Effect of Flow Depth and Velocity on Nitrate Loss Rates in Natural Channels1

Carleton, James N. and Yusuf M. Mohamoud, 2012. Effect of Flow Depth and Velocity on Nitrate Loss Rates in Natural Channels. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1‐12. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12007 Abstract: Loss rates of nitrate from streams and rivers are governed by movement of the ion from water column to anoxic bed sediments. Quantitative representations of nitrate in streams and rivers have often treated such losses as governed by first‐order mechanisms that are invariant with respect to potential modulating factors other than temperature. Results of studies in recent years, however, suggest that rates of water column‐sediment mass transfer are influenced by stream geometry and associated hydraulics. We develop expressions for the instream nitrate loss rate coefficient, k, as a function of water velocity and depth, using hydraulic geometry to empirically relate velocity to depth for two cases: (1) variability in mean conditions among reaches; and (2) temporal variability in conditions at a single reach, under changing flow. The result is expressions for k as functions of water column depth. Measured stream k values reported in the literature are shown to be well represented by expressions developed for the first case, and the potential for application to probabilistic analysis is briefly examined. We explore the latter case using the Hydrologic Simulation Program – FORTRAN (HSPF) model, modified to incorporate the dependence of k on instantaneous stream depth. In example simulations of two nitrate‐exporting watersheds, the incorporation of depth‐dependence of k produces improvement in the model’s ability to match observed stream nitrate concentrations.     

Mass-transfer processes of chromium(VI) adsorption onto guava seeds

The chromium(VI) biosorption onto guava seeds, as an alternative method for Cr⁶⁺ removal from aqueous solutions, was investigated. The parameters affecting kinetics and equilibrium of Cr⁶⁺ adsorption onto guava seeds were studied. An external mass-transfer diffusion coefficient k and intra-particle diffusion coefficient k_i were determined to measure the rate-limiting step of adsorption. A single external mass-transfer diffusion model and intra-particle diffusion models were used. The effects of initial pH, sorbent mass, and initial Cr⁶⁺ concentrations on mass-transfer coefficients were investigated. The external mass-transfer coefficient has an average value of 7.2×10^-3 cm s^-1, while the intra-particle mass-transfer diffusion coefficient was 0.34 mg g^-1 min^-0.5. This indicates that external diffusion to the guava seeds surface and intra-particle diffusion are both involved in the sorption process. The isotherm equilibrium data were well fitted by the Langmuir and Freundlich models with an average correlation coefficient R²=0.98. The maximum removal of Cr⁶⁺ was obtained at pH 1 (about 100% for adsorbent dose of 15 g l^-1 and 25 mg l^-1 initial concentration of Cr⁶⁺). The results indicated that the guava seeds exhibit acceptable sorption capacity.     

Identification, synthesis and activity of sex pheromone gland components of the autumn gum moth (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), a defoliator of Eucalyptus

Summary. The autumn gum moth, Mnesampela privata (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), is native to Australia and can be a pest of plantation eucalypts. Field-collected and laboratory-reared female autumn gum moths were dissected to remove glands likely to contain components of the sex pheromone. Using gas chromatography (GC) and combined gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), three compounds were identified from female extracts, namely (3Z,6 Z,9 Z)-3,6,9-nonadecatriene, 1-hexadecanol and 1-octadecanol (confirmed by comparison with synthetic samples). Nonadecatriene elicited an antennal response in male autumn gum moth during gas chromatographic analyses combined with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). In electroantennogram (EAG) recording male M. privata antennae responded to the nonadecatriene. Nonadecatriene was synthesised via Kolbe electrolysis, starting with (9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid (linolenic acid) and propanoic acid or via an alternative four-step method also starting from linolenic acid. In field trials (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-nonadecatriene proved attractive to male moths. Thus, we conclude that (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9- nonadecatriene is a sex pheromone component of autumn gum moth. This component has been identified in extracts from other geometrids in the same subfamily, Ennominae. However, to our knowledge this is the first example where (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-nonadecatriene has been found in females and also proved attractive to male moths when presented on its own. Our results are discussed in relation to other geometrid pheromones.     

NUTRIENT MASS BALANCE FOR THE ALBEMARLE-PAMLICO DRAINAGE BASIN,NORTH CAROLINA AND VIRGINIA, 19901

ABSTRACT: A 1990 nitrogen and phosphorus mass balance calculated for eight National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) basins in the Albemarle-Pamlico Drainage Basin indicated the importance of agricultural nonpoint sources of nitrogen and phosphorus and watershed nitrogen retention and processing capabilities. Basin total nitrogen and phosphorus input estimates were calculated for atmospheric deposition (which averaged 27 percent of total nitrogen inputs and 22 percent of total phosphorus inputs); crop fertilizer (27 and 25 percent); animal-waste (22 and 50 percent, respectively); point sources (3 percent each of total nitrogen and total phosphorus inputs); and biological nitrogen fixation (21 percent of total nitrogen inputs). Highest in-stream nitrogen and phosphorus loads were measured in predominantly agricultural drainage areas. Intermediate loads were observed in mixed agricultural/urban drainage areas; the lowest loads were measured in mixed agricultural/forested drainage areas. The difference between the sum of the nutrient input categories and the sum of the in-stream nutrient loads and crop-harvest nutrient removal was assigned to a residual category for the basin. The residual category averaged 51 percent of total nitrogen inputs and 54 percent of total phosphorus inputs.     

On temperature and water limitation of net ecosystem productivity: Implementation in the C-Fix model

Monitoring, understanding and modelling carbon emission and fixation fluxes are key actions to guide climate change stakeholders in the application of mitigation strategies. In this study, we use the remote sensing model C-Fix at the local stand scale to improve the integration of algorithms for water and temperature limitation. These new algorithms are applied to estimate net ecosystem productivity in a fully water limited mode.     

An Evaluation of Daumod Model in Estimating Urban Background Concentrations

This article presents an evaluation of the performance of the urban atmospheric dispersion model (DAUMOD) in estimating nitrogen oxides (NO_x) background concentrations in Copenhagen. Estimations of hourly average (averaged over a year), mean daily and mean monthly concentrations of NO_x are compared with observed values for two years of data. The model slightly underestimates low hourly average values and overestimates high values. The cumulative frequency distribution of mean daily concentration obtained from model estimations is in good agreement with the obtained from observed data. We performed a statistical analysis to determine the agreement between estimated and observed concentration values. The results show that 95.8% of hourly average estimations, 86.8% of mean daily and 100% of monthly average concentrations are within a factor of two of the observed values. The normalised mean square error of predictions is +0.13 for hourly average estimations, +0.22 for mean daily values and +0.02 for monthly mean concentrations. The fractional bias values are: –0.049 for hourly mean estimations, –0.047 for mean daily values and –0.053 for monthly average estimations. The values of the statistical parameters allow us to consider that though estimations are lightly larger than the observed values, the model performance is acceptable.     

付老文泡湿地贴地气层中CO_2日平均浓度沿环境梯度的空间分异特征

以付老文泡湿地为研究区,在典型样带内设置具有不同环境梯度的六个观测区,研究了样带内贴地气层CO2日平均浓度的空间分异特征。结果表明,付老文泡湿地在7月份的贴地气层CO2日平均浓度较低,总平均值为264.14μmol/mol;付老文泡湿地最大CO2日平均浓度出现在近地面层,CO2日平均浓度由近地面层向上呈现下降趋势。在四个高度水平上,CO2日平均浓度的水平分异特征明显,高值区和低值区分别出现在洼地和高地。在水分梯度作用下,洼地区内CO2日平均浓度在四个高度水平上均表现为样地A<样地B<样地C,且在垂直方向上均呈现出由近地层向上呈先减后增再骤然减少的变化趋势;样地D和样地E的CO2日平均浓度在垂直方向上变化趋势一致,由近地层向上呈现逐渐减少的变化趋势;而样地F的CO2日平均浓度的垂直变化不明显。     

青岛市连续天气过程中不同气溶胶浓度特征对比分析

利用青岛市沙尘暴监测站GRIMM180颗粒物监测仪采集到的质量浓度和数浓度数据,结合2008年5月27～28日天气系统演变进行气溶胶定性分类,对海雾气溶胶、清洁气溶胶、浮尘气溶胶的浓度进行对比分析.结果表明,①清洁气溶胶、海雾气溶胶、浮尘气溶胶的总质量浓度有明显差异;②海雾气溶胶以1～2.5μm粒子的滞留最明显,清洁气溶胶中1μm的粒子贡献率最大,浮尘气溶胶则以2.5～10μm的颗粒物级数增加最具代表性,不同气溶胶相应大小粒子的质量浓度贡献率之比明显不同;③降水系统对0.6μm较大的粒子有明显的清除作用,对0.6μm的数浓度有增大作用;④1μm尤其是0.6μm的粒子处于天气系统前部到达潮湿空气时有特殊的活化现象;⑤不同粒径尺度的粒子数浓度随气溶胶性质的转变呈现不同的模态.     

流域水环境优先控制污染物筛选方法研究

本方法借鉴国内外经验,采用美国环保局工业环境实验室提出的化合物的潜在危害指数来指示物质对环境的毒性,结合某流域丰、平、枯三个水期测定出的有机污染物的检出浓度和检出频次以及流域污染源的检出频次,利用分级、加权法对检出的化合物进行排序,遵循有源、可控的原则,筛选出某流域的优先控制污染物。所提出的方法具有合理性和可操作性。     

Mass transfer in the absorption of SO2 and NOx using aqueous euchlorine scrubbing solution

Attempts have been made to generate euchlorine gas by chlorate-chloride process and to utilize it further to clean up SO2 and NOx from the flue gas in a lab scale bubbling reactor.Preliminary experiments were carried out to determine the gas and liquid phase mass transfer coefficients and their correlation equations have been established.Simultaneous removal of SO2 and NOx from the simulated flue gas using aqueous euchlorine scrubbing solution has been investigated.Euchlorine oxidized NO into NO2 completely and the later subsequently absorbed into the scrubbing solution in the form of nitrate.SO2 removal efficiency of around 100% and NOx removal efficiency of around 72 % were achieved under optimized conditions.Mass balance has been confirmed by analyzing the sulfate, nitrate, euchlorine and chloride ion using ion chromatograph/auto-titrator and comparing it with their corresponding calculated values.