AFTER THE 1993 FLOOD: A WATER AND SURFICIAL BED SEDIMENT QUALITY SCENARIO ON THE ILLINOIS AND UPPER MISSISSIPPI RWERS1

ABSTRACT: Effects of the 1993 flood on river water and sediment quality were investigated using historical data and data collected from the Illinois River and Upper Mississippi River in a post‐flood period. Overall the post‐flood results showed systematic reductions and individual changes in the water and sediment constituents. The reductions in sediment metals and nutrients were most obvious at the Keokuk and Lock and Dam 26 stations. By analyzing and comparing the physical changes to the changes in water and sediment constituents at each station, it was found that physical processes such as sediment entrainment and, more importantly, the removal of fine sediment to be the main causes for the reduced concentrations in sediment constituents. On the other hand, sediment redistribution and associated secondary contamination could have caused the emergence of several water and sediment constituents that were undetected before the flood.     

高层建筑承受纵向地震波时的安全核算构想

高层建筑可预期的灾变非至一端，这里仅探讨高层建筑的抗震性能问题。地震过程中楼体受到的是地震波和自身固有频率的共同作用，此时楼体是一个多维动态系统，其应力状态比传统方法所描述的力学模型要复杂行多。本文应用ANSYS三维仿真有限元软件，采用单点响应谱的方法，对楼体在纵向地震波作用下的应力状态和变形情况进行了分析。对楼体构件单元型式的选择、网格密度的确定、有限元模型的建立等也提出了自己的见解。在后处理中，用列表和图形的方式显示了楼体的位移和应用状态。     

Watershed characteristics and climate factors effect on the temporal variability of mercury in the southern Baltic Sea rivers

Mercury(Hg) is a neurotoxic metal which can enter into the human organism mainly by fish consumption, skin and transpiration. In the coastal zone of the southern Baltic Sea, rivers are the main source of Hg. The Polish region represents the largest proportion of the Baltic Sea catchment and this research included four rivers of the Baltic watershed: the Reda,Zagórska Struga, Kacza and Gizdepka. The samples were collected in the years 2011–2013.Total and particulate Hg concentration in these rivers were measured. Due to intensive rain,deposited mercury on the catchment area was washed out into the riverines water and introduced into the Baltic Sea. Consequently, the load of Hg increased three times.Additionally, the intensive dry atmospheric deposition during heating season caused the increase of the concentration of particulate Hg in the river water even by 85%. The research confirmed the role of the river flow magnitude in the load of mercury introduced into the sea by rivers. Moreover, a high variability of mercury concentration was connected to the additional sources such as the chemicals containing Hg and no municipal sewage system.The analysis of stable isotopes indicated that the SPM contained terrestrial organic matter;however, there was no clear correlation between Hgtot, Corgand Ntotconcentrations and δ~(13)C, δ~(15)N, C/N in particulate matter.     

北运河闸坝区水体氨氧化微生物及硝化活性特征研究

采用分子荧光定量PCR对北运河闸坝区(上游沙河闸和下游杨洼闸)水体中氨氧化细菌(AOB)的amoA基因拷贝数进行定量测定,并研究了闸坝设置和排污口污水排放对AOB的amoA基因拷贝数,硝化活性(NA)和氮素转化的影响.结果表明,1在沙河闸段,AOB的amoA基因拷贝数呈现先上升后下降,排污口处又显著上升的空间变化特征,其变化范围为(1.84±0.09)×10~8~(7.12±0.36)×10~8copies·L~(-1),排污口处最高;在杨洼闸段,amoA基因拷贝数呈现先上升后下降最后趋于平稳的空间变化特征,其变化范围为(3.05±0.15)×10~8~(6.83±0.34)×10~8copies·L~(-1),下游100 m处最高.闸坝的设置和排污口污水的排放对AOB的amoA基因拷贝数和空间分布具有显著影响.2硝化活性(NA)的空间变化特征与AOB的变化特征相同.闸坝的设置和污水排放能促进水体的硝化过程,加快污染物质的降解.3沙河闸排污口处排放的NH_4~+-N可以作为AOB生长的氮源,提高硝化活性,加快NH_4~+-N全向NO_3~--N的转化,促进硝化过程的完全进行;杨洼闸段闸门的开启导致溶解氧的升高和内源NO_3~--N的释放,为AOB的生长提供氮源,提高硝化活性,但造成了NO_2~--N的积累.     

水坝建设影响下澜沧江中游沉积物重金属形态分析及污染指数研究

采集了漫湾库区和大朝山库区25个采样断面的沉积物样品.每个库区均从上游到下游分为河流区、过渡区和湖泊区,研究了沉积物中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb、Zn元素的含量和赋存形态差异,利用次生相与原生相分布比值法(RSP)分析重金属元素的污染水平.结果表明,各库区从上游到下游沉积物中的重金属元素和碳氮元素均呈现出增加的趋势,而沉积物的中值粒径呈现出减小的趋势.漫湾库区的As、Cd、Zn元素平均含量均高于大朝山库区;大朝山库区的Cr、Mn、Ni、Pb元素平均含量均高于漫湾库区.在重金属赋存形态中,Cd和Mn元素以可交换态和残渣态为主;Cu、Pb以有机质态和残渣态为主;其余重金属元素均以残渣态为主.沉积物中的可交换态在有机碳的络合作用下转化成有机质态.在水坝建设的影响下沉积物中细颗粒和有机质含量明显上升,重金属在细颗粒物和有机质的共同作用下蓄积于坝前的沉积物中.PSR分析结果表明,在水坝运行影响下,各库区湖泊区和过渡区的污染水平均高于河流区.其中,Cd元素所有地区处于重度污染水平;Mn和Pb大部分区域处于中度污染水平;Cu元素大部分区域处于轻度污染水平;其余元素基本无污染.     

Emergy Evaluation of the Natural Value of Water Resources in Chinese Rivers

Emergy theory and method were used to evaluate the economy of China and the contributions of water resources in Chinese rivers to the real wealth of the Chinese economy. The water cycle and energy conversion were reviewed, and an emergy method for evaluating the natural value of water resources in a river watershed was developed. The indices for China calculated from the emergy evaluation were close to those of developing countries. Despite a small surplus in its balance of payments, China had a net emergy loss from its trade in 2002. The efficiency of Chinese natural resource use was still not high and did not match its economic growth rate. Furthermore, the Chinese economy placed a stress on its ecological environment and natural resources. Several indices of Chinese rivers from the emergy evaluation were close to those of average global river water. The main average indices of Chinese rivers were transformity (4.17 × 10⁴ sej/J), emergy per volume (2.05 × 10¹¹ sej/m³), and emdollar per volume (0.06 $/m³). The total value of all the rivers’ water made up 13.0% of the GDP of China in 2002, and that of water consumption accounted for 2.1%. The value of the water resources in the Haihe-luanhe River (11.39 × 10⁴ sej/J) was the highest, followed by the Yellow River (10.27 × 10⁴ sej/J), while the rivers in Southwest China had the lowest values (2.92 × 10⁴ sej/J).     

A study of radionuclides, metals and stable lead isotope ratios in sediments and soils in the vicinity of natural U-mineralisation areas in the Northern Territory

Australian guidelines recommend that tailings materials from uranium (U) mining and milling be contained without any detrimental impact on the environment for at least 1000 years. Natural analogue sites are being investigated to determine if they can provide data on the rates of natural erosion processes which occur over these timescales, for input into predictive geomorphic computer models. This paper presents radionuclide, metal and stable lead (Pb) isotope data from sediment cores and surface soils in the vicinity of two mineralised areas in the Alligator Rivers Region.Surface scrapes from the natural Anomaly #2, south of the Ranger mineral lease, exhibit radiogenic ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios, and elevated U and metal concentrations typical for a near surface U anomaly. In contrast, samples taken from the Koongarra mineral lease (KML) show radionuclide activity and metal concentrations similar to natural areas elsewhere in the Alligator Rivers Region and Pb isotope ratios are closer to present day average crustal ratios (PDAC), as the orebodies at KML are covered by surficial sand. A sediment core collected from Anbangbang Billabong, downstream of KML, exhibits small variations in Pb isotope ratios that indicate that approximately 1% of the upper sediments in the sediment core may be derived from material originating from the U anomaly at Koongarra.     

Climate and land-use changes affecting river sediment and brown trout in alpine countries—a review

Background, aim, and scope

Catch decline of freshwater fish has been recorded in several countries. Among the possible causes, habitat change is discussed. This article focuses on potentially increased levels of fine sediments going to rivers and their effects on gravel-spawning brown trout. Indications of increased erosion rates are evident from land-use change in agriculture, changes in forest management practices, and from climate change. The latter induces an increase in air and river water temperatures, reduction in permafrost, changes in snow dynamics and an increase in heavy rain events. As a result, an increase in river sediment is likely. Suspended sediment may affect fish health and behaviour directly. Furthermore, sediment loads may clog gravel beds impeding fish such as brown trout from spawning and reducing recruitment rates. To assess the potential impact on fine sediments, knowledge of brown trout reproductive needs and the effects of sediment on brown trout health were evaluated.

Approach

We critically reviewed the literature and included results from ongoing studies to answer the following questions, focusing on recent decades and rivers in alpine countries.

Have climate change and land-use change increased erosion and sediment loads in rivers?

Do we have indications of an increase in riverbed clogging?

Are there indications of direct or indirect effects on brown trout from increased suspended sediment concentrations in rivers or from an increase in riverbed clogging?

Results

Rising air temperatures have led to more intensive precipitation in winter months, earlier snow melt in spring, and rising snow lines and hence to increased erosion. Intensification of land use has supported erosion in lowland and pre-alpine areas in the second half of the twentieth century. In the Alps, however, reforestation of abandoned land at high altitudes might reduce the erosion risk while intensification on the lower, more easily accessible slopes increases erosion risk. Data from laboratory experiments show that suspended sediments affect the health and behaviour of fish when available in high amounts. Point measurements in large rivers indicate no common lethal threat and suspended sediment is rarely measured continuously in small rivers. However, effects on fish can be expected under environmentally relevant conditions. River bed clogging impairs the reproductive performance of gravel-spawning fish.

Discussion

Overall, higher erosion and increased levels of fine sediment going into rivers are expected in future. Additionally, sediment loads in rivers are suspected to have considerably impaired gravel bed structure and brown trout spawning is impeded. Timing of discharge is put forward and is now more likely to affect brown trout spawning than in previous decades.

Conclusions

Reports on riverbed clogging from changes in erosion and fine sediment deposition patterns, caused by climate change and land-use change are rare. This review identifies both a risk of increases in climate erosive forces and fine sediment loads in rivers of alpine countries. Increased river discharge and sediment loads in winter and early spring could be especially harmful for brown trout reproduction and development of young life stages. Recently published studies indicate a decline in trout reproduction from riverbed clogging in many rivers in lowlands and alpine regions. However, the multitude of factors in natural complex ecosystems makes it difficult to address a single causative factor.

Recommendations and perspectives

Further investigations into the consequences of climate change and land-use change on river systems are needed. Small rivers, of high importance for the recruitment of gravel-spawning fish, are often neglected. Studies on river bed clogging are rare and the few existing studies are not comparable. Thus, there is a strong need for the development of methods to assess sediment input and river bed clogging. As well, studies on the effects to fish from suspended sediments and consequences of gravel beds clogging under natural conditions are urgently needed.     

基于可拓学的尾矿库安全评价

为综合评价尾矿库的安全状态,基于尾矿库灾变机理和大量工程实践构建了一套包括3级指标、22个因素的评价指标体系,并确定了评价指标的等级量值区间。采用EAHP和熵权法结合的方式确定指标权重,基于可拓理论评价尾矿库的安全等级。以湖南黄金集团责任有限公司旗下的7座尾矿库为案例,评价其安全状态,根据蒙特卡洛模拟基本理论,基于Crystal Ball对案例进行敏感性分析,找出具体敏感因素,为后期尾矿库安全管理提供简单有效的控制方法。