Radium mass-balance in Jamaica Bay, NY: Evidence for a substantial flux of submarine groundwater

A mass balance for the naturally-occurring radium isotopes (²²⁴Ra, ²²³Ra, ²²⁸Ra, and ²²⁶Ra) in Jamaica Bay, NY, was conducted by directly estimating the individual Ra contributions of wastewater discharge, diffusion from fine-grained subtidal sediments, water percolation through marshes, desorption from resuspended particles, and water exchange at the inlet. The mass balance revealed a major unknown source term accounting for 19–71% of the total Ra input, which could only be resolved by invoking a source from submarine groundwater. Shallow (< 2 m depth) groundwater from permeable sediments in Jamaica Bay was brackish and enriched in Ra relative to surface bay waters by over two orders of magnitude. To balance Ra fluxes, a submarine groundwater input of 0.8 × 10⁹–9.0 × 10⁹ L d^− 1 was required. This flux was similar for all four isotopes, with individual estimates varying by less than a factor of 2. Our calculated groundwater flux was 6- to 70-fold higher than the fresh groundwater discharge to the bay estimated by hydrological methods, but closely matched direct flow rates measured with seepage meters. This suggests that a substantial portion of the discharge consisted of recirculated seawater. The magnitude of submarine groundwater discharge varied seasonally, in the order: summer > autumn > spring. Chemical analyses suggest that the recirculated seawater component of submarine groundwater delivers as much dissolved nitrogen to the bay as the fresh groundwater flux.     

Rates and patterns of erosion on inter-tidal shore platforms,Kaikoura Peninsula,South Island,New Zealand

This paper presents measured rates of erosion on shore platforms at Kaikoura Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand. Surface lowering rates were measured with a micro-erosion meter and traversing micro-erosion meter. The mean lowering rate for all shore platforms was 1·130 mm a⁻¹. Differences in lowering rates were found between different platform types and lithologies. The rate of surface lowering on Type A (sloping) mudstone platforms was 1·983 mm a⁻¹, and 0·733 mm a⁻¹ on Type B mudstone platforms (subhorizontal). On limestone platforms the lowering rate was 0·875 mm a⁻¹. A previously reported cross-shore pattern of surface lowering rates from Kaikoura was not found. Rates were generally higher on the landward margins and decreased in a seaward direction. Season is shown statistically to influence erosion rates, with higher rates during summer than winter. The interpretation given to this is that the erosive process is subaerial weathering in the form of wetting and drying and salt weathering. This is contrary to views of shore platform development that have favoured marine processes over subaerial weathering. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxygen-Containing Compounds Identified in Groundwater from Fuel Release Sites Using GCxGC-TOF-MS

This research continues a 7-year study of oxygen-containing organic compounds present in groundwater at gasoline and diesel fuel release sites that are quantified as diesel-range “total petroleum hydrocarbons” when measured by methods utilizing solvent extraction and gas chromatography. Two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to tentatively identify 1162 compounds (TICs) in 113 groundwater samples from 22 sites. Samples were collected from wells either upgradient of the release, within the source zone, or downgradient of the source but still within the plume of dissolved organics associated with release. The names and formulas of all TICs found in samples from each well type are presented and the results from upgradient and downgradient locations are compared in detail. About 60% of the most frequently detected TICs in downgradient wells were also detected in upgradient wells. A majority of these were saturated straight chain alkyl acids, commonly called fatty acids, or fatty acid esters. Of TICs frequently detected in downgradient wells but not upgradient wells, over half were branched alkyl alcohols. Hierarchical cluster analysis results suggest about 80% of the chemical composition of downgradient samples is more similar to upgradient samples than to source area samples. This similarity is due to the presence of the same types of fatty acids and esters. Principal component analysis indicates a continuum of biodegradation between the source area and downgradient samples with the latter becoming more consistent with upgradient samples. Results suggest some TICs may not be petroleum degradation intermediates but compounds synthesized by microorganisms through secondary production and carbon cycling.     

Particulate organic matter and ballast fluxes measured using time-series and settling velocity sediment traps in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea

Prompted by recent data analyses suggesting that the flux of particulate organic carbon sinking into deep waters is determined by fluxes of mineral ballasts, we undertook a study of the relationships among organic matter (OM), calcium carbonate, opal, lithogenic material, and excess aluminum fluxes as part of the MedFlux project. We measured fluxes of particulate components during Spring and Summer of 2003, and Spring of 2005, using a swimmer-excluding sediment trap design capable of measuring fluxes both in a time-series (TS) mode and in a configuration for obtaining particle settling velocity (SV) profiles. On the basis of these studies, we suggest that distinct OM–ballast associations observed in particles sinking at a depth of 200 m imply that the mechanistic basis of the organic matter–ballast association is set in the upper water column above the Twilight Zone, and that the importance of different ballast types follows the seasonal succession of phytoplankton. As in other studies, carbonate appears to enhance the flux of organic matter over opal. Particles must be at least half organic matter before their settling velocity is affected by ballast concentration. This lack of change in ballast composition with SV in particles with <40% OM content suggests that particle SV reaches a maximum because of the increasing importance of inertial drag. Relative amounts of OM and opal decrease with depth due to decomposition and dissolution; carbonates and lithogenic material contribute about the same amount to total mass, or increase slightly, throughout the water column. The high proportion of excess Al cannot be explained by its incorporation into diatom opal or reverse weathering, so Al is most likely adsorbed to particulate oxides. On shorter time scales, dust appears to increase particle flux through its role in aggregation rather than by nutrient inputs enhancing productivity. We suggest that the role of dust as a catalyst in particle formation may be a central mechanism in flux formation in this region, particularly when zooplankton fecal pellet production is low.     

Obliquity-driven mountain permafrost-related fluvial magnetic susceptibility cycles in the Quaternary mid-latitude long-term (2.5 Ma) fluvial Maros Fan in the Pannonian Basin

Magnetic susceptibility (MS) of the Quaternary long-term mid-latitude Maros fluvial fan (Pannonian Basin) was recorded to understand the stratigraphical features of source-proximal fluvial depositional settings. Three fully cored 500-m-deep boreholes were sampled at 0.5-m intervals; low-field and frequency dependent MS were measured, and complementary hysteresis and SEM-EDAX investigations were performed on selected samples. Logged susceptibility data were also used to log correlations established by a simultaneous comparison of wireline log and laboratory measurements. Time-series analyses of the susceptibility records reveal a ~41-ka and ~100-ka cyclicity. Towards the source-distal sections the intensity of the ~41-ka cycles decreases, while that of the ~100-ka cycles remains strong. Stratigraphical and spectral similarities were observed between the Maros fluvial fan and Chinese loess records; however, based on complementary magnetic data, the magnetic phase of the Maros Fan sections is related to the detrital magnetite that originates from the catchment during early postglacial permafrost degradations. The amplification of the ~41-ka cycles can be attributed to the very high susceptibility values in source-proximal settings and to the special stratigraphical feature of the distributive fluvial systems. This comprises the increased avulsion frequency on the fluvial fans in ‘glacial recession periods’, in concert with the ‘early postglacial’ occurrence of the permafrost-related magnetite originating from the catchment. As a local phenomenon, this is significant since it records the obliquity-driven variations in permafrost development in a catchment. However, fluvial and alluvial fans are widespread depositional landforms within the Eurasian mountain range and were possibly the same during the Quaternary deglaciations. Thus, obliquity-driven magnetic susceptibility variations in source-proximal fan deposits attached or adjacent to regions of loess deposition should also be considered when scanning for potential source material of aeolian deposits.     

Fluoride geochemistry of thermal waters in Yellowstone National Park: I. Aqueous fluoride speciation

Thermal water samples from Yellowstone National Park (YNP) have a wide range of pH (1-10), temperature, and high concentrations of fluoride (up to 50 mg/l). High fluoride concentrations are found in waters with field pH higher than 6 (except those in Crater Hills) and temperatures higher than 50 °C based on data from more than 750 water samples covering most thermal areas in YNP from 1975 to 2008. In this study, more than 140 water samples from YNP collected in 2006-2009 were analyzed for free-fluoride activity by ion-selective electrode (ISE) method as an independent check on the reliability of fluoride speciation calculations. The free to total fluoride concentration ratio ranged from <1% at low pH values to >99% at high pH. The wide range in fluoride activity can be explained by strong complexing with H⁺ and Al³⁺ under acidic conditions and lack of complexing under basic conditions. Differences between the free-fluoride activities calculated with the WATEQ4F code and those measured by ISE were within 0.3-30% for more than 90% of samples at or above 10⁻⁶ molar, providing corroboration for chemical speciation models for a wide range of pH and chemistry of YNP thermal waters. Calculated speciation results show that free fluoride, F⁻, and major complexes (, AlF²⁺, and ) account for more than 95% of total fluoride. Occasionally, some complex species like , FeF²⁺, , MgF⁺ and may comprise 1-10% when the concentrations of the appropriate components are high. According to the simulation results by PHREEQC and calculated results, the ratio of main fluoride species to total fluoride varies as a function of pH and the concentrations and ratios of F and Al.     

Isotopic and Chemical Constraints on the Biogeochemistry of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon and Chemical Weathering in the Karst Watershed of Krka River (Slovenia)

The hydrogeochemical and carbon isotope characteristics of the Krka River, Slovenia, were investigated to estimate the carbon transfer from the land ecosystem in the watershed. During the 3-year sampling period (2008–2010), temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, major ion content, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and dissolved organic carbon content, and the isotopic composition of DIC (δ¹³C_DIC) were monitored in the main stream of the Krka River and its tributaries. The major solute composition of analysed waters is dominated by an input of HCO₃ ^?, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ originating from carbonate dissolution. The Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺/HCO₃ ^? molar ratio values ranging from 0.24 to 0.71 and 0.05 to 0.30, respectively, indicate a high degree of dolomite dissolution relative to calcite. Dissolved CO₂ concentrations in the river were up to tenfold supersaturated relative to the atmosphere, resulting in supersaturation with respect to calcite and degassing of CO₂ downstream. The δ¹³C values in river water range from ?15.6 to ?9.4 ‰ and are controlled by the input of tributaries, exchange with atmospheric CO₂, degradation of organic matter, and dissolution of carbonates. The mass balance calculations for riverine DIC suggest that the contribution from carbonate dissolution and degradation of organic matter have major influence, whereas the exchange with atmospheric CO₂ has minor influence on the inorganic carbon pool in the Krka River.     

Patterns of Surf Smelt, Hypomesus pretiosus, Intertidal Spawning Habitat Use in Puget Sound, Washington State

Surf smelt Hypomesus pretiosus are an important part of the Salish Sea food web and obligate beach spawners, yet little is known about the spatiotemporal distribution of spawning and beach characteristics related to spawning success. We counted smelt eggs at 51 sites around Camano Island, Puget Sound, Washington every 2?weeks for 1?year and at 13 of those 51 sites each month in the following year. At each site, we measured beach characteristics hypothesized to affect spawning habitat suitability as measured by egg abundance and mortality. Eggs were collected at 45 sites and pooled by month for analyses. Few sites (N?=?10, 19.6?%) contributed 87?% of total eggs and 89?% of all live eggs collected. Mean total egg counts at sites were higher (p?<?0.019) in Jul?CSep (1,790.7, SE?=?829.5) than in Jan?CMar (26.1, SE?=?10.2). Principal component and regression analyses suggested that aspect, fetch, solar radiation, and beach temperature predicted egg abundance but not mortality. Because a small proportion of sites appear to support most spawning activity, a conclusion consistent with year?2 egg counts, impacts to relatively few beaches could greatly affect surf smelt production.     

The initial conditions of isolated star formation – V. ISOPHOT imaging and the temperature and energy balance of pre-stellar cores

ISO data taken with the long-wavelength imaging photo-polarimeter ISOPHOT are presented of 18 pre-stellar cores at three far-infrared wavelengths, 90, 170 and 200 μm. Most of the cores are detected clearly at 170 and 200 μm, but only one is detected strongly at 90 μm, indicating that mostly they are very cold, with typical temperatures of only ∼     . Colour temperature images are constructed for each of the cores. Most of the cores are seen either to be isothermal, or to have associated temperature gradients from the core centres to their edges, with all except one being cooler at the centre. We compare the data with previous ISOCAM absorption data, and calculate the energy balance for those cores in common between the two samples. We find that the energy radiated by each core in the far-infrared is similar to that absorbed at shorter wavelengths. Hence there is no evidence for a central heating source in any of the cores – even those for which previous evidence for core contraction exists. This is all consistent with external heating of the cores by the local interstellar radiation field, confirming their pre-stellar nature.