Testing the Established Hydrogeologic Model of Source Water to the Amargosa River Basin,Inyo and San Bernardino Counties,California

The current conceptual hydrogeologic model established for source water to the Amargosa River was tested in order to help inform management decisions regarding the Amargosa River's Federal designation as Wild and Scenic through an Act of Congress. The limited availability of water in this region results in the critical need for effective management in the basin to maintain its Wild and Scenic attributes inclusive of habitat for several endangered and threatened species. The use of forensic tools and integration of multiple lines of geologic, hydrogeologic, geochemical, and stable isotopic evidence suggest that the simple historical model for primary groundwater transport through this region is incorrect and that a large supply of regional baseflow does not provide the hydrogeological foundation of the Amargosa River basin. Data collected is consistent with an alternative model requiring complex source mixing and shallow alluvial groundwater that supports river flow. This conclusion also suggests Wild and Scenic conditions in this basin are more precarious than previously understood.     

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN GROUND WATER AND SURFACE WATER IN THE SUWANNEE RIVER BASIN,FLORIDA1

ABSTRACT: Ground water and surface water constitute a single dynamic system in most parts of the Suwannee River basin due to the presence of karst features that facilitate the interaction between the surface and subsurface. Low radon-222 concentrations (below background levels) and enriched amounts of oxygen-18 and deuterium in ground water indicate mixing with surface water in parts of the basin. Comparison of surface water and regional ground water flow patterns indicate that boundaries for ground water basins typically do not coincide with surface water drainage subbasins. There are several areas in the basin where ground water flow that originates outside of the Suwannee River basin crosses surface water basin boundaries during both low-flow and high-flow conditions. In a study area adjacent to the Suwannee River that consists predominantly of agricultural land use, 18 wells tapping the Upper Floridan aquifer and 7 springs were sampled three times during 1990 through 1994 for major dissolved inorganic constituents, trace elements, and nutrients. During a period of above normal rainfall that resulted in high river stage and high ground water levels in 1991, the combination of increased amounts of dissolved organic carbon and decreased levels of dissolved oxygen in ground water created conditions favorable for the natural reduction of nitrate by denitrification reactions in the aquifer. As a result, less nitrate was discharged by ground water to the Suwannee River.     

Watershed characteristics and climate factors effect on the temporal variability of mercury in the southern Baltic Sea rivers

Mercury(Hg) is a neurotoxic metal which can enter into the human organism mainly by fish consumption, skin and transpiration. In the coastal zone of the southern Baltic Sea, rivers are the main source of Hg. The Polish region represents the largest proportion of the Baltic Sea catchment and this research included four rivers of the Baltic watershed: the Reda,Zagórska Struga, Kacza and Gizdepka. The samples were collected in the years 2011–2013.Total and particulate Hg concentration in these rivers were measured. Due to intensive rain,deposited mercury on the catchment area was washed out into the riverines water and introduced into the Baltic Sea. Consequently, the load of Hg increased three times.Additionally, the intensive dry atmospheric deposition during heating season caused the increase of the concentration of particulate Hg in the river water even by 85%. The research confirmed the role of the river flow magnitude in the load of mercury introduced into the sea by rivers. Moreover, a high variability of mercury concentration was connected to the additional sources such as the chemicals containing Hg and no municipal sewage system.The analysis of stable isotopes indicated that the SPM contained terrestrial organic matter;however, there was no clear correlation between Hgtot, Corgand Ntotconcentrations and δ~(13)C, δ~(15)N, C/N in particulate matter.     

喀斯特洞穴滴水Ca、Mg离子特征与降雨、温度相关研究——以贵州安顺石将军洞为例

为了分析洞穴滴水Ca2+、Mg2+和降雨、气温内在联系、进一步帮助解译周围地区地表环境,我们从2011年6月至2012年5月对贵州石将军洞滴水Ca2+、Mg2+等地球化学特征和周围气候进行了为期一年的监测,发现7个滴水点Ca2+、Mg2+年际变化趋势具有明显一致性,分为波动区、高值区及低值区,滴水点Mg/Ca比值与月降雨量没有明显一致性变化,但波动区,高值区及低值区均值与月降雨量具有很好的相关性,能够反应外界降雨量变化。并且研究发现,在低值区由于温度和土壤CO2的影响,造成滴水Ca2+、Mg2+在1月份突变性降低,成为年际变化的波谷期。     

Mg(BH_4)_2和MgH_2对RDX热分解特性的影响

在黑索今(RDX)中加入具有高热值的金属氢化物(Mg(BH4)2和MgH2)有望提高RDX的爆炸性能,但同时给RDX的安全使用带来挑战。为了探索RDX与这2种金属氢化物的相容性与安定性,采用差示扫描量热法(DSC)研究Mg(BH4)2和MgH2对RDX热分解性能的影响,并由DSC得到的数据计算动力学参数,参照GJB770B—2005的方法分析这2种金属氢化物与RDX的相容性和安定性。结果表明,加入Mg(BH4)2使RDX的表观活化能从159.22 kJ/mol增加至180.27 kJ/mol,加入MgH2使RDX的表观活化能降低至133.69 kJ/mol;Mg(BH4)2与RDX的相容性为1级,MgH2与RDX的相容性为3级,加入Mg(BH4)2使RDX的安定性有所提高,加入MgH2降低了RDX的安定性。因此,在将MgH2作为RDX的高能添加剂以前,必须首先提高其与RDX的相容性以保证试验和存储过程的安全。     

A study of radionuclides, metals and stable lead isotope ratios in sediments and soils in the vicinity of natural U-mineralisation areas in the Northern Territory

Australian guidelines recommend that tailings materials from uranium (U) mining and milling be contained without any detrimental impact on the environment for at least 1000 years. Natural analogue sites are being investigated to determine if they can provide data on the rates of natural erosion processes which occur over these timescales, for input into predictive geomorphic computer models. This paper presents radionuclide, metal and stable lead (Pb) isotope data from sediment cores and surface soils in the vicinity of two mineralised areas in the Alligator Rivers Region.Surface scrapes from the natural Anomaly #2, south of the Ranger mineral lease, exhibit radiogenic ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios, and elevated U and metal concentrations typical for a near surface U anomaly. In contrast, samples taken from the Koongarra mineral lease (KML) show radionuclide activity and metal concentrations similar to natural areas elsewhere in the Alligator Rivers Region and Pb isotope ratios are closer to present day average crustal ratios (PDAC), as the orebodies at KML are covered by surficial sand. A sediment core collected from Anbangbang Billabong, downstream of KML, exhibits small variations in Pb isotope ratios that indicate that approximately 1% of the upper sediments in the sediment core may be derived from material originating from the U anomaly at Koongarra.     

无定河流域地表水硝酸盐浓度的时空分布特征及来源解析

无定河流域作为黄河的一级支流,其水生态环境质量深刻影响着黄河流域生态保护与高质量发展.为识别无定河流域硝酸盐污染来源,对2019～2021年期间无定河的地表水样品进行了采集,探究了流域地表水体硝酸盐浓度的时空分布特征及影响因素,借助水化学方法、氮氧同位素示踪技术以及MixSIAR模型定性和定量地确定了地表水硝酸盐各来源及其贡献率.结果表明,无定河流域硝酸盐浓度存在显著时空差异.时间上,丰水期地表水NO^-₃-N浓度均值高于平水期;空间上,下游地表水NO^-₃-N浓度均值高于上游.地表水硝酸盐浓度的时空差异主要受降雨径流、土壤类型以及土地利用类型的影响.无定河流域地表水丰水期硝酸盐的主要来源是生活污水及粪肥、化学肥料和土壤有机氮,其贡献率分别为43.3%、 27.6%和22.1%,降水的贡献率仅占7.0%.不同河段地表水硝酸盐污染源贡献率存在差异,上游土壤氮贡献率明显高于下游,为26.5%;而下游生活污水及粪肥的贡献率明显高于上游,为48.9%.可为无定河乃至干旱及半干旱地区的河流硝酸盐来源解析和污染治理...     

Use of multitracers for the study of water mixing in the Paraíba do Sul River estuary

Multitracers were used to study water mixing in the Paraíba do Sul River estuary region in August 2007 (dry season) and March 2008 (rainy season) and to evaluate the reach of the river plume in the direction of the open ocean. Two sampling campaigns were carried out, each in a different season. Based on these results, it was possible to conclude that the multitracers used in this study (salinity, Si, Ba and U, as well as the radium isotopes ²²³Ra, ²²⁴Ra, ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra) presented satisfactory results toward defining the plume reach and determining the residence time and water-mixing processes in the estuary. A strong correlation was observed between tracers and the distance to the coast. During the low river water discharge period, the riverine water took about 10 days to reach open ocean waters (salinity ∼ 35). During the rainy period this value decreased to 6 days. Based on the radium results, it was possible to calculate diffusion coefficients (K_h) of 23 km² d⁻¹ and 38 km² d⁻¹ for ²²⁴Ra and ²²³Ra, respectively, during the dry season (winter). Values of 65 km² d⁻¹ and 68 km² d⁻¹ for ²²³Ra and ²²⁴Ra, respectively, were found for the rainy period (summer).     

Measuring the radium quartet (Ra, Ra, Ra, Ra) in seawater samples using gamma spectrometry

Radium isotopes are widely used in marine studies (eg. to trace water masses, to quantify mixing processes or to study submarine groundwater discharge). While ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra are usually measured using gamma spectrometry, short-lived Ra isotopes (²²⁴Ra and ²²³Ra) are usually measured using a Radium Delayed Coincidence Counter (RaDeCC). Here we show that the four radium isotopes can be analyzed using gamma spectrometry. We report ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra, ²²⁴Ra, ²²³Ra activities measured using low-background gamma spectrometry in standard samples, in water samples collected in the vicinity of our laboratory (La Palme and Vaccarès lagoons, France) but also in seawater samples collected in the plume of the Amazon river, off French Guyana (AMANDES project). The ²²³Ra and ²²⁴Ra activities determined in these samples using gamma spectrometry were compared to the activities determined using RaDeCC. Activities determined using the two techniques are in good agreement. Uncertainties associated with the ²²⁴Ra activities are similar for the two techniques. RaDeCC is more sensitive for the detection of low ²²³Ra activities. Gamma spectrometry thus constitutes an alternate method for the determination of short-lived Ra isotopes.     

Radium removal from mine waters in underground treatment installations

The underground mining of hard coal is widespread in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (southern Poland). In deep mines, inflows of highly mineralised waters containing radium isotopes are numerous. These waters cause severe damage to the natural environment due to the salinity, but additionally radioactive pollution occurs. The region is densely populated, therefore mitigation methods are very important. The method of radium removal has been applied in full technical scale in two coal mines with very good results - in one of the mines radium-bearing waters are treated at the rate of approximately 0.1m(3)s(-1), while in another mine salty waters are purified at the rate of 0.1m(3)s(-1). The purification takes place in special underground galleries without any contact of the mining crew with the radioactive deposits produced during the process. As a result, release of radium is significantly lower, more than 200MBq of (226)Ra and (228)Ra remains underground each day.