An Experimental Methodology for Monitoring Contaminant Transport Through Geotechnical Centrifuge Models

In this paper, an attempt has been made to highlight an experimental methodology for monitoring contaminant transport through locally available silty soil and commercially available clay in geotechnical centrifuge models, for different compaction states. Use of multiple depth sensors to determine depth distribution of sodium chloride in the soil column has been detailed. The obtained results have been compared with argentometric method. To validate the centrifuge modelling, modelling of models has been used. The test setup developed can simulate contaminant transport mechanisms through the soil mass, which is approximately 10 m deep, over a period of 600 days. R _e and P _e are found to be N times higher in the centrifuge models. These numbers are found to be several orders less than unity. This indicates that laminar flow prevails and the dominating Cl⁻ transport mechanism in centrifuge is diffusion. The study also highlights the fact that the geotechnical centrifuge modelling can be used as a viable alternative to field scale experimentation.     

水溶性有机物对草萘胺在土壤中吸附与迁移的影响

采用批次吸附试验和土柱淋洗试验,研究了绿肥和污泥中水溶性有机物(DOM)对除草剂草萘胺在黄棕壤和石灰性潮土上吸附和迁移影响.结果表明,供试DOM均能明显降低草萘胺在2种土壤上的吸附,促进草萘胺的迁移,在黄棕壤上效果更明显.在所研究的草萘胺和DOM浓度范围内,绿肥DOM(GM)都比污泥DOM(SS)作用显著.草萘胺的吸附等温线可用Freundlich方程定量描述.绿肥DOM和污泥DOM可分别使黄棕壤中草萘胺吸附量比对照处理(不加DOM)减少22.9%和11.3%,使迁移出土体的草萘胺总量提高了73.42%和26.87%,而使潮土中草萘胺的吸附量减少了9.5%和6.5%,迁移出土体的草萘胺总量增加了43.54%和28.29%.因此,农业土壤中溶解性有机物对农药环境行为有一定影响.     

废旧电容器存放点多氯联苯的污染特征

采用气相色谱-电子捕获检测器测定废旧电容器存放地点附近的土壤和植物中多氯联苯(PCBs)的含量.分析了羊茅草(Festuca.L)的叶和根中PCBs的变化,应用多元线性回归方法定量判别了PCBs污染类型,进而探讨了PCBs的分布特征.结果表明,存放点PCBs污染水平较高,污染类型与Aroclor 1248相似.随着离污染点距离的增加,PCBs浓度急剧下降.污染类型逐步偏离Aroclor 1248,二氯和三氯联苯的百分比升高,四氯和五氯联苯下降.表现出水相和气相传输的作用,在一般情况下,水相传输起主导作用.另外,PCBs在羊茅草的叶和根中浓度的比值有上升的趋势.这种变化趋势和PCBs大气传输过程相关联,大气传输的贡献随着距离的增加PCBs浓度水平逐步下降而逐步显现.     

南汇边滩的沉积特征和沉积物输运趋势

在对南汇边滩沉积物粒度特征进行分析的基础上,利用Gao Collins泥沙概率输运模型探讨边滩的沉积物输运趋势,结果表明：①沉积物中值粒径、分选系数和偏度的分布具有一致性,三者相关性较强;②边滩的沉积物粒度特征表现为正偏,分选性较差,分选系数值集中在2左右,沉积物相对较粗（中值粒径大于0.01 mm）的区域主要集中在没冒沙中部、南汇咀及卢潮港近岸,其它区域沉积物相对较细（中值粒径小于0.01 mm）;③将 Gao Collins的泥沙概率模型和南汇边滩的动力与沉积环境结合表明,沉积物在东滩的净输运趋势是由北向南输运。由于南滩的动力条件相对复杂,因此南滩沉积物的净输运趋势有待进一步分析。     

基于铁路客运的中国城市可达性及类型研究

为探究铁路网络时空压缩效应对城市可达性的影响,基于2009年和2014年铁路列车时刻表数据,结合传统数理统计方法及空间分析方法,对中国地级以上城市可达性及其格局演变进行深入分析。结果表明:(1)铁路客运的数量和类型上均有较大变化,特别是始发列车及动车组的大幅增加及高铁的开通运行,中国城市可达性得到一定程度提升,但城市可达性改善地域差异性显著。(2)北上广三大核心城市在城市可达性等级体系中第一层级地位稳固,交通区位条件的差异使得城市可达性等级体系产生一定变化。(3)中国城市可达性绝对及相对差距均呈现出不断扩大趋势,列车停靠数量的极化效应显著、新增加的高速客运更多地向高等级中心城市集聚,铁路基础设施的建设正在重塑中国生产力格局。(4)从城市功能属性及规模属性视角,以始发列车和停靠列车中位数为临界值,将中国城市划分为高规模高功能、高规模低功能、低规模高功能、低规模低功能等4种类型,并依次分析城市分布特征及成因,为铁路客运的合理配置及交通网络优化布局提供参考。     

Influence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on speciation and bioavailability of arsenite

In this study, the influence of the co-existence of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the speciation of arsenite [As(III)] was studied by observing its adsorption and valence changing. Moreover, the influence of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the bioavailability of As(III) was examined by bioaccumulation test using carp (Cyprinus carpio). The results showed that TiO₂ nanoparticles have a significant adsorption capacity for As (III). Equilibrium was established within 30 min, with about 30% of the initial As (III) being adsorbed onto TiO₂ nanoparticles. Most of aqueous As (III) was oxidized to As(V) in the presence of TiO₂ nanoparticles under sunlight. The carp accumulated considerably more As in the presence of TiO₂ nanoparticles than in the absence of TiO₂ nanoparticles, and after 25-day exposure, As concentration in carp increased by 44%. Accumulation of As in viscera, gills and muscle of the carp was significantly enhanced by the presence of TiO₂ nanoparticles.     

Incorporating layer- and local-scale heterogeneities in numerical simulation of unsaturated flow and tracer transport

This study characterizes layer- and local-scale heterogeneities in hydraulic parameters (i.e., matrix permeability and porosity) and investigates the relative effect of layer- and local-scale heterogeneities on the uncertainty assessment of unsaturated flow and tracer transport in the unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain, USA. The layer-scale heterogeneity is specific to hydrogeologic layers with layerwise properties, while the local-scale heterogeneity refers to the spatial variation of hydraulic properties within a layer. A Monte Carlo method is used to estimate mean, variance, and 5th, and 95th percentiles for the quantities of interest (e.g., matrix saturation and normalized cumulative mass arrival). Model simulations of unsaturated flow are evaluated by comparing the simulated and observed matrix saturations. Local-scale heterogeneity is examined by comparing the results of this study with those of the previous study that only considers layer-scale heterogeneity. We find that local-scale heterogeneity significantly increases predictive uncertainty in the percolation fluxes and tracer plumes, whereas the mean predictions are only slightly affected by the local-scale heterogeneity. The mean travel time of the conservative and reactive tracers to the water table in the early stage increases significantly due to the local-scale heterogeneity, while the influence of local-scale heterogeneity on travel time gradually decreases over time. Layer-scale heterogeneity is more important than local-scale heterogeneity for simulating overall tracer travel time, suggesting that it would be more cost-effective to reduce the layer-scale parameter uncertainty in order to reduce predictive uncertainty in tracer transport.     

Degassing of H/He, CFCs and SF6 by denitrification: Measurements and two-phase transport simulations

The production of N₂ gas by denitrification may lead to the appearance of a gas phase below the water table prohibiting the conservative transport of tracer gases required for groundwater dating. We used a two-phase flow and transport model (STOMP) to study the reliability of ³H/³He, CFCs and SF₆ as groundwater age tracers under agricultural land where denitrification causes degassing. We were able to reproduce the amount of degassing (R² = 69%), as well as the ³H (R² = 79%) and ³He (R² = 76%) concentrations observed in a ³H/³He data set using simple 2D models. We found that the TDG correction of the ³H/³He age overestimated the control ³He/³He age by 2.1 years, due to the accumulation of ³He in the gas phase. The total uncertainty of degassed ³H/³He ages of 6 years (± 2 σ) is due to the correction of degassed ³He using the TDG method, but also due to the travel time in the unsaturated zone and the diffusion of bomb peak ³He. CFCs appear to be subject to significant degradation in anoxic groundwater and SF₆ is highly susceptible to degassing. We conclude that ³H/³He is the most reliable method to date degassed groundwater and that two-phase flow models such as STOMP are useful tools to assist in the interpretation of degassed groundwater age tracer data.     

Development and Use of a Sedimentation Risk Index for Unpaved Road‐Stream Crossings in the Choctawhatchee Watershed1

Abstract: Unpaved road‐stream crossings increase sediment yields in streams and alter channel morphology and stability. Before restoration and sedimentation reduction strategies can be implemented, a priority listing of unpaved road‐stream crossings must be created. The objectives of this study were to develop a sedimentation risk index (SRI) for unpaved road‐stream crossings and to prioritize 125 sites in the Choctawhatchee watershed (southeastern Alabama) using this model. Field surveys involved qualitative and quantitative observations of 73 metrics related to waterway conditions, crossing structures, road approaches, and roadside soil erosion. The road‐stream crossing risk analyses involved elimination of candidate metrics based on redundancy, skewness, lack of data, professional judgment, lack of nonzero values, unbalanced box plots, and limited ranges of values. A final selection of 12 metrics formed the SRI and weighed factors involving soil erodibility, road sedimentation abatement features, and stream morphology alteration. The SRI was organized into narrative categories (excellent, good, fair, poor, and very poor) based on the distribution of scores. No excellent sites (scores ≥55) were found in this study, 17 (20.7%) were good (low sedimentation risk), 37 (45.1%) were fair (moderate sedimentation risk), 26 (31.7%) were poor (high sedimentation risk), and two (2.5%) were very poor (high sedimentation risk). There was no significant difference in SRI scores among crossing structure type (round culverts, box culverts, and bridges) (H = 4.31, df = 2, p = 0.058). A future study of the Choctawhatchee watershed involving the same study sites could assess the success of restoration plans and activities based on site score improvement or decline.     

Conversion of a Missouri River Dam and Reservoir to a Sustainable System: Sediment Management1

Abstract: A present and future challenge for water resources engineers is to extend the useful life of our dams and reservoirs. Ongoing reservoir sedimentation in impoundments must be addressed; sedimentation in many reservoirs already limits project benefits and effective project life. Sustainability requires that incoming sediment be moved downstream past the impounding dam. We use Lewis and Clark Lake, the most downstream of the six Missouri River main stem reservoirs, to demonstrate how a reservoir in advanced stages of its project life could be converted to a sustainable system with local benefits exceeding costs by a factor of 1.5. Full consideration of benefits would further enhance project justification. The proposed strategy involves four phases that will take about 50 years to complete. Cost estimates for this potential project range from the quantitative to the plausible, but it is clear that the results justify a full engineering, environmental, and economic study of this model project. If implemented, the project will create scientific knowledge and develop technologies useful for achieving sustainability at many other reservoirs in the Mississippi River basin and beyond.