Water quality modelling of the river Yamuna (India) using QUAL2E-UNCAS

This paper describes the utility of QUAL2E as a modelling package in the evaluation of a water quality improvement programme. In this study, QUAL2E was applied to determine the pollution loads in the river Yamuna during its course through the national capital territory of Delhi, India. The study aimed at examining the influence of different scenarios on river water quality. Four different pollution scenarios were analysed besides the 'business as usual' situation. The study revealed that it was necessary to treat the discharge from drains to the river Yamuna and diversion of a substantial load to the Agra canal for further treatment was also essential. It was also established through this study that maintaining a flow rate of more than 10 m(3)/s in the river could also help preserve the river's water quality. To clearly display the model outcomes and demarcate polluted zones in the river stretch, model results were interfaced with a Geographical Information System (GIS) to produce cartographic outputs. In addition, uncertainty analysis in the form of first-order error analysis and Monte Carlo analysis was performed, to realise the effect of each model parameter on DO and BOD predictions. The uncertainty analysis gave satisfactory results on simulated data.     

The integrated project AquaTerra of the EU sixth framework lays foundations for better understanding of river-sediment-soil-groundwater systems

The integrated project "AquaTerra" with the full title "integrated modeling of the river-sediment-soil-groundwater system; advanced tools for the management of catchment areas and river basins in the context of global change" is among the first environmental projects within the sixth Framework Program of the European Union. Commencing in June 2004, it brought together a multidisciplinary team of 45 partner organizations from 12 EU countries, Romania, Switzerland, Serbia and Montenegro. AquaTerra is an ambitious project with the primary objective of laying the foundations for a better understanding of the behavior of environmental pollutants and their fluxes in the soil-sediment-water system with respect to climate and land use changes. The project performs research as well as modeling on river-sediment-soil-groundwater systems through quantification of deposition, sorption and turnover rates and the development of numerical models to reveal fluxes and trends in soil and sediment functioning. Scales ranging from the laboratory to river basins are addressed with the potential to provide improved river basin management, enhanced soil and groundwater monitoring as well as the early identification and forecasting of impacts on water quantity and quality. Study areas are the catchments of the Ebro, Meuse, Elbe and Danube Rivers and the Brévilles Spring. Here we outline the general structure of the project and the activities conducted within eleven existing sub-projects of AquaTerra.     

The effects of sediment-laden waters on irrigated lands along the lower Yellow River in China

Expansion of irrigation in the Yellow River (Huang He in Chinese) Basin of China is a major accomplishment of the post-revolutionary period in China. Irrigation reliance on the Yellow River was anticipated to not only supply greater reliability of water for crops, but also to improve the productivity of aeolian, saline and alkali soils because of the high sediment loads in the river. Irrigation expansion also was a significant factor in affecting human modification of the landscape ecosystem in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. Based on field investigation and sampling of the amount and distribution of used suspended sediment load in irrigated areas, this paper analyzes the impact of the suspended sediment on soil texture, fertility and salinity and the consequences to the landscape ecosystem. Results indicate that soil quality has indeed been improved through irrigation and related deposition of sediment, but some local problems created by long periods of irrigation should not be ignored in the future.     

A Social Analysis of the Bioinvasions of Dreissena polymorpha in Spain and Hydrilla verticillata in Guatemala

Human agency plays a key role in the processes of biological invasions. This comprises not only the human role in the configuration of driving forces or in the perception of the impacts, but also the conceptualization of alien species themselves as an environmental problem. This paper examines different stakeholders' positions in bioinvasion processes at different scales, and it looks at their relevance for the management of invasive species. It compares two cases: the invasion process of Dreissena polymorpha in the Ebro River in Spain and the case of Hydrilla verticillata in Lake Izabal, Guatemala. Our results are structured according to impacts and to management options. The discussion focuses on the relevance of incorporating the different stakeholders' interests and values in the analysis and management of biological invasions. Although social analysis of stakeholders' positions is necessary in order to foster management actions, it also reveals conflicts on the relevant criteria and on the very definition of invasive species.     

Criteria for the Assessment of Sustainable Water Management

Pressure on the world’s water resources is increasing, restraining social and economic development in many countries, and threatening ecological values in others. In order to manage water resources in a more sustainable manner, new planning methodologies/processes for river basin management need to be developed. This study attempts to construct a set of useable normative criteria for the analysis and evaluation of such processes. The criteria were designed as a response to the lack of deductive approaches in the evaluation of methodologies and working procedures used in the context of river basin management, making it possible to highlight their potential for sustainable development. The criteria are based on the twin concepts of participation and integration. These concepts function as well-established dimensions of both sustainable development and sustainable river basin management, and they are of significant methodological relevance. A synthesis of the key aspects connected to the two concepts is undertaken, based on a broad literature review. Focus is laid on how in methodological terms, and in relation to regional water management, to achieve participation and integration in a decision-making or planning process. The criteria are concerned with how knowledge and values are integrated into the planning process and how commitment, legitimacy, or acceptance for the resulting plan is generated.     

长江流域近50年来的气温变化特征

分析了1951~2000年长江流域（上、中、下游）的平均气温、平均日最低气温、平均日最高气温随时间的变化趋势特征。结果表明：长江流域近50年来年平均气温、年平均日最低气温、年平均日最高气温在20世纪50年代明显偏高，60~80年代波动下降，80年代中后期以后有所上升，90年代较80年代增温0.3℃~0.6℃之间；同时不同季节、不同区域气温呈现不同的态势，冬季平均气温、平均日最低气温在60年代以后呈上升趋势，而平均日最高气温呈下降趋势，夏季平均气温、平均日最低气温、平均日最高气温均以降温为主。     

天津市滨海河流N2O扩散通量及控制因子

河流是大气温室气体重要的排放源.为了探讨天津市典型景观滨海河流N₂O释放空间特征及影响因素,以天津市6条不同土地利用类型的滨海河流为研究对象,通过顶空-气相色谱法测定了N₂O浓度、饱和度和扩散通量.结果表明,天津市不同景观河流N₂O浓度都处于过饱和状态,表现为大气N₂O的源;N₂O浓度、饱和度和扩散通量均值为（23.85±15.20）nmol·L^-1、（309.71±197.38）%和（27.04±16.46）μmol·（m²·d）^-1,范围分别为12.70～115.69 nmol·L^-1、 164%～1 502%和9.17～244.79μmol·（m²·d）^-1.天津市不同土地利用类型河流N₂O浓度和扩散通量具有较大的空间异质性,表现为：排污河>城市河流>郊区河流>农业河流.天津滨海河流N₂     

气候变化和人类活动对黄河三角洲植被动态变化的影响

黄河三角洲是我国暖温带最完整、面积最大的湿地生态系统,其植被变化对于黄河三角洲生态功能和生态安全具有重要意义.本研究基于植被覆盖度(fractional vegetation cover,FVC)、叶面积指数(leaf area index,LAI)、净初级生产力(net primary productivity,NPP)3个生态参数,分析了2000-2017年黄河三角洲地区植被的动态变化,并以NPP为指标量化分析了气候变化和人类活动对植被生产力的贡献.研究发现,2000-2017年黄河三角洲FVC(Slope=0.004,p<0.05)、LAI(Slope=0.011,p<0.05)、NPP(Slope=3.54 g·m-2·a-1,p<0.01)呈显著增加趋势,说明2000-2017年黄河三角洲植被生长状况趋好、植被生产力提高.气温、降水和太阳总辐射对植被NPP变化的贡献分别为0.006、0.81、-0.03g·m-2·a-1,即降水对植被NPP变化的贡献最大,这主要是因为黄河三角洲的主要土地利用类型为耕地,受降水影响大,当地土壤具有盐碱化风险,降水可以补充淡水资...     

闽江河口互花米草海向入侵对湿地土壤nirS型反硝化微生物群落结构及多样性的影响

2020年秋季,在闽江河口鳝鱼滩东部的互花米草分布区,由陆向海方向选择互花米草海向入侵前的光滩(MF)、入侵1～2年的互花米草湿地(SAN)和入侵6～7年的互花米草湿地(SA)为研究对象.基于高通量测序技术,探讨了互花米草海向入侵对土壤nir S型反硝化微生物群落结构及多样性的影响.结果表明,变形菌门(Proteobacteria)均是互花米草不同入侵阶段土壤中nir S型反硝化微生物的优势门(90.41%～97.36%),其次是厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria),三者在SAN和MF土壤中的丰度均与SA存在显著差异(p<0.05).不同入侵阶段土壤中共有的nir S型反硝化细菌属为假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)、偶氮弧菌属(Azoarcus)、陶厄氏菌属(Thauera)、Sulfurifustis属、副球菌属(Paracoccus)、鲁杰氏菌属(Ruegeria)、红肠命菌属(Rubrivivax)、趋磁螺菌属(Magnetospirillum)和福格斯氏菌属(Vogesella),其中,假单胞菌属是...     

通过屋顶暴露方法模拟聚碳酸酯微塑料在长江水样的长期老化行为

由于较低的自然老化速率,微塑料在实际水体长期户外暴露过程中老化行为的数据仍较缺乏.通过聚碳酸酯（Polycarbonate,PC）微塑料在长江表层水样的18个月户外暴露试验以揭示自然老化过程对微塑料表面特征及对金属离子(Cr⁶⁺和Co²⁺)吸附行为的重要影响.结果显示,户外暴露改变了PC微塑料的理化性质,包括表面开裂、粒径降低、亲水性和熔点增加以及表面氧化（产生羰基和羟基）.同时,户外老化过程明显影响微塑料对金属离子的吸附行为.原始和低老化程度PC对金属离子的吸附主要通过物理作用控制,而高老化程度微塑料由于产生含氧功能团对金属离子的吸附主要由化学过程如络合和共价键等作用控制.并且,不同老化程度PC微塑料对Cr⁶⁺和Co²⁺的吸附性能不同.对于Cr⁶⁺,PC的吸附性能随其老化程度增加呈先升高后降低的趋势,然而对于Co²⁺,平衡吸附性能随老化程度增加呈增加的趋势.户外老化过程产生含氧官能团、破碎和开裂以及生物膜可能是影响吸附性能的主要因素.本研究证实了长期户外...