Critical loads and steady-state chemistry for streams in the state of Maryland

The critical loads to streams, steady-state stream chemistry and catchment chemical weathering rate in 73 catchments has been determined in the state of Maryland, USA. It was calculated with the PROFILE model from chemical limits for biological indicators, soil mineralogy, soil texture, annual average temperature, average soil moisture, net long-term uptake of base cations and nitrogen to the vegetation, annual precipitation and runoff and deposition of sulphur and nitrogen precursors of acid deposition. The results show a full range of critical loads from very low values in the sensitive catchments of western Maryland and the Coastal Plain on the Chesapeake Bay, to insensitive catchments in the Fredrick Valley and Ridge and the Piedmont plain. The critical loads will be used as an input to an integrated regional assessment of the quantitative sensitivity of streams to acid rain, and the assessment of regional stream alkalinity response to different abatement strategies. The mapping of steady-state stream chemistry indicates that streams in Maryland are still acidfying under the present deposition load. Land-use seems to play an important role in maintaining neutral pH in many of the streams of Maryland.     

Assessing the critical level of SO2 for Scots pine in situ

A field survey was performed in eastern Finland, where measured ambient SO2 concentrations were 1.4-3.8 microg m(-3) a(-1) and bulk S deposition 0.17-0.32 g m(-2) a(-1) in 1991-1993. The accumulation of sulphur (S) in needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) was studied with XRF, IC and FESEM analyses and the needle damage examined under a light microscope and by SEM. Foliar N concentrations were also measured. Foliar total S concentrations were observed to be above the normal S level (500-700 microg g(-1)) over almost the whole area. Slight chlorosis and/or necrosis of the needle tips and stomatal areas, changes in the needle surface waxes and localization of S into needle tips and mesophyll cells around the stomata suggested the impact of S deposition, as did the calculations of St/Nt, and 'predicted' and 'excess' S. A concentration of about 900 microg g(-1) may be considered a critical level for foliar St in areas with low N supply.     

Metallothioneins and cadmium uptake by the liver in Bufo arenarum

Bufo arenarum females were treated daily with 0.5 mg Cd kg(-1) during 10 days to evaluate the uptake of this heavy metal and the induction of metallothionein synthesis in the liver. The liver incorporated 26% of the Cd administered, about 6.5 times higher than the average uptake of the other tissues of B. arenarum. Three protein fractions from the B. arenarum liver bound Cd, and were induced by this xenobiotic up to approx. 24 times above the basal level of these proteins.     

格陵兰出产的一种新宝石材料——虹彩正闪石

虹彩正闪石是格陵兰正在开发的一种新宝石材料。本文对该宝石材料的发现过程、产状、物理和化学性质及其化学成分。宝石学性质、切割琢磨技术性能,以及其商品化前景,都作了较全面的介绍和预测。虹彩正闪石宝石材料的发现和开发,无疑为寻找新宝石材料提供了有益的线索。     

凯里马西火山:一个被忽视了的碳酸岩火山

<正> 东非的一个突出的地质特征是格雷戈里裂谷(东部裂谷)及其伴随有喷出碳酸岩的碱性火成活动。凯里马西碳酸岩是坦桑尼亚北部新第三纪火山区的一个年轻的喷发岩体,呈几乎完整的对称火山锥产出。锥体横跨裂谷的断崖,并被杂岩体后的断层所错开(图1a,1b),凯里马西火山口仅距奥尔多尼奥伦盖火山口12     

美国的废水处理及设施

1.引言在资金充足和技术先进的条件下,处理有限的生活污水和工业废水,是能使其达到特定质量要求的。为消除和控制危害健康的潜在因素,地区、州和联邦政府制定了有关法律,如水质法、大气质量法、有毒和危险废物法,不仅环境工程设计和污染控制设施要符合法律规定,而且污染物分析的精确度和测量的准确度都要达到法定要求。 1969年,联邦水污染控制机构公布了一系列标准,各州依据这些标准制定了本州的标准。1970年,联邦水污染控制机构和环境保护局合并,并于1972年10月18日颁布了联邦水污染法(公法92～500条),该法及     

活性氮:多多益善?

尺度和范围 1790年,Jean Claude Chaptal将元素周期表中的第14个元素命名为"氮"[1].两个世纪后,氮在生物地球化学过程中的作用和其作为一种必需营养元素的重大功能得到了很好的理解.我们知道,人类(以及植物和动物)的生存离不开氮;大气中大量存在的氮气(N2)是植物和动物不能直接利用的一种化学形式;只有少数特殊的微生物能够将大气中的氮转化("固定")为植物、动物可以利用的活性氮(活性氮)[2];另一小群体的微生物能够将活性氮转化(反硝化)为氮气.     

快速硅酸岩分析中水的捕集

<正> 引言 硅酸盐岩石和矿物中总水量快速分析的标准方法有三个步骤:(1)样品与钨酸钠置于一个倾斜的试管中熔融;(2)将已预先称重过的滤纸插入试管的顶端捕集被释放的水;(3)随即称重滤纸以测定捕集水的量。这一技术的主要前提是用滤纸捕集被释放的水(不是从试管端塞子的洞中逸出,因这种逸出需要增大气压)。Shapiro和Brannock(1956)建议,为了加速水的冷凝和捕集,试管外壁用湿纸包裹以冷却试管的顶端。