Quantifying regional groundwater flow between Continental Intercalaire and Djeffara aquifers in southern Tunisia using isotope methods

Large-scale interaction between the Continental Intercalaire and the Djeffara aquifer systems in the southeast of Tunisia has been investigated with the aid of chemical and isotopic tracers. Two distinct groundwater types have been identified: (1) the Continental Intercalaire groundwater characterized by elevated temperatures (50–61.4°C), low δ¹⁸O (−8.4 to−7.87) and δ²H (−67.2 to−59) values and negligible radiocarbon content, both testifying its great age dating from the late Pleistocene period, and (2) the Djeffara groundwater with distinctly heavier isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O = −8.31 to −5.80, δ²H = −65.9 to −31.9). The Djeffara groundwaters reveal a distinct changes of physico-chemical and isotopic parameters near El Hamma Faults in the northwestern part of the Djeffara basin. These changes could possibly be explained by a vertical leakage from the Continental Intercalaire aquifer through El Hamma Faults. The mixing proportions inferred from stable isotope mass balance prove that the contribution of the Continental Intercalaire to the recharge of Djeffara aquifer is very significant and may reach 100% in the El Hamma region and in the northern part of Gabes. Isotope tracers strongly suggest that recent recharge to the Djeffara aquifer system is very limited. Its current yield, particularly in its central and northern parts can be maintained only thanks to large-scale underground inflow from the Continental Intercalaire aquifer system, which carries late Pleistocene palaeowater. Consequently, current exploitation of groundwater resources of the Djeffara aquifer has non-sustainable character.     

The effect of diapycnal mixing on the ventilation and CFC-11 uptake in the Southern Ocean

1. Introduction Ocean General Circulation Models (OGCMs) arekey tools in the assessment of the future ocean up-take of atmospheric greenhouse gases and heat. Fur-thermore, whereas nature experiences one realisationof the climate state, climate models can be used as alaboratory to produce a multitude of climate realisa-tions, and by that contribute to the understanding ofthe variability and stability properties of the system.It is, in this respect, crucial to evaluate the climatemodels ag…     

The use of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) as a tracer of septic tank effluent in the Florida Keys

To determine the fate and movement of sewage derived contaminants and their possible interaction with surface waters in the Florida (USA) Keys, two types of experiments were conducted using SF₆ as an artificial tracer. The first type of experiment examined fluid flow from septic tanks placed in Miami Oolite on Big Pine Key, where there is a shallow freshwater lens overlying saline groundwaters. Here groundwater transport rates were constrained to be between 0.11 and 1.87 m/h, travelling in an easterly direction. The second type of experiment took place on Key Largo where there is no freshwater aquifer and the matrix of the aquifer is solely the more porous Key Largo limestone. Here we injected the tracer into a shallow well which was screened from 0.6 to 10 m. This allowed us to evaluate groundwater movement in the shallow upper portion of the aquifer, the area to which inputs by septic tanks occur. Groundwater transport rates in the Upper Keys were as great as 3.7 m/h and were controlled by the Atlantic tide. SF₆ laden groundwater plumes moved back and forth due to tidal pumping and reached nearby surface waters within 8 h.     

环境示踪剂(3H、Cl)在干旱半干旱区地下水补给研究中的应用

地下水补给资源估算是地下水资源可持续开发利用的重要依据,传统地下水资源评价工作往往是采取水均衡法或达西定律等评价地下水补给资源,很少采用环境示踪剂方法。环境示踪剂在地下水补给研究中具有重要价值,特别是在干旱半干旱地区是一种非常简单可靠的评价方法。本文介绍了两种常见的环境示踪剂（3H、Cl）方法氚峰法和氯质量平衡法的基本原理及其在地下水补给研究中的主要应用,其中氯质量平衡法不仅可以估算地下水的补给量,而且可以研究植被覆盖变化对地下水补给影响和示踪地下水补给历史及气候变化。     

Atmospheric Mercury Concentrations from Several Observatory Sites in the Northern Hemisphere

In an effort to investigate both large-scale (spatial) and short/long-term (temporal) distribution characteristics of atmospheric mercury, we have combined and analyzed the Hg concentration data sets collected continuously by four different scientific groups for the areas and periods covering (1) America (three sites near the Canadian Great Lakes (CGL): 1997–2000), (2) Asia (Seoul, Korea (SEL): 1997–2002), (3) Arctic (Alert, Canada (ALT): 1995–2001), and (4) Europe (Mace Head, Ireland (MH): 1996–2002). The mean concentrations of Hg data from those widely dispersed monitoring stations were computed to be (1) 1.58 ± 0.23, 1.69 ± 0.32, and 1.93 ± 0.44 (three sites in CGL), (2) 5.06 ± 2.46 ng m^–3 (SEL), (3) 1.55 ± 0.41 (ALT), and (4) 1.76 ± 0.31 (MH). Intersite relationships were investigated among all different stations using the data groups divided into different temporal intervals. The analysis of diurnal variation patterns of Hg indicated differences in regional source/sink characteristics, with increasing amplitudes of variability toward areas under the strong influence of anthropogenic sources. When the analysis was made over different seasons, the patterns contrasted greatly between the Arctic and the other areas. It was found that the relative enhancement of Hg concentrations was dominant during winter/spring in most areas due to direct or indirect influences of anthropogenic emissions. However, the pattern for the Arctic area was distinguished pronouncedly from others with the spring minimum and summer maximum both of which reflect the potent effects of mercury depletion phenomenon (MDP). By contrast, no long-term trend, either being an increase or decrease, was evident from any of the stations during each respective study period. Although our initial attempts to examine the distribution characteristics of Hg analyzed by different scientific groups were successful, we feel that these efforts should be continued further to extend the compatibility of the global database of Hg.     

中国农田的温室气体排放

中国是一个农业大国,拥有约1.33百万平方公里的农田。这些田地的种植、翻耕、施肥、灌溉等管理措施不仅长期改变着农田生态系统中的化学元素循环,而且给全球气候变化带来影响。农业生态系统对全球变化的影响主要是通过改变3种温室气体,即二氧化碳(CO₂)、甲烷(CH4)和氧化亚氮(N₂O)在土壤-大气界面的交换而实现的。为了分析多种因素(如气候、土壤质地、农作物品种及各种农田经营管理措施等)对农业土壤释放CO_22222222     

地表面物理过程与生物地球化学过程耦合反馈机理的模拟研究

利用大气—植被相互作用模式（AVIM）研究地表面物理过程与生物地球化学过程耦合的机理和实现方法,其基础是植物与非生物环境之间物质和能量交换等物理过程影响植物的生理生长过程,使得植被宏观形态和相应的地表的动力学参数上发生显著变化,又反过来作用于植被与大气、土壤之间的物理交换过程。这种气候与生物圈双向反馈过程是在季节和年际时间尺度上的主要相互作用机理。应用AVIM于内蒙古半干旱草原,模拟了在大气状况强迫下,草原生态系统初级生产力,植被与大气之间CO2、潜热和感热的交换,揭示了地表物理和生物学过程耦合反馈机理。     

Methane emission measurements in urban areas in Eastern Germany

We have investigated methane emissions from urban sources in the former East Germany using innovative measurement techniques including a mobile real-time methane instrument and tracer release experiments. Anthropogenic and biogenic sources were studied with the emphasis on methane emissions from gas system sources, including urban distribution facilities and a production plant. Methane fluxes from pressure regulating stations ranged from 0.006 to 24. l/min. Emissions from diffuse sources in urban areas were also measured with concentration maps and whole city flux experiments. The area fluxes of the two towns studied were 0.37 and 1.9 g/m²/s. The emissions from individual gas system stations and total town emissions of this study are comparable to results of similar sites examined in the United States.     

土壤碳及其在地球表层系统碳循环中的意义

本文回顾了近１０年来国内外对土壤碳研究的主要进展,分析了土壤碳的移动性及其影响因素,着重针对陆地系统碳汇饱和问题介绍了土壤碳对大气CO²源汇效应的碳转移过程及其在地球表层系统碳循环中的作用,指出应加强对土壤碳转移及其对全球变化的响应、土壤碳固存对大气CO²调控的机制和动态的研究,以便为缓解陆地系统碳汇饱和提供科学依据。     

喀斯特生态系统生物地球化学过程与物质循环研究:重要性、现状与趋势

喀斯特地质与生态系统是地球表层系统中的重要组成部分,其变化将对其他地区以及整个地球系统产生影响.生物地球化学循环是全球和区域变化研究的核心内容,而生态系统的演化与系统内水分和养分的生物地球化学循环密切相关。因此,我们有必要将喀斯特生态系统纳入到更大区域或全球生态系统中进行分析研究,在充分研究认识整个喀斯特生态系统物质生物地球化学循环规律的基础上,进一步研究喀斯特生态系统的全球变化响应或影响机制,为喀斯特生态系统优化调控对策和措施提供科学基础。研究生态系统演化过程中物质的生物地球化学循环规律,是研究植物适生性、物种优化配置和适应性生态系统调控机理的关键基础。在介绍前人工作基础的同时,本文全面而概括地总结了我们近年利用元素、同位素(如δ13C、δ15N、δ34S、87Sr/86Sr)示踪和化学计量学理论和方法对喀斯特生态系统中不同界面和流域中物质的生物地球化学循环及其生态环境效应的研究成果。认识到:喀斯特流域生物地球化学循环活跃,相互耦合,并与流域生态环境变化相互制约;人类活动正干预流域物质的自然生物地球化学循环过程,并导致相应的生态和环境效应;全球变化科学深化有赖于区域生态环境变化及物质生物地球化学循环的研究。这些认识是我们将来系统深入开展喀斯特以及其他流域生态系统物质生物地球化学循环研究的重要方向。