Modelling sediment and total phosphorus export from a lowland catchment: comparing sediment routing methods

Bank erosion is the main source of suspended sediment (SS) and diffuse total phosphorus (TP) in many lowland catchments. This study compared a physically based sediment routing method (Physical method), which distinguishes between stream bed and bank erosion, with the original sediment routing method (Original method) within the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) version 2009, for simulating SS and TP losses from a lowland catchment. A SWAT model was set up for the lowland River Odense catchment in Denmark and calibrated against observed stream flow and phosphate (PO₄) loads. On the basis of an initial calibration of hydrological and PO₄ parameters, the SWAT model with the Original method (Original model) and the SWAT model with the Physical method (Physical model) were calibrated separately against observed SS and TP loads. The SWAT model simulated daily stream flow well but underestimated PO₄ loads. The Physical model simulated daily SS and TP better than the Original model. The simulated contribution of bank erosion to SS in the Physical model (99%) was close to the estimated contribution from in situ erosion measurements (90–94%). Compared with the Original method, the Physical method is not only more conceptually correct but also improves model performance. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reconnaissance dating: A new radiocarbon method applied to assessing the temporal distribution of Southern Ocean deep-sea corals

We have developed a rapid ‘reconnaissance’ method of preparing graphite for ¹⁴C/¹²C analysis. Carbonate (～15 mg) is combusted using an elemental analyzer and the resulting CO₂ is converted to graphite using a sealed tube zinc reduction method. Over 85% (n=45 replicates on twenty-one individual corals) of reconnaissance ages measured on corals ranging in age from 500 to 33,000 radiocarbon years (Ryr) are within two standard deviations of ages generated using standard hydrolysis methods on the same corals, and all reconnaissance ages are within 300 Ryr of the standard hydrolysis ages. Replicate measurements on three individual aragonitic corals yielded ages of 1076±35 Ryr (standard deviation; n=5), 10,739±47 Ryr (n=8), and 40,146±3500 Ryr (n=9). No systematic biases were found using different cleaning methods or variable sample sizes. Analysis of ¹³C/¹²C was made concurrently with the ¹⁴C/¹²C measurement to correct for natural fractionation and for fractionation during sample processing and analysis. This technique provides a new, rapid method for making accurate, percent-level ¹⁴C/¹²C analyses that may be used to establish the rates and chronology of earth system processes where survey-type modes of age estimation are desirable. For example, applications may include creation of sediment core-top maps, preliminary age models for sediment cores, and growth rate studies of marine organisms such as corals or mollusks. We applied the reconnaissance method to more than 100 solitary deep-sea corals collected in the Drake Passage in the Southern Ocean to investigate their temporal and spatial distribution. The corals used in this study are part of a larger sample set, and the subset that was dated was chosen based on species as opposed to preservation state, so as to exclude obvious temporal biases. Similar to studies in other regions, the distribution of deep-sea corals is not constant through time across the Drake Passage. Most of the corals from the Burdwood Bank (continental shelf of Argentina) have ages ranging between 0 and 2500 calendar years, whereas most of the corals from the Sars Seamount in the Drake Passage have ages between 10,000 and 12,500 calendar years. Such differences may be caused in part by sampling biases, but may also be caused by changes in larval transport, nutrient supply, or other environmental pressures.     

Environmental change in northern Belize since the latest Pleistocene

Cores from the New River Lagoon in Belize have been analysed using a range of palaeolimnological proxies to reconstruct change since the latest Pleistocene. The combination of diatom and stable isotope analyses (supported by mineralogical and major element data) indicate that the New River Lagoon has been a freshwater system throughout the period of record. For most of this time the lagoon has been hydrologically open, but there are indications that it may have become closed in the latest Pleistocene or very early Holocene. This may have been associated with a drier climate and lower sea level. Mid‐Holocene records are consistent with those from elsewhere in the region, indicating a stable and moist climate. The late Holocene was marked by greater variability, but there is no clear evidence of any drying in the late Classic coincident with the Maya ‘collapse’ ca. AD 900. Our results indicate that the continuity of occupation at the Maya site of Lamanai on the shores of the New River Lagoon is consistent with continued access to freshwater during periods of regional climatic variability. The importance of conditions at individual sites when considering both system response and human vulnerability to climate change is emphasised. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bioavailability of jarosite for stimulating acid mine drainage attenuation

Biological reduction of iron-sulfate minerals, such as jarosite, has the potential to contribute to the natural attenuation of acid mine drainage (AMD) sites. Previous studies of AMD attenuation at Davis Mine, an abandoned pyrite mine in Rowe Massachusetts, provided evidence of iron and sulfate reduction by indigenous bacteria. Jarosite is a large component of the sediment at Davis Mine and may play a role in AMD attenuation. In this study, microcosms were constructed with groundwater and sediment from Davis Mine and amended with glycerol, nitrogen and phosphorus (GNP) and naturally formed natrojarosite. Over time, higher total iron, sulfate, pH and sodium concentrations and lower oxidation–reduction potentials were observed in microcosms amended with GNP and jarosite, compared with unamended microcosms and killed controls. Geochemical modeling predicted jarosite precipitation under microcosm conditions, suggesting that abiotic processes were unlikely contributors to jarosite dissolution. SEM imaging at the jarosite surface showed microbial attachment. Microbial community composition analysis revealed a shift to higher populations of Clostridia, which are known to reduce both iron and sulfate. The results show that jarosite may be utilized as an electron acceptor by iron and/or sulfate reducing bacteria at Davis Mine and its presence may aid in the attenuation of AMD.     

Using vorticity to quantify the relative importance of heterogeneity, viscosity ratio, gravity and diffusion on oil recovery

The vorticity of the displacement velocity is used to derive dimensionless numbers that can be used to quantify the relative importance of viscosity ratio, gravity, diffusion/dispersion and permeability heterogeneity on secondary hydrocarbon recovery. Using this approach, a new objective measure of the impact of permeability and porosity heterogeneity on reservoir performance is obtained. This is used, in conjunction with other dimensionless numbers, to analyse the relative impact of heterogeneity, buoyancy effects, mobility ratio and dispersion on breakthrough time and recovery at 1 pore volume injected during first contact miscible gas injection. This is achieved using results obtained from detailed simulation of miscible displacements through a range of geologically realistic reservoir models. This study goes some way towards developing a unified mathematical framework to determine under which flow conditions reservoir heterogeneity becomes more important than other physical processes. We propose that comparison of these dimensionless numbers can be used to identify the key factors controlling recovery and thus assist the engineer in determining appropriate enhanced oil recovery techniques to improve recovery.     

Red Waters of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myrionecta rubra</Emphasis> are Biogeochemical Hotspots for the Columbia River Estuary with Impacts on Primary/Secondary Productions and Nutrient Cycles

The localized impact of blooms of the mixotrophic ciliate Myrionecta rubra in the Columbia River estuary during 2007–2010 was evaluated with biogeochemical, light microscopy, physiological, and molecular data. M. rubra affected surrounding estuarine nutrient cycles, as indicated by high and low concentrations of organic nutrients and inorganic nitrogen, respectively, associated with red waters. M. rubra blooms also altered the energy transfer pattern in patches of the estuarine water that contain the ciliate by creating areas characterized by high primary production and elevated levels of fresh autochthonous particulate organic matter, therefore shifting the trophic status in emergent red water areas of the estuary from net heterotrophy towards autotrophy. The pelagic estuarine bacterial community structure was unaffected by M. rubra abundance, but red waters of the ciliate do offer a possible link between autotrophic and heterotrophic processes since they were associated with elevated dissolved organic matter and showed a tendency for enhanced microbial secondary production. Taken together, these findings suggest that M. rubra red waters are biogeochemical hotspots of the Columbia River estuary.     

Lightning fatalities in Colombia from 2000 to 2009

National lightning fatality information has been gathered and published for Australia, Canada, the USA, and Western Europe, but few such studies have taken place and been published in the formal literature during the last decade in other areas. National lightning fatality data are difficult to collect in many countries, especially in tropical regions, despite a high frequency of lightning. To partially fill this gap, the current paper provides the first comprehensive national summary of lightning deaths in Colombia. Data from the National Administrative Department of Statistics were gathered for 2000 through 2009 and were classified according to the number of fatalities by year, month, gender, age, and location of the fatality. These data were assigned to geographical departments to determine the fatality rates per type of population. Comparison was also made with the population percentage in rural areas where the outdoor lightning risk may be greater than in cities due to labor-intensive agricultural practices, housing that is unsafe from the lightning threat, lack of access to weather forecasts and lightning safety knowledge, and other factors. Data from an international lightning locating system also were used to determine the annual lightning frequency and monthly totals in Colombia. During the ten study years, 757 deaths were identified. The highest mortality rates were in rural areas with a maximum of 7.69 deaths per million per year in the Vaupes Department of eastern Colombia. The death rate for all of Colombia was 1.78 per million per year during the same period.     

Response of Lake Pontchartrain Fish Assemblages to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

To assess possible impacts on Lake Pontchartrain fishes from the 2005 hurricanes, we compared trawl, beach seine, and gillnet collections taken before (2000–2003, 2005) and after (2006–2009) to determine if significant assemblage changes occurred. We also compared basic environmental variables to test for hurricane-related changes. Significant post-hurricane changes in fish assemblages occurred in trawl (analysis of similarity (ANOSIM), R?<?0.090, p?<?0.05) and beach seine (ANOSIM, R?<?0.120, p?<?0.05) collections across all seasons. Gillnet assemblages exhibited changes in only one season (ANOSIM, R?=?0.045, p?<?0.05). These consistently low global R values (all R?<?0.120) across all gears suggest only minor compositional changes in species. When peak abundance periods were compared for individual species, Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) declined in trawl collections after the hurricanes (Friedman's test, χ ²?=?6.00, p?=?0.014) but increased in gillnet collections (Friedman's test, χ ²?=?5.00, p?=?0.025). Hardhead catfish (Ariopsis felis) increased in trawl collections, but Gulf pipefish (Syngnathus scovelli), naked gobies (Gobiosoma bosc), and rough silverside (Membras martinica) all declined in beach seine samples and Atlantic croakers (Micropogonias undulatus), Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus), and sand seatrout (Cynoscion arenarius) all declined in gillnet samples. In general, salinity increased and water clarity and dissolved oxygen decreased after the hurricanes. While the overall composition of Lake Pontchartrain fish assemblages remains stable, the significant decline of some species and changes in certain environmental variables are cause for concern. Future monitoring should determine if all elements of this estuary will recover from these impacts.     

Tracing the interaction of acid mine drainage with coal utilization byproducts in a grouted mine: Strontium isotope study of the inactive Omega Coal Mine,West Virginia (USA)

In order to ameliorate acidic discharge, the inactive Omega Coal Mine, West Virginia was partially filled by injection of a grout consisting of 98% coal utilization byproducts (CUB), including fluidized bed combustion ash and fly ash, and 2% Portland cement. In this study, discharge chemistry and Sr isotope ratios were determined to identify and quantify the extent of interaction between mine waters and the CUB–cement grout. Eight sampling sites were monitored around the downdip perimeter of the mine. The major and trace element chemistry of the discharges was generally not sufficient to distinguish between discharges that interacted with grout and those that did not. Elements that showed the most separation include K and As, which were elevated in some waters that interacted with CUB–cement grout. In contrast, the Sr isotope ratios clearly distinguished discharges from grouted and non-grouted areas. Discharges that bypassed the grouted portions had ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios ranging from 0.71510 to 0.71594, while two discharges that interacted with grout had ratios in the range of 0.71401–0.71456. The Treatment Inlet, which includes both grouted and ungrouted discharges, yielded intermediate isotopic ratios. Leaching experiments on CUB–cement grout, coal and surrounding rocks are consistent with the isotopic trends observed in the discharges. Based on these results, waters that interacted with grout received 30–40% of their Sr from the CUB–cement grout material. These results suggest that the grout material is chemically eroding at a rate of approximately 0.04% per year. This novel application of the Sr isotope system illustrates its ability to sensitively track and quantify fluid interaction with coal and CUB-based grout.     

Interaction between groundwater, the hyporheic zone and a Chalk stream: a case study from the River Lambourn, UK

Understanding the processes controlling groundwater/surface-water interaction is essential for effective resource management and for protecting sensitive ecosystems. Through intensive monitoring of Chalk groundwater, shallow gravel groundwater and surface water in the River Lambourn, UK, using a combination of hydrochemical and hydrophysical techniques, a complex pattern of interactions has been elucidated. The river is broadly in hydraulic contact with the streambed sediments and adjacent gravels and sands, but these deposits are mainly hydraulically separate from the underlying Chalk at the site. The hydraulic relationship between the river and underlying alluvium is variable, involving components of groundwater flow both parallel and transverse to the river and with both effluent and influent behaviour seen. While the gravel aquifer is significant in controlling groundwater/surface-water interaction, its importance as a route for flow down the catchment is likely to be modest compared with river discharge. The hydrological complexity revealed in a geological setting typical of lowland UK Chalk streams has implications both for investigation methods and for management such as in the setting of environmental objectives in the European Water Framework Directive.