Evaluation of Air Quality over the Black Sea: Major Ionic Composition of Rainwater

This article attempts to put the light on the air quality of the Black Sea region of Turkey. In addition to that, it endeavors to locate the possible sources of the different pollutants at local, regional and long range transported scales. About 196 rainwater samples were collected over the Black Sea region of Amasra between 1995 and 1999, and analyzed for major ions and trace elements using spectrophotometric techniques. Andersen wet only rain samples were used to collect rain events, where the rain sample was filtered inline using 0.45 m cellulose acetate filters. Major anions (SO₄ ^2-, NO₃ ^- and Cl^-) were determined using ion chromatography, whereas metals (Ca, Mg, Al, Fe, Na, K), werequantified using ICP-AES. This study shows that, the Black Sea region receives different amounts and types of anthropogenic pollutants via long-range transport according to trajectory models. Although the pH of rain water is not considered acidic (pH = 5.21) yet the neutralizing species are lower than other sites around Europe.     

A multi media load model for the Baltic Sea

The background of this work is the international decision process with regard to the selection of chemicals to be assessed with priority. In order to stress the precautionary principle, mass flows were analysed rather than concentrations, threshold values, etc., as preferred by the chemical legislation (which still excludes the marine area). Lindane, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), trichloroacetic acid and its sodium salt, medium-chained chlorinated paraffins and tributyltin (TBT) were selected due to their great relevance for the marine area. Trichloroacetic acid is an interesting model compound on account of its accidental formation by degradation of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons and during chlorination processes. In addition, a hypothetical compound was modelled, representing a highly water-soluble substance with low vapour pressure. The balancing area is the Baltic Sea and its catchment area. In order to model the substance flows, the 'Input/Output-load model' has been developed. The model quantifies the shift and the distribution of a yearly load of the substance investigated from the terrestrial-limnic into the marine compartment (Baltic Sea). Water-soluble substances, which are usually considered to be of no concern, may enter the sea in great amounts and, if not degradable, remain there. It turned out to be necessary to take into account remobilisation, unintended formation and point as well as line-sources.     

Deltas at risk

The long-term sustainability of populated deltas is often more affected by large-scale engineering projects than sea-level rise associated with global warming and the global ocean volume increase. On deltas, the rate of relative eustatic sea-level rise is often smaller than the rate for isostatic-controlled subsidence and of the same order of magnitude as natural sediment compaction. Accelerated compaction associated with petroleum and groundwater mining can exceed natural subsidence rates by an order of magnitude. The reduction in sediment delivery to deltas due to trapping behind dams, along with the human control of routing river discharge across delta plains, contributes to the sinking of world deltas. Consequences include shoreline erosion, threatened mangroves swamps and wetlands, increased salinization of cultivated land, and hundreds of millions of humans put at risk.     

温州南麂列岛海域硅藻、甲藻群落变化与环境因子的关系

于2006～2007年之间采集浙江省温州南麂列岛海域水样.研究了硅藻和甲藻群落变化与环境因子的关系.硅藻集群的高峰区主要集中在水温较高的夏季,调查期间共发生赤潮2起,分别出现在2006年8月和10月.甲藻赤潮仅在春季发生.优势种类为原甲藻种类.硅藻赤潮对N的消耗较大,甲藻赤潮对P的消耗较大.南麂海域合适的温度、盐度、丰富的N、P营养盐以及营养盐的及时补充是该海域浮游植物丰度较高和赤潮频繁发生的主要原因.     

海河及渤海表层沉积物中多环芳烃的分布与来源

采集海河和渤海表层沉积物样品,测定16种EPA规定多环芳烃.海河∑PAH含量（干重）范围为445～2185 ng·g-1,平均值为964 ng·g-1;渤海∑PAH含量范围为171～290 ng·g-1,平均值为226 ng·g-1.海河塘沽区段和天津市区段沉积物中∑PAH含量比郊区段含量高.LMW/HMW(低分子质量/高分子质量)和异构体比值分析表明,生物质及煤的燃烧为海河表层沉积物中PAHs主要来源;对于渤海湾大部分区域来说,石油污染是其PAHs的主要来源,而热解来源的PAHs主要以生物质及煤的燃烧为主;滨海旅游度假村附近海域因受旅游活动影响而燃烧源的贡献较大.风险评价表明,海河及部分渤海海域存在潜在生态危害,滨海村附近海域存在潜在生态风险可能性较低.     

春季黄、东海表层水中的溶解无机碳

根据2009年5月在黄、东海海域获得的表层海水中溶解无机碳(DIC)和总碱度(TA)的数据,结合现场生物、化学和水文等参数,探讨了该海域DIC的分布特征、组成情况及其影响因素.结果表明,黄、东海表层海水DIC和TA的变化范围分别为1 918.8～2 196.1 μmol/L和2 127.0 ～2 420.7μmol/L...     

Beach impacts of shore-parallel breakwaters backing offshore submerged ridges, Western Mediterranean Coast of Egypt

Seven breakwaters were constructed behind offshore submerged ridges to create a safe area for swimming and recreational activities west of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. Morphodynamic evaluation was based on the modified Perlin and Dean numerical model (ImSedTran-2D) combined with successive shoreline and beach profile surveys conducted periodically between April 2001 and May 2005. Results reveal insignificant morphologic changes behind the detached breakwaters with slight coastline changes at the down and up-drift beaches of the examined breakwaters (+/-10 m). These changes are associated with salient accretion (20-7 0m) in the low-energy leeside of such structures. Concurrent with this sand accretion is the accumulation of a large amount of benthic algae (Sargassum) in the coastal water of the shadow area of these structures, which in turn have adverse effects on swimmers. Practical measures proposed in this study have successfully helped in mitigating such accumulation of algae in the recreation leeside of the breakwaters. The accumulation of Sargassum, together with the virtual insignificant changes in the up-drift and down-drifts of these structures, is a direct response to both coastal processes and the submerged carbonate ridges. Coastal processes encompass reversal of the directions of long-shore sand transport versus shoreline orientation, the small littoral drift rate and sand deficiency of the littoral zone. The beach response to the breakwaters together with the submerged ridges has also been confirmed by applying the ImSedTran-2D model. Results indicate that submerged ridges play a principal role in the evolution of beach morphology along the west coast of Alexandria. Although the study area is exposed to more than 70% wave exposures, the morphodynamic behavior of the beaches indicates that the submerged ridges act in a similar way as an additional natural barrier together with the artificial detached structures.     

Detection of technetium-99 in Ascophyllum nodosum from around the Welsh coast

The presence of the radionuclide ⁹⁹Tc in the marine environment is of concern to environmental scientists because of its conservative nature and high concentration factor in commercially valuable species. The brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum (Linnaeus) Le Jolis was used to biomonitor the spatial distribution of ⁹⁹Tc around the Welsh coast, an area relatively unstudied with respect to this isotope. Over the course of a year an inverse relationship was observed between the ⁹⁹Tc concentration in A. nodosum samples and approximate straight-line distance from Sellafield. These data show that detectable levels of a Sellafield derived radionuclide are reaching the Welsh coast despite the overall northward movement of the Sellafield plume.     

Geochemical index of trace metals in the surficial sediments from the western continental shelf of India, Arabian Sea

The present study focuses on the determination and abundance of trace metals (viz. Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Co, Cd, Mn and Fe) in the surficial sediments of west coast of Arabian Sea along the Indian subcontinent. Sediment samples were collected from three transects along the western continental shelf of Arabian Sea. The enrichment of Fe and Mn in coastal oxic-sediments indicates the precipitation of these redox sensitive elements as Fe- and Mn-hydroxides and oxides, whereas the low Fe and Mn concentrations in the oxygen deficient sediments of deeper stations reflects the dissolution of their hydroxides and oxides. Concentrations of fairly redox insensitive trace metals like Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr and Cd (with the exceptions of Cr) showed higher values at nearshore sediments, then it decreased towards seaward and again showed a slight increase at oxygen minimum stations in all the three transects. This geochemical variability in their distributional characteristics is mainly associated with the extent to which the precipitation or dissolution of Fe- and Mn-oxides/hydroxides occur since the scavenging or releasing effects of Fe- and Mn-oxides/hydroxides act as significant ‘sinks’ or ‘sources’ of heavy metals. The change in wind pattern, coastal upwelling and increased productivity are also the reported factors which influence the biogeochemical cycling of trace metals in the surface sediments of west coast of India. Enrichment factor generally showed a high gradient accumulation from nearshore to shelf.     

南黄海中部E2柱样沉积物来源的稀土元素及微量元素示踪

应用稀土元素地球化学示踪方法,分析了南黄海中部E2柱样的∑REE、∑LREE、∑HREE、∑LREE/∑HREE、δEu和δce的变化特征.结果表明,近200年来南黄海中部沉积物的稀土元素可能均受相同来源控制,稀土元素分布具上陆壳特征.南黄海中部E2柱样和中国东部上地壳的稀土分布模式一致,而与深海沉积物的稀土分布模式相差较大,反映了黄海沉积物和中国大陆壳的亲缘性.近200年来沉积物的δCe和δEu变化不大,且其平均值与上陆壳基本一致,说明近200年来源区的氧化-还原条件和酸碱性可能变化不大,稀土元素主要是由大陆岩石风化和搬运而来,而不是海水提供的.高场强元素丰度及其特征比值的变化幅度不大,与中国东部上地壳一致,指示中国大陆岩石的风化产物是黄海沉积物的主要源区.∑REE与TiO2具有良好的相关性,指示稀土元素与TiO2一样主要来自陆源碎屑物质.