Assessing the Comparability of Ammonium,Nitrate and Sulfate Concentrations Measured by Three Air Quality Monitoring Networks

Airborne fine particulate matter across the United States is monitored by different networks, the three prevalent ones presently being the Clean Air Status and Trend Network (CASTNet), the Interagency Monitoring of PROtected Visual Environment Network (IMPROVE) and the Speciation and Trend Network (STN). If combined, these three networks provide speciated fine particulate data at several hundred locations throughout the United States. Yet, differences in sampling protocols and samples handling may not allow their joint use. With these concerns in mind, the objective of this study is to assess the spatial and temporal comparability of the sulfate, nitrate and ammonium concentrations reported by each of these networks. One of the major differences between networks is the sampling frequency they adopted. While CASTNet measures pollution levels on seven-day integrated samples, STN and IMPROVE data pertain to 24-hour samples collected every three days. STN and IMPROVE data therefore exhibit considerably more short-term variability than their CASTNet counterpart. We show that, despite their apparent incongruity, averaging the data with a window size of four to six weeks is sufficient to remove the effects of differences in sampling frequency and duration and allow meaningful comparison of the signals reported by the three networks of concern. After averaging, all the sulfate and, to a lesser degree, ammonium concentrations reported are fairly similar. Nitrate concentrations, on the other hand, are still divergent. We speculate that this divergence originates from the different types of filters used to collect particulate nitrate. Finally, using a rotated principal component technique (RPCA), we determined the number and the geographical organization of the significant temporal modes of variation (clusters) detected by each network for the three pollutants of interest. For sulfate and ammonium, the clusters’ geographical boundaries established for each network and the modes of variations within each cluster seem to correspond. RPCA erformed on nitrate concentrations revealed that, for the CASTNet and IMPROVE networks, the modes of variation do not correspond to unified geographical regions but are found more sporadically. For STN, the clustered areas are unified and easily delineable. We conclude that the possibility of jointly using the data collected by CASTNet, IMPROVE and STN has to be weighed pollutant by pollutant. While sulfate and ammonium data show some potential for joint use, at this point, combining the nitrate data from these monitoring networks may not be a judicious choice.     

REE and (э)Nd of clay fractions in sediments from the eastern Pacific Ocean: Evidence for clay sources

Clay fractions in the non-calcareous surface sediments from the eastern Pacific were analyzed for clay minerals, REE and 143Nd/144Nd. Montmorillonite/illite ratio (M/I ratio), total REE contents ((REE), LREE/HREE ratio and cerium anomaly (бCe) may effectively indicate the genesis of clay minerals. Clay fractions with M/I ratio >1, бCe (0.85, (REE (400 μg/g, LREE/HREE ratio (4, and REE patterns similar to those of pelagic sediments are terrigenous and autogenetic mixed clay fractions and contain more autogenetic montmorillonite. Clay fractions with M/I ratio <1, бCe=0.86 to 1.5, ΣREE=200 to 350 μg/g, LREE/HREE ratio (6 and REE distribution patterns similar to that of China loess are identified as terrigenous clay fraction. The 143Nd/144Nd ratios or (э)Nd values of clay fractions inherit the features of terrigenous sources of clay minerals. Clay fractions are divided into 4 types according to (э)Nd values. Terrigenous clay minerals of type I with the (э)Nd values of -8 to -6 originate mainly from North American fluvial deposits. Those of type II with the (э)Nd values of -9 to -7 are mainly from the East Asia and North American fluvial deposits. Those of type III with (э)Nd values of -6 to -3 could come from the central and eastern Pacific volcanic islands. Those of type IV with (э)Nd values of -13 to -12 may be from East Asia eolian. The terrigenous and autogenetic mixed clay fractions show patchy distributions, indicating that there are volcanic or hot-spot activities in the eastern Pacific plate, while the terrigenous clay fractions cover a large part of the study area, proving that the terrigenous clay minerals are dominant in the eastern Pacific.     

Geochemistry and occurrence of inorganic gas accumulations in Chinese sedimentary basins

Inorganic gases are commonly seen in eastern China and occasionally in southern China from the shallow water columns above hot and cold springs. The gases contain 68% to nearly 100% CO₂, with δ¹³C_CO2 and δ¹³C₁ values in the range of −1.18‰ to −6.00‰ and −19.48‰ to −24.94‰, respectively. All of the 34 large inorganic CO₂ and one inorganic methane accumulations discovered in China are distributed in eastern parts of the country, from both onshore and continental shelf basins. No commercial inorganic gas accumulation has been found in central and western China. This is a review of the occurrence and geochemical characteristics of inorganic gas accumulations in Chinese sedimentary basins. A detailed study of gas samples collected from four representative inorganic CO₂ pools and one possible inorganic methane pool indicates that inorganic alkane gases typically show δ¹³C₁ values greater than −10‰ versus PDB (mostly −30‰), with a positive stable carbon isotope sequence of δ¹³C₁ < δ ¹³C₂ < δ¹³C₃ < δ ¹³C₄. In contrast, the δ¹³C₁ values of biogenic alkane gases are lighter than −30‰, with a negative isotope sequence (i.e. δ¹³C₁ > δ¹³C₂ > δ ¹³C₃ > δ¹³C₄). Inorganic gases also tend to show less negative δ¹³C_CO2 values (−10‰) than biogenic gases (<−10‰).     

腾冲新生代火山作用构造—岩浆类型的探讨——一种滞后型的弧火山

腾冲火山群是我国著名的新生代火山群之一。它共分4个喷发期,根据K—Ar同位素地质年龄测定,第一期为2.93Ma,第二期为0.81Ma,第三期为0.31Ma,第四期为0.13Ma。该火山群为典型的钙碱性系列玄武岩—安山岩—英安岩弧火山岩组合。它喷发于晚上新世—晚更新世,但这一时期腾冲地区已为大陆板内环境,它可能与K₂末怒江洋壳俯冲作用有关。因此,腾冲弧火山岩的形成至少在俯冲作用停止以后60Ma,属于一种新的火山作用类型——碰撞后弧火山或滞后型弧火山。     

Citizens as sensors: the world of volunteered geography

In recent months there has been an explosion of interest in using the Web to create, assemble, and disseminate geographic information provided voluntarily by individuals. Sites such as Wikimapia and OpenStreetMap are empowering citizens to create a global patchwork of geographic information, while Google Earth and other virtual globes are encouraging volunteers to develop interesting applications using their own data. I review this phenomenon, and examine associated issues: what drives people to do this, how accurate are the results, will they threaten individual privacy, and how can they augment more conventional sources? I compare this new phenomenon to more traditional citizen science and the role of the amateur in geographic observation.     

河流深槽沉积体与油气的关系——以辽河坳陷大25井区为例

河流深槽沉积体是河流沉积的一种特殊沉积体。辽河坳陷第三纪断裂活动强烈，火山岩广泛分布，形成了独特的地貌条件，具备形成河流深槽沉积体的地质条件。本文以辽河坳陷东部凹陷大２５井区为例，对河流深槽沉积体的成因及特征进行探讨，证实了大２５井区巨厚砂砾岩沉积是河流在火山岩古地形的限制下发生急转弯，在其变曲河段的深槽中沉积的深槽沉积体。该沉积体中发育良好的储集空间，有利于油气储集。该类储集体的发现，丰富了辽河坳陷的储层类型，为油气勘探提供了新的领域。     

对矿物包裹体溶液性质的新认识——兼论含矿溶液是酸性溶液的地质证据

对金属矿床成矿溶液的性质 ,特别是 pH值 (酸碱度 )的确定 ,是认识含矿溶液的成因、成矿条件和成矿机理的关键。目前对成矿溶液性质的研究主要局限在对围岩蚀变矿物包裹体的测定方面 ,并得出近中性热卤水成矿的结论。作者认为 ,多数围岩蚀变矿物的包裹体溶液不能代表原成矿溶液的性质 ,“近中性的热卤水成矿”的认识有误 ,应是酸性水形成的含矿溶液成矿 ,并从矿物包裹体溶液的特征、Roedder的高金属含量的矿物包裹体溶液的发现、氢氧同位素资料、矿物包裹体中高卤水溶液的起源以及成矿溶液的演化机理等方面论述了酸性金属含矿溶液的成因及成矿演化过程。     

有色示踪剂模拟槽实验图像分析法

图像分析法是处理有色示踪剂模拟槽实验结果的常用方法之一。本文以食用亮蓝为示踪剂,从污染物的检测精度和污染羽描绘的准确度两个方面将图像分析法与传统取样法进行对比,并利用Matlab编程对模拟槽内的污染物贮存质量进行定量计算。结果表明,与传统取样法结果相比：图像分析法的检测精度可提高1个数量级;污染羽的描绘准确度至少可提高3%左右,在实验所设置的非均质条件下可提高17%左右。利用自行编制的Matlab程序对本实验模拟槽内贮存亮蓝质量进行计算可得,当剖分格数为3 700²（1 369万）时,亮蓝贮存质量的计算值最接近实测值,最小误差仅为0.5%。综合来讲,图像分析法是一种准确度高、空间分辨率高的信息采集和处理手段,可实现对非均质地层中有色示踪剂运移过程更为精细的描述。     

怎样欣赏山水风光

大自然造化的山水风光对人们具有极大的精神感召力, 而人们要欣赏自然风光的经常途径是旅游。因此, 山水风光已经成为发展国民经济的重要自然资源。旅游地学将地质学、地理学的理论与研究方法运用于旅游资源的调查与开发, 对发展国民经济有重要的理论和经济意义。欣赏山水风光首先要观察山水风光内在的成景因素, 同时也要探索山水与周围环境和社会环境的相互关系和相互作用。前者指山水的自然形态、线条、体积、数量、音响、色彩和动势以及植被; 后者主要指相适应的建筑, 有时还包括气象特征和人文特色。它们共同谓之风景的构成因素。     

The effects of soil sand contents on characteristics of humic acids along soil profiles

It is generally accepted that the compositions and properties of soil organic matter (SOM) are influenced by many factors. In order to reveal the effects of soil texture on characteristics and dynamics of SOM and its sub-fraction, humic acid (HA), along two soil profiles, a yellow soil profile and a purplish soil profile, under the same climate and vegetation conditions were determined. Results indicate that the decomposition and humification degrees of SOM and HA of the purplish soils are higher than those of the corresponding yellow soils indicated by A/O–A ratios of HAs, TOCs and HA yields of bulk soil samples, nevertheless, the development degree of the purplish soil is lower than that of the yellow soil. The variations of E₄/E₆ ratios of HAs along the soil profiles indicate the overall molecular sizes of HAs decreased downward along the soil profiles. A/O–A ratios of HAs decreased downward along both the soil profiles indicate that humification processes decrease downward along both the soil profiles. Leaching of SOM shows significant effects on the distribution and characteristics of HAs in the yellow soil profile but the purplish soil profile, which is consistent with the higher hydrophobicity of HAs in purplish soils, shows that the distribution characteristics of SOM along the soil profiles are a complex result of the combination of soil texture and characteristics of SOM itself. The remarkably different sand contents are concluded tentatively as one of reasons to the different distributions and dynamics of HAs along the soil profiles, however, to profoundly understand the evolution and transport of SOM along soil profiles needs more researches.