Assessment of pollution and ecological risk of heavy metals in the surface sediments of Ulsan Bay,Korea

Heavy metal concentrations in the surface sediments of specially managed Ulsan Bay were investigated to determine metal distribution, pollution status and its ecological risk using pollution indices (enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index), potential ecological risk index and sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). The order of mean concentration (mg/kg) of metals was Zn (361.9) > Cu (95.6) > Pb (90.7) > Cr (64.7) > Ni (32.2) > Co (16.6) > As (15.8) > Cd (0.40) > Hg (0.16) in sediments of Ulsan Bay. Spatial distribution of metals in sediments showed a significantly higher concentration near industrial complexes, indicating that metal pollution is caused by anthropogenic sources. The results of enrichment factor (EF) and geo-accumulation index (I_geo) showed that sediments were significantly accumulated with Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb and Hg, indicating moderate to very severe enrichment (pollution) by these metals. Based on the potential ecological risk index, Hg and Cd posed a very high and a considerable potential ecological risk. Cu and As posed a moderate potential ecological risk, while, other metals (Cr, Co, Ni, Zn and Pb) rarely posed any potential ecological risk to the coastal environments. The sediments in Ulsan Bay showed a very high level of ecological risk, dominated by Hg and Cd. Metal concentrations in sediments were 80% for Cu, 96.7% for Zn, 50% for As, 70% for Pb and 50% for Hg above the threshold effects level (TEL), respectively.     

The impact of changing environments on the runoff regimes of the arid Heihe River basin, China

This study analyzed the inter- and inner-annual variations of discharge regimes in the upper and mid reaches of the Heihe River basin. These variations then correlated with temperature and precipitation variations in the area. The differences between the runoff regimes at the upper and mid reaches were compared, and the human impacts on discharge variations in the Heihe River were discussed. The results indicate that in the upper reaches, the long-term trends and periods of discharge and precipitation correlate well. In the mid reaches, the discharge and temperature trends correlate well, and the short discharge and precipitation periods correlate well. Precipitation increases would generate more runoff in both the upper and mid reaches, but the effects of temperature increases on discharge are different in the upper and mid reaches. Temperature increases would enhance the glacial ablation processes and increase runoff in the upper reaches. However, temperature increases would increase the evaporation and decrease runoff in the mid reaches. After the 1980s, higher temperature enhanced snow and glacial melt, and increasing precipitation increased the discharge in the upper reaches. Although increasing precipitation increased some discharge, great human activities caused a notable discharge decrease in the 1990s in the mid reaches, especially during the spring to autumn when large amounts of water resources were used for irrigation. In summary, both precipitation and temperature impact the availability of water resources in the study area, and active and effective adaptation strategies should be developed to improve the efficiency of water resource exploration and to prevent the desertification processes in the arid Heihe River basin.     

Effects of the Changjiang river discharge on sea surface warming in the Yellow and East China Seas in summer

This study explores the effects of the Changjiang (also called the Yangtze River) river discharge (CRD) on the density stratifications and associated sea surface temperature (SST) changes using a global ocean general circulation model with regional focus on the Yellow and East China Seas (YECS). It is found that CRD increases the SST in summer through a barrier layer (BL) formation that tends to enhance stratification at the mixed layer base, and thus reduces both vertical mixing and entrainment. This process is effective, particularly in August, after the CRD reaches its maximum in July. The SST difference between the composites of flood and drought years confirms that the surface warming is related to surface freshening by the CRD. This result suggests that the BL induced by the CRD is an important contributor to the surface heat budget in the YECS.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in a benthic ecosystem in Gwangyang Bay, South Korea

Benthic ecosystem in Gwangyang Bay, a fast developing industrial area with steel production, port container handling, petroleum and other chemical processing in South Korea was studied. The average levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCB) in the benthic components were: seawater 2.99 ± 0.13 (ng/L); sediment 294 ± 118 (ng/g TOC); [biota=ng/g lipid] starfish 92; prawn 131 ± 2; mussels 127 ± 22; crab 182 ± 114; clam 187; polychaeta 215; sea cucumber 497 ± 90; squill 603 ± 38; fish 396 ± 159. Levels in the inner bay samples were higher than the outer bay samples suggesting land based pollution. Good correlation (r(2)=0.79; p<0.05) existed between PCB concentration and lipid content indicating partitioning processes in action. PCB signature in the abiotic and biotic components shows enrichment of lower chlorinated congeners emitted by a unique source nearby, viz. steel manufacturing plant.     

北半球对流层厚度的时空变化特征

利用1948—2010年NCEP/NCAR逐月位势高度再分析资料、美国国家海洋局提供的1948—2010年逐月海温再分析资料,分别定义了1 000—500 hPa和500—200 hPa厚度,利用EOF、SVD等方法研究了北半球对流层厚度时空演变特征及其与大气环流和海面温度的关系。结果表明,冬季平均厚度EOF第一模态均具有北太平洋及附近高纬度亚洲大陆地区与北美大陆高纬地区反位相变化的特点,而夏季第一模态则是北半球范围内较一致的位相分布;冬、夏季平均厚度EOF第二模态均突出体现了欧亚大陆及附近地区与北半球其他地区反位相变化的特点;冬、夏季厚度场的变化形势与大气环流及海面温度具有密切联系。     

The rotational structure of the B-X system of sulfur dimers in the spectra of Comet Hyakutake (C/1996 B2)

We have constructed line-by-line fluorescence models for the ro-vibrational bands of the B-X system of sulfur dimers (S₂). For the first time the detailed rotational lines of the bands are clearly resolved in the high-resolution echelle spectra of Comet Hyakutake (C/1996 B2), which were obtained at the Kitt Peak 4-m telescope on 26.4 March 1996 (UT). In order to construct satisfactory band models of the B-X system, we first compared the models to laboratory spectra available in literature, and then compared the models including Swings effects to the high-resolution spectra of Hyakutake. From the model fits, we derived a rotational temperature of 70±10 K, which should represent a temperature of a coma region close to the nucleus, where most of the S₂ emissions originate. We present previously proposed scenarios for the origin of S₂ in cometary comae, and compare them with our spectral analysis.     

High-resolution spectroscopy of Saturn at 3 microns: CH4, CH3D, C2H2, C2H6, PH3, clouds, and haze

We report observation and analysis of a high-resolution 2.87-3.54 μm spectrum of the southern temperate region of Saturn obtained with NIRSPEC at Keck II. The spectrum reveals absorption and emission lines of five molecular species as well as spectral features of haze particles. The ν₂+ν₃ band of CH₃D is detected in absorption between 2.87 and 2.92 μm; and we derived from it a mixing ratio approximately consistent with the Infrared Space Observatory result. The ν₃ band of C₂H₂ also is detected in absorption between 2.95 and 3.05 μm; analysis indicates a sudden drop in the C₂H₂ mixing ratio at 15 mbar (130 km above the 1 bar level), probably due to condensation in the low stratosphere. The presence of the ν₃+ν₉+ν₁₁ band of C₂H₆ near 3.07 μm, first reported by Bjoraker et al. [Bjoraker, G.L., Larson, H.P., Fink, U., 1981. Astrophys. J. 248, 856-862], is confirmed, and a C₂H₆ condensation altitude of 10 mbar (140 km) in the low stratosphere is determined. We assign weak emission lines within the 3.3 μm band of CH₄ to the ν₇ band of C₂H₆, and derive a mixing ratio of 9±4×¹⁰⁻⁶ for this species. Most of the C₂H₆ 3.3 μm line emission arises in the altitude range 460-620 km (at ∼μbar pressure levels), much higher than the 160-370 km range where the 12 μm thermal molecular line emission of this species arises. At 2.87-2.90 μm the major absorber is tropospheric PH₃. The cloud level determined here and at 3.22-3.54 is 390-460 mbar (∼30 km), somewhat higher than found by Kim and Geballe [Kim, S.J., Geballe, T.R., 2005. Icarus 179, 449-458] from analysis of a low resolution spectrum. A broad absorption feature at 2.96 μm, which might be due to NH₃ ice particles in saturnian clouds, is also present. The effect of a haze layer at about 125 km (∼12 mbar level) on the 3.20-3.54 μm spectrum, which was not apparent in the low resolution spectrum, is clearly evident in the high resolution data, and the spectral properties of the haze particles suggest that they are composed of hydrocarbons.     

黏性土中静压桩沉桩过程现场试验及桩土界面桩侧土压力分析

为了揭示黏性土中静压桩贯入过程中桩土界面桩侧土压力的受力特性,依托山东东营某桩工程开展了现场足尺试验,得到了静压桩沉桩过程中桩土界面桩侧土压力随贯入深度的变化规律,分析了贯入过程中不同土层桩侧土压力的分布特性,明确了桩侧土压力在沉桩过程中存在明显的退化效应,探讨了桩土界面桩侧土压力与桩侧上覆土体竖向土压力的比值关系。结果表明：桩土界面桩侧土压力与土层性质密切相关;随着传感器贯入深度的逐渐增加,桩侧土压力逐渐增大,并且增大幅度随土层的不同而不同;在同一贯入深度处,桩土界面桩侧土压力存在明显的退化现象,粉土中的退化幅度明显小于粉质黏土中的退化幅度;同一土层中桩土界面桩侧土压力与桩侧上覆土体竖向土压力的比值为常数,并且粉土中的比值明显大于粉质黏土中的比值。     

Source and remediation for heavy metals of soils at an iron mine of Ulsan City,Korea

Ulsan mine produced the iron ore minerals of magnetite, arsenopyrite, and scheelite in 1992, and serpentine was developed from 1977 to 2002. The soils of the mine were contaminated by heavy metals such as As, Zn, Ni, and Cd. Heavy metals of Ni and Zn came mostly from serpentinite, and As was derived mainly from arsenopyrite in the scan-type iron ore body. As, Zn, and Ni were major contaminants, but Cd was a minor contaminant on a basis of Korean standard. The heavy metals in the deep depth (>?5 m) came from the host rocks, and those in the shallow depth (<?5 m) were derived from the organic–mineral complexation soil. The remediation plan was a soil washing for highly contaminated soils and the containment of clay materials for less contaminated soils. Even though the remediation methods were successful, the continuous monitoring and the analysis of monitoring data are still necessary for the conservation of soil and groundwater around the study area.