Medium-term responses of rocky bottoms to sewage discharges from a deepwater outfall in the NE Atlantic

An investigation on the effects of deepwater outfall discharges on the status of rocky reef communities was carried out. The sanitation system was found to be an environmentally suitable option for the protection of those habitats situated in high energy coastal environments. Sediments occurring between the predominating rocky substrates showed low values of the fine fraction (<63microm) and organic matter content. In addition, high average concentrations of Cd, Hg and Zn were found in these sediments, though these values were similar to those registered in non-affected sites, far away from the outfall. On the other hand, those assemblages typical of hard substrates that settled near the outfall showed an increase in total richness and abundance of macroinvertebrates. Moreover, the average number of species of each taxonomic group, a good indicator of the maintenance of the previous trophic structure, only varied considerably over time at the rip-rap protection. In a global context, those changes were not directly related to the discharge disturbances, but to the natural variability or the successional processes occurring within those communities. Only communities dwelling in the rip-rap protection area were affected by the proximity of the discharges.     

A comparative analysis of three habitat suitability models for commercial yield estimation of Tapes philippinarum in a North Adriatic coastal lagoon (Sacca di Goro, Italy)

Habitat Suitability (HS) models have been extensively used by conservation planners to estimate the spatial distribution of threatened species and of species of commercial interest. In this work we compare three HS models for the estimation of commercial yield potential and the identification of suitable sites for Tapes philippinarum rearing in the Sacca di Goro lagoon (Italy) on the basis of six environmental factors. The habitat suitability index (HSI) is based on expert opinion while the habitat suitability conditional (HSC) is calibrated on observational data. The habitat suitability mixed (HSM) model is a two-part model combining expert knowledge and regression analysis: the first component of the model uses logistic regression to identify the areas in which clams are likely to be present; the second part applies the same parameter-specific suitability functions of the HSI model only in the areas previously identified as productive by the logistic component. The HS models were validated on an independent data set and estimates of potential yield of the Goro lagoon were compared. The effectiveness of the three approaches is then discussed in terms of predicted yield and identification of suitable sites for farming.     

Air--sea gaseous exchange of PCB at the Venice lagoon (Italy)

Water bodies are important storage media for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and this function is increased in coastal regions because their inputs are higher than those to the open sea. The air-water interface is extensively involved with the global cycling of PCBs because it is the place where they accumulate due to depositional processes and where they may be emitted by gaseous exchange. In this work the parallel collection of air, microlayer and sub-superficial water samples was performed in July 2005 at a site in the Venice lagoon to evaluate the summer gaseous flux of PCBs. The total concentration of PCBs (sum of 118 congeners) in air varies from 87 to 273 pg m(-3), whereas in the operationally defined dissolved phase of microlayer and sub-superficial water samples it varies from 159 to 391 pg L(-1). No significant enrichment of dissolved PCB into the microlayer has been observed, although a preferential accumulation of most hydrophobic congeners occurs. Due to this behaviour, we believe that the modified two-layer model was the most suitable approach for the evaluation of the flux at the air-sea interface, because it takes into account the influence of the microlayer. From its application it appears that PCB volatilize from the lagoon waters with a net flux varying from 58 to 195 ng m(-2)d(-1) (uncertainty: +/-50-64%) due to the strong influence of wind speed. This flux is greater than those reported in the literature for the atmospheric deposition and rivers input and reveals that PCB are actively emitted from the Venice lagoon in summer months.     

Precipitation of heavy metals in produced water: influence on contaminant transport and toxicity

Produced water undergoes changes in its physical chemistry including precipitation of heavy metals after being discharged and mixed with ambient seawater. Potential impacts of the precipitation of heavy metals on their transport and toxicity were studied using samples from offshore oil production sites on the Scotian Shelf off eastern Canada. Concentrations of aluminum, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel and zinc were measured in total, particulate and dissolved fractions together with Microtox tests for assessment of toxicity. Heavy metals in produced water were transformed from dissolved to particulate phase in a period of hours under oxygenated conditions, and aggregated to larger particles that settle rapidly (>100 m/day) over a few days. In addition, there was production of buoyant particles comprised of heavy metal precipitates sequestered onto oil droplets that were transported to the surface. The particulate fraction was generally more toxic than the dissolved fraction. This was evident at the mixing interface between produced water and seawater where elevated particulate and toxicity levels were observed. Laboratory studies suggest an increase in the toxicity of discharged produced water over time. Time-series experiments showed a sustained toxic response for more than a week following the oxidation of freshly discharged produced water that initially elicited little or no toxic response in the Microtox test. Chemical processes identified in this study, namely precipitation of heavy metals and consequent settling and rising fluxes of particles, will influence the toxicity, the fate and the transport of potential contaminants in the produced water. Therefore, these processes need to be considered in assessment of the environmental impact associated with offshore oil and gas operations.     

关于Fe-C(H)系高温高压合成金刚石多晶形成机制的一些思考

Fe-C(H)系高温高压金刚石多晶在合成片上呈成堆聚集状、不均匀分布.多晶中的金刚石晶粒多为八面体晶形、随机定向、大小无规律,表面发育"锯齿状"生长台阶,普遍发育塑性形变等缺陷.多晶中的金刚石晶粒间接触界线清晰、呈突变状.无论是利用品体成核、还是晶体长大理论都只能解释多晶中存在的部分现象.利用碳原子配位四面体生长基元模型分析多晶的形成机制值得探索.深入分析Fe-C(H)系高温高压合成金刚石多晶的形成机制不但有利于改善金刚石合成的工艺、提高合成金刚石多晶的品级.而且有利于为人们探讨天然金刚石多晶的形成机制及其深部意义提供科学线索.     

煤层瓦斯卸压抽放动态过程的气-固耦合模型研究

根据瓦斯渗流与煤体变形的基本理论,引入煤体孔隙变形与透气性演化的耦合作用方程,建立了考虑煤层吸附、解吸作用的含瓦斯煤岩固-气耦合作用模型。应用该模型模拟研究了不同压力影响下瓦斯抽放过程中煤层透气性的演化和抽放孔周围瓦斯压力的变化规律,其结果对于深入理解瓦斯抽放作用机制并采取相应的瓦斯预防和控制措施等具有重要的理论和实践意义。     

山西中部系舟山一带新生代构造特征

作者参与忻州市幅1∶25万区域地质调查时对系舟山一带的新构造运动进行了观察,重点观察了区内继承性断裂、山体间歇性上升的标志(夷平面、河流袭夺、河流阶地、冲洪积扇)、新断陷盆地,对所取得的资料综合分析对比,将区内喜马拉雅运动划分为三个构造阶段,并其进行了构造应力场分析。     

川东大天池气田龙门区块石炭系黄龙组沉积相研究

龙门区块为四川盆地川东大天池构造带中段东南翼下盘的次一级潜伏背斜,从南到北依次分布有以鞍部相连的明达、龙门、任市三个次一级高点。这里依据川东大天池气田龙门区块石炭系黄龙组的钻井、岩芯、薄片、测井资料,结合区域地质背景,建立了研究区石炭系黄龙组（膏湖-成化泻湖～陆表海）沉积环境变迁模式。将龙门区块石炭系黄龙组划分为三个亚相带,八个微相带。其中黄龙组二段的泻湖内浅滩是本区有利的沉积相带,主要分布在龙门一明达二高点处,为龙门区块石炭系主力产气相带。     

新疆鄯善县阿奇山一带火山岩特征及构造意义

东天山的板块汇聚一造山运动时间置于泥盆末一早石炭世,或置于晚石炭世,或置于早二叠世是长期争议的问题。近年来,通过新疆鄯善阿奇山一带1：5万区域矿产地质调查项目工作,对东天山造山带南部的早中石炭世中一中酸性火山岩系、火山韵律及岩石化学分析研究,认为该套火山岩属较典型的岛弧火山岩组合,表明早中石炭世是天山洋盆重要的汇聚阶段。