A field experiment with variable-suction multi-compartment samplers to measure the spatio-temporal distribution of solute leaching in an agricultural soil

Solutes spread out in time and space as they move downwards from the soil surface with infiltrating water. Solute monitoring in the field is often limited to observations of resident concentrations, while flux concentrations govern the movement of solutes in soils. A recently developed multi-compartment sampler is capable of measuring fluxes at a high spatial resolution with minimal disturbance of the local pressure head field. The objective of this paper is to use this sampler to quantify the spatial and temporal variation of solute leaching below the root zone in an agricultural field under natural rainfall in winter and spring. We placed two samplers at 31 and 25 cm depth in an agricultural field, leaving the soil above undisturbed. Each sampler contained 100 separate cells of 31 × 31 mm. Water fluxes were measured every 5 min for each cell. We monitored leaching of a chloride pulse under natural rainfall by frequently extracting the collected leachate while leaving the samplers buried in situ. This experiment was followed by a dye tracer experiment. This setting yielded information that widely surpassed the information that can be provided by separate anionic and dye tracer trials, and solute transport monitoring by coring or suction cups. The detailed information provided by the samplers showed that percolation at the sampling depth started much faster (approximately 3 h after the start of rainfall) in initially wet soil (pressure head above − 65 cm) than in drier soil (more than 14 h at pressure heads below − 80 cm). At any time, 25% of the drainage passed through 5–6% of the sampled area, reflecting the effect of heterogeneity on the flow paths. The amount of solute carried by individual cells varied over four orders of magnitude. The lateral concentration differences were limited though. This suggests a convective–dispersive regime despite the short vertical travel distance. On the other hand, the dilution index indicates a slight tendency towards stochastic–convective transport at this depth. There was no evidence in the observed drainage patterns and dye stained profiles of significant disturbance of the flow field by the samplers.     

Variable-density flow in heterogeneous porous media — Laboratory experiments and numerical simulations

Konz, M., Ackerer, P., Younes, A., Huggenberger, P., Zechner, E., 2009a. 2D Stable Layered Laboratory-scale Experiments for Testing Density-coupled Flow Models. Water Resources Research, 45. doi:10.1029/2008WR007118., a series of laboratory-scale 2D tank experiments were conducted and accurately simulated for density driven flow problems on homogeneous porous media. In the present work, we extended the numerical and experimental studies to heterogeneous problems. The heterogeneous porous medium was constructed with a low permeability zone in the centre of the tank and had well-defined parameters and boundary conditions. Concentration distributions were measured in high resolution using a photometric method and an image analysis technique. The numerical model used for the simulations was based on efficient advanced approximations for both spatial and temporal discretizations. The Method Of Lines (MOL) was used to allow higher-order temporal discretization. Three different boundary conditions, corresponding to different localizations of the inflow and the outflow openings at the opposite edges of the tank, were applied to investigate different flow scenarios in the heterogeneous porous medium flow tank. Simulation results of all three density coupled experiments revealed a density-dependent behavior of dispersion. Thus, a reduction of dispersivites was required to obtain a good matching of the experimental data. The high quality of the experiments enabled a detailed testing of numerical variable-density flow codes under heterogeneous conditions. Therefore, the experiments were considered to be reliable benchmark tests.     

洞庭湖钉螺扩散与水情变化规律

洞庭湖区是目前我国钉螺分布范围最广且血吸虫病疫情最难防治的疫区。为揭示近年来洞庭湖区钉螺扩散与疫区水情变化的关系,从洪水对钉螺扩散及其孳生地环境淹没时间影响考虑,提出了表征疫区钉螺扩散及孳生地变化的水情指标,选用最能综合反映洪水年水情变化的汛期平均水位作为疫区水情变化的表征指标,并以洞庭湖为例定量分析了洞庭湖区钉螺扩散与以城陵矶站汛期平均水位为指示性指标的疫区水情的相关关系。其结果显示洞庭湖区钉螺面积与湖区汛期平均水位线性相关性显著,其相关关系式为y＝0.107 2x+14382(r=0822,p<005),其中y为洞庭湖区钉螺分布面积,x为城陵矶站汛期平均水位。     

不同流向BAF硝化影响因素的对比试验

在温度、水力负荷、气水比、氨氮负荷、有机物负荷等硝化影响因素同等变化的情况下,进行了不同流向单级陶粒BAF硝化效果的对比试验研究。结果表明,UBAF的硝化效果和稳定性优于DBAF。若在同一反应器中同时去除有机物和氨氮,UBAF的经济气水比为3∶1～6∶1,DBAF的经济气水比为3∶1～5∶1。当进水有机物负荷<11 kg/(m³·d),有机物和氨氮的负荷比<5时,UBAF和DBAF的氨氮去除率相差不大。在较高COD浓度下,硝化菌在DBAF中与异氧菌的竞争能力不如UBAF。两级BAF的第一级宜为UBAF,但DBAF可能更适于作为二级滤池以提高系统稳定性、反硝化效率以及出水水质。     

成都平原城市群的城市流分析

在西部大开发战略不断深入的宏观背景下,以西部地区代表性的城市群--成都平原城市群为例,运用城市流的方法分析城市群内5个主要城市间的空间相互作用,计算并找出不同城市的基础部门和城市流强度,得出结论：成都平原城市群内城市之间外向服务功能呈现明显的差异,有着较好的错位发展空间;在具体产业表现上,交通运输仓储和邮电通信业发展良好,而房地产业、文化体育和娱乐业和公共管理社会组织发展不均衡;成都的城市流倾向度值表明了其当之无愧地成为成都平原城市群的中心城市;次位城市绵阳面临自身内向性发展不足的问题;城市群内部城市的等级分化明显,城市化水平存在巨大的差距。并提出加强成都平原城市群内部联系的简要建议和未来研究的展望.     

长江（万州段）水体溶解性有机物的荧光光谱分析

按照河床形态、水文条件、排污口分布、支流状况等特点从长江万州段及长江支流苎溪河选取8个断面进行采样,对水样中溶解性有机物（DOM）的荧光光谱特征进行了分析和研究。利用日立F 4500荧光分光光度计对长江水、普通自来水和纯水在紫外光激励下产生的荧光光谱及其特性进行了比较研究。同时,研究了不同水样、不同取样点的水体DOM的荧光特性和三维荧光光谱图。结果表明：长江水在波长290 nm左右的紫外光激励下能产生较强的荧光。荧光峰是350~550 nm 范围的宽谱峰,荧光峰值波长在450 nm左右。但是不同取样点水样的荧光峰强度明显有差异,在4号、5号、2号取样点的水样荧光强度明显高于其他取样点,这与采样点附近污染源排放有明显的关系。该研究方法可作为鉴别水质污染的一种有效的手段.     

大型梯级水库对河流生态流量的影响——以金沙江下游梯级为例

大型梯级水库通常具有较大的调节库容,水库运行使坝下河道自然的流量过程受到较大扰动,一些具有重要生态意义的流量组的特征被改变,如洪水、高流量脉动、低流量和极端低流量。基于BRAIN等提出的河流生态流量影响研究理论,结合金沙江屏山断面的水文与河流生态的关系,选取水平年组对高流量脉动和极端低流量组的判别参数进行率定,确定自然条件下屏山断面生态流量组指标值。模拟金沙江下游梯级建成后的逐日流量过程,求得各生态流量组指标值并与自然条件下的指标值进行对比,分析金沙江下游“乌东德-白鹤滩-溪洛渡-向家坝”梯级水库建成后可能对屏山断面生态流量过程的影响。研究结果表明：建库后屏山断面将可能出现“极端低流量消失、低流量提高、高流量脉动散化、洪水基本保持”的变化特点.     

基于物质流分析的江苏省区域生态效率评价

物质流分析被认为是适用于生态效率评价的重要工具和方法之一,但应用于区域生态效率评价的研究尚较少。根据生态效率理论、物质流分析理论与方法,建立了基于物质流账户的3个层面的区域生态效率评价指标：区域直接生态效率、区域总生态效率、整体生态效率。以江苏省为例,全面评价了 1995~2005年江苏省不同层面的生态效率,结果表明：（1）江苏省区域直接生态效率远高于我国同期水平。区域总生态效率和整体生态效率相对较低,分别仅为区域直接生态效率 15%~22%和 7%~8%左右;（2）1995~2005年,区域直接生态效率呈先上升后下降趋势,原因在于物质生产率未有显著提高以及近年来重工业在产业结构中比重的增加;（3）整体生态效率的变化趋势与区域直接生态效率类似,原因主要是近年江苏省对区外物质和资源的进口量显著增加;（4）区域总生态效率则表现为先快速上升后缓慢上升的趋势。在对研究结果及成因进行分析和讨论的基础上,提出了提高区域生态效率的建议.     

Measuring the environmental impact of waste flow management in Brazilian apartment buildings

As biodegradable material represents approximately 70% of household waste in Brazil, any strategy to divert appreciable waste quantities from landfills of necessity has to include valorization and recycling of this material. A societal change of attitude is required to perceive this challenge. Experiments in an urban apartment building are described that produced this change of attitude with a success factor of 80%. Divided waste collection was implemented that separated at the source biodegradable from inert material. Correct collection, handling and display procedures were established. Composting of biodegradable material was carried out under the rooftop of the building as an alternative to using it as animal feed. Half of the inert material entered the reverse logistics chain and was also diverted from the landfill. Waste related material flow through the building is completely quantified, food intake and waste production are related, diversion of both biodegradable and inert waste components from the landfill is measured and the composting process is described. The landfill diversion stands at 61%, mass reduction through the composting process is 80% and matured compost is returned to residents for use in flower cages. The system has been operational for two years and stands out as a precedent in successful decentralized household waste management supported by material flow analysis. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.