Cyanobacterial toxins in Lake Baringo, Kenya

This paper presents data on the first identification, characterization and quantification of hepatotoxic microcystins and neurotoxic anatoxin-a in water samples of Lake Baringo, Kenya. The shallow turbid Lake Baringo was investigated five times between June 2001 and May 2002. The phytoplankton community was mainly dominated by the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. Due to the high turbidity the phytoplankton biomass was low, ranging between 1.5 and 8.2 mg L⁻¹. High mean total phosphorus concentration (1.0 mg L⁻¹) and mean total nitrogen concentration (2.8 mg L⁻¹) typical for hypertrophic lakes were found. Using HPLC technique the hepatotoxins microcystin-LR, -RR and -YR and the neurotoxin anatoxin-a were detected in the water samples. The microcystin concentrations varied from 310 to 19800 μg microcystin-LR equivalents g⁻¹ DW and the anatoxin-a concentration ranged from 270 to 1260 μg g⁻¹ DW. To our knowledge this is the first evidence of cyanobacterial toxins in Lake Baringo.     

Evaluation and suggestions for improvement of seismic design procedures for R/C walls in dual systems

This paper aims to shed some further light on the seismic behaviour and design of reinforced concrete (R/C) walls which form part of dual (frame + wall) structures. The significance of post‐elastic dynamic effects is recognized by most seismic codes in the definition of the design action effects on walls, i.e. bending moments and shear forces. However, the resulting envelopes are not always fully satisfactory, particularly in the case of medium‐to‐high‐rise buildings. The relevant provisions of modern seismic codes are first summarized and their limitations discussed. Then an extensive parametric study is presented which involves typical multi‐storey dual systems that include walls with unequal lengths, designed according to the provisions of Eurocode 8 for two different ductility classes (M and H) and two effective peak ground acceleration levels (0.16 and 0.24g). The walls of these structures are also designed according to other methods, such as those used in New Zealand and Greece. The resulting different designs are then assessed by subjecting the structures to a suite of records from strong ground motions, carrying out inelastic time history analysis, and comparing the results with the design action effects. It is found that for (at least) the design earthquake intensity, the first two modes of vibration suffice for describing the seismic response of the walls. The bending moment envelope, as well as the base shear of each wall, is found to be strongly dependent on the second mode effect. As far as the code‐prescribed design action effects are concerned, only the NZ Code was found to be consistently conservative, whereas this was not always the case with EC8. A new method is then proposed which focuses on quantifying in a simple way the second mode effects in the inelastic response of the walls. This procedure seems to work better than the others evaluated herein. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An advanced signal processing technique for deriving grain size information of bedload transport from impact plate vibration measurements

A reliable characterization of bedload transport is required to gauge the engineering and theoretical issues related to the dynamics of sediments transport in rivers. However, while significant advances have been made in the development of monitoring techniques, robust quantitative predictive relationships have proven difficult to derive. In this article, we develop a dedicated signal processing technique aimed at improving the usage of impact plate measurements for material transport characterization. Our set‐up consists of a piezoelectric hydrophone mounted on the bottom side of a stainless steel plate, thus acting as a ‘sediment vibration sensor’. While the classical analysis with such systems is usually limited to rather simple procedures, such as impact counting, a large amount of useful information is contained in the actual waveform of the impact signal, which conveys the force and the contact time that the bedload imposes on the plate. An advanced signal processing technique called ‘first arrival atomic decomposition’ is used to improve the characterization of bedload transport by analysing the amplitude and frequency attributes of each single impact. This new processing approach proves to be well suited for bedload transport monitoring using plate systems and allows us to establish a relationship between the median grain size (D₅₀) and the impact signal properties. This link is first observed and validated with controlled flume experiments and then applied to continuous impact records in a small gravel‐bed river during a flood event. The estimated D₅₀ offers a novel possibility to observe the time‐varying grain size distribution of bedload transport. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Complexity and non‐linearity in earth surface processes – concepts,methods and applications

Complexity has long been recognized and is increasingly becoming mainstream in geomorphology. However, the relative novelty of various concepts and techniques associated to it means that ambiguity continues to surround complexity. In this commentary, we present and discuss a variety of recent contributions that have the potential to help clarify issues and advance the use of complexity in geomorphology. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the nature of turbulent kinetic energy in a steep and narrow Alpine valley

This contribution investigates the nature of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) in a steep and narrow Alpine valley under fair-weather summertime conditions. The Riviera Valley in southern Switzerland was chosen for a detailed case study, in which the evaluation of aircraft data (obtained from the MAP-Riviera field campaign) is combined with the application of high-resolution (350-m horizontal grid spacing) large-eddy simulations using the numerical model ARPS. The simulations verify what has already been observed on the basis of measurements: TKE profiles scale surprisingly well if the convective velocity scale w _* is obtained from the sun-exposed eastern slope rather than from the surface directly beneath the profiles considered. ARPS is then used to evaluate the TKE-budget equation, showing that, despite sunny conditions, wind shear is the dominant production mechanism. Therefore, the surface heat flux (and thus w _*) on the eastern slope does not determine the TKE evolution directly but rather, as we believe, indirectly via the interaction of thermally-driven cross-valley and along-valley flows. Excellent correlation between w _* and the up-valley wind speed solidifies this hypothesis.     

Damage phenomenon and petrophysical properties of sandstones at the Phnom Bakheng Temple (Angkor,Cambodia): first investigations and possible conservation measures

Sandstones, clay in the form of bricks and laterite are the building materials used by the Khmer to construct the imposing and magnificent temples in Southeast Asia. Many of these monuments suffer from fracturing, sanding, contour scaling, crust formation and salt weathering. The affinity to weathering is closely connected to the type of material. Two sandstone types classified as feldspathic arenite and quartz arenite of Angkor as well as two arkosic sandstones from Thailand are described and investigated in this study. Important petrophysical properties determined for the different sandstones consist of hydric expansion, thermal expansion, pore radii distribution and ultrasonic velocity. Different investigations such as capillary water uptake, surface hardness, hygroscopic water sorption, and salt resistance tests were undertaken in the laboratory to characterize the various rock types. Observations and quantified damage mapping were done onsite at the Phnom Bakheng Temple. Contour scaling in the form of weathering crusts is one of the main deterioration features observable at the Angkor monuments. Comparisons are made between the building stone, the crust material from the Phnom Bakheng Temple and fresh stone material used for restoration. Significant differences in hydric and especially in thermal expansion of the crust and sandstone have been determined. The results seem to indicate that extensional processes occur, which can be considered a force for detachment (i.e., contour scaling, flaking). In an experimental trial, the hydric and thermal expansion of the weathering crust and the building stone was significantly reduced by using a weak acid for the crust and a swelling inhibitor for the original building stone.     

Distribution and speciation of arsenic around roots in a contaminated riparian floodplain soil: Micro-XRF element mapping and EXAFS spectroscopy

Riparian soils are periodically flooded, leading to temporarily reducing conditions. Diffusion of O₂ through plants into the rhizosphere maintains oxic conditions around roots, thereby promoting trace element fractionation along a redox gradient from the reduced soil matrix towards the oxic rhizosphere. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution and speciation of arsenic around plant roots in a contaminated (170-280 mg/kg As) riparian floodplain soil (gleyic Fluvisol). The analysis of soil thin sections by synchrotron micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) spectrometry showed that As and Fe were enriched around roots and that As was closely correlated with Fe. Arsenic contents of three manually separated rhizosphere soil samples from the subsoil were 5-9 times higher than respective bulk As contents. This corresponds to the accumulation of about half of the total As in the subsoil in Fe-enrichments around roots. The speciation of As in the soil was assessed by oxalate extractions at pH 3.0 as well as by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. More than 77% of the total As was oxalate extractable in all samples. XANES and EXAFS spectra demonstrated that As was predominantly As(V). For the accurate analysis of the EXAFS data with respect to the bonding of As(V) to the Fe- or Al-octahedra of (hydr)oxides and clays, all 3-leg and 4-leg multiple scattering paths within the As^(V)O₄-tetrahedron were considered in a fully constrained fitting scheme. We found that As(V) was predominantly associated with Fe-(hydr)oxides, and that sorption to Al- and Mn-hydroxides was negligible. The accumulation of As in the rhizosphere may affect As uptake by plants. Regarding the mobility of As, our results suggest that by oxygenation of the rhizosphere, plants attenuate the leaching of As from riparian floodplain soils during periods of high groundwater levels or flooding.     

In situ investigation of dissolution of heavy metal containing mineral particles in an acidic forest soil

We report the application of an in situ method to obtain field dissolution rates of fine mineral particles in soils. Samples with different metal-containing mineral and slag particles (lead oxide, copper concentrate and copper slag) from the mining and smelting industry were buried in the topsoil of an acidic forest soil for up to 18 months. In addition we studied the dissolution of these particles in samples of the same soil, in a sand matrix and in acid solution under constant temperature and moisture conditions in the laboratory. Under field conditions the PbO particles dissolved quite rapidly (2.4 ± 0.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol Pb m⁻² s⁻¹), whereas the copper concentrate (<1 × 10⁻¹¹ mol Cu m⁻² s⁻¹) and the copper slag particles (4.3 ± 0.8 × 10⁻¹¹ mol Cu m⁻² s⁻¹) proved to be more resistant to weathering. In addition to qualitative information on dissolution features (SEM), the method yielded quantitative data on in situ dissolution rates. The dissolution rates followed the order: sand with acid percolation (pH 3.5; lab) < soil (lab) < soil (field) < acid solution (pH 3.5; lab). Dissolution rates in soil were found to be lower under laboratory than under field conditions. The faster field rates may in part be attributed to the higher biological activity in the field soil compared to the same soil in the laboratory.     

Impacts of subsurface heat storage on aquifer hydrogeochemistry

The use of shallow aquifers for subsurface heat storage in terms of energy management and building climatisation can lead to a temperature rise in the aquifer to 70 °C and above. The influence of temperature changes on individual mineral and sorption equilibria, reaction kinetics and microbial activity is largely known. However, the impact of heating to temperatures as high as 70 °C on the aquifer overall system has not been quantified yet. Temperature-related changes in sediment ion exchange behaviour, dimension and rates of mineral dissolution and precipitation as well as microbially enhanced redox processes were studied in column experiments using aquifer sediment and tap water at 10, 25, 40, and 70 °C. At 70 °C, a change in sediment sorption behaviour for cations and organic acids was postulated based on temporal changes in pH, magnesium, and potassium concentration in the experimental solution. No clear changes of pH, TIC and major cations were found at 10–40 °C. Redox zoning shifted from oxic conditions towards nitrate and iron(III) reducing conditions at 25 and 40 °C and sulphate reducing conditions at 70 °C. This was attributed to (a) a temperature-related increase in microbial reduction activity, and (b) three times higher release of organic carbon from the sediment at 70 °C compared to the lower temperatures. The findings of this study predict that a temperature increase in the subsurface up to 25 °C and above can impair the usability of ground water as drinking and process water, by reducing metal oxides and thus possibly releasing heavy metals from the sediment. Generally, at 70 °C, where clear cation and organic carbon desorption processes were observed and sulphate reducing conditions could be achieved, a site-specific assessment of temperature effects is required, especially for long-term operations of subsurface heat storage facilities.