Origin of salinity in a multilayered aquifer with high salinization vulnerability

The Kaluvelly watershed is a coastal area (Tamil Nadu, India) where water abstraction has resulted in a dramatic fall in the level of the water table and a piezometric depression in the most exploited aquifer, the Vanur aquifer. In addition, intensification/mechanization of agriculture may have affected the quality of recharge water. An initial hydrodynamic study showed that the Vanur aquifer is highly vulnerable to salinization due to potential seawater intrusion, and our aim was to determine the source of salinity recorded in the groundwater of this multilayered aquifer. Our approach involved the use of existing boreholes and of a moderate number of samples, with the aim of developing appropriate water resource management techniques. Major element, ¹⁸O/¹⁶O, ²H/¹H and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ratios were measured in rainwater, surface water and groundwater collected during five sampling campaigns over a 2‐year period. Geochemical data indicate that the Vanur aquifer is recharged and that small mixings between aquifers fluctuate according to monsoon intensity. There was no evidence of seawater intrusion. The range of recorded salinity originated mainly from water–rock interaction but a disconnection of some deeper parts of the aquifer was apparent. Strontium isotopic ratios in the recharge area suggest an anthropogenic influence, possibly related to fertilizer use. A high SO₄/Cl ratio was observed in the aquifer; in the deeper parts, the influence of a formation containing lignite is hypothesized, whereas near the surface, sulphate may partly originate from fertilizer use and fossil fuel combustion. Water isotopic data suggest that the origin of precipitation in this region has been unchanged for several hundreds or thousands of years. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation of source water to cedar elm in a central Texas riparian ecosystem

A riparian ecosystem downstream of a small dam in central Texas was instrumented for sap flow, soil moisture content, and stream level from 2001. Stable isotopes in water (D and ¹⁸O) were analysed from rainfall, stream, lake, and cored sapwood cellulose from cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia). The isotope signature of water source to cedar elm was identified by back calculation starting with the water isotopes in cellulose, and accounting for leaf‐water evaporation and biological fractionation during cellulose synthesis. The estimated mean isotope of the source water to cedar elm was enriched above rainfall in similarity to stream water during 2002. Flow paths that may have contributed to estimated variability from regional base flow and recharge water were identified using the variably saturated HYDRUS‐2D model. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of the surface microlayer on the flux of nonconservative trace gases (CO,H2, CH4, N2O) across the ocean-atmosphere interface

Gas exchange experiments were conducted in the tropical Atlantic Ocean during a ship expedition with FS Meteor using a small rubber raft. The temporal change of the mixing ratios of CO, H₂, CH₄ and N₂O in the headspace of a floating glass box and the concentrations of these gases in the water phase were measured to determine their transfer velocities across the ocean-atmosphere interface. The ocean acted as a sink for these gases when the water was undersaturated with respect to the mixing ratio in the headspace. The transfer velocities were different for the individual gases and showed still large differences even when normalized for diffusivity. Applying the laminar film model, film thicknesses of 20 to 70 m were calculated for the observed flux rates of the different gas species. When the water was supersaturated with respect to atmospheric CO, H₂, CH₄ and N₂O, the transfer velocities of the emission process were smaller than those determined for the deposition process. In case of H₂ and CH₄, emission was even not calculable although, based on the observed gradient, the laminar film model predicted significant fluxes at the air-sea interface. The results are interpreted by destruction processes active within the surface microlayer.     

Production of N2O,CH4, and CO2 from soils in the tropical savanna during the dry season

Emissions of N₂O, CH₄, and CO₂ from soils at two sites in the tropical savanna of central Venezuela were determined during the dry season in February 1987. Measured arithmetic mean fluxes of N₂O, CH₄, and CO₂ from undisturbed soil plots to the atmosphere were 2.5×10⁹, 4.3×10¹⁰, and 3.0×10¹³ molecules cm^-2 s^-1, respectively. These fluxes were not significantly affected by burning the grass layer. Emissions of N₂O increased fourfold after simulated rainfall, suggesting that production of N₂O in savanna soils during the rainy season may be an important source for atmospheric N₂O. The CH₄ flux measurements indicate that these savanna soils were not a sink, but a small source, for atmospheric methane. Fluxes of CO₂ from savanna soils increased ninefold two hours after simulated rainfall, and remained three times higher than normal after 16 hours. More research is needed to clarify the significance of savannas in the global cycles of N₂O, CH₄, CO₂, and other trace gases, especially during the rainy season.     

Application of AMD to the Determination of Cropprotection Agents in Drinking Water. Part III: Solid Phase Extraction and Affecting Factors Anwendung der AMD-Technik zur Bestimmung von Pflanzenbehandlungsmittel-Wirkstoffen im Trinkwasser. Teil III: Festphasenextraktion und ihre Einflußfaktoren

The more sensitive an analysis method the more care must be given to sample preparation. Solid phase extraction (SPE) onto RP 18 phases has established itself as a general purification and enrichment technique for trace components in aqueous samples. Various factors may thereby influence the recovery rate. For example, the ratio amount of sorbent and sample volume should be taken into account to avoid breakthrough of the investigated substance. Extracting phenylurea herbicides from drinking water, the ratio should be 1 g RP 18 sorbent per 1 L water sample. Concerning the flow rate for the fungicides procymidone, vinclozolin, and iprodione, the recovery rate decreases using higher flow rates than 3 or 6 mL/min. In the case of phenylurea herbicides, a flow rate of 10 or 14 mL/min showed best results. Even the coefficient of variation is below ± 5% at these flow rates. Furthermore, the company dependence should be considered because the recovery rate might differ by up to 40% using the nominally identical material. The same applies to the batch dependence of quality from the same company. The concentration of the eluate must also be monitored and carried out with great care to avoid decreasing the recovery rate. Considering these factors of influence, SPE is a very useful tool in sample preparation, particularly if an automated system is used.     

Infiltration-driven dehydration and anatexis in granulite facies metagabbro, Grenville Province, Ontario, Canada

Dark hornblende + garnet-rich, quartz-absent metagabbro boudins from the Seguin subdomain, Ontario Grenville Province, are transected by anastomosing light-coloured veins rich in orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, plagioclase and sometimes quartz. The veins vary in texture from fine-grained diffuse veins and patches that overprint the metagabbro, to coarse tonalitic leucosomes with sharp borders. The diffuse veins and patches are suggestive of channellized subsolidus dehydration of the metagabbro, while the tonalitic leucosomes are suggestive of local internally-derived anatexis. All vein types grade smoothly into each other, with the tonalitic leucosomes being the latest.
Relative to the host metagabbro, the veins have higher Si, Na, Ba & Sr, lower Fe, Mg, Ca & Ti, and similar Al. The coarser veins are enriched in K. Plagioclase becomes steadily enriched in Na in the transition from host metagabbro (An₄₇) to the veins (An₃₅), and in the coarsest veins it is antiperthitic. Differences in composition of the other minerals between host metagabbro and vein are minor. Pressure–temperature estimates are scattered, but indicate a minimum temperature during vein formation of 700°C at about 8 kbar.
Mass balance constraints indicate that the veins formed from the metagabbro in an open system. The transecting veins are interpreted to represent pathways of Si + Na + Ba + Sr ± K ± Al-enriched, low a _H2O fluids that metasomatized the host metagabbro to form the anhydrous veins. An initial period of localized solid-state dehydration of the metagabbro, represented by the diffuse veins, was followed by a transition to localized anatexis, represented by the tonalitic leucosomes. The change to anatexis may have been due to the addition of K to the infiltrating fluid. The source and delivery mechanism of the fluids is unknown.     

Emission of aliphatic amines from animal husbandry and their reactions: Potential source of N2O and HCN

We measured the emissions of volatile aliphatic amines and ammonia produced by the manure of beef cattle, dairy cows, swine, laying hens and horses in livestock buildings. The amine emissions consisted almost exclusively of the three methylamines and correlated with those of ammonia. The molar emission ratios of the methylamines to ammonia, and data on NH₃ emissions from animal husbandry in Europe, together with global statistics on domestic animals, were used to estimate the global emissions of amines. Annual global methylamine-N input to the atmosphere from animal husbandry in 1988 was 0.15±0.06 TgN (Tg=10¹² g). Almost 3/4 of these emissions consisted of trimethylamine-N. This represents about half of all methylamine emissions to the atmosphere. Other sources are marine coastal waters and biomass burning.Possible reaction pathways for atmospheric methylamines are shown. Among various speculative but possible products N₂O and HCN are of interest because the emission of methylamines could contribute to the global budgets of these compounds. Maximum atmospheric N₂O production from methylamines are below 0.4 Tg N/year, which is less than 10% of the annual N₂O growth rate. Although we do not expect the methylamine emissions to contribute in a major way to the atmospheric N₂O budget, more studies are needed to establish this conclusion beyond doubt. Similar conclusions hold for HCN.     

从全波段太阳直射辐射确定大气气溶胶光学厚度 II：实验研究

本文通过比较太阳直射表和太阳光度计探测的大气柱气溶胶光学厚度，分析了从太阳直射表探测的全波段太阳直射光强信息确定大气柱气溶胶光学厚度的误差，并应用北京观象台的太阳直射表观测资料，反演得到了 1990—1993年北京大气柱气溶胶光学厚度，分析了该光学厚度月与年变化规律以及1991年菲律宾皮纳图博火山爆发对北京大气气溶胶含量的影响。本文还提出了关于有效水汽含量的一个经验关系式，用于确定水汽对太阳辐射的吸收率。     

中国西北C-3植物的碳同位素组成与年降雨量关系初探

 本文对不同年降雨量环境下生长的藜、独行菜、魁蓟和平车前这4种常见C-3植物的δ¹³C进行了分析,发现这4种C-3植物的δ¹³C组成都表现出随年降雨量减少而变重的趋势,其中藜和独行菜的碳同位素组成对降水变化的响应相对要较其它2种植物强烈得多。藜、独行菜和魁蓟的δ¹³C组成与年降雨量有显著的线性关系,平车前碳同位素组成与年降雨量没有显著的相关性,表明藜、独行菜和魁蓟的δ¹³C组成可作为年降雨量的替代性指标,平车前的δ¹³C组成不能作为年降水的替代性指标。