Investigating the redox sensitivity of para-toluenesulfonamide (p-TSA) in groundwater

The groundwater downstream of a former sewage irrigation farm in Berlin is contaminated with ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) and para-toluenesulfonamide (p-TSA), besides other anthropogenic pollutants. In the field, in situ removal of NH₄ ⁺ by gaseous oxygen (O₂) and air injection is currently being tested. A laboratory column experiment using aquifer material and groundwater from the site was performed to determine whether this remediation technology is also feasible to reduce high p-TSA concentrations in the anoxic groundwater. First, the column was operated under anoxic conditions. Later, compressed air was introduced into the system to simulate oxic conditions. Samples were collected from the column outlet before and after the addition of compressed air. The experiment revealed that whereas p-TSA was not removed under anoxic conditions, it was almost fully eliminated under oxic conditions. Results were modelled using a transient one-dimensional solute transport model. The degradation rate constants for p-TSA increased from 2.8E−06 to 7.5E−05 s^–1 as a result of microbial adaption to the change of redox conditions. Results show that O₂ injection into an anoxic aquifer is a successful strategy for p-TSA remediation.     

Major and trace elements in German bottled water,their regional distribution,and accordance with national and international standards

The market for mineral water has been growing steadily over the last few years. Germany is the country with the highest number of bottled mineral water brands (908 bottled water samples from 502 wells/brands were analyzed). The per capita consumption of mineral water in Germany in 2003 was 129 L. A wide range of values of one to seven orders of magnitude was determined for 71 elements in the bottled water samples analyzed by ICP-QMS, ICP-AES, IC, titration, photometric, conductometric and potentiometric methods. A comparison of the element concentrations and the legal limits for both bottled and tap water (EU, Germany, US EPA, WHO) shows that only 70% of the 908 mineral water samples fulfill the German and EU drinking water (i.e., tap water) regulations for all parameters (not including pH) for which action levels are defined. Nearly 5% of the bottled water samples not fulfill the German and EU regulations for mineral and table water. Comparison of our results with the current German and European action levels for mineral and table water shows that only 42 of the bottled water samples exceed the limits for one or more of the following elements: arsenic, nitrate, nitrite, manganese, nickel and barium concentrations. Ten of the bottled water samples contain uranium concentrations above the 10 μg/L recommended limit.     

Long-term trends of physical, chemical and biological variables in the River Danube 1957–1995: A statistical approach

: A 39-year series (1957 – 1995) of data on fourteen physical, chemical and biological variables from the Austrian section of the River Danube west of Vienna – Nußdorf was analysed statistically to detect long-term trends of the variables in relation to human activities (represented by time), discharge and water temperature. ¶ Principal component analysis distinguished four main components explaining 72 % of the total variance: PC1 contains total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, ammonium and potassium permanganate values, PC2 contains nitrate-N, chloride and oxygen, PC3 contains BOD5 and nitrite-N, and PC4 contains numbers of bacteria. Trends in time were most pronounced for variables in PC1, but also occurred in PC2; variables in PC3 and PC4 had no trends. Seasonal patterns were marked for variables in PC2, slightly less in PC1, and least in PC3 and PC4. Concentrations were minimal in summer and maximal in winter, inversely related to discharge (maximal in summer). Following reductions in point-source nutrient inputs to the Danube, in both Germany and Austria, mean concentrations in the river have fallen by at least half since the 1980s. Chloride and nitrate-N also show trends towards lower concentrations. The Danube is well-oxygenated, with concentrations near air saturation values.¶ A mathematical relationship between concentrations of the variables and river discharge (Q), water temperature (T) and time (t), was established to determine mean trends and predictions against a background of considerable seasonal and stochastic variability; for the single variables Q explained 0 – 20 % and T explained 2 – 58 % of the variation in the concentrations. The relationship was highest for variables in PC2 and lowest for those in PC3 and PC4, where Q and T had little or no influence.¶ Reasons for rising and falling long-term trends with time are discussed in detail. Austria now contributes only minor proportions to the nutrient load of the Danube, which is causing eutrophication of the Black Sea downstream, and water quality of the Austrian section of the river is good.¶ The advantages and problems of statistical process analysis are discussed in relation to environmental monitoring programs and the different specific requirements of compliance monitoring.     

Determination of the submerged macrophyte coverage of greifswalder bodden

The extent to which a water body can support submerged macrophytic vegetation provides an indicator of its degree of eutrophication. Regular, quantitative assessment of macrophyte populations enables changes in the trophic state of the system to be observed. A combination of aerial photography and underwater videography has proved to be an efficient method for calculating macrophyte coverage of large coastal areas.     

Cathodoluminescence, electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy of experimentally shock-metamorphosed zircon

Thorough understanding of the shock metamorphic signatures of zircon could be the basis for the use of this mineral as a powerful tool for the study of old, deeply eroded, and metamorphically overprinted impact structures and formations. This study of the cathodoluminescence (CL) and Raman spectroscopic signatures of experimentally (20-60 GPa) shock-metamorphosed zircon single crystals contributes to the understanding of high-pressure microdeformation in zircon. For all samples, an inverse relationship between the brightness of the backscattered electron (BSE) signal and the corresponding cathodoluminescence intensity was observed. The unshocked sample shows crosscutting, irregular fractures. The 20 GPa sample displays some kind of mosaic texture of CL brighter and darker domains, but does not exhibit any shock metamorphic features in BSE or CL images. The 40 GPa sample shows a high density of lamellar features, which might be explained by the phase transformation between zircon- and scheelite-structure phases of zircon and resulting differences in the energy levels of the activator elements. The CL spectra of unshocked and shocked (20, 40, and 60 GPa) zircon samples are dominated by narrow emission lines and broad bands in the region of visible light and in the near-UV range. The emission lines result from rare earth element activators and the broad bands might be associated with lattice defects. Raman spectra revealed that the unshocked and 20 GPa samples represent zircon-structure material, whereas the 40 GPa sample yielded additional peaks with relatively high peak intensities, which are indicative of the presence of the scheelite-type high-pressure phase. The 60 GPa sample has a Raman signature that is similar to that of an amorphous phase, in contrast to the observations of an earlier TEM study that the crystalline scheelite-structure phase is stable at this shock pressure. The 60 GPa Raman signature cannot be explained at this stage. The results show a clear dependence of the CL and Raman properties of zircon on shock pressure, which confirm the possible usage of these methods as shock indicators.     

Hi-Fix—ein neues Hilfsmittel zur Ortsbestimmung in küstennahen Seegebieten

Zusammenfassung Das Hi-Fix-Verfahren ist ein funktechnisches Hilfsmittel zur Ortsbestimmung auf der Grundlage der Hyperbelnavigation, das in küstennahen Seegebieten eingesetzt wird. Es werden das Prinzip, die Technik und die Anwendung dieses Verfahrens behandelt. Über die im praktischen Einsatz gesammelten Erfahrungen, sowie über die Aufgabenstellung für die Auswertung zahlreichen Registriermaterials, das während des Großversuches einiger Bundesbehörden in den Jahren 1964 und 1965 anfiel, wird berichtet. Es soll dabei untersucht werden, welchen Einfluß geophysikalische Größen, wie z. B. die Bodenleitfähigkeit und atmosphärische Störungen (Gewitter) sowie Sekundärstrahlungen von metallischen Gebilden in Empfängernähe auf die Anzeigegenauigkeit der Hi-Fix-Geräte ausüben.

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Hi-Fix — a new tool of position fixing in near-coastal sea areas

Summary Hi-Fix is a new tool of position fixing on the basis of hyperbolic navigation that is used in near-coastal sea areas. Principle, technique, and application of this system are treated. A report is given of the experience gained from field work as well as of the objects of the evaluation of the numerous recordings obtained from a large-scale experiment conducted by several federal agencies in the years 1964 and 1965. The effect of geophysical quantities, such as soil conductivity and atmospherics (thunderstorm) as well as secondary radiation from metallic bodies in the vicinity of the receiver on the indication accuracy of the Hi-Fix devices shall be studied.

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Hi-Fix — un nouveau procédé de localisation en mer à proximité de la côle

Résumé Le procédé Hi-Fix apporte une nouvelle contribution au problème de la localisation; il est basé sur le système hyperbolique et utilisé dans les eaux côtières. Il est rendu compte des expériences réalisées pratiquement ainsi que de la tâche qu'imposait, à quelques autorités fédérales, l'exploitation des nombreuses informations recueillies au cours des essais à grande échelle des années 1964 et 1965. A cette occasion on cherche à mesurer l'influence qu'exercent sur la précision fournie par les appareils Hi-Fix, des grandeurs atmosphériques (orages) ainsi que les rayonnements secondaires de formations métalliques au voisinage du récepteur.

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Nach einem Vortrag, gehalten auf der Meteorologen-Geophysiker-Tagung am 4. 4. 1968 in Hamburg.

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Hi-Fix ist eine Abkürzung für High Accuracy Position Fixing, es wird ebensowenig aufgelöst wie z. B. Radar. Die Redaktion.     

Ground motion spatial variability effects on seismic response control of cable-stayed bridges

The spatial variability of input ground motion at supporting foundations plays a key role in the structural response of cable-stayed bridges (CSBs); therefore, spatial variation effects should be included in the analysis and design of effective vibration control systems. The control of CSBs represents a challenging and unique problem, with many complexities in modeling, control design and implementation, since the control system should be designed not only to mitigate the dynamic component of the structural response but also to counteract the effects of the pseudo-static component of the response. The spatial variability effects on the feasibility and efficiency of seismic control systems for the vibration control of CSBs are investigated in this paper. The assumption of uniform earthquake motion along the entire bridge may result in quantitative and qualitative differences in seismic response as compared with those produced by uniform motion at all supports. A systematic comparison of passive and active system performance in reducing the structural responses is performed, focusing on the effect of the spatially varying earthquake ground motion on the seismic response of a benchmark CSB model with different control strategies, and demonstrates the importance of accounting for the spatial variability of excitations.