Shift trend and step changes for runoff time series in the Shiyang River basin,northwest China

Shift trend and step changes were detected for runoff time series in the Shiyang River basin, one of the inland river basins in north‐west China. Annual runoff data from eight tributaries as well as both annual and monthly runoff from the mainstream from 1958 to 2003 were used. Seven statistical test methods were employed to identify the shift trends and step changes in the study. Mann–Kendall test, Spearman's Rho test, linear regression and Hurst exponent were used to detect past and future shift trends for runoff time series, while the distributed‐free CUSUM test, cumulative deviations and the Worsley likelihood ratio test were used to detect step changes for the same time series. Results showed that the annual runoff from Zamu, Huangyang and Gulang rivers, as well as both annual and monthly runoff from the mainstream, show statistically significant decreasing trends. Future tendency of runoff for both tributaries and mainstream were consistent with that from 1958 to 2003. Step changes probably occurred in 1961 for the runoff from Huangyang, Gulang and Dajing rivers according to the Worsley likelihood ratio test, but no similar results were found using the other two test methods. Three change points (1979, 1974 and 1973) were detected for the mainstream using different methods. These change points were close to the years that reservoirs started to be operated. Both climate change and human activities, especially the latter, contributed to the decreasing runoff in the study area. Between 21% and 79% of the reduction in runoff from the mainstream was due to the impact of human activities during the past few decades. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Monitoring of percolation water to discriminate surficial inputs in a karst aquifer

 A long-term study on the chemistry of percolating waters in a very large touristic karst cave (Grotta Gigante, northern Italy) was carried out in order to define recharge zones, flowpaths, and possible anthropogenic contamination from the neighboring area. On the basis of a multivaried analysis of the chemical parameters, a discrimination of the dripping points was attempted. Percolation waters whose recharge zone is in the northernmost sector of the cave appeared permanently affected by the anthropic settlements and agricultural activity on the ground surface. Received: 28 April 1997 · Accepted: 3 February 1998     

厄尔尼诺现象和浙江近海鲐鲹鱼渔获量变化关系──长江口ENSO渔场学问题之二

本文研究浙江近海1970年到1992年鲐鱼渔获量变化与Elnino现象的关系，结合捕捞强度，长江中下游汛期（4—9月）降水量距平年际变化综合分析，探讨浙江近海鲐鱼渔获量变动规律，为合理开发渔业资源提供科学依据。     

Detecting subtle hydrochemical anomalies with multivariate statistics: an example from ‘homogeneous’ groundwaters in the Great Artesian Basin,Australia

The major ion composition of Great Artesian Basin groundwater in the lower Namoi River valley is relatively homogeneous in chemical composition. Traditional graphical techniques have been combined with multivariate statistical methods to determine whether subtle differences in the chemical composition of these waters can be delineated. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal components analysis were successful in delineating minor variations within the groundwaters of the study area that were not visually identified in the graphical techniques applied. Hydrochemical interpretation allowed geochemical processes to be identified in each statistically defined water type and illustrated how these groundwaters differ from one another. Three main geochemical processes were identified in the groundwaters: ion exchange, precipitation, and mixing between waters from different sources. Both statistical methods delineated an anomalous sample suspected of being influenced by magmatic CO₂ input. The use of statistical methods to complement traditional graphical techniques for waters appearing homogeneous is emphasized for all investigations of this type. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetics of phosphate adsorption by iron oxyhydroxides in aqueous systems

The rate of uptake of phosphate onto synthetic Fe(III)- and Fe(II)-derived oxyhydroxides has been studied using reaction conditions similar to those encountered in natural waters. Kinetic analyses were carried out on the adsorption profiles and both first-order and second-order conditional rate constants were obtained. The temperature dependence of some of the rate constants was investigated and corresponding apparent activation energies calculated. Similar experiments and analyses were undertaken using Fe from natural sources and in general the conditional rate constants obtained in seawater were in agreement with the synthetic ones. The results of this study are of value when comparing the time scales of adsorption processes in natural waters with the time scales of mixing and advection.     

Chlorinated hydrocarbons in the seawater and surface sediments of Blanca Bay,Argentina

In order to characterize our study area and to provide reference values to be used in the future to measure the changes produced by an increase in contamination, the concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons have been investigated in fifty-one samples of seawater, taken at four different depths: air-sea interface, surface, one metre and bottom waters, and in twenty-three samples of surface sediments from Blanca Bay, Argentina. Of eleven organochlorine compounds we were looking for (α BHC, lindane, heptachlor, δ BHC. aldrin, heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, o-p′DDD, p-p′DDD, o-p′DDT and p-p′DDT), seven could be detected in seawater and three in surface sediments with the following mean concentrations: α-BHC=48·2 ng l^?1; lindane=54·2 ng l^?1; heptachlor=45·0 ng l^?1; δ BHC=12·5 ng l^?1; aldrin=61·8 ng l^?1 and ΣDDT=67·0 ng l^?1; and δ BHC=3·2 ng g^?1; lindane=4·2 ng g^?1 and heptachlor=1·0 ng g^?1 for seawater, regarding the surface waters, and sediment samples, respectively.Concentration factors among the different water layers were also studied to see if there was any correlation between chlorinated hydrocarbon contents and the water depths from which the samples were taken. As a mean value, the air-sea interface water contains 18 times more of these compounds than that of the water near the bottom. A comparison of the values corresponding to seawater and surface sediments from our study area with those levels measured in samples from other geographic locations is also presented.With the purpose to detect a relationship between chlorinated hydrocarbon concentrations and the contents of particulate matter (PM) on the one hand, and particulate organic material (POM) on the other hand, four groups of samples containing different amounts of PM and POM, respectively were formed. From a comparison of the results obtained, lindane, heptachlor and δ BHC showed a tendency to lower concentrations in those samples containing little PM whereas α BHC and aldrin remained without important changes. No significant correlation was found between organochlorine levels and contents of POM.     

The hydrogeothermal basin of Sofia graben (Bulgaria)

Abstract In the Mesozoic basement and Neogene filling of Sofia tectonic graben a non-homogenous system of thermal water reservoirs connected to a united hydrogeothermal basin occurred. The basin contains and reproduces five types of low mineralized thermal waters and four types of mineralized thermal waters with exotic composition. The water temperatures are 30–80(90) ^°C. The total potential of the basin is assessed at 500 l/s thermal waters and 48 MWt thermal power. The utilization of thermal waters in the area of the Bulgarian capital has its roots and traditions in antiquity, and a promising future. The new town plan of Sofia provides construction of 35 centers for developing a versatile and prosperous hydrothermal business.     

Response of single benthic metrics and multi-metric methods to anthropogenic pressure gradients, in five distinct European coastal and transitional ecosystems

In recent times many benthic indices have been proposed to assess the ecological quality of marine waters worldwide. In this study we compared single metrics and multi-metric methods to assess coastal and transitional benthic status along human pressure gradients in five distinct environments across Europe: Varna bay and lake (Bulgaria), Lesina lagoon (Italy), Mondego estuary (Portugal), Basque coast (Spain) and Oslofjord (Norway). Hence, 13 single metrics (abundance, number of taxa, and several diversity and sensitivity indices) and eight of the most common indices used within the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) for benthic assessment were selected: index of size spectra (ISS), Benthic assessment tool (BAT), Norwegian quality index (NQI), Multivariate AMBI (M-AMBI), Benthic quality index (BQI), (Benthic ecosystem quality index (BEQI), Benthic index based on taxonomic sufficiency (BITS), and infaunal quality index (IQI). Within each system, sampling sites were ordered in an increasing pressure gradient according to a preliminary classification based on professional judgement. The different indices are largely consistent in their response to pressure gradient, except in some particular cases (i.e. BITS, in all cases, or ISS when a low number of individuals is present). Inconsistencies between indicator responses were most pronounced in transitional waters (i.e. IQI, BEQI), highlighting the difficulties of the generic application of indicators to all marine, estuarine and lagoonal environments. However, some of the single (i.e. ecological groups approach, diversity, richness) and multi-metric methods (i.e. BAT, M-AMBI, NQI) were able to detect such gradients both in transitional and coastal environments, being these multi-metric methods more consistent in the detection than single indices. This study highlights the importance of survey design and good reference conditions for some indicators. The agreement observed between different methodologies and their ability to detect quality trends across distinct environments constitutes a promising result for the implementation of the WFD’s monitoring plans. Moreover, these results have management implications, regarding the dangers of misclassification, uncertainty in the assessment, use of conflicting indices, and testing and validation of indices.     

Inland saline lakes with lagoonal biota: some reflections on the concept and nature of athalassic (non-marine), paralic and marine saline waters

First, some inland basins with lagoonal (or paralic) biota are brieffly described. The different kinds of saline aquatic environments are then defined and the composition of their biota are discussed. Finally, the still unknown microbiogeochemical composition of concentrated inland waters is discussed. Under arid and endorheic conditions, it seems that the wider and the more geologically complex a hydrological basin is, the more biogeochemically similar to seawater is the water of its terminal lake. The evolution of the microbiogeochemical complexity of seawater through geological times is considered.This paper has been the subject of considerable discussion among referees. Not all of the views expressed by the author are accepted by them.     

A Classification of Hypersaline Waters, Based on Trophic Criteria

Abstract. A classification of hypersaline waters is proposed on the basis of the food chain structure of their biota. Four steps of increasing salinity and respective shortening of the food-chains are recognized, respectively named: alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-hypersaline waters.
Some general aspects, dealing with cosmopolitism of the biota, production, competition and benthic ecology in hypersaline waters are discussed.
The relevance of ecological studies in hypersaline waters to theoretical ecology and to the new technological uses of saline waters is briefly mentioned.