Estimating ground water recharge using flow models of perched karstic aquifers

The fraction of rain that is annually recharged to ground water is a function of the transient quantities of precipitation (wet vs. dry years) as well as other meteorological and geologic factors, and thus it is very difficult to estimate. In this study, we have used long records (20 to 30 years) of precipitation and spring discharge to reconstruct the transient character of yearly recharge. These data sets were used to calibrate numerical ground water flow models on the less than 3 km(2) scale for four separate perched karstic aquifers in the Judean and Samarian Mountains of Israel. The stratification and karstic character of the local carbonate rock aquifers cause ground water to flow through discrete dissolution channels and to discharge at isolated springs. An innovative, dual-porosity approach was used where a finite-difference solution simulates flow in the rock matrix, while the karstic channels are simulated using computationally simple drains. Perched conditions are also simulated innovatively using MODFLOW by treating the bottom unsaturated layer as if it is saturated, but by assuming zero pressure head throughout the "unsaturated" layer. Best fitting between measured and computed spring hydrograph data has allowed us to develop a set of empirical functions relating measured precipitation to recharge to the aquifer. The generic methodology presented gives insight into the suspected changes in aquifer recharge rates between particularly wet or dry years.     

用大量余震震源机制估计2000年鸟取县西部地震区域的应力场

根据大量震源机制估计了2000年鸟取县西部地震（Mw=6．6）前后的区域应力场。为约束主震前的应力场，我们比较了主震产生的静态应力变化与主震后应力场的空间分布。在余震区的北部和中部，推测主震前的偏应力量值太大，不会受到静态应力变化的影响。主震前的最大主应力轴的方向与构造应力场一致。而在余震区南部，主震滑动较大的地区及其周围，发现由于静态应力变化较大，主震后应力场的空间分布很不均匀。在断层南端附近，静态应力变化的空间分布与余震的P轴方位角一致，推测主震前的偏应力量值小到足以受到静态应力变化（5MPa）影响的地步。断层南端原有余震断层面的强度可能特别弱。发现主震前的应力场在小于主震断层长度的尺度上是不均匀的。     

The succession of microbial community in the organic rich fish-farm sediment during bioremediation by introducing artificially mass-cultured colonies of a small polychaete, Capitella sp. I

We monitored seasonal changes of the abundance and composition of microorganisms in the fish-farm sediment in Kusuura Bay, Amakusa, Japan, using the quinone profiling technique, during bioremediation by introducing cultured colonies of polychaete, Capitella sp. I. In November 2004, approximately 9.2 million cultured worms were transferred to the fish-farm sediment, which increased rapidly, and reached 458.5 gWW/m(2) (528,000 indiv./m(2)) in March 2005. During this fast-increasing period of Capitella, the microbial quinone content of the surface sediment (0-2 cm) also increased markedly, and reached 237 micromol/m(2) in January 2005, although the water temperature decreased to the lowest levels in the year. Particularly, the mole fraction of ubiquinone-10 in total quinones in the sediment, indicating the presence of alpha subclass of Proteobacteria, increased by 9.3%. These facts suggest that the bacterial growth was enhanced markedly by the biological activities of worms in the sediment, and the bacteria played an important role in the decomposition of the organic matter in the sediment.     

水向地幔深部运移的地震学证据

介绍了日本东北部俯冲带中水向地幔深部运移的地震学证据。资料表明,水在100km以上的浅部从含水的洋壳中释放出来,然后在俯冲板块顶部形成含水的地幔物质沟渠,这就是水进入地幔深部的通道。本文对寒冷的俯冲带环境中水从海洋运移到地幔深部的机制提供了直接证据。     

Effects of anthropogenic seawater acidification on acid-base balance in the sea urchin Psammechinus miliaris

The purple-tipped sea urchin, Psammechinus miliaris, was exposed to artificially acidified seawater treatments (pH(w) 6.16, 6.63 or 7.44) over a period of 8 days. Urchin mortality of 100% was observed at pH(w) 6.16 after 7 days and coincided with a pronounced hypercapnia in the coelomic fluid producing an irrecoverable acidosis. Coelomic fluid acid-base measures showed that an accumulation of CO(2) and a significant reduction in pH occurred in all treatments compared with controls. Bicarbonate buffering was employed in each case, reducing the resultant acidosis, but compensation was incomplete even under moderate environmental hypercapnia. Significant test dissolution was inferred from observable increases in the Mg(2+) concentration of the coelomic fluid under all pH treatments. We show that a chronic reduction of surface water pH to below 7.5 would be severely detrimental to the acid-base balance of this predominantly intertidal species; despite its ability to tolerate fluctuations in pCO(2) and pH in the rock pool environment. The absence of respiratory pigment (or any substantial protein in the coelomic fluid), a poor capacity for ionic regulation and dependency on a magnesium calcite test, make echinoids particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic acidification. Geological sequestration leaks may result in dramatic localised pH reductions, e.g. pH 5.8. P. miliaris is intolerant of pH 6.16 seawater and significant mortality is seen at pH 6.63.     

Remotely sensed assessment of water quality levels in the Pearl River Estuary, China

In this paper, a method of assessing water quality from satellite data is introduced. The composite pollution index (CPI) was calculated from measured chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nutrient concentration. The relationships between CPI and 240 band combinations of SeaWiFS water-leaving radiance were analyzed and the optimal band combination for estimating CPI was chosen from the 240 band combinations. An algorithm for retrieval of CPI was developed using the optimal band combination, (L₄₄₃ × L₅₁₀)/(L₄₁₂ + L₄₉₀). The CPI was estimated from atmospherically corrected SeaWiFS data by employing the algorithm. Furthermore, the CPI value range for each water quality level was determined based on data obtained from 850 samples taken in the Pearl River Estuary. The remotely sensed CPIs were then transferred to water quality levels and appropriate maps were derived. The remotely sensed water quality level maps displayed a similar distribution of levels based on in situ investigation issued by the State Ocean Administration, China. This study demonstrates that remote sensing can play an important role in water quality assessment.     

剩磁-温度谱与冷却模式

本文解释热剩磁和粘滞剩磁的阻挡过程。较慢冷却伴随较低的阻挡温度。一组同一的磁颗粒,其实验室解阻温度不一定等于其磁化成分的阻挡温度。冷却速率不同,重排剩磁量会不同,两者的关系与磁畴状态有关。距烘烤体不同距离采集磁颗粒分布相同的围岩样品,在一定场合下,根据其剩磁-实验室解阻温度谱所示的重排剩磁量的差别,可讨论冷却速度及模型。本文列举苏格兰某些围岩的不同重排剩磁量,讨论有关问题。     

Organochlorine pesticide residues in sediments and biota from the coastal area of Dar es Salaam city,Tanzania

Sediment and biota samples were collected from Msimbazi and Kizinga rivers and from the coastal marine environment of Dar es Salaam during both dry and wet seasons. The samples were analyzed for various organochlorine pesticide residues using GC-ECD and GC-MS. Dieldrin, p,p^′-DDT, p,p^′-DDE, p,p^′-DDD, o,p^′-DDT and γ-HCH were detected at significantly greater concentrations above the method detection limits. Recoveries of pesticide residues ranged 86.5–120% in sediments and 62–102% in biota. The average concentrations of total DDT in sediments for the two seasons were almost the same. Biota samples showed significant difference in levels of residues depending on mode of feeding and age of analyzed biota. p,p^′-DDT to total DDT ratios in all matrices indicated recent use of DDT. The levels of residues in sediments suggest possible adverse effects to humans consuming biota that are directly exposed to the sediments. This effect, which is associated with bio-concentration of residues in the tissues of edible aquatic biota, should not affect wildlife. In spite of concern on the adverse effect to humans posed by pesticide residues in sediments, edible biota from the examined water bodies were found to be safe for human consumption.     

Two-layered, 2D unsteady eutrophication model in boundary-fitted coordinate system

The decline of water quality in Tolo Harbour in recent years is an example of eutrophication. This paper delineates a robust unsteady two-layered, 2D finite difference numerical model for eutrophication in coastal waters. The modelling is based upon the numerically generated boundary-fitted orthogonal curvilinear grid system and integrated with a hydrodynamic model. It simulates the transport and transformation of nine water quality constituents associated with eutrophication in the waters, i.e. three organic parameters (carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus), four inorganic parameters (dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrite + nitrate and orthophosphate), and two biological constituents (phytoplankton and zooplankton). Key kinetic coefficients are calibrated with the field data. The hydrodynamic, pollution source and solar radiation data in the model are real-time simulated. The computational results show that the present model mimic the stratification tendency for eutrophication phenomena during summer time in the Tolo Harbour successfully. The model running time for the long-term simulation is not excessive and it can be run on a microcomputer.