Nonpoint source pollution risk assessment in a watershed context

Nonpoint source pollution control requires assessment of the influence of dispersed runoff-contributing areas on downstream water quality. This evaluation must consider two separate phases: site-to-stream loading and downstream fluvial transport. Any model, combination of models, or procedure for making this assessment can be generalized to a simple spatial model or framework, which considers runoff or pollutant loading per unit area and down-stream attenuation, with drainage area as a scaling factor. This spatial model has a probabilistic interpretation and can be used in conjunction with a standard dilution model to give a probabilistic estimate of the impacts at the basin mouth of runoff from a specific upstream contributing area. It is illustrated by applying it to an assessment of the probability that various copper concentrations at the mouth of the urbanized South Platte River basin in Denver, Colorado, USA, will be exceeded as a result of runoff from a subbasin within the city. Determining the probability that a concentration of a pollutant at the basin mouth can be attributed to runoff from a discrete area within the basin is useful for targeting and risk assessment because it enables quantitative risk-based comparisons. The spatial framework is also useful for evaluating management and control options, since actions within the basin can be directly linked to water quality at a downstream point.     

FORESTS AND OTHER FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH STREAMFLOWS IN EAST TEXAS1

Effects of proportion of watersheds in forest and watershed physiographic factors on mean annual streamflow (1965-76), median flow, and 12 flood flow characteristics were regionally analyzed for 19 unregulated streams in East Texas. Annual streamflow increased with decreasing proportion of forest area. Differences in annual streamflow between full forest cover and bare watersheds could be as much as 200 mm. Other things being equal, the minimum watershed area required to generate 0.142 cm (5 cfs), a criterion used by the U.S. Corps of Engineering in regulating dredge and fill activity for water pollution abatement in East Texas streams, is 70 km² (27 mi²). Of the 31 physio-climatic parameters analyzed, watershed area, percent forest area, shape index, spring precipitation, and annual temperature were the most significant in affecting streamflow characteristics in East Texas. Using 2-3 of these five variables, all of the 14 streamflow characteristics can be estimated with accuracy ranging from acceptable to excellent levels.     

黑龙江流域水环境背景值研究进展

黑龙江流域地处世界三大黑土区之一的中国东北平原，土壤腐殖质含量高，这些腐殖质随着地面径流进入水体，成为流域溶解性有机物（DOM）的自然本底（环境背景）。自然本底的存在导致流域水质有机污染综合指标不能真实反映流域的人为污染，流域背景区内高锰酸盐指数、化学需氧量背景值范围分别为3.0~11.7、14.3~40.5 mg/L。流域部分水质考核断面水质受到有机质背景值的影响。由于叠加人为污染，定量分析高锰酸盐指数、化学需氧量背景值范围存在很大难度。重金属元素相对稳定，相对于"六五"时期重金属背景值，目前水体中重金属含量普遍升高。结合水环境管理需求，背景值研究成果应用于水环境管理还需要进一步深入研究和实践。笔者在综述黑龙江流域水环境背景值研究基础上，总结目前存在的问题，提出水环境背景值研究建议，为科学客观评价流域水质提供参考。     

塔里木南缘孤立绿洲近50年气候变化特征分析

通过分析塔里木盆地孤立绿洲民丰县气温、降水2个气象要素的相关资料得出，从20世纪50年代至90年代，气温呈上升趋势，而夏秋两季降水量随温度上升而上升。从气象要素的历史变化和季节分布特征看，塔里木盆地的孤立绿洲整体环境状况仍处于比较差的阶段。此分析结论对合理利用本地气候资源具有实际意义，并且能够为研究干旱区气候变化提供一定的帮助。     

Effects of exposure of crocodiles to sublethal concentrations of Petroleum waste drilling fluid in the Niger Delta basin of Midwestern Nigeria

Static bioassay were carried out using two aquatic crocodiles (the short nosed crocodile, Osteolemus tetraspis and the Nile crocodile, Crocodilus niloticus) as test organisms in soft natural dilution water, with Petroleum waste drilling fluid as the test material, at 28 ± 2 °C. Comparison of results for the control and different concentrations of the waste drilling fluid were made by means of the F-statistic method. Both crocodile species exhibited a high insensitivity to the undiluted waste drilling fluid and the different dilutions. Differences in concentration of waste drilling fluid did not influence the response of crocodiles to the potential toxicant. Percentage of deaths which was never greater than 0.2% in control tanks was not significantly different from that in test tanks where mortality values of organisms was typically 1.6% or less in most cases. There was a delay toxicant – induced mortality effect.     

四川盆地卤水的氢、氧同位素地球化学特征及其成因分类研究

四川盆地地下卤水分布广泛，类型繁多，依据氢、氧同位素地质学方法及其分布规律性，将盆地卤水明确划分出大气水淋滤型、海相沉积型、海相沉积-大气降水叠加型和海相沉积-岩浆水叠加型等四种成因类型。该分类明确，标志明显，有确定的成因涵义，取得了较好的效果。     

东海特定海区沉积物-水界面附近P释放的实验研究

以采自长江口外东海表层沉积物为对象，对不同类型的沉积物在模拟海水环境中进行了释P实验。研究表明，在静态条件下，沉积物释P量的高点出现在摇晃后10min左右，大约3h后基本趋于平衡。释P动力学可用Elovich公式与双常数速率公式进行拟合。最大释P量与沉积物的组成密切相关，以粉砂、粘土为主的沉积物释P量高，而砂质为主者释P量低。在释P实验中，铁磷(Fe-P)最为活跃，释放比例最高，其次是吸附态磷(Ad-P)和有机态磷(OP)。它们均属于生物可获得P的范畴。实验结果表明，在合适的水动力条件下，沉积物中的P可以迅速释放到水体．并影响水体的营养状杰和初级生产力。     

历史上的一次溃决洪水--1482年沁河流域大洪水

据沁河流域九女台洪水题刻水位及相关历史文献记载,沁河流域1482年洪水洪峰流量极大,历时甚长,与该流域一般洪水过程的差异迥然.通过地貌调查,并利用14C测年等方法,对沁河九女台河段进行了详细研究,发现其1482年高洪水位是梯沟口泥石流-崩塌堆积物堰塞沁河主河道的结果.当年由于降雨,使梯沟流域发生泥石流,并导致沟口右岸岩壁崩塌,形成堰塞坝,造成沁河河道阻塞,过水断面减小,九女台附近河段水位壅高,并保持了近40天的时间,堰塞坝最终溃决,导致沁河下游怀庆府发生严重的洪水灾害.     

Anthropogenic Calcium Particles Observed in Beijing and Qingdao, China

Analysis of individual particles collected at Beijing in northern China revealed that particles abundant in calcium (Ca) always constituted a large fraction of mineral particles in the urban atmosphere. The particles were characterized by cubic morphologies. The major mineral element in the particles was Ca and few or no other mineral elements were detected. A large number of the particles were in the range of diameter <1 μm, where common natural mineral particles were rarely detected. The contribution of the Ca particles to the volume of total mineral particles greatly exceeded that of other mineral particles during non-dust-storm periods and was comparable to that during dust-storm periods. Reagent film tests showed that particulate sulfate and nitrate formation on the Ca particles was similar to that on common mineral particles. These results indicate that a large portion of Ca in the atmospheric particulate matter in Beijing was from anthropogenic sources rather than from natural sources, and the anthropogenic Ca particles acted as a significant medium for the formation of sulfate and nitrate. Similar particles were also detected at Qingdao, a coastal city in northern China. Data of a dust storm event showed that Ca-abundant particles from East China arrived there and moved out of the continent, similarly to Asian dust storm particles, suggesting possible contributions of anthropogenic Ca even in Asian dust storm samples in the downstream areas. Therefore, Ca may not be a good indicator of Asian dust from natural sources. However, the Ca particles, due to their unique shapes and elemental compositions, may provide an indicator for the atmospheric dispersion of anthropogenic particulate matters in East Asia.     

Phreatophytic Vegetation and Groundwater Fluctuations: A Review of Current Research and Application of Ecosystem Response Modeling with an Emphasis on Great Basin Vegetation

Although changes in depth to groundwater occur naturally, anthropogenic alterations may exacerbate these fluctuations and, thus, affect vegetation reliant on groundwater. These effects include changes in physiology, structure, and community dynamics, particularly in arid regions where groundwater can be an important water source for many plants. To properly manage ecosystems subject to changes in depth to groundwater, plant responses to both rising and falling groundwater tables must be understood. However, most research has focused exclusively on riparian ecosystems, ignoring regions where groundwater is available to a wider range of species. Here, we review responses of riparian and other species to changes in groundwater levels in arid environments. Although decreasing water tables often result in plant water stress and reduced live biomass, the converse is not necessarily true for rising water tables. Initially, rising water tables kill flooded roots because most species cannot tolerate the associated low oxygen levels. Thus, flooded plants can also experience water stress. Ultimately, individual species responses to either scenario depend on drought and flooding tolerance and the change in root system size and water uptake capacity. However, additional environmental and biological factors can play important roles in the severity of vegetation response to altered groundwater tables. Using the reviewed information, we created two conceptual models to highlight vegetation dynamics in areas with groundwater fluctuations. These models use flow charts to identify key vegetation and ecosystem properties and their responses to changes in groundwater tables to predict community responses. We then incorporated key concepts from these models into EDYS, a comprehensive ecosystem model, to highlight the potential complexity of predicting community change under different fluctuating groundwater scenarios. Such models provide a valuable tool for managing vegetation and groundwater use in areas where groundwater is important to both plants and humans, particularly in the context of climate change.