Spatial heterogeneity of cyanobacteria-inoculated sand dunes significantly influences artificial biological soil crusts in the Hopq Desert (China)

Artificial biological soil crusts (ABSCs), formed by inoculating Microcoleus vaginatus Gom. and Scytonema javanicum Born. et Flah. onto the topsoil of desert dunes, proved to be effective tools for the stabilization of moving dunes and promotion of soil fertility. As dominant driving forces in arid habitats, the abiotic environmental conditions of undulating dunes produce a gradient of abiotic stresses on cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria are considered pioneering phototrophs in early soil crust communities in deserts. In this study, the development of ABSCs under various environmental site conditions was investigated using 16S rRNA-based polymerase chain reaction, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and soil property measurements. After inoculation in 2002 and long-term development, patchy moss crusts were observed on the dunes. All of the available sequenced bands in the DGGE gels belonged to Oscillatoriales and Nostocales. The dominant Nostocales genus in the ABSCs was still Scytonema; however, more Oscillatoriales genera were identified, which belonged to Microcoleus and Phormidium. The cyanobacterial compositions of different slope types were significantly distinct (p < 0.05), particularly those from windward slopes. The crusts of the top-dune slopes were more heterogeneous. In addition, the soil physicochemical properties and richness indices of the windward slopes were significantly lower than those of the leeward and interdune slopes (p < 0.05). Compared with uninoculated control dunes, all of the inoculated dunes had far higher biodiversities.     

Variation of albedo to soil moisture for sand dunes and biological soil crusts in arid desert ecosystems

Surface albedo plays a crucial role in the energy balance of soils. The surface albedo and surface soil moisture of bare sand and biological soil crusts (BSCs) were concurrently observed on field plots of shifting sand dune and in revegetated desert ecosystems at Shapotou, northwestern China, to study relationships between surface albedo, solar elevation angle, and surface soil moisture. Results indicated that rainfall exerted a remarkable lowering effect on the variation of surface albedo by increasing surface soil moisture. Surface albedo was an exponential function of solar elevation angle, and the normalized surface albedo (solar elevation angle effect was removed) decreased exponentially with the increase of surface soil moisture. Sand surface had a higher albedo (0.266) than BSCs (0.226) when the surfaces were very dry. However, sand surface albedo became increasingly lower than that of BSCs when the surfaces were in wet conditions and when the soil moisture exceeded a critical value. The changes in soil surface albedo from sand dune to BSCs after revegetation in shallow soil profiles associated with the variation of the surface soil moisture can be seen as an indicator of the degree of sand dune stabilization when compared with the original shifting sand dune soil.     

The effect of desertification on carbon and nitrogen status in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Environmental degradation resulting from desertification often accelerates biodiversity loss and alters carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks within grassland ecosystem. In order to evaluate the effect of desertification on plant diversity and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks, species compositions and C and N contents in plants and soil were investigated along five regions with different degrees of desertification in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (control, light, moderate, severe and very severe stages). The study showed: (1) species composition and richness changed significantly with the development of grassland desertification; (2) the aboveground biomass C and N contents in the control were 101.60 and 4.03 g m^?2, respectively. Compared to the control, the aboveground tissue C and N contents significantly decreased from light, moderate, severe to very severe stages. (3) The root C and N contents in the control in 0–40 cm depth are 1,372.83 and 31.49 g m^?2, respectively, while the root C and N contents in 0–40 cm were also declining from the control, light, moderate, severe to very severe stages. (4) Compared to the plant, the soil made a greater contribution for C and N distribution, in which the soil organic C and total N contents in 0–40 cm depth in the control are 20,386.70 and 3,587.89 g m^?2, respectively. At the same time, soil organic C and N contents also decreased significantly from the control to very severe stages. These results suggest that grassland desertification not only alters species compositions and leads to the loss of plant diversity, but also results in greater loss of organic C and N in alpine meadow, in which there is a negative effect on reducing greenhouse gas emission.     

Field experiments and numerical simulations of whirlpool foundation pit dewatering

A whirlpool foundation pit is a small-diameter, deep circular pit. Because of its depth and small diameter, a large drawdown is required, and a limited number of wells can be installed inside the pit. During excavation, partially penetrating wells inside and outside the foundation pit have to be installed to lower the water level when the aquifer is too thick. However, partially penetrating wells near partially penetrating curtains cannot be treated by analytical methods. Therefore, it is necessary to use numerical methods to predict dewatering during excavation. Field experiments were performed on whirlpool foundation pit 1880 of Baosteel Group, Shanghai, China, to obtain pumping rates and drawdown, pumping with a single well and two wells in the confined aquifer. The results indicate that the drawdown inside the pit induced by pumping wells outside the foundation pit was small, whereas it was large for pumping wells inside the pit. The pumping wells inside and outside the pit had to be combined to lower the water level. A three-dimensional numerical model was developed to simulate the dewatering process. The hydraulic conductivities of the confined aquifers were inversed by using the pumping tests. Operation schedules were simulated with the corrected model for different combinations of wells inside and outside the pit. The results suggest that different schedules and operation conditions affect drawdown. The monitored results during dewatering indicate that the simulation and field measurements were in agreement. The results can be applied to similar situations.     

Fluoride and arsenic hydrogeochemistry of groundwater at Yuncheng basin,Northern China

High fluoride and arsenic concentrations in groundwater have led to serious health problems to local inhabitants at Yuncheng basin, Northern China. In this study, groundwater with high fluoride and arsenic concentration at Yuncheng basin was investigated. A majority of the samples (over 60%) belong to HCO₃ type water. The predominant water type for the shallow groundwater collected from southern and eastern mountain areas was Ca/Mg-Ca-HCO₃ types. For the shallow groundwater from flow through and discharge area it is Na-HCO₃/SO₄-Cl/SO₄/Cl type. The predominant water type for the intermediate and deep groundwater is of Na/Ca/Mg-Ca-HCO₃ type. According to our field investigation, fluoride concentration in groundwater ranges between 0.31 and 14.2 mg/L, and arsenic concentration ranges between 0.243 and 153.7 μg/L. Out of seventy collected groundwater samples, there are 31 samples that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 1.5 mg/L for fluoride, and 15 samples exceeds the WHO standard of 10 μg/L for arsenic. Over 40% of high fluoride and arsenic groundwater are related to the Na-HCO₃ type water, and the other fifty percent associated with Na-SO₄-Cl/HCO₃-SO₄-Cl type water; little relation was found in calcium bicarbonate type water. A moderate positive correlation between fluoride and arsenic with pH were found in this study. It is due to the pH-dependent adsorption characteristics of F and As onto the oxide surfaces in the sediments. The observed negative correlation between fluoride and calcium could stem from the dissolution equilibrium of fluorite. The high concentration of bicarbonate in groundwater can serve as a powerful competitor and lead to the enrichment of fluoride and arsenic in groundwater. Most of the groundwater with high fluoride or arsenic content has nitrate content about or over 10 mg/L which, together with the observed positive correlations between nitrate and fluoride/arsenic, are indicative of common source of manmade pollution and of prevailing condition of leaching in the study area.     

Kiel Ⅳ-IRMS双路在线分析微量碳酸盐的碳氧同位素

石笋能重建百年、十年的气候事件,为达到空间高分辨率,对微量碳酸盐的检测提出了更高要求,传统磷酸酸解法的样品用量大(约10 mg)已经无法满足微量样品的分析,而激光探针质谱分析方法需对检测结果进行校正。本文采用KielⅣ-IRMS双路在线分析技术对微量碳酸盐样品的碳、氧同位素进行检测研究其可行性,并以GBW 04405和NBS 19为例研究了不同样品量的碳酸盐标准样品在不同反应时间对同位素分馏的影响。结果表明,由于标准样品所需的反应时间不同,从而导致同位素分馏值的差异。对样品量为4~85μg的标准样品GBW 04405进行检测,δ13C、δ18O测量值分别为0.574‰±0.027‰、-8.519‰±0.065‰,与推荐值0.57‰±0.03‰、-8.49‰±0.14‰基本一致,表明该方法能够满足微量碳酸盐测试的要求。将KielⅣ-IRMS双路在线分析技术与GasbenchⅡ-IRMS检测方法进行对比,对于标准样品GBW 04405,KielⅣ-IRMS所用样品量约为50μg,δ13C、δ18O测量值分别为0.576‰±0.012‰、-8.501‰±0.050‰,GasbenchⅡ-IRMS所用样品量约为140μg,δ13C、δ18O测量值分别为0.569‰±0.034‰、-8.590‰±0.099‰。表明KielⅣ-IRMS方法相比于GasbenchⅡ-IRMS方法所需样品量少,精度高,结果重现性好,该方法在碳酸盐样品的应用上能达到空间高分辨率。     

蒙古国满都拉探矿区地质特征及流体包裹体研究

满都拉探矿区位于蒙古国南戈壁省满都拉苏木。矿区地表中元古界白云岩中出露大面积含孔雀石、蓝铜矿和辉铜矿的硅化蚀变带,含铜矿物与石英脉在空间上紧密共生,石英中的流体包裹体可能保留了原生成矿流体特征。为确定其成矿地质体和成因类型,指导后续找矿工作,本文对硅化蚀变带中的石英进行了流体包裹体研究。根据石英中包裹体的产状可将包裹体分为早晚两个阶段,早阶段富含CO2(C型)和水溶液(W型)包裹体,偶见含子矿物(S型)包裹体,流体均一温度为195~384℃,盐度为2.77%~21.37%Na Cl.eqv,反映了原生成矿流体的特征。晚阶段仅出现水溶液(W型)包裹体,流体均一温度集中在95~213℃,盐度为1.27%~12.63%Na Cl.eqv。流体由早阶段的中高温、中盐度、富CO2流体向晚阶段低温、低盐度、贫CO2流体演化。据此推测成矿流体可能为岩浆流体,流体形成深度大约在5.7 km以上。     

Comparison of Blast-Induced Damage Between Presplit and Smooth Blasting of High Rock Slope

This paper focuses on the comparison of damage induced by smooth blasting and presplit blasting based on the excavation of high rock slope. The whole damage process of the smooth blasting and presplit blasting excavation method is studied by using a cumulative blasting damage numerical simulation technology based on the secondary development of the dynamic finite element code LS-DYNA. The results demonstrate that, in the case of contour blasting with the method of smooth blasting, the total damage of rock slope is a result of cumulated damage induced by the production hole, buffering hole, and smooth hole. Among the total damage, the blasting of the production hole is the main resource, followed by the smooth and buffering holes. For the presplit blasting, the final damage of rock slope is mainly induced by presplit blasting itself. The spatial distribution characteristics of the final damage zone of two methods are compared. Two classes of damage zone could be found in smooth blasting excavation; one of them is the columnar high-degree damage zone around the slope surface and the other is the low-degree damage zone located in the middle of the slope. But in the case of presplit blasting, there is only the columnar high-degree damage zone around the slope surface. Finally, a damage control suggestion for two blasting excavation methods is proposed and verified based on the excavation of the temporary shiplock slopes of the Three Gorges Project in China.     

Micromechanical Modeling of Anisotropic Damage-Induced Permeability Variation in Crystalline Rocks

This paper presents a study on the initiation and progress of anisotropic damage and its impact on the permeability variation of crystalline rocks of low porosity. This work was based on an existing micromechanical model considering the frictional sliding and dilatancy behaviors of microcracks and the recovery of degraded stiffness when the microcracks are closed. By virtue of an analytical ellipsoidal inclusion solution, lower bound estimates were formulated through a rigorous homogenization procedure for the damage-induced effective permeability of the microcracks-matrix system, and their predictive limitations were discussed with superconducting penny-shaped microcracks, in which the greatest lower bounds were obtained for each homogenization scheme. On this basis, an empirical upper bound estimation model was suggested to account for the influences of anisotropic damage growth, connectivity, frictional sliding, dilatancy, and normal stiffness recovery of closed microcracks, as well as tensile stress-induced microcrack opening on the permeability variation, with a small number of material parameters. The developed model was calibrated and validated by a series of existing laboratory triaxial compression tests with permeability measurements on crystalline rocks, and applied for characterizing the excavation-induced damage zone and permeability variation in the surrounding granitic rock of the TSX tunnel at the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s (AECL) Underground Research Laboratory (URL) in Canada, with an acceptable agreement between the predicted and measured data.     

Time-Varying Multifractal Characteristics and Formation Mechanism of Loaded Coal Electromagnetic Radiation

Dynamic collapses of deeply mined coal rocks are severe threats to miners. To predict the collapses more accurately using electromagnetic radiation (EMR), we investigate the time-varying multifractal characteristics and formation mechanism of EMR induced by underground coal mining. A series of uniaxial compression and multi-stage loading experiments with coal samples of different mechanical properties were carried out. The EMR signals during their damage evolution were monitored in real-time; the inherent law of EMR time series was analyzed by fractal theory. The results show that the time-varying multifractal characteristics of EMR are determined by damage evolutions process, the dissipated energy caused by damage evolutions such as crack propagation, fractal sliding and shearing can be regard as the fingerprint of various EMR micro-mechanics. Based on the Irreversible thermodynamics and damage mechanics, we introduced the damage internal variable, constructed the dissipative potential function and established the coupled model of the EMR and the dissipative energy, which revealed the nature of dynamic nonlinear characteristics of EMR. Dynamic multifractal spectrum is the objective response of EMR signals, thus it can be used to evaluate the coal deformation and fracture process.