Biodegradation of NOM in Rapid Sand Filters for Removing Iron and Manganese

In order to examine the Corg flow in rapid sand filter columns for the elimination of iron and manganese, reduced groundwater was treated in a pilot plant consisting of a trickling filter column (TF I) followed by a wet type filter column (WF II) and a separate wet type filter column (WF sep). Additionally the effect of filtration on BOM was studied by measuring AOC and BDOC. The biological processes in TF I and WF sep led to an elimination of iron, ammonia, and manganese. Moreover, the filtration decreased the NOM content. 21% and 23% of the TOC were eliminated in TF I and in WF sep, respectively. WF II caused no significant Corg reduction. The calculation of the Corg flow in the filter columns showed that bacteria took part in the TOC elimination. From the TOC removed, about 24% was eliminated by metabolic activities of the bacterial population whereas 86% was adsorbed onto iron sludge. Similar results were obtained for the TF I column and for the WF sep column as well. The calculated Corg flow was confirmed by the BDOC measurements. The filtration process led to a BDOC decrease. TF I and WF sep reduced appoximately 35% of the biodegradable organic carbon. In contrast there was no significant elimination by WF II. The AOC results suggest that an AOC production and an AOC elimination process exist in rapid sand filters for groundwater treatment. In the trickling filter column significant AOC production was found, whereas in the wet type filter columns AOC elimination was predominating.     

Sorption of selenite in a multi-component system using the “dialysis membrane” method

⁷⁹Se is a potentially mobile long-lived fission product, which may make a dominant contribution to the long-term radiation exposure resulting from deep geological disposal of radioactive waste. Its mobility is affected by sorption on minerals. Selenium sorption processes have been studied mainly by considering interaction with a single mineral surface. In the case of multi-component systems (e.g. soils), it is difficult to predict the radioelement behaviour only from the mineral constituents. This study contributes to the understanding of multi-component controls of Se concentrations towards predicting Se behaviour in soils after migration from a disposal site. This goal was approached by measuring selenite sorption on mono and multi-phase systems physically separated by dialysis membranes. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, very few studies have used dialysis membranes to study the sorption competition of selenite between several mineral phases. Other workers have used this method to study the sorption of pesticides on montmorillonite in the presence of dissolved organic matter. Indeed, this method allows measurement of individual K_d in a system composed of several mineral phases. Dialysis membranes allowed (i) determination of the competition of two mineral phases for selenite sorption (ii) and determination of the role of humic acids (HAs) on selenite sorption in oxidising conditions. Experimental results at pH 7.0 show an average Se(IV) sorption distribution coefficient (K_d) of approximately 125 and 9410 L kg⁻¹ for bentonite and goethite, respectively. The average K_d for goethite decreases to 613 L kg⁻¹ or 3215 L kg⁻¹ in the presence of bentonite or HA, respectively. For bentonite, the average K_d decreases slightly in the presence of goethite (60 L kg⁻¹) and remains unchanged in the presence of HA. The experimental data were successfully modelled with a surface complexation model using the PHREEQC geochemical code. The drastic decrease in Se(IV) sorption on goethite in a multi-phase system is attributed to competition with dissolved silica released by bentonite. As with Si the HA compete with Se for sorption sites on goethite.     

Southern hemispheric westerlies control the spatial distribution of modern sediments in Laguna Potrok Aike,Argentina

We studied the internal lake processes that control the spatial distribution and characteristics of modern sediments at the ICDP (International Continental Scientific Drilling Program) deep drilling site in Laguna Potrok Aike, southern Patagonia, Argentina. Sediment distribution patterns were investigated using a dense grid of 63 gravity cores taken throughout the lake basin and 40 additional shoreline samples. Analysis of the surficial sediment distribution points to distinct internal depositional dynamics induced by wind-driven lake internal currents. Distribution maps illustrate that the spatial characteristics of analysed variables are linked to high erosional wave activity. Persistent wave action and littoral erosion along all shores, especially the eastern shore, is caused by prevailing Southern Hemispheric Westerlies. Several sediment variables (grain size, benthic diatoms, total inorganic carbon and calcium) indicate re-suspension of littoral sediment followed by re-distribution to profundal accumulation areas near the eastern shore. Variations within the catchment influence sediment characteristics in the north-eastern bay. That area is characterized by different mineralogical and sedimentological conditions as well as greater accumulation of pollen, inorganic carbon and diatoms. These findings are related to the influence of episodic inflow into this bay. Spatial differences in stable isotope values throughout the lake suggest that ephemeral tributaries around the lake basin may also contribute to the detected spatial sediment variations.     

Holocene environmental history in high‐Arctic North Greenland revealed by a combined biomarker and macrofossil approach

In this study, we use a combined biomarker and macrofossil approach to reconstruct the Holocene climate history recorded in Trifna Sø, Skallingen area, eastern North Greenland. Chronological information is derived from comparison of lithological, biogeochemical and macrofossil characteristics with a well‐dated record from nearby Lille Sneha Sø. Following local deglaciation around c. 8 cal. ka BP, the local peak warmth occurred between c. 7.4 and 6.2 cal. ka BP as indicated by maximum macrofossil abundances of warmth‐demanding plants (Salix arctica and Dryas integrifolia) and invertebrates (Daphnia pulex and Chironomidae). Warm conditions were dominated by terrestrial organic matter (OM) sedimentation as implied by the alkane‐based P_aq ratio, but increased aquatic productivity is indicated when temperature was highest around 6.5 cal. ka BP. The n‐C₂₉/n‐C₃₁ alkane ratio shows that vegetation in the catchment was dominated by shrubs after deglaciation, but shifted towards relatively more grassy/herbaceous vegetation during peak warmth. After 5.4 cal. ka BP, the disappearance of warmth‐demanding plant and invertebrate macrofossils indicates cooling in the Skallingen area. This cooling was characterized by a significant shift towards dominance of aquatic OM sedimentation in Trifna Sø as implied by high P_aq ratios. Cooling was also associated with a shift in vegetation type from dwarf‐shrub heaths towards relatively more herbaceous vegetation in the catchment, stronger erosion and more oligotrophic conditions in the lake. Our data show that mean air temperatures inferred using branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) do not seem to accurately reflect the local climatic history. Irrespective of calibration, methylation of branched tetraethers (MBT) palaeothermometry cannot be reconciled with the macrofossil evidence and seems to be biased by either changing brGDGT sources (in situ vs. soil‐derived) or changing species assemblages and/or an unknown physiological response to changing environmental conditions at high latitude.     

Spatially distributed rainfall information and its potential for regional landslide early warning systems

Hydrological extreme events pose an imminent risk to society and economics. In this paper, various aspects of hydrological hazards in Russia are analysed at different scales of risk assessment. It is shown that the number of hydrological and meteorological hazards in Russia has been growing every year. The frequency of economic losses associated with extreme low flow in this century has increased by factor five compared to the last decade of the previous century. With regard to floods, an interesting spatial patter can be observed. On the one hand, the number of floods in the Asian part of the country has increased, whereas on the other hand, the number and intensity of floods in estuarine areas in the European part of Russia have significantly reduced since the middle of the twentieth century, especially in the 2000s. This decrease can be attributed to runoff flooding in the mouths of regulated rivers, with an effective system of flood and ice jam protection. The analysis shows that there is an 8–12-year periodicity in the number of flood occurrences and that flood surges have intensified over the last 110 years, especially on the European territory of Russia. An integrated index that accounts for flood hazards and socio-economic vulnerability was calculated for each region of Russia. A classification of flood risk was also developed, taking into account more than 20 hydrological and social–economic characteristics. Based on these characteristics, hazard and vulnerability maps for entire Russia were generated which can be used for water management and the development of future water resources plans.     

Discrete simulations of a triaxial compression test for sand by DEM

A quasi‐static homogeneous drained triaxial compression test on cohesionless sand under constant lateral pressure was simulated using a three‐dimensional discrete element method. Grains were modelled by means of particle clusters composed of rigid spheres or spheres with contact moments imitating irregular particle shapes. Attention was paid to the effect of initial void ratio and grain shape mixture on the shear strength, volume changes, force chains, kinetic, elastic and dissipated energies. In addition, the effect of the mean grain size, grain size distribution, grain size range, specimen size and roughness and stiffness of boundaries was numerically analysed in initially dense sand. Some numerical results were compared with available experimental results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

青藏高原东北部冬给措纳湖湖区冰缘环境探讨

冬给措纳湖位于青藏高原多年冻土区东北部,湖区高寒沼泽、冰缘环境、冻土分布及其演化在全球气候变暖条件下,有其自身特点.为探讨冬给措纳湖湖区冻土分布及冰缘环境,2009年5月9—26日,对冬给措纳湖进行了考察,发现冻融草丘、冻胀丘遗迹、寒冻裂缝、热融洼地、古冻融褶皱等现代冰缘及古冰缘现象在湖区普遍存在.湖东、西岸的沼泽湿地中,热喀斯特发育明显,形成热融洼地和冻融草丘.湖北岸阶地及草场中存在零星和岛状冻土,经钎探表明,当时融化深度为0.3～0.8m,0.4m深度处冻土有胶结冰发育.湖东冲积平原的沼泽湿地中,冻融草丘和热融洼地存在;冻胀丘遗迹、寒冻裂缝在沼泽湿地边缘泥炭覆盖地存在.湖北岸二级阶地剖面发现古冻融褶皱.     

Triterpenoids as molecular indicators of paleoseepage in recent sediments of the Southern California bight

Petroleum-derived hydrocarbons have been identified in sediments by analysis of the n-alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons and branched and cyclic components (humps). The detection of low levels of petroleum input to sediments can be ambiguous due to the presence of syngenetic biolipids. Triterpenoids, especially the (17αH, 21βH)-hopanes, have been proposed as sensitive molecular markers of petroleum pollution.Recent sediments from the Southern California Bight to subbottom depths of about 30 cm (pre-anthropogenic) contain lipids of syngenetic origin with major humps of branched and cyclic material and triterpenoids consisting mainly of the (17αH, 21βH)-hopanes ranging from C₂₇ to C₃₅. Extended hopanes (> C₃₁) are found as 1:1 mixtures of the 22R and 22S diastereomers. The 17α(H),18α(H), 21β(H)-28,30-bisnorhopane is the dominant triterpane for most of these sediments and appears to be a potential molecular marker characteristic of the Southern California petroleums. Extended tricyclic diterpanes ranging from C₁₉ to C₂₇ are also present and their structures make them further possible indicators of petroleum. Southern California Bight sediments therefore appear to contain petroleum products from both seepage and anthropogenic activity.Recent sediments from other areas (e.g. Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California; Cook Inlet, Alaska; Eastern Bering Sea; Walvis Bay, Southwest Africa; and Mangrove Lake, Bermuda) contain predominantly (17βH, 21βH)-hopanes and hopenes, indicating recent synthesis and no petroleum pollution.     

Upward continuation of Markov type anomalous gravity potential models

Linear gravity field state space models are still a useful tool to model the anomalous gravity field in vector gravimetry, airborne gravimetry, inertial geodesy and navigation. This paper deals with an idea ofJordan and Heller (1978) to solve analytically the upward continuation problem of Markov gravity models.In contrary to the standard Markov shaping filter approach the height dependency of the covariance function, i.e. variance factor and correlation length as function of height, is strictly introduced in state space and not neglected. Using some basic integral transforms, a general upward continuation integral is derived for the n-th order Markov process. The upward continuation integral is solved for the special and practically important case of 2nd order Markov process in very detail. This leads to the introduction of the special sine and cosine integral functions into the the mathematical covariance model. The features of the covariance model are analyzed analytically and the height dependency is discussed numerically.