A modular injection system, multilevel sampler, and manifold for tracer tests

Ground water injection and sampling systems were developed for bacterial transport experiments in both homogenous and heterogeneous unconsolidated, surficial aquifers. Two types of injection systems, a large single tank and a dynamic mixing tank, were designed to deliver more than 800 L of amended ground water to the aquifer over 12 hours, without altering the ground water temperature, pH, Eh, or dissolved gas composition. Two types of multilevel samplers (MLSs) were designed and installed. Permanent MLSs performed well for the homogenous surficial aquifer, but their installation procedure promoted vertical mixing, which could obfuscate experimental data obtained from vertically stratified, heterogeneous aquifers. A novel, removable MLS was designed to fit in 2- and 4-inch wells. Expandable O-rings between each sampling port hydraulically isolated each port for sample collection when a nut was tightened at the land surface. A low-cost vacuum manifold system designed to work with both MLS designs used 50 mL centrifuge tubes to efficiently sample 12 MLS ports with one peristaltic pump head. The integrated system was developed and used during four field campaigns over a period of three years. During each campaign, more than 3000 ground water samples were collected in less than one week. This system should prove particularly useful for ground water tracer, injection, and push-pull experiments that require high-frequency and/or high-density sampling.     

坳陷盆地模式：西澳早古生代的坎宁盆地

本文目的是要建立形成坎宁(Canning)盆地的构造物理模式。该盆地位于西澳,形成于奥陶纪和志留纪。当时的坎宁盆地东部与Amadeus盆地相接,南北两翼均为元古宙岩石(图1)。Amadeus盆地是一个晚元古代和古生代的前陆盆地,形成于中澳地区的面内挤压构造运动(Iambeck,1983)。古生代时,中澳地区的挤压或聚敛构造造成了Petermann山脉的造山运动(600—580Ma)、Rodingan运动(?500—420Ma)、Pertinjara运动(370Ma)和Alice Springs造山运动(?375—320Ma)。这些造山运动标志着整个古生代时该区一直处于受挤压状态。本文所提模式的基本前提是:古生代时中澳的构造运动控制着坎宁盆地的演化。奥陶纪时,坎宁盆地为一陆表海。奥陶系自下而上为:底部碎屑岩(Nambeet组)浅海相碳酸盐岩(Willara组)、盆地页岩和灰岩(Goldwyer组)。该岩系之上被晚     

Formation of reduced carbonaceous matter in basalts and xenoliths: reaction of C-O-H gases on olivine crack surfaces

It has been suggested that the formation of reduced carbonaceous matter in basalts and mantle xenoliths occurs by heterogeneous reaction of volcanic gas on fresh, chemically active crack surfaces produced by thermal stresses during eruption and cooling. This hypothesis is supported by experiments at 400-800 degrees C on ?010? surfaces of San Carlos olivine exposed to C-O-H gases generated by the decomposition of oxalic acid and oxalic acid dihydrate. Carbonaceous films form readily on these surfaces and achieve thicknesses comparable to those observed in natural samples (a few nanometers) in a matter of minutes. At relatively oxidizing conditions, the carbonaceous films consist principally of C-C and C-H bonded species with lesser amounts of C-O bonded species. At relatively reducing conditions, the carbonaceous films consist of subequal amounts of C-C/C-H, C-O, and metal-C species. Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and other thermally labile organic species are associated with carbonaceous films in some natural samples but none were detected in experimental samples from this study, leaving open the question of abiotic synthesis of organic matter on crack surfaces in basalts. Regardless, it is clear from the preliminary experiments reported here that crack surfaces in olivine (and probably other silicate minerals and glasses) are capable of stabilizing compounds that otherwise would not be stable in cooling lava.     

Kinetics of vitellogenin protein and mRNA induction and depuration in fish following laboratory and environmental exposure to oestrogens

Plaice, flounder and sand goby were exposed to ethynylestradiol (EE2) for 21 days and then followed for up to 31 days after removal of the oestrogen. Plasma vitellogenin (VTG) and hepatic VTG mRNA were determined in groups of fish sampled during the induction and post-exposure phases. VTG mRNA increased slightly earlier than plasma protein, but both reached maxima by 21 days. In contrast, VTG mRNA decayed much more rapidly than protein after EE2 exposure was terminated (typical values t(1/2) mRNA 3 days, protein 15-30 days). Vitellogenin and VTG mRNA thus measure different temporal events and this is illustrated by field data of male flounder in which both parameters have been determined. Few fish show co-ordinate increased VTG mRNA and vitellogenin but rather more fish have increased vitellogenin. Low level increases of VTG mRNA (5 X) is observed in some fish without increased vitellogenin and this may represent polymorphic differences between individual fish.     

Radionuclide monitoring in molluscs inhabiting intertidal region near a nuclear installation, Gulf of Mannar, India

Protection of non-human biota from ionizing contaminants, especially in the vicinity of nuclear installations is a very important aspect for nuclear engineers and ecologists. In this view, a baseline data on the activity concentration of (210)Po and (210)Pb were quantified in different tissues of molluscs inhabiting the intertidal region along the coast of Kudankulam. The activity concentration was noticed higher in the organs associated with digestion and metabolism. Filter feeding bivalve molluscs registered the maximum activity of (210)Po in their whole body compared to grazing gastropods. (210)Po:(210)Pb ratio was calculated to be greater than unity in most of the analysed tissues. The ecological sensitivity of molluscs to the radiation exposure and the safeness of the environment was analysed by calculating the external and internal dose rate. The hazard quotient for molluscs was lesser than the global bench mark dose rate of 10 μGyh(-1).     

Fish mortality by impingement on the cooling-water intake screens of Britain's largest direct-cooled power station

An estimated 5.66 x 10(7) fish (summed quarterly 95% confidence intervals: 3.01 x 10(7)-1.07 x 10(8)) weighing 258.4 t (143.2-467.9 t) were killed on the cooling-water intake screens of the 2400 MW Longannet Power Station (Forth estuary) in January 1999--December 2000. Abundance and number of species (40) collected were close to predictions for a power station of this size and latitude. Potential losses of equivalent adult whiting (Merlangius merlangus), cod (Gadus morhua), and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) through deaths of juveniles were estimated at 353.1 t (208.0-603.2 t) worth approximately euro 429,266 (euro 246,592-752,765) in 1999--2000. Fish catch-per-trawl in the estuary was generally not noticeably greater during a year of low water withdrawal (coal miners' strike of 1984--1985) when compared to other years from 1982 to 2001, except for gobies (Pomatoschistus spp.). A fish-return system is being tested at Longannet to reduce mortality.     

Lead pollution in subtropical ecosystems on the SE Gulf of California Coast: a study of concentrations and isotopic composition

Lead pollution was investigated in environmental matrices and biological indicators collected from two typical subtropical coastal ecosystems in the southeast Gulf of California, Mexico. Lead concentrations and isotopic compositions ((206)Pb/(207)Pb and (208)Pb/(207)Pb) were measured using high resolution inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), respectively. Lead in surface estuary sediments (10.0-34.2microgg(-1)) and particulate Pb (25.0-128.7microgg(-1), >98% of total Pb) in the water column were significantly higher than levels in natural bedrock soils (15.1+/-8.3microgg(-1)) and river runoff (1.9+/-1.4microgg(-1)). Aquatic plants had Pb concentrations between 2.5 and 7.2microgg(-1), while those in macroalgae ranged from 3 to 5microgg(-1). The ranges of mean Pb concentrations in the aquatic animals studied (ranges in microgg(-1)) were as follows: zooplankton 32+/-3, mussels 2.3-3.9, oysters 1.9-7.9, snail 2.0-7.7, barnacles 0.1-18.5, fish 1.4-8.9, crab 6.3-40.2 and polychaetae 8.5-16.7. Pb values in 20-40% of oyster and fish samples and in all samples of crab exceeded acceptable levels for a food source for human consumption. Pb isotope ratios (206)Pb/(207)Pb, (208)Pb/(207)Pb in biota ranged from 1.188 to 1.206 and 2.448 to 2.470, respectively. A plot of (206)Pb/(207)Pb versus (208)Pb/(207)Pb for the environmental and biological samples collected from two study areas indicates that they contain lead from ores mined in Mexico and used in the past to produce leaded gasoline in use until 1997, natural Pb weathered from the Sierra Madre Occidental mother rock, and the later influence of inputs from a more radiogenic source related to industrial activity in the United States. Statistical software IsoSource results revealed that the Pb contained in environmental matrices and biomonitors is mostly derived from gasoline (20-90%) and US emissions (10-40%).