Arctic source for elevated atmospheric mercury (Hg0) in the western Bering Sea in the summer of 2013

Measurements of gaseous elemental mercury(Hg~0) in the marine boundary layer of the western Bering Sea were performed using an automatic mercury analyzer RA 915 +(Ltd. "Lumex", St. Petersburg, Russia) aboard the Russian research vessel Academician M.A.Lavrentev from 3 to 20 August 2013. Hg~0 concentrations varied from 0.3 to 2.1 ng/m~3(n = 4783);the average value(1.1 ± 0.3 ng/m~3) was lower than both the background range of the Northern Hemisphere(1.5–1.7 ng/m~3) and average values previously observed in the Bering Sea, and corresponded to the background concentrations of the Southern Hemisphere(1.1–1.3 ng/m~3).Maximum Hg~0 concentrations were observed within air masses that came from the lower troposphere of the central Arctic. Under these conditions, Hg~0 ranged between 1.1 and 2.1 ng/m~3 with an average of 1.5 ± 0.2 ng/m~3(n = 1183). Except for these periods, Hg~0 concentrations during the rest of the study varied from 0.3 to 1.8 ng/m~3, with an average value of 1.0 ± 0.2 ng/m~3(n = 3600). Our results support the hypothesis that, in the summer, air masses from the central Arctic Ocean can be an exporter of mercury to lower latitudes. Perhaps the atmospheric transport of elevated concentrations of Hg~0 into lower latitudes may have implications for the biologic and economic health of important fisheries, such as the Bering Sea.     

长江口洋山海域表层沉积物重金属的富积及其潜在生态风险评价

根据长江口洋山海域表层沉积物监测资料，利用变异系数法和富积系数法，对表层沉积物中重金属的空间波动程度及富积程度进行了分析，并采用Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法对其潜在生态危害程度进行了评价。结果表明：在表层沉积物所监测的重金属中，Pb元素的空间波动程度最高，其它重金属元素的空间波动程度较低，各重金属空间波动程度的顺序依次为Pb＞Cd＞Hg＞Cu＞Cr＞As＞Zn；沉积物中Cu元素的富积程度最高，Pb元素次之，其它重金属元素的富积程度较低，各重金属富积程度的顺序依次为Cu＞Pb＞Zn＞As＞Cr＞Cd＞Hg。潜在生态危害评价结果显示：洋山海域表层沉积物中的重金属对海洋生态系统的潜在生态危害较轻微，均属于轻微潜在生态危害程度，其轻微潜在生态危害程度顺序为Cu＞As＞Hg＞Pb＞Cd＞Cr＞Zn。     

25 years of salt marsh erosion in Essex: Implications for coastal defence and nature conservation

This paper presents the results from a study which was undertaken to monitor, map and quantify salt marsh change along 440 km of shoreline within the county of Essex, south-east England, between 1973 and 1998. Results indicate that during this 25-yr period, 1000 ha of salt marsh has been lost in Essex, primarily due to coastal erosion. This figure represents ca. 25% of the total salt-marsh area originally present in Essex in 1973. The salt marshes of Essex are important nature conservation areas, with many sites designated as Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) and as Special Areas of Conservation under the EC Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Salt marshes are also natural features which significantly dissipate wave and tidal energy, thereby playing an important role in contributing to effective coastal defence. The large-scale loss of salt marsh in Essex has, therefore, implications for both nature conservation and flood defence. Potential hypotheses for, and implications of such losses are discussed in this paper, together with the identification of potential management approaches to alleviate the losses.     

海平面上升对城市生态环境易损性影响的模拟分析

根据目前全球海平面上升趋势,提出我国沿海城市生态环境遭受破坏的概率和损失程度判断标准,并将二者进行拟合用于构建基于海平面上升的我国沿海城市各区域的生态环境易损性判断模型。且通过实例研究表明,该模型能够准确的判别上海市各区域的生态环境易损性等级,这为未来上海市维持生态环境的可持续发展提供科学、有效的参考依据。     

Dr Gwyneth Dorothy Howells (1925–2009), former Editor in Chief of Chemistry and Ecology

This paper presents the results of the examination of concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons in surface sediments from the middle of the Adriatic. the sampling area was chosen as part of the protection programme of the Adriatic Sea and is located at two transverse transects, each consisting of four stations. the sediments were collected during the summer cruise of 1990. Quantification of individual components was performed by Capillary Gas Chromatography (CGC) using reference standards. Areal distribution of the concentrations of HCB, lindane, DDT and its metabolites, dieldrin, endrin and PCBs are presented. the values obtained varied within a wide range of concentration from 20 pg/g dry weight for lindane to 700 pg/g dry weight for Σ DDT and the sum of PCBs as Aroclor 1254 from 0.3 to 6.6 ng/g.

The main source of these compounds is thought to be from suspended matter entering the Adriatic sea via the River Po and transported by currents to its middle part.     

Sources and characteristics of fine particles over the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea using online single particle aerosol mass spectrometer

Marine aerosols over the East China Seas are heavily polluted by continental sources. During the Chinese Comprehensive Ocean Experiment in November 2012, size and mass spectra of individual atmospheric particles in the size range from 0.2 to 2.0 μm were measured on board by a single particle aerosol mass spectrometer (SPAMS). The average hourly particle number (PN) was around 4560 ± 3240 in the South Yellow Sea (SYS), 2900 ± 3970 in the North Yellow Sea (NYS), and 1700 ± 2220 in the Bohai Sea (BS). PN in NYS and BS varied greatly over 3 orders of magnitude, while that in SYS varied slightly. The size distributions were fitted with two log-normal modes. Accumulation mode dominated in NYS and BS, especially during episodic periods. Coarse mode particles played an important role in SYS. Particles were classified using an adaptive resonance theory based neural network algorithm (ART-2a). Six particle types were identified with secondary-containing, aged sea-salt, soot-like, biomass burning, fresh sea-salt, and lead-containing particles accounting for 32%, 21%, 18%, 16%, 4%, and 3% of total PN, respectively. Aerosols in BS were relatively enriched in particles from anthropogenic sources compared to SYS, probably due to emissions from more developed upwind regions and indicating stronger influence of continental outflow on marine environment. Variation of source types depended mainly on origins of transported air masses. This study examined rapid changes in PN, size distribution and source types of fine particles in marine atmospheres. It also demonstrated the effectiveness of high-time-resolution source apportionment by ART-2a.     

Problems of Population Dynamics of the White-Eyed Pochard (Aythya nyrocaGuld., 1770) in the Eastern Sea of Azov Region

The long-term population dynamics of the white-eyed pochard (Aythya nyroca) in the eastern Sea of Azov region was analyzed. It was found that the local population of this species tends to decrease in size. Clutch size, egg size, reproductive behavior, intraspecific clutches, embryonic mortality, and hatching success in this population were studied. The contents of PCDD and PCDF in the eggs of waterfowl were estimated. The eggs of white-eyed pochard, compared to other waterfowl, proved to contain abnormally high concentrations of xenobiotics. Possible causes of A. nyrocapopulation decline, including the impact of superecotoxicants, are discussed.     

基于分配指数的渤海TN总量分配研究

以控制渤海富营养化、减少TN排放量为目的,对渤海TN总量分配进行了研究. 综合考虑污染物总量分配的公平性和效率,采用环境容量、水资源量、人口、耕地面积、GDP和现状排放量6个因子建立了渤海污染物总量分配指数,构建了基于线性响应场的污染物总量分配模型. 考虑到权重系数的影响,分别按全指标、强调水资源利用和强调非点源3类,构建了7种权重系数方案(F11、F12、F13、F14、F21、F31、F32). 结果表明,渤海2010年TN入海量(16.4×104 t/a)是其环境容量(4.7×104 t/a)的3.5倍,同时受污染源位置和分配公平性的影响,接近或超过一半以上的环境容量实际上并不能被充分利用. 采用总体削减率和削减率≥95%的污染源所占比例2个指标,对7种权重方案下的总量分配结果进行了比较. 方案中凡是过分强调单项因子(如环境容量、水资源量、耕地面积等)的TN分配结果均具有明显的不足,只有F13方案兼顾了公平和效率. 综合考虑TN总体削减率和削减率≥95%的污染源所占比例2个指标,建议方案F13为推荐方案,其TN总体削减率为85%,其中前10位的污染源削减量之和可占总削减量的79%.      

东海近海水质油类测定中的不确定度探讨

分析探讨了东海近海水质油类测定中不确定度的影响因素.其中,考虑到海洋环境监测的一些特殊性,在建立评定不确定度分量的数学模型时,引入了重复性实验校正因子f,并根据2002～2003年东海区海洋环境监测中的内控质量数据（原始平行样测定）资料以A类方式评定量化重复性实验校正因子f的不确定度;同时,以A类或B类的方式对近海水质油类测定中的其他各个不确定度分量进行了评定.结果表明,重复性实验校正因子f是近海水质油类测定中不确定度的主要来源.在此基础上,计算了东海近海水质油类测定中的相对合成标准不确定度约为0.12.