Atmospheric nitrogen inputs into the North Sea: effect on productivity

The ANICE (Atmospheric Nitrogen Inputs into the Coastal Ecosystem) project addressed the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen to the North Sea, with emphasis on coastal effects. ANICE focused on quantifying the deposition of inorganic nitrogen compounds to the North Sea and the governing processes. An overview of the results from modelling and experimental efforts is presented. They serve to identify the role of the atmosphere as a source of biologically essential chemical species to the marine biota. Data from the Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory (UK) are used to evaluate the effect of short episodes with very high atmospheric nitrogen concentrations. One such episode resulted in an average deposition of 0.8 mmol N m⁻² day⁻¹, which has the potential to promote primary productivity of 5.3 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹. This value is compared to long-term effects determined from model results. The total calculated atmospheric deposition to the North Sea in 1999 is 948 kg N km⁻¹, i.e. 0.19 mmol N m⁻² day⁻¹ which has the potential to promote primary productivity of 1.2 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹. Detailed results for August 1999 show strong gradients across the North Sea due to adjacent areas where emissions of NO_x and NH₃ are among the highest in Europe. The average atmospheric deposition to the southern part of the North Sea in August 1999 could potentially promote primary production of 2.0 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹, i.e. 5.5% of the total production at this time of the year in this area of the North Sea. For the entire study area the atmospheric contribution to the primary production per m² is about two-third of this value. Most of the deposition occurs during short periods with high atmospheric concentrations. This atmospheric nitrogen is almost entirely anthropogenic in origin and thus represents a human-induced perturbation of the ecosystem.     

气体受激增温的实验研究

试验结果基本证明了热红外温度异常与太阳照射、大气电场、大气成分密切相关。非极性气体如CO2 、CH4 的含量越高, 增温越大。而极性气体, 如水蒸气则相反, 含量越高, 增温越小。CO2 、CH4 含量高的大气, 其增温远远超过单纯由温室效应引起的增温, 其幅度可达10℃,而水蒸气引起的增温还没有单纯由其温室效应引起的高。     

陆地水热系统气体地球化学研究进展

地表水热活动常伴有通量不等的气体释放，作为水-岩反应和地球深部脱气的产物，泉气的化学和同位素组成因其热储所处的大地构造单元、岩性和应力状态的差异而有所不同。对泉气化学和同位素组成时空变化的观测和研究是了解地壳-岩石圈动力学的重要方面，有助于地震、火山活动等地质灾害的监测和地热资源的开发利用。     

Examination of the quality of GOSAT/CAI cloud flag data over Beijing using ground-based cloud data

It has been several years since the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite （GOSAT） began to observe the distribution of CO2 and CH4 over the globe from space. Results from Thermal and Near-infrared Sensor for Carbon Observation-Cloud and Aerosol Imager （TANSO-CAI） cloud screening are necessary for the retrieval of CO2 and CH4 gas concentrations for GOSAT TANSO-Fourier Transform Spectrometer （FTS） observations. In this study, TANSO-CAI cloud flag data were compared with ground-based cloud data collected by an all-sky imager （ASI） over Beijing from June 2009 to May 2012 to examine the data quality. The results showed that the CAI has an obvious cloudy tendency bias over Beijing, especially in winter. The main reason might be that heavy aerosols in the sky are incorrectly determined as cloudy pixels by the CAI algorithm. Results also showed that the CAI algorithm sometimes neglects some high thin cirrus cloud over this area.     

A model for partitioning gases among brines and hydrocarbons in oil reservoirs: Examples from the IEA-GHG Weyburn CO2 Monitoring and Storage Project, Saskatchewan, Canada

We derive a thermodynamic model useful for calculating the partitioning of gases in brine–oil closed systems. We assumed real binary mixtures of all components, and solved a set of equilibrium equations relating the solubility of gases in brines to the solubility of gases in petroleum liquids. We applied the model to understand the distribution of gases in the IEA-GHG Weyburn CO₂ Monitoring and Storage Project, in Saskatchewan, Canada, throughout the first and second year after commencement of CO₂ injection. Results indicate that a free-gas phase formed in the south-east of the field 363 days after injection, which increased in size and volume with time, but did not correlate with zones showing excess CO₂ production. We also observed overlaps between areas of ¹³C depleted HCO₃⁻ and areas with free-vapor phase. We conclude that gas injection leads to short-term CO₂ dissolution in liquids, followed by the creation of a CO₂-rich vapor phase.     

中国休眠火山区岩浆来源气体地球化学特征

中国休眠火山区岩浆来源气体的最主要成分是CO2,含量占80％～99％;其它气体组分还有CH4、He、H2、N2、Ar、O2、H2S、SO2、CO等,其中CH4和He是CO2以外最值得重视的直接来自地幔岩浆体的气体组分。He的同位素组成（^3He／^4He比值）是休眠火山区最可靠的幔源物质的指示性参数;岩浆来源的CO2和CH4也具有特征的区别于浅源气体的稳定同位素组成（δ^13C值）。长白山火山区近期CO2和CH4的碳同位素分馏监测结果显示,2002年汪清7．2级深震虽然可能引发了深部岩浆的局部扰动,但是它可能并没有产生特别大量的、持续不断的上地幔岩浆物质流的上升迁移。这意味着,长白山天池火山区近期可能没有火山喷发活动的现实危险。     

Atmospheric observations of liquid water in cloud and of chemical species in aerosols and gases near the ground and in fallen snow at Svalbard, Arctic

Columnar observations of liquid water and of radar echo intensity in cloud were carried out, using a microwave radiometer and a vertically pointing radar respectively, in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. Chemical concentrations were also measured in aerosols, gases and snowfalls. Clouds with a large proportion of liquid water moved over the site after snow clouds, with a much lower liquid water content, had been present for about 16 h. The mass concentrations of most chemical species in snowfalls were lower from the first set of clouds than the second. The NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ concentrations in gases and aerosols associated with the first set of clouds were higher than in the second set, but Cl⁻ concentration was less for the first set than the second.     

Atmospheric input of nitrogen into the North Sea: ANICE project overview

The aim of the atmospheric nitrogen inputs into the coastal ecosystem (ANICE) project is to improve transport–chemistry models that estimate nitrogen deposition to the sea. To achieve this, experimental and modelling work is being conducted which aims to improve understanding of the processes involved in the chemical transformation, transport and deposition of atmospheric nitrogen compounds. Of particular emphasis within ANICE is the influence of coastal zone processes. Both short episodes with high deposition and chronic nitrogen inputs are considered in the project. The improved transport–chemistry models will be used to assess the atmospheric inputs of nitrogen compounds into the European regional seas (the North Sea is studied as a prototype) and evaluate the impact of various emission reduction strategies on the atmospheric nitrogen loads. Assessment of the impact of atmospheric nitrogen on coastal ecosystems will be based on comparisons of phytoplankton nitrogen requirements, other external nitrogen inputs to the ANICE area of interest and the direct nitrogen fluxes provided by ANICE. Selected results from both the experimental and modelling components are presented here. The experimental results show the large spatial and temporal variability in the concentrations of gaseous nitrogen compounds, and their influences on fluxes. Model calculations show the strong variation of both concentrations and gradients of nitric acid at fetches of up to 25 km. Aerosol concentrations also show high temporal variability and experimental evidence for the reaction between nitric acid and sea salt aerosol is provided by size-segregated aerosol composition measured at both sides of the North Sea. In several occasions throughout the experimental period, air mass back trajectory analysis showed connected flow between the two sampling sites (the Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory on the North Norfolk coast of the UK and Meetpost Noordwijk, a research tower at 9 km off the Dutch coast). Results from the METRAS/SEMA mesoscale chemistry transport model system for one of these cases are presented. Measurements of aerosol and rain chemical composition, using equipment mounted on a commercial ferry, show variations in composition across the North Sea. These measurements have been compared to results obtained with the transport–chemistry model ACDEP which calculates the atmospheric inputs into the whole North Sea area. Finally, the results will be made available for the assessment of the impact of atmospheric nitrogen on coastal ecosystems.     

Gas and particle emissions from Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, West Indies: characterization and health hazard assessment

 The Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, erupting since 18 July 1995, intensified its degassing in early 1996 with the continuing growth of the lava dome inside the summit crater. During this period of increased activity, between 11 and 18 March 1996, we measured gases and particles within the visible plume to determine whether at that time it posed a health risk to the population of Plymouth, the capital town, which is 5 km southwest (downwind) and was then still occupied. Gravimetric measurements were made of total suspended particles (TSP) and particles having an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm (PM₁₀). Measurements were made of sulphur dioxide (SO₂), hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrofluoric acid (HF), nitric acid (HNO₃), acetic acid (CH₃COOH), formic acid (HCOOH), and particulate sulphate (SO₄ ^2–), chloride (Cl^–), nitrate (NO₃ ^–), fluoride (F^–), methanesulphonate (CH₃SO₃ ^–), acetate (CH₃COO^–), formate (HCOO^–), ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), sodium (Na⁺) and acidity (H⁺). Trace metals having human health implications [chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), tin (Sn), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb)] were also determined. Mean concentrations of HCl, SO₂ and HF obtained in the town of Plymouth were 14.0, 5.9 and 0.8 ppbv, respectively. Corresponding concentrations in the mixed plume on the crater edge were 533, 168 and 22 ppbv. There were no direct emissions of HNO₃, although nitrate was detected in coarse particles at the source. Higher concentrations of CH₃COOH and HCOOH were measured close to the crater. Mean TSP and PM₁₀ were 64 and 15 μg m^–3 in Plymouth, and 455 and 47 μg m^–3 on the upper volcano slope. Aerosols were highly acidic at the source but rapidly neutralised during transport. Trace metals were enriched in the aerosol relative to crater surface material. The concentrations of the acid gases, sulphur dioxide in particular, and particles were found to be too small to pose a health hazard at the time of these measurements, when relatively modest volcanic activity was occurring. Received: 9 September 1998 / Accepted: 29 August 1999