Benthic nitrate biogeochemistry affected by tidal modulation of Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) through a sandy beach face, Ria Formosa, Southwestern Iberia

To investigate both the role of tides on the timing and magnitude of Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD), and the effect on benthic nitrogen biogeochemistry of nitrate-enriched brackish water percolating upwards at the seepage face, we conducted a study of SGD rates measured simultaneously with seepage meters and mini-piezometers, combined with sets (n = 39) of high resolution in-situ porewater profiles describing NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻, Si(OH)₄ and salinity distribution with depth (0–20 cm). Sampling took place during two consecutive spring tidal cycles in four different months (November 2005, March, April and August 2006) at a backbarrier beach face in the Ria Formosa lagoon, southern Portugal. Our results show that the tide is one of the major agents controlling the timing and magnitude of SGD into the Ria Formosa. Intermittent pumping of brackish, nitrate-bearing water at the beach face through surface sediments changed both the magnitudes and depth distributions of porewater NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ concentrations. The most significant changes in nitrate and ammonium concentrations were observed in near-surface sediment horizons coinciding with increased fraction of N in benthic organic matter, as shown by the organic C:N ratio. On the basis of mass balance calculations executed on available benthic profiles, providing ratios of net Ammonium Production Rate (APR) to Nitrate Reduction Rate (NRR), coupled to stoichiometric calculations based on the composition of organic matter, potential pathways of nitrogen transformation were speculated upon. Although the seepage face occasionally contributes to reduce the groundwater-borne DIN loading of the lagoon, mass balance analysis suggests that a relatively high proportion of the SGD-borne nitrogen flowing into the lagoon may be enhanced by nitrification at the shallow (1–3 cm) subsurface and modulated by dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA).     

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.     

Cost-effective network design for groundwater flow monitoring

The extensive use of groundwater resources has increased the need for developing cost-effective monitoring networks to provide an indication of the degree to which the subsurface environment has been affected by human activities. This study presents a cost-effective approach to the design of groundwater flow monitoring networks. The groundwater network design is formulated with two problem formats: maximizing the statistical monitoring power for specified budget constraint and minimizing monitoring cost for statistical power requirement. The statistical monitoring power constraint is introduced with an information reliability threshold value. A branch and bound technique is employed to select the optimal solution from a discrete set of possible network alternatives. The method is tested to the design of groundwater flow monitoring problem in the Pomona County, California.     

北京平原区基岩井水位的年动态特征及其成因分析

系统阐述了北京平原区１０口地震地下水位动态观测井及其水位年动态特征，主要分析了降雨与开采对年动态特征的影响，讨论了大同－阳高地震前后某些井水位长期异常的信度     

Nitrate in groundwater and N circulation in eastern Botswana

Nitrate pollution due to deep leaching from pit latrines has caused water supply wells in eastern Botswana to exceed health limits concerning nitrate. It was deduced from the estimated intake of salt and protein by the population that, as an average, about 10 percent of the human nitrogen excretion is leached to the groundwater. This fraction was also found in southern India, where on-the-ground excretion is customary. The nitrogen circulation in general in the savanna ecosystem is not appreciably affected in spite of a large livestock density. Overall nitrate leaching is in the order of 1.5 kg N/ha/y, similar to that in another semiarid area in southern India. However, in India, there seems to be a more diffuse areal leaching from agriculture as well as from villages.Measures to minimize the nitrate leaching could be to plant deep-rooted trees adjacent to pit latrines or to use latrines that separate the urine from the faces for a more near-surface infiltration facilitating plant uptake. Measures to minimize leaching will also lessen the rick for bacterial pollution of the groundwater.     

Possible impact of shallow interfluve traps on groundwater remediation

Shallow stratigraphic traps exist in certain geologic environments, which might complicate groundwater remediation efforts. Too often, pump-and-treat remediation wells are installed in geometric patterns designed to maximize cleanup operations. If, however, shallow stratigraphic traps are present, certain contaminants may be locally trapped and thus missed during cleanup operations. Alternatively, if shallow stratigraphic traps are delineated prior to location of cleanup wells, fewer wells may be needed for remediation. For example, a single well located at the trap apex, coupled with a single injection well, might be sufficient if: (1) all contaminants were contained in the trap, and (2) the trap was not laterally extensive. Interfluve stratigraphic traps are formed when braided outwash sands are subsequently covered by backswamp or lacustrine clay deposits. Such traps are common near-surface features of the valley train deposits of the Lower Mississippi River Valley and have relief of a few tens of centimeters to perhaps in excess of 10 m. Interfluve traps are also expected to commonly occur in many glaciated regions. Due to channel migration during backswamp clay deposition, and differing thicknesses of clay cover, it is unlikely that all interfluve traps can be delineated by a single method. Therefore, several geological techniques that might be useful in delineating shallow interfluve traps are briefly discussed here, as well as potential complications in using the described methods.     

线性规划在徐州地下水资源开发中的应用

本文从地下水系统的观点出发,对徐州地区中寒武统—中奥陶统碳酸盐岩地下水系统进行了分析。并应用线性规划的原理和方法对徐州市西郊四个水源地地下水进行了水文地质计算。在规定水位允许降深的约束条件下,求得至2000年,该区地下水最大开采量为14万米~3/天及各水源地相应取水量的最佳分配。文中采用特定条件图解法计算多边界、多主井抽水干扰影响的方法,具有通用意义。     

A theoretical model for change of shape of spring-water radon anomalies with epicentral distance

A model for radon anomalies before earthquakes, with a relatively fast increase in radon concentration at the beginning of the anomaly, is postulated. A calculation based on this model shows that a parameter can be deduced from the form of the radon anomalies, which depends on the epicentral distance of the measurement point. After adjustment of some parameters the model calculation is in good agreement with observed earthquake precursor anomalies.     

长春市深部地下水赋存规律之我见

长春市北西或北北西向扭性断裂或断裂带是客观存在，它对长春市深部地下水循环与循存起控制作用，是深部基岩裂隙水的主要导水通道，且大都为富水带。原北东向压扭性断裂或断裂带起阻水作用，二者相得益彰。笔者于长春北郊贫水区，利用这一新理论，在水文地质调查基础上，结合多种水文物探手段布孔凿井，打出一口水量丰富的优质矿泉水井，进而验证了北西向富水说，了箕市深部地下水赋存规律的新认识，此说不但对长春市供水有实际意义     

环境同位素法在西北地区地下水资源评价中的应用

应用环境同位素方法测定了不同类型地下水的年龄，识别了西北干旱、半干旱地区地下水的补给源，进行了补给量的计算，建立了地下水流系统，并取得了新的成果。