Interrelations between Si and P biogeochemical cycles—a new approach to the solution of the eutrophication problem

Because the biogeochemical cycles of P and Si in temperate lakes are strongly connected by the dynamics of primary producers, it should be possible to influence the former cycle by causing changes in the latter. It is shown using the mathematical model ‘Rostherne’ that winter levels of ambient Si have a major influence both on spring levels of ambient P and on the summer cyanobacterial maxima. Additions of Si to the lakes could be used for the fine regulation of the biogeochemical balance and may prescribe a recipe for improvement of water quality, as well as a new solution to the problem of eutrophication. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil macroporosity and infiltration characteristics of a forest podzol

Spatial distribution of soil macroporosity was determined for a forest podzol from tension infiltrometer measurements at the soil surface. Surface‐derived macroporosity values were compared with point infiltration characteristics obtained from soil water content and soil water chemistry measurements during an experimental irrigation, and with parameters of a kinematic wave model applied to soil water content data. Macroporosity estimated by the tension infiltrometer ranged from 0·00087 to 0·0219% of soil volume, and infiltration at these two sites was dominated by propagation of a well‐defined wetting front through the soil profile and bypass flow via soil macropores, respectively. Infiltration at sites with intermediate macroporosities reflected a combination of these two processes, although results were inconclusive at one site owing to lateral flow at the base of the soil profile. There was no agreement between macroporosities estimated by the tension infiltrometer and the kinematic wave model. The maximum soil conductance parameter within the profile at a site, however, was related directly to the surface‐derived macroporosity. The partial agreement between surface‐derived macroporosity estimates and point infiltration characteristics shown here supports the use of tension infiltrometry as a rapid, non‐destructive method of assessing spatial variations in the relative contribution of macropore flow to the infiltration process. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

硅的生物地球化学循环研究进展

生命元素硅在陆地生态系统和水生生态系统中都扮演着重要的角色。它的生物地球化学循环与全球碳循环和全球气候交化密切相关。因此,近年来逐渐成为研究的热点。本文概述了近年来国内外有关硅的生物地球化学循环的研究进展,包括陆地和海洋中硅的生物地球化学循环过程及人类活动对硅循环的影响等方面,指出日前研究中存在的问题,展望了研究的重点。     

Spherical particles as tracers of atmospheric ceramic industry

Castellón province houses the nucleus of ceramics production in Spain (93%). This nucleus, located around in the villages of Castellón, Villarreal, Alcora and Onda, has gone through a special process of industrial expansion. The emissions, most of them of particulate material, can constitute a real environmental problem. A study designed to identify the crystalline and glassy phases in the depositable particulate material has been carried out by SEM/EDX and X-ray diffraction methods. Quartz, calcite, illite, kaolinite, chlorite, and feldspars have been the main crystalline phases identified. The number of spherical morphology particles found in the depositable material is remarkable. The vitreous material found was spherical nodules. Due to the shape, size (1–10 μm), and chemical composition of these particles, they can be excellent tracers of the ceramics industry emissions.The presence of Zn, Ba, or Fe are due to the massive use of these substances as opacifying and pigmentation agents in many ceramics frits and glaze compositions. This fact gives a valuable information that will facilitate the studies guided to obtain important aims such as: toxicology, average size of a particle, formation mechanisms, etc.     

Origine des eaux des émergences karstiques chlorurées du Languedoc-Roussillon

The origin of chloride-rich karstic spring waters representative of the Languedoc-Roussillon region has been investigated with a hydrochemical approach. To this end, the major and trace elements most often used in the study of saline environments have been considered (Cl, SO₄, Br, B, Li). This study allowed distinguishing the different end-members of the various chloride-rich karstic spring waters (evaporitic, marine, geothermal). Associated with the Cl, Br and B contents, the Li/SO₄ ratio appeared as a relevant tracer for the determination of the origin of lithium and by extension of the considered waters. To cite this article: O. Hébrard et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

Biogenic Accumulations of Uranium in Recent Seas

The objective of this study is to determine the geochemical role of molluscs in the distribution of uranium in the marine ecosystem. Biogeochemical studies are carried out on recent mollusc shells from the Caspian Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, and Indian Ocean, which differ from each other in terms of physical, chemical, geographic, and geochemical characteristics. In this study, nine Gastropoda and fifty-four Pelecypoda shells of different species are analyzed to document variations of uranium in seasonal layers, which were formed by the seasonal carbonate-organic phase of molluscs during their entire lives. Shell used in this study principally comprises three layers: upper (outer) prismatic, middle prismatic, and inner (mother-of-pearl) layers. In addition, when possible, the head, the middle, and the lower parts of the shells are used for analyses separately. Also, the biological accumulation rate values for each different mollusc species rel     

现代遥感技术在地质找矿中的应用

文章论述了现代遥感技术在地质找矿中的应用,包括遥感岩性识别、矿化蚀变信息提取、地质构造信息提取和植被波谱特征的找矿应用等;总结了遥感地质找矿技术的若干新发展,即多光谱遥感蚀变信息提取技术、高光谱遥感技术、遥感生物地球化学技术,以及它们在地质找矿应用中的新发展;对遥感技术在地质找矿中的应用提出了几点认识及展望.     

Integrated cave drip monitoring for epikarst recharge estimation in a dry Mediterranean area,Sif Cave,Israel

Understanding recharge mechanisms and controls in karst regions is extremely important for managing water resources because of the dynamic nature of the system. The objective of this study was to evaluate water percolation through epikarst by monitoring water flow into a cave and conducting artificial irrigation and tracer experiments, at Sif Cave in Wadi Sussi, Israel from 2005 through 2007. The research is based on continuous high‐resolution direct measurements of both rainfall and water percolation in the cave chamber collected by three large PVC sheets which integrate drips from three different areas (17, 46, and 52 m²). Barrels equipped with pressure transducers record drip rate and volume for each of the three areas. The combined measured rainfall and cave data enables estimation of recharge into the epikarst and to better understand the relationship of rainfall‐recharge. Three distinct types of flow regimes were identified: (1) ‘Quick flow’ through preferential flow paths (large fractures and conduits); (2) ‘Intermediate flow’ through a secondary crack system; and (3) ‘Slow flow’ through the matrix. A threshold of ～100 mm of rain at the beginning of the rainy season is required to increase soil water content allowing later rainfall events to percolate deeper through the soil and to initiate dripping in the cave. During winter, as the soil water content rises, the lag time between a rain event and cave drip response decreases. Annual recharge (140–160 mm in different areas in the cave) measured represents 30–35% of annual rainfall (460 mm). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Streamflow generation in a headwater basin on the precambrian shield

Current conceptual runoff models hypothesize that stormflow generation on the Canadian Shield is a combination of subsurface stormflow and saturation overland flow. This concept was tested during spring runoff in a small (3.3 ha) headwater basin using: (1) isotopic and chemical hydrograph separation and (2) field mapping and direct tracing of saturated areas. Isotopic and chemical hydrograph separation indicated three runoff components: (1) pre-melt subsurface flow; (2) subsurface flow of new (event) water; and (3) direct precipitation on to saturated areas (DPS). During early thaw-freeze cycles, their relative contributions to total flow remained constant (65 per cent, 30 per cent, and 5 per cent respectively). It is hypothesized that lateral flow along the bedrock/mineral soil interface, possibly through macropores, supplied large volumes of subsurface flow (of both old and new water) rapidly to the stream channel. Much higher contributions of DPS were observed during an intensive rain-on-snow event (15 per cent of total flow). Mapping and direct tracing of saturated areas using lithium bromide, suggested that saturated area size was positively correlated to stream discharge but its response lagged behind that of discharge. These observations suggest that the runoff mechanisms, and hence the sources of stream flow, will vary depending on storm characteristics.     

Cesium-137, metals and organic carbon in the sediments of the James River estuary,Virginia

A wide variety of sedimentary subenvironments are found within a 10-km stretch of James River including a flood dominated channel (Rocklanding Channel) and its bank (Rocklanding Shoal), a shoal with a water depth of 1 m separating two channels (Point of Shoals), an ebb-dominated channel (Burwell Bay Channel) and its bank (Burwell Bay Bank) and a tributary (Warwick River). The concentrations of Cs-137, Cu, Pb, Zn and organic carbon in the fine-grained sediments (i.e. < 63 μm) and the amount of fine-grained sediments in eight cores covering these subenvironments were determined. The sedimentation rates, estimated by Cs-137 geochronology, range from 0·4 to > 3 cm year^?1. The sedimentation rates in the Burwell Bay region are two or more, times those in the Point of Shoals and in the Rocklanding Channel and Shoal, reflecting the weaker currents in the Burwell Bay region. These sedimentation rates agree well with those obtained independently by measuring changes in the bathymetry of this area between 1873 and 1943. The concentrations of Cs-137, Cu, Pb, Zn and organic carbon in surface sediments vary by a factor of two to three. The concentrations are higher in the Burwell Bay region, probably as a result of the higher rates of accumulation of recently formed sediments in these subenvironments. The inventories of fine-grained sediments and of Cs-137, Cu, Pb, Zn and organic carbon accumulated since 1954 are also up to an order of magnitude higher in the Burwell Bay region. Although the concentrations of fine-grained sediments in three cores obtained in this region are similar, the inventories still vary by a factor of two to three. The inventories of Cs-137, Cu, Pb, Zn, organic carbon and fine-grained sediments correlate well with each other indicating that Cs-137 can be a useful tracer for studying the fate of these metals and organic carbon in estuarine environments. The inhomogeneity of the concentrations and inventories of the different elements along a 10-km segment of a river suggests that a closely-spaced sampling programme is essential for characterizing the sedimentary provinces within an estuary. The concentrations of Cs-137, metals and organic carbon in the coarse-grained sediments (i.e. > 63 μm) are considerably lower than those in fine-grained sediments. Thus, the contribution of coarse-grained sediments to the total inventory of these elements is small.