Modelling episodic acidification of surface waters: the state of science

Field studies of chemical changes in surface waters associated with rainfall and snowmelt events have provided evidence of episodic acidification of lakes and streams in Europe and North America. Modelling these chemical changes is particularly challenging because of the variability associated with hydrological transport and chemical transformation processes in catchments. This paper provides a review of mathematical models that have been applied to the problem of episodic acidification. Several empirical approaches, including regression models, mixing models and time series models, support a strong hydrological interpretation of episodic acidification. Regional application of several models has suggested that acidic episodes (in which the acid neutralizing capacity becomes negative) are relatively common in surface waters in several regions of the US that receive acid deposition. Results from physically based models have suggested a lack of understanding of hydrological flowpaths, hydraulic residence times and biogeochemical reactions, particularly those involving aluminum. The ability to better predict episodic chemical responses of surface waters is thus dependent upon elucidation of these and other physical and chemical processes.     

Comparison of episodic acidification in Canada, Europe and the United States

Episodic acidification is practically a ubiquitous process in streams and drainage lakes in Canada, Europe and the United States. Depressions of pH are often smaller in systems with low pre-episode pH levels. Studies on European surface waters have reported episodes most frequently with minimum pH levels below 4.5. In Canada and the United States, studies have also reported a number of systems that have had minimum pH levels below 4.5. In all areas, change in water flowpath during hydrological events is a major determinant of episode characteristics. Episodic acidification is also controlled by a combination of other natural and anthropogenic factors. Base cation decreases are an important contributor to episodes in circumneutral streams and lakes. Sulphate pulses are generally important contributors to episodic acidification in Europe and Canada. Nitrate pulses are generally more important to episodic acidification in the Northeast United States. Increases in organic acids contribute to episodes in some streams in all areas. The sea-salt effect is important in near-coastal streams and lakes. In Canada, Europe and the United States, acidic deposition has increased the severity (minimum pH reached) of episodes in some streams and lakes.     

Relation between mortality of young walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) and recruitment with different forms of compensation

The relation between mortality of young fish and recruitment is important for assessment of the environmental effects of facilities that kill large numbers of young fish, such as electric power stations and hydropower plants. A simulation model with a bioenergetic growth component was applied to examine the relation between mortality of young and recruitment for walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) with different forms of population regulation, including: food limited growth, food limited growth with size-dependent mortality, and food limited growth with age at maturity dependent on size. With food limited growth small increases in mortality of young reduced recruitment considerably, but the population slowly approached a new equilibrium. If mortality of young increased when growth was food limited, the population approached a new equilibrium of natality and mortality because with fewer individuals there was more food per individual, and individuals were larger in size and produced more eggs; this feedback adjusted natality to equal mortality. With either mortality or age at maturity dependent on size, large increases in mortality of young resulted in only small decreases in recruitment.     

pH值对亚硝酸盐氧化菌动力学及功能基因的影响

为探究pH值对亚硝酸盐氧化菌（NOB）活性动力学影响,本试验采用序批式活性污泥（SBR）反应器,以富含NOB的活性污泥为对象,基于Monod模型考察不同pH值对NOB活性动力学的影响并进行统计学分析.结果表明,Monod方程可较好地反映不同pH值条件下基质底物浓度对NOB比亚硝态氮氧化速率（SNiOR）的影响,且pH=7.0时动力学参数Ks为（6.167mg/L）,r_max为[1.134g/（g·d）],此时NOB活性最好.利用钟形经验模型进行非线性回归拟合,最大比降解速率（r_max）随pH值的增大呈钟形变化,本试验NOB的最佳pH值为（6.9±0.1）,其中r_max维持在r_opt一半以上的pH值范围（ω）为（3.26±0.4）.以亚硝酸盐氧化还原酶类基因（nxrA、nxrB）为引物,基于荧光定量PCR技术分析结果显示,在不同pH值条件下nxrA基因和nxrB基因拷贝数的变化趋势均与动力学参数（Ks、r_max）的规律一致,且nxrA和nxrB基因在系统的降解过程中起协同作用.     

东平湖DOM荧光特征及与氢氧同位素指标的相关性

本研究在运用三维荧光光谱示踪平水期东平湖DOM荧光特征的基础上,进一步分析其与氢氧同位素指标的相关性,并在此基础上尝试对大气降水的DOC贡献进行估算,以期为东平湖的污染控制及治理提供依据.结果表明,东平湖平水期DOM主要由类蛋白组分（C1和C4）和类腐殖质组分（C2和C3）构成,以类酪氨酸组分C1为主,C1所占比重将近50%.平水期东平湖DOM同时受陆源、内源及大气降水的影响,但以内源输入为主;外源输入中大气降水补给与大汶河输入所占比例相当;大气降水中的溶解性有机碳输入可能会对东平湖DOM产生不可忽视的影响,需进一步系统研究.氢氧稳定同位素与溶解态有机碳以及类腐殖质荧光之间呈显著相关关系,可以在一定程度上指示DOM的变化趋势.