Fluorescence as a Tool for Tracing the Organic Contamination from Pulp Mill Effluents in Surface Waters

Three‐dimensional fluorescence spectra of water samples from an eucalyptus bleached kraft pulp mill and from a river, upstream and downstream of the discharge of the effluent, revealed the existence of a peak at δ_exc = 280 nm and δ_em = 340 nm Δδ = 60 nm), characteristic of effluentπs organic matter. Humic substances were isolated from the effluent by sequential adsorption onto resins XAD‐8 and XAD‐4 in series. Their synchronous fluorescence spectra with Δδ = 60 nm do also exhibit an intense signal at δ_exc = 280 nm (≈ 300 nm in the humic acid fraction). The peak is absent in the spectra of humic substances isolated from a non‐polluted site of the river, but it is clearly seen in the spectra of the humic substances from a site downstream of the discharge of the effluent. Synchronous fluorescence spectra (Δδ = 60 nm) of water samples from the river and its lagoon were recorded and revealed to be an easy and fast way of tracing the organic contamination from the effluent.     

Differences between Humic Substances from Riverine,Estuarine, and Marine Environments Observed by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Sixteen samples of fulvic acids and XAD‐4 fractions of riverine, estuarine, coastal, and open ocean origin have been studied by emission and synchronous molecular fluorescence spectroscopy. Certain features of the molecular fluorescence are related to the nature, the content, and the origin of those aquatic humic substances (HS). Riverine HS appear several times richer in fluorophores than marine HS, which can be well observed by emission fluorescence spectroscopy. Synchronous‐scan spectra of fulvic acids and of XAD‐4 fractions from the aquatic environments studied, emphasized the quality differences of their fluorophores. These features are useful as tracers of humic substances related with their natural environment source or even with their anthropogenic origin.     

The Geochemical Effects of Microbial Humic Substances Reduction

As part of a study on microbial redox alteration of humic substances we investigated the potential effect of this metabolism on the fate of heavy metals and hydrocarbons as a result of conformational alteration of the humic molecular structure due to microbial reduction. Our studies indicate that the microbial reduction of humic acids (HA) results in significant morphological and geochemical alterations. X‐ray microscopy analysis indicate that the conformational structure of the humic colloids is altered as a result of the redox change. In the reduced state, the HA appeared as small dense particles, on reoxidation, large loose aggregates were formed. In addition, spectrofluorometric studies indicated that the binding capacity of the HA for naphthalene was decreased by 10% when the HA was reduced. Similarly, the reduced HA yielded higher surface tension values at all concentrations tested which is indicative of a more hydrophilic and less hydrophobic solute. On reoxidation, the surface tension values reverted back to values similar to those obtained for the untreated oxidized HA. These data indicate that the hydrophobicity of the HA is altered on biological reduction of the HA and that this alteration is reversible. In contrast the reduced HA demonstrated a 15% higher affinity for heavy metals such as divalent cobalt than the oxidized HA. In addition to increasing the binding capacity of HA for heavy metals, the reduction of the HA also decreased the bioavailability and toxicity of bound heavy metals such as chromium. When incubated in the presence of Cr(III) and HA, cells of Escherichia coli grew much more rapidly in the presence of the reduced HA suggesting that the higher metal binding capacity of the reduced humic substances resulted in a removal of the Cr(III) from solution and hence reduced its bioavailability and toxicity. These studies demonstrate that HA redox state and reduction of humic acids by microorganisms can have a significant effect on the molecular morphology and binding constants of HA for heavy metals and hydrocarbons and also directly affects the bioavailability of these compounds in the environment.     

Sampling Method for the Determination of Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC) in Strongly Acidic Waters

Samples from extremely acidic waters should be taken using the introduced syringe technique avoiding atmospheric contact to minimize CO2 evaporation from the samples. The syringe technique inclusive manual injection enables the determination of TIC in acid waters with high precision and accuracy. If a TOC analyser with a small sample volume is used, the vials should be filled directly inside the water sampler without air bubbles, covered with aluminium foil and transported at ambient water temperatures. If an autosampler is used, partial selection of the vials increases the stability of the results. Care should be taken that samples can be analysed within a short time.     

Are temporal variations in the nitrate content of UK upland freshwaters linked to the North Atlantic Oscillation?

Synchronous patterns of variation in NO₃ concentration, observed in upland lakes and streams across gradients of climate, altitude, land use and nitrogen deposition over the last decade, show a strong negative correlation with winter values for the North Atlantic Oscillation Index and mean winter temperature. Variations in a longer term stream NO₃ record validate this relationship, and although mechanisms are yet unclear, may be linked to the length of time the soil profile remains frozen during the winter. These findings are of particular significance to our understanding of the relationship between atmospheric N deposition and concentrations and fluxes of NO₃ in runoff, and the potential response to future climatic changes. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A stochastic framework for downscaling processes of spatial averages based on the property of spectral multiscaling and its statistical diagnosis on spatio-temporal rainfall fields

Spectral multi-scaling postulates a power-law type of scaling of spectral distribution functions of stationary processes of spatial averages, over nested and geometrically similar sub-regions of the spatial parameter space of a given spatio-temporal random field. Presently a new framework is formulated for down-scaling processes of spatial averages, following naturally from the postulate of spectral multi-scaling, and key ingredients required for its implementation are described. Moreover, results from an extensive diagnostic study are presented, seeking statistical evidence supportive of spectral multi-scaling. Such evidence emerges from two sources of data. One is a 13 year long historical record of radar observations of rainfall in southeastern UK (Chenies radar), with high spatial (2 km) and temporal (5 min) resolution. The other is an ensemble of rain rate fields simulated by a spatio-temporal random pulse model fitted to the historical data. The results are consistent between historical and simulated rainfall data, indicating frequency-dependent scaling relationships interpreted as evidence of spectral multi-scaling across a range of spatial scales.     

Spatial Variation of the Precipitation Chemistry in the Thrace Region of Turkey

Pollutants affect not only the environment in which they originate since they are also transported by air currents to other locations. For this reason, air pollution is a global problem for all countries and the air and water quality need to be monitored carefully. More information on precipitation chemistry is required to determine the source of pollution as well as its effects on the ecosystems. In this study, precipitation chemistry has been analyzed for the first time by using simple bulk collectors located at four different sites in Northwest Turkey for a period of two years. About 650 sequential rainwater samples were collected and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, anions such as , , Cl^?, and cations such as Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and . The selected sites were under the effect of different environmental factors. Our results showed that the highest and concentrations were measured in the Northwest of the research area. Additionally, it has been found that Ca²⁺ ions are abundant within all rainwater samples.     

地面雨滴谱观测技术及特征研究进展

雨滴谱是反映降水微观物理过程和宏观动力结构的主要指标之一.通过分析雨色斑滴谱,可以深入了解降水的发展和演变过程,揭示降水机制.传统雨滴谱测量包括动力学法、滤纸色斑法、面粉团法、快速摄影法和浸润法等,但是普遍存在精度低、工作量大、实时性差、成本高及无法自动完成测量分类等缺点.以雨滴谱仪为代表的新型雨滴谱测量技术包括冲击雨滴谱仪、光学雨滴谱仪和声学雨滴谱仪以及雷达技术等克服了这些缺点,在降水粒子观测和降水物理研究中发挥了重要的作用.综合概述了描述雨滴谱的主要分布模型及其适用条件.归纳分析了不同降水云系(对流云、层状云和层积云降水)、不同降水类型(大陆云和海洋云降水)及不同高度处观测的降水的雨滴谱特征.从学科发展趋势和社会需求的角度,概述了有关雨滴谱研究中存在的主要问题和发展趋势.