Tracing sediment redistribution across a break in slope using rare earth elements

Experimentally determined spatial patterns of soil redistribution across a break in slope derived using 10 rare earth element (REE) oxides as sediment tracers are presented. An erosion experiment was conducted using simulated rainfall within a laboratory slope model measuring 2·5 m wide by 6 m long with a gradient of 15° declining to 2°. Soil was tagged with multiple REE and placed in different locations over the slope and at the end of the experiment REE concentrations were measured in samples collected spatially. A new method was developed to quantify the erosion and deposition depths spatially, the relative source contributions to deposited sediment and the sediment transport distances. Particle‐size selectivity over an area of net deposition was also investigated, by combining downslope changes in particle‐size distributions with changes in sediment REE composition within a flow pathway. During the experiment, the surface morphology evolved through upslope propagation of rill headcuts, which gradually incised the different REE‐tagged zones and led to sediment deposition at the break in slope and the development of a fan extending over the shallow slope segment. The spatial patterns in REE concentrations, the derived erosion and deposition depths, the relative source contributions to deposition zones and the sediment transport distances, corroborate the morphological observations and demonstrate the potential of using REE for quantifying sediment transport processes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Four thousand years of atmospheric lead pollution in northern Europe: a summary from Swedish lake sediments

This paper presents a large palaeolimnological study of the pre-industrial and industrial history of atmospheric lead pollution deposition in Sweden. Both lead concentrations and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios have been analysed in 31 lakes covering most of Sweden, plus one lake in north-west Russia. Four of the lakes have varved (annually-laminated) sediments. Isotope analysis is a sensitive and effective method to distinguish pollution lead from natural catchment lead and to detect early pollution influence, because the ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio in unpolluted background sediments in Sweden was > 1.3, while that of lead from pollution, derived from ores and coal, was < 1.2. The sediments show a consistent picture of past temporal changes in atmospheric lead pollution. These changes include: the first traces of pollution 3,500-3,000 yrs ago; a pollution peak in Greek-Roman Times (about 0 AD); lower lead fall-out between 400 and 900 AD; a significant and permanent increase in atmospheric lead fall-out from about 1000 AD; an increase with the Industrial revolution; a major increase following World War II; the maximum peak in the 1970s; and decreasing fall-out over the last decades. The four varved sediments provide high-resolution records of atmospheric pollution. They reveal pollution peaks about 1200 and 1530 AD which match the history of metal production in Europe. According to the varve records the lead pollution level in the late 1990s had decreased beneath the level of the 1530s. The pollution level 1200 AD was about 35% of the 1980s, when lead pollution was still near its all time high. About 50% of the total accumulated atmospheric lead pollution deposition through time was deposited in the pre-industrial period. The sediments also show a consistent picture of the geographic distribution of atmospheric lead deposition over time, with higher deposition in south Sweden and declining levels to the north, which supports the hypothesis that the main sources of pre-industrial atmospheric lead pollution in Sweden were cultural areas in mainland Europe and Great Britain.     

Sediment infiltration traps: their use to monitor salmonid spawning habitat in headwater tributaries of the Cascapédia River,Québec

Sediment infiltration can clog salmon nests and reduce egg survival. As a countermeasure, environmental managers often deploy infiltration traps to monitor sediment infiltration. Traps provide a repeatable means of measuring infiltration and enable comparisons to be made between sites. Results from infiltration rates measured with traps have also been used to estimate infilling rates into salmon nests. Application of these data is questionable, as the composition of the bed and the amount of fine sediment within the bed is known to affect infiltration rates. Thus, infiltration rates measured with infiltration traps may differ from the infiltration rates occurring in redd and riffle gravels. To examine how relationships between sediment infiltration rates varied between four watersheds, we continuously monitored suspended sediment transport, shear stress and infiltration rates at four sites over 5 months. We also compared infiltration rates measured with infiltration traps with changes in the hydraulic conductivity and subsurface grain size distribution of adjacent artificially constructed salmon nests and natural riffle gravels. Among the four watersheds, clear differences in sediment infiltration rates were observed. The differences correlated with the subsurface silt content but no strong relationship existed between land‐use or basin physiography/geology. Despite observing an average of 30 kg m⁻² of sediment finer than 2 mm being deposited in the infiltration traps during the study, no change in redd or riffle substrate was observed. If the deposition rates measured with the traps reflect the processes in redds, enough sediment would have been deposited to inhibit egg emergence. However, no reduction in egg survival to the eyed stage was observed. In summary, our results show that infiltration traps with clean gravels can be used to detect intersite differences in sediment transport regimes. Extrapolations of sediment infiltration rates measured with such collectors to estimate infiltration rates in redds or riffles is, however, flawed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一个高分辨对流层物质交换模式

在区域酸沉积模式(RADM)基础上,设计了一个高分辨对流层(TL)物质交换模式(EM3)。EM3在以下五个方面明显不同于RADM:第一,增加行星边界层(PBL)的垂直网格层次;第二、TL内考虑分层的垂直涡旋扩散系数型;第三,使用TL内分层的水平涡旋扩散系数型;第四,采用包含有植物冠层垂直结构影响的新干沉积速度型;第五,使用数值扩散小的二阶矩守恒平流格式.用EM3和RADM对OSCAR Ⅳ实例作对比模拟,结果表明EM3能更好地预测出TL内的三维物质分布规律,在同样条件下,两模式预测的PBL低层中心浓度比值均大于1.8,最大值可大于3。     

SEDIMENT TRANSPORT OF LOW CONCENTRATION IN PIPES

The study of Sediment transport of low concentration in pipes bas been applied in the design of a self-cleansing storm sewer. An alternative criterion is suggested as op- posed to the widely used single flow velocity approach. A conceptual model which simu- lates the condition in a storm sewer is developed and tested against experimental data. The results proved that the volumetric sediment concentration, pipe diameter and sedi- ment size have to be taken into consideration to produce a self-cleansing storm sewer. It also shows that the slope obtained by this alternative criterion is lower than the single flow velocity approach.     

Aspects of the cycle of inorganic nitrogen compounds in the tropical rain forest of the Ivory Coast

A partial balance of mineral N is given for the basins of two coastal rivers in a forest zone in the Ivory Coast. The dry and wet depositions on the basin surfaces is given for particulate matter (NO₃ ^–, NH₄ ⁺). The quantity of mineral N washed away in the rivers is evaluated. The losses from leaching of the soils by rainwater are about 0.33 to 1.0% of the atmospheric depositions for NH₄ ⁺–N and 2.2 to 5.8% for NO₃ ^––N. The yearly atmospheric input of N compounds to the ecosystem, about 1.4 g N m^–2 y^–1, is at least 14% of mineral N formed in the soils and is therefore quite significant.     

河南西峡-内乡琥珀矿床的初步研究

河南西峡-内乡琥珀矿床是我国琥珀市场上原料的重要产地。通过对该矿床的地层、岩相、古地理以及水动力条件等因素的分析研究，以及对琥珀矿体地质特征、琥珀物理性质及化学组成特征的研究，认为该琥珀矿床属于晚白垩世河流冲、洪积沉积矿床。     

冲淤变动型沟谷泥石流防治结构及计算

本文以平川沟泥石流为例 ,基于对冲淤变动型沟谷泥石流基本特性的分析 ,遵循“以泄为主、导排结合”的防治原则 ,提出了有效治理此类泥石流的汇流 #速流结构 ;运用地基梁计算理论对速流槽进行了力学分析计算 ,比较详细地进行了汇流槽侧墙、锚固桩的内力计算。     

我国再次发现硒铅矿

本文报道了我国再次在华南6217花岗岩型铀矿床中发现硒铅矿，测定了该矿物的化学成分，结合该铀矿床的矿物组合和成矿物理化学条件，讨论了硒铅矿的生成环境。     

A Eulerian air pollution model for Europe with nonlinear chemistry

A long-range transport model with nonlinear chemical reactions is described. The model contains 35 pollutants and 70 chemical reactions. This is a Eulerian model defined on a space domain containing the whole of Europe. The spherical space domain (corresponding to the Earth's surface covered by the model) is mapped into a square plane domain and discretized by using a 32×32 grid. The grid increments are equidistant (both along the Ox axis and along the Oy axis). The choice of values of the physical parameters involved in the model and the numerical treatment of the model are shortly discussed. The model is tested with meteorological data for 1985 and 1989. The numerical results are compared with measurements at stations located in different European countries. Extensive comparisons of ozone concentrations for July 1985 with measurements taken at 24 European stations are also carried out. Results concerning three episodes in July 1985 as well as results obtained in the study of the sensitivity of the ozone concentrations to variations of NO _x and/or anthropogenic VOC emissions are presented. The advantages and the limitations of such a model are discussed. The model is continuously improved by adding new modules to it. The plans for improvements in the near future are outlined.