Seasonal distribution of trace metals in suspended particulate and bottom sediments of four microtidal river estuaries,west coast of India

ABSTRACT

The seasonal distribution of metals (V, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, Mn, Fe, Al and Ti) in suspended and bottom sediments of four minor estuaries (Terekhol, Chapora, Sal and Talpona rivers) of Goa, India was investigated to understand the metal distribution process in the estuarine region. The highest particulate-metal concentrations were found in low-salinity regions of all the estuaries, in the wet season (e.g. in the Terekhol River, the averages in ppm were Co: 53, Ni: 197, Cu: 208, Zn: 212 and Pb: 65) compared to the dry season averages (Co: 27, Ni: 76, Cu: 105, Zn: 164 and Pb: 13 ppm). The estuarine-mixing diagrams showed non-conservative behaviour in both seasons. The Sal River had the highest particulate-metal concentration (Co: 106, Ni: 300 and Zn: 323 ppm), suggesting an anthropogenic input. The enrichment factor for suspended matter was higher than bottom sediments with extremely high enrichment for Mn (>10). The Geo-accumulation index displayed unpolluted to polluted class for all metals. The study highlights the important role played by small estuaries in seasonal metal release and accumulation along the coastal region.     

Behavior of different phosphorus species in suspended particulate matter in the Changjiang estuary

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary in June 2006 was separated into five fractions via water elutriation: clay-very fine silt (<8 μm), fine silt (8–16 μm), medium silt (16–32 μm), coarse silt (32-63 μm) and sand (>63 μm). The SPM and fractionated particles were sequentially analyzed by a modified SEDEX sequential extraction method to obtain six species of phosphorus: exchangeable or loosely-sorbed P, organic P, Fe-bound P, authigenic P, detrital P and refractory P. The results indicated that all particulate phosphorus species except for detrital P were negatively correlated to particle size; a high detrital P content was found in coarse silt and very coarse silt. From the inside of the river mouth to the gate of the river mouth, organic P, Fe-bound P and refractory P in the suspended particles decreased and a higher amount of exchangeable P appeared around the gate of the river mouth. From the gate of the river mouth to the sea, exchangeable P and organic P in suspended particles increased distinctly. The total particulate P flux into the estuary from the Changjiang River was about 45.45×10⁸ μmol/s during sampling. Of this, about 8.27×10⁸ μmol/s was associated with the “truly suspended” fraction. The bio-available particulate P flux was about 13.58×10⁸ μmol/s. Of this, about 4.24×10⁸ μmol/s was transported by “truly suspended” particles.     

Sources and implications of particulate organic matter from a small tropical river—Zuari River,India

Transitional ecosystems,estuaries and the coastal seas,are distinctively affected by natural and anthropogenic factors.Organic matter(OM)originating from terrestrial sources is exported by rivers and forms a key component of the global biogeochemical cycles.Most previous studies focused on the bulk biochemical and anthropogenic aspects affecting these ecosystems.In the present study,we examined the sources and fate of OM entrained within suspended particulate matter(SPM)of the Zuari River and its estuary,west coast of India.Besides using amino acid(AA)enantiomers(L-and D-forms)as biomarkers,other bulk biochemical parameters viz.particulate organic carbon(POC),δ13C,particulate nitrogen(PN),δ15N and chlorophyll a were analyzed.Surprisingly no significant temporal variations were observed in the parameters analyzed;nonetheless,salinity,POC,δ13C,PN,δ15N,glutamic acid,serine,alanine,tyrosine,leucine and D-aspartic acid exhibited significant spatial variability suggesting source differentiation.The POC content displayed weak temporal variability with low values observed during the post-monsoon season attributed to inputs from mixed sources.Estuarine samples were less depleted than the riverine samples suggesting contributions from marine plankton in addition to contributions from river plankton and terrestrial C3 plants detritus.Labile OM was observed during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons in the estuarine region.More degraded OM was noticed during the pre-monsoon season.Principal component analysis was used to ascertain the sources and factors influencing OM.Principally five factors were extracted explaining 84.52%of the total variance.The first component accounted for 27.10%of the variance suggesting the dominance of tidal influence whereas,the second component accounted for heterotrophic bacteria and their remnants associated with the particulate matter,contributing primarily to the AA pool.Based on this study we ascertained the role of the estuarine turbidity maximum(ETM)controlling the sources of POM and its implications to small tropical rivers.Thus,changes in temporal and regional settings are more likely to affect the natural biogeochemical cycles of small tropical rivers.     

夏季珠江口邻近海域表层浮游植物的碳叶绿素比值及其碳含量

Chlorophyll a(Chl a),particulate organic carbon(POC)and biogenic silica(BSi)were determined in coastal waters adjacent to the Zhujiang(Pearl)River Estuary(ZRE)during summer,in order to examine the C:Chl a ratio of phytoplankton and phytoplankton carbon in the plume-impacted coastal waters during summer,as well as to assess the relative contribution of diatoms to the phytoplankton biomass,by the regression between Chl a,POC and BSi.Our results showed that the C:Chl a ratio(g/g)of phytoplankton was high(up to 142),likely due to high light intensity and nutrient limitation.The river plume input stimulated phytoplankton growth,especially diatoms,resulting in higher relative contribution of phytoplankton carbon(55%)and diatoms(34%)to POC in the plume-impacted region than those(33%and 13%)in high salinity area,respectively.Phytoplankton carbon(up to 538μg/L)in the plume-impacted region was much higher than that(<166μg/L)in high salinity area.Our findings were helpful to improve the biogeochemical model in coastal waters adjacent to the ZRE.     

2013年初江苏连续性雾-霾天气的特征分析

利用FNL资料、污染物颗粒浓度资料以及常规气象资料对2013年1月12—16日江苏地区的连续性雾 霾天气过程的环流形势、地面气象要素特征、大气边界层结构及大气污染状况等进行了分析。结果表明：高空形势变化平稳、中低层的暖平流配合稳定少动的地面气压场为雾 霾天气的发生提供了有利的环流形势;持续变化较小的气压梯度和较低的风速以及相对湿度的增大和PM2.5、PM10的浓度的变化为雾 霾形成和发展提供了条件;雾 霾期间低层都存在不同程度的逆温现象,混合层高度与AQI呈反相关关系,当混合层高度越低,AQI就越高,污染就越严重,能见度就越差;相对湿度的升高和PM2.5在污染物颗粒中的富集,是导致能见度下降和持续污染的首要原因,而强冷空气带来的大风降温是污染物颗粒被快速清除的重要动力机制;影响南京的污染物来源为：黄海、安徽地区、北方污染物的输送和本地的局地污染。     

化学质量平衡受体模型及其在大气颗粒物源解析中的应用

化学质量平衡模型已成为重要的颗粒物源解析模型之一。简述了大气颗粒物源解析技术的发展概况和化学质量平衡(CMB)受体模型的基本原理,对该模型应用中的关键问题,大气颗粒物源解析的进展情况作了详细的阐述。     

北京首钢地区大气颗粒物中有机污染物的初步研究

对北京首钢地区大气颗粒物中有机物浓度、族组成及其饱和烃、多环芳烃的组成和分布特征进行了研究.在大气颗粒物中共检测出40多种多环芳烃, 其中属于美国国家环保局(EPA) 优先控制污染物9种, 且大多具有致癌和致突变性.根据生标特征, 有机污染物主要来源于煤的不完全燃烧, 部分来源于汽车尾气的排放.燃煤对首钢地区造成的污染更为严重.      

Influence of winds and oceanographic conditions on the mucilage aggregation in the Northern Adriatic Sea in 2003–2006

Meteorological and oceanographic conditions in the Northern Adriatic Sea in a year notable for massive mucilage formation (2004) were compared with those in years where this phenomenon did not occur (2003, 2005 and 2006) to suggest possible links. The months preceding the mucilage event in 2004 were considered the ‘incubation period’ and were characterized by a strong freshet in May which increased the water column stability. Winter cooling and scarcity of freshwater inputs from the Po River triggered the dense water formation and intrusion in the northern basin. Weak southeasterly winds and an increase in surface seawater temperatures contributed to maintain and reinforce the water column stability, and at the same time an intense diatom spring bloom created the conditions for accumulation of organic matter. The interplay of climatological forcings and biological processes caused temporal variations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) in the basin, with POC playing an important role in the aggregation process, as suggested by its increase relative to DOC before massive mucilage formation. We therefore suggest that high POC/total particulate nitrogen ratios in the suspended particulate organic fraction, a steep increase of POC/Chlorphyll a, and the decreased DOC/POC ratios represent ‘early warning’ signals of the main processes that lead to mucilage events in the Northern Adriatic Sea.     

模拟扰动条件下太湖沉积物的再悬浮特征

采用沉积物再悬浮振荡器在0.2~0.5N/m2的切应力和60~1800s的持续振荡时间下,对太湖沉积物原状芯样的再悬浮特征开展模拟实验研究,揭示切应力大小和外力作用时间对沉积物再悬浮的影响。实验结果表明,振荡初期,上覆水中悬浮物浓度上升速率较快,随振荡时间延长,上升速率减缓,浓度趋于稳定;且浓度上升速率随切应力增加呈显著增大趋势。此外,悬浮物沉降通量随振荡时间而增大,而再悬浮通量呈相反变化趋势,两者的时间变化曲线逐渐接近,最终达到动态平衡。室内模拟试验观测值与太湖现场观测结果的对比表明,该模拟装置能够在室内可控条件下较好地反映太湖沉积物再悬浮特征。     

Detritus Rolling Down a Vertical Cliff of the Ligurian Sea (Italy): The Écological Role in Hard Bottom Communities

Abstract. The detritus rolling down a vertical cliff was studied at Portofino Promontory (Ligurian Sea, Italy) at 16 m depth (January 1988- January 1989). The large amount of collected sediment is mainly due to the position of the traps; they collected not only the sedimenting material, but also the detritus rolling down along the cliff. The amount of sediment matter is 7 times greater in winter than in summer, showing a good correlation with rough seas and rain that cause a "mechanical cleaning" of animal and plant debris (Sérpulid tubes, shells, exuvias. leaves) along the cliff.
The Total Suspended Matter (TSM) in the water column shows maximum values in March and September. The organic fraction has an average concentration of 0.81 mg 1^-l. The phytoplanktonic biomass, measured as Chi a , shows an annual cycle with a peak in spring (1–2.7μg·l^-1). while in other periods of the year the value is about 0.3-0.5 μg·1^-1. A significant relationship was found between organic detritus in the collected sédiments and the Chi a in the water column. The great influence of the rocky wall detritus on the normal trend of the TSM in the coastal water column is pointed out.