Effects of spatial data resolution on runoff predictions by the BASINS model

The BASINS model, developed by the United States EPA, is a popular simulation tool for predicting watershed responses, such as runoff, pollution exports, and water quality. It requires large amounts of data to set parameters. Many studies state that model input is a major source of model uncertainty. Thus, improvements to the quality and completeness of the data will improve the certainty of the model. The objective of this study is to discuss the effects of spatial data, including digital elevation models (DEMs) and spatial rainfall records, on predictions of runoff from the BASINS model. The result shows that both DEMs and rainfall data can significantly influence peak flow and runoff volume. Rainfall input has more influence on the curve shape of hydrograph than DEM resolution. DEM resolution can have more impact on peak flow predictions than rainfall input. Because the model uncertainties from DEMs and rainfall records influence each other, the prediction error does not always decrease when DEM resolution increases. The present results show that the BASINS model produces reliable answers in the case area when the grid size is less than 100 m × 100 m and the precipitation records from the Bihu Rainfall Station are correct and complete.     

Phytoremediation of soil contaminated by heavy oil with plants colonized by mycorrhizal fungi

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of phytoremediation on soils contaminated with heavy crude oil using plants infected by mycorrhizal fungi. Five plant species, Vetiveria zizanioides, Bidens pilosa, Chloris barbata, Eleusine indica, and Imperata cylindrica, infected with the species of mycorrhizal fungi Glomus mosseae, were selected for this study. The degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons in soils and several physiological parameters of plants such as shoot length and biomass were analyzed. Out of the 5 plant species tested, only V. zizanioides, B. pilosa, and E. indica could take up the G. mosseae. Out of these three, V. zizanioides showed the greatest growth (biomass) in soils with 100,000 mg kg^?1 total petroleum hydrocarbons. In addition, B. pilosa infected with G. mosseae was found to be able to increase degradation by 9 % under an initial total petroleum hydrocarbons concentration of 30,000 mg kg^?1 in soils after 64 days. We conclude that plants infected with mycorrhizal fungi can enhance the phytoremediation efficiency of soils contaminated with high concentrations of heavy oil.     

Evaluation of adsorption potential of bamboo biochar for metal-complex dye: equilibrium,kinetics and artificial neural network modeling

Metal-complex dyes are widely used in textile industry, but harmful to the environment and human health due to aromatic structure and heavy metal ions. The objective of this work was to evaluate the adsorption potential of bamboo biochar for the removal of metal-complex dye acid black 172 from solutions. Freundlich model was more suitable for the adsorption process of bamboo biochar than Langmuir isotherm, indicating multilayer adsorption of acid black 172 on a heterogeneous bamboo biochar surface. Adsorption kinetics analysis of pseudo-second-order and Weber–Morris models revealed that intraparticle transport was not the only rate-limiting step. The bamboo biochar exhibited a good adsorption performance even at high ionic strength. Analysis based on the artificial neural network indicated that the temperature with a relative importance of 29 % appeared to be the most influential parameter in the adsorption process for dye removal, followed by time, ionic strength, pH and dye concentration.     

Global correlation of basal Triassic layers in the light of the first carbon isotope data on the Permian-Triassic boundary in Northeast Asia

This paper is dedicated to the global correlation of the marine Permian-Triassic boundary layers based on some published and original data on the δ¹³C_org and δ¹³C_carb values obtained for the section along the Suol Creek (Setorym River, southern Verkhoyansk region). The section includes six carbon-isotope intervals readily distinguished in the corresponding curves obtained for several Permian and Triassic reference sections in Eurasia and North America including palleontologically well substantiated sections of central Iran, Kashmir, and South China. This provides grounds for assuming the Permian-Triassic boundary’s position in the Suol Creek section as being close to the carbon-isotope minimum of Interval IV. In the light of new data, the upper part of the Upper Permian Changhsingian Stage in Siberia is proposed to correspond in range to the Otoceras concavum range zone, and the lower substage of the Lower Triassic Induan Stage, to the Tompophiceras pascoei and Wordieoceras decipiens zones. The Otoceras concavum Zone of the Verkhoyansk region in its new understanding is likely correlative with the upper Changhsingian Hypophiceras triviale Zone of Greenland. Carbon-isotope intervals II, III, IV, and V defined in the Permian-Triassic boundary layers of the Verkhoyansk region, which are traceable in several reference sections of Eurasia and North America, evidently coincide with the period of some intensification of the volcanic activity in the initial late Changhsingian and with the first phases of extensive eruption of Siberian trappes in the terminal Changhsingian and initial Induan ages. New data imply the probable survival of some ammonoid species from the superfamily Otoceratoidea after the mass extinction of organisms in the terminal Permian Epoch.     

Controlling factors of the δ 11B-pH proxy and its research direction

Significant boron isotope fractionation occurs in nature (?70 ‰ to +75 ‰) due to the high geochemical reactivity of boron and the large relative mass difference between ¹⁰B and ¹¹B. Since the 1990s, reconstruction of ancient seawater pH using the isotopic composition of boron in bio-carbonates (δ ¹¹B_carb), and then calculation of the past pCO₂ have become important issues for the international isotope geochemistry community, and are called the δ ¹¹B-pH proxy. Although many achievements have been made by this proxy, various aspects of boron systematics require rigorous evaluation. Based on the previous researches, mechanism of boron isotope fractionation, variation of boron isotope (δ ¹¹B) in nature (especially in bio-carbonates) and controlling factors of the δ ¹¹B-pH proxy, such as the dissociation constant of B(OH)₃ in seawater (pK_a), the δ ¹¹B of seawater (δ ¹¹B_SW), the boron isotopic fractionation factor between B(OH) ₄ ^? and B(OH)₃ (α _4–3), and the incorporated species of boron into bio-carbonates, are reviewed in detail and the research directions of this proxy are proposed. Generally, the controversy about pK_a, δ ¹¹B_sw, and α _4–3 is relatively less, but whether boron incorporated into bio-carbonates only in the form of B(OH) ₄ ^? remains doubtful. In the future, it is required that the physicochemical processes that control boron incorporation into carbonates be rigorously characterized and that the related chemical and isotopic fractionation be quantified. It is also necessary and important to establish a “best-fit empirically equation” between δ ¹¹B_carb and pH of seawater based on the precipitation experiments of inorganic or culture experiments of corals or foraminifera. In addition, extended application of the δ ¹¹B-pH proxy to the earlier part of the Phanerozoic relying on the Brachiopods is worthy of studying. Like other geochemical indicators, there are limiting factors of δ ¹¹B; however, it remains a very powerful tool in the reconstruction of past seawater pH at present.     

Response of vegetation pattern to different landform and water-table depth in Hailiutu River basin,Northwestern China

The spatial distribution of vegetation pattern and vegetation cover fraction (VCF) was quantified with remote sensing data in the Hailiutu River basin, a semiarid area in North China. The moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer normalized different vegetation index (NDVI) values for 4 years from 2008 to 2011 and field observation data were used to assess the impact of climate factors, landform and depth to water table on vegetation distribution at large scale. In the VCF map, 74 % of the study area is covered with low and low–medium density vegetation, 24 % of the catchment is occupied by medium–high and high-density vegetation, and 2 % of area is bare soil. The relationship between NDVI and climate factors indicated that NDVI is correlated with relative humidity and precipitation. In the river catchment, NDVI increases gradually from landform of sand dune, eolian sand soil to river valley; 92.4 % of low NDVI from 0.15 to 0.3 is mostly distributed in sand dunes and the vegetation type is shrubs. Crops, shrubs and some dry willows dominate in eolian sand soil and 82.5 % of the NDVI varies between 0.2 and 0.35. In the river valley, 70.4 % of NDVI ranges between 0.25 and 0.4, and grass, dry willow and some crops are the main plants. Shrubs development of Korshinsk peashrub and Salix psammophila are dependent on groundwater by analyzing NDVI response to groundwater depth. However, NDVI of Artemisia desertorum had little sensitivity to groundwater.     

Investigation of surface and subsurface displacements due to multiple tunnels excavation in urban area

Underground structures are currently widely used and are built as urbanism develops. The interactions between perpendicularly crossing and parallel tunnels in the Tehran region are investigated by using a full three-dimensional (3D) finite difference analysis with elastic-plastic material models. Special attention is paid to the effect of subsequent tunneling on the support system, i.e., the shotcrete lining and rock bolts of the existing tunnel. Eventually, as the tunnels are excavated at certain levels, the interaction between the tunnels will certainly have a significant influence on both stress distribution and consequently deformations. Since multilayer tunneling is a three-dimensional phenomenon in nature, 3D numerical solutions must be utilized for analyzing effect of perpendicularly crossing tunnels at various levels. As Tohid twin tunnels and Line 7 pass beneath the Line 4 metro tunnel, changes in stress distribution, deformations, and surface settlements are studied for various conditions and the results are presented in this paper. Consequently, it is shown that there is a significant interaction between tunnels that necessitate certain preventive measures to maintain a stable tunneling operation.     

A study on the hyperspectral signatures of sandy soils with varying texture and water content

This paper examines the hyperspectral signatures (in the visible near-infrared (VNIR)–shortwave infrared (SWIR) regions) of different samples of sandy soils possessing varying grain size and water content. Ten samples of sandy soils with differing textures and water contents were examined using a hyperspectral radiometer operating in the 350–2,500-nm range, and the spectral curves were obtained. Analyses of the curves indicate that grain size of sand has a considerable influence on the spectral response in the visible, NIR and SWIR regions, i.e. there is a decrease in the overall reflectance with increase in grain size. While the 350–575-nm region exhibits maximum overlap of spectral reflectance and, hence, least spectral separability between the soil types, the 2,000–2,100-nm region exhibits highest spectral separability between the sand samples of different textures. As regards the water content, it is seen that overall reflectance increases with decreasing water content in the sample, especially in the 1,400–1,800-nm regions. Further, the slope of the curves in the 1,890–2,100-nm region shows a well-defined relationship with the water content. Based on these well-defined relations, it is inferred that hyperspectral radiometry in the VNIR and SWIR regions can be used to estimate the texture and water content of sandy soils.     

Mineral magnetic characterization of the Godavari river sediments: Implications to Deccan basalt weathering

Mineral magnetic analysis including thermo-magnetic studies and clay mineralogy on bed load and floodplain sediments from the Godavari river indicate distinct mineral assemblages. The floodplain sediments up to the delta region are characterised by unimodal ferrimagnetic mineralogy marked by the presence of maghemite and single domain magnetites derived from Deccan basalts. On the other hand the bed loads show varied magnetic mineral assemblages depicting greater local mixing from the non-basaltic bedrock province. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility and clay mineralogy of the floodplain samples show titanomagnetites (Fe₃O₄-Fe₂TiO₄), maghemite (χ _LF-Fe₂O₃) and smectite that are characteristic of the Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP). Presence of this ferrimagnetically dominant unimodal assemblage up to the delta region and probably into the Bay of Bengal off the Godavari river is attributed to extensive chemical weathering of the basalt. The quantitative approach of mineral magnetism, therefore, can be used to study the paleomonsoon variability and its relation to Deccan basalt weathering from the Godavari-Bengal fan system.     

Significance of ancient sulfide PGE and Re–Os signatures in the mantle beneath Calatrava,Central Spain

Spinel lherzolite and wehrlite xenoliths from the Cenozoic Calatrava volcanic field carry the geochemical imprint of metasomatic agents that have affected the subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath Central Iberia. Some xenoliths (mainly wehrlites) were enriched in REE, Sr, P, and CO₂ by silicic-carbonate-rich metasomatic melts/fluids, while others record the effects of subduction-related hydrous silicate fluids that have precipitated amphibole and induced high Ti/Eu in primary clinopyroxene. The petrographic observations and geochemical data suggest that interstitial glass in the xenoliths represent the quenched products of Si-rich melts that infiltrated the mantle peridotite shortly before the entrainment of the xenoliths in the host magmas that erupted ca 2 million years ago. During their infiltration, the metasomatic melts reacted with peridotite, resulting in silica enrichment, while remobilizing grains of iron-rich monosulfide solid solution (Fe-rich Mss) initially enclosed in, or intergranular to, primary olivine and pyroxenes. In situ laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analysis of single sulfide grains reveals that the Fe-rich Mss in glass shows platinum-group element (PGE) patterns and ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os compositions identical to the Fe-rich Mss occurring as inclusions in, or at grain boundaries of primary silicates. Moreover, independent of its microstructural position, Fe-rich Mss exhibits PGE and ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os signatures typical of Mss either residual after partial melting or crystallized directly from sulfide melts. Our findings reveal that young metasomatic melt(s)/fluid(s) may carry remobilized sulfides with PGE and Os-isotopic signatures identical to those of texturally older sulfides in the peridotite xenolith. These sulfides thus still provide useful information about the timing and nature of older magmatic events in the subcontinental mantle.