Trace Elements in Sediments and Mussels – Spatial Distribution,Chemical Partitioning,and Risk Assessment

Sediment samples were collected from 30 different locations in Abu Qir Bay (Mediterranean Sea), East Alexandria, Egypt and analyzed for trace elements. The highest concentrations of most of the elements were observed in the nearshore stations in the vicinity of the major anthropogenic activities as industrial settlements, wastewater discharges, and agricultural drainage. In addition, mussel samples of Mactra corallina and Tapes decussata were collected corresponding to the sediment samples. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Mn, and Zn in the mussel tissues were higher than concentrations in sediments, thus indicating their relatively high bioavailability. Sequential extraction procedure was performed on selected sediment samples. Significant correlations were observed between the concentrations of Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn in the exchangeable fraction of the sediments and the corresponding tissues of M. corallina. The output of the risk assessment applied on the sediments revealed that adverse ecological effects to benthic species could occur and that a higher level of risk is expected from the exposure to Cd, Cr, Hg, and Zn. No adverse carcinogenic or non‐carcinogenic human health effects are expected from the consumption of the two mussel species from Abu Qir Bay.     

新疆提灯藓科(Mniaceae)植物的种类与分布

根据历年采自新疆维吾尔自治区的285份提灯藓科(Mniaceae)标本,在查阅大量文献的基础上,通过经典分类方法,对新疆提灯藓科的种类进行了整理、鉴定和分类。结果表明,新疆有提灯藓科植物6属、24种,包含北灯藓属Cinclidium(2种)、曲灯藓属Cyrtomnium(1种)、提灯藓属Mnium(7种)、匍灯藓属Plagiomnium(11种)、毛灯属Rhizomnium(1种)、疣灯藓属Trachycystis(2种),其中密集匐灯藓Plagiomnium confertidens(Lindb.et H.Arn.)T.Kop.、粗齿匐灯藓Plagiomni-um drummondii(Bruch et Schimp.)T.Kop.、小刺叶提灯藓Mnium spinulosumB.S.G.为新疆新纪录种。并根据种类的形态特征,列出了新疆提灯藓科植物的分属、分种检索表,以及每种的生境和地理分布特点。     

博斯腾湖流域绿洲农田土壤重金属污染及潜在生态风险评价

新疆博斯腾湖流域绿洲采集195个农田土壤样品,测定其中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb和Zn等8种重金属元素的含量,基于地统计法分析农田土壤重金属空间分布规律,采用污染负荷指数（PLI）和潜在生态风险指数（RI）评价农田土壤重金属污染和潜在生态风险程度,并对重金属的来源进行讨论。结果表明：① 博斯腾湖流域农田土壤Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn含量平均值分别超出新疆土壤背景值的1.67倍、1.13倍、1.15倍、1.29倍、2.11倍和1.65倍。② 农田土壤中8种重金属元素空间分布基本呈现岛状分布格局,各金属元素在部分区域出现高值区,表明研究区人类活动对农田土壤环境具有负面效应。③ 农田土壤Pb呈现中度污染,Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni和Zn轻度污染,Mn轻微污染,As无污染。农田土壤重金属污染负荷指数的平均值为1.09,呈现轻度污染态势。④ 各重金属元素单项生态风险指数平均值从大到小依次为：Cd、Ni、As、Cu、Pb、Cr、Zn。综合生态风险指数平均值为18.63,处于轻微生态风险态势。从生态风险程度的区域差异来看,各县生态风险指数从大到小依次为：和硕县、博湖县、焉耆县、和静县。⑤ 农田土壤Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni与Zn主要受到土壤地球化学成因的控制,As、Cd和Pb主要受到人类活动的影响。Cd与Pb是研究区主要的污染因子,研究区农田土壤中Cd与Pb污染必须关注。     

Groundwater chemistry and occurrence of arsenic in the Meghna floodplain aquifer,southeastern Bangladesh

Dissolved major ions and important heavy metals including total arsenic and iron were measured in groundwater from shallow (25–33 m) and deep (191–318 m) tube-wells in southeastern Bangladesh. These analyses are intended to help describe geochemical processes active in the aquifers and the source and release mechanism of arsenic in sediments for the Meghna Floodplain aquifer. The elevated Cl⁻ and higher proportions of Na⁺ relative to Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and K⁺ in groundwater suggest the influence by a source of Na⁺ and Cl⁻. Use of chemical fertilizers may cause higher concentrations of NH₄⁺ and PO₄³⁻ in shallow well samples. In general, most ions are positively correlated with Cl⁻, with Na⁺ showing an especially strong correlation with Cl⁻, indicating that these ions are derived from the same source of saline waters. The relationship between Cl⁻/HCO₃⁻ ratios and Cl⁻ also shows mixing of fresh groundwater and seawater. Concentrations of dissolved HCO₃⁻ reflect the degree of water–rock interaction in groundwater systems and integrated microbial degradation of organic matter. Mn and Fe-oxyhydroxides are prominent in the clayey subsurface sediment and well known to be strong adsorbents of heavy metals including arsenic. All five shallow well samples had high arsenic concentration that exceeded WHO recommended limit for drinking water. Very low concentrations of SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ and high concentrations of dissolved Fe and PO₄³⁻ and NH₄⁺ ions support the reducing condition of subsurface aquifer. Arsenic concentrations demonstrate negative co-relation with the concentrations of SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ but correlate weakly with Mo, Fe concentrations and positively with those of P, PO₄³⁻ and NH₄⁺ ions.     

Assessment of Air Temperature Trends in the Source Region of Yellow River and Its Sub-Basins,China

Changes in climatic variables at the sub-basins scale (having different features of land cover) are crucial for planning, development and designing of water resources infrastructure in the context of climate change. Accordingly, to explore the features of climate changes in sub-basins of the Source Region of Yellow River (SRYR), absolute changes and trends of temperature variables, maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum temperature (Tmin), mean temperature (Tavg) and diurnal temperature range (DTR), were analyzed annually and seasonally by using daily observed air temperature dataset from 1965 to 2014. Results showed that annual Tmax, Tmin and Tavg for the SRYR were experiencing warming trends respectively at the rate of 0.28, 0.36 and 0.31°C (10 yr)^?1. In comparison with the 1st period (1965-1989), more absolute changes and trends towards increasing were observed during the 2nd period (1990-2014). Apart from Tangnaihai (a low altitude sub-basin), these increasing trends and changes seemed more significant in other basins with highest magnitude during winter. Among sub-basins the increasing trends were more dominant in Huangheyan compared to other sub-basins. The largest increase magnitude of Tmin, 1.24 and 1.18°C (10 yr)^?1, occurred in high altitude sub-basins Jimai and Huangheyan, respectively, while the smallest increase magnitude of 0.23°C (10 yr)^?1 occurred in a low altitude sub-basin Tangnaihai. The high elevation difference in Tangnaihai probably was the main reason for the less increase in the magnitude of Tmin. In the last decade, smaller magnitude of trend for all temperature variables signified the signal of cooling in the region. Overall, changes of temperature variables had significant spatial and seasonal variations. It implies that seasonal variations of runoff might be greater or different for each sub-basin.     

Controlled source electromagnetic three‐dimensional grid‐modelling based on a complex resistivity structure of the seafloor: effects of acquisition parameters and geometry of multi‐layered resistors

A comprehensive controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) modelling study, based on complex resistivity structures in a deep marine geological setting, is conducted. The study demonstrates the effects of acquisition parameters and multi‐layered resistors on CSEM responses. Three‐dimensional (3D) finite difference time domain (FDTD) grid‐modelling is used for CSEM sensitivity analysis. Interpolation of normalized CSEM responses provides attributes representing relative sensitivity of the modelled structures. Modelling results show that fine grid, 1 × 1 km receiver spacing, provides good correlations between CSEM responses and the modelled structures, irrespective of source orientation. The resolution of CSEM attributes decreases for receiver spacing >2 × 2 km, when using only in‐line data. Broadside data in the grid geometry increase data density by 100 – approximately 200% by filling in in‐line responses and improve the resolution of CSEM attributes. Optimized source orientation (i.e., oblique to the strike of an elongated resistor) improves the structural definition of the CSEM anomalies for coarse‐grid geometries (receiver spacing ≥3 × 3 km). The study also shows that a multi‐resistor anomaly is not simply the summation but a cumulative response with mutual interference between constituent resistors. The combined response of constituent resistors is approximately 50% higher than the cumulative response of the multi‐resistor for 0.5 Hz at 4000 m offset. A gradual inverse variation of offset and frequency allows differentiation of CSEM anomalies for multi‐layered resistors. Similar frequency‐offset variations for laterally persistent high‐resistivity facies show visual continuity with varying geometric expressions. 3D grid‐modelling is an effective and adequate tool for CSEM survey design and sensitivity analysis.     

Mesoscale and Nutrient Conditions Associated with the Massive 2008 Cochlodinium polykrikoides Bloom in the Sea of Oman/Arabian Gulf

Cochlodinium polykrikoides formed large blooms in the coastal waters of Oman from October 2008 through mid-January 2009, and satellite images from Aqua-MODIS and region-wide reports suggest that this bloom was found throughout the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman for more than 10 months. The unusual occurrence of this species appears to have supplanted the more regularly occurring bloom species, Noctiluca scintillans, in 2008–2009. For the first 2 weeks of the coastal Omani bloom, C. polykrikoides abundance was near monospecific proportions, with cell densities ranging from 4.6?×?10³ to 9?×?10⁶ cells L^?1 and very high levels of chlorophyll a (78.0 μg L^?1) were also recorded. The regional progression of the bloom likely began with stronger than normal upwelling along the Iranian and northern Omani coasts during the southwest monsoon in late summer, followed by discharge of unusually warm coastal plume water along the coast of Oman with the reversal of monsoonal winds in late October. The occurrence and persistence of high densities of C. polykrikoides in Oman coastal water were also significantly influenced by an elevated nutrient load and warmer than normal temperatures. Concentrations of nutrients, especially NH₄ ⁺, urea, PO₄ ^3?, and organic nitrogen and phosphorus, were manyfold higher than observed in the year prior or since. These findings suggest that mesoscale features were important in bloom dynamics more regionally, but locally the bloom was sustained by nutrient enrichment supplemented by its mixotrophic capabilities.