Water quality in the Tibetan Plateau: metal contents of four selected rivers

The water used by 85% of the Asian population originates in Tibetan Plateau. During April and May of 2006, water samples were collected from four major Asian rivers in the Plateau (i.e. the Salween, Mekong, Yangtze River and Yarlung Tsangpo) and analyzed for Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Mo, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Li, Mn, Al, Fe, Mg and Hg. The results showed that elements such as Mg were rather high in Tibetan rivers, giving a mean electrical conductance of 36 mS/m. In a few locations, the results also showed relatively high concentrations of Al and Fe (>1 mg/L). However, the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd, and Cr were generally low. Contamination with Pb was identified at a few locations in the Salween and Ni at a few sites in the Yangtze River.     

凤眼莲在城市重污染河道修复中的应用

外港河是秦淮河重要支流,长期以来遭受严重污染。2006年4月份起对外港河进行了综合生态治理。在前期清淤和截污的基础上,7月份开始引种凤眼莲。在上游排污口附近和外港河河口段分别设置的4个生态区以及河面上布设的水面载体内全面放养以凤眼莲为主的浮水植物。经过5个多月的初步治理,外港河水体透明度从40 cm以下提高到120 cm左右,COD下降了70.4％,TSS、TN和NH₃-N分别下降了39.6％、49.7％和21.8％。结果证明,凤眼莲在净化严重污染的河道方面起到了良好的效果,引种凤眼莲治理城市重污染河道是切实可行的;此外,用PVC管设计制作的水面载体来放养浮水植物可以点缀水面环境,美化城市河道景观。     

Biotic and Abiotic Changes Along the Recovery Gradient of Two Impounded Rivers with Different Impoundment Use

Changes in physicochemical conditions and lotic benthic macroinvertebrates along the recovery gradient of the impounded Colorado (USA) and Duratón (Spain) Rivers were examined to identify and compare major factors affecting the structure of the macrobenthic community. Although both impounded rivers were exposed to hypolimnial releases from dams, they exhibited different impoundment use; Granby Dam (Colorado River) is used for water storage whereas Burgomillodo Dam (Duratón River) is used for hydroelectric production. The major factor responsible for macroinvertebrate responses in the Colorado River appeared to be the anomalous temperature pattern caused by Granby Dam, with relatively cool temperatures during the summer and relatively warm temperatures during the winter. In contrast, the major factors responsible for macroinvertebrate responses in the Duratón River seemed to be short-term flow fluctuations and low oxygen concentrations caused by Burgomillodo Dam. Values of taxonomic richness and relative abundances of shredders (Colorado River) and scrapers (Duratón River) increased along the recovery gradient of the impounded rivers. In general, chironomids (Diptera) were tolerant to both types of impoundment use, whereas elmids (Coleoptera) and psychomyiids (Trichoptera) were very sensitive. Overall, this environmental monitoring study denotes that the downstream changes in the biotic and abiotic components of impounded rivers is a function of the particular use of impoundments.     

典型喀斯特河流溶解性有机质生物降解特性及其温度敏感性研究

喀斯特河流受特殊生物地球化学过程影响,其溶解性有机质(DOM)变化具有显著的区域特征.然而,当前对其DOM空间变化规律,特别是生物降解特性的研究十分有限,急需相关内容的补充.以我国典型喀斯特河流—芙蓉江为研究对象,探索了 DOM光学参数(a254、a350、E2/E3、S275～295、BIX、FI、FRI和HIX)的...     

Degrading permafrost river catchments and their impact on Arctic Ocean nearshore processes

Arctic warming is causing ancient perennially frozen ground (permafrost) to thaw, resulting in ground collapse, and reshaping of landscapes. This threatens Arctic peoples'' infrastructure, cultural sites, and land-based natural resources. Terrestrial permafrost thaw and ongoing intensification of hydrological cycles also enhance the amount and alter the type of organic carbon (OC) delivered from land to Arctic nearshore environments. These changes may affect coastal processes, food web dynamics and marine resources on which many traditional ways of life rely. Here, we examine how future projected increases in runoff and permafrost thaw from two permafrost-dominated Siberian watersheds—the Kolyma and Lena, may alter carbon turnover rates and OC distributions through river networks. We demonstrate that the unique composition of terrestrial permafrost-derived OC can cause significant increases to aquatic carbon degradation rates (20 to 60% faster rates with 1% permafrost OC). We compile results on aquatic OC degradation and examine how strengthening Arctic hydrological cycles may increase the connectivity between terrestrial landscapes and receiving nearshore ecosystems, with potential ramifications for coastal carbon budgets and ecosystem structure. To address the future challenges Arctic coastal communities will face, we argue that it will become essential to consider how nearshore ecosystems will respond to changing coastal inputs and identify how these may affect the resiliency and availability of essential food resources.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01666-z.     

CHANGING NEAR‐STREAM LAND USE AND RWER CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY IN THE VENEZUELAN ANDES1

ABSTRACT: The shape of a river channel is linked to surrounding land use through interacting hydrologic and geologic processes. This study analyzes the relationship between the change in near‐stream land use and the shape of the adjacent river channel over time. Three watersheds in the foothills of the Venezuelan Andes that have experienced differing degrees of development were studied to determine river channel width, sinuosity, and position relative to surrounding land use. Change in land use over time was obtained from multiple‐date aerial photographs (1946 and 1980) referenced to 1996 Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite imagery, and verified by field inspection. Measurements of land‐use type and amount and river channel morphology from the two dates were made using geographic information system (GIS) methods. The three watersheds differed in the extent of deforestation, the location of remaining forested land, and how much land‐use change had already occurred by 1946. Change in river channel morphology was greatest at the most deforested sites. Valley shape and channel constraint also had a discernible effect on change in channel morphology. This study introduces a method for analyzing change in coupled terrestrial‐aquatic systems based on multiple‐date, remotely sensed data and GIS analysis of spatial properties. The results document human impacts on river channels through a comparison of multiple watersheds over a 35‐year time interval.     

论跨界河流生态受益者补偿原则

跨界河流资源及生态环境保护关系到各沿岸国的切身利益。在国际水法中确立跨界河流生态受益者补偿原则,具有非常重要的理论意义和实践价值,有着深刻的法学、经济学、伦理学等的理论渊源和丰富的国际、国内跨区域河流生态环境资源保护的实践经验。沿岸各国在公平分享跨界河流生态利益的同时,负有分摊跨界河流生态保护成本的义务。跨界河流生态受益者补偿原则应当通过一系列具体制度加以落实,包括基础调查制度、效益评估制度、成本分摊制度、受益补偿制度和权利救济制度     

多瑙河国际水争端仲裁案对我国国际河流开发的启示

多瑙河水争端仲裁案是国际法庭首例仲裁解决的生态环境案例。在对该案的产生、发展及仲裁结论的分析与总结基础上,结合当今淡水资源日趋紧张,国际河流水资源的合理利用与管理已成为国际社会广泛关注的重要问题的现状,认为该案将对我国未来国际河流水资源的开发利用带来启示：加强对我国境内国际河流水资源的“国际”法制化管理;协调国家与地方、国家间的水资源利用目标,促进国际河流水资源的公平合理利用与保护;认识与了解我国国际河流水资源开发利用中的国际责任与义务;认识国际河流水资源的有限利用权与使用权;国际河流水资源公平合理利用权利受限于流域国家的合作基础;参与制定并实施国际河流区域性开发协定是实现国际河流管理与保护的重要条件等。     

Special features of fish species composition and community structure in small rivers of the Udmurt Republic

The composition and species richness of ichthyofauna have been studied in 36 stretches of small rivers in the Udmurt Republic to estimate the dependence of species richness on the distance from the river source and the level and type of anthropogenic load. Some specific features of modification of the fish community structure under the influence of agriculture, urbanization, and industry (oil production) have been revealed. Basic trends in the change of dominant complexes of fish species with an increase in the distance from the river source are described for small rivers flowing in different natural and anthropogenic landscapes of the Udmurt Republic.     

MODERNIZATION OF NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVER FORECASTING TECHNIQUES1

The National Weather Service is nearing the conclusion of a five year period of transition from index type catchment modelling to the use of conceptual hydrologic models. The decision to make this technological change was based on an extensive research project in which various catchment models were tested in a wide variety of basins and their strong and weak points ascertained. This project is described. Some of the problems involved in the changeover, which are discussed, are practical parameter optimization methods, computer requirements for the more complex technology, data requirements, fitting of the catchment model to major river systems, training of personnel and staffing problems.