Soil hydrophobic effects on infiltration and catchment runoff

After dry summers or drought, eucalypt forest soils at two sites in southeastern Australia developed hydrophobic or non-wetting surface characteristics that reduced infiltration, measured using a sprinkling infiltrometer. At one site the development of hydrophobic conditions caused the rainfall to runoff conversion efficiency of a forested catchment to increase from 5 per cent to 15 per cent. Under non-hydrophobic conditions at this site, grassland always generated more runoff than forest. However, one major rainfall-runoff was recorded at a time of highly hydrophobic forest soil conditions and this storm generated greater runoff on the forested catchment than the grassland catchment. At the second site forest soils have naturally highly conductive surface layers because of a dense network of macropores and pathways for preferential flow. Hydrophobic conditions produced by drought caused soil water movement to be confined to only a few of the larger macropores exposed to surface ponded water. Even so, infiltration rates remained relatively high so that the impacts of hydrophobic soils were not translated into increased catchment runoff as at the first site.     

Kornerupine in Mg-Al-rich gneisses from Namaqualand,South Africa: mineralogy and evidence for late-metamorphic fluid activity

Three kornerupine occurrences are reported in distinctive SiO₂-poor, MgO- and Al₂O₃-rich paragneisses from the Namaqualand Metamorphic Complex in South Africa. Kornerupine coexists stably with phlogopite, cordierite, orthopyroxene, gedrite, sapphirine, sillimanite and plagioclase and, in sapphirine-free rocks, with spinel and corundum. Tourmaline of a texturally older generation than kornerupine is commonly present in the same samples.Ten analysed kornerupines show a variation in total Fe as FeO from 1.8 to 10.9 weight per cent. B₂O₃ contents are estimated from x-ray data and a few spectrochemical analyses to range from 0.9 to 3.5 weight per cent. There is a strong inverse correlation between B³⁺ and Al³⁺. Total iron content has a strong and systematic effect on refractive index, colour and dispersion. Fe and Mg are systematically partitioned with the other minerals, and Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratios increase as follows: spinel 相似文献   

Patterns of dissolved organic matter in subarctic peatlands

Samples of water from poor to very rich fens in the Schefferville region of subarctic Quebec revealed strong spatial and temporal variations in dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ranging from 2 to 40 mg 1^?1. Concentrations of DOC tend to increase during the summer and decrease in the autumn, at most sites, which probably reflects increased plant tissue decomposition and higher rates of evapotranspiration. Principal components analysis revealed that DOC is strongly associated with Fe, NO^?₃-N and NO^?₂-N, but essentially independent of other chemical properties of the peat water, such as pH, Ca, Mg, K, P, and NH⁺₄-N. Based on observed concentrations of DOC and estimates of summer runoff (June to September), export of DOC from four peatlands ranges from 1·1 to 4·9 gCm^?2, with the lowest values for peatlands underlain by dolomite. Molecular weight fractionation of four samples revealed significant differences in the dissolved organic matter (DOM), with the largest fractions (GF/C to 10 000 nmw) being dominant in the more acid samples. The ratio of absorbance at 400 and 600 nm wavelengths (E₄:E₆) has been used as a simple indicator of differences in DOM type, ranging from 3 to 15. There is a strong seasonal pattern of increasing E₄:E₆ ratio during the summer at many sites, though this ratio is essentially independent of other chemical properties of peat waters.     

Trace-element distribution in an active hydrothermal system, Roosevelt hot springs thermal area, Utah

Chemical interaction of thermal fluids with reservoir rock in the Roosevelt Hot Springs thermal area, Utah, has resulted in the development of characteristic trace-element dispersion patterns. Multielement analyses of surface rock samples, soil samples and drill cuttings from deep exploration wells provide a three-dimensional perspective of chemical redistribution within this structurally-controlled hot-water geothermal system.Five distinctive elemental suites of chemical enrichment are recognized, each characteristic of a particular combination of physical and chemical conditions within the geothermal system. These are: (1) concentrations of As, Sb, Be, and Hg associated with siliceous material at locations of liquid discharge, fluid mixing or boiling; (2) concentrations of Mn, Ba, W, Be, Cu, Co, As, Sb and Hg in manganese and iron oxide deposits; (3) high concentrations of Hg in argillized rock near fumaroles and lower concentrations in a broad diffuse halo surrounding the thermal center; (4) concentrations of As in sulfides and Li in silicate alteration minerals immediately surrounding high-temperature fluid flow-controlling fractures; (5) deposits of CaCO₃ at depth where flashing of brine to steam has occurred due to pressure release. The geochemical enrichments are not, in general, widespread, pervasively developed zones of regular form and dimension as are typical in many ore-forming hydrothermal systems.As the geothermal system develops, changes and eventually declines through time, the chemical deposits are developed, remobilized or superimposed upon each other, thus preserving within the rocks a record of the history of the geothermal system. Recognition of trace-element distribution patterns during the exploration of a geothermal system may aid definition of the present geometry and interpretation of the history of the system.     

Ground-water models for water resource planning

In the past decade hydrogeologists have emphasized the development of computer-based mathematical models to aid in the understanding of flow, the transport of solutes, transport of heat, and deformation in the ground-water system. These models have been used to provide information and predictions for water managers. Too frequently, ground-water was neglected in water resource planning because managers believed that it could not be adequately evaluated in terms of availability, quality, and effect of development on surface-water supplies. Now, however, with newly developed digital ground-water models, effects of development can be predicted. Such models have been used to predict hydrologic and quality changes under different stresses. These models have grown in complexity over the last ten years from simple one-layer models to three-dimensional simulations of ground-water flow, which may include solute transport, heat transport, effects of land subsidence, and encroachment of saltwater. Case histories illustrate how predictive ground-water models have provided the information needed for the sound planning and management of water resources in the USA.     

Composition and distribution of beach debris in Orange County, California

Many studies have quantified debris collected on beaches around the world. Only a few of those studies have been conducted in the United States, and they are largely limited to semi-quantitative efforts performed as part of volunteer clean-up activities. This study quantifies the distribution and composition of beach debris by sampling 43 stratified random sites on the Orange County, California coast, from August to September 1998. We estimated that approximately 106 million items, weighing 12 metric tons, occur on Orange County beaches. The most abundant items were pre-production plastic pellets, foamed plastics, and hard plastics. Debris density on the remote rocky shoreline was greater than that on high-use sandy beaches for most debris items. This finding partially reflects the periodic clean-up of high-use beaches by local municipalities, and also indicates that a high percentage of the observed debris was transported to the site from waterborne sources.     

System-wide submerged aquatic vegetation model for Chesapeake Bay

A predictive model of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) biomass is coupled to a eutrophication model of Chesapeake Bay. Domain of the model includes the mainstem of the bay as well as tidal portions of major embayments and tributaries. Three SAV communities are modeled: ZOSTERA, RUPPIA, and FRESHWATER. The model successfully computes the spatial distribution and abundance of SAV for the period 1985–1994. Spatial distribution is primarily determined by computed light attenuation. Sensivitity analysis to reductions in nutrient and solids loads indicates nutrient controls will enhance abundance primarily in areas that presently support SAV. Restoration of SAV to areas in which it does not presently exist requires solids controls, alone or in combination with nutrient controls. For regions in which SAV populations exist at the refuge level or greater, improvements in SAV abundance are expected within 2 to 10 years of load reductions. For regions in which no refuge population exists, recovery time is unpredictable and will depend on propagule supply.     

Volcanic geology and eruption frequency,lower east rift zone of Kilauea volcano,Hawaii

Detailed geologic mapping and radiocarbon dating of tholeiitic basalts covering about 275 km² on the lower east rift zone (LERZ) and adjoining flanks of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii, show that at least 112 separate eruptions have occurred during the past 2360 years. Eruptive products include spatter ramparts and cones, a shield, two extensive lithic-rich tuff deposits, aa and pahoehoe flows, and three littoral cones. Areal coverage, number of eruptions and average dormant interval estimates in years for the five age groups assigned are: (I) historic, i.e. A D 1790 and younger: 25%, 5, 42.75; (II) 200–400 years old: 50%, 15, 14.3: (III) 400–750 years old: 20%, 54, 6.6; (IV) 750–1500 years old: 5%, 37, 20.8; (V) 1500–3000 years old: <1%, 1, unknown. At least 4.5–6 km³ of tholeiitic basalt have been erupted from the LERZ during the past 1500 years. Estimated volumes of the exposed products of individual eruptions range from a few tens of cubic meters for older units in small kipukas to as much as 0.4 km³ for the heiheiahulu shield. The average dormant interval has been about 13.6 years during the past 1500 years. The most recent eruption occurred in 1961, and the area may be overdue for its next eruption. However, eruptive activity will not resume on the LERZ until either the dike feeding the current eruption on the middle east rift zone extends farther down rift, or a new dike, unrelated to the current eruption, extends into the LERZ.