Chemistry of atmospheric dust and critical load assessment in Delhi region (India)

This is the first study in the Delhi region that assesses the critical load capacity of soil systems with respect to the atmospheric deposition and air quality, from July to October in 2012. Trend analysis of NO₂ and SO₂ in Delhi, using the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, showed interesting patterns matching with the trends in vehicular load in the city. This was followed by the calculation of the critical load of atmospheric acidity for sulphur and nitrogen in order to check the vulnerability of the soil systems in Delhi. Here, the steady state mass balance approach was majorly applied and the study conducted in the Agra region was taken as reference. The calculated values of critical loads of sulphur (225–275?eq/ha/yr) and nitrogen (298–303?eq/ha/yr), for the soil system in Delhi, were calculated with respect to three plant species, namely Anjan grass, Hibiscus and Black siris. The present loads of sulphur (PL(S)?=?26.40?eq/ha/yr) and nitrogen (PL(N)?=?36.51?eq/ha/yr) were found to be much lower than their respective critical loads. From the results, it can be concluded that the present loads of atmospheric acidic deposition in Delhi region do not pose any danger of acidification of soil system because it is countered by buffering capacity of soil generated dust. However, considering the pace at which the city is growing, it is likely that in coming decades, the present load will increase and thus the values evaluated in this study are likely to serve as an important reference for future assessment of the pollution scenario in the city.     

A preliminary investigation of pollution in the River Yamuna,Delhi, India: Metal concentrations in river bank soils and plants

A preliminary study of inorganic elements in the river bank soil and plants from the River Yamuna in Delhi has been carried out. Soil at Okhla, near the Water Works plant has a high zinc content (1,215 g g^–1 and this is reflected in the high concentration of zinc (2,029 g g^–1) in Eichhornia plants growing in the river at this point. Although in general the aluminium content of the soils is low in comparison with the world mean, soil near the effluent from the ash settling basins of the Indraprathsa Power Station contains elevated aluminium.Eichhornia plants growing near this effluent are stunted and unhealthy, and is suggested that, taking into account the high pH, possible causes are toxicity from aluminium or boron.     

Interlinked seasonal variation in biogenic nutrient fluxes and pore-water nutrient concentrations in intertidal sediments

The seasonal variation in biogenic fluxes of NH₄ ⁺, PO₄ ^3? and SiO₂ calculated from the nutrient excretion rates of dominant bivalves (Ruditapes philippinarum and Arcuatula [=Musculista] senhousia), and pore-water nutrient (NH₄ ⁺, PO₄ ^3?, SiO₂ and NO₃ ^? + NO₂ ^?), sedimentary acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) and benthic chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations was assessed on an intertidal sandflat in the Seto Inland Sea (Japan) from summer 1994 to autumn 1995. In spite of the large variability between sampling dates and stations, significant correlations between biogenic nutrient fluxes and pore-water nutrient concentrations were found, suggesting a seasonal linkage between bivalve-mediated biological processes and chemical features of sediments. This linkage was stronger in surface (0–0.5 cm) than subsurface (0.5–2 cm) sediments, consistent with the autoecological characteristics of R. philippinarum and A. senhousia inhabiting the uppermost sediment layer. Significant temporal variation in pore-water NO₃ ^? + NO₂ ^?, sedimentary AVS and benthic Chl-a concentrations was also found, which was related to both occasional extreme events (e.g., dystrophy) and alternating periods of production and decomposition. This study may serve twofold in (1) contributing to unravel the ecological structure and functioning of natural tidal flats, and the scale of seasonal variability in biotic and sedimentary parameters and (2) providing useful information for assessing the effectiveness of the physico-chemical and biological structure of artificial tidal flats which are growing in number and extension worldwide.     

Spatial and seasonal variation of polychlorinated biphenyls in Songhua River, China

The spatial and seasonal variation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were investigated in water and sediment samples collected from Songhua River, China, from 2007 to 2008. The total concentration of PCB congeners ranged from 1.1 to 14 ng/l in water and 0.26–9.7 ng/g dry weight (dw) in sediment. The results of seasonal variation may suggest an impact to PCB concentration in water from its atmospheric input, the dilution to PCBs concentrations of high stream in summer, and a general trend towards increased volatilization in warmer conditions. From PCBs concentrations comparison between upstream and downstream of industrial urban cities, it was obvious that industrial urban cities reflect an important pollutant source for PCBs in our study, also with the evidences of high concentrations of PCBs occurring in high development industry and residential areas. Meanwhile, the homologue profile of PCBs in Songhua was analyzed, whose comparison with published data indicates that the sources of PCBs accumulated in the sediment may also came from the residue of PCBs production in China. Total five dioxin-like PCBs (CB-77, 81, 105, 114, and 126) and nine (CB-77, 81, 105, 114, 118, 123, 126, 156, and 167) were found in Songhua water and sediment.     

Fresh water blue green algae from three agro-climatic zones of Uttar Pradesh, India: distribution pattern with seasonal variation

The paper deals with 45 species of 21 genera of fresh water blue green algae (BGA) from three different agro-climatic zones of Uttar Pradesh. Samples were collected from different habitats varying in physico-chemical properties. Out of 45 species, 13 species belonged to order Chroococcales, 31 to order Nostocales, while only 1 species belonged to order Stigonimatales i.e. Fischerella mucicola. The physico-chemical parameters like pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, nitrate, nitrite and rainfall play an important role in the periodicity of BGA. A positive correlation was found between dissolved oxygen (DO) of different ponds and species diversity, except in the case of western region of Uttar Pradesh (Farukhabad and Mahoba districts) where a positive correlation was found in electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids.     

Temporal evolution of charged and neutral nanoparticle concentrations during atmospheric new particle formation events and its implications for ion-induced nucleation

Time series of nanoparticle number concentration during new particle formation (NPF) events in the urban environment of Brisbane, Australia, showed that the formation of charged particles often occurred before that of neutral particles. We monitored 241 days during the calendar year 2012 over which NPF events were observed on 108 days. We studied the times at which the charged and neutral particle concentrations in the size range 1.8–3.2 nm reached their peak values and found that they were clearly different in 50 events with the peak neutral particle concentration lagging behind the charged particle concentration during 42 of these events with a mean time lag of 24±12 min. While the charged particles were more likely to form before the neutral particles, once formed, the growth rate of the particles did not depend on their charge. While ion-induced nucleation is not the dominant mechanism of NPF in the atmosphere, our observations suggest that the presence of ions in the atmosphere plays a role that cannot be ignored.

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Ecological responses to variation in seasonal snow cover

Seasonal snow is among the most important factors governing the ecology of many terrestrial ecosystems, but rising global temperatures are changing snow regimes and driving widespread declines in the depth and duration of snow cover. Loss of the insulating snow layer will fundamentally change the environment. Understanding how individuals, populations, and communities respond to different snow conditions is thus essential for predicting and managing future ecosystem change. We synthesized 365 studies that examined ecological responses to variation in winter snow conditions. This research encompasses a broad range of methods (experimental manipulations, measurement of natural snow gradients, and long-term monitoring), locations (35 countries), study organisms (plants, mammals, arthropods, birds, fish, lichen, and fungi), and response measures. Earlier snowmelt was consistently associated with advanced spring phenology in plants, mammals, and arthropods. Reduced snow depth often increased mortality or physical injury in plants, although there were few clear effects on animals. Neither snow depth nor snowmelt timing had clear or consistent directional effects on body size of animals or biomass of plants. However, because 96% of studies were from the northern hemisphere, the generality of these trends across ecosystems and localities is also unclear. We identified substantial research gaps for several taxonomic groups and response types; research on wintertime responses was notably scarce. Future research should prioritize examination of the mechanisms underlying responses to changing snow conditions and the consequences of those responses for seasonally snow-covered ecosystems.     

Monitoring spatio-temporal variation in molluscan grazing pressure in seasonal, tropical rock pools

In Hong Kong, low-shore rock pools support a patchy mosaic of different successional stages of crustose coralline algae. Echinoid and molluscan grazers are abundant in these low-shore rock pools and spatial and temporal variation in grazing pressure is thought to play an important role in structuring these assemblages. Direct records of graze marks using a modified wax-disc method were used to monitor spatial (different pools) and temporal (periods, 3 or 4 days each; spring vs. neap tides; summer vs. winter) variations in grazing pressure. Radula marks of Chlorostoma argyrostoma, Lunella coronata and Nerita albicilla were common in all pools. Grazing pressure was highly variable with tidal state and season but also within these two factors. Lunella and Nerita exerted highest grazing pressure at neap tides during summer, whilst Chlorostoma exerted highest grazing pressure in winter. Although overall patterns of temporal variation were similar and consistent in all pools, there was between pool variation in grazing pressure and individual species showed different patterns. Within the seasonal and tidal variations, large period-to-period differences were found for all species, illustrating small-scale temporal variation. Fine-scale spatial and temporal patterns of variation in grazing pressure of different species, therefore, contribute to the highly dynamic nature of these low-shore rock pools.     

Trend,seasonal variation and sources of suspended particulated matter (SPM) in Spain

In this study we analyze the temporal evolution of the suspended particulated matter (SPM) in the air of the six Spanish remote stations belonging to the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme network. A negative trend is observed in three of them and a positive trend in one. Another objective of this work was to know the geographical sources of SPM in Spain. To do this we used the conditional probability functions (cf. Ashbaugh et al. (1985), Atmos. Environ., 19, 1263–1270) and information about air masses trajectories. The North of Africa and regions inside Spain are the main sources while Continental Europe and the British Islands are less important.     

毛竹根系生物量分布与季节动态变化

采用挖土柱法研究了安徽黄山地区毛竹（Phyllostachys edulis）根系生物量的分布规律,连续观测了根系生物量的季节变化,并分析了根系生物量与温度、降雨等环境因子相关性。研究结果表明：毛竹林的根系生物量平均为12.891 t·hm^-2,88.8%的根系分布在0-40 cm土层,随土层加深根系生物量逐渐减少,0-20 cm土层中的生物量占总生物量的62.3%,分别是20-40 cm与40-60 cm根系生物量的2.35倍与5.56倍;根系总生物量具有明显的季节动态,变化范围为7.686-17.386 t·hm^-2,表现为单峰型,7月份最高,2月份最低;不同深度土壤中毛竹根系生物量也存在明显的季节动态,均从2月份开始上升,达到最大值后逐渐下降,与总生物量的季节变化规律类似,其中0-20 cm与20-40 cm土层根系生物量最大值出现在7月,与总生物量一致,而40-60 cm土层最大值出现在6月,存在一定偏差;毛竹林根系生物量与气温因子显著相关,三次拟合方程为Y=0.0001X3-0.0013X2＋0.2398X＋7.6022（R2=0.956）,与降雨量因子无显著相关性。     

深圳湾浮游动物的群落结构及季节变化

2008年2月、5月、8月和11月分别对深圳湾浮游动物进行了周年的季节调查,结果共检出浮游动物38种和浮游幼体13类,其中原生动物2种,腔肠动物4种,介形类1种,桡足类22种,软甲类3种,毛颚类3种,被囊类1种,多毛类2种,浮游幼体（包括仔鱼）13类。年均丰度和生物量分别为406.7 ind.m-3和764.0 mg.m-3,高峰均位于夏季,低谷分别位于冬、春季。种类数（包括浮游幼虫）秋季最多为43种,夏季次之为30种,冬季最少仅23种。主要优势种为太平洋纺锤水蚤Acartia pacifica、刺尾纺锤水蚤Acartia spinicauda、短角长腹剑水蚤Oithona brevicornis、双生水母Diphyes chamissonis、卡玛拉水母Malagazzia carolinae、蔓足类幼体和桡足幼体等。多样性指数和均匀度年均值分别为2.568和0.526。回归分析表明浮游动物丰度和生物量与各环境因子之间存在明显的相关性,但有季节变化。     

杭州地区大气细颗粒物浓度变化特征分析

利用2012年杭州地区(杭州、桐庐、建德、淳安)大气颗粒物监测仪TEOM1405D的连续观测资料,对该地区PM2.5质量浓度的变化特征及其与气象条件的关系进行了分析研究.结果表明,2012年杭州、桐庐、建德、淳安PM2.5年平均浓度分别为50.0±25.7、46.5±22.0、42.1±21.8、36.9±21.2μg·m-3,空间上呈现至北向南逐渐下降的变化趋势.受边界层高度、降水等气象条件影响,4个站点PM2.5浓度的季节变化基本表现为秋季冬季春季夏季,其中秋、冬季PM2.5超标日数高达80%左右.杭州地区PM2.5日变化呈现明显的双峰型特征,其峰值出现时间与人们的早晚出行高峰有较好的对应关系.对比不同站点PM2.5浓度变化可以看出人口密集城市区域气溶胶浓度要显著高于乡村地区.通过拟合小时平均值最大出现频率得出杭州地区最具代表性大气状态下PM2.5的浓度值为21.2μg·m-3.风向风速与PM2.5浓度的关系表明杭州主要以本地污染为主,桐庐受本地污染和区域输送双重影响,建德主要表现为区域输送.     

Diel variation and seasonal consistency in the fish assemblage of the non-estuarine Sulaibikhat Bay,Kuwait

In the period between September 1986 and August 1988, using an otter trawl, a total of 50 species from 30 families were captured in Sulaibikhat Bay, Kuwait. The dominant species were Liza carinata (Valenciennes), Pomadasys stridens (Forrskal) and Leiognathus brevirostris (Valenciennes). Although the total number of fishes captured in 1986–1987 and 1987–1988 differed by an order of magnitude, the seasonal changes in numbers, biomass and number of species in the intertidal and subtidal zones were consistent. Unbalanced three-way analysis of variance showed that significantly larger numbers of fishes and number of species, but not biomass, were captured in the intertidal at night compared to the intertidal during the day. This difference may be due to both increased net efficiency and movement of fishes into the intertidal zone at night to avoid piscivorous fishes that move from deep water into shallower water. During the day few fish are present in the intertidal zone and this may be to avoid predation by piscivorous birds. Several species of fishes were shown to have different patterns of behaviour during the diel period.     

Determination of atmospheric heavy metals using two lichen species in Katni and Rewa cities, India

A biomonitoring study was conducted to assess the levels of atmospheric heavy metal pollution in Katni and Rewa cities of Madhya Pradesh, state in central India. The Pyxine cocoes and Phaeophyscia hispidula, two epiphytic foliose lichen were used as bioindicators in the present study and seven metals (As, Al, Cd, Cr, Fe, Zn, Pb) were analyzed in naturally growing thallus. The concentrations of these metals was observed to be in higher range as maximum values of Al, Cd, Cr and Zn were reported from the lichen samples from Rewa city which was 561.8 +/- 2.4, 6.8 +/- 0.8, 35.2 +/- 1.4, 214.6 +/- 2.0 microg g(-1) dry weight respectively. Whereas As, Fe and Pb were reported maximum in the lichen samples collected from Katni city areas with 33.4 +/- 0.05, 689.4 +/- 2.6, 13.3 +/- 0.5 microg g(-1) dry weight respectively. However the accumulation of Cd and Pb from both the cities are more or less similar in concentration. The selectivity sequence of metals were Fe>Al>Zn>As>Cr>Pb>Cd in Katni city, and Al>Fe>Zn>Cr>As>Pb>Cd in Rewa city. The findings of this study indicates that extent of heavy metal pollution in the atmosphere of the two cities which may lead to adverse health affects.     

北京大气O3与NOx的变化特征

以2004年8月-2005年7月北京市区近地层大气中臭氧(O3)和氮氧化物(NOx)体积分数观测资料,研究了北京大气中O3和NOx体积分数的变化特征.研究表明:北京市O3体积分数较高,并呈季节性波动,大气光化学污染以夏季最为严重.受太阳紫外辐射和城市交通的影响,城市O3体积分数呈单峰型分布,并在午后15:00出现峰值,造成大气强氧化性.NO2的光解速率夏季最大,在正午出现日最大值.受城市车流量变化的影响,周末NOx体积分数高于工作日,O3体积分数周末与工作日白天差异较小,而夜晚O3体积分数上作日高于周末.     

Indoor particle dynamics in a school office: determination of particle concentrations,deposition rates and penetration factors under naturally ventilated conditions

Recently, the problem of indoor particulate matter pollution has received much attention. An increasing number of epidemiological studies show that the concentration of atmospheric particulate matter has a significant effect on human health, even at very low concentrations. Most of these investigations have relied upon outdoor particle concentrations as surrogates of human exposures. However, considering that the concentration distribution of the indoor particulate matter is largely dependent on the extent to which these particles penetrate the building and on the degree of suspension in the indoor air, human exposures to particles of outdoor origin may not be equal to outdoor particle concentration levels. Therefore, it is critical to understand the relationship between the particle concentrations found outdoors and those found in indoor micro-environments. In this study, experiments were conducted using a naturally ventilated office located in Qingdao, China. The indoor and outdoor particle concentrations were measured at the same time using an optical counter with four size ranges. The particle size distribution ranged from 0.3 to 2.5 μm, and the experimental period was from April to September, 2016. Based on the experimental data, the dynamic and mass balance model based on time was used to estimate the penetration rate and deposition rate at air exchange rates of 0.03–0.25 h^?1. The values of the penetration rate and deposition velocity of indoor particles were determined to range from 0.45 to 0.82 h^?1 and 1.71 to 2.82 m/h, respectively. In addition, the particulate pollution exposure in the indoor environment was analyzed to estimate the exposure hazard from indoor particulate matter pollution, which is important for human exposure to particles and associated health effects. The conclusions from this study can serve to provide a better understanding the dynamics and behaviors of airborne particle entering into buildings. And they will also highlight effective methods to reduce exposure to particles in office buildings.     

Factors controlling variation in the seasonal spawning pattern of Lytechinus variegatus

A population of the regular sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus was sampled, and the gonad volume and test diameter recorded at monthly intervals for 10 years. Parameters abstracted from the data included the size and date when the gonads were full and when they were spent, the spawning pattern, and the spawn output. Environmental parameters available were sea temperature and rainfall. Correlations were determined among these. A correlation was also found between the appearance in successive years of a brood of young urchins on the shore and the temperature and rainfall.Contribution No. 1490 from Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 10 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149, USA. We are indebted to the Federal Water Quality Administration for supporting this work under Grant No. DI WP-01433.     

Occurrence,spatial and seasonal variation,and environmental risk of pharmaceutically active compounds in the Pearl River basin,South China

● 38 PhACs and 2 pesticides were detected in the three rivers of the Pearl River basin. ● Anti-inflammatory/analgesics drugs were the predominant PhACs. ● The concentrations of PhACs showed seasonal and spatial variation. ● Diazepam and ibuprofen were the two PhACs with a moderate environmental risk. The occurrence, fate, and environmental risk of 40 pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) from surface waters and sediments were comprehensively investigated in the Beijiang River, Xijiang River, and Maozhou River of the Pearl River basin, South China. Salicylic acid and diclofenac (anti-inflammatory drugs), gemfibrozil (a lipid regulator), carbamazepine (an antiepileptic drug), diazepam (a psychoactive drug), and 2-methyl-4-chloro-phenoxyacetic acid (MCPA, a pesticide) were the most ubiquitous compounds in the studied region. The average concentrations of detected PhACs in surface waters and sediments ranged from 0.17 to 19.1 ng/L and 0.10 to 10.4 ng/g, respectively. Meanwhile, PhACs concentration in surface waters and sediments varied greatly among and within the Beijiang River, Xijiang River, and Maozhou River. The largest annual flux of PhACs of the Xijiang River and Beijiang River was more than 11 000 kg per annum, whereas only 25.7 kg/a in the Maozhou River. In addition, the estimated emissions of PhACs in the Beijiang River, Xijiang River, and Maozhou River ranged respectively from 0.28 to 4.22 kg/a, 0.12 to 6.72 kg/a, and 6.66 to 91.0 kg/a, and the back-estimated usage varied with a range from 12.0 to 293 kg/a, 6.79 to 944 kg/a, 368 to 17 459 kg/a. Moreover, the emissions of PhACs showed a close relationship with the gross domestic product (GDP) of each city along the Pearl River. The environmental risk assessment suggested that diazepam and ibuprofen had a moderate risk in this region.     

The cladocerans of the Aegean Sea: Occurrence and seasonal variation

The little-known cladoceran population of the Aegean Sea was studied. One hundred and seventy-six planktonic samples were collected during 8 cruises in the Aegean Sea (4 in the northern part, 4 in the southern part). From these samples, the following 4 species of Cladocera were determined: Evadne spinifera Muller, Evadne tergestina Claus, Penilia avirostris Dana, Podon intermedius Lilljeborg. All species were found both in the north and in the south Aegean Sea, with the exception of P. avirostris, which was found only in the northern Aegean Sea. Its absence from the southern part is attributed to the higher salinities and the pelagic character of the area. With regard to abundance, E. spinifera is by far the commonest in this area; P. avirostris and E. tergestina could be characterised as frequent forms; P. intermedius is scarce. P. avirostris, E. spinifera and E. tergestina are thermophilic; their occurrence is more or less restricted to the warm season; P. intermedius is psychrophilic and appears only in winter.     

Occurrence and seasonal variation of bacterial indicators of faecal pollution along Thoothukudi Coast, Tamil Nadu

Theprevalence and seasonal variation of bacterial indicators of faecal pollution such as total coliform bacteria, faecal coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli and faecal streptococci were investigated in samples of water and beach sand from the four fish landing centres of Thoothukudi. Further the samples were screened for Salmonella to study the reliability of faecal indicator bacteria as an index of human pathogenic bacteria. Total coliform bacteria, faecal coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli were isolated from all four landing centres from undetectable to the maximum detectable level of over Most Probable Number 140 throughout the year with no obvious seasonal variation. Faecal streptococci were also detected in most samples. There was no discernable relationship between faecal indicators and physical parameters. The relationship between faecal indicators and Salmonella was not significant (p > 0.05). The results showed that the coastal waters along Thoothukudi is polluted and presents a potential risk to public for recreational and fishing activities.