Long-Term Changes in Water Quality and Productivity in the Patuxent River Estuary: 1985 to 2003

We conducted a quantitative assessment of estuarine ecosystem responses to reduced phosphorus and nitrogen loading from sewage treatment facilities and to variability in freshwater flow and nonpoint nutrient inputs to the Patuxent River estuary. We analyzed a 19-year dataset of water quality conditions, nutrient loading, and climatic forcing for three estuarine regions and also computed monthly rates of net production of dissolved O₂ and physical transport of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus (DIP) using a salt- and water-balance model. Point-source loading of DIN and DIP to the estuary declined by 40–60% following upgrades to sewage treatment plants and correlated with parallel decreases in DIN and DIP concentrations throughout the Patuxent. Reduced point-source nutrient loading and concentration resulted in declines in phytoplankton chlorophyll-a (chl-a) and light-saturated carbon fixation, as well as in bottom-layer O₂ consumption for upper regions of the estuary. Despite significant reductions in seaward N transport from the middle to lower estuary, chl-a, turbidity, and surface-layer net O₂ production increased in the lower estuary, especially during summer. This degradation of water quality in the lower estuary appears to be linked to a trend of increasing net inputs of DIN into the estuary from Chesapeake Bay and to above-average river flow during the mid-1990s. In addition, increased abundance of Mnemiopsis leidyi significantly reduced copepod abundance during summer from 1990 to 2002, which favored increases in chl-a and allowed a shift in total N partitioning from DIN to particulate organic nitrogen. These analyses illustrate (1) the value of long-term monitoring data, (2) the need for regional scale nutrient management that includes integrated estuarine systems, and (3) the potential water quality impacts of altered coastal food webs.     

Tracing the exhumation of the Eclogite Zone (Tauern Window,Eastern Alps) by <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar dating of white mica in eclogites

New radiometric ages from the Subpenninic nappes (Eclogite Zone and Rote Wand – Modereck Nappe, Tauern Window) show that phengites formed under eclogite-facies metamorphic conditions retain their initial isotopic signature, even when associated lithologies were overprinted by greenschist- to amphibolite-facies metamorphism. Different stages of the eclogite-facies evolution can be dated provided ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating is combined with micro-structural analyses. An age of 39 Ma from the Rote Wand – Modereck Nappe is interpreted to be close to the burial age of this unit. Eclogite deformation within the Eclogite Zone started at the pressure peak along distinct shear zones, and prevailed along the exhumation path. An age of ca. 38 Ma is only observed for eclogites not affected by subsequent deformation and is interpreted as maximum age due to the possible influence of homogenously distributed excess argon. During exhumation deformation was localised along distinct mylonitic shear zones. This stage is mainly characterised by the formation of dynamically recrystallized omphacite2 and phengite. Deformation resulted in the resetting of the Ar isotopic system within the recrystallized white mica. Flat argon release spectra showing ages of 32 Ma within mylonites record the timing of cooling along the exhumation path, and the emplacement onto the Venediger Nappe. Ar-release patterns and ³⁶Ar/⁴⁰Ar vs.³⁹Ar/⁴⁰Ar isotope correlation analyses indicate no significant ⁴⁰Ar-loss after initial closure, and only a negligible incorporation of excess argon. From the pressure peak onwards, eclogitic conditions prevailed for almost 8–10 Ma.     

Probabilistic modeling of seismically triggered landslides using Monte Carlo simulations

The 2004 Chuetsu earthquakes of Niigata (Japan) triggered numerous landslides, and the most widespread types of landslides were highly disrupted, relatively shallow slides and soil (debris) flows. This paper presented a method to evaluate slope instability using Newmark displacement on a pixel-by-pixel basis in a given area. The proposed method was able to integrate Newmark displacement modeling and Monte Carlo simulations within geographical information systems. In the modeling, an empirical attenuation relationship was utilized to calculate Arias intensity over this study area, and the variability of geotechnical parameters was taken into account to calculate coseismic landslide displacement. Before deriving the displacement from related inputs, the Monte Carlo simulations ran 1,500 times and generated 1,500 displacement values for each grid cell, and then means and standard deviations of displacement were calculated and probabilistic distributions can be obtained. Finally, given 10 cm as a threshold value of displacement, estimated probabilities of displacement exceeding 10 cm were shown as a map of seismic landslide hazards. The resulting hazard map was classified into four categories from very low to high level.     

Slope inclinometers for landslides

Slope inclinometers/indicators are used to determine the magnitude, rate, direction, depth, and type of landslide movement. This information is usually vitally important for understanding the cause, behavior, and remediation of a landslide. However, many inclinometer measurements fail to achieve these intended aims because of lack of appreciation of the many factors that need to be correctly implemented during installation, monitoring, and data reduction to yield useful data. This paper presents some guidelines for understanding, installing, and interpreting slope inclinometers and presents three case histories that illustrate some of the pitfalls that can develop if these guidelines are not followed.     

陕西关中盆地中部地下热水H、O同位素交换 及其影响因素

对关中盆地地下热水δ＆18O和8D数据的研究表明：盆地中部西安、咸阳深部的地压地热流体发生明显的δ^18O同位素交换,并出现^2H同位素交换,表明热储流体发生了强烈的水岩反应,盆地周边及中部的非地压地热流体^18O交换则不明显。根据研究区^18O同位素的交换程度（用^2H过量参数d表征）和水化学资料,可将关中盆地热储流体分为循环型和封闭型热储流体2类。地热水埋深越大、滞留时间越长、TDS和温度越高、地质环境越封闭,18^O交换程度就越大。西安和咸阳地下热水分属于不同的地热系统,具有不同的补给来源。     

一种单线河流渐变符号的绘制方法

单线河流渐变符号的自动绘制是地图制图研究中的常见问题,在分析和总结现有单线河流渐变符号绘制方法的基础上,提出一种基于分段缓冲区技术的渐变线绘制方法,详细论述该方法的实现过程,并通过实例验证了该方法的可行性,为自动绘制单线河流渐变符号提供一种新的思路.     

遥感技术在煤炭资源开发状况监督管理中的应用研究

利用高分辨率遥感图象可以快速查明煤炭资源开发状况以及煤炭资源开发的合法性（界内开采、界外开采、越界开采）等,对煤矿安全生产及维护矿业秩序具有重要意义。以我国中部某煤炭开采密集区为试验区,选择不同分辨率的遥感数据,从矿山铺助设施、道路、矿堆、矸石的特征出发,进行矿山开采状况遥感解译;以地理信息系统技术（GIS）为支撑实现采矿权数据、规划数据图层与遥感专题数据的叠加分析和相关分析,判断非法与越界矿山,评价矿产资源开发与保护规划执行情况。     

Climate changing characteristics of Zhangye City in Heihe River basin during 1968–2005

At present, researches on climate change of the Heihe River basin mainly focus on the relationship between basin climate change and regional water resources, regional desertification and dynamic climatic seasons of sandstorm, but less on climate change of oasis region, where there are more intense and frequent human activities. Based on data of precipitation, temperature, strong wind and dust events frequencies obtained from the six meteorological stations of Zhangye region in Heihe River basin, the features of climate change during 1968–2005 were carefully studied. Results show that the regional temperature rise rate exceeded the average level of China. The annual precipitation changed a little, but the precipitation had a slowly increasing trend in spring and winter. Frequencies of strong wind and sandstorm days show obviously descending trends, which had a close correlation with the regional temperature rise and the precipitation increase in spring and winter. Meanwhile, further human economic activities and exploitations to the oasis in the inland valley of arid regions also affected the climate change of this region, which has a sensitive and fragile eco-environment. __________ Translated from Journal of Desert Research, 2007, 27(6): 1048–1054 [译自: 中国沙漠]     

邵于庄煤炭勘查区新生界松散层水文地质特征

邵于庄煤炭勘查区新生界松散层厚度较厚,下伏为二叠系含煤地层,可采煤层多。区内含、隔水层组成复杂,由四个含水层和三个隔水层组成。通过对含水层水文地质条件分析,提出了第一、二含水层是矿区的主要供水水源,为保证未来建设和开采时的生活用水和工业用水,应做好水源的保护工作;同时指明了第四含水层是浅部煤组开采的主要补给水源,在煤矿设计和开采过程中,应重点予以防治。     

贵州糯东井田水文地质条件分析

通过对井田内泉和暗河流量的调查研究,认为永宁镇组一、三段碳酸盐岩裂隙溶洞水为井田的主要含水层,含水层主要接受大气降水及河流的渗透补给;煤层上覆地层飞仙关组为相对隔水层,厚度大于500m,下覆无强含水层,其地下水对煤层的开采影响不大,井田水文地质条件较简单。采用比拟法对井田的涌水量进行了预算,推算该矿井开采设计涌水量为13 238m^3/d。