Ballasting outside port to prevent spread of butyltin from merchant ships

Most international discussions on ballast water management onboard ships have been virtually on the prevention of the transport of biotic alien species. This study focuses on how to improve this limited knowledge regarding the transport of butyltin compounds via ballasting. Butyltin compounds in ballast water, extracted from three sea-going merchant ships with similar voyage routes and berth ports but with different ballasting practices, were determined. Only monobutyltin (8–57 ng l^?1) and dibutyltin (10–32 ng l^?1) onboard two general cargo ships were detected in the ballast water taken outside the ports. In contrast, significant tributyltin (23–93 ng l^?1) was detected onboard the container ship in the ballast water pumped inside the loading/unloading ports. The comparison results from this study indicate that the risk of tributyltin transfer may be effectively prevented by ballasting outside the ports.     

台湾海峡西岸闽江口和九龙江口沉积物中碎屑锆石铀-铅定年及物源意义

碎屑锆石能较好保存源区岩石组成的信息,其铀-铅年龄是沉积物源区示踪有效的方法。利用激光剥蚀等离子体质谱和多接收器等离子体质谱联机(LA-MC-ICPMS)技术,对台湾海峡西部闽江口和九龙江口沉积物中的碎屑锆石进行原位铀-铅测年,同时获得锆石的微量元素。研究表明大部分碎屑锆石的钍与铀含量之比值大于0.1,稀土元素球粒陨石标准化配分曲线呈左倾型,并具有明显的铈含量正异常和铕含量负异常,结合阴极发光图像表明这些锆石绝大部分为岩浆成因。闽江口和九龙江口的碎屑锆石具有相同的印支期(峰值为236 Ma)、燕山早期(峰值为155 Ma)和燕山晚期(峰值为110 Ma)等3个峰值,这三期碎屑锆石占主要部分,反映闽江口和九龙江口碎屑沉积物主要来自各流域上游印支期和中下游燕山期岩体,而闽江口碎屑锆石具有明显的加里东期峰(峰值为465 Ma)和前寒武纪(553~2 765 Ma)较多的碎屑锆石,这些碎屑物质可能来自上游武夷山地区加里东期和前寒武纪基底的物质。对比闽江口碎屑锆石铀-铅年龄与台湾岛西部海滨沙滩(苗栗-新竹、嘉义-台南)中的独居石年龄具有相似的谱峰特征,表明台湾岛西部海滨沙滩碎屑物质可能有部分来自闽江。闽江口碎屑物质明显区别于福建的九龙江和浙江的瓯江,这为判别台湾海峡沉积物的物质来源提供可靠的依据。     

Formation of saddle dolomites in Upper Cambrian carbonates, western Tarim Basin (northwest China): Implications for fault-related fluid flow

The saddle dolomites occur more intensely in cores closely to fault than that in cores far away from the fault in Upper Cambrian carbonate of western Tarim basin, suggesting that formation of the saddle dolomites is likely related to fault-controlled fluid flow. They partially fill in fractures and vugs of replacement dolomite. The saddle dolomites exhibit complex internal textures, commonly consisting of core and cortex. In comparison with the matrix dolomites, the saddle dolomites show lower Sr-content and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, higher Fe- and Mn-content, and more negative δ¹⁸O values. Combined with high Th (100–130 °C) of primary fluid inclusions, it is suggested that the saddle dolomites precipitated from hydrothermal fluid derived from the deep evaporite-bearing Middle Cambrian strata, and the magnesium source may be due to dissolution of host dolomite during hydrothermal fluid migration. Fault activity resulted in petrographic and geochemical difference of the core and cortex of the saddle dolomites. The cores precipitated from the formation water mixed by deep brines at the early stage of fault activity, and the cortexes precipitated from the deep fluid with higher temperatures through the Middle Cambrian later. In summary, the formation of the saddle dolomites implies a hydrothermal fluid event related to fault activity, which also resulted in high porosity in Upper Cambrian carbonate in western Tarim Basin.     

Diurnal variation of nitric oxide emission flux from a mangrove wetland in Zhangjiang River Estuary,China

The diurnal variation of nitric oxide (NO) emission fluxes from a Kandelia obovata and Avicennia marina mangrove wetland were studied in the Zhangjiang River Estuary Mangrove National Nature Reserve using a dynamic chamber-based technique and a chemiluminescent analyzer. Results from field experiments show that NO emission from K. obovata and A. marina sampling sites reached maximal values of 1.07 ng N m⁻² s⁻¹ and 1.23 ng N m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively after the night tide. Meanwhile NO emission maintained at a steady lower level in daytime for both wetland sites. In laboratory experiments, NO emission from the mangrove wetland soil samples treated with simulated tides in the darkness exhibited higher values than those in the light, therefore it seems that tides and darkness could increase NO emission from mangrove wetlands, while intensive light, high temperature, and dryness in the daytime decreased NO emission. Compared with K. obovata soil samples, the diurnal average NO emission rate of the A. marina site was significantly higher, which was closely related to relatively higher diurnal average CO₂ emission rate, soil available nitrogen content and soil net nitrification rate of the A. marina site. Moreover, soil samples of the A. marina site were more responsive to simulated tides and the addition of nitrogen than those of the K. obovata site.     

中国近海生态环境变化的同位素示踪研究

同位素在确定物质来源、指示生物地球化学循环路径、定量生物地球化学过程速率等方面具有独特的优势,本文以近海生态环境变化研究中常用的稳定同位素（13C、15N、18O）和放射性核素（14C、234Th、232Th、230Th、228Th、210Po、210Pb、137Cs、226Ra、228Ra、224Ra、223Ra）为对象,介绍它们在揭示海洋有机质来源、食物网结构、水体缺氧机制、氮循环过程、颗粒动力学、海底地下水输入、有机地球化学过程、沉积年代学等方面的应用,侧重于总结我国近海生态环境研究中同位素示踪取得的进展。伴随着我国经济的发展,近百年来我国近海生态环境也发生了明显的变化,基于同位素示踪揭示的近海富营养化和沉积环境的演变规律表明,我国近海生态环境自20世纪50年代起经历持续的变化,特别是在过去20~30年时间里,近海生态环境的变化尤为剧烈,反映出人类活动是我国近海生态环境变化的主要驱动力。未来需要通过发展新的同位素技术及拓展更广泛的应用,围绕近海海洋生态环境变化的突出问题,重点揭示近海生态环境变化的响应特征、变化速率和作用机制,从而系统地掌握近海生态环境的时空变化规律。     

A modified analytical method for the shipboard determination of nanomolar concentrations of orthophosphate in seawater

A method for the determination of nanomolar concentrations of orthophosphate in oligotrophic seawater developed by Liang et al. (2007) has been modified to make it fully feasible for shipboard application and for faster sample throughput with minimized sample volume. The technique is based on the flow injection method with solid phase extraction on a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge and colorimetric detector. The Schlieren effect was minimized by rinsing the cartridge sequentially with 5 mL water and 2 mL 95% ethanol solution. With three micro pumps in parallel, savings of up to 80% in amount of reagents and 25% volume of seawater samples could be achieved in comparison to the previous method. Variation of stopped flow time and sample loading time gave 3 different standard curves, which corresponded to 3 linear ranges within 3.4 and 515 nM. The modified method permits the analysis of samples over a wide range of concentrations, and has been successfully applied to shipboard determination of trace orthophosphate in more than 200 seawater samples during a one-month cruise in the South China Sea. For seawater at concentrations of 20.6, 82.5, 206.2 nM orthophosphate, the relative standard deviations (RSD) (n = 6), determined daily for 6 days on board ship were 4.45%, 4.73% and 6.75%, respectively. Five seawater samples collected in the Station SEATS (South East Asia Time Series Station at 18°N, 116°E) were analyzed using the present method both on board and in a land-based laboratory, as well as with the magnesium hydroxide-induced coprecipitation (MAGIC) method, and showed no significant difference according to the statistical t-test.     

Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and its carbon isotopic composition in sediment pore waters from the Shenhu area,northern South China Sea

The Shenhu area is one of the most favorable places for the occurrence of gas hydrates in the northern continental slope of the South China Sea. Pore water samples were collected in two piston cores (SH-A and SH-B) from this area, and the concentrations of sulfate and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and its carbon isotopic composition were measured. The data revealed large DIC variations and very negative δ ¹³C-DIC values. Two reaction zones, 0–3 mbsf and below 3 mbsf, are identified in the sediment system. At site SH-A, the upper zone (0–3 mbsf) shows relatively constant sulfate and DIC concentrations and δ ¹³C-DIC values, possibly due to bioturbation and fluid advection. The lower zone (below 3 mbsf) displays good linear gradients for sulfate and DIC concentrations, and δ ¹³C-DIC values. At site SH-B, both zones show linear gradients, but the decreasing gradients for δ ¹³C-DIC and SO₄ ²⁻ in the lower zone below 3 mbsf are greater than those from the upper zone, 0–3 mbsf. The calculated sulfate-methane interface (SMI) depths of the two cores are 10.0 m and 11.1 m, respectively. The depth profiles of both DIC and δ ¹³C-DIC showed similar characteristics as those in other gas hydrate locations in the world oceans, such as the Blake Ridge. Overall, our results indicate an anaerobic methane oxidation (AMO) process in the sediments with large methane flux from depth in the studied area, which might be linked to the formation of gas hydrates in this area.     

天然气水合物的声学探测模拟实验

在人工岩心中进行天然气水合物的生成和分解实验,同时获取了体系的温度、压力、声学特性(Vp和Vs、幅度和频率)及含水量等参数。经研究发现,温压法、超声探测法和TDR探测法都能灵敏探测沉积物中天然气水合物的形成和分解过程。分析认为,本次实验中水合物形成速率过快,只能宏观研究水合物对沉积物声学特性的影响,建议采用长岩心进一步研究沉积物中水合物的声学特性。     

Wind impact on pollutant transport in a shallow estuary

A three-dimensional numerical model, EFDC （ environmental fluid dynamics code） is applied to the Pamlico River Estuary （PRE） in eastern North Carolina of the United States to examine the wind impact on pollutant age distributions and residence time. A series of model experiments representing base case, remote-wind-induced water level set-up and local winds cases are conducted. Model results indicate that the pollutant mean age and the system residence time are functions of gravitational circulation in the PRE. The system responses to remote-wind-induced water level set-up are different in different portions of the PRE. Under such condition, dissolved substances in the upstream portion of the PRE have a younger age and shorter residence time （compared with the base case） , by contrast, they have a older age and longer residence time in the downstream portion of the PRE. Upriver and downriver local winds appear to have opposite impacts on pollutant age distributions. The substances are retained much longer within the PRE under upriver wind than those under downriver wind. The model results also suggest that across - river winds may lead to longer residence time through enhanced turbulence mixing, which slows down the gravitational circulation in the PRE.     

不同海区石英悬浮体颗粒表面微结构特征及其成因

悬浮石英颗粒表面在不同的水动力环境中会形成一些特有的表面结构,对这些特点的研究有助于理解微小颗粒在水中的行为以及沉积环境的变化。基于对在不同海区采取表层和不同深度的悬浮石英颗粒表面结构的扫描电镜的观察, 发现在水动力较强的南海海域石英颗粒表面大多呈现出机械作用成因的结构,化学溶蚀痕迹不明显;马六甲海峡、孟加拉湾南部海域、阿拉伯海东部海域站位石英颗粒表面开始出现明显的化学溶蚀痕迹,为机械-化学溶蚀作用的结果;莫克兰海沟站位表层样品石英颗粒表面化学溶蚀作用强烈,随着深度的增加,溶蚀作用减弱,200m水深以下,石英颗粒表面的结构主要为机械-化学溶蚀作用的结果。中国南海西南部3号站位、马六甲海峡北部7号站位以及孟加拉湾南部的11号站位的表层石英悬浮体颗粒较大,可以达到10μm左右,大于其他海区的石英颗粒(3～4μm)。研究海区海水中悬浮体石英颗粒大都呈现棱角状,表现为近源沉积,偶尔可见磨圆度较好且表面有新月形撞击坑,推测可能为风尘沉积。