Agricultural Lakes in Finland: Current Water Quality and Trends

Agriculture is the largest source of nutrients into surface waters in Finland, and yet relatively little is known about the actual impact of the agricultural load on the state of lakes. We analysed the water quality data of 20 Finnish agricultural lakes and found that they had higher levels of nutrients, chlorophyll a and turbidity than did the other types of lakes (e.g. those receiving point-source load) in the national monitoring network (the Finnish Eurowaternet). Currently, six of the agricultural lakes can be classified as eutrophic and 14 as hypertrophic. Trend analysis (based on Kendall's tau-b) indicated that during 1976–2002 the water quality of the lakes either remained constant or showed signs of increasing eutrophication and elevated turbidity. Decreasing nutrient concentrations were found only in one intensively restored lake. In none of the lakes had the chlorophyll a concentration decreased. The results of the trend analysis are compatible with the recent finding that, despite vigorous efforts, the nutrient load from agriculture has not declined in Finland. Recovery of the most eutrophied agricultural lakes would call for a drastic reduction in the external nutrient load, possibly supplemented with in-lake restoration.     

First Step for an Ecological Risk Assessment to Evaluate the Impact of Diffuse Pollution in Lake Vela (Portugal)

Lake Vela, located in the Portuguese littoral-centre, is a temperate shallow lake exhibiting a high trophic status. This aquatic ecosystem has been potentially exposed to contamination generated by agricultural and livestock activities held in their drainage basin, which seriously compromise their health. This work summarizes some background information and presents the problem formulation step of the ERA. Therefore, it evaluates the characteristics of the stressor(s), describes the ecological system and receptors and suggests a conceptual model, which predicts the potential exposure pathways, relating suspected sources to the defined endpoints. This introductory step also described an analysis plan on the entire study, which includes a delineation of the assessment design, data needs, measures, and methods for conducting the analysis phase of the risk assessment process.     

川西亚高山针叶林人工恢复过程的土壤性性质变化

研究川西岷江上游高山针叶林区不同年龄阶段的人工云杉林地凋落物及其养分贮量和土壤养分及主要理化性质的变化趋势,结果表明：（1）人工云杉林的凋落物及其氮、磷、钾贮量、以60年代抚育成熟林最高,40年代抚育成熟林大幅度下降,分别下降34．1％及49．8％,70．5％,46．7％;（2）人工云杉林地表土的有机质、全氮、全磷随林龄的增加而降低,据典型土壤剖面资料,40年代比60年代抚育林土壤分别降低72．4％,78．6％,42．2％;（3）相应于土壤有机质的变化,与60年代人工云杉成熟林相比,40年代成熟林土壤的自然含水量、总孔工、保肥力（CEC）和交换性盐某养分等均明显降低,表现出肥力退化的趋势,因此,当人工云杉林达到成熟林后,后采取诸如适当间伐等措施,以改善林地生态条件,避免土壤肥力退化,图4表6参11。     

“十一五”期间新疆湖库水质变化趋势及原因分析

通过对新疆湖库“十一五”期间水质变化趋势的分析,结合五年间地方政府采取的综合污染防治措施,分析了水质变化的原因,并提出相应对策建议,以便更好地推进新疆湖库水污染防治工作。     

Modeling the Fate and Transport of Plunging Inflows to Onondaga Lake

The transport and fate of two plunging tributaries, Onondaga and Ninemile Creeks, in Onondaga Lake, New York, are quantified based on application of hydrodynamic/transport models. Short‐term transport is simulated with a three‐dimensional Estuary Lake and Coastal Ocean Model (ELCOM), while the longer term fate is represented by a previously validated one‐dimensional model (UFILS4). The validation of ELCOM for the vertical distribution of tributary inflow into the lake's water column is demonstrated for four dye tracer experiments. The models are applied for three years to represent the dynamics of transport and fate for the two tributaries, with ELCOM predictions serving as input for UFILS4. The models together quantify the distribution of these inflows between the upper mixed layer (UML) and stratified depths, and the subsequent transport from stratified depths to the UML by vertical mixing. Substantial short‐term variations are predicted for both tributaries in response to variability in hydrology and weather. Increased inflow to the UML is predicted for high runoff periods. The fraction of Ninemile Creek's inflow directly entering the UML is predicted to be 50% greater than for Onondaga Creek due to Ninemile's lower negative buoyancy. The plunging phenomenon has important water quality implications, by reducing the effective loading to the UML, particularly for constituents with large rates of loss/transformation relative to the rate of vertical transport from stratified depths.     

Geospatial and Temporal Analysis of a 20‐Year Record of Landsat‐Based Water Clarity in Minnesota's 10,000 Lakes

A large 20‐year database on water clarity for all Minnesota lakes ≥8 ha was analyzed statistically for spatial distributions, temporal trends, and relationships with in‐lake and watershed factors that potentially affect lake clarity. The database includes Landsat‐based water clarity estimates expressed in terms of Secchi depth (SD_Landsat), an integrative measure of water quality, for more than 10,500 lakes for time periods centered around 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005. Minnesota lake clarity is lower (more turbid) in the south and southwest and clearer in the north and northeast; this pattern is evident at the levels of individual lakes and ecoregions. Temporal trends in clarity were detected in ~11% of the lakes: 4.6% had improving clarity and 6.2% had decreasing clarity. Ecoregions in southern and western Minnesota, where agriculture is the predominant land use, had higher percentages of lakes with decreasing clarity than the rest of the state, and small and shallow lakes had higher percentages of decreasing clarity trends than large and deep lakes. The mean SD_Landsat statewide remained stable from 1985 to 2005 but decreased in ecoregions dominated by agricultural land use. Deep lakes had higher clarity than shallow lakes statewide and for lakes grouped by land cover. SD_Landsat decreased as the percentage of agriculture and/or urban area increased at county and catchment levels and it increased with increasing forested land.     

Marine lakes of karst islands in Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)

Ha Long Bay in North Vietnam is characterized by karst towers and bigger islands totalling more than 3000 isles. Karst processes carved hundreds of caves out of the limestone and contributed to the formation of many enclosed and semi-enclosed saltwater lakes. Here, we report the results of a general survey of several lakes and the first data on the Hang Du I lake, a small basin devoid of any apparent communication with the surrounding sea. Hang Du I is characterized by the presence of Rhizostomeae, genus Mastigias, suggesting strong similarities with the famous lakes described from the archipelago of Palau. Among the benthic organisms sponges are the most important group. Temperature and abundance of the monsoon rains are the main factors influencing remarkable seasonal variations in physical-chemical parameters and the community structure of the lake. A thermal crisis with water temperatures up to 36 °C was recorded in September 2003. In this period, usually abundant medusae and sea anemones totally disappeared. Sponge populations showed fast growth rates in winter and spring and a partial degeneration to face the harsh conditions of the summer season. When isolated from the surrounding marine environment, the saltwater lakes share the condition of oceanic islands, representing spots of habitats surrounded by a completely different environment. The Ha Long Bay marine lakes are not easy to access, being surrounded by tropical forest, but local people usually exploit them for both fishery and oyster harvesting. There is an urgent need to develop measures of protection for these endangered and unique environments, natural laboratories that facilitate the study of evolution of marine organisms, where biodiversity has been until now totally unexplored.     

围湖垦殖对湖泊调蓄功能的累加效应分析

计算了长湖、洪湖在围垦前后湖泊容量在水位变化时的容量增长率和四个涝灾年份降雨条件下汛期湖泊水位逐日增加值，对四湖流域尚存的18个湖泊的围垦强度与容量损失情况进行了分析。结果发现，围垦后的长湖容量平均增长率、相对增长率、最大增长率分别从1.8436、0.1834、2.4979(10^8m^3/m）减少到了1.4321,0.1802,1.7569(10^8m^3/m0，洪湖容量平均增长率、相对增长率、最大增长率分别从5.8506、0.3000、6.5095(10^8m^3/m）减少到了3.3970、0.2900、3.4440(10^8m^3/m），围垦导致的湖泊容量损失随着水位上升呈加速增加趋势，随着围垦强度的增加呈加速增加趋势，围垦后这两个湖泊在同样降雨条件下的水位逐日增加值都有不同程度的增加且这种增加值随着雨量和围垦强度的增加而增加。18个湖泊容量变化率随着围垦强度的增加而增加且在围垦强度为40％左右时表现出门槛效应。表明围湖垦残对湖泊调蓄功能的影响具有明显的累加效应。从累加效应的角度对四湖流域围湖垦残的合理性和退田还湖问题进行了讨论。     

城市浅水湖泊治理技术初探

随着生态文明建设的发展,城市浅水湖泊在城市环境中的角色日益重要,环境治理需求日益迫切.针对城市浅水湖泊的污染特征进行了概括总结,并对污染来源进行了分析.根据污染特征及因素针对性提出了“外源性污染、内源性污染控制阶段-水体水质改善与生态系统恢复阶段-长效管理阶段”三个阶段的治理思路,并就各阶段常用的治理技术进行了简单介绍,作为城市浅水湖泊治理工作的参考.     

Managing mercury in the great lakes: an analytical review of abatement policies

Mercury, a toxic metal known to have several deleterious affects on human health, has been one of the principal contaminants of concern in the Great Lakes basin. There are numerous anthropogenic sources of mercury to the Great Lakes area. Combustion of coal, smelting of non ferrous metals, and incineration of municipal and medical waste are major sources of mercury emissions in the region. In addition to North American anthropogenic emissions, global atmospheric emissions also significantly contribute to the deposition of mercury in the Great Lakes basin. Both the USA and Canada have agreed to reduce human exposure to mercury in the Great Lakes basin and have significantly curtailed mercury load to this region through individual and joint efforts. However, many important mercury sources, such as coal-fired power plants, still exist in the vicinity of the Great Lakes. More serious actions to drastically reduce mercury sources by employing alternative energy sources, restricting mercury trade and banning various mercury containing consumer products, such as dental amalgam are as essential as cleaning up the historical deposits of mercury in the basin. A strong political will and mass momentum are crucial for efficient mercury management. International cooperation is equally important. In the present paper, we have analyzed existing policies in respective jurisdictions to reduce mercury concentration in the Great Lakes environment. A brief review of the sources, occurrence in the Great Lakes, and the health effects of mercury is also included.