Urban Soil Microbial Features and Their Environmental Significance as Exemplified by Aberdeen City,UK

Urban soil research has invoked great interest in recent years.Previous studies were mainly focused on urban soil physics and chemistry,and soil geography to constrain the source,distribution,transport and deposition of pollutants such as heavy metals and health-hazardous organic matter,bu t litte has been done on soil microbiology.In this paper,the authors reported the variation of microbial features in urban soils compared with those from adjacent rual areas.The results show great changes in basal respiration rates microbial biomass and ecophysiological parameters have taken place in urban environment because of the anthropogenic stress, thus activating the microorganisms.As a result,much more energy,carbon is consumed at a low utilization efficiency.So microbial biosensors can be used to indicate urban environmental pollution effectively.     

用微生物对单一碳源利用方法探讨重金属在城市土壤中积累的环境效应

Biolog研究表明，英国阿伯丁市城市土壤的微生物群落结构显著有别于农村土壤，并使微生物对碳源的消耗量增加，消耗速度加快。城市土壤中不仅重金属Cu,Pb,Zn,Ni的含量明显高于农村土壤，而且其化学形态的主成分分析表明，有效态Pb,Zn,Cu及有机态Ni和Cu是导致城市土壤区分于农村土壤的主要因子。相关性分析表明，Biolog的这种变化规律与重金属的上述化学形态密切相关；典型变量分析表明，重金属对城市土壤微生物群落结果的这种损伤具有长期性效应及不可恢复性。     

Kinetically induced compositional zoning in titanite: implications for accessory-phase/melt partitioning of trace elements

Usually it is assumed that the partitioning of trace elements into titanite in metaluminous granitoid plutonic environments takes place under equilibrium conditions and that compositional zoning is due solely to progressive changes in melt chemistry and/or mineral/melt partition coefficients. Examination of titanites from a variety of Caledonian metaluminous granitoids and related rocks has revealed that sector zoning is present, indicating disequilibrium partitioning. The sector zoning in titanites is defined principally by the distribution of the rare earth elements (REE), Y, Nb, Al and Fe. The REE, Y and Nb preferentially occur within the minor (100) sectors relative to the morphologically important (111) sectors. The reverse is true of Al and Fe which preferentially occur within the (111) sectors relative to the (100) sectors. The patterns of sector zoning are complicated by the fact that the relative growth rates of the various crystal faces fluctuated during growth. Sector zoning indicates that crystal-interface kinetics are responsible for the observed patterns of element partitioning. It is concluded that differences in the lateral-layerspreading rates of crystal faces bring about the sector zoning. The results have implications for the use of trace element partition coefficients in the modelling of fractionation processes.     

Atmospheric refraction above the Inland Ice in North Greenland

Values of the refraction coefficient, calculated from simultaneous reciprocal vertical angles measured on a traverse across North Greenland, and meteorological observations made at the same time are analysed statistically. A relation is established between diurnal changes in refraction and changes in air temperature. Values of the refraction coefficient are also correlated with wind speed, amount of cloud, and presence of drifting snow near the surface. No correlation is found between refraction and atmospheric pressure over the range of pressures encountered. A regression equation is given for estimating refraction from observed meteorological conditions. Direct measurements of temperature gradient in the air layers near the surface are compared with gradients deduced from the refraction observations.

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Zusammenfassung Der Inhalt der vorliegenden Arbeit ist eine statistische Analyse der Schwankungen des Refraktionskoeffizienten in Gr?nland und seiner Korrelationen mit den meteorologischen Beobachtungen, also mit der Temperatur, der Windgeschwindigkeit, der Dunstbildung und des Flugschnees. Ferner werden Vergleiche der Temperaturgradienten angestellt, die sich einerseits aus direkten Messungen, andererseits aus den Refraktions-messungen ergeben.

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Resumen El articulo presenta un análisis estadístico de las variaciones del coeficiente de refracción en Groenlandia y de sus correlaciones con las observaciones meteorológicas—temperatura, velocidad del viento, nubosidad, viento de nieve. Se comparan igualmente los gradientes de la temperatura, tales como resultan de medidas directas y de las medidas de la refracción.

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Résumé L’article présente une analyse statistique des variations du coefficient de réfraction au Groenland et de ses correlations avec les observations météorologiques—température, vitesse du vent, nébulosité, vent de neige. On compare également les gradients de la température, tels qu’ils résultent de mesures directes et des mesures de la réfraction.

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Riassunto L’articolo presenta un analisi statistica delle variazioni del coefficiente di rifrazione in Groenlandia e delle correlazioni con le osservazioni meteorologiche: temperatura, velocità del vento, nebulosità, vento di neve. Vi compaiono anche i gradienti della temperatura come essi risultano da misure dirette e da misure della rifrazione.

     

Experimental deformation of partially-melted granite

An account is given of the experimental deformation of partially-melted granite with melt fractions up to 25% at 800 °C and 300 MPa confining pressure in constant strainrate tests between 10^–3 and 10^–6 S^–1, creep tests and cycling tests. Microscopic study reveals that under these conditions most of the uniform deformation prior to macroscopic shear failure is accomplished by melt redistribution into films perpendicular to the least compressive stress, and by axial fracturing of grains, the latter occurring even at low macroscopic differential stress. The strenght of the partially-melted rock at 10^–5 S^–1 is found to decrease gradually from about 250 MPa at 5 vol.% melt to about 60 MPa at 15 % melt, and then to drop rapidly to less than 1 MPa at 24% melt. The critical melt fraction separating granular-framework-controlled flow behaviour from suspension-like behaviour is deduced to be approximately 30 to 35 vol.%. At low melt fractions the deforming rock tends to take up externally available melt by a mechanism of dilatancy pumping. The relevance of these results to natural conditions involving partially-melted rocks is discussed.     

An empirical solvus for CO2-H2O-2.6 wt% salt

The solvus in the system CO₂-H₂O-2.6 wt% NaCl-equivalent was determined by measuring temperature of homogenization in fluid inclusions which contained variable $\text{CO}{}_2\text{H}{}_2\text{O}$ but the same amount of salt dissolved in the aqueous phase at room temperature. The critical point of the solvus is at 340 ± 5°C, at pressures between 1 and 2 kbar; this is about 65°C higher than for the pure CO₂-H₂O system. The solvus is assymetrical, with a steeper H₂O-rich limb and with the critical point at mole fraction of water between 0.65 and 0.8.     

Phase equilibria in fluid inclusions from the Khtada Lake metamorphic complex

The Khtada Lake. British Columbia, metamorphic complex consists of high grade amphibolite and metasedimentary units with development of gneiss, migmatite and homogeneous autochthonous plutons. Maximum metamorphic conditions are estimated to have exceeded 5 kbar and 700°C.Fluid inclusions in matrix quartz are highly variable in density and composition, ranging from apparently pure CO₂ (gas or liquid or both at room temperature) through CO₂ + H₂O ± CH₄ mixtures to inclusions which are entirely aqueous. They occur along cracks, in groups without planar features and as isolated inclusions. The latter and some which occur in groups, are interpreted to most nearly approximate, in density and composition, the fluids present during the peak of metamorphism.The density and fluid composition data are derived from direct observations of phase changes between ? 180 and + 380°C and from the application of published experimental data in the system CH₄-CO₂-H₂O-NaCl. The most dense, pure CO₂ inclusions indicate a pressure of entrapment at 5 kbar, if a temperature of 700°C is assumed. This is in close agreement with the minimum P-T estimates from the mineral assemblages. Methane was positively identified in inclusions in graphite-bearing specimens. Salt content is concluded to be about 5–6 wt% NaCl equivalent in the aqueous phase in both aqueous and CO₂ + H₂O inclusions. There is evidence of immiscible separation of CO₂-rich and H₂O-rich fluids at temperatures at least as high as 375°C.     

Experiental deformation of single crystals of biotite

Single crystals of biotite have been shortened up to 20% in compression tests parallel to [100], [110] and [010] directions at 3 Kbar confining pressure and temperatures from 300 to 700° C, and at a strain rate of 10^–4 sec^–1. Thick metal constraining sleeves were used and led to a distribution of kinking throughout the crystals. The orientation of kink boundaries, angle of bending and asymmetry of the basal plane across the kink boundaries and the axes of bending were measured. A minor amount of unidentified non-basal slip must have occurred to account for the assymmetry, but basal slip predominates at all temperatures. From the axes of bending, the discrete slip directions [100], [110] and [110] for basal slip are deduced. Increase in temperature mainly leads to a simpler pattern of kinking associated with the kinks being wider and the kinking angle larger, presumably as a result of greater mobility of dislocation walls that form the kink boundaries.In his summary table, Mügge lists these axes as [010] and [130] but the latter seems to be quoted in error, and in conflict with his text, in place of [310]. Borg and Handin (1966) have quoted the [130] indices as given by Mügge in his table. In the analysis of their own observations there has been a confusion between direction indices and plane normal indices. When this is corrected, their results would also indicate [100] and [110] as active slip directions in [001] (Borg, private communication).     

A case study of the abuse of science in sewage planning

A regional sewage system is under construction bordering southern Monterey Bay, California. It is replacing small treatment plants at Monterey, Seaside, Ford Ord, Marina and Salinas. The existing plants are mostly secondary, discharge no industrial wastes, and except for Salinas all discharge into the open ocean. The regional-system is the result of a zone of prohibition of waste discharge that was established in 1971. Justification for the zone was created by the Regional and State Water Boards several years after the zone was established. Our investigation of the evidence used to support the zone indicated that the water boards were clearly in error. The zone has been appealed through the Regional and State Boards and the courts. Over $100 000 000 (US) has already been spent on construction.