On the winter evolution of snow thermophysical properties over land‐fast first‐year sea ice

The geophysical, thermodynamic and dielectric properties of snow are important state variables that are known to be sensitive to Arctic climate variability and change. Given recent observations of changes in the Arctic physical system (Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, 2004), it is important to focus on the processes that give rise to variability in the horizontal, vertical and temporal dimensions of the life‐history of snow on sea ice. The objectives in this study are to present these ‘state’ variables and to investigate the processes that govern variability in the vertical, horizontal and temporal dimension by using a case study over land‐fast first‐year sea ice for the period December 2003 to June 2004. Results from two sampling areas (thin and thick snowpacks) show that differences in snowpack thickness can substantially change the vertical and temporal evolution of snow properties. During the late fall and early winter (cooling period) we measured no significant changes in the physical properties, except for thin snow‐cover salinity, which decreased throughout the period. Fall‐snow desalination was only observed under thin snowpacks with a rate of ?0·12 ppt day^?1. Significant changes occurred in the late winter and early spring (warming period), especially for snow grain size. Snow grain kinetic growth of 0·25–0·48 mm·day^?1 was measured coincidently with increasing salinity and wetness for both thin and thick snowpacks. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Laboratory Research into Permeable Reactive Barriers for Groundwater Remediation

1IntroductionAs industrialization is gaining roots throughout the world and population is increasing, there is the accompanying problem of waste disposal from vari-ous sources. Due to inefficient waste management processes, subsurface water bodies are being con-taminated by various kinds of chemicals (Soliman etal., 1998). PRB is a comparatively new groundwater treat-ment technology where contaminants are converted into harmless by products in situ as the polluted water passes through a re…     

Numerical slope stability simulations of the northern wall of eastern Candor Chasma (Mars) utilizing a distinct element method

Valles Marineris offers a deep natural insight into the upper crust of Mars. The morphology of its slopes reflects the properties of the wall materials, thus constraining in models of composition and evolution of the upper layers of the Martian crust. Hence, knowledge about the lithological composition of these wall rocks is of major interest to the understanding of the geological and climatic history of Mars. This study investigates mechanical rock mass parameters of the northern wall of eastern Candor Chasma (between 290°E and 296°E longitude, −8° to −5° latitude). These are inferred from its present-day morphology and a proposed slope-forming history, applying a distinct element code to simulate the stability and the tectonic history of this slope within a parameter study. Additionally, a mathematical denudation model is applied to take into account the effect of exogenic processes on the slope. The study results show that two periods of normal faulting in conjunction with massive interim denudational scarp recess is a valid model for the evolution of the northern wall of eastern Candor Chasma. The estimated rate of scarp recess of 60 m Myr⁻¹ is comparable with certain terrestrial scarp retreat rates. The best-fit models yield a homogenous distribution of low-level rock mass strength and deformability properties distributed over the entire stratigraphic column of the northern wall of eastern Candor Chasma. The values are 5.0 (±0.7) MPa for the uniaxial compressive strength, 1.6 (±0.2) MPa for the Brazilian tensile strength, 4.7 (±1.5) GPa for the Young's modulus, 0.2 (±0.15) for the Poisson's ratio, 22 (±2)° for the internal friction angle, 1.6 (±0.2) MPa for the cohesion and 2200 (±500) kg m⁻³ for the density. This study favors columnar jointed basalt as the material that builds up the northern wall of eastern Candor Chasma and other walls within central Valles Marineris. The best-fit denudational model of the upper slope section of the northern wall of eastern Candor Chasma indicates a distinct cap rock unit of lesser susceptibility to denudation than the wall rock below.     

Effects and mechanism of igneous rock on selenium in the tropical soil-rice system in Hainan Province,South China

To illuminate the migration and transformation of selenium(Se)in the igneous rock-soil-rice system,285 pairs of rhizosphere soil and rice samples were collected from the granitoid and basalt areas in Hainan Province,South China.The contents of Se in soils derived from granitoid and basalt are,respectively,0.19±0.12 mg/kg and 0.34±0.39 mg/kg,which are much higher than Se contents in granitoid and basalt.Selenium shows remarkable enrichment from granitoid and basalt to soils.The mobile fraction of Se in soils derived from granitoid is 0.0100±0.0034 mg/kg,which is significantly higher than that of basalt(0.0058±0.0039 mg/kg).Although soil derived from basalt shows higher Se contents,Se contents in rice samples,mobile fractions of Se in soils,and biological concentration factor(BCF)is similar or even lower than that from granitoid.Basalt consist of calcic plagioclase and pyroxene,and are much richer in Fe,Al,and Ca than granitoid.Correspondingly,the basalt-derived soils have higher goethite,hematite,kaolinite,cation exchange capacity(CEC)content,and higher p H than the granitoid-derived soils,which result in higher adsorption capacity for Se and relatively lower Se bioavailability.Soils derived from granitoid and basalt in tropical regions are beneficial to produce Se-rich rice.     

Resistance of salt marsh substrates to near-instantaneous hydrodynamic forcing

Salt marshes deliver vital ecosystem services by providing habitats, storing pollutants and atmospheric carbon, and reducing flood and erosion risk in the coastal hinterland. Net losses in salt marsh areas, both modelled globally and measured regionally, are therefore of concern. Amongst other controls, the persistence of salt marshes in any one location depends on the ability of their substrates to resist hydrodynamic forcing at the marsh front, along creek margins and on the vegetated surface. Where relative sea level is rising, marsh elevation must keep pace with sea-level rise and landward expansion may be required to compensate for areal loss at exposed margins. This paper reviews current understanding of marsh substrate resistance to the near-instantaneous (seconds to hours) forcing induced by hydrodynamic processes. It outlines how variability in substrate properties may affect marsh substrate stability, explores current understanding of the interactions between substrate properties and erosion processes, and how the cumulative impact of these interactions may affect marsh stability over annual to decadal timescales. Whilst important advances have been made in understanding how specific soil properties affect near-instantaneous marsh substrate stability, less is known about how these properties interact and alter bulk substrate resistance to hydrodynamic forcing. Future research requires a more systematic approach to quantifying biological and sedimentological marsh substrate properties. These properties must then be linked to specific observable erosion processes, particularly at the marsh front and along creek banks. A better understanding of the intrinsic dynamics and processes acting on, and within, salt marsh substrates will facilitate improved prediction of marsh evolution under future hydrodynamic forcing scenarios. Notwithstanding the additional complications that arise from morphodynamic feedbacks, this would allow us to more accurately model the future potential protection from flooding and erosion afforded by marshes, while also increasing the effectiveness of salt marsh restoration and recreation schemes. © 2020 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd     

Laboratory simulation of salt weathering under moderate ageing conditions: Implications for the deterioration of sandstone heritage in temperate climates

Salt weathering is a significant process affecting the deterioration and conservation of stone-built heritage in many locations and environments. While much research has focused on the impact of salt weathering under arid or coastal conditions with characteristic climatic conditions and salt types, many sites found to be experiencing salt-induced deterioration, such as sandstone rock-hewn cave temples in Gansu Province, China and sandstone buildings in the northern UK, experience high humidities, moderate temperature ranges, and different salt types. To evaluate the impact of salt weathering on sandstone-built heritage under such mild humid environmental conditions, a lab simulation experiment was designed. The experiment was carried out on three types of sandstone (used in the northern UK and Gansu Province, China) and utilized a realistic diurnal humidity and temperature cycle (85% RH/16°C + 60% RH/22°C), and three widespread damaging salts, that is, Na₂SO₄, MgSO₄, and the mixture of Na₂SO₄–MgSO₄. The nature and extent of deterioration was monitored by photography, weight loss, and the changes in petrophysical properties measured using hardness, ultrasonic pulse velocity (P-wave velocity), water absorption coefficient by capillarity, open porosity, and apparent density. All three sandstones were found to be susceptible to MgSO₄ and the mixture of Na₂SO₄–MgSO₄, but weakly affected by Na₂SO₄ under mild humid environmental conditions.     

Ground fissures within the Main Ethiopian Rift: Tectonic,lithological and piping controls

Ground fissures, especially if they open due to a sudden collapse of the surface, is a serious risk for populated areas. Their common occurrence in unconsolidated sediments of the Main Ethiopian Rift was found to be mostly a result of piping. The fissures start by piping in linear sub-horizontal underground voids, which often propagate upwards resulting in ceiling collapse and formation of deep and long ground fissures with vertical walls. In the southern and central Main Ethiopian Rift the fissures pose a serious risk to infrastructure and settlements. The ground fissures are often linear (up to several kilometres long and often tens of metres deep) and accompanied by sinkholes (along the length). A detailed field mapping of the geological (rock composition, orientation and character of lithological boundaries, primary fabrics and brittle structures) and geomorphological features (especially a length, width and depth of fissures, sinkholes and gullies) followed by in situ seismic anisotropy measurements and a laboratory determination of the geomechanical properties of volcanoclastic deposits was carried out to investigate the ground fissures' origin. The conditions and factors leading to the formation of the ground fissures have been linked to: (a) the presence of regional normal faults and the associated extensional joints and (b) the alternation of lithological units with contrasting hydraulic permeability. The latter corresponds to a sequence of less permeable hard rocks (e.g., rhyolitic ignimbrites) overlain by heterogeneous, soft and permeable, unconsolidated volcaniclastic deposits with a low amount of clay (less than 10%). The ground fissures' occurrence has shown affiliation to areas which have a significantly high seismic anisotropy (more than 20% at the study sites), which can be used as a proxy to map out high risk areas prone to piping and ground fissure formation.     

黄土高原多沙区环境因子对土地利用变化空间异质性的影响(英文)

In areas with topographic heterogeneity, land use change is spatially variable and influenced by climate, soil properties, and topography. To better understand this variability in the high-sediment region of the Loess Plateau in which soil loss is most severe and sediment diameter is larger than in other regions of the plateau, this study builds some indicators to identify the characteristics of land use change and then analyze the spatial variability as it is affected by climate, soil property, and topography. We build two indicators, a land use change intensity index and a vegetation change index, to characterize the intensity of land use change, and the degree of vegetation restoration, respectively. Based on a subsection mean method, the two indicators are then used to assess the spatial variability of land use change affected by climatic, edaphic, and topographic elements. The results indicate that: 1) Land use changed significantly in the period 1998–2010. The total area experiencing land use change was 42,302 km2, accounting for 22.57%of the study area. High-coverage grassland, other woodland, and forest increased significantly, while low-coverage grassland and farmland decreased in 2010 compared with 1998. 2) Land use change occurred primarily west of the Yellow River, between 35 and 38 degrees north latitude. The four transformation types, including(a) low-coverage grassland to medium-coverage grassland,(b) medium-coverage grassland to high-coverage grassland,(c) farmland to other woodland, and(d) farmland to medium-coverage grassland, were the primary types of land use change, together constituting 60% of the area experiencing land use change. 3) The spatial variability of land use change was significantly affected by properties of dryness/wetness, soil conditions and slope gradient. In general, land use changed dramatically in semi-arid regions, remained relativelystable in arid regions, changed significantly in clay-rich soil, remained relatively stable in clay-poor soil, changed dramatically in steeper slopes, and remained relatively stable in tablelands and low-lying regions. The increase in vegetation coincided with increasing changes in land use for each physical element. These findings allow for an evaluation of the effect of the Grain to Green Program, and are applicable to the design of soil and water conservation projects on the Loess Plateau of China.     

Variation of particulate organic carbon and its relationship with bio-optical properties during a phytoplankton bloom in the Pearl River estuary

In this study, variations in the particulate organic carbon (POC) were monitored during a phytoplankton bloom event, and the corresponding changes in bio-optical properties were tracked at one station (114.29°E, 22.06°N) located in the Pearl River estuary. A greater than 10-fold increase in POC (112.29-1173.36 mg m⁻³) was observed during the bloom, with the chlorophyll a concentration (Chl-a) varying from 0.984 to 25.941 mg m⁻³. A power law function is used to describe the relationship between POC and Chl-a, and the POC:Chl-a ratio tends to change inversely with Chl-a. Phytoplankton carbon concentration is indirectly estimated using the conceptual model proposed by Sathyendranath et al. (2009), and this carbon is found to contribute 47.21% (±10.65%) to total POC. The estimated carbon-to-chlorophyll ratio of phytoplankton in diatom-dominated waters is found to be comparable with results reported in the literature. Empirical algorithms for determining the concentrations of Chl-a and POC were developed based on the relationships of these variables with the blue-to-green reflectance ratio. With these bio-optical models, the levels of particulate organic carbon and Chl-a could be predicted from the radiometric data measured by a marine optical buoy, which showed much more detailed information about the variability in biogeochemical parameters during this bloom event.