The acid neutralizing capacity （ANC） of South Africa＇s freshwater ecosystems

Acidification is considered the most important one of the primary chemical stress factors that impact on freshwater ecosystems. In unpolluted freshwater systems, the primary controls on the degree of acidification are factors such as the geological substrate of the catchment area, the presence of organic acids secreted by vegetation in the river system, and equilibrium exchange of carbon dioxide with the atmosphere. Anthropogenic factors that can impact on the degree of acidification of freshwater systems include agricultural, mining and industrial activities, either through direct runoff into river systems or through deposition of atmospheric pollutants from these sources. The capacity factors alkalinity and acidity, which represent the acid- and base-neutralizing capacity （ANC and BCN） of an aqueous system, have been used as more reliable measures of the acidic character of freshwater systems than pH. Unlike pH, ANC and BNC are not affected by parameters such as temperature and pressure. Therefore, ANC has been employed as a predictor of biological status in critical load assessments. Freshwater systems with ANC＇s eq/L isμeq/L are considered sensitive to acidification, ANC=0 μbelow 150 commonly used as the predictor for fish species such as trout in lakes, and an eq/L as more realistic for streams. Acid-neutralizing capacity μANC value of 40 （ANC） can be determined by titration with a strong acid to a preselected equivalence point. Alternatively, it can be calculated as the difference between base cations （[BC]） and strong acid anions （[SAA]）： ANC=[BC]- [SAA]=[Ca^2＋]＋[Mg^2＋]＋[Na^＋]＋[K^＋]-[SO4^2-]-[NO3^-]-[Cl^-] To date, there has been no attempt to establish the ANC of South Africa＇s freshwater ecosystems or variability therein, despite the fact that long-term water quality monitoring data exist for all the parameters needed to calculate it according to the above equations. As a result, the relationship between the acid neutralizing capacity of freshwater ecosystems in South Africa and biodiversity factors, such as fish status, is unknown. Results of the first comprehensive （country-wide scale） evaluation of the acid neutralizing capacity of river systems in South Africa will be presented. Long-term monitoring data obtained from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry （DWAF） from most of South Africa＇s river systems were used to establish geographic and temporal variabilities in ANC. The results show that the Berg and Breede River systems are most susceptible to acidification, and that geological substrate appears to explain most of the geographic variabilities observed.     

Early diagenesis of nurtrients （C, N, P and Si） stored in sediments of two reservoirs in southwestern China

Damming is a common anthropogenic intervention along the course of rivers, which is defined as ＂artificial-lake effect＂, both in China and across the world. Today as many as 48000 dams and/or reservoirs are in operation in the Changjiang River （Yangtze River） drainage area, and more are being constructed. While damming is well known to affect riverbome nutrient loads, and thus the riverine ecosystems owing to removal of carbon fixation, and removal of particles in reservoir sediments, there is limited information on the detailed early diagenesis of sediments in reservoirs including the regeneration processes of nutrients deposited in sediments and exchange flux across the sediment-water interface, which is important for mass balance of riverbome nutrients. In the present study, two large-size reservoirs, Wujiangdu Reservoir （WJDR） and Dongfeng Reservoir （DFR）, located on the main steam of the Wujiang River and with uniformity hydrography and discrepancy biogeochemical activity （e. g. primary production）, were selected for a comparative study on the detailed processes of nutrient regeneration. Water, pore water and sediment were sampled from these two reservoirs and dissolved organic carbon （DOC）, NH4^＋, NO3^-, PO4^3-, dissolved silica （DSi） in the overlying water and pore water, and total organic matter in sediments were determined. The results of correlation analysis suggested that in these two reservoirs, processes of nutrient regeneration near the sediment-water interface were significantly different. As a result of rapid decomposition of algae-derived ＂labile＂ organic matter in upper sediments, nutrient regeneration processes and upward fluxes in WJDR are dramatically stronger than those of DFR. NH4^＋ upward flux from sediment in WJDR was about 17 times higher than that in DFR. PO4^3- flux in WJDR is about 13 times above that in DFR. DOC flux in WJDR is larger that in DFR by 5 times, and DSi by 1 time.     

10th International Riversymposium ＆ International Conference on Environmental Flows 3-6 September, 2007

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this event! This event will bring together world experts - practitioners, lawyers and policy experts, scientists, sociologists, economists, and others representing project-based efforts, national perspectives, and global insight - to provide a holistic view of river management and environmental flows. It will showcase practices from throughout the world, provide opportunities for networking, and advance common knowledge related to the themes and sub-themes of this conference.     

三工河流域222团竖井排灌区潜水动态分析

222团地处三工河流域冲洪积细土平原下游,40多年来的农业生产灌溉,使灌区大部分地区处于潜水临界埋深以上,土壤次生盐渍化加剧.分析了灌区潜水埋深动态特征及其影响因素,就竖井排灌区地下水开采量与潜水埋深关系进行回归分析计算,建立了开采量预测模型.     

我国湿地面积亚洲第一

近期完成的全国首次湿地资源调查显示，我国现有湿地面积3848万hm^2，居亚洲第一位，世界第四位。     

乌鲁木齐区域数字遥测台网各子台背景噪声分析

选取乌鲁木齐区域数字遥测台网中 1 1个子台的背景噪声数字记录 ,计算并分析其背景噪声地动速度均方根值 RMS、有效测量动态范围以及噪声功率谱 ,最后确定出各台址背景噪声相对集中的频段     

深切怀念杨利普先生

20 0 1年岁末 ,中国著名地理学家、原中国科学院地学部地理学科组成员、中国地理学会水文专业委员会委员、中国自然资源研究会干旱区专业委员会委员、新疆地理学会副理事长、《干旱区地理》杂志的老主编、顾问杨利普研究员 ,不幸因病逝世。在此万分悲痛之际 ,为缅怀杨利普先生对中国地理科学尤其是对新疆现代地理学开拓性的贡献和成就 ,纪念杨先生学闻广博、虚怀若谷的高风亮节 ,铭记杨先生多年来始终如一的对《干旱区地理》杂志的指导与关怀 ,特发表王树基、胡汝骥、杨川德三位研究员的纪念文章 ,以表达我们对杨利普先生深切怀念之情。     

气候变化对洮河流域水资源的影响

过去40多年来，洮河流域主要产流区甘南高原的气候和生态环境发生了显著变化，通过对引洮工程的引水区——流域上游40多年的实测水文气象数据的统计分析发现，降水和径流总体下降趋势非常明显，20世纪80年代至90年代降水径流减少更多，达35％；而气温则呈上升趋势，但上升幅度没有降水径流的下降幅度大。由于气候升温变暖、草原载畜过量以及过度砍伐森林，导致气候干旱化、山区水土流失加剧、草原植被退化和沙漠化，这一切都将对未来引洮工程发挥效益产生不利影响。