Upstream dams and downstream clams: growth rates of bivalve mollusks unveil impact of river management on estuarine ecosystems (Colorado River Delta, Mexico)

We studied how the extensive diversion of Colorado River water, induced by dams and agricultural activities of the last 70 years, affected the growth rates of two abundant bivalve mollusk species (Chione cortezi and Chione fluctifraga) in the northern Gulf of California. Shells alive on the delta today (‘Post-dam’ shells) grow 5.8–27.9% faster than shells alive prior to the construction of dams (‘Pre-dam’ shells). This increase in annual shell production is linked to the currently sharply reduced freshwater influx to the Colorado River estuary. Before the upstream river management, lower salinity retarded growth rates in these bivalves. Intra-annual growth rates were 50% lower during spring and early summer, when river flow was at its maximum. Growth rates in Chione today are largely controlled by temperature and nutrients; prior to the construction of dams and the diversion of the Colorado River flow, seasonal changes in salinity played an important role in regulating calcification rates.Our study employs sclerochronological (growth increment analysis) and geochemical techniques to assess the impact of reduced freshwater influx on bivalve growth rates in the Colorado River estuary. A combination of both techniques provides an excellent tool to evaluate the impact of river management in areas where no pre-impact studies were made.     

The intertidal erosion rate of cohesive sediment: a case study from Long Island Sound

Over the past decades, many attempts have been made to generate useful bottom erosion models for the study of cohesive sediment movement. This study addresses some of the key questions involved in determining the functional relationship between erosion rate and bottom shear stress. Current, wave, and turbidity data were collected from a bottom mounted instrument array in a moderately energetic estuarine environment. The bottom shear stress was calculated from a wave–current interaction model. The erosion rate was derived from the observed sediment concentration using a vertical mixing model. Examination of the relationship between erosion rate and bottom stress showed that the erosion rate varied at intertidal frequency. When averaged over the tidal fluctuation, the erosion rate remained approximately constant at low stress, but increased sharply when the shear stress rose above a critical value. This suggests two-stage erosion. The bed has a layered structure, in which a thin layer of loose, high water content material overlies a more consolidated bed. The top layer of high water content material (fluff) was easily disturbed and re-suspended by tidal currents, but the consolidated bottom layer was eroded only under conditions of high shear stress.     

About the specification of erosion flux for soft stratified cohesive sediments

The present paper deals with the specification of bed erosion flux that accounts for the effects of sediment-induced stratification in the water column. Owing to difficulties in measuring the bed shear stress _b and the erosive shear strength _s, we suggest a series of methods that combine laboratory and numerical experiments. A simplified turbulent transport model that includes these effects helps to quantify _b and _s. Focusing on soft stratified beds, the present study considers erosion rate formulas of the form =_f exp {[T_b-T_s]} where is a model constant (=1 for Gularte's (1978) formula and =1/2 for Parchure's (1984) formula). First, the bed erosive strength profile _s(Z) is adjusted by forcing the turbulent transport model with measured erosion rates. Second, three procedures are suggested to determine the erosion rate formula coefficients _f and : a global procedure and two different layer-by-layer procedures. Each procedure is applied to an erosion experiment conducted in a rotating annular flume by Villaret and Paulic (1986). The use of the layer-by-layer procedure based on a least squares fitting technique provides a closer fit than the global procedure. The present study points out the complementarity of experimental and numerical approaches and also suggests possible improvements in laboratory test procedures.     

环境矿物材料治理镉（Cd^2＋）污染研究进展

近年来,环境矿物材料以其经济、有效、无二次污染等特点,在重金属废水处理和土壤修复方面显示出了众多优势,可替代传统的镉污染处理方法。本文综述了国内外环境矿物材料在处理镉污染方面的研究进展,并对今后应用环境矿物材料治理镉污染提出了一些建议。     

论环境流场切应变率对台风移动的作用

利用浅水波正压环境流场切应变率对台风移动的影响，得到的结果是：在环境流场切应变率空间不均匀条件下，正切应变率引起的台风偏差路径比负切应变率引起的偏差路径要长，特别在正切应变率的区域，正切应变率要比相对涡度梯度对台风移动有更大的影响。     

Analysis of DNAPL infiltration in a medium with a low-permeable lens

In this paper we study the infiltration of DNAPL in a porous medium containing a single low-permeable lens. Our aim is to determine whether or not DNAPL infiltrates into the lens. A key role is played by the capillary pressure: DNAPL cannot infiltrate into the lens unless the capillary pressure exceeds the entry pressure of the lens. In the model this is reflected by an interface condition, the extended capillary pressure condition. To derive analytical approximations we first consider a steady-state DNAPL plume in a homogeneous medium. This results in an estimate of the DNAPL plume width as a function of depth, and an asymptotic solution for small saturations. Assuming that the extent of the lens is much larger than the width of the unperturbed DNAPL plume in the homogeneous medium, we derive an explicit criterion for DNAPL infiltration into the lens in terms of a critical inflow rate. A numerical algorithm is presented in which the extended capillary pressure condition is incorporated. The numerical and analytical results show good qualitative agreement. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

中国周边地区强震与中国大陆7级以上地震活动的关系

通过对中国周边地区强震与中国大陆地区强震活动的关系分析，发现中国大陆周边地区活跃时段期间和其后3年是中国大陆地区7级以上地震活动的主要活动时期，周边地区强震活动增强后，中国大陆内部有可能发生7级以上地震，强震活动可能会逐步进入高潮，南北地震带中段未来数年发生7级以上地震的危险性较大．