Ingestion rates and grazing impact of the brackwater mussel Brachidontes virgiliae in Lake St Lucia,iSimangaliso Wetland Park,South Africa

Bivalves feed on a combination of phytoplankton and zooplankton and have the potential to impact considerably the planktonic biomass, especially when they occur in high densities, such as in oyster and mussel beds. The brackwater mussel Brachidontes virgiliae is numerically dominant during wet phases within Africa’s largest estuarine lake, St Lucia, in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park on the east coast of South Africa. The ingestion rates and potential grazing impact of this small mussel (maximum shell length = 2.5 cm) were estimated for both the wet and dry seasons using an in situ gut fluorescence technique. Ingestion rates were higher during the wet season (5.78 µg pigment ind.^?1 d^?1) than during the dry season (4.44 µg pigment ind.^?1 d^?1). This might be explained by the increased water temperature and food availability during the wet season. Because of the patchy distribution of mussel populations, there could be higher localised grazing impact near mussel aggregations. Results showed a potential grazing impact of up to 20 times the available phytoplankton biomass at specific sites. These high grazing impacts have the potential to deplete phytoplankton stocks in the lake, especially during wet phases in the northern reaches, where mussel densities are highest. This needs to be factored into ecological models of Lake St Lucia, because the system might function differently during increased flood events.     

Interaction of groundwater with Lake Urmia in Iran

Being a large hyper‐saline water body, Lake Urmia in north‐western Iran deals with a gradual decline in its water level. Most of the studies on Lake Urmia have neglected the groundwater issue. In this study, as a direct approach, the interaction between the groundwater level and the lake water level is investigated both in time and space by analysing the groundwater data compiled from observation wells surrounding the lake. Baseflow separation is considered as an indirect approach to understand the groundwater contribution to the river network flowing into the lake. It is determined that about 70% of run‐off in the rivers draining into the lake is born in the form of baseflow. An interaction between the lake and the groundwater storage is clearly seen from the analysis to conclude that groundwater has a potential to recharge the lake. Thus, the shrinkage of water level in Lake Urmia could be expected to accelerate with the drastic use of groundwater, which will be a disaster with no return.     

基于GIS的玛旁雍错流域冰川地貌及现代冰川湖泊变化研究

基于多源多时相的数字遥感影像、地形图和DEM数据,利用遥感(RS)和地理信息系统(GIS)技术,对西藏玛旁雍错流域冰川地貌类型和空间分布进行了研究,并对流域内近30 a来冰川和湖泊的变化进行分析.结果表明:1974-2003年玛旁雍错流域冰川总面积减少了7.27 km²,平均退缩速率0.24 km²·a^-1;湖泊总面积减少37.58 km²,平均退缩速率1.25 km²·a^-1.多时相的监测表明,冰川在加速退缩,且阳坡冰川的消融速度大于阴坡,坡度陡、面积小的冰川消融比例大于坡度缓、面积较大的冰川;湖泊面积先减少后有所增加,但总面积还是减少了,不少小湖泊消失.分析流域附近气象资料可知,气温上升和降水量减少是玛旁雍错流域内冰川消融与退缩的主要原因.     

Hydrochemical regime and its mechanism in Yamzhog Yumco Basin,South Tibet

The hydrochemistry of alpine lakes reflects water characteristic and its response to climatic change. Over 300 water samples had been collected from 52 sites of 5 lakes and 7 inflowing rivers in the Yamzhog Yumco Basin, South Tibet, during 2009–2014, basing which the hydrochemical regime and its mechanism were analyzed along with the adoption of hydrological investigations in 1979 and 1984 as well. Results revealed that the waters were hard with weak alkalinity for the Yamzhog Yumco Basin. Most of them were fresh, and the rest were slightly saline. The hydrochemical types of 5 lakes (i.e., Lake Yamzhog Yum Co, Puma Yum Co, Bajiu Co, Kongmu Co, and Chen Co) were SO₄ ^2––HCO₃ ^––Mg²⁺–Na⁺, HCO₃ ^––SO₄ ^2––Mg²⁺–Ca²⁺, SO₄ ^2––Mg²⁺–Na⁺, SO₄ ^2––HCO₃ ^––Ca²⁺, and SO₄ ^2––Na⁺–Mg²⁺–Ca²⁺, respectively. As for rivers, HCO₃ ^– and SO₄ ^2– were the major anions, and Ca²⁺ was the dominant cation. Lake Yamzhog Yum Co, the largest lake in the basin, exhibited remarkable spatial variations in hydrochemistry at its surface but irregular changes with depth. The weathering of evaporates and carbonates, together with evaporation and crystallization, were the major mechanisms controlling the hydrochemistry of waters in the Yamzhog Yumco Basin. Global warming also had significant impacts on hydrochemical variations.     

盐湖环境变化趋势与趋利避害

盐湖／湖泊是气候变化的一面镜子本文以国内外典型盐湖区地质灾害为案例。说明自然引起的盐湖地质灾害，人类在事先监测而掌握其变化趋势情况下，可趋利避害，减少损失程度。文中分析在中国西部气候可能由暖干向暖湿转型的情势下，中国盐湖的变化趋势，并就其近期湖水涨缩特点划分3种类型(湖水上涨型区、湖水下降型区和湖水上涨不稳区)。为了适应中国盐湖区气候一湖泊变化，提出在重要盐湖区增建和完善水文、气象观察站，并与遥感监测相结合；建立多学科、跨部门的近期西部盐湖区环境变化的重大基础项目。同时需在重点盐湖区增设防洪防旱水利设施工程、制定湖区生态保护措施等，在筑建盐田和基建工程时应充分考虑洪水泛滥的影响。     

Geochemistry of the acid Kawah Putih lake, Patuha Volcano, West Java, Indonesia

Kawah Putih is a summit crater of Patuha volcano, West Java, Indonesia, which contains a shallow, 300 m-wide lake with strongly mineralized acid–sulfate–chloride water. The lake water has a temperature of 26–34°C, pH=<0.5–1.3, S^tot=2500–4600 ppm and Cl=5300–12 600 ppm, and floating sulfur globules with sulfide inclusions are common. Sulfur oxyanion concentrations are unusually high, with S₄O₆²⁻+S₅O₆²⁻+S₆O₆²⁻=2400 – 4200 ppm. Subaerial fumaroles (<93°C) on the lake shore have low molar SO₂/H₂S ratios (<2), which is a favorable condition to produce the observed distribution of sulfur oxyanion species. Sulfur isotope data of dissolved sulfate and native sulfur show a significant ³⁴S fractionation (ΔSO₄–S_e of 20‰), probably the result of SO₂ disproportionation in or below the lake. The lake waters show strong enrichments in ¹⁸O and D relative to local meteoric waters, a result of the combined effects of mixing between isotopically heavy fluids of deep origin and meteoric water, and evaporation-induced fractionation at the lake surface. The stable-isotope systematics combined with energy-balance considerations support very rapid fluid cycling through the lake system. Lake levels and element concentrations show strong seasonal fluctuations, indicative of a short water residence time in the lake as well.Thermodynamic modeling of the lake fluids indicates that the lake water is saturated with silica phases, barite, pyrite and various Pb, Sb, Cu, As, Bi-bearing sulfides when sulfur saturation is assumed. Precipitating phases predicted by the model calculations are consistent with the bulk chemistry of the sulfur-rich bottom sediments and their identified mineral phases. Much of the lake water chemistry can be explained by congruent rock dissolution in combination with preferential enrichments from entering fumarolic gases or brines and element removal by precipitating mineral phases, as indicated by a comparison of the fluids, volcanic rocks and lake bed sediment.Flank springs on the mountain at different elevations vary in composition, and are consistent with local rock dissolution as a dominant factor and pH-dependent element mobility. Discharges of warm sulfate- and chloride-rich water at the highest elevation and a near-neutral spring at lower level may contain a small contribution of crater-lake water. The acid fluid-induced processes at Patuha have led to the accumulation of elements that are commonly associated with volcano-hosted epithermal ore deposits. The dispersal of heavy metals and other potentially toxic elements from the volcano via the local drainage system is a matter of serious environmental concern.     

The PIRLA project (Paleoecological Investigation of Recent Lake Acidification): an introduction to the synthesis of the project

Collected sets of papers synthesizing data derived from the PIRLA project (Paleoecological Investigation of Recent Lake Acidification) will appear in coming issues of the Journal of Paleolimnology. This paper is designed to highlight these forthcoming papers, review the development and objectives of PIRLA, and acknowledge the many who have supported PIRLA in so many crucial ways.This is the first of a series of papers to be published by this journal which is a contribution of the Paleoecological Investigation of Recent Lake Acidification (PIRLA) project. Drs. D.F. Charles and D.R. Whitehead are guest editors for this series.     

中国湖泊柱样沉积物中239+240Pu的来源与分布特征

针对当前中国湖泊柱样沉积物中^239+240Pu的研究现状,对中国湖泊^239+240Pu的来源、^239+240Pu最大蓄积峰的年代以及^239+240Pu在湖泊沉积物中的迁移行为进行了研究总结。结果表明：中国湖泊^239+240Pu的主要来源于全球大气核试验沉降,湖泊沉积柱样中表层沉积物²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu均值为0.177±0.019;柱样²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu均值为0.177±0.008;柱样^239+240Pu的沉积通量范围在7.45~240.6 MBq/km²之间,因湖泊所处沉积环境及纬度的差异而变化。湖泊柱样剖面中的^239+240Pu的分布多呈单峰分布,湖泊沉积物中^239+240Pu的最大蓄积峰位置改变可以忽略不计,^239+240Pu最大蓄积峰具有时标价值。     

咸水湖泊沉积物中正构烷烃及其氢同位素组成与成因

青海湖是我国最大的内陆咸水湖泊,对这种湖泊沉积物中正构烷烃及其氢同位素进行了分析,研究了沉积物中正构烷烃及其同位素组成,并且与青海湖水生植物及其周围陆生植物的研究结果进行了对比,研究了它们的成因.结果显示了青海湖表层和柱状沉积物中正构烷烃分布都是类似的,其特征反映了它们起源于湖泊周围陆生草本植物.青海湖表层沉积物中正构...     

Zhangmu and Gyirong ports under the threat of glacial lake outburst flood

The Himalayas are prone to glacial lake outburst floods, which can pose a severe threat to downstream villages and infrastructure. The Zhangmu and Gyirong land treaty ports are located on the China-Nepal border in the central Himalayas. In recent years, the expansion of glacial lakes has increased the threat of these two port regions. This article describes the results of mapping the glacial lakes larger than 0.01 km² in the Zhangmu and Gyirong port regions and analyzes their change. It provides a comprehensive assessment of potentially dangerous glacial lakes and predicts the development of future glacial lakes. From 1988 to 2019, the glacial lakes in these port regions underwent "expansion", and moraine-dammed lakes show the most significant expansion trend. A total of eleven potentially dangerous glacial lakes are identified based on the assessment criteria and historical outburst events; most expanded by more than 150% from 1988 to 2019, with some by over 500%. The Cirenmaco, a moraine-dammed lake, is extremely prone to overtopping due to ice avalanches or the melting of dead ice in the dam. For other large lakes, such as the Jialongco, Gangxico and Galongco, ice avalanches may likely cause the lakes to burst besides self-destructive failure. The potential dangers of the Youmojianco glacial lakes, including lakes Nos. 9, 10 and 11, will increase in the future. In addition, the glacier-bed topography model predicts that 113 glacial lakes with a size larger than 0.01 km², a total area of 11.88 km² and a total volume of 6.37×10⁹ m³ will form in the study area by the end of the 21 century. Due to global warming, the glacial lakes in the Zhangmu and Gyirong port regions will continue to grow in the short term, and hence the risk of glacial lake outburst floods will increase.