The mobilization and deposition of mud deposits in a coastal plain estuary

Muddy sediments with their potential for containing contaminants are commonly deposited and remobilized by tidal currents in estuarine environments. We examined the mobilization and subsequent redeposition of mud in a coastal plain estuary located in the southeastern United States. Time-series data for salinity, suspended sediment concentrations and quality (percent organic matter and pigment concentrations) were obtained over a 13-hour tidal cycle. We found that fast-settling mud particles are found during the highest tidal current speeds. Particle quality analyses suggest that all the material is of similar origin, and that phaeopigment can be used as a tracer of particles in this system. These particles settle onto the bed when current speeds approach slack conditions. We speculate that the quantity of mud mobilized during neap tide is less than during spring tide resulting in an opportunity for the mud to partially consolidate on the bottom and be removed from resuspension. We further speculate that the muddy sediments are mainly derived from fringing marshes in this estuary.     

Chemical Characteristics of Carbonaceous Aerosols During Dust Storms over Xi＇an in China

Characterization of carbonaceous aerosols including CC (carbonate carbon), OC (organic carbon), and EC (elemental carbon) were investigated at Xi'an, China, near Asian dust source regions in spring 2002. OC varied between 8.2 and 63.7 μg m-3, while EC ranged between 2.4 and 17.2 μ m-3 during the observation period. OC variations followed a similar pattern to EC and the correlation coeflcient between OC and EC is 0.89 (n=31). The average percentage of total carbon (TC, sum of CC, OC, and EC) in PM2.5 during dust storm (DS) events was 13.6%, which is lower than that during non-dust storm (NDS) periods (22.7%). CC, OC, and EC accounted for 12.9%, 70.7%, and 16.4% of TC during DS events, respectively. The average ratio of OC/EC was 5.0 in DS events and 3.3 in NDS periods. The OC-EC correlation (R2=0.76, n=6) was good in DS events, while it was stronger (R2=0.90, n=25) in NDS periods. The percentage of water-soluble OC (WSOC) in TC accounted for 15.7%, and varied between 13.3% and 22.3% during DS events. The distribution of eight carbon fractions indicated that local emissions such as motor vehicle exhaust were the dominant contributors to carbonaceous particles. During DS events, soil dust dominated the chemical composition, contributing 69% to the PM2.5 mass, followed by organic matter (12.8%), sulfate (4%), EC (2.2%), and chloride (1.6%). Consequently, CC was mainly entrained by Asian dust. However, even in the atmosphere near Asian dust source regions, OC and EC in atmospheric dust were controlled by local emission rather than the transport of Asian dust.     

云南富宁地区泥盆系—石炭系界线碳、氧同位素特征及对海平面变化的响应

右江盆地沉积连续的泥盆纪—石炭纪岩石地层,是中国泥盆纪与石炭纪之交Hangenberg生物大灭绝事件的重点研究区域。选取右江盆地西缘云南富宁地区晚泥盆世—早石炭世地层,在岩石地层学研究的基础上对碳酸盐岩进行系统的碳、氧同位素组成研究。富宁地区晚泥盆世—早石炭世地层存在不同幅度的δ13C、δ18O负向偏移,尤其在泥盆系—石炭系界线附近负偏移明显,δ13C、δ18O值偏移层位与层序地层学转换及古生物灭绝事件发生层位一致,反映了晚泥盆世法门期海平面下降和早石炭世的海侵事件。研究区泥盆系—石炭系界线附近δ13C值负偏趋势与右江盆地内δ13C值演化偏移相似,华南其他典型剖面δ13C值亦呈现不同幅度的负向偏移,泥盆纪与石炭纪之交的碳同位素演化序列与欧洲、北美地区δ13C值负向偏移反映的海平面下降事件一致,具全球性对比意义。     

环礁沉积体系的过程-产物关系: 勘察式模拟初探

海洋沉积体系的定量模拟可分为仿真和勘察式模拟,后者的目标是建立沉积特征的连续谱、凝练新的科学问题。本文提出一个勘察式模拟的方法论框架,即根据控制方程确定自变量的定义域,进而由模拟计算给出应变量的值域,并结合物质收支平衡原理和“圆台状环礁”几何模型,以此方法预估环礁及其海底阶地物质输运和堆积格局。环礁是珊瑚礁的独特类型,其礁盘区提供了礁体生长和礁外坡、海底阶地堆积的几乎全部物源。结果表明,环礁自身生长受控于生物碎屑生产,而海底阶地的范围和沉积速率不仅决定于离礁悬沙通量,而且受到环礁外水深和海盆环流的制约。悬沙输运和重力流过程形成常态沉降和水下滑坡的交替沉积。此模型所预测的环礁沉积体系高程-面积曲线与南海环礁的实际曲线相对照,可获得环礁演化的机制信息。模拟结果还提示了需进一步研究的科学问题,如环礁生长规模及其控制机制、环礁沉积体系中周期性沉积的时间尺度、环礁外坡由于珊瑚生长自组织机制形成的重力流事件与地震等极端事件的对比和机制识别、环礁群的海底阶地沉积记录多样性、海面变化对环礁演化的影响和沉积记录、环礁人居环境安全等。     

长江和黄河入海沉积物不同粒级组分中稀土元素的比较

为探索区分黄、东海陆架沉积物中来自长江和黄河源的有效替代性指标,从长江和黄河河口区各取3个沉积物样品作为长江和黄河入海沉积物的端元样品。研究结果表明:长江和黄河沉积物不同粒级组分中REE的变化范围分别为145.49~256.77 μg/g和121.22~135.56 μg/g,随粒度由细变粗分别呈下倾的"双峰"型分布和倒"S"型分布;长江沉积物中REE约为黄河的1.5倍,最低值比黄河的最高值高出20%;8~16 μm和2~4 μm是凸显长江和黄河沉积物稀土元素差异的敏感粒级,REE、LREE/HREE和(La/Yb)n等稀土元素特征参数在这两个粒级组分中差异明显。本次实验结果大幅度地提高了两条河流REE差异的灵敏度和可信度,为建立区分长江与黄河入海沉积物物源实用的有效指标提供了可能。     

Nereis diversicolor: an Unreliable Biomonitor of Metal Contamination in the 'Ría de Bilbao' (Spain)

Abstract. Samples of the polychaete Nereis diversicolor O.F. M üller and surficial sediments from a clean and a polluted estuary were taken during a year at monthly intervals to determine, by comparison, the range of temporal fluctuations in trace metal concentrations. Whereas metal variations in surficial sediments were more pronounced in the polluted estuary, concentrations in N. diversicolor in both estuaries showed a wide range of temporal variation that surpassed that of surficial sediments. A clear decline in all metals studied (except Mn) from polluted sediments was noted after episodes of strong rainfall. In the reference estuary the fluctuations were less pronounced. Metal body burdens in N. diversicolor from the two estuaries were usually quite similar even though total levels in sediments differed considerably, indicating a lack of worm-sediment relationship. The low level of Cu, Cr and Pb in the tissues of N. diversicolor suggest a mechanism which prevents the polychaete from being exposed to these metals in highly polluted sediments. Therefore, it is concluded that N. diversicolor cannot be considered to be an ideal biomonitor of metal contamination in the polluted Bilbao Estuary.     

黄、东海海域水团发育对底质沉积物分布的影响

通过对黄、东海海域底质沉积物中的细粒级粘土矿物组合特征和全粒级碳酸盐含量分析、对比上覆水团和悬浮体资料，探讨研究区水团发育消长对底质沉积物分布的影响作用。结果表明研究区可以划分为长江冲淡水影响的长江型物质沉积区；黄海水影响的黄河型物质沉积区和黑潮水以及东海次表层水影响的残留型物质沉积区。而水团发育消长可直接影响下伏底质的分布特征。黄河型物质沉积区与残留型物质沉积区的分界相应于黄海冷水向东南扩展与黑潮次中层混合水向陆架爬升互为消长的长期综合平衡位置，而黄海冷水向东南的扩展范围代表着黄河物质在陆架向东南扩展沉积的最大范围．     

Settleable and Non-Settleable Suspended Sediments in the Ogeechee River Estuary, Georgia, U.S.A.

Suspended particle dynamics were investigated in the Ogeechee River Estuary during neap tide in July 1996. Samples were operationally separated into ‘ truly suspended ’ (settling velocity <0·006 cm s⁻¹) and ‘ settleable ’ (settling velocity >0·006 cm s⁻¹) fractions over the course of a tidal cycle to determine whether these two fractions were comprised of particles with differing biological and chemical characteristics. Total suspended sediment, organic carbon and nitrogen, chlorophyll a and phaeopigment concentrations were measured in each fraction, as well as rates of bacterial hydrolytic enzyme activity [β-1,4-glucosidase (βGase) and β-xylosidase (βXase)]. The majority of the suspended sediment (by weight) was in the truly suspended fraction; all measured parameters were largely associated with this fraction as well. When compared to the settleable material, the truly suspended material was significantly higher in % POC (5·7±0·6 vs. 3·9±1·8), % chlorophyll (0·07±0·02 vs. 0·03±0·01), % phaeopigment (0·030±0·006 vs. 0·018±0·012), and weight-specific maximal uptake rates (V_maxper mg suspended sediment) of both enzymes (1·8±0·4 vs. 0·7± 0·2 nmol mg⁻¹ h⁻¹βGase and 1·1±0·3vs . 0·3±0·2 nmol mg⁻¹ h⁻¹βXase), providing clear evidence for a qualitative distinction between the two fractions. These results are interpreted to mean that the more organic-rich, biologically active material associated with the suspended fraction is likely to have a different fate in this Estuary, as ‘ truly suspended ’ sediments will be readily transported whereas ‘ settleable ’ sediments will settle and be resuspended with each tide. These types of qualitative differences should be incorporated into models of particle dynamics in estuaries.     

烟台港倾倒区表层沉积物重金属的富集特征及风险评价

分析了2001~2011年烟台港倾倒区表层沉积物中6种重金属的含量及时空分布特征,采用地累积指数(Igeo)和潜在生态风险指数(ERI)对重金属富集现状及潜在生态风险进行评价。结果显示：历次调查重金属含量均较低且空间分布差异小,与黄海背景值相比, Cd和Cu出现一定程度的富集。ERI评价表明2011年倾倒区潜在生态风险性较低,年际变化顺序为：2008年＞2006年＞2009年＞2011年＞2001年, Cd和Hg是近年来的主要风险因子。     

涠洲岛潮滩表层沉积物中重金属的空间分布及其环境质量评价

根据2006年4月对涠洲岛潮滩表层沉积物的调查资料,分析了表层沉积物中重金属元素Hg、Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、As的含量水平及空间分布特征,运用单因子评价法对其环境质量进行了评估,并通过相关性分析、因子分析探讨了几种重金属元素的物源.结果表明:涠洲岛潮滩环境质量状况良好,各元素均未达到污染水平,多数地区存在Cu的玷污,个别地区存在As的玷污;各分析元素较多的累积在人为活动相对频繁的XKZ、W05断面附近区域;Hg、Cu、Zn、Cr显著正相关,以环境背景来源为主,Pb、As较多的受到人为因素的影响.