Analysis of water seepage in a pavement system using the particulate approach

A particulate model has been developed to analyze the effects of transient and steady state seepage of water through a randomly-packed coarse-grained soil as an alternative to conventional seepage analysis based on continuum models. In this model, the soil skeleton and the pore water are volumetrically coupled in the transient and steady-state conditions. The concept of relative density has been used to define different compaction levels of the soil layers forming a pavement filter system and observe the seepage response to compaction. First, Monte–Carlo simulation is used to randomly pack discrete spherical particles from a specified particle size distribution (PSD) to achieve a desired relative density based on the theoretical minimum and maximum void ratios. Then, a water pressure gradient is applied across one two-layer unit to trigger water seepage. The interstitial pore water motion is idealized using Navier–Stokes (NS) equations with provision to incorporate the drag forces acting between the pore fluid and soil particles. The NS equations are discretized using finite differences and applied to discrete elements in a staggered, structured grid. The model predicted hydraulic conductivities are validated using widely used equations.     

流动注射HG-AFS法同时测定化探样品中的砷和汞

建立了流动注射HG-AFS测定痕量砷和汞的分析方法。把砷和汞放入20%的王水介质中,它们被硫脲-抗坏血酸预还原,待测量溶液澄清之后,将溶液与硼氢化钾一起导入反应器,产生的氢化物载气导入原子化器中测定,测定结果符合国家标准。本法改进了流动注射HG-AFS法测定砷、汞的分析方法。     

Export and mesopelagic particle flux during a North Atlantic spring diatom bloom

Spring diatom blooms are important for sequestering atmospheric CO₂ below the permanent thermocline in the form of particulate organic carbon (POC). We measured downward POC flux during a sub-polar North Atlantic spring bloom at 100 m using thorium-234 (²³⁴Th) disequilibria, and below 100 m using neutrally buoyant drifting sediment traps. The cruise followed a Lagrangian float, and a pronounced diatom bloom occurred in a 600 km² area around the float. Particle flux was low during the first three weeks of the bloom, between 10 and 30 mg POC m⁻² d⁻¹. Then, nearly 20 days after the bloom had started, export as diagnosed from ²³⁴Th rose to 360-620 mg POC m⁻² d⁻¹, co-incident with silicate depletion in the surface mixed layer. Sediment traps at 600 and 750 m depth collected 160 and 150 mg POC m⁻² d⁻¹, with a settled volume of particles of 1000-1500 mL m⁻² d⁻¹. This implies that 25-43% of the 100 m POC export sank below 750 m. The sinking particles were ungrazed diatom aggregates that contained transparent exopolymer particles (TEP). We conclude that diatom blooms can lead to substantial particle export that is transferred efficiently through the mesopelagic. We also present an improved method of calibrating the Alcian Blue solution against Gum Xanthan for TEP measurements.     

Organic biomarkers in the twilight zone—Time series and settling velocity sediment traps during MedFlux

The transfer of material through the twilight zone of the ocean is controlled by sinking particles that contain organic matter (OM) and mineral ballast. During the MedFlux field program in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea in 2003, sinking particulate matter was collected in time series (TS) and settling velocity (SV) traps and analyzed for amino acids, lipids, and pigments (along with ballast minerals) [Lee, C., Armstrong, R.A., Wakeham, S.G., Peterson, M.L., Miquel, J.C., Cochran, J.K., Fowler, S.W., Hirschberg, D., Beck, A. Xue, J., 2009b. Particulate matter fluxes in time series and settling velocity sediment traps in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Deep-Sea Research II, this volume [doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.12.003]]. The goal was to identify how organic chemical compositions of sinking particles varied as a function of their in-situ settling velocity. The TS record was used to define the biogeochemical character and temporal pattern in flux during the period of SV trap deployment. Temporal variations in organic and mineral compositions are consistent with particle biogeochemistry being driven by the seasonal succession of phytoplankton. Spring diatom bloom conditions led to a high flux of rapidly sinking aggregates and zooplankton fecal matter; summer oligotrophy followed and was characterized by a higher proportion of slowly sinking phytoplankton cells. Bacterial degradation is particularly important during the low-flux summer period. Settling velocity traps show that a large proportion of particulate organic matter sinks at 200–500 m d⁻¹. Organic compositions of this fast-sinking material mirrors that of fecal pellets and aggregated material that sinks as the spring bloom terminates. More-slowly sinking OM bears a stronger signature of bacterial degradation than do the faster-sinking particles. The observation that compositions of SV-sorted fractions are different implies that the particle field is compositionally heterogeneous over a range of settling velocities. Thus physical and biological exchange between fast-sinking and slow-sinking particles as they pass down the water column must be incomplete.     

九龙江河口区溶解态、颗粒态铀同位素的地球化学行为

对九龙江河口区枯、丰水期水体中溶解态、颗粒态铀同位素地球化学行为的研究表明,溶解态铀与盐度存在良好的正相关关系,证实枯、丰水期该河口区水体中的铀均是保守行为。在低盐度区域（Ｓ＜１０）,~２３８Ｕ主要以颗粒态形式存在,颗粒态~２３８Ｕ所占份额随盐度增加而降低。~（２３８）Ｕ之条件分配系数介于 １． ２ × １０~３～１． ５ ×１０~５ｄｍ~３／ｋｇ之间,它与盐度呈负相关关系,但与悬浮颗粒物浓度无相关关系存在。枯水期悬浮颗粒物上~２３４Ｕ／~２３８Ｕ_Ａ．Ｒ．与盐度的负相关关系为河口区悬浮颗粒物中~２３４Ｕ的优先沥取理论提供了有力的证据。     

Settling fluxes of diatoms to the interior of the Antarctic circumpolar current along 170 °W

An array of four sediment trap moorings recorded the particulate flux across the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) at 170 °W, between November 1996 and January 1998, as part of the US JGOFS-Antarctic Environment and Southern Ocean Process Study (AESOPS) program. The trap locations represent sampling within the Polar Frontal Zone, the Antarctic Polar Front, the Antarctic Zone and the Southern Antarctic Zone. Here we report observations from 1000 m below the sea-surface compared to seafloor and surface water distributions. Sub-sample splits from each trap were obtained and total diatom flux and species composition were determined. The diatom fluxes were quantified using both a dilution and a ‘spike’ method to allow for the rapid repeatability of measurements. Diatom flux was found to be highly seasonal across the ACC particularly at higher latitudes. Marine snow aggregates of intact diatom cells and chains were the major components of the biogenic flux. Siliceous particle size was noted to decrease with increasing latitude, which could be aligned with a shift of the diatom assemblage to small-size species/sea-ice affiliated species. A ‘double-structured’ diatom flux was recorded at the location of the Antarctic Polar Front trap, with a shift in the diatom assemblage from larger to smaller diatoms in the second flux episode. The sediment trap assemblage shows deviations from the surface water assemblage, while surface sediment samples indicate that significant dissolution occurs after 1000 m and at the sediment–water interface. Estimation of diatom biovolumes across the ACC shows that large diatoms have the potential to greatly impact biogenic fluxes to the ocean interior despite their low fluxes. Small species of the genus Fragilariopsis could potentially export as much C_org as Fragilariopsis kerguelensis near the retreating ice edge. However, their low abundance in the surface sediments also suggests that these diatoms are a shallow export species.     

Mechanism of Hg(II) immobilization in sediments by sulfate-cement amendment

Reactive amendments such as Portland and super-sulfate cements offer a promising technology for immobilizing metalloid contaminants such as mercury (Hg) in soils and sediments through sequestration in less bioavailable solid forms. Tidal marsh sediments were reacted with dissolved Hg(II) in synthetic seawater and fresh water solutions, treated with Portland cement and FeSO₄ amendment, and aged for up to 90 days. Reacted solids were analyzed with bulk sequential extraction methods and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy, and synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Hg L_III- and S K-edge. In amended sediments, XRD, SEM and sulfur K-edge XANES indicated formation of gypsum in seawater experiments or ettringite-type (Ca₆Al₂(SO₄)₃(OH)₁₂^.26H₂O) phases in fresh water experiments, depending on the final solution pH (seawater ∼8.5; freshwater ∼10.5). Analysis of Hg EXAFS spectra showed Cl and Hg ligands in the first- and second-coordination shells at distances characteristic of a polynuclear chloromercury(II) salt, perhaps as a nanoparticulate phase, in both seawater and fresh water experiments. In addition to the chloromercury species, a smaller fraction (∼20–25%) of Hg was bonded to O atoms in fresh water sample spectra, suggesting the presence of a minor sorbed Hg fraction. In the absence of amendment treatment, Hg sorption and resistance to extraction can be accounted for by relatively strong binding by reduced S species present in the marsh sediment detected by S XANES. Thermodynamic calculations predict stable aqueous Hg–Cl species at seawater final pH, but higher final pH in fresh water favors aqueous Hg-hydroxide species. The difference in Hg coordination between aqueous and solid phases suggests that the initial Hg–Cl coordination was stabilized in the cement hydration products and did not re-equilibrate with the bulk solution with aging. Collectively, results suggest physical encapsulation of Hg as a polynuclear chloromercury(II) salt as the primary immobilization mechanism.     

基于偏最小二乘法的土壤汞含量高光谱反演

采集新疆准东煤田典型土壤样品44个,在实验室测定风干后的土样汞含量和光谱反射率,经预处理后分析两者的相关性,运用偏最小二乘法(PLSR)建立土壤汞含量高光谱估算模型,由均方根误差RMSE和决定系数R2检验模型的预测能力和稳定性,并比较不同预处理方法的适用性。结果表明:反射率一阶微分光谱是估算土壤汞含量较好的指标,估算R2为0.77、RMSE为0.032。通过各种光谱预处理方法可提高土壤汞含量的估算精度,为研究区生态环境的恢复和评价提供依据。     

台湾海峡南部、罗源湾和厦门港颗粒垂直通量研究

采用自行设计和制作的沉积物捕获器分别在台湾海峡南部的两个站位福建罗源湾大官坂垦区和厦门港进行了现场投放,得到迁出真光层的颗粒物通量分别为1.14,0.933,11.9和81.5g/m~2·d;颗粒有机碳通量分别为73.8,98.5,5054和856mg/m~2·d。上述海域沉降颗粒的通量不同,性质上也有所差异。     

Incorporation of aged dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by oceanic particulate organic carbon (POC): An experimental approach using natural carbon isotopes

Incorporation of ¹⁴C-depleted (old) dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on/into particulate organic carbon (POC) has been suggested as a possible mechanism to explain the low Δ¹⁴C-POC values observed in the deep ocean [Druffel, E.R.M., Williams, P.M., 1990. Identification of a deep marine source of particulate organic carbon using bomb ¹⁴C. Nature, 347, 172–174.]. A shipboard incubation experiment was performed in the Sargasso Sea to test this hypothesis. Finely ground dried plankton was incubated in seawater samples from the deep Sargasso Sea, both with and without a biological poison (HgCl₂). Changes in parameters such as biochemical composition and carbon isotopic signatures of bulk POC and its organic compound classes were examined to study the roles of sorptive processes and biotic activity on POC character. Following a 13-day incubation, the relative abundance of the acid-insoluble organic fraction increased. Abundances of extractable lipids and total hydrolyzable amino acids decreased for both treatments, but by a greater extent in the non-poisoned treatment. The Δ¹⁴C values of POC recovered from the non-poisoned treatment were significantly lower than the value of the unaltered plankton material used for the incubation, indicating incorporation of ¹⁴C-depleted carbon, most likely DOC. The old carbon was present only in the lipid and acid-insoluble fractions. These results are consistent with previous findings of old carbon dominating the same organic fractions of sinking POC from the deep Northeast Pacific [Hwang, J., Druffel, E.R.M., 2003. Lipid-like material as the source of the uncharacterized organic carbon in the ocean? Science, 299, 881–884.]. However, the Δ¹⁴C values of POC recovered from the poisoned treatment did not change as much as those from the non-poisoned treatment suggesting that biological processes were involved in the incorporation of DOC on/into POC.