Long‐term monitoring of a mercury contaminated estuary (Ria de Aveiro,Portugal): the effect of weather events and management in mercury transport

The main aim of this research was to assess the mercury transport from an estuarine basin with a background of anthropogenic contamination during a spring tidal cycle (year 2009) and compare it with two previous tidal cycles (years 1994 and 1999), as part of a long‐term monitoring program. Results showed that effective mercury transport occurs both in the dissolved and particulate fractions (0.18 and 0.20 kg per tidal cycle, respectively), and despite an overall decrease in environmental contamination, results more than double previous findings on particulate transport in the system. These findings result essentially from changes in the tidal prism (net export of 2 million m³ of water), given that both dissolved and particulate concentrations did not increase over time. Hydrodynamic simulations were performed to evaluate the effect of physical disturbance (dredging) and weather events (increased freshwater flow) in these processes, and results suggest the increased freshwater flow into the system as the main forcing function for the mercury transport increment. These results highlight the importance of long‐term monitoring programs, since despite an overall improvement in local contamination levels, the enhancement of transport processes through hydrological changes increases environmental pressure away from the contamination source. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

OCEANOGRAPHY & MARINE GEOLOGY

正20141900Lan Xianhong(Key Laboratory of Marine Hydrocarbon Resources and Environmental Geology,Ministry of Land and Resources,Qingdao 266071,China);Zhang Zhixun Geochemical Characteristics of Trace Elements of Sediments from Drillhole SFK-1     

Flow processes and sedimentation in unidirectionally migrating deep‐water channels: From a three‐dimensional seismic perspective

Three‐dimensional seismic data were used to infer how bottom currents control unidirectional channel migration. Bottom currents flowing towards the steep bank would deflect the upper part of sediment gravity flows at an orientation of 1° to 11° to the steep bank, yielding a helical flow circulation consisting of a faster near‐surface flow towards the steep bank and a slower basal return flow towards the gentle bank. This helical flow model is evidenced by the occurrence of bigger, muddier (suggested by low‐amplitude seismic reflections) lateral accretion deposits and gentle channel wall with downlap terminations on the gentle bank and by smaller, sandier (indicated by high‐amplitude seismic reflectors) channel fills and steep channel walls with truncation terminations on the steep bank. This helical flow circulation promotes asymmetrical depositional patterns with dipping accretion sets restricted to the gentle bank, which restricts the development of sinuosity and yields unidirectional channel migration. These results aid in obtaining a complete picture of flow processes and sedimentation in submarine channels.     

Thresholds of intrabed flow and other interactions of turbidity currents with soft muddy substrates

Controlled laboratory experiments reveal that the lower part of turbidity currents has the ability to enter fluid mud substrates, if the bed shear stress is higher than the yield stress of the fluid mud and the density of the turbidity current is higher than the density of the substrate. Upon entering the substrate, the turbidity current either induces mixing between flow‐derived sediment and substrate sediment, or it forms a stable horizontal flow front inside the fluid mud. Such ‘intrabed’ flow is surrounded by plastically deformed mud; otherwise it resembles the front of a ‘bottom‐hugging’ turbidity current. The ‘suprabed’ portion of the turbidity current, i.e. the upper part of the flow that does not enter the substrate, is typically separated from the intrabed flow by a long horizontal layer of mud which originates from the mud that is swept over the top of the intrabed flow and then incorporated into the flow. The intrabed flow and the mixing mechanism are specific types of interaction between turbidity currents and muddy substrates that are part of a larger group of interactions, which also include bypass, deposition, erosion and soft sediment deformation. A classification scheme for these types of interactions is proposed, based on an excess bed shear stress parameter, which includes the difference in the bed shear stress imposed by the flow and the yield stress of the substrate and an excess density parameter, which relies on the density difference between the flow and the substrate. Based on this classification scheme, as well as on the sedimentological properties of the laboratory deposits, an existing facies model for intrabed turbidites is extended to the other types of interaction involving soft muddy substrates. The physical threshold of flow‐substrate mixing versus stable intrabed flow is defined using the gradient Richardson number, and this method is validated successfully with the laboratory data. The gradient Richardson number is also used to verify that stable intrabed flow is possible in natural turbidity currents, and to determine under which conditions intrabed flow is likely to be unstable. It appears that intrabed flow is likely only in natural turbidity currents with flow velocities well below ca 3·5 m s^?1, although a wider range of flows is capable of entering fluid muds. Below this threshold velocity, intrabed flow is stable only at high‐density gradients and low‐velocity gradients across the upper boundary of the turbidity current. Finally, the gradient Richardson number is used as a scaling parameter to set the flow velocity limits of a natural turbidity current that formed an inferred intrabed turbidite in the deep‐marine Aberystwyth Grits Group, West Wales, United Kingdom.     

Contained density currents with high volume of release

Contained density currents with high volume of release reflect against the boundaries of the reception environment commonly leading to oscillatory flow. These flows exist in sediment clarifiers, compromising their operations, and deposited signatures of contained turbidity currents are found as part of the infill of sedimentary basins; for operation of the former and interpretation of the latter it is essential to understand the dynamic processes of these flows. Six lock‐exchange experiments with different initial densities were made in a horizontal flume, where the volume of the saline mixture in the lock was equivalent to the volume of the ambient fluid. A further two tests, with a repeated initial density, were made: one with high volume of release and very long duration; and another with low volume of release. Firstly, the movement of the current is discussed, including the oscillations within the experimental tank involving the density current and an upper layer counter‐current. It is shown that the cyclic behaviour is self‐similar with the reduced gravity of the initial density in the lock. Secondly, entrainment and water mixing processes are characterized. The time evolution of mixing is characterized qualitatively by analysing the background potential energy of the density distributions to show that mixing occurs even in the earlier stages of the current, and mainly within the first cycle of the oscillation. Quantified analysis reveals that, in currents with high volume of release, entrainment discharge is one order of magnitude higher, mainly due to the larger interface between the ambient fluid and the current. A model for the evolution of the mixing process is proposed for density currents with high volume of release. Finally, the dynamics of the head of the current is analysed. The entrainment in the head, when compared to the entrainment in the remainder body of the flows, is less important for the configuration with a larger lock.     

基于LLS的雷电流波头时间分布特征

利用湖北省2007—2013年雷电定位系统(Lightning Location System,LLS)监测的雷电流相关参数资料,采用数理统计方法,对雷电流波头时间的年、季、月、日变化以及累积概率和概率密度分布进行了统计分析。结果表明,正闪电平均波头时间为4.8μs,负闪和总闪电为3.6μs;一年中,正闪电7月波头时间最短,月变化特征大致呈"V"形;负闪和总闪电5—7月波头时间比其他月份短,月变化特征大致呈"U"形。正闪电波头时间季节、日变化明显,负闪和总闪电季节、日变化不明显。波头时间小于等于10μs时,正闪、负闪和总闪电的波头时间累积概率分别为95.5%、99.7%和99.6%,总闪电95%的波头时间大于1.5μs,50%的大于3.1μs,5%的大于6.0μs。波头时间在2~3μs时,正闪、负闪和总闪电的概率密度最大。气温较低月份,波头时间相对较长,反之,波头时间相对较短,其原因可能与雷电流幅值大小有关,具体原因有待进一步研究。     

顾及拓扑一致性的水系三维曲线化简

鉴于常规曲线化简方法应用于水系曲线化简时难以顾及水系要素的三维特征及其拓扑关系,本文提出了一种顾及拓扑一致性的水系三维曲线化简方法。该方法首先对D-P算法进行三维扩展,实现水系中单条河流三维曲线化简,然后构建水系树结构表达其拓扑关系,最后按照水系树的层次顺序依次进行河流曲线化简和干流与支流的拓扑关系重构。试验结果表明,该方法化简精度高,既能保持水系的三维形态特征,又能保证河流交汇处的拓扑一致性。     

广西凭祥盆地深水底流沉积类型及其研究意义

内波、内潮汐沉积和复合流沉积是二十余年来在古代深水环境中新发现的一种具牵引流性质的沉积相类型,由于地层沉积记录十分有限,制约了深水底流沉积的沉积学研究。大比例尺实测地质剖面和精细露头测量表明,底流沉积发育于凭祥盆地深水沉积之中,通过对其沉积构造精细剖析和古水流测量,识别出内波、内潮汐沉积和复合流沉积,其中内波、内潮汐沉积以双向交错层理、单向交错层理、透镜状层理为特征,复合流沉积以复合流层理、丘状交错层理和较陡的爬升波纹层理为特征,进一步表明存在浊流和底流的交互作用,为古代地层中的深水底流沉积提供了又一研究实例。     

长江三角洲全新世地层中潮滩沉积磁性特征及其古环境意义

对长江三角洲北翼江苏南通地区NT钻孔（长60.9 m）进行了系统的环境磁学分析,并结合岩性特征、粒度、漫反射光谱（DRS）等手段,探讨了全新世早、晚期潮滩沉积的磁性特征及其古环境意义。NT孔自下而上可分为6层（U1~U6层）,其中U2层下部（49.9~44.8 m）和U6层（7.5~0.3 m）为潮滩沉积,具有较低的退磁参数S比值及较高的硬剩磁（HIRM）和SIRM/χ,表明反铁磁性矿物如赤铁矿、针铁矿等含量和比例较高。结合漫反射光谱（DRS）分析,发现U6层上部盐沼（1.5~0.3 m）赤铁矿和针铁矿富集,U2层下部的盐沼仅富集赤铁矿。这一差异与U2层和U6层形成的时期和沉积环境有关。U2层形成于晚更新世晚期至早全新世,且曾长期暴露地表,有利于赤铁矿的形成,其后随着海平面的持续上升,盐沼不断垂向加积,始终处于水下环境,不利于针铁矿的形成;U6层形成于晚全新世三角洲海岸的进积过程中,氧化还原相互交替的环境有利于针铁矿的形成,后期成陆后的成土作用生成了较多的磁赤铁矿和赤铁矿。研究表明,全新世三角洲发育过程中,不同时期形成的盐沼具有不同的磁性特征,磁性特征的研究可以提供潮滩沉积环境演变的信息,对三角洲古环境重建研究具有重要意义。     

淤泥质海岸入海河口闸下港道河相关系

以江苏沿海北部的射阳河闸下港道为原型,建立二维水动力及泥沙输运概化数学模型,模拟了淤泥质海岸闸下港道淤积过程。分别在不考虑径流年内分配变化和考虑径流年内分配变化的情况下,研究了入海径流对港道内水沙动力和冲淤演变的影响。参考前人研究成果,结合量纲和谐准则,根据模型的计算结果,建立了淤泥质海岸闸下港道年均平衡流量与汛期排水比例、河床断面积、外海潮差、潮波变形、港道长度等因素间的河相关系式,对在实际情况中达到动态冲淤平衡的某条特定港道,可简化为港道年均流量与河床断面积间关系式的简化形式,并通过分析实测资料,对公式的简化形式加以佐证。