The toxicity of marine sediments in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

When the toxicity of marine sediment in Hong Kong was evaluated, it was found that the seven sediments collected within Victoria Harbour were severely contaminated with heavy metals, at concentrations many times higher than those in sediments collected from outside the harbour. The highest metal content was recorded in site VS14 (located near the airport runway and the industrialized area), with copper, zinc, lead and chromium values of 3789, 610, 138 and 601 mg kg⁻¹ dry wt, respectively. This site also had the greatest alkaline phosphatase activities (15 fluorescent intensity unit g⁻¹ wet wt), the largest number of total coliforms (910 CFU g⁻¹ wet wt) and sulphate-reducing bacteria (8.5 × 10⁴ cells g⁻¹ wet wt), implying that site VS14 was also contaminated with organic matter and nutrients. Sediment bioassays, Microtox and algal tests, demonstrated that sediment elutriates obtained from site VS14 were of greatest toxicity. The EC₁₀ value in Microtox tests was 17% elutriate, and the 96-h IC₅₀ values using Skeletonema costatum and Dunaliella tertiolecta were 40 and 79% elutriate, respectively. No toxic effects were found in sediment samples collected from the control site outside Victoria Harbour. Significant correlations were found between the results of the algal toxicity test (using S. costatum) and the coliform count and metal content of the sediments. The Microtox test was less sensitive than the algal bioassay, and no sediment elutriate, even from the site mostly contaminated by heavy metals, caused more than 50% inhibition of the light-emitting activity of the bacteria. In this study, S. costatum (the diatom) provided a more sensitive and reliable test species than D. tertiolecta (the flagellate) in differentiating the toxicity of marine sediments.     

Estimating the Probable Maximum Precipitation by Physical Methods Using Satellite and Radiolocation Observation Data: Case Study of the Middle Urals

Water Resources - The study considers the methods for evaluating the maximal possible daily storm rainfall (MPR) in the Middle Ural based on a combination of ground, aerological, satellite, and...     

巴黎能力建设委员会助力全球气候治理

在全球气候治理中,能力建设涉及减缓、适应等多个方面.相对于发达国家,发展中国家在应对气候变化能力方面存在更多挑战,也亟待支持.巴黎能力建设委员会(PCCB)是《联合国气候变化框架公约》(以下简称公约)下属能力建设议题唯一的常设机构.在《巴黎协定》的授权下, PCCB于2016年成立,致力于解决发展中国家在实施和加强应对...     

甘肃白银厂及其外围磁异常特征及找矿预测

在白银厂铜矿深部及外围地区开展地质找矿任务十分紧迫。磁法在辅助金属矿深部找矿方面效果良好,研究该区磁异常特征可为深部找矿提供依据和参考。本文通过梳理白银厂及其外围1∶50 000地面高精度磁法和航磁实测资料,阐明了该区的岩（矿）石磁性、磁场分布和局部磁异常等特征。利用多种位场转换处理法结合多点实测校正的方法,综合分析磁异常与地层、岩浆岩、构造、矿化蚀变等成矿条件之间的联系,圈定局部磁异常20个,解译断裂构造18条、隐伏—半隐伏岩体6个,并对圈定的局部磁异常进行了解释推断和分类评价。研究结果表明：白银厂铜矿深部及外围地区成矿潜力较好,综合区域成矿规律和地质成矿背景,归纳地球物理找矿信息,进一步优选出找矿远景区7处。研究找矿远景区的特征,指明找矿方向,分析成矿潜力,以期为后续资源勘查提供磁异常依据和参考。     

Polymorphic phase transition in Superhydrous Phase B

We synthesized superhydrous phase B (shy-B) at 22 GPa and two different temperatures: 1200°C (LT) and 1400°C (HT) using a multi-anvil apparatus. The samples were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), single crystal X-ray diffraction, Raman and IR spectroscopy. The IR spectra were collected on polycrystalline thin-films and single crystals using synchrotron radiation, as well as a conventional IR source at ambient conditions and in situ at various pressures (up to 15 GPa) and temperatures (down to −180°C). Our studies show that shy-B exists in two polymorphic forms. As expected from crystal chemistry, the LT polymorph crystallizes in a lower symmetry space group (Pnn2), whereas the HT polymorph assumes a higher symmetry space group (Pnnm). TEM shows that both modifications consist of nearly perfect crystals with almost no lattice defects or inclusions of additional phases. IR spectra taken on polycrystalline thin films exhibit just one symmetric OH band and 29 lattice modes for the HT polymorph in contrast to two intense but asymmetric OH stretching bands and at least 48 lattice modes for the LT sample. The IR spectra differ not only in the number of bands, but also in the response of the bands to changes in pressure. The pressure derivatives for the IR bands are higher for the HT polymorph indicating that the high symmetry form is more compressible than the low symmetry form. Polarized, low-temperature single-crystal IR spectra indicate that in the LT-polymorph extensive ordering occurs not only at the Mg sites but also at the hydrogen sites.     

Evacuation behaviour of households and drivers during a tornado

With increasing concerns over the possibility of tornadoes in highly populated areas in Canada, emergency managers are looking into ways to mitigate the impacts of tornadoes. Given that tornadoes can cause enormous destruction, early warnings and proper evacuation actions are critically important in helping save lives. In this paper, a survey was conducted to analyse the evacuation behaviour of households and drivers during a hypothetical tornado warning situation in the city of Calgary, Alberta. Nearly 500 Calgarians took part in the online survey and provided information on how they would respond to tornado warnings after receiving them. This paper presents the results of the survey. Using probit models, the factors influencing these evacuation decisions are identified and discussed in detail. The results of the household evacuation model show the importance of improving awareness about the safest locations during a tornado. It further highlights the need for targeting the population under the age of 30, who are more likely to take unsafe evacuation actions. The model for evacuation of drivers shows that several factors, such as knowing the difference between a watch and a warning, awareness of safe cover, receipt of warnings through natural environmental cues and the level of education, trigger evacuation actions in avoiding a tornado threat.     

Effects of spatial data resolution on runoff predictions by the BASINS model

The BASINS model, developed by the United States EPA, is a popular simulation tool for predicting watershed responses, such as runoff, pollution exports, and water quality. It requires large amounts of data to set parameters. Many studies state that model input is a major source of model uncertainty. Thus, improvements to the quality and completeness of the data will improve the certainty of the model. The objective of this study is to discuss the effects of spatial data, including digital elevation models (DEMs) and spatial rainfall records, on predictions of runoff from the BASINS model. The result shows that both DEMs and rainfall data can significantly influence peak flow and runoff volume. Rainfall input has more influence on the curve shape of hydrograph than DEM resolution. DEM resolution can have more impact on peak flow predictions than rainfall input. Because the model uncertainties from DEMs and rainfall records influence each other, the prediction error does not always decrease when DEM resolution increases. The present results show that the BASINS model produces reliable answers in the case area when the grid size is less than 100 m × 100 m and the precipitation records from the Bihu Rainfall Station are correct and complete.     

Isotope Characteristics of Carbonates from Rocks of Greenstone Belts as an Indicator of a Possible Source of Fluids in Precambrian Granulite Complexes: An Example from the Giyani Greenstone Belt and the Limpopo Granulite Complex,South Africa

Doklady Earth Sciences - Data on the carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of carbonates from the rocks of the Giyani greenstone belt, Kaapvaal craton, South Africa are presented. This belt is...