Characteristics and recent trends of sulfur dioxide at urban, rural, and background sites in North China: Effectiveness of control measures

SO₂ measurements made in recent years at sites in Beijing and its surrounding areas are performed to study the variations and trends of surface SO₂ at different types of sites in Northern China. The overall average concentrations of SO₂ are (16.8 ± 13.1) ppb, (14.8 ± 9.4) ppb, and (7.5 ± 4.0) ppb at China Meteorological Administration (CMA, Beijing urban area), Gucheng (GCH, relatively polluted rural area, 110 km to the southwest of Beijing urban area), and Shangdianzi (SDZ, clean background area, 100 km to the northeast of Beijing urban area), respectively. The SO₂ levels in winter (heating season) are 4-6 folds higher than those in summer. There are highly significant correlations among the daily means of SO₂ at different sites, indicating regional characteristics of SO₂ pollution. Diurnal patterns of surface SO₂ at all sites have a common feature with a daytime peak, which is probably caused by the downward mixing and/or the advection transport of SO₂-richer air over the North China Plain. The concentrations of SO₂ at CMA and GCH show highly significant downward trends (-4.4 ppb/yr for CMA and -2.4 ppb/yr for GCH), while a less significant trend (-0.3 ppb/yr) is identified in the data from SDZ, reflecting the character of SDZ as a regional atmospheric background site in North China. The SO₂ concentrations of all three sites show a significant decrease from period before to after the control measures for the 2008 Olympic Games, suggesting that the SO₂ pollution control has long-term effectiveness and benefits. In the post-Olympics period, the mean concentrations of SO₂ at CMA, GCH, and SDZ are (14.3 ± 11.0) ppb, (12.1 ± 7.7) ppb, and (7.5 ± 4.0) ppb, respectively, with reductions of 26%, 36%, and 13%, respectively, compared to the levels before. Detailed analysis shows that the differences of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and wind direction were not the dominant factors for the significant differences of SO₂ between the pre-Olympics and post-Olympics periods. By extracting the data being more representative of local or regional characteristics, a reduction of up to 40% for SO₂ in polluted areas and a reduction of 20% for regional SO₂ are obtained for the effect of control measures implemented for the Olympic Games.     

南海大气环境对战术导弹结构可靠性的影响浅析

针对海上部署的战术导弹使用环境条件,分析了南海典型大气环境特点,主要包括高温、高湿度、高盐雾、强光照等,以及这些主要环境因素对典型战术导弹结构的作用效应和破坏模式,重点研究了南海大气环境导致腐蚀等对于结构可靠性的影响。最后,根据战术导弹结构的选用材料、结构形式等特点,提出了采取合理结构设计、选用耐腐蚀材料、采取表面处理防护技术、采取腐蚀检测/监测技术、建立数据库等措施建议,以期对提高南海地区导弹装备结构可靠性/耐久性提供参考。     

北运河流域(北京段)沉积物中PAHs污染特征与风险评估

为探明北运河流域（北京段）多层沉积物中PAHs（多环芳烃）的污染状况,利用活塞式底泥取样器于2014年11月采集了9处沉积物样品,取样深度为30~80 cm,每处样品根据其垂向介质特征大致分成3~4层,分别测定各层样品的粒径、TOM（总有机质）及16种PAHs的质量分数,探讨PAHs在河道沿程与垂向上的分布特征、来源及生态风险评价.结果表明,北运河流域（北京段）沉积物以砂质壤土为主,w（TOM）（以干质量计,下同）为103.4~146.8 g/kg,w（∑₁₆PAHs）为598.1~28 730.6 ng/g,各层w（∑₁₆PAHs）为108.5~8 810.8 ng/g.沉积物中PAHs以高环为主,主要包括有Phe（Phenanthrene,菲）、Fla（Fluoranthene,荧蒽）、Pyr（Pyrene,芘）、BbF〔Benzo（b）fluoranthene,苯并[b]荧蒽〕.在河道沿程变化上,中下游沉积物的污染程度远高于上游.在垂向变化上,w（TOM）和沉积物粒径对PAHs的分布影响有限,PAHs的垂向分布主要受所处沉积环境与历史污染程度影响.根据主成分分析与同分异构体比值法推断,PAHs主要来源于化石燃料与生物燃料的燃烧,少部分为石油源.利用效应区间值得出的生态风险评价结果表明,北运河流域（北京段）沉积物中PAHs可能已对环境产生负面影响,其中BbF、BkF、InP与BgP已对环境产生毒副作用,需要给予关注与解决.      

南海西部富颗石柱状样的矿物学特征

颗石藻生物矿化作用形成的方解石质颗石化石富含地球化学信息,是古海洋研究的理想材料,而典型样品的获取及其矿物学研究是前提与基础。选取南海西部越南岸外夏季上升流区MD05-2901孔柱状样,通过颗石分布特征、生源组分、矿物物相和红外光谱等矿物学特征研究,探讨了颗石化石关联的沉积环境信息,进而探索了古海洋研究的新思路和方法。结果显示：南海西部MD05-2901孔柱状样从顶部到底部（随着深度的增大）颗石化石含量具有表层较高、中部含量最高、底部含量少的分布特征;有机碳含量在1.19%—2.78%,平均含量为1.99%,随深度的增加逐渐减小;以颗石为主的碳酸钙质无机碳含量在0.85%—1.65%波动,平均含量为1.12%,变化呈现较明显的周期性,与颗石的分布特征有强相关性;柱状样C/N分析表明这一时期沉积物主要为海洋自生沉积。富颗石沉积样品矿物物相主要含有方解石、伊利石、蒙脱石、绿泥石、高岭石,以及少量石英等。FTIR分析表明蒙脱石中可能吸附有机质,值得矿物学家深入研究。颗石藻沉积环境的矿物学特征富含沉积信息,为古海洋研究提供了新的研究途径。     

Transport of pollutants in two estuarine systems on the coast of Georgia

The aim of the present study was to examine the distribution of pollutants in two coastal systems in Georgia: (1) Kubitskali river which flows into the Black sea through the city of Batumi and is polluted mainly from the effluents of an oil refinery; (2) Paliastomi lake, which is a shallow water body at the south-east of the city of Poti. During 2000-2001, two samplings took place in each system, one in the low-flow period and one in the high-flow period. During these samplings, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and salinity were measured in situ, whereas water samples were collected for the analysis of trace metals, nutrients, and organic pollutants with standard methods. The results of the measurements indicate the significant pollution of both systems by ammonia and in the case of Kubitskali River also by oil products. The need for a sustainable management plan of the activities taking place in the river basin is urgent.     

瀑河水库蓄水后水质变化预测

瀑河水库拟作为南水北调中线的一个调蓄水库。在瀑河水库淹没区内布10个采样点，分别采集0－20、20－40、40－60cm深度的土壤，实验室中模拟水库蓄水淹没情景，连续监测“库水”水质，试验表明：蓄水初期土壤中营养物质溶出对库水水质有一定影响，且随着时间的推移，各营养物质溶出的速度及浓度变化不同，蓄水16天后浓度趋于平稳，库水水质达到地表水环境质量Ⅱ类标准，将模拟值作为初始值，利用WQRRS模型进行运行期水质预测，得到结论为：（1）当调水水质为Ⅰ和Ⅱ类标准值的中值、流域汛期径流水质为Ⅱ－Ⅴ类时，预测库水水质为Ⅱ－Ⅲ类；（2）当调水水质为Ⅱ类标准值的下限值、流域汛期径流水质为Ⅱ－Ⅴ类时，预测库水水质大多为Ⅲ类，部分情况下为Ⅳ类，且N、P超标；（3）当调水水质为Ⅰ和Ⅱ类标准值的中值、流域径流水质为Ⅱ类时，在2010、2020和2030水平年水库水质全部为Ⅱ类；当调水水质为Ⅱ类标准值的下限值时库水水质则为Ⅲ类。     

EGG PRODUCTION AND HATCHING SUCCESS IN NORTH ADRIATIC SEA POPULATIONS OF THE COPEPOD Acartia clausi

Egg production, fecal pellet production and hatching success are reported for Acartia clausi females sampled during three cruises in February 1997, 1998 and June 1997 at 20-24 stations along 4 transects in the North Adriatic Sea. Dramatically low hatching rates were recorded during both diatom bloom events in February as opposed to much higher rates during post-bloom conditions in June, even though A. clausi productivity during the bloom was apparently high. These results are discussed in the light of recent findings on the negative impact of diatoms on copepod reproductive potential.     

Mesoscale variability related to iron speciation in a coastal Ross Sea area (Antarctica) during summer 2014

Dissolved iron (Fe) distribution and speciation was determined in water samples (0–200?m) collected in a coastal area near Terra Nova Bay during the austral summer of 2014. Nutrients, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, phytoplankton composition and prokaryotic biomass distribution were investigated in combination with measurements of the physical properties of the water columns and its dynamics. The dFe value was above the limiting growth concentration, ranging from 0.52 to 4.51?nM, and it showed a spatial variability with a horizontal length scale of about 10?km, according to the variability of the water column physical properties and to iron sources. The organic ligands (L) maintained the concentrations of dFe at levels much higher than the inorganic solubility of Fe, keeping it available for phytoplankton and the log K’_FeL values found (from 22.1 to 23.6) highlighted the presence of complexes of differing stabilities.     

Morphologic development, relative sea level rise and sustainable management of water and sediment in the Ebre Delta, Spain

The Ebre (Ebro) Delta is one of the most important wetland areas in the western Mediterranean. Ca. 40 % of the delta plain is less than 0.5 m above mean sea level and part of the southern margin of the delta is at mean sea level in an area protected by dikes. Both mean rates of secular subsidence in the Ebre Delta and eustatic sea level rise are ca. 1 – 2 mm/yr. Thus, the present annual relative sea level rise (RSLR) rate in the Ebre Delta may be at least 3 mm/yr. Measured accretion rates in the delta range from 4 mm/yr in the wetlands surrounding the river mouth to <0.1 mm/yr in impounded salt marshes and rice fields. The annual sediment deficit in the delta plain to offset RSLR is close to 1 million m³/yr. Accretion rates in the rice fields prior to the construction of large dams in the Ebre watershed were higher than RSLR rates, from 3 – 15 mm/yr. At present, >99 % of the riverine sediments are retained in the reservoirs and rice fields are losing ca. 0.2 mm/yr. Future management plans should take RSLR into account and include control of freshwater and sediment flows from the river in order to offset negative effects from waterlogging and salt intrusion, and maintain land elevation. This will include the partial removal of sediments trapped behind the Ribarroja and Mequinença dams. Stocks and inputs of sediments in the corresponding reservoirs are large enough for land elevation of ca. 50 cm in the whole delta plain. Advantages of this solution include (1) new sediments to the delta to offset subsidence (via rice fields) and coastal retreat, (2) enhanced functioning of the delta (productivity and nutrient processing), (3) avoidance of accumulation of sediments in the reservoirs. Hence, it is important to manage river discharges at the dams from an integrated viewpoint, whereas currently only hydropower and agricultural requirements are considered. It is also crucial to maintain periods of high discharge, to have enough river energy to transport as much sediments as possible.     

The Botanist Effect Revisited: Plant Species Richness, County Area, and Human Population Size in the United States

Abstract:  The "botanist effect" is thought to be the reason for higher plant species richness in areas where botanists are disproportionately present as an artefactual consequence of a more thorough sampling. We examined whether this was the case for U.S. counties. We collated the number of species of vascular plants, human population size, and the area of U.S. counties. Controlling for spatial autocorrelation and county area, plant species richness increased with human population size and density in counties with and without universities and/or botanical gardens, with no significant differences in the relation between the two subsets. This is consistent with previous findings and further evidence of a broad-scale positive correlation between species richness and human population presence, which has important consequences for the experience of nature by inhabitants of densely populated regions. Combined with the many reports of a negative correlation between the two variables at a local scale, the positive relation between plant species richness in U.S. counties and human population presence stresses the need for the conservation of seminatural areas in urbanized ecosystems and for the containment of urban and suburban sprawl.