Numerical study on salinity stratification in the Pamlico River Estuary

The variations of current circulation, salt intrusion, and vertical stratification under different river flow and wind conditions in the Pamlico River Estuary (PRE) were investigated in this paper using a three-dimensional numerical model. The model was calibrated and verified against water level variation, temperature, and salinity variations during 2003 and 2001, respectively. Eight sensitivity tests were conducted with different river flow and wind conditions specified in the model. Model results show that salinity intruded further upstream under scenarios with low flow, downriver local wind, and remote-wind-caused water level set-up conditions. In contrast, the responses of salinity stratification to different environmental forcing functions were different in different portions of the estuary. Salinity stratification was enhanced under high flow condition at the lower part of the estuary, under upriver wind near the river mouth, under downriver wind at the upstream to middle portion of the estuary, and under remote-wind-caused water level set-up condition at the majority of the estuary except near the river mouth. Model results also show that across-channel wind tended to reduce salt intrusion and salinity stratification in the PRE through increased vertical mixing.     

Seasonal changes in nitrogen and phosphorus transport in the lower Changjiang River before the construction of the Three Gorges Dam

Water and sediment samples were collected at Datong from June 1998 to March 1999 to examine seasonal changes in the transports of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from the Changjiang River (Yangtze River) to the East China Sea (ECS). Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN; dominated by nitrate) concentration exhibited small seasonality, and DIN flux was largely controlled by water discharge. Dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentration was inversely correlated with water discharge, and DIP was evenly delivered throughout a year. The transports of DIN and DIP from the Changjiang River were consistent with seasonal changes in nutrient distributions and P limitation in the Changjiang Estuary and the adjacent ECS. Dissolved organic and particulate N (DON and PN) and P (DOP and PP) varied parallel to water discharge, and were dominantly transported during a summer flood. The fluxes of DOP and particulate bioavailable P (PBAP) were 2.5 and 4 times that of DIP during this period, respectively. PBAP accounted for 12–16% of total particulate P (PP), and was positively correlated with the summation of adsorbed P, Al–P and Fe–P. Ca–P, the major fraction of PP, increased with increasing percent of CaCO₃. The remobilization of riverine DOP and PBAP likely accounted for the summer elevated primary production in DIP-depleted waters in the Changjiang Estuary and the adjacent ECS. The Changjiang River delivered approximately 6% of DIN (1459 × 10⁶ kg), 1% of DIP (12 × 10⁶ kg), and 2% of dissolved organic and particulate N and P to the totals of global rivers. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam might have substantially reduced the particulate nutrient loads, thereby augmenting P limitation in the Changjiang Estuary and ECS.     

Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and its carbon isotopic composition in sediment pore waters from the Shenhu area,northern South China Sea

The Shenhu area is one of the most favorable places for the occurrence of gas hydrates in the northern continental slope of the South China Sea. Pore water samples were collected in two piston cores (SH-A and SH-B) from this area, and the concentrations of sulfate and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and its carbon isotopic composition were measured. The data revealed large DIC variations and very negative δ ¹³C-DIC values. Two reaction zones, 0–3 mbsf and below 3 mbsf, are identified in the sediment system. At site SH-A, the upper zone (0–3 mbsf) shows relatively constant sulfate and DIC concentrations and δ ¹³C-DIC values, possibly due to bioturbation and fluid advection. The lower zone (below 3 mbsf) displays good linear gradients for sulfate and DIC concentrations, and δ ¹³C-DIC values. At site SH-B, both zones show linear gradients, but the decreasing gradients for δ ¹³C-DIC and SO₄ ²⁻ in the lower zone below 3 mbsf are greater than those from the upper zone, 0–3 mbsf. The calculated sulfate-methane interface (SMI) depths of the two cores are 10.0 m and 11.1 m, respectively. The depth profiles of both DIC and δ ¹³C-DIC showed similar characteristics as those in other gas hydrate locations in the world oceans, such as the Blake Ridge. Overall, our results indicate an anaerobic methane oxidation (AMO) process in the sediments with large methane flux from depth in the studied area, which might be linked to the formation of gas hydrates in this area.     

Geochemistry of pore waters from the Xisha Trough, northern South China Sea and their implications for gas hydrates

This paper reports all available geochemical data on sediments and pore waters from the Xisha Trough on the northern continental margin of the South China Sea. The methane concentrations in marine sediments display a downhole increasing trend and their carbon isotopic compositions (δ ¹³C = −25 to −51‰) indicate a thermogenic origin. Pore water Cl⁻ concentrations show a range from 537 to 730 mM, and the high Cl⁻ samples also have higher concentrations of Br⁻, Na⁺, K⁺, and Mg²⁺, implying mixing between normal seawater and brine in the basin. The SO₄ ²⁻ concentrations of pore waters vary from 19.9 to 36.8 mM, and show a downhole decreasing trend. Calculated SMI (sulfate-methane interfaces) depths and sulfate gradients are between 21 and 47 mbsf, and between −0.7 and −1.7 mM/m, respectively, which are similar to values in gas hydrate locations worldwide and suggest a high methane flux in the basin. Overall, the geochemical data, together with geological and geophysical evidence, such as the high sedimentation rates, high organic carbon contents, thick sediment piles, salt and mud diapirs, active faulting, abundant thermogenic gases, and occurrence of huge bottom simulating reflector (BSR), are suggestive of a favorable condition for occurrence of gas hydrates in this region.     

A modified analytical method for the shipboard determination of nanomolar concentrations of orthophosphate in seawater

A method for the determination of nanomolar concentrations of orthophosphate in oligotrophic seawater developed by Liang et al. (2007) has been modified to make it fully feasible for shipboard application and for faster sample throughput with minimized sample volume. The technique is based on the flow injection method with solid phase extraction on a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge and colorimetric detector. The Schlieren effect was minimized by rinsing the cartridge sequentially with 5 mL water and 2 mL 95% ethanol solution. With three micro pumps in parallel, savings of up to 80% in amount of reagents and 25% volume of seawater samples could be achieved in comparison to the previous method. Variation of stopped flow time and sample loading time gave 3 different standard curves, which corresponded to 3 linear ranges within 3.4 and 515 nM. The modified method permits the analysis of samples over a wide range of concentrations, and has been successfully applied to shipboard determination of trace orthophosphate in more than 200 seawater samples during a one-month cruise in the South China Sea. For seawater at concentrations of 20.6, 82.5, 206.2 nM orthophosphate, the relative standard deviations (RSD) (n = 6), determined daily for 6 days on board ship were 4.45%, 4.73% and 6.75%, respectively. Five seawater samples collected in the Station SEATS (South East Asia Time Series Station at 18°N, 116°E) were analyzed using the present method both on board and in a land-based laboratory, as well as with the magnesium hydroxide-induced coprecipitation (MAGIC) method, and showed no significant difference according to the statistical t-test.     

Method for evaluating the degrees of land use sustainability of mountainous county and its application in Yunnan Province,China

The evaluation of sustainable land use is the key issue in the field of studying the sustainable land utilization. In general analysis, the sustainable land use is evaluated respectively from its ecological sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability in China and other countries in recent years. Although this evaluation is an important work, it seems insufficient and hard to comprehensively reflect the whole degree of land use sustainability. Thus, to make up this deficiency, this paper brings forward the evaluation indexes, which make it possible to quantitatively reflect the whole degree of land use sustainability, namely, the concept of ＂degrees of overall land use sustainability＂ （Dos）, and research and measurement development of the method of and calculation in Dos. Taking the evaluation of the degree of land use sustainability in county regions of Yunnan Province as the actual example for analysis, results are basically as follows：
1） The degree of land use sustainability （Dos） is the ration index to organically and systematically integrate the degree of ecological friendliness （DeF）, the degree of economic viability （Dev） and the degree of social acceptability （Dsa）, able to comprehensively reflect the whole sustainability degree of regional land use
2） Based on the value of Dos, the grading system and standard for the sustainability of land use may be established and totally divided into five grades, namely, the high-degree sustainability, middle-degree sustainability, low-degree sustainability, conditional sustainability and non-sustainability. Meanwhile, the standard for distinguishing sustainability grades has also been confirmed so as to determine the nature of sustainability degrees in different grades. This makes the possibility for the combination of nature determination with ration in research result and provides with the scientific guideline and decision-making gist for better implementation of sustainable land use strategy.
3） The pract     

Micromorphological features of Paleo-Stagnic-Anthrosols at archaeological site of Sanxingdui,China

The archaeological site of the Sanxingdui may date back as far as 5,000 years ago. The typical profiles of Palaeo-Stagnic-Anthrosols near the ancient site were selected, which aimed to identify diagnostic horizons employing methodology of soil taxonomic classification and to reveal the micromorphological properties of the paleosols. Under long-term anthropogenic mellowing, the discernible differentiation between anthrostagnic epipedon and its subhorizons as well as hydragric horizon and its subhorizons occurred in Paleo-Stagnie-Anthrosols at the archaeological site of the Sanxingdui. The mieromorphological properties diversified among each specific diagnostic subhorizon, e.g., the developed microstructure in cultivated subhorizon within anthrostagnic epipedon, closely arranged particles and considerable micropores beneficial to both of water conservation and filtration in plow subhorizon within anthrostagnic epipedon, and automorphic optical-orientation clays and calcareous corrosion in hydragric horizons. The findings above of micromorphological features related with diagnostic horizons are significant for soil taxonomic classification.     

东营凹陷南斜坡沙四段高频沉积旋回对滩坝砂体的沉积控制作用

在东营凹陷南斜坡的沙四段地层中,常发育典型的湖相滩坝砂体沉积.详细观察表明,这些滩坝砂体在垂向上常发育较为对称的高频基准面上升半旋回和下降半旋回,且对滩坝砂体的沉积过程有明显的控制作用.通过测井曲线的频谱分析,高频基准面的变化与米兰柯维奇轨道气候周期有着密切的关系,而单砂体规模的滩坝砂体在平面展布上又有着明显的对称性.这些都表明滩坝砂体主要沉积在湖平面升降转换的相对稳定期,同生断层活动产生的陡坎或隆起会有助于滩坝砂体的富集.可根据滩坝砂体的垂向沉积序列和组合方式来判断滩坝主体的分布位置.     

山东省地籍管理信息系统建设中应注意的几个问题

地籍管理是国土资源管理的一项基础工作,它通过地籍调查和土地登记工作,对土地的利用状况、产权产籍状况及其法律关系依法进行确认,从而为国土资源管理工作和社会经济发展提供服务。     

莒县办好土地学会促进经济发展

近年来,莒县土地学会在山东省土地学会、日照市国土资源局以及社团登记机关的指导下,以贯彻落实科学发展观为宗旨,按照党中央、国务院关于严格土地管理工作的各项要求,紧紧围绕莒县国土资源管理工作的部署,以促进经济社会和谐发展为中心,以服务学会会员为根本,积极发挥学会在促进国土资源管理、土地科学技术发展方面的优势,在做好各项服务的同时,不断加强学会的建设,较好地完成了各项工作。