Computer modelling of clouds at Kleiner Feldberg

The airflow, cloud microphysics and gas- and aqueous-phase chemistry on Kleiner Feldberg have been modelled for the case study of the evening of 1 November 1990, in order to calculate parameters that are not easily measured in the cloud and thus to aid the interpretation of the GCE experimental data-set. An airflow model has been used to produce the updraught over complex terrain for the cloud model, with some care required to ensure realistic modelling of the strong stable stratification of the atmosphere. An extensive set of measurements has been made self-consistent and used to calculate gas and aerosol input parameters for the model. A typical run of the cloud model has calculated a peak supersaturation of 0.55% which occurs about 20 s after entering cloud where the updraught is 0.6 m s^–1. This figure has been used to calculate the efficiency with which aerosol particles were scavenged; it is higher than that calculated by other methods, and produces a cloud with slightly too many droplets. A broad cloud droplet size spectrum has been produced by varying the model inputs to simulate turbulent mixing and fluctuations in cloud parameters in space and time, and the ability of mixing processes near cloud-base to produce a lower peak supersaturation is discussed. The scavenging of soluble gases by cloud droplets has been observed and departures from Henry's Law in bulk cloud-water samples seen to be caused by variation of pH across the droplet spectrum and the inability of diffusion to adjust initial distributions of highly soluble substances across the spectrum in the time available. Aqueous-phase chemistry has been found to play a minor role in the cloud as modelled, but circumstances in which these processes would be more important are identified.     

Porewater geochemistry and solute flux from bottom sediments,Devils Lake,North Dakota

Sediment cores were collected for pore-water analysis from the eastern end of Devils Lake, located in northeastern North Dakota, to determine diagenetic reactions occurring in surficial bottom sediments and to evaluate the impact of these reactions on chemical concentrations in the overlying lake water. Sediment pore waters are enriched in major ions and nutrients relative to lake water. The principal sources of major ions to pore water are saline sediments located in the upper 1 m of bottom sediment. The principal source of titration alkalinity and nutrients to pore water is microbial decomposition of sedimentary organic matter by sulfate reduction. Sediment pore waters in the eastern part of Devils Lake have higher major-ion concentrations and solute-flux rates than the sediment pore waters in the central part of the lake. In contrast, sediment pore waters in the central part of Devils Lake have significantly higher nutrient concentrations and solute-flux rates. Major-ion concentrations and solute-flux rates in sediment pore water increase from west to east. These trends indicate that bottom-sediment diagenetic processes are, in part, responsible for the observed concentration gradient in the lake. The higher nutrient concentrations and the higher nutrient diffusional-flux rates in Main Bay are the result of more labile sedimentary organic matter and the occurrence of sulfate reduction. Environmentally-reactive trace-metal concentrations (Cu, Pb, Zn, and Fe) in bottom sediments decrease from west to east with distance from the surface-water sources and with increasing surface-water salinity.     

Zur Systematik der Kohlenstoff-Schwefel-Eisen-Verhältnisse in Auftriebssedimenten

Abundances of organic carbon, sulfur, and reactive iron in sediments of three upwelling environments (Peru, Oman and Benguela) suggest that organic carbon/reduced sulfur ratios (C/S-ratios) in this category of marine sediments deviate considerably from previously established empirical ratios in normal marine sediments. To clarify the discrepancies, we investigated those components of the diagenetic system that limit the formation of pyrite: sulfate concentrations and reduction rates in pore waters, availability of reactive iron, and the quantity and quality of organic matter. All three limitations are evident in our sample pools. The results suggest that C/S-ratios in recent and fossil marine sediments rich in organic matter may be unsuitable as paleoenvironmental indicators.

     

On the efficiency with which aerosol particles of radius larger than 0.1 μm are collected by simple ice crystal plates

A theoretical model is presented which allows computing the efficiency with which aerosol particles of radius 0.1r10 m are collected by simple ice crystal plates of radius 50a _c 640 m in air of various relative humidities, temperatures and pressures. Particle capture due to thermophoresis, diffusiophoresis and inertial impaction are considered. It is shown that the capture efficiency of an ice crystal in considerably affected by phoretic effects in the range 0.1r1 m. For aerosol particles ofr>1 m the efficiency is strongly controlled by the flow field around the crystal and the density of the aerosol material. Trajectory analysis also predicts that aerosol particles are preferentially captured by the ice crystal rim. Our theoretica results are found to agree satisfactorily with the laboratory studies presently available. Comparison shows that for the same pressure, temperature and relative humidity of the ambient air ice crystal plates are better aerosol particle scavengers than water drops.     

Characteristic features of atmospheric aerosols over India and their role in warm rain process

Atmospheric aerosols are a crucial link in the physical processes, involved in the formation and growth of precipitating clouds. Extensive aerosol measurements in surface air and in the lower troposphere were made at inland and coastal stations of different regions in India. At inland stations, the hygroscopic fraction of the total aerosol content is found to be a useful characteristic for distinguishing between the monsoon and summer airflow, as well as an indicator for a good or a badly developed monsoon. At coastal stations, however, this feature is not observed.Measurements as a function of height brought out that the aerosol varied widely in air over different seasons. During monsoon, the hygroscopic fraction was found highest at the cloud base level and was closely linked to the development of rain. Details of these investigations are presented.     

Hydrogeochemical Anomalies in the Springs of the Chiayi Area in West-central Taiwan as Possible Precursors to Earthquakes

Water samples from both hot and artesian springs in Kuantzeling in west-central Taiwan have been collected on a regular basis from July 15, 1999 to the end of August 2001 to measure cation and anion concentrations as a tool to detect major earthquake precursors. The data identify chloride and sulfate ion anomalies few days prior to major quakes and lasting a few days afterward. These anomalies are characterized by increases in Cl^- concentrations from 34.9% to 41.2% and 71.5% to 138.1% as well as increases in SO₄^2- concentrations from 232.7% to 276.8% and 100.0% to 155.1% above the means in both hot and artesian springs. The occurrence of these anomalies is probably explained first as stress/strain-induced pressure changes in the subsurface water systems which then generate precursory limited geochemical discharges at the levels of subsurface reservoirs. Therefore, finally leading to the mixing of previously separated subsurface water bodies occurs. This suggests that the hot and artesian springs in the Kuantzeling area are possible ideal sites for recording strain changes serving well as earthquake precursors.     

Sulfuric acid as a weathering agent of carbonate weathering constrained by δ^13C： Examples from Southwest China

Rock weathering by carbonic acid is one of the important atmosphere CO2 sequestration. Actually, it depends on whether carbonic acid or other acids as weathering agents, which is important to understand the model of global carbon cycle. For example, sulfuric acid derived from oxidation of pyrite takes part in the rock weathering, which might counteract one part of CO2 drawdown by silicate weathering. In this study, chemicals and carbon isotopic composition of waters were determined in the Beipan River, Guizhou. The δ^13C values of dissolved inorganic carbon in the province, Southwest China. The values of the samples range from -13.1‰ to -2.4‰, which show a good negative correlation with the equivalent ratio of [HCO3]/（[Ca^2＋＋Mg^2＋]） and a good positive correlation with the equivalent ratio of [SO4^2-]/（[Ca^2＋＋Mg^2＋]） and [SO4^2-]/[HCO3^-]. The relationships suggest that sulfuric acid took part in carbonate weathering. Acid rain is thus a significant source of sulfuric acid to the karstic rivers of Guizhou Province.     

Pretreatment of diosgenin wastewaters using polyferric sulfate as a main coagulant

Diosgenin is produced from Dioscrea L, mainly using D.zingiberensis as the raw material. During the process, particularly in the process of acidic hydrolysis, large quantities of high-strength wastewaters are discharged. The waste liquids are characteristic of strong acidity, usually with pH value less than 1, and high concentrations of organic matter with average CODcr （chemical organic demand） in the range of 20000-3000 mg/L. Without proper treatment, their free disposal would pose serious threat to natural ecosystem and cause considerable environmental problems. Since diosgenin wastewaters contain high load organics and acidity, appropriate pretreatment is needed before they are biologically degraded. Coagulation is a common method for eliminating colloid particles and/or high molecule organic chemicals from wastewaters. Poly-ferric sulfate is found to be most effective in removing organic matter. The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of poly-ferric sulfate to reduce CODcr and turbidity from diosgenin wastewaters. Due to its high acidic nature, the pH value of diosgenin wastewater was neutralized with Ca（OH）2 solution before being coagulated. Various factors that influence the coagulation process, such as pH value, the dosage of poly-ferric sulfate, polyelectrolyte aids and mixing conditions were examined in the experiments.     

Chemical Assessment of Oceanic and Terrestrial Sulfur in the Marine Boundary Layer over the Northern North Pacific during Summer

Dimethylsulfide (DMS) in surface seawater and the air, methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and non-sea-salt sulfate (nss-SO₄ ²–) in aerosol, and radon-222 (Rn-222) were measured in the northern North Pacific, including the Bering Sea, during summer (13 July – 6 September 1997). The mean atmospheric DMS concentrations in the eastern region (21.0 ± 5.8 nmole/m³ (mean ± S.D.), n=30) and Bering Sea (19.9 ± 9.8 nmole/m³, n=10) were higher than that in the western region (11.1 ± 6.4 nmole/m³, n=31) (p<0.05), although these regions did not significantly differ in the mean DMS concentration in surface seawater. Mean sea-to-air DMS flux in the eastern region (21.0 ± 10.4 mole/m²/day, n=19) was larger than those in the western region (11.3 ± 16.9 mole /m²/day, n=22) and Bering Sea (11.2 ± 7.8 mole/m²/day, n=7) (p<0.05). This suggests that the longitudinal difference in atmospheric DMS was produced by that in DMS flux owing to wind speed, while the possible causes of the higher DMS concentrations in the Bering Sea include (1) later DMS oxidation rates, (2) lower heights of the marine boundary layer, and (3) more inactive convection. The mean MSA concentrations in the eastern region (1.18 ± 0.84 nmole/m³, n=35) and Bering Sea (1.17 ± 0.87 nmole/m³, n=13) were higher than that in the western region (0.49 ± 0.25 nmole/m³, n=28) (p < 0.05). Thus the distribution of MSA was similar to that of DMS, while the nss-SO₄ ²– concentrations were higher near the continent. This suggests that nss-SO₄ ²– concentrations were regionally influenced by anthropogenic sulfur input, because the distribution of nss-SO₄ ²– was similar to that of Rn-222 used as a tracer of continental air masses.     

卫星对地观测中大气与地表辐射贡献的参数化

卫星对地观测定量遥感地表与大气特性是当前地球科学与应用研究的关键手段之一。在定量遥感中区分大气和地表在地-气系统对空间散射辐射中各自的贡献与作用是关键的一步。这一问题的核心是基于辐射传输方程的数值计算建立起适合应用于遥感反演中分离大气与地表贡献的参数化表达式。本文对特定的气溶胶气候类型和可见/近红外波段建立起定量的表达形式,并对表达式的物理含义和拟合精度进行了分析。最后讨论了其应用的可行性和进一步的工作。