Sediments grain size and geo-chemical interpretation of three successive cutoff meanders of the Danube Delta,Romania

The paper presents the results of granulometric and geochemical analyses of the superficial bed sediments of the St. George branch, one of three Danube River distributaries. Three cutoff meander reaches (the Mahmudia, Dunavăţ de Sus (Upper Dunavăţ) and Dunavăţ de Jos (Lower Dunavăţ) meanders, noted here as M, DS and DJ meanders) was selected as an example to analyse the impact of the meanders rectification on the grain size and sediment quality. The cut-offs of the meanders by navigational canals since 1984–1988 caused dramatic changes in the distribution of velocities, discharge and sediment fluxes (Popa, 1997; Panin, 2003, Tiron and Provansal, 2010, Tiron Dutu et al., 2014). The correction of the studied meanders induced different hydro-sedimentary impacts: strong modifications by acceleration of the fluxes through the artificial canals combined with dramatically enhanced deposition in the former meander in two cases (Mahmudia and Dunavăţ de Jos meanders) and slight modifications in Dunavăţ de Sus meander, where the natural channel still keeps almost its initial conveyance capacity. Sediment samples were acquired throughout several cross-sections of both natural and artificial canals of the three rectified meanders, in order to investigate the bed sediment characteristics. Grain size parameters (such as Median, Standard deviation, Skewness) show the predominance of fine fraction (silt and medium/ fine sand), relatively good sorted depending of the sample location (on the natural course of the branch, on the rectification canals or the former meanders. The statistical analysis of chemical data evidenced a high compositional variability, with concentration variation coefficients ranging between 27.4% – Sr and 178.3% – TOC (Total Organic Carbon). Generally, the highest concentrations of terrigenic compounds appear in the samples collected from the rectified natural canals. These results are validated by comparison with aDcp measurements made on each investigated profile.     

Inferring bottom circulation based on sediment pattern distribution in the San José Gulf,Patagonia Argentina

The goal of this work was to infer the spatio-temporal patterns of bottom circulation of San José Gulf (SJG), Patagonia, Argentina. The SJG is mainly affected by tidal circulation and presents two hydrographic domains. The Western Hydrographic Domain (WHD) presents vertically mixed waters year-round contrary to the seasonal stratified Eastern Hydrographic Domain (EHD), resulting in the formation of a thermal front between domains. Samples of sediments were collected in spring 2016 and summer 2017 at several locations to analyze the grain-size composition by means of laser diffractometry. A conceptual model of bottom hydrodynamics was inferred based on sediment's grain-size trends. Asymmetric dominant tidal currents affect bottom sediment distribution. A general northward sediment transport is dominant at the WHD, while at the EHD there is a seasonal shift in the transport direction. There, a net northward transport with a counterclockwise gyre dominates bottom hydrodynamics at the end of the thermal front formation, conditioned by residual currents. In contrast, a net southward circulation likely driven by strong westerly winds throughout autumn and winter prevails at the beginning of the water column stratification. The inferred sediment transport suggests a net loss of material that has to be recovered by tidal currents entering through the mouth and coastal sources as runoff, mudslides, and/or aeolian dust.     

Particle size analysis of the sediment suspended in a proglacial stream: Glacier De tsidjiore Nouve,Switzerland

Hourly, at-a-point samples of suspended sediment taken from the outflow stream of Glacier de Tsidjiore Nouve, Switzerland, over a 60 day sampling period (n = 1440) are shown to be dominantly composed of silt-sized particles. Particle size, SEM, and XRD analyses indicate a subglacial provenance for the suspended sediment. Temporal variations in particle size and sorting correspond poorly to fluctuations in water discharge, being dominated by erratic hour-to-hour fluctuations and clockwise hysteresis over diurnal flow events. Examination of grain size and sorting dynamics over snowmelt- and icemelt-related ablation events, during precipitation events, and during glacier drainage events enables some inferences to be drawn regarding sediment source areas and supply regimes. We conclude that although the bulk of the suspended sediment in the proglacial stream of Glacier de Tsidjiore Nouve is derived directly from subglacial sources (with occasional contributions from the valley train during rapid snowmelt and heavy rainfall periods), a portion of the suspended load undergoes intermittent ‘flush-fall’ transfer through the proglacial zone, which acts as a sediment source during rising flows and as a sink during periods of waning flow.     

The transport of heavy metals during flood events in the polluted river Geul (the Netherlands)

For a specific flood on the polluted River Geul in March 1988, the relationships between river discharge, sediment concentration, and associated metal levels have been investigated. It was found that river discharge has only a limited influence on the transport of sediment and Pb, Zn, and Cd. During flood peaks its role is prominent, but at the intermediate stages between peaks, the quantity and quality of transported sediment depend on the variable activity of various sediment sources upstream. Nevertheless, when data from more floods are assembled, sediment and metal rating curves are obtained, which provide correlation coefficients of 0-63-0-92. Using these curves, mass transport calculations were carried out which demonstrate that the bulk of the annual transport of sediments and heavy metals occurs during a limited number of major floods.     

Measurement of Enzymatic Activity in Deep Marine Sediments Using the Semiquantitative APIZym Test System Messung enzymatischer Aktivität in tiefen Meeressedimenten mit Hilfe des APIZym-Testsystems

APIZym strips were used for measuring the activity of 19 enzymatic reactions in marine sediment samples from the continental slope of the Celtic Sea in 135…1630 m depth. The activities of phosphatases were dominant followed by esterases, peptidases, and glycosidases. The activities were influenced by the sediment depth within the cores and the depth of the station. The results indicate that the APIZym system is able to resolve vertical stratification and spatial variability of enzymes possessing activity rates exceeding 10 nmol substrate h⁻¹ cm⁻³ in sediment but not of those with lower rates which for example would be found in deep-sea sediments.     

Use of a single-bowl continuous-flow centrifuge for dewatering suspended sediments: Effect on sediment physical and chemical characteristics

The use of a single-bowl continuous-flow centrifuge (CFC, Sharples-Pennwalt Model AS-12) for dewatering suspended sediment from large volumes of river water is evaluated. Sediment-recovery efficiency of 86-91 per cent is comparable to that of other types of CFC units. The recovery efficiency is limited by the particle-size distribution of the feed water and by the limiting particle diameter that is retained in the centrifuge bowl. The limiting particle diameter, using the parameters for this study (bowl radius = 10.5cm; bowl length = 71.1 cm; rotational velocity = 16000 r min^?1; flow rate = 2 L min^?1, and an assumed hydrated particle density = 1.7 gm cm^?3), is 370 nm. There seems to be no particle-size fractionation within the centrifuge bowl—the median particle size was the same at the top as at the bottom. Particle electrophoretic mobility plays some role in fractionation of particles within the centrifuge. The mobility ranged from ?1.19 to ?2.01 × 10^?8 m² V^?1 s^?1, which is typical of clays coated with organic matter, the charge of which is partially neutralized by divalent cations and iron. Contamination by trace metals and organics is minimized by coating all surfaces that come in contact with the sample with either FEP or PFA Teflon and using a removable FEP Teflon liner in the centrifuge bowl. Because of the physical and chemical factors affecting particle fractionation within the centrifuge, care must be exercised in interpreting the environmental consequences of particles collected by continuous-flow centrifugation.     

Intertidal mudflat properties, currents and sediment erosion in the partially mixed Tamar Estuary, UK

Results are presented from a 1-year campaign to measure the seasonal variability of some key physical and biological properties of intertidal mudflats over a section of the central Tamar Estuary and to relate these to the physical environment. Seasonal variations in physical mudflat properties, such as grain size, density and moisture content were relatively small. With the exception of the particulate organic carbon content in the upper 0.002 m of surface sediment, biological variations were large. Redox potential exhibited considerable seasonal variation and showed that the sediments were less reduced in winter and more reduced in summer. Chlorophyll a and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) within the surface 0.002 m of sediment (due to the presence of benthic diatoms) were strongly correlated and exhibited a pronounced seasonal pattern, with smallest values during winter and greatest values during late summer and early autumn. EPS had a dominating influence on sediment erosion, as determined from annular flume measurements. Velocity measurements and velocity modelling indicated that during the flood, and for much of the time during benthic diatom bloom conditions of high chlorophyll a and EPS sediment contents, the stresses exerted by tidal currents were too small to cause significant suspension of sediments over much of the middle and upper mudflats. Suspended fine sediment in the turbidity maximum zone was transported down-estuary and deposited in the main channel at low-water (LW) slack. Some of this sediment, in the form of relatively large aggregates, was subsequently transported onto the mudflats during the flooding tide, where slack currents and fast settling velocities may have enhanced sediment deposition there.Responsible Editor: Hans Burchard     

The stability of the relative content ratios of Cu,Pb and Zn in soils and sediments

The study indicates that the relative content ratios of Cu, Pb and Zn in soils and sediments tend to have stability compared to those in meteorites, rocks and organisms. This stability is considered to be associated with their geochemical properties and has no relationship to the existing environments if it is not disturbed by an anthropogenic factor. In addition, it can serve as a background reference in determining the changes in environmental quality due to human activities.     

Pyrgos earthquake damages (based on E.M.S.-1992) in relation with geological and geotechnical conditions

On 26 March 1993 seismic activity at Ilia, West Peloponnesse, Greece resumed to extensive damages. The more severe destruction, with significant differentiation from one locality to another, was observed at the city of Pyrgos. To get a clear picture of the distribution of intensities, recording of damages was conducted according to the E.M.S.-1992. Application of this method at the wider area of Pyrgos showed that the highest intensity was VIII and the minimum was V. Detailed geological mapping and geotechnical investigation at the city of Pyrgos was also conducted and revealed a number of geological formations with special lithological and geotechnical characteristics. Faults that follow an E-W general direction dominate at the area and are part of the same fault zone that gave the earthquakes. Synthesis of the available data showed that there is a clear correlation between the intensities observed and the geological, tectonic and geotechnical conditions.     

Self-organization in the rapid flow of granular material: evidence for a major flow mechanism

Based on the assumption that high-speed high-concentration sediment mass flows are primarily granular flows, their dynamic properties were studied. Such highly sheared granular flows are characterized by interparticle collisions. This so-called rapid granular flow regime has been analysed using two-dimensional computer simulations. It is shown that granular flows at the microstructural level are governed by deterministic chaos. The bulk behaviour is characterized by self-organization and an attractor controlling the energy dissipation of the flow. The existence of this rapid granular flow attractor easily explains the linear relation between drop height and travel distance of debris flows. A compelling consequence of the attractor is that rapid granular flow is the major flow regime in debris flows.