Smoke emissions from biomass burning in a Mediterranean shrubland

Gaseous and particulate samples from the smoke from prescribed burnings of a shrub-dominated forest with some pine trees in Lousã Mountain, Portugal, in May 2008, have been collected. From the gas phase Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements, an average modified combustion efficiency of 0.99 was obtained, suggesting a very strong predominance of flaming combustion. Gaseous compounds whose emissions are promoted in fresh plumes and during the flaming burning phase, such as CO₂, acetylene and propene, produced emission factors higher than those proposed for savannah and tropical forest fires. Emission factors of species that are favoured by the smouldering phase (e.g. CO and CH₄) were below the values reported in the literature for biomass burning in other ecosystems. The chemical composition of fine (PM_2.5) and coarse (PM_2.5–10) particles was achieved using ion chromatography (water-soluble ions), instrumental neutron activation analysis (trace elements) and a thermal–optical transmission technique (organic carbon and elemental carbon). Approximately 50% of the particulate mass was carbonaceous in nature with a clear dominance of organic carbon. The organic carbon-to-elemental carbon ratios up to 300, or even higher, measured in the present study largely exceeded those reported for fires in savannah and tropical forests. More than 30 trace elements and ions have been determined in smoke aerosols, representing in total an average contribution of about 7% to the PM₁₀ mass.     

Assessing deposition levels of 55Fe, 60Co and 63Ni in the Ignalina NPP environment

Two RBMK-1500 reactor units operated in Lithuania in the 1987-2004 period (one of them was stopped for decommissioning in 2004). This study presents a preliminary investigation of surface deposition density levels of ⁵⁵Fe and ⁶³Ni in moss samples collected in the close vicinity of the Ignalina NPP. Non-destructive analysis by the HPGe gamma-spectrometry was followed by radiochemical separation. Radiochemical analysis was based on anion-exchange and extraction chromatography. ⁵⁵Fe and ⁶³Ni activities were measured by liquid scintillation counting (LSC). The results indicate that the deposition values of ⁵⁵Fe are generally higher than those of ⁶⁰Co and ⁶³Ni.     

Agricultural ammonia emissions inventory and spatial distribution in the North China Plain

An agricultural ammonia (NH₃) emission inventory in the North China Plain (NCP) on a prefecture level for the year 2004, and a 5 × 5 km² resolution spatial distribution map, has been calculated for the first time. The census database from China's statistics datasets, and emission factors re-calculated by the RAINS model supported total emissions of 3071 kt NH₃-N yr⁻¹ for the NCP, accounting for 27% of the total emissions in China. NH₃ emission from mineral fertilizer application contributed 1620 kt NH₃-N yr⁻¹, 54% of the total emission, while livestock emissions accounted for the remaining 46% of the total emissions, including 7%, 27%, 7% and 5% from cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, and poultry, respectively. A high-resolution spatial NH₃ emissions map was developed based on 1 × 1 km land use database and aggregated to a 5 × 5 km grid resolution. The highest emission density value was 198 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹.     

The effect of soil organic matter on fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil: A microcosm study

A microcosm study was conducted to address the influences of air-soil partition and sequestration on the fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil. Sterilized and unsterilized soils with soil organic carbon (SOC) content ranging from 0.23 to 7.06% were incubated in a chamber with six PAHs supplied through air. After 100 d of incubation when the system approached pseudo-steady state, the PAHs concentrations in the unsterilized soils still correlated with SOC significantly, while the association did not exist for those sterilized. The lower degradation rate in the soil with higher SOC was likely the major reason for the association between SOC and PAHs concentrations, while the decreased surface porosity likely suppressed such correlation for the sterilized samples. The results indicated that the sequestration was likely the major mechanism for the accumulation of PAHs in soils, while both of the soil porosity and PAHs properties had observed influences.     

Quantifying the influence of humic acid adsorption on colloidal microsphere deposition onto iron-oxide-coated sand

This article describes an approach for quantifying microsphere deposition onto iron-oxide-coated sand under the influence of adsorbed Suwannee River Humic Acid (SRHA). The experimental technique involved a triple pulse injection of model latex microspheres (microspheres) in pulses of (1) microspheres, followed by (2) SRHA, and then (3) microspheres, into a column filled with iron-coated quartz sand as a water-saturated porous medium. A random sequential adsorption model (RSA) simulated the gradual rise in the first (microsphere) breakthrough curve (BTC). Using the same model calibration parameters a dramatic increase in concentration at the start of the second particle BTC, generated after SRHA injection, could be simulated by matching microsphere concentrations to extrapolated RSA output. RSA results and microsphere/SRHA recoveries showed that 1 μg of SRHA could block 5.90 ± 0.14 × 10⁹ microsphere deposition sites. This figure was consistent between experiments injecting different SRHA masses, despite contrasting microsphere deposition/release regimes generating the second microsphere BTC.     

Water quality trends at inflows to Everglades National Park, 1977-2005

Restoration of the Florida Everglades is important for the health of the natural system, including both the "River of Grass" and its downstream estuaries. Water quality improvement is one indicator of successful restoration in this complex ecosystem. Using the period of record of 1977 through 2005, we evaluated data from seven inflow sites to the Everglades National Park (ENP) for temporal trends of various forms of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) and analyzed them using principal component analysis and factor analysis without flow adjustments. Locally estimated scatter plot smoothing (LOESS) trend lines identified two inflection points (three time periods) of changing trend in total P (TP) concentration at the seven sites. Results indicated that overall water quality in ENP inflow improved from 1977 to 2005, with significant downward trends in TP concentration. The overall trend ofTP is probably mediated by hydrology, which is evident by a negative relationship between flow and annual average TP concentration at the majority of stations within the available data, although additional changes in vegetation due to hydroperiod may have some effects. Total N (TN), total Kjeldahl N, and total organic N concentrations also generally decreased at inflow sites. Water quality standards for TP, TN, and NH4+ -N were exceeded at selected sites during the study period. Principle component analysis and factor analysis detected a grouping of sampling sites related to the water delivery system that could be used as indicators to better manage monitoring resources. Study results suggest that water quality data analyses could provide additional insight into the success of a restoration management plan and on how monitoring may be modified for more efficient use ofresources.     

Photocatalytic mineralization of glyphosate in a small-scale plug flow simulation reactor by UV/TiO2

The present work involves the photocatalytic mineralization of glyphosate on a plug flow reactor by UV/TiO(2). The effect of catalyst loading shows an optimal value (0.4 g L(-1)) which is necessary to mineralize glyphosate. The kinetic rate of glyphosate mineralization decreases with the increasing initial concentration of glyphosate, and the data can be described using the first-order model. An alkaline environment is conducive to glyphosate mineralization. The mineralization efficiency increases with elevated flow rate to 114 mL min(-1), which is followed by a decrease with a further increase in flow rate due to the reduction of the residence time. The presence of external oxidants (K(2)S(2)O(8), H(2)O(2) and KBrO(3)) and photosencitizer (humic acid) can significantly enhance glyphosate mineralization. Photocatalysis oxidation ability of the three studied oxidants decrease in the order of: S(2)O(8)(2-) > BrO(3)(-) > H(2)O(2). Finally, the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model was used to rationalize the mechanisms of reactions occurring on TiO(2) surfaces and L-H model constants were also determined.     

Water quality, sediment, and soil characteristics near Fargo-Moorhead urban areas as affected by major flooding of the Red River of the North

Spring flooding of the Red River of the North (RR) is common, but little information exits on how these flood events affect water and overbank sediment quality within an urban area. With the threat of the spring 2009 flood in the RR predicted to be the largest in recorded history and the concerns about the flooding of farmsteads, outbuildings, garages, and basements, the objectives of this study, which focused on Fargo, ND, and Moorhead, MN, were to assess floodwater quality and to determine the quantity and quality of overbank sediment deposited after floodwaters recede and the quality of soil underlying sediment deposits. 17β-Estradiol was detected in 9 of 24 water samples, with an average concentration of 0.61 ng L. Diesel-range organics were detected in 8 of 24 samples, with an average concentration of 80.0 μg L. The deposition of sediment across locations and transects ranged from 2 to 10 kg m, and the greatest mass deposition of chemicals was closest to the river channel. No gasoline-range organics were detected, but diesel-range organics were detected in 26 of the 27 overbank sediment samples (maximum concentration, 49.2 mg kg). All trace elements detected in the overbank sediments were within ranges for noncontaminated sites. Although flooding has economic, social, and environmental impacts, based on the results of this study, it does not appear that flooding in the RR in F-M led to decreased quality of water, sediment, or soil compared with normal river flows or resident soil.     

Structure and diversity of Erica ciliaris and Erica tetralix heathlands at different successional stages after cutting

In NW Europe, it is known that cutting is a useful tool for managers with regard to decisions about the conservation and management of wet heathlands. Nevertheless it is rarely described quantitatively in the international literature. In Spain, knowledge about this is scarce or lacking. In this study, twenty communities were selected in Galicia (NW Spain) that would represent from one to four stages of vegetation development after cutting. Two 5?×?5?m plots were established for each stage to characterise the vegetation on the basis of its species composition, frequency values, vertical structure and linear cover features. The Diversity Shannon index was calculated and multivariate analyses were performed. As succession advanced, notable changes were produced in the cover of dominant species, Erica ciliaris and Ulex gallii in the first stages and Erica tetralix and Genista berberidea in mature ones. Also, the species richness decreased because of the reduced number of herbs species in the mature stages and, finally, the cover values are indicators of the degree of vegetation development, together with the other parameters of height, overlayering or diversity. Cutting is a useful tool for management of heathlands because the existence of vegetation units belonging to different succession stages increases the internal diversity of communities. On the other hand, the vertical and horizontal structure reflects the formidable resilience of the vegetation community to this practice. This study offers a global vision of the dynamics of wet heathlands after cutting, with very useful ecological information that can be used by the people responsible for their management.