Hydrochemical regime and its mechanism in Yamzhog Yumco Basin,South Tibet

The hydrochemistry of alpine lakes reflects water characteristic and its response to climatic change. Over 300 water samples had been collected from 52 sites of 5 lakes and 7 inflowing rivers in the Yamzhog Yumco Basin, South Tibet, during 2009–2014, basing which the hydrochemical regime and its mechanism were analyzed along with the adoption of hydrological investigations in 1979 and 1984 as well. Results revealed that the waters were hard with weak alkalinity for the Yamzhog Yumco Basin. Most of them were fresh, and the rest were slightly saline. The hydrochemical types of 5 lakes (i.e., Lake Yamzhog Yum Co, Puma Yum Co, Bajiu Co, Kongmu Co, and Chen Co) were SO₄ ^2––HCO₃ ^––Mg²⁺–Na⁺, HCO₃ ^––SO₄ ^2––Mg²⁺–Ca²⁺, SO₄ ^2––Mg²⁺–Na⁺, SO₄ ^2––HCO₃ ^––Ca²⁺, and SO₄ ^2––Na⁺–Mg²⁺–Ca²⁺, respectively. As for rivers, HCO₃ ^– and SO₄ ^2– were the major anions, and Ca²⁺ was the dominant cation. Lake Yamzhog Yum Co, the largest lake in the basin, exhibited remarkable spatial variations in hydrochemistry at its surface but irregular changes with depth. The weathering of evaporates and carbonates, together with evaporation and crystallization, were the major mechanisms controlling the hydrochemistry of waters in the Yamzhog Yumco Basin. Global warming also had significant impacts on hydrochemical variations.     

Hydrochemical Characteristics and Sodification of Groundwater in the Shirin Sou, Hamedan, Western Iran

Salinity and sodicity of groundwater are the principal water quality concerns in irrigated areas of arid and semi-arid regions. The hydrochemical characteristics and sodicity of groundwater in the Shirin Sou area, western Iran were investigated in this study by chemical analyses of groundwater samples from 49 wells. Chemical analysis of the groundwater showed that the mean concentration of the cations was in the order: Na⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺, while that for anions was SO₃ ²⁻ > Cl⁻ > HCO₃ ⁻ > NO₃ ⁻. The most prevalent water type is Na–SO₄ followed by water types Na–Cl and Ca–SO₄. The chemical evolution of groundwater is primarily controlled by water–rock interactions: mainly weathering of aluminosilicates, dissolution of sulfate minerals, and cation exchange reactions. Sulfate dissolution and pyrite weathering may both contribute to the SO₄ ²⁻ load of the groundwater. High Na⁺ concentrations in groundwater participate in ion-exchange processes, resulting in the displacement of base cations into solution and raised concentrations in groundwater. The principal component analysis (PCA) performed on groundwater identified three principal components controlling variability of groundwater chemistry. Electrical conductivity, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, SO₄ ²⁻, and Cl⁻ content were associated in the same component (PC1) (salinity), most likely linked to anthropogenic activities.     

典型岩溶农业区地下水质与土地利用变化: 以云南小江流域为例

1 Introduction Ecological environment such as water, soil, etc. are very fragile in the karst area because of the special geological background. With the fast increase of the population and rapid social and economic development in karst area, contradictio…     

Characteristics and source of aerosols at Shiyi Glacier,Qilian Mountains, China

Aerosol samples were collected in the Shiyi Glacier,Qilian Mountains from July 24 to August 19,2012 and analyzed for major water-soluble ionic species(F^-,Cl^-,NO₂^-,NO₃^-,SO₄^2-,Na⁺,NH₄⁺,K⁺,Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺) by ion chromatography. SO₄^2- and NH₄⁺ were the most abundant components of all the anions and cations,with average concentrations of 94.72 and 54.26 neq/m³,respectively,accounting for 34% and 20% of the total water-soluble ions analyzed.These mean ion concentrations were generally comparable with the background conditions in remote sites of the Qilian Mountains,but were much lower than those in certain cities in China.The particles were grouped into two dominant types according to their morphology and EDX signal:Si-rich particles and Fe-rich particles.Backward air mass trajectory analysis suggested that inland cities may contribute some anthropogenic pollution to this glacier,while the arid and semi-arid regions of central Asia were the primary sources of the mineral particles.     

上海滨岸潮滩水沉积物中无机氮的季节性变化

对长江口南翼上海滨岸带3个站点潮滩上覆水，沉积物和间隙水中的3态无机氮的含量分布的年度季节性监测研究表明：潮滩上覆水中溶解无机氮以NO3－N为主：表层沉积物中可交换态无机氮以NH4－N为主，约占70％－85％，沉积物间隙水中主要无机氮为NH4－N和NO3－N。潮滩水体中NH4－N的季节性变化幅度不大，而NO3－N和NO2－N的季节性变化明显，在冬季含量明显降低；但沉积物和间隙水中氮氨和硝态氮的浓度在冬季则有较大增加。初步探讨了潮滩水和沉积物中无机氮分布季节性变化的主要影响因素，估算了潮滩表层沉积物－水界面无机氮的扩散通量，指出NH4－N的扩散释放对滨岸水环境质量影响较大。     

Chemical composition of snow in the water area of Lake Baikal and on the adjacent territory

It is found that pollution of the territory from local sources of the zone of atmospheric influence spreads over several tens of kilometers along the prevailing wind direction, and in the central zone it is replaced by regional pollution. Snow pollution in the water area of Lake Baikal was recorded near coastal settlements and in the mouth of the Selenga river. It is established that the southern hollow of Baikal holds the lead in the input of NO₂, NO₃, NH₄, PO₄, F, Al, Na, Ba, Mo, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Sr, Hg and oil products to the lake’s water area in spite of the fact that it is twice as small as the northern hollow. The northern hollow receives much larger amounts of SO₄, H₂CO₃, Cl, Ca, Mg and K than the northern hollow, and much larger amounts of Be, V, Cr and Co than the middle hollow, which is associated with the operation of coastal enterprises, boilers, thermoelectric plants, stove heating, automobile exhaust emissions, and with the natural transport of dust in snow-deficient areas of the middle hollow. It is determined that that last five years saw a slight increase in regional pollution for separate components. It is shown that in the late 1990s and in the early 2000s, pollution decreased twice, which was due to the setback in industrial production.     

非点源污染研究中土壤溶解性无机氮的提取方法选择

用2M KCl溶液(5:1)、饱和CaSO4溶液(5:1)、0.01M CaCl₂溶液(20:1,100:1) 和去离子水(20:1,100:1)4种提取液、6种提取方式,采用Auto-analyzerⅢColorimeter (Bran Luebbe),水杨酸-次氯酸盐法和Griess-Ilosvay法测定并对比了北京地区4种天然土样的溶解性氨氮和硝态氮的含量。研究结果表明:溶解性硝态氮的测定结果不受提取液和水土比(小于100:1)的影响,而溶解性氨氮测定结果受影响较大。在非点源污染研究中,对于土壤中可向水体迁移的溶解性无机氮含量的测定,应根据来水水源特征和研究目的选择适宜的浸提剂和水土比。     

From highly polluted inland city of China to “Lanzhou Blue”: The air-pollution characteristics

Air quality was improved considerably and the so-called "Lanzhou Blue" appeared frequently in Lanzhou due to implementation of some strict emission-control measures in recent years. To better understand whether the concentration of each air pollutant had decreased significantly and then give some suggestions as to urban air-quality improvement in the near future, the variations of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and six criterion air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, CO, SO₂, NO₂, and O₃) at five state-controlled monitoring sites of Lanzhou were studied from 2013 to 2016. The AQI, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and SO₂ gradually decreased from 2013 to 2016, while CO and NO₂ concentrations had slightly increasing trends, especially in urban areas, due to the large number of motor vehicles, which had an annual growth rate of 30.87%. The variations of the air pollutants in the no-domestic-heating season were more significant than those in the domestic-heating season. The increase of ozone concentration for the domestic-heating season at a background station was the most significant among the five monitoring sites. The vehicle-exhaust and ozone pollution was increasingly severe with the rapid increase in the number of motor vehicles. The particulate-matter pollution became slight in the formerly highly polluted Lanzhou City. Some synergetic measures in urban and rural areas of Lanzhou should be taken by the local government in the near future to control fine particulate-matter (PM_2.5) and ozone pollution.     

长江口潮滩沉积物－水界面无机氮交换通量

对长江口滨岸潮滩7个典型断面三态氮的界面交换通量进行了三年多的季节性连续观测,结果表明无机氮的界面交换行为存在复杂的空间分异和季节变化。NO^-₃-N和NH⁺₄-N的界面交换通量正负变化范围较大,分别介于-32.82~24.13 mmol.m^-2.d^-1和-18.45~10.65mmol.m^-2.d^-1之间;而NOsup>-₂-N的界面交换通量很小,仅为-1.15~2.82 mmol.m^-2.d^-1。NO^-₃-N的界面交换具有明显的上下游季节性时空分异特征,而NH⁺₄-N的界面交换则表现为南北岸季节性时空分异现象。盐度是控制长江口滨岸潮滩NH⁺₄-N界面交换行为的主要因素,而沉积物粒度、水体 NO^-₃-N浓度、沉积物有机质含量、水温和溶解氧含量则以不同的组合方式,共同制约着 NO^-₃-N在潮滩界面交换的时空分异格局。     

The spatial and temporal distribution and characteristics of inorganic ion concentrations of TSP in the Tarim Basin

Based on Total Suspended Particulates （TSP） observations of Tazhong, Tikanli, Kashi and Minfeng in 2009, combined wa- ter-soluble inorganic ion analyses, this paper studied the spatial and temporal distribution of TSP in the Tarim Basin and analyzed concentration characteristics. The results are as follows： （1） monthly average TSP concentrations shows a similar trend in Tazhong, Tikanli, Kashi and Minfeng with peak values in April-May and low values in November-December. As for the quarter average mass concentration trends, spring has the highest value, followed by summer and autumn, and winter is the lowest; （2） total annual concentration trend of water-soluble inorganic ions in TSP is as follows： Tazhong 〉 Tikanli 〉 Minfeng 〉 Kashi. SO4^2- concentra- tions are 58%, 50%, 54% and 51% of total ion concentration; Ca^2＋ concentrations are 13%, 16%, 16% and 11%; Na^＋ concentra- tions are 12%, 13%, 10% and 12% and Cl^- concentrations are 12%, 16%, 11% and 22%, respectively. Therefore, sulfate, calcium, sodium and chloride ions are the main inorganic components of TSP in the Tarim Basin; （3） the correlation coefficients of anions and cations in Tikanli, Minfeng, Kashi and Tazhong are 0.99, 0.99, 0.25 and 0.91, respectively; the average anion concentrations are 2.57, 2.12, 2.15 and 3.02 times the average cation concentrations, indicating that ions were unbalanced; （4） SO4^2-/NO3^- ratio is much larger than the ratio of coal-fired emissions SO4^2-/NO3^-, thus the impact of fixed emission sources in the four regions on the atmosphere is far greater than that of mobile emission sources.     

柴达木盆地北缘冷湖三号构造油田水水化学特征

油田水是沉积盆地中的重要流体,通过柴达木盆地北缘冷湖三号构造油田水水化学分析,来深入理解该地区的水化学特征并探讨其成因。研究表明,冷湖三号构造油田水的矿化程度较低且以CaCl_2型水为主,硅酸盐的溶解是油田水中的K、Mg、B、Li等元素的重要来源,而油田水中F含量的异常高值很可能与区内断裂作用有关。油田水水化学特征系数分析结果指示,冷湖三号构造油田水的演化是在较好的封闭条件和还原环境下进行的。和柴达木盆地西部相比,研究区油田水主要成分的含量低于或远低于柴达木盆地西部,K、Li、B等元素均未达到矿床的边界品位,目前尚难以利用。     

Geochemistry of waters and brines from the Salinas Grandes basin,Córdoba,Argentina. I. Geomorphology and hydrochemical characteristics

This paper reports on hydrochemical features of diluted waters in the source areas and the brine end-members dominant in the playa of the Salinas Grandes Basin, Córdoba, Argentina. Special emphasis was placed on the study of the relationship between geomorphology and the resulting hydrochemical fractionation. Inflow is from springs and mountain streams which disappear before reaching the saline complex. The playa and intermittent saline lakes are mainly fed by groundwater flow and a few moderately saline and perennial springs. Conversely, ephemeral lakes are fed by atmospheric precipitation and groundwater, whereas small ponds are only fed by atmospheric precipitation. The absence of a clear linkage between geomorphological units and water types was evident in the source areas. Up to four types of water were recognized in a given geomorphological unit. From the sandflat downward towards the playa, the correspondence between geomorphological units and water types was clear, coinciding with a decreased hydrochemical heterogeneity. In this subenvironment, I have recognized two dominant types of water (SO ₄ ^2– –Cl^––HCO ₃ ^– –Na⁺ and Cl^––SO ₄ ^2– –HCO ₃ ^– –Na⁺), which can be considered the original members of the neutral brine in the playa (Cl^––SO ₄ ^2– –Na⁺ where Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺ do not surpass 5 meq per cent), and an intermediate type in the mudflat (Cl^––SO ₄ ^2– –Na⁺ where the contribution of Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺ reaches up to 15 meq per cent). It seems evident that in the zone between the source areas and the sandflat, hydrochemistry is governed by chemical weathering. In stream floodplains and in the distal alluvial plain, close to the saline complex, the increase in water types as well as the increase of HCO ₃ ^– with respect to SO ₄ ^2– , were explained by the mixture of aquifers controlled by the Salinas Grandes-Salinas de Ambargasta fracture. In the saline complex, the more concentrated end-members are the result of evaporation of the two more frequent water-types in the sandflat subenvironment, and salt dissolution of ancient evaporite deposit.     

Hydrogeochemistry of Groundwater and Its Suitability for Drinking and Agricultural Use in Nahavand,Western Iran

Groundwater is the major source of drinking water in Nahavand city. However, the groundwater quality at the agricultural areas has been deteriorating in recent years. Ground water quality monitoring is a tool which provides important information for water management and sustainable development of the water resources in Nahavand. Hydrochemical investigations were carried out in an agricultural area in Nahavand, western Iran, to assess chemical composition of groundwater. In this study, 64 representative groundwater samples were collected from different irrigation wells and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, major ions, and nitrate. The results of the chemical analysis of the groundwater showed that concentrations of ions vary widely and the most prevalent water type is Ca–Mg–HCO₃, followed by other water types: Ca–HCO₃, Ca–Na–HCO₃, and Na–Cl, which is in relation with their interactions with the geological formations of the basin, dissolution of feldspars and chloride and bicarbonate minerals, and anthropogenic activities. Thirty-seven percent of the water samples showed nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) concentrations above the human affected value (13 mg L⁻¹). The phosphorous (P) concentration in groundwater was between 0.11 and 0.90 mg L⁻¹, with an average value of 0.30 mg L⁻¹, with all of the samples over 0.05 mg L⁻¹. The most dominant class C2-S1 (76.5%) was found in the studied area, indicating that sodicity is very low and salinity is medium, and that these waters are suitable for irrigation in almost all soils. Agronomic practices, such as cultivation, cropping, and irrigation water management may decrease the average NO₃ ⁻ concentration in water draining from the soil zone.     

闽江口潮汐盐沼湿地土壤碳氮磷的空间变化

以闽江口区最大的鳝鱼滩潮汐盐沼湿地为研究对象,选择远、近潮沟区2个不同潮水水淹地段设置样线,采集3种优势植物芦苇(Phragmites australis)、咸草(Cyperus malac-censisvar.bervifolius)和藨草(Scirpus triqueter)下18个土壤剖面分层样品,分析土壤中DOC、TN和TP等含量和储量的空间分布规律及土壤物理特征对其的影响。结果表明:远、近潮沟区3种植物下土壤表层(0~10 cm)TN浓度范围为0.24~1.91g kg-1,TP为0.21~1.34 g kg-1,DOC为13.68~93.73 mg kg-1,无论是近潮沟区还是远潮沟区,芦苇和咸草下土壤DOC、TN和TP含量十分接近,且均大于藨草下土壤DOC、TN含量,藨草下土壤TN和TP含量和储量在近潮沟区均明显大于远潮沟区,而芦苇和咸草下土壤TN和TP含量在远、近潮沟区差距不大;土壤DOC、TN和TP含量与土壤粒径、容重和含水量呈显著相关,盐度对土壤中NH4+-N和NO3--N含量影响显著,与NH4+-N为正相关关系,与NO3--N为负相关关系。     

基于氢氧同位素与水化学的潮白河流域地下水水循环特征

为了研究变化环境下潮白河流域地下水水循环规律,通过现场调查,结合环境同位素及水化学应用,对潮白河流域浅层和深层地下水采样,测定其氢、氧环境同位素及水化学成分,通过分析其变化特征判明地下水的补给来源以及各含水层的相互联系。降水和地下水中的环境同位素δD和δ¹⁸O组成分析表明,降水是山前地下水的主要补给源,山区浅层地下水受蒸发影响非常强烈。水化学研究结果表明,山区地下水水质以 Ca²⁺和 HCO^-₃为主,属Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO^-₃型地下水。山前地下水类型为Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO^-₃、 Na⁺-K⁺-HCO^-₃、Mg²⁺-Ca²⁺-HCO^-₃和 Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-Cl^--SO^2-₄。平原区地下水为Mg²⁺, Na⁺和HCO^-₃。滨海冲积海积平原为Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO^-₃型和Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-Cl^--SO^2-₄型地下水。水化学分析证实了越流补给的存在。Ca²⁺ 和 HCO^-₃离子均呈山区高、山前和平原低、而滨海增高的趋势。沿潮白河流向地下水类型变化为:Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO^-₃ Na⁺＝K⁺-HCO^-₃ Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO^-₃。     

Prescribed fire in a Great Basin sagebrush ecosystem: Dynamics of soil extractable nitrogen and phosphorus

Pinyon and juniper have been expanding into sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) ecosystems since settlement of the Great Basin around 1860. Herbaceous understory vegetation is eliminated as stand densities increase and the potential for catastrophic fires increases. Prescribed fire is increasingly used to remove trees and promote recovery of sagebrush ecosystems. We quantified the effects of prescribed fire, vegetation type, and time following fire on soil KCl extractable nitrogen and NaHCO₃ extractable phosphorus in a pinyon–juniper woodland and its associated sagebrush ecosystem immediately before and for 4 years after a spring prescribed burn. Potassium chloride extractable NH₄⁺ and total inorganic-N increased immediately following prescribed fire, and extractable NO₃⁻ decreased immediately after the burn. In the surface layer (top 8 cm), extractable NH₄⁺ remained elevated compared to the control through year 2 after the burn. By the first fall post-burn extractable NO₃⁻ and total extractable inorganic-N increased and remained elevated over the control through year 3 after the burn in the surface layer. For the entire soil profile (52 cm), the burn had no effect on NH₄⁺, and the effects on total extractable inorganic-N were no longer significant after year 1. However, NO₃⁻ remained elevated over the control through year 2 post-fire for the soil profile. Near surface NaHCO₃ extractable ortho-P increased immediately following fire, and remained elevated through year 2 post-fire. No fire effects were observed for extractable ortho-P in deeper horizons. Our data show that plant available nitrogen can remain elevated for extended periods following prescribed fire. This can influence regrowth and seedling establishment of native plant species, invasion of exotic plant species and, ultimately, site recovery potential.     

Water chemistry and its diversity in relation to local factors in the Latnjavagge drainage basin, arctic–oceanic Swedish Lapland

The chemistry of precipitation, snow pack and surface water has been analysed on 205 samples collected during the 2001 field season at 25 selected sites within the Latnjavagge drainage basin in arctic–oceanic northern Swedish Lapland. Additionally, daily discharge and yield of dissolved solids have been calculated for several subcatchments and the entire Latnjavagge catchment during the years 2000, 2001 and 2002. Chemical water analysis included the components Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ and PO₄³⁻, with SO₄²⁻ and Ca²⁺ being the dominant ones in the surface water. Solute concentrations and chemical denudation were low, but showed significant differences within the basin. In areas of shade, longer snow cover, frozen ground and thin regolith, concentrations over the summer were perceptible but so low that solutes brought into the basin from precipitation could be detected in the surface water. In one locality, it was even found that lake water could reflect snowmelt to such an extent that the solute concentration was less than that of summer precipitation. The highest concentrations were found at a radiation-exposed, W-facing, vegetated, moderately steep slope with relatively thick regolith that was thawed at the time of snowmelt in early June. In such well-drained sites with continuous subsurface water flow, a maximum of contact between water and mineral particles could take place. The concentration values revealed differences in the rate of thawing of frozen ground between shaded areas and/or areas at higher altitude on the one hand and radiation-exposed areas on the other. A comparison with published results from Kärkevagge a few kilometres to the northwest as well as from other periglacial locations indicates that the chemical denudation values from Latnjavagge are more representative of periglacial oceanic environments than the values from the Kärkevagge catchment, which shows especially high chemical denudation rates. The investigation in Latnjavagge stresses the importance of spatial variability within even small catchments of homogeneous lithology as it demonstrates that solute concentrations from different subbasins can differ substantially dependent on exposure to radiation, duration of snow cover and frozen ground conditions, regolith thickness and possibly also to vegetation cover and slope angle as factors steering water turbulence and retention of drainage.     

Responses of photosynthesis and water relations to rainfall in the desert shrub creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) as influenced by municipal biosolids

Responses of photosynthesis (P_n), stomatal conductance (g_s), pre-dawn leaf water potential (Ψ_lp) and leaf water content (ω_l) of creosote bush to 10 rainfall events in the Chihuahuan Desert were investigated. Infiltration of rainwater was manipulated by applying municipal biosolids. The responses of P_nand water relation parameters to rainfall (>10 mm) were mainly dependent upon drought severity: (1) following a moderate drought, P_n, g_s, Ψ_lpand ω_lrecovered to corresponding values of irrigated plants within 2 days after a 23-mm rainfall; (2) Ψ_lpand g_sresponded to a 15-mm rainfall within 2 days, following a 25-day drought, whereas responses of P_nand ω_lwere delayed for several days; (3) responses of P_n, g_s, Ψ_lpand ω_lto a 14·7-mm rainfall were all delayed for several weeks following a 110-day drought, but the delay was longer in P_n, g_sand ω_lthan in Ψ_lp. Creosote bush responded to small rainfall events (approximately 6 to 8 mm) with an increase in Ψ_lp, but without noticeable changes in g_sand P_n, suggesting a strong stomatal control of water loss even though xylem embolism was reduced. Biosolids applied at high rates (3·4 and 9 kgm⁻²) decreased the soil water by 2 to 4 mm following rainfall events, and this in turn delayed and decreased the responses of P_nand water relation parameters to rainfall.P_nand g_swere linearly related to ω_land exponentially related to Ψ_lp. With the generally coincidental responses of P_nor g_sand ω_lto rainfall, we concluded that the responses of P_nand g_sto rainfall were dependent on leaf rehydration which resulted from restored hydraulic conductance following drought.     

Investigation of Chemical Composition of Atmospheric Aerosol in Ulaanbaatar During 2005–2014

Results from investigating atmospheric aerosols in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) 2005–2014 are presented. It is found that the largest sources of suspended particles are represented by fuel combustion and the concomitant exhaust gases, thermal power generation, industrial facilities and mineral dust transport; the main components of aerosol particles are SO ₄ ^2- , NO ₃ ^- , Cl^–, NH ₄ ⁺ , Ca²⁺ and Na⁺. It is determined that in the wintertime, as a result of an increase in fuel consumption, calm weather and orographic characteristics of topography which contribute to accumulation of contaminants in the urban atmosphere, the average sum of ions increases to 43.9–114.6 μg/m³ against 7.44–18.48 μg/m³ during a warm season. Interannual differences in aerosol composition were noted; the total ion content averaged 43.9 μg/m³ during December 2011, 114.6 μg /m³ during December 2012, 68.7 μg/m³ during December 2013, and 64.7 μg/m³ during December 2014. It was found that the concentration of the sum of ions in the aerosol during the winter period is by a factor of 6 higher than during the summer. The highest exceedance of the concentrations was observed for the alkaline earth ions Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ (by a factor of more than 20) forming part of the ash components. There is a difference in the chemical composition of the aerosol sampled in the center of the city and on its outskirts. It is established that the aerosol composition and concentration in Ulaanbaatar during the winter period are comparable the aerosol composition in the industrial cities of China.     

The Suburban Stream Syndrome: Evaluating Land Use and Stream Impairments in the Suburbs

Development is known to impair stream water quality at moderate to high levels of urbanization, but the effects of low-density urban expansion, the kind occurring on the outskirts of many cities, remain unclear. We examined five suburban headwater streams in Duchess County, New York whose watersheds contained between 4.7% and 34% impervious surface cover. We measured Cl^- and nitrate-N (NO₃-N) concentrations in water samples taken at four to six sites on each stream in winter and summer. Even at low levels of population and impervious cover, concentrations of both Cl^- and NO₃-N exceeded reference levels found in cleaner streams in the region. Chloride levels were elevated in upper reaches and remained elevated or continued to increase downstream, with a linear response to impervious cover. Nitrate-N increased downstream in all watersheds, indicating that NO₃-N inputs exceeded natural denitrification and uptake in both winter and summer. Nitrate-N responded logarithmically to impervious surface cover, with steep increases at low levels of imperviousness. Per-capita inputs were also high in rural areas. Agricultural inputs were not sufficient to explain observed trends in NO₃-N; we interpret inputs to result chiefly from low-density exurban expansion. Widespread residential expansion has significant impacts on water quality that have not previously been acknowledged.