Nitrogen trace gas emissions from a riparian ecosystem in southern Appalachia

In this paper, we present two years of seasonal nitric oxide (NO), ammonia (NH₃), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) trace gas fluxes measured in a recovering riparian zone with cattle excluded and adjacent riparian zone grazed by cattle. In the recovering riparian zone, average NO, NH₃, and N₂O fluxes were 5.8, 2.0, and 76.7 ng N m⁻² s⁻¹ (1.83, 0.63, and 24.19 kg N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹), respectively. Fluxes in the grazed riparian zone were larger, especially for NO and NH₃, measuring 9.1, 4.3, and 77.6 ng N m⁻² s⁻¹ (2.87, 1.35, and 24.50 kg N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) for NO, NH₃, and N₂O, respectively. On average, N₂O accounted for greater than 85% of total trace gas flux in both the recovering and grazed riparian zones, though N₂O fluxes were highly variable temporally. In the recovering riparian zone, variability in seasonal average fluxes was explained by variability in soil nitrogen (N) concentrations. Nitric oxide flux was positively correlated with soil ammonium (NH₄⁺) concentration, while N₂O flux was positively correlated with soil nitrate (NO₃⁻) concentration. Ammonia flux was positively correlated with the ratio of NH₄⁺ to NO₃⁻. In the grazed riparian zone, average NH₃ and N₂O fluxes were not correlated with soil temperature, N concentrations, or moisture. This was likely due to high variability in soil microsite conditions related to cattle effects such as compaction and N input. Nitric oxide flux in the grazed riparian zone was positively correlated with soil temperature and NO₃⁻ concentration. Restoration appeared to significantly affect NO flux, which increased ≈600% during the first year following restoration and decreased during the second year to levels encountered at the onset of restoration. By comparing the ratio of total trace gas flux to soil N concentration, we show that the restored riparian zone is likely more efficient than the grazed riparian zone at diverting upper-soil N from the receiving stream to the atmosphere. This is likely due to the recovery of microbiological communities following changes in soil physical characteristics.     

Preliminary Measurements of Turbulence and Environmental Parameters in a Sub-Tropical Estuary of Eastern Australia

In natural systems, mixing is driven by turbulence, but current knowledge is limited in estuarine zones where predictions of contaminant dispersion are often inaccurate. A series of detailed field studies was conducted in a small sub-tropical creek in eastern Australia. Hydrodynamic, physio-chemical and ecological measurements were conducted simultaneously to assess the complexity of the estuarine zone, notably the interactions between turbulence and environment. The measurements were typically performed at high frequency over a tidal cycle. The results provide an original data set to complement long-term monitoring and a basis for a more detailed study of mixing in sub-tropical systems. Unlike many long-term observations, velocity and water quality scalars were measured herein with sufficient spatial and temporal resolutions to determine quantities of interest in the study of turbulence, while ecological indicators were sampled systematically and simultaneously. In particular the results yielded contrasted outcomes, and the finding impacts on the selection process for key water quality indicators.     

Variations in heavy metal contamination of stream water and groundwater affected by an abandoned lead–zinc mine in Korea

This study evaluated variations in heavy metal contamination of stream waters and groundwaters affected by an abandoned lead–zinc mine, where a rockfill dam for water storage will be built 11 km downstream. For these purposes, a total of 10 rounds of stream and groundwater samplings and subsequent chemical analyses were performed during 2002–2003. Results of an exploratory investigation of stream waters in 2000 indicated substantial contamination with heavy metals including zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and arsenic (As) for at least 6 km downstream from the mine. Stream waters near the mine showed metal contamination as high as arsenic (As) 8,923 μg L⁻¹, copper (Cu) 616 μg L⁻¹, cadmium (Cd) 223 μg L⁻¹ and lead (Pb) 10,590 μg L⁻¹, which greatly exceeded the Korean stream water guidelines. Remediation focused on the mine tailing piles largely improved the stream water qualities. However, there have still been quality problems for the waters containing relatively high concentrations of As (6–174 μg L⁻¹), Cd (1–46 μg L⁻¹) and Pb (2–26 μg L⁻¹). Rainfall infiltration into the mine tailing piles resulted in an increase of heavy metals in the stream waters due to direct discharge of waste effluent, while dilution of the contaminated stream waters improved the water quality due to mixing with metal free rain waters. Levels of As, Cu and chromium (Cr) largely decreased after heavy rain but that of Pb was rather elevated. The stream waters were characterized by high concentrations of calcium (Ca) and sulfate (SO₄), which were derived from dissolution and leaching of carbonate and sulfide minerals. It was observed that the proportions of Ca and SO₄ increased while those of bicarbonate (HCO₃) and sodium and potassium (Na+K) decreased after a light rainfall event. Most interestingly, the reverse was generally detected for the groundwaters. The zinc, being the metal mined, was the most dominant heavy metal in the groundwaters (1758–10,550 μg L⁻¹) near the mine, which far exceeded the Korean standard of 1000 μg L⁻¹ for drinking water. The decreases in the heavy metals contents in the groundwaters associated with reduced rainfall were quite different from the increases observed for the stream waters, which is not clearly understood at this time and warrants further investigation.     

A Concentric Analysis of the Impact of Urbanization on the Threatened European Tree Frog in an Agricultural Landscape

Abstract:  Pond-breeding amphibians are affected by site-specific factors and regional and landscape-scale patterns of land use. Recent anthropogenic landscape modifications (drainage, agriculture intensification, larger road networks, and increased traffic) affect species by reducing the suitable habitat area and fragmenting remaining populations. Using a robust concentric approach based on permutation tests, we evaluated the impact of recent landscape changes on the presence of the endangered European tree frog ( Hyla arborea ) in wetlands. We analyzed the frequency of 1 traffic and 14 land-use indices at 20 circular ranges (from 100-m up to 2-km radii) around 76 ponds identified in western Switzerland. Urban areas and road surfaces had a strong adverse effect on tree frog presence even at relatively great distances (from 100 m up to 1 km). When traffic measurements were considered instead of road surfaces, the effect increased, suggesting a negative impact due to a vehicle-induced effect. Altogether, our results indicate that urbanization and traffic must be taken into account when pond creation is an option in conservation management plans, as is the case for the European tree frog in western Switzerland. We conclude that our easy-to-use and robust concentric method of analysis can successfully assist managers in identifying potential sites for pond creation, where probability of the presence of tree frogs is maximized.     

河道滞留塘系统对污染河水中氮磷的去除特性

河道滞留塘系统是一项适用于中小型污染河流净化的生态技术,目前我国部分中小型河流污染严重,研究河道滞留塘系统对河流污染物的去除特性具有现实意义,但目前尚缺乏系统深入的研究。该研究对实际污染河水进行了一年现场试验研究,通过改变水力停留时间,考察了不同季节、不同河水水质条件下河道滞留塘系统对河水中氨氮(NH3-N)和总磷(TP)的净化效果。结果表明,河道滞留塘系统主要通过颗粒物的重力沉降作用净化河水中的总磷(TP)。在该研究条件下,TP去除率接近30%,去除速率为0.01～0.02 g.h-1.m-2。TP去除速率约为0.003倍的SS去除速率,两者间有较好的相关关系,因此可通过测定滞留塘SS去除速率来预测TP去除速率。但滞留塘系统对NH3-N无显著去除能力。     

几种碱性废渣脱硫性能的比较研究

以吸收瓶为实验装置研究了几种碱性废渣的脱硫容量。实验结果表明 ,电石渣、碱渣、废大理石和石灰石的脱硫容量分别为 0 85、0 75 ,0 6 2和 0 5 8gSO2 g脱硫剂。旋流板塔试验主要参数对脱硫率的影响结果表明 ,入塔浆液pH值越大 ,液气比L G越大 ,脱硫率η也越高 ;入塔SO2 浓度y0 越高 ,脱硫率η越低。模拟工业试验结果表明 ,对电石渣和碱渣 ,控制浆液pH >7,L G =2～ 3L m3时 ,η可达 6 5 %以上 ;对废大理石和石灰石 ,控制浆液pH为 6 5 ,L G =4～6L m3时 ,η可达 6 0 %以上。从以上结果来看 ,作为脱硫剂 ,电石渣脱硫效果最好 ,碱渣次之 ,最后是废大理石和石灰石。电石渣和碱渣显示了良好的应用前景     

What Matters Most: Are Future Stream Temperatures More Sensitive to Changing Air Temperatures,Discharge, or Riparian Vegetation?

Simulations of stream temperatures showed a wide range of future thermal regimes under a warming climate — from 2.9°C warmer to 7.6°C cooler than current conditions — depending primarily on shade from riparian vegetation. We used the stream temperature model, Heat Source, to analyze a 37‐km study segment of the upper Middle Fork John Day River, located in northeast Oregon, USA. We developed alternative future scenarios based on downscaled projections from climate change models and the composition and structure of native riparian forests. We examined 36 scenarios combining future changes in air temperature (ΔT_air = 0°C, +2°C, and +4°C), stream discharge (ΔQ = ?30%, 0%, and +30%), and riparian vegetation (post‐wildfire with 7% shade, current vegetation with 19% shade, a young‐open forest with 34% shade, and a mature riparian forest with 79% effective shade). Shade from riparian vegetation had the largest influence on stream temperatures, changing the seven‐day average daily maximum temperature (7DADM) from +1°C to ?7°C. In comparison, the 7DADM increased by 1.4°C with a 4°C increase in air temperature and by 0.7°C with a 30% change in discharge. Many streams throughout the interior western United States have been altered in ways that have substantially reduced shade. The effect of restoring shade could result in future stream temperatures that are colder than today, even under a warmer climate with substantially lower late‐summer streamflow.     

合肥地区不同类型源头溪流暂态存储能力及氮磷滞留特征

为揭示合肥地区不同类型源头溪流暂态存储能力及氮磷吸收滞留的基本特征,在城区和城郊筛选4条典型源头溪流,并以NH4Cl、KH2PO4为添加营养盐,以Na Cl为保守型示踪剂,开展现场示踪实验.在此基础上,利用OTIS模型水文参数(D、A、As和α),计算暂态存储指标(Ts、Tc、Ls、Rh和F200med),进而开展暂态存储能力分析,并以NH+4-N和SRP一阶吸收系数(λ、λs)解析氮磷滞留特征.结果表明:4条溪流水体的α值均处于10-4~10-3数量级;各溪流Tc基本都显著超过Ts,意味着这些溪流水体溶质滞留效应主要来自主渠道流动水体,而不是暂态存储区;根据Tc、Ts、Ls和Rh等指标,得到各源头溪流暂态存储能力排序为:二十埠河二级支流二十埠河一级支流十五里河源头段关镇河支渠;4条源头溪流主渠道流动水体与暂态存储区的NH+4-N、SRP滞留特征存在很大的差异,并且二十埠河一、二级支流和十五里河均不同程度出现λ-NH+4、λs-NH+4为负值的现象,意味着这些水体对于NH+4-N既具有短期存储作用,也起着"源"的作用.     

Classification of Ephemeral,Intermittent, and Perennial Stream Reaches Using a TOPMODEL‐Based Approach

Whether a waterway is temporary or permanent influences regulatory protection guidelines, however, classification can be subjective due to a combination of factors, including time of year, antecedent moisture conditions, and previous experience of the field investigator. Our objective was to develop a standardized protocol using publically available spatial information to classify ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial streams. Our hypothesis was that field observations of flow along the stream channel could be compared to results from a hydrologic model, providing an objective method of how these stream reaches can be identified. Flow‐state sensors were placed at ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial stream reaches from May to December 2011 in the Appalachian coal basin of eastern Kentucky. This observed flow record was then used to calibrate the simulated saturation deficit in each channel reach based on the topographic wetness index used by TOPMODEL. Saturation deficit values were categorized as flow or no‐flow days, and the simulated record of streamflow was compared to the observed record. The hydrologic model was more accurate for simulating flow during the spring and fall seasons. However, the model effectively identified stream reaches as intermittent and perennial in each of the two basins.     

天山北麓宁家河阶地上的黄土堆积及其磁学特征

本文报道了新疆地区天山北麓宁家河阶地上的黄土堆积。研究剖面的两层黄土为河流 砾石层所隔开,这在新疆地区较为少见。通过系统的岩石磁学和粒度测量,分析了该剖面两层 黄土的磁学特征,并初步探讨磁化率变化机制。结果表明：黄土中的主要磁性矿物为磁铁矿和 磁赤铁矿,并含有少量赤铁矿和针铁矿。亚铁磁性矿物主要以多畴（MD）、假单畴（PSD）颗 粒为主,反映了这一地区极弱的成土作用。砾石层上下两层黄土磁学性质存在着差异,表现为 上层黄土具有较高的磁性矿物含量、较粗的磁颗粒和相对含量较高的软磁性矿物。下层黄土受 到后期河水的改造可能是导致这些差异的原因。磁化率与粒度呈现较好的正相关关系,与黄土 高原的情况相反,说明干旱地区的黄土磁学性质主要受原生磁性矿物控制。搬运风力和源区变 化是磁化率变化的主导因素。