Predicting lake water quality responses to load reduction: a three-dimensional modeling approach for total maximum daily load

Water quality restoration efforts often suffer the risk of ineffectiveness and failure due to lack of quantitative decision supports. During the past two decades, the restoration of one of China’s most heavily polluted lakes, Lake Dianchi, has experienced costly decision ineffectiveness with no detectable water quality improvement. The governments are planning to invest tremendous amount of funds in the next 5 years to continue the lake restoration process; however, without a quantitative understanding between the load reduction and the response in lake water quality, it is highly possible that these planned efforts would suffer the similar ineffectiveness as before. To provide scientifically sound decision support for guiding future load reduction efforts in Lake Dianchi Watershed, a sophisticated quantitative cause-and-effect response system was developed using a three-dimensional modeling approach. It incorporates the complex three dimensional hydrodynamics, fate and transport of nutrients, as well as nutrient-algae interactions into one holistic framework. The model results show that the model performs well in reproducing the observed spatial pattern and temporal trends in water quality. The model was then applied to three total maximum daily load scenarios and two refined restoration scheme scenarios to quantify phytoplankton responses to various external load reduction intensities. The results show that the algal bloom in Lake Dianchi responds to load reduction in a complex and nonlinear way, therefore, it is necessary to apply the developed system for future load reduction and lake restoration schemes for more informed decision making and effective management.     

Partitioning of dioxins (PCDDs/Fs) in ambient air at urban residential locations

In this work, 17-polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furan (PCDD/Fs) isomers were measured in ambient air at four urban sites in Seoul, Korea (from February to June 2009). The concentrations of their summed values (ΣPCDD/Fs) across all four sites ranged from 1,947 (271 WHO₀₅ TEQ) (Jong Ro) to 2,600 (349 WHO₀₅ TEQ) fg/m³ (Yang Jae) with a mean of 2,125 (± 317) fg/m³ (292 WHO₀₅ TEQ fg/m³). The sum values for the two isomer groups of ΣPCDD and ΣPCDF were 527 (30 WHO₀₅ TEQ) and 1,598 (263 WHO₀₅ TEQ) fg/m³, respectively. The concentration profile of individual species was dominated by the 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF isomer, which contributed approximately 36 % of the ΣPCDD/Fs value. The observed temporal trends in PCDD/F concentrations were characterized by relative enhancement in the winter and spring. The relative contribution of different sources, when assessed by principal component analysis, is explained by the dominance of vehicular emissions along with coal (or gas) burning as the key source of ambient PCDD/Fs in the residential areas studied.     

Enhancement of deltamethrin degradation by soil bioaugmentation with two different strains of Serratia marcescens

Deltamethrin is one of the most commonly used pyrethroid in agricultural practice in different geographic regions of the world. It is detected in many environments, especially in soil and water, and can exhibit toxic effect to human and other organisms. In this study, we describe two bacterial strains DeI-1 and DeI-2, isolated from soil, and both identified as Serratia marcescens based on profile of the fatty acid methyl esters, biochemical test, and 16S RNA gene analysis, which were shown to efficiently degrade deltamethrin. Degradation of deltamethrin in mineral salt medium (50 mg l^?1) proceeded by strains DeI-1 or DeI-2 reached the values of 88.3 or 82.8 % after 10 days, and DT50 was 2.8 or 4.0 days, respectively. Bioaugmentation of deltamethrin-contaminated non-sterile soils (100 mg kg^?1) with strains DeI-1 or DeI-2 (3 × 10⁶ cells g^?1 of soil) enhanced the disappearance rate of pyrethroid, and its DT50 was reduced by 44.9, 33.1, 44.4, and 58.2 days or 39.1, 25.8, 35.6, and 46.0 days in sandy, sandy loam, silty loam, and silty soils, respectively, in comparison with non-sterile soils with only indigenous microflora. The three-way ANOVA indicated that DT50 of deltamethrin was significantly (P < 0.01) affected by soil type, microflora presence, and inoculum, and the interaction between these factors. Generally, the lower content of clay and organic carbon in soil, the higher degradation rate of deltamethrin was observed. Obtained results show that both strains of S. marcescens may possess potential to be used in bioremediation of deltamethrin-contaminated soils.     

Geochemistry of metabasites of the Kolpakov Group of the Sredinny crystalline Massif in Kamchatka

Metabasites (amphibolites, garnet amphibolites, and basic crystalline schists) compose numerous sheeted bodies (often highly boudined) from a few to 100 meters thick in the plagiogneisses and migmatites of the Kolpakov Group. Chemically, they are reconstructed as basalts and picrites that were metamorphosed, as host terrigenous rocks, under the kyanite-sillimanite subfacies of the amphibolite facies (t = 620–650°C, P _s = 5.9–6.9 kbar). Metabasites are dominated by amphibolites and basic crystalline schists distributed throughout the entire section of the Kolpakov Group, whereas garnet amphibolites are more typical of the upper parts of the group, where they are intercalated with amphibolites, basic crystalline schists, plagiogneisses, and quartzites. Metaultrabasites (plagioclase-free amphibolites) occur much more rarely as small boudins up to few meters in size. According to U-Pb SHRIMP zircon dating, the plagiogneiss protolith age corresponds to the end of the Early-Late Cretaceous (90–100 Ma), which is similar in age to the weakly metamorphosed terrigenous deposits of the Kikhchik Group of the Sredinny Range. This allows us to consider the terrigenous rocks of these groups as isofacial sedimentary rocks. The same age (Early-Late Cretaceous boundary) was taken for protoliths of metabasites forming interbeds among metaterrigenous deposits of the Kolpakov Group. The interval of 100?90 Ma coincides with the beginning of the formation of the Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanogenic marginal-continental belt in East Asia. It is shown that the Kolpakov Group possesses the geochemical features of tholeiitic basalts of different geodynamic settings and comprises both typically island arc (low-Ti) and oceanic (moderate to high-Ti) tholeiites associated with ultrabasic volcanic rocks—picrites. Such a chemical peculiarity of basic rocks is typical of the marginal-continental extension zones (pull-apart basin) that were initiated on the sialic crust. It is obvious that similar geodynamic setting of the basite magmatism existed for the Sredinny Range of Kamchatka. The ascent of the mantle matter beneath the extension zone of the continental crust of the sedimentary basin and its intersection by faults that formed simultaneously with the Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanogenic belt served as the beginning of the basite volcanism in the sedimentary basin. They provided an intense fluid effect and a temperature increase in the crust with subsequent granitization and metamorphism of volcanogenic-terrigenous deposits and, finally, the development of the modern structure of the Sredinny Kamchatka Massif. The intense Late Cretaceous basite volcanism and associated granitoid magmatism in Kamchatka were presumably caused by the ascent of mantle plumes bearing hydrogen fluids.     

Measurement of small strain behavior of a local soil by fiber Bragg grating-based local displacement transducers

The small strain stiffness of soils has a significant role in geotechnical design and analysis. In laboratory, the small strain behavior is examined by different techniques including the bender element method for measuring the maximum shear modulus and local displacement transducer (LDT) for measuring Young’s modulus at small strains. However, most commonly used LDTs are based on electrical components and have limitations, such as electromagnetic interference and possibility of short circuit in the presence of water. To overcome these limitations, in the present study, a conventional triaxial apparatus has been modified to measure and study the stress–strain behavior of soils at small strains. The major modifications include addition of piezoceramic sensors (bender elements) for measuring the maximum shear modulus and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor-based local displacement transducers (FBG–LDTs) for measuring the stress–strain behavior at small strains. The modified triaxial apparatus has been used to conduct several tests on a completely decomposed granite soil from a site in Hong Kong. The stress–strain behaviors measured by the newly developed FBG–LDTs and an external displacement transducer are compared and discussed. In particular, the shear modulus values obtained using the bender elements, FBG–LTDs, and the external displacement transducer are also compared, discussed, and evaluated. The comparison and assessment show that the FBG–LTDs are more suitable for measuring the small strain behavior of soils.     

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.     

Bioleaching of high pyrite carbon-rich sphalerite preflotation tailings

In this work, zinc extraction was investigated using bioleaching process. The used samples were carbon-rich preflotation tailings prepared from a lead–zinc mineral processing plant, located in Yazd province, Iran. Two samples were obtained with high amount of pyrite, while the first sample contained high arsenic (As) substitution in the pyrite crystal lattice, and it was about 4–5 times more than that of the second sample. The organic matter in both samples has presented a signature of poorly crystalline carbon. Bioleaching experiments were designed and carried out by a mixed culture of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans in shake flasks. The results showed that in the optimum point of experiments (pH 1.94–2, pulp density 10 %, without initial Fe⁺²), about 95 % of Zn would be extracted within 14 days, while with no use of bacteria, merely 35 % of Zn content was dissolved (under the same condition). Because of the characteristics of the prepared samples, the bacterial medium (9K) was removed in the optimum condition of bioleaching tests. Results showed that even in the absence of 9K medium, bacteria had proper growth too, such that more than 93 % of Zn content was extracted. In fact, the same results were achieved in the absence and presence of 9K medium. Comparison of the obtained results in bioleaching tests under the optimum condition indicated that Zn extraction was the same for both high and low As samples, while Fe extraction from low As content sample was nearly 4 times higher than that of the other sample.     

Sandstone alterations triggered by fire-related temperatures

The aim of the study was to identify and describe changes in two different sandstone types when undergoing different environmental and extreme temperature regimes to assess the possibility of finding insolation weathering and how these sandstones would behave during and after a fire. The first step was the simulation in the laboratory of temperature regimes up to 60 °C which would correspond to extreme events that could be found in insolation cycles even in Central Europe and the second one was the temperature above 200 °C simulating in laboratory conditions the thermal regime of a potential fire situation at temperatures up to 200, 400, 600 and 800 °C. Heating the samples above 400 °C led to gradual changes in mineral composition, colour, surface roughness and physical properties reaching, eventually, total rock breakdown through spalling and granular disaggregation. The different behaviour of sandstones exposed to high temperatures is mainly caused by their different mineral composition with various ratios of minerals that are more or less chemically stable at high temperatures as well as by the differences in the porosity.     

藏北商旭造山型金矿床的发现及意义

西藏双湖县商旭金矿床位于班公湖-怒江缝合带中段。矿体赋存于中-下侏罗统木嘎岗日群浅变质复理石中,受北西西向断裂构造控制,呈透镜体状、脉状,或者似层状产出;矿石矿物以自然金为主,矿石类型为石英脉型和蚀变岩型,围岩蚀变特征明显。该矿床主要受地层及构造因素控制,矿区的构造、围岩蚀变、矿物、地球化学异常等可作为找矿标志。野外地质调查和矿床对比研究显示,商旭金矿床在矿物共生组合、蚀变类型、构造类型等方面,与典型的造山型金矿床相似,其成因类型属于造山型金矿床。商旭金矿床的发现为班公湖-怒江成矿带金等贵金属矿产的地质找矿工作开辟了新的方向。