A 200-year record of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contamination in an ombrotrophic peatland in Great Hinggan Mountain,northeast China

Peat bogs are regarded as one of the faithful archives of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) deposition, and a large number of studies on PAHs accumulation in peatlands have been reported in Europe and North America. Comparatively little information is available on peat chronological records of atmospheric PAHs flux in China. We investigated the concentrations and historical accumulation rates of PAHs(AR PAHs) through geochemical analysis of three 210Pb-dated ombrotrophic peat cores from Great Hinggan Mountain, northeast China. Eight USEPA priority PAHs were detected and they are naphthalene(Nap), acenaphthylene(Acl), acenaphthene(Ace), fluorence(Flu), phenanthrene(Phe), anthracene(Ant), fluoranthene(Fla) and pyrene(Pyr), respectively. The average total eight PAHs(tPAHs) concentrations are 135.98- 262.43 μg kg-1 and the average AR tPAHs over the last two centuries are 96.45- 135.98 μg m-2 yr-1. The Ace, Acl and Phe account for 30.93- 54.04%, 25.29- 35.81%, and 9.14- 19.84% of the tPAHs, respectively, and have significant positive correlations with the tPAH. As a result, they are regarded as the iconic compounds of PAHs pollution in this area. A ca.200-yr atmospheric PAHs contamination history was reconstructed from the temporal sequences of bothconcentration and AR tPAHs, suggesting the variation of local environmental pollution. The main sources of the PAHs are identified by two isomer ratios as petrogenic origin including oil extraction and refining process as well as their combustions for industrial development. In addition, the contribution of coal combustion for industrial activities and resident heating could not be ignored. But prior to 1860, the undeveloped industry and most of agricultural activities might mainly account for the low level of PAHs, although it could infer a long-range input of atmospheric PAHs from other industrial areas. Therefore, there is a global implication to study longterm PAHs pollution records and all the results will provide practical significance in formulating policies to achieve sustainable and healthy development.     

两次春季强风暴天气环境场对比分析

利用NCAR/NCEP再分析资料和常规气象观测资料,对发生在长江中下游的两次春季强风暴天气影响系统、不稳定条件、触发机制进行对比分析。结果表明:(1)两次强风暴天气,都是在东北冷涡大背景、高空槽、低层切变线和偏西气流的有利形势下产生的;(2)两次强风暴过程的近地面比湿不足12 g/kg,相对湿度在600 hPa附近呈现低—高—低的变化,近地面的水汽通量在强对流发生地附近辐合;(3)流场分布表征:低层辐合、高层辐散;强风暴发生前后垂直速度是下沉—上升—上升运动减弱的变化;(4)风暴发生前近地层温度梯度明显加强;K指数30℃、SWEAT指数100;(5)上层干冷空气下传侵入引发的对流不稳定层结、较强垂直风切变、能量锋区的存在、高低空急流耦合所造成的抽吸作用均有利于触发强对流天气的产生;(6)两次强风暴过程的不同点有:近地面第1次过程的湿度比第2次过程的湿度低;第1次过程的能量锋区自下而上北抬,第2次过程南撤。     

Flood-duration-integrated stream power and frequency magnitude of >50-year-long sediment discharge out of a hyperarid watershed

Determining sediment discharge out of watersheds is a global, long-term challenge. In the vast, usually data-poor, hyperarid regions of the world, this is a greater challenge. Here, we present a unique, decades-long dataset of individual floods and their respective sediment discharge out of Nahal Yael, an experimental, well-instrumented, hyperarid (~25–30 mm year⁻¹) watershed in southern Israel. The high correlation between directly measured sediment yield by discrete individual floods and their respective total energy, represented by flood-integrated stream power (FISP), serves here as a rating curve. Using this rating curve, the 51-year-long series of FISP in Nahal Yael, calculated from the detailed individual flood hydrographs, was converted into a series of sediment yield by these floods. This, in turn, allows determining the long-term frequency-magnitude of sediment exported out of this hyperarid basin. This can assist in landscape evolution modeling, in testing impacts of flood frequency changes enforced by altered regional climatology, and hint at changes needed in forming the observed alluvial fans. We conclude that, at the decadal scale, moderate floods are the most effective in terms of total sediment transport. However, the recurrence intervals of these moderate hyperarid floods are longer than in temperate regions and reach 5–10 years.     

青海省纳日宗地区水系沉积物地球化学特征及找矿远景

纳日宗地区位于南祁连岩浆弧和宗务隆山—夏河—甘加裂谷的接触部位,该区及其周边已发现金属矿床(点)10余处,具有良好的金、铅、铜矿找矿前景。以该区1∶5万水系沉积物测量的16种元素含量数据为基础,统计分析了水系沉积物地球化学参数、元素相关性、成矿有利度系数等指标,总结了元素组合、富集贫化规律及其与地质背景、地质构造与成矿作用的关系。区内主要富集元素为Sn、Pb、Bi、As、Sb,成矿有利度系数高的元素有As、Pb、W、Au、Bi、Sb。结果显示,水系沉积物元素异常沿NW—NWW向断裂构造分布,初步认为构造发育地段具有较好的Au、Pb、W找矿潜力。依据单元素异常特征和成矿地质条件,圈定综合异常74处,划分出3个找矿远景区,指出了各找矿远景区的找矿方向。     

AGE STRUCTURES OF MODULES OF CLONAL PEATLAND SEDGE Carex middendorffii

Age structure of a plant population carries important information on population dynamics. The traditional age classification of individuals by development phases could not explain the generation relationship neither between individuals nor between modules, and it could not accurately predict the future of population or the tendency of peatland evolution. In a peatland of the Xiao Hinggan Mountains, China, at the middle of the growth season, the age structures of 3 modules, ramets, active buds and rhizomes of a Carex middendorffii clonal population were investigated, with the method of classifying age classes of ramets and active buds by counting generation quantity of tiller nodes, and classifying age classes of rhizomes by their real survival time. The quantity of vegetative ramets was dominant. Tiller nodes of ramets can propagate vegetatively for a maximum of 3 generations. The population of ramets consisted of 3 age classes of ramets at the middle of the growth season, and showed a stable age structure. In the two sampling events, there was no significant difference between quantities and age structure of the population. The maximum age of an excavated rhizome was 12 years old. Rhizomes were classified in 8 age classes, and age classes 4-6 contributed most to the total biomass. There was no significant difference in total length and total biomass per unit area, or in biomass per unit length in rhizomes between the two samplings. Four age classes of active buds were recognized, and their number increased from July to August. The Carex middendorffii clonal population achieved regeneration by budding from the tiller nodes of ramets. The age structures of the 3 modules suggested that the Carex middendorffii clonal population could persist in the early development phase of the oligotrophic peatland in the Xiao Hinggan Mountains, but it could not be dominant. It also faces the risk to disappear from the community as the peatland develops further.     

Ecosystem scale evapotranspiration and net CO2 exchange from a restored peatland

An understanding of the symbiotic water and gas exchange processes at the ecosystem scale is essential to the development of appropriate restoration plans of extracted peatlands. This paper presents ecosystem scale measurements of the atmospheric exchange of water and carbon dioxide (CO₂) from a restored vacuum extracted peatland in eastern Québec, utilizing full‐scale micrometeorological measurements of both evaporation and CO₂. The results indicate that the adopted restoration practices reduce the loss of water from the peat, but CO₂ emissions are ～25% greater than an adjacent nonrestored comparison site. The blockage of drainage ditches and the existence of a mulch cover at the site keep the moisture conditions more or less constant. Consequently, the CO₂ flux, which is predominantly soil respiration, is strongly controlled by peat temperature fluctuations. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Relevant Magnetic Parameters and Heavy Metals from Relatively Polluted Stream Sediments - Vertical and Longitudinal Distribution Along a Cross-City Stream in Buenos Aires Province,Argentina

Previous magnetic and geochemical studies of stream sediments in the Northeast of Buenos Aires Province, in the Greater La Plata area, have revealed a high level of trace elements, especially lead and zinc. Continuing these preliminary works, new sampling sites were considered in order to improve and increase the magnetic mapping of this area. This part of the study focuses especially on the magnetic properties of sediments from a cross-city stream. Such stream receives a variable pollutant load from urban, industrial and diffuse sources.Concentration-dependent magnetic parameters, magnetic carriers (para, anti and ferrimagnetic) and their features (e.g. softer or harder magnetic carrier, grain size distribution, etc.) have been calculated using magnetic measurements. According to magnetic parameters and heavy metal loads two main distinctive groups of sediment-cores are distinguished. The vertical distribution of sediments reveals a recent anthropogenic influence, possibly, belonging to the last 20-40 years.Four out of all the magnetic parameters (magnetic susceptibility, anhysteric remanent magnetisation, S-ratio and _ARM/) were chosen in order to investigate their relationship with contents of heavy metals. In all the cases, good positive correlations were obtained using linear regression. However, more significant correlation factors were achieved for grain size and magnetic feature-dependent parameters ( _ARM/ and S-ratio) than for magnetic concentration-dependent parameters. Therefore, the _ARM/ and the S-ratio seem to be the most relevant magnetic parameters to describe the vertical and longitudinal distribution of heavy metals present in these stream sediments. The non-significant relationship between heavy metals and concentration-dependent parameters could be explained taking into account the discrimination of the two distinctive groups. The group belonging to the Coastal Plain shows a clear linear trend between heavy metals and magnetic susceptibility and anhysteric remanent magnetisation.     

Quantification and regionalization of groundwater–surface water interaction along an alluvial stream

In the present study, groundwater seepage to an alluvial stream and two tributary streams was examined at nine field sites using hydrological, geophysical, and geomorphological observations. The data indicate that seepage enters the streams in the following ways: (i) directly through the streambed; (ii) as nearly superficial flow from diffuse discharge areas on the flood plains or; (iii) as a combination of (i) and (ii). At about 40% of the sites more than 50% of seepage flows through the streambed. Moreover, it was found that the ratio C, defined as the width of the wet zone of the flood plain divided by the effective width of the stream, can be used as an indicator of the percentage of water entering the stream directly through the streambed. When C is small streambed seepage is large, while when C is large streambed seepage is small and ground water enters the stream mainly as nearly superficial or over-bank flow from the wet zone.