200 m with about 100 m thickness in the austral summer,but when to winter transition,the layer of MCDW deepens with time on the central shelf.     

2006年胶州湾现有水域面积与岸线的卫星调查与历史演变分析

利用2006年5月20日Landsat-5 TM卫星数据对胶州湾的现存水域面积与岸线长度进行了量算,结果给出胶州湾2006年现存总水域面积为353．92km^2,总岸线长度为220．02km.与历史数据进行比较发现,总岸线长度在进一步加长,而总水域面积在进一步缩小。其原因是由胶州湾的人工围垦所致。     

胶州湾沉积物中有机质的来源与组成及其对百年尺度环境变化的指示

The Jiaozhou Bay is characterized by heavy eutrophication that is associated with intensive anthropogenic activities. Four core sediments from the Jiaozhou Bay are analyzed using bulk technologies, including sedimentary total organic carbon(TOC), total nitrogen(TN), the stable carbon(δ~(13)C) and nitrogen(δ~(15) N) isotopic composition to obtain the comprehensive understanding of the source and composition of sedimentary organic matter and further shed light on the environmental changes of the Jiaozhou Bay on a centennial time scale.Results suggest that the TOC and TN concentrations increase in the upper core, having indicated a probable eutrophication process since the 1920 s in the inner bay and the 2000 s in the bay mouth. The TOC and TN concentrations outside the bay have also changed since 1916 owing to the variation of terrigenous input.Considering TOC/TN ratio, δ~(13) C and δ~(15) N, it can be concluded there is a mixture of terrigenous and marine organic matter sources in the study area. A simple two end-member(terrigenous and marine) mixing model usingδ~(13) C indicats that 45%–79% of TOC in the Jiaozhou Bay is from the marine source. The environmental changes of the Jiaozhou Bay are recorded by geochemical proxies, which are influenced by the intensive anthropogenic activities(e.g., extensive use of fertilizers, and discharge of sewage) and climate changes(e.g., rainfall).     

Correcting the errors from variable sea salt retention and water of hydration in loss on ignition analysis: Implications for studies of estuarine and coastal waters

The standard technique of determining the concentrations of total suspended solids (TSSs), particulate inorganic matter (PIM), and particulate organic matter (POM) by filtration with glass fiber filters is subject to an error or bias from sea salt plus water of hydration retention, when applied to saline waters. The sea salt plus water of hydration retention by the filters occurs even after washing the filter with 300 ml of deionized water, a greater volume than any wash recommended in the literature. We determined that the mass retention on a glass fiber filter, at a given salinity, is essentially constant, no matter the volume of seawater passed through the filter. We also determined that the sea salt plus water of hydration retention on glass fiber filters is directly proportional to the salinity of the seawater filtered. Sea salt plus water of hydration retention causes an overestimate of TSS; sea salt retention causes an overestimate of PIM; volatilization of water of hydration causes an overestimate of POM. Thus a correction curve is required for sea salt and water of hydration errors in the determination of TSS and PIM. Corrected POM comes from the difference between the two. Also, filter blanks (procedural control filters), run with deionized (DI) water rather than the seawater sample, are required to correct for possible filter mass loss during the analysis. We demonstrate correction curves for sea salt plus water of hydration retention for Whatman GF/F filters, 47 mm diameter, utilizing the methods of the APHA Manual, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. Application of other glass fiber filter types or an analytical technique differing significantly from that employed here requires a different correction curve for retention of sea salt and water of hydration. These methods can be used to reanalyze older data on PIM, POM, and TSS.We apply these corrections to PIM and POM data from the northern Gulf of Mexico and examine the interactions of these filter corrections with corrections for structural water volatilization from suspended clay minerals in the determinations of PIM and POM. We analyze published data on PIM and POM determinations and their application to remote sensing. We conclude that sea salt and water of hydration retention on filters has an adverse effect on remote-sensing algorithms inverting radiance reflectance to estimate concentrations of suspended matter.     

The effect of salinity on clearance rate in the suspension-feeding estuarine gastropod Crepipatella dilatata under natural and controlled conditions

The suspension-feeding gastropod Crepipatella dilatata occurs in estuaries in southern Chile that experience considerable fluctuations in salinity, driven by tidal and atmospheric forces. In the Quempillén estuary salinities as low as 9 psu may occur after severe rainstorms, and persist for several hours. In this study salinity was the major factor influencing the clearance rate of C. dilatata. At salinities below 20 psu, filtration ceased, whereas at high salinities (>22 psu) mean clearance rate was 0.24 l h⁻¹ standard animal⁻¹ (S.D. 0.18) for actively filtering individuals. This was confirmed by laboratory experiments under controlled conditions. Endoscopic observations were consistent with measurements of clearance rate, and showed that at salinity 25–30 psu the rate of transport along the gill filaments of particulate material embedded in mucus was 759 μm s⁻¹ (S.D. 480), but particle transport ceased at and below salinity 20 psu. Complete or partial isolation of the mantle cavity from the environment may be a mechanism to protect soft tissues and/or incubated egg capsules from osmotic stress.