Hydrochemical behaviour of dissolved nitrogen and carbon in a headwater stream of the Canadian Shield: relevance of antecedent soil moisture conditions

This paper examines the impact of contrasting antecedent soil moisture conditions on the hydrochemical response, here the changes in dissolved nitrogen (NO₃^?, NH₄⁺ and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON)) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, of a first‐order stream during hydrological events. The study was performed in the Hermine, a 5 ha forested watershed of the Canadian Shield. It focused on a series of eight precipitation events (spring, summer and fall) sampled every 2 or 3 h and showing contrasted antecedent moisture conditions. The partition of the eight events between two groups (dry or wet) of antecedent moisture conditions was conducted using a principal component analysis (PCA). The partition was controlled (first axis explained 86% of the variability) by the antecedent streamflow, the streamflow to precipitation ratio Q/P and by the antecedent groundwater depth. The mean H⁺, NO₃^?, NH₄⁺, total dissolved nitrogen and DOC concentrations and electrical conductivity values in the stream were significantly higher following dry antecedent conditions than after wetter conditions had prevailed in the Hermine, although the temporal variability was high (17 to 138%). At the event scale, a significantly higher proportion of the changes in DON, NO₃^?, and DOC concentrations in the stream was explained by temporal variations in discharge compared with the seasonal and annual scales. Two of the key hydrochemical features of the dry events were the synchronous changes in DOC and flow and the frequent negative relationships between discharge and NO₃^?. The DON concentrations were much less responsive than DOC to changes in discharge, whereas NH was not in phase with streamflow. During wet events, the synchronicity between streamflow and DON or NO₃^? was higher than during dry events and discharge and NO₃^? were generally positively linked. Based on these observations, the hydrological behaviour of the Hermine is conceptually compatible with a two‐component model of shallow (DON and DOC rich; variable NO₃^?) and deep (DON and DOC poor; variable NO₃^?) subsurface flow. The high NO₃^? and DOC levels measured at the early stages of dry events reflected the contribution from NO₃^?‐rich groundwaters. The contribution of rapid surface flow on water‐repellent soil materials located close to the stream channel is hypothesized to explain the DOC levels. An understanding of the complex interactions between antecedent soil moisture conditions, the presence of soil nutrients available for leaching and the dynamics of soil water flow paths during storms is essential to explain the fluxes of dissolved nitrogen and carbon in streams of forested watersheds. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temporal and spatial variations in the discharge and dissolved organic carbon of drip waters in Beijing Shihua Cave,China

To detect the causal relationship between cave drip waters and stalagmite laminae, which have been used as a climate change proxy, three drip sites in Beijing Shihua Cave were monitored for discharge and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Drip discharges and DOC were determined at 0 to 14‐day intervals over the period 2004–2006. Drip discharges show two types of response to surface precipitation variations: (1) a rapid response; and (2) a time‐lagged response. Intra‐annual variability in drip discharge is significantly higher than inter‐annual variability. The content of DOC in all drip waters varies inter‐ and intra‐annually and has good correlation with drip water discharge at the rapid response sites. High DOC was observed in July and August in the three years observed. The flushing of soil organic matter is dependent upon the intensity of rain events. The DOC content of drip water increases sharply above a threshold rainfall intensity (>50 mm d^?1) and shows several pulses corresponding with intense rain events (>25 mm d^?1). The DOC content was lower and less variable during the dry period than during the rainy period. The shape of DOC peak also varies from year to year as it is influenced by the intensity and frequency of rainfall. The different drip sites show marked differences in DOC response, which are dominated by hydrological behaviour linked to the recharge of the soil and karst micro‐fissure/porosity network. The results explain why not all stalagmite laminae are consistent with climate changes and suggest that the structure of the rainy season events could be preserved in speleothems. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Improved Gas Chromatographic Method for the Determination of C6–C12 Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil Water

In this work, investigations dealing with the determination of hydrocarbons in contaminated soil water are presented. The hydrocarbons under investigation range from low to high volatility compounds. A GC‐FID method was developed that due to its efficiency, routine suitability, relative rapidity, and low cost is suitable for the analysis of complex chemical mixtures of highly volatile hydrocarbons (with boiling points between 69 and 190°C). The standard used was a gasoline mixture with boiling points ranging from 100 to 190°C. For this standard, no supplementary preparation is needed and it is suitable for the whole range of hydrocarbons under investigation. The determination of the hydrocarbon content of the samples was performed applying univariate and multivariate statistical analysis to the experimental data. In the characterization of a contamination with highly volatile hydrocarbons of soil water originating from different depth layers from the chemistry location Leuna (Sachsen‐Anhalt, Germany), the advantages of a multivariate method are demonstrated in exemplary manner.     

泥质烃源岩密度分级分离与有机碳分配

选取东营凹陷第三系11 块泥质烃源岩样品,粉碎后按小于1.6 g/cm3,1.6~2.2 g/cm3 和大于2.2 g/cm3 的密度,分离成1,2,3 三个组分,希望可以把烃源岩中游离的有机质、无机矿物与有机黏土复合体分别提取出来。对各组分进行质量、有机碳及扫描电镜分析,探讨不同密度组分中有机质赋存形式及有机碳分配方式的差异性。密度分组后各组分的质量、有机碳量回收率基本上达到100%,表明密度分离方法可信,且对烃源岩的破坏较弱。通过扫描电镜观察发现,1 组分中存在大量的生物碎屑有机质,经盐酸处理后,有机质颗粒表面干净,而2,3 组分中只见有大量的矿物颗粒,但能谱分析显示了C 元素的存在。这些特征表明1 组分为生物碎屑有机质,而2,3 组分中有机质与无机矿物相混合。有机碳分析表明,1 组分有机碳含量平均高达14.24％,但其仅占全岩有机碳量的1.11%;2,3 组分中有机碳含量分别为3.26%,2.77%,两者占全岩有机碳量的90% 以上。由此看来与无机矿物相结合是烃源岩中有机质较为重要的赋存方式,这部分有机质对全岩生烃量的贡献不容忽视。     

Late Quaternary lake response to climate change and anthropogenic impact: biomarker evidence from Lake Constance sediments

This study used organic matter in oligotrophic Lake Constance (southern Germany) to reconstruct lake environment and to disentangle the multiple factors, such as climate change and human impacts, which influence sedimentation in large lakes. A sediment core from Upper Lake Constance, which represents 16,000 years of Late Glacial and Holocene lake history, was analysed for organic biomarkers, hydrogen index and elements calcium, strontium, and magnesium. Magnetic susceptibility was measured to establish a high-resolution stratigraphic framework for the core and to obtain further information about changes with respect to relative allochthonous versus autochthonous sedimentation. Dinosterol—a biomarker for dinoflagellates—and calcium have low concentrations in Younger Dryas sediments and consistently high concentrations between 10,500 and 7,000 cal. years BP. These variations are attributed to changes in lake productivity, but are not reflected in the proportion of total organic carbon within the sediment. During the Younger Dryas and between 6,000 and 2,800 cal. years BP, concentrations and accumulation rates of land-plant-derived C₂₉-steroids (β-sitosterol, stigmastanol and stigmasterol), in combination with a relatively low HI, indicate periods of enhanced terrigenous input to the lake. For the Younger Dryas, higher runoff can be attributed to a cold climate, leading to decreased vegetation cover and increased erosion. After 6,000 cal. years BP, high terrestrial input may be explained by enhanced precipitation. Biomarker and HI results, in combination with archaeological studies, raise the question as to whether lakeshore settlements affected sedimentation in Upper Lake Constance between 6,000 and 2,800 cal. years BP.     

Soil organic carbon and nitrogen content of density fractions and effect of meadow degradation to soil carbon and nitrogen of fractions in alpine Kobresia meadow

This research was conducted on the non-disturbed native alpine Kobresia meadow(YF) and the severely degraded meadow(SDL) of Dari County of Qinghai Province.By a density fractionation approach,each soil sample was divided into two fractions:light fraction(LF) and heavy fraction(HF).The obtained fractions were analyzed for organic carbon(OC) and nitrogen(N) concentrations.The results showed:(1) the OC concentration in HF and LF was 3.84% and 28.63% respectively while the nitrogen concentration in HF and LF wa...     

Relationship between statistical thermal alteration index and vitrinite reflectance for sedimentary rocks in northern Japan with reference to effects for unconformity,faulting, and contact metamorphism

Two organic maturity indices, the statistical thermal alteration index (stTAI) and vitrinite reflectance (R_O), are used to gain insight into the geological histories of sequences of Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous sediments in northern Japan that contain an unconformity and which are affected by faulting and contact metamorphism. The stTAI is based on the brightness, or gray level, of fossil pollen of Pinus, Podocarpus, Abies, and Picea species. Pollen brightness is measured using a transmitted‐light microscope equipped with a computer‐driven digital image processor. The stTAI represents the mean value of the modes for the complete array of indigenous pollen in rock samples. The stTAI indicates the level of organic maturation for Neogene sedimentary rocks of Japan, from incipient diagenesis to early catagenesis (R_O ≤1.0%). With the progressive diagenesis and catagenesis of sedimentary rocks, stTAI values generally show a progressive decrease, whereas R_O values increase. The effects of an unconformity and faulting are more clearly recorded in stTAI trends than in R_O trends. During early stages of organic maturation (R_O ≤0.7%), stTAI shows a rapid decrease, while R_O shows a rapid increase during the mature and post‐mature stages (R_O ≥0.8%). The occurrence of a range in R_O values for a given level of organic maturity makes it difficult to determine the influence of the unconformity on the increasing R_O trend. R_O values show a progressive increase toward an igneous dyke, but this trend is not apparent in stTAI values. Measurements of Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous rocks in Japan reveal that stTAI is more sensitive to heating duration than R_O, although R_O is more sensitive to heating temperature.     

云南寻甸地区全新世中期气候变化模式研究

通过对云南寻甸白石岩仙人洞1号石笋(XR1)进行TIMS-U系测年和氧碳同位素分析,揭示了该区全新世中期氧碳同位素气候演化的模式。依据石笋不同时段有机碳含量的变化,重建了基于石笋有机碳指标的气候变化模式。通过对比,发现这两种指标所记录的寻甸地区古气候变化过程几乎完全一致。云南寻甸地区全新世中期的气候演化可分为3个气候期:1)8 000—5 600 aBP为温暖湿润期,气温较高,降水丰沛,石笋的氧碳同位素偏负,有机碳含量偏高;2)5600—4500 aBP为气候突变期,气候由温湿变为冷干,石笋氧碳同位素持续偏正,有机碳含量持续降低;3)4500—2100 aBP为冷干气候期,该期气候稳定,氧同位素和有机碳含量变化不大,均维持在较低水平。     

水泥加固不同地区软土的试验研究

对不同地区软土经水泥加固后的强度形成特征进行了研究。进行直接剪切试验及无侧限抗压试验测定了水泥加固土的力学指标,发现不同地区的软土经水泥加固后力学性质存在很大差异,从试样的粒度成分、有机质含量及加固后试样的微观结构特征等方面对此进行解释。结果表明,试样的粒度成分及有机质含量会对加固效果产生很大影响,黏粒含量越大,有机质含量越高,对水泥加固土强度的形成越不利。为在用水泥进行不同性质的软土加固处理时采取合理的附加措施提供了理论依据。