Reconnaissance soil geochemical survey of Gibraltar

The extreme density of population of Gibraltar, situated at the southern tip of Spain, exerts considerable pressure on land use and thus future planning is of utmost importance. An initial reconnaissance soil geochemical survey of Gibraltar was based on 120 surface samples (0–15 cm) taken from a wide range of exposed, either bare soil or vegetated sites, to provide the optimum geographical distribution. The total elemental concentrations of 26 elements (Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, La, Ti, V, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Zn, Cd, Pb, P, S, As) were determined by nitric/percholric acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis. The reconnaissance data shows that the spatial distribution of various elements depended on previous and present land use. Most elements (Ca, Cr, Mg and Mn excluded) exhibited relatively high concentrations in civilian and natural soils. Trends have been established for many elements, and concentrations exceeding guideline values have been found in certain areas of Gibraltar. This reconnaissance of Gibraltar is at present being followed by a more detailed baseline geochemical survey, which will establish the extent and magnitude of the variations in major and trace elements in soils and dusts, assess the impact of industrial, commercial and urban development on the geochemical landscape and to make recommendations concerning sustainable development.     

A Bayesian network approach to modelling land-use decisions under environmental policy incentives in the Brazilian Amazon

ABSTRACT

Deforestation driven by agricultural expansion is a major threat to the biodiversity of the Amazon Basin. Modelling how deforestation responds to environmental policy implementation has thus become a policy relevant scientific undertaking. However, empirical parameterization of land-use/cover change (LUCC) models is challenging due to the high complexity and uncertainty of land-use decisions. Bayesian Network (BN) modelling provides an effective framework to integrate various data sources including expert knowledge. In this study, we integrate remote sensing products with data from farm-household surveys and a decision game to model LUCC at the BR-163, in Brazil. Our ‘business as usual’ scenario indicates cumulative forest cover loss in the study region of 8,000 km² between 2014 and 2030, whereas ‘intensified law-enforcement’ would reduce cumulative deforestation to 1,600 km² over the same time interval. Our findings underline the importance of conservation law enforcement in modulating the impact of agricultural market incentives on land cover change.     

A Geochemical Survey of Topsoil in the City of Oslo, Norway

The city of Oslo is situated centrally in the Oslo-graben, which is a Permian rift basin consisting of different kinds of volcanic and sedimentary rocks. In the summer of 1998, approximately 300 samples of surface soil (2–3cm) were taken systematically, 1km^–2. The investigated area covers about 500km². Samples were dissolved in 7M HNO₃ and analysed for 29 elements with ICP-AES, mercury with cold-vapour technique (CV-AAS) and arsenic and cadmium with a graphite furnace (GF-AAS). A factor analysis is frequently used to identify relationships among sets of interrelated variables. To describe the covariant relationships among the elements, a factor analysis has been completed. The first factor contains the elements Sc, Fe, Li, Co, Al, Cr, Be, K, Ni, V, Mg, Y, Ba, Zr, Mn and As (listed with decreasing communality). These elements are typical for the minerals in the area and most of these elements have a near normal distribution. Sources for this factor are probably geological. The second factor contains Cd, Hg, P, Zn, Cu, Ba and Pb. They have a log-normal distribution. Road traffic is probably one of the sources contributing to this factor. In Norway studded tyres are used frequently in the winter season which results in large amounts of road dust. Leaded petrol has been a major source for Pb but is not in use any more. Wear and tear of tyres and brakes contribute also to this factor. Other sources contributing to this factor are probably industry, rubbish incineration, crematoria and release of some of these elements from structural material by fire. Factors 3, 4 and 6 with elements such as Ca, Na, La, Ti and Sr probably have geological sources. They are associated with minerals like amphiboles, pyroxenes and feldspars and some of the elements are from sea aerosols. Factor 5 contains Mn, Cd, Zn, As and Pb. Manganese may be derived from many different sources such as rock weathering, windblown dust, agriculture and traffic. Since As and Mn are placed in both factor 1 and 5 they probably have both geological and anthropogenic sources. Concentrations of the elements in the second factor are much higher in the central parts of Oslo, than in the rest of Oslo. The median value of Hg in the centre is 0.48mgkg^–1, which is 8 times higher than that in the rest of the city. Also, the other elements have much higher levels in the centre. The industrial district north-east of the centre also has high values. The distribution of arsenic is regular throughout the whole city, but has a slightly higher level in the centre. Norm values for contaminated land used by the Norwegian authorities are 2mg As kg^–1 and 25mg Cr kg^–1. Of 297 samples, 61% contain more than 25mg Cr kg^–1 and 79% more than 3mg As kg^–1, which is the detection limit of the analysis. These samples will therefore be regarded as contaminated. Factor analysis places these elements in the geological factor. The Norm value of zinc is 150mgkg^–1, and 40% of the samples contain more than this. The Norm value of lead is 150mgkg^–1, and 35% of the samples contain. Road traffic is probably the major source for these elements.     

西安地区土壤CO2 释放量和释放规律

根据碱溶液吸收法,对西安地区不同植被条件下土壤CO2释放量进行了昼夜观测,观测资料显示,西安地区各月份土壤CO2释放量在一昼夜内具有明显的变化,从当日上午到次日上午,CO2释放量表现出由低变高再变低的规律,土壤CO2释放量变化与温度变化具有相同的特征,但释放量的变化具有滞后性,相对于温度的变化滞后4－6h左右,温度是决定土壤CO2释放量昼夜变化规律的主要因素,它的升高和降低分别造成了土壤CO2和放量的增加和减少,不同植被条件下,土壤CO2释放量不同,林地释放量大于草地,草地释放量大于裸地,夜间12h释放量大于白天12h释放量。     

上海宝山区农用土壤重金属分布与来源分析

以上海宝山区为典型区域,在获取216个农用表层土壤样品重金属实测数据的基础上,运用多元统计和地统计相结合的方法,对上海宝山区农用土壤重金属的含量水平、分布特征和来源进行系统分析.结果表明,上海市宝山区农用土壤重金属Cd、Hg、As、Cr、Pb、Cu、Zn的平均含量值分别为0.195、0.148、7.44、82.5、29.1、33.2、124.5 mg.kg-1,均没有超过国家土壤环境质量二级标准,但Cd、Zn、Cr、Pb、Cu、Hg元素平均含量值超过上海市土壤背景值,其中Cd、Hg、Zn最为显著,分别是对应背景值的1.50、1.48、1.45倍,呈现出明显的累积趋势.相关分析和因子分析结果显示,各元素的来源可分为三类,Zn、Cd、Hg和Pb为一类,Cr和Cu为一类,As单独为一类;前两类元素含量远高于对应元素背景值,来源主要受各种人为活动影响,As元素含量与背景值相当,各样品含量的变异程度最低,来源主要与成土母质有关.空间结构分析表明,As元素以土壤母质、地形等结构性变异为主,其它元素主要受人为活动等随机因子影响;通过对临界值概率等值线的分布分析发现,Cd、Zn、Cr、Cu、Hg来源以点源为主,来源较为集中,Pb来源相对较为分散.     

亚热带土壤反硝化过程中NO-3-N对CH4排放的影响

研究了发育于不同成土母质和不同土地利用方式下的45个亚热带土壤样本,在反硝化严格厌氧培养条件下（密闭、淹水、充N₂）,加入KNO₃的处理（加入N量为200 mg·kg^-1）和不加KNO₃的空白对照对CH₄产生和排放的影响.结果表明,厌氧培养条件下无论加入KNO₃与否,CH₄的产生和排放首先取决于土壤有机碳总量水平及其有效性.对照土壤中花岗岩母质发育的土壤和KNO₃处理土壤中稻田利用方式下的土壤CH₄排放量最高.加入KNO₃显著抑制了CH₄的产生和排放,NO^-₃-N对CH₄产生的抑制效应可能较N₂O对CH₄产生的抑制效应更大.加入KNO₃处理中厌氧培养第1周内的NO^-₃-反硝化量和降低速率是决定CH₄排放量的关键因素.不加KNO₃的对照土壤中,73％的土样表现为 Fe²⁺的产生和CH₄的排放之间呈指数关系增长,表明Fe³⁺和CO₂的还原可同步进行.NO^-₃-N不仅显著抑制了CH₄的产生和排放,也抑制了Fe³⁺的还原.     

Characterizing spatial distribution and sources of heavy metals in the soils from mining-smelting activities in Shuikoushan, Hunan Province, China

The spatial variation of heavy metals in the soils in Shuikoushan mining-smelting area, Hunan Province, China, was investigated using multivariate and geo-statistic analysis. A total of 106 composite soil samples were collected in an area of about 100 km2. Concentrations of total As, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cr were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Arsenic and Pb were found to have a common source, indicating the same sources and spreading processes, such as aerosols and airborne particulates from smelting chimneys. Airborne sources from smelting chimneys contributed greatly to Cd in the area, which demonstrated the same dispersion pattern as As and Pb. However, two hot spots of Cd around smelters were possibly enlarged by wastewaters, demonstrating another important source of Cd in Shuikouhsan. Geo-statistic interpolated mapping demonstrated that hotspots of Zn were only found proximal to the large smelters, suggesting that Zn primarily came from the chimneys of larger smelters. The major Cu hot-spots appeared closely to the tailing dam, indicating that weathering and leaching of tailings were the major sources of Cu contamination in Shuikoushan. Our findings indicated that airborne volatile particles and aerosols contributed the most to As, Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu contamination, while Cd and Cu may also derive from the discharge of wastewater from smelters and the leaching of tailings, respectively.     

硝基苯、苯胺在湿地土壤不同有机组分中的吸附特征

应用平衡法研究了湿地土壤不同有机组分对硝基苯和苯胺的吸附行为.结果表明,吸附等温线经拟合后均符合Freundlich模型,可决系数分别为R2=0.983～0.997,R2=0.963～0.991(P<0.01,n=5),土壤不同有机组分对硝基苯和苯胺的吸附表现为非线性特征,其吸附过程与有机质含量和结构有关.硝基苯和苯胺在湿地土壤中的吸附主要受腐殖酸、易氧化有机质组分和脂类化合物的影响,其中腐殖酸对硝基苯和苯胺具有最大的吸附容量;脂类化合物表现为与硝基苯、苯胺竞争土壤有机质结构中的吸附位点,去除脂类化合物后残余物的吸附量增大;矿物组分对硝基苯和苯胺的吸附是次要的,吸附容量仅为2.31mg·kg-1和3.63mg·kg-1.硝基苯和苯胺的Koc值分别按如下顺序增加:碱提取残余物<原始土<过氧化氢氧化残余物<苯/甲醇提取残余物,原始土<苯/甲醇提取残余物<过氧化氢氧化残余物<碱提取残余物.     

Volatile organic compound emissions from straw-amended agricultural soils and their relations to bacterial communities: A laboratory study

A laboratory study was conducted to investigate volatile organic compound(VOC) emissions from agricultural soil amended with wheat straw and their associations with bacterial communities for a period of 66 days under non-flooded and flooded conditions. The results indicated that ethene, propene, ethanol, i-propanol, 2-butanol, acetaldehyde, acetone,2-butanone, 2-pentanone and acetophenone were the 10 most abundant VOCs, making up over 90% of the total VOCs released under the two water conditions. The mean emission of total VOCs from the amended soils under the non-flooded condition(5924 ng C/(kg·hr)) was significantly higher than that under the flooded condition(2211 ng C/(kg·hr)). One "peak emission window" appeared at days 0–44 or 4–44, and over 95% of the VOC emissions occurred during the first month under the two water conditions. Bacterial community analysis using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(DGGE) showed that a relative increase of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and γ-Proteobacteria but a relative decrease of Acidobacteria with time were observed after straw amendments under the two water conditions. Cluster analysis revealed that the soil bacterial communities changed greatly with incubation time, which was in line with the variation of the VOC emissions over the experimental period. Most of the above top 10 VOCs correlated positively with the predominant bacterial species of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia but correlated negatively with the dominant bacterial species of Actinobacteria under the two water conditions. These results suggested that bacterial communities might play an important role in VOC emissions from straw-amended agricultural soils.     

泉州市表层土中多环芳烃的含量、来源及其生态风险评价

采集了泉州市不同功能区的33个表层土壤（0～10 cm）样品,利用超高效液相色谱系统（UPLC）-荧光检测器法,研究了土壤中15种优控多环芳烃的含量和分布特征,并利用比值法、因子分析和多元线性回归法对其来源进行了分析,以及采用苯并（a）芘的毒性当量浓度（TEQBaP）评价了土壤中PAHs的生态风险.结果表明,土壤中15...