河流水沙运动对污染物迁移转化效应研究进展

河道内水流和泥沙是污染物迁移转化的主要载体,研究河道内污染物迁移转化过程以及水沙运动对其影响对于治理日益恶化的河流水环境非常重要。结合国内外研究最新动态,对水沙运动作用下污染物迁移转化的试验研究、作用机理、理论模式和数学模型等进行了总结和概述,重点对几种典型的理论模式和数学模型进行了比较分析。目前河流水沙运动对污染物迁移转化效应相关研究存在试验方法比较局限、作用机理存在分歧、理论模式和数学模型不完备等问题,需要进一步进行室内和野外试验技术创新、颗粒界面动力学的微观探索以及污染物在上下覆水和界面上迁移转化理论研究。对河流水沙运动对污染物迁移转化效应研究的研究方向提出了展望。     

云南禄劝付腥田铁矿地质特征

通过对云南禄劝付腥田铁矿区的地质普查工作,发现了2个赤铁矿体、2个磁铁矿体和3个铁矿化点,铁矿体受控于中元古界美党组五段、三段,矿床成因为美党组高含铁质碎屑沉积再经后期热液改造的沉积变质型铁矿床.     

长江三角洲对流域输沙变化的响应:进展与问题

流域变化对河流三角洲的影响已成为全球性的问题。由于流域水库建设的影响,长江输沙率自1980年以来呈现明显下降趋势,引发了研究人员对长江三角洲地貌和沉积响应问题的关注。在地貌上,海图对比和海岸冲淤观测的证据显示,长江输沙率目前已经低于冲淤平衡的临界值,使三角洲进入了蚀退阶段。分析表明,根据水下三角洲部分范围的沉积速率与河流输沙率的关系进行计算,会过低估计临界输沙率。对于水下三角洲整体而言,应根据沉积物滞留指数来更准确地估算临界输沙率,而且需要区分2个"临界输沙率",一个是保持三角洲体积的临界值,另一个是保持三角洲陆上部分面积的临界值。在沉积响应上,来自长江水下三角洲沉积中心的柱状样显示出沉积速率自下而上减小的趋势,反映了流域输沙率变化的影响。今后,如将柱状样采集区域扩大到沉积中心之外的整个水下三角洲范围,则所获得的数据不仅有助于沉积速率响应特征的全面了解,而且还可应用于沉积物滞留指数特征和控制因素的分析以及河口区碳循环过程变化的研究。此外,在长江三角洲沉积记录的分析方面,为了更好地提取气候、环境演化信息,应充分考虑沉积记录形成后所经历的自身变化(如成岩作用变化、分解和衰变等)和相对于岸线迁移的空间位置变化。     

A literature review on trace metals and organic compounds of anthropogenic origin in the Wider Caribbean Region

About 30 studies from the published literature were reviewed to determine the pollution status regarding heavy metals and organic compounds of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR). The literature revealed that most studies were performed in the South and Central American Caribbean Region with sparse reports on the small island states. Collectively, the most frequently analyzed heavy metals were Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cd, Ni, Mn and Cr while DDT and its metabolites were the most frequently reported organic pollutants. The samples which were analyzed vary in terms of sampling schemes, parameters and analytical techniques, as well as differences in data reporting presentation (i.e. dry weight versus wet weight, sediment fraction analyzed, or % lipids). These differences make meaningful comparisons of the available data very difficult. Furthermore, there is limited data available for most of these contaminants from the majority of nations in the WCR. Therefore, any attempt to create a regional scale assessment from contaminants data available in the open literature is limited by the scarcity of available information.     

Historical contamination and sources of organochlorine pesticides in sediment cores from Quanzhou Bay, Southeast China

Three sediment cores were collected from the top to the mouth of Quanzhou Bay, Southeast China, in order to establish sources and historical trends of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the region. The spatial distribution of OCPs in surface sediments implies that Quanzhou Bay received the contamination inputs not only from rivers near the shore, but also from outside the bay. The variation profiles of concentrations clearly showed that OCPs were widely used between 1960s and 1980s in China. A recent increasing trend was found in all cores despite their ban in China in 1983. Different ratios of (DDD+DDE)/DDTs indicated that DDTs at the top of the bay were mainly derived from long-term weather soils, while DDTs near the mouth of the bay were mainly derived from fresh inputs from outside the bay. Higher percentage of gamma-HCH in HCHs deposited after 1990 implies that lindane may have been used recently around Quanzhou Bay.     

Method for assessing the chronic toxicity of marine and estuarine sediment-associated contaminants using the amphipod Corophium volutator

Acute sediment toxicity tests do not test key life stage events such as moulting and reproduction and therefore do not reveal the longer-term effects of contaminant exposure. A laboratory method is described for determining the chronic toxicity of contaminants associated with whole sediments. The test is conducted using neonates of the estuarine amphipod Corophium volutator at 15 degrees C, salinity 25 psu and a 12 h light:12 h dark photoperiod. The endpoints are survival and growth after 28 days and survival, growth and reproduction of amphipods upon termination of test i.e. reproduction within all control vessels (ca 75 days). The sediment chronic toxicity test was used to investigate the effects of sediments spiked with environmentally relevant preparations of slightly weathered Alaskan North Slope crude oil, including a water-accommodated-fraction (WAF) and a chemically-dispersed (Corexit 9527) WAF. Sediment oil concentrations were quantified using ultra-violet fluorescence. The amphipods exposed to chemically dispersed oil had higher mortality and lower growth rates than control-, Corexit 9527- and WAF-exposed organisms, resulting in reduced reproduction. The described method supplements the standard acute sediment test and would be particularly useful when long-term ecological effects are suspected but acute tests reveal no significant mortality. The sediment chronic test reported herein has shown that sediment that was not evidently toxic during 10-day acute tests could have population-level effects on sediment-dwelling amphipods.     

Sediment geochemistry in coastal maritime Antarctica (Admiralty Bay, King George Island): Evidence from rare earths and other elements

We report the concentrations of 22 elements in short coastal sediment cores of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctica) determined by Neutron Activation Analysis. We focus the discussion on rare earth elements (REE) because their fractionation patterns in sediments relative to local sources may offer insights about weathering, transportation, deposition, and diagenetic processes. We found strong correlations between REE and Th, indicating detrital origin. Despite strong Eh gradients, the Th-normalized redox-sensitive elements (e.g., Eu, Ce, Fe, As, and others) showed little variability within the sedimentary environment. The exceptions were U (depleted in the upper few centimeters) and Br (enriched in the upper few centimeters). While U appears to be removed from seawater via uptake across the boundary of reducing sediments, the mechanisms driving Br accumulation are unclear, but perhaps related to increasing diatom production driven by regional warming. A comparison with published concentrations from rocks representing the regional eroding units showed that the characteristics of source rock could be recognized in the REE fractionation patterns in our sediments. These results imply no significant alteration during weathering and sediment transport in the coastal region of Admiralty Bay and the prevalence of strong periglacial erosion in ice-free areas of maritime Antarctica in spite of the relatively mild regional environmental setting (e.g., high moisture and high temperatures).     

Source and dispersal of suspended sediment in the macro-tidal Gulf of Kachchh

The macro-tidal Gulf of Kachchh, covering nearly 7000 km(2), is located about 150 km south of the Indus River mouth. In spite of semi-arid climate and lack of major rivers flowing into it, the Gulf is highly turbid with suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) during October-November 2002 ranging between 0.5 and 674 mgl(-1). Highly turbid waters are observed towards the northern portion of the mouth of the Gulf, at the head of the Gulf and adjacent to the numerous shoals present within the Gulf. Perennial high SSC in the Gulf is due to resuspension of sediments by strong tidal currents, shallow bathymetry and presence of fine-grained sediments on the sea floor. Numerical model studies show that there is a dynamic barrier in the central Gulf, which prevents the exchange of water and suspended sediments between the outer and inner Gulf. This dynamic barrier associated with strong east-west tidal currents restricts the turbid waters mainly to the northern Gulf, resulting in relatively clear waters (SSC<10 mgl(-1)) in the southern and central portions of the Gulf. Laser particle size distribution, clay mineralogy and geochemistry of the suspended matter show that the main source of sediments to the Gulf of Kachchh is the Indus River. Although the Indus discharge has been severely curtailed in the recent decades due to construction of numerous dams and barrages, the Gulf of Kachchh continues to receive resuspended sediments from the numerous meso and macro-tidal creeks of the Indus delta. The sediments at the head of the Gulf appear to be a mixture of sediments derived from the Indus as well as the numerous seasonal rivers draining the Rann of Kachchh.     

Sediment quality of the lower St. Johns River, Florida: an integrative assessment of benthic fauna, sediment-associated stressors, and general habitat characteristics

Sediment quality of the lower St. Johns River (LSJR) estuary, Florida was evaluated using synoptic data on benthic community structure, levels of potential stressors (chemical contaminants, ammonia and sulfide), and other basic habitat characteristics (depth, dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature) collected at seven stations, three times a year from July 2000-July 2002. Un-ionized ammonia and hydrogen sulfide were detected at toxic levels on at least one sampling occasion at four stations. Chemical contamination of sediment at probable bioeffect levels also was observed at four stations. Concentrations of pesticides or other chemical substances typically associated with human activities (e.g., PCBs) were detectable at all stations, though not always present at concentrations likely of causing significant bioeffects. A total of 251 taxa and 9783 individuals were identified and enumerated from the benthic infaunal samples. Polychaete worms and molluscs dominated the benthic fauna at all seven stations. The opportunistic and pollution-tolerant polychaete Streblospio benedicti was the most abundant species overall (from all samples combined), appearing as a dominant at five of the seven stations. Overall, the sites sampled as part of this study indicate a highly stressed benthos resulting from multiple anthropogenic impacts.     

Sources, sinks and resuspension of suspended particulate matter in the eastern English Channel

Seasonal observations on the nature and concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) are presented for a cross-section of the English Channel, between the Isle of Wight (UK) and Cotentin peninsula (France) i.e. the western boundary of the eastern English Channel. The highest concentrations of suspended material are found adjacent to the English coastline, whereas the offshore waters are associated with low concentrations. Seasonal variations in the concentration and nature of suspended material are identified, with highest concentrations in winter. At this time, the suspended particles are characterised generally by peaked grain size spectra and an enrichment in coarse silt particles; in summer, the distributions are generally flat. The diatom communities found within the suspended matter indicate that material resuspended in the coastal zone and the estuarine environments is transported offshore. SPM fluxes (based upon the observed SPM concentrations and the output from a 2-D hydrodynamic model) from the western Channel through the Wight–Cotentin Section, ranged between 2 and 71×10⁶ t a⁻¹ with a mean of around 20×10⁶ t a⁻¹ over the period of the observations (1994–1995). These fluxes are comparable to the order of magnitude and mean value reported as output through the Dover Strait. Therefore, it is possible that the eastern English Channel may be characterised as an area of fine-grained sediment ‘bypass'. This interpretation is corroborated by: (a) the absence of fine-grained sediment deposits over the area; and (b) correlation between the potential resuspension time of the fine particles and the seabed sediment distribution.