Sedimentation,Resuspension, and Oxygen Depletion in Lake Erie (1979)

Oxygen depletion in Lake Erie's central basin hypolimnion is ultimately sustained by the respiration rate of organisms using organic matter which is produced in the trophogenic zone. Although other transformations are certainly important, they are nevertheless driven by the decomposition of organic carbon both in the water column and in the sediments. Rates of transport of particulate organic carbon to the hypolimnion and sediments were estimated using sediment traps. Corrections for sediment resuspension were necessary even during the summer period when the lake is stratified. Particulate organic carbon concentrations in the hypolimnion were partially independent of short-term variations in chlorophyll concentration. The net downflux of carbon to the hypolimnion appeared less than that required to support the observed oxygen depletion. Sediment resuspension accounted for much of the particulate material caught by the sediment traps in the central basin. It is concluded that organic material stored in the surficial sediments is made available to the water column through frequent resuspension. Of total phosphorus in the trap samples, an average of 42% was potentially bioavailable (NaOH extraction).     

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures of organic matter sources in near-shore areas of Lake Victoria,East Africa

Stable isotope ratios of organic carbon and nitrogen (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) were measured in suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediment in the near-shore areas of Tanzanian waters of Lake Victoria (LV) to identify the various sources of organic matter in different areas of the lake. Spatial variations in δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and C/N ratios in SPM and sediments in inshore areas were due to differences in the proportions and sources of autochthonous or allochthonous matter. Watershed characteristics, such as urbanization, and lake characteristics, such as algal blooms, also immensely influenced the stable isotope signal of the organic matter in sediments. Stable C and N ratios showed that inshore areas in bays without pronounced fluvial input were dominated by autochthonous planktonic organic matter; conversely, for bays receiving significant fluvial inflows, the composition of organic matter depended on the extent of preservation of shoreline vegetation. Signals resulting from input of anthropogenic organic waste as a result of urbanization were distinguishable from natural sources. This work demonstrates the potential to discriminate between input sources of organic material into lakes using stable isotope signals in sediment and suspended particulate matter.     

Estimates of the remineralization and burial of organic carbon in Lake Baikal sediments

Sediment cores collected from several stations throughout Lake Baikal in water depths from 100 m off the Selenga River delta to the deepest basin of the lake (~1640 m), have been analyzed for sedimentary organic carbon, nitrogen, and the remineralized components in pore water. The organic carbon content of surface sediments generally varied from 2.3 to 3.2% by weight, and profiles typically showed an exponential decrease in both organic carbon and nitrogen in the upper 20–30 cm of the sediment column. Steady state models of organic matter diagenesis yield first order decomposition rate constants which range from 0.0009 to 0.022 y⁻¹. The calculated residence times for the metabolizable fraction of the organic matter in these sediments increases roughly with increasing water depth and is on the order of 50–300 years. Pore water concentration profiles were determined for dissolved inorganic carbon, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), methane, and dissolved ammonium. At depth (25–30 cm) methane concentrations ranged from 50 to 800 μmol L_pw⁻¹ and DOC from 400 to 900 μmol L_pw⁻¹. Estimation of carbon recycling rates based upon diffusion along pore water concentration gradients at the sediment-water interface, indicate that combined DOC and methane fluxes generally contribute <15% of the overall turnover of sedimentary organic carbon. Comparisons to Laurentian Great Lakes environments show trends in sediment deposition, organic matter remineralization, and the time scales of carbon recycling across nearly two orders of magnitude with the fraction of organic content buried generally decreasing with decreasing sedimentation rates.     

Relationships Among Zoobenthos,Sediments, and Organic Matter in Littoral Zones of Western Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay

Zoobenthos and sediments from the littoral zones in western Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay were sampled. Littoral zones were inhabited mostly by infaunal species of Tubificidae and Chironomidae. Particle size and organic content of sediments were highly and significantly correlated with abundance and mean size of zoobenthic groups; weight and mean size of zoobenthos were greatest in organically rich silts and clays, and least in organically poor sands. Relative abundance and mean size of zoobenthos in sands were greatly influenced by the proximity of fine-grained sediments. Sandy sediments next to muddy sediments had zoobenthic groups with weights and mean size similar to those in adjacent muddy sediments. Low to moderate densities of submerged macrophytes on muddy sediments had a small, non-significant (p>.05) impact on zoobenthic abundance and composition compared to similar sediments without macrophytes. In well-mixed littoral zones, with sediments of diameters less than 1.5 mm, particle size and organic matter in sediment may serve as a reliable index to standing stocks of zoobenthos.     

A River-wide Survey of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Polycylic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), and Selected Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Sediments of the Detroit River—1999

The spatial distribution of hydrophobic organic contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and octachlorostyrene (OCS) in sediments of the Detroit River was established using data from a 1999 river-wide survey. The survey employed a stratified random sampling design that divided the river into six geostatistical zones consisting of upper, middle, and lower U.S. and equivalent Canadian river reaches. Organic carbon normalized OCS sediment concentrations demonstrated no significant differences between U.S. or Canadian sediments or upstream/downstream gradients suggesting that OCS is derived primarily from sources upstream of the Detroit River. In contrast, sum PCBs and sum PAHs were significantly elevated at U.S. as compared to Canadian stations and demonstrated significant increasing upstream/downstream gradients in organic carbon normalized sediment contamination. The upper and middle U.S. river reaches contained a number of near-shore stations with high localized PCB and PAH sediment concentrations suggesting multiple inputs along the upper U.S. portion of the river. Consistent with past surveys, wide-spread sediment contamination of PCBs and PAHs continues to be observed in the highly industrialized Trenton Channel and downstream of Grosse Isle. Threshold effect level (TEL) sediment quality guidelines for PAHs and PCBs were exceeded in 92.6 and 77.8%, respectively, of stations in Trenton Channel and downstream of Grosse Isle. This large reservoir of degraded sediments in the lower U.S. river reach has the potential to enter Lake Erie during sediment disturbance events and likely contributes to gentoxic stress and increased bioaccumulation of PCBs in resident benthos, fish, and wildlife.     

Distribution,movements and habitat use of channel catfish in a river with multiple low‐head dams

Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus is a highly mobile species and is known to make extensive seasonal movements in lotic systems. Dams have been suggested to detrimentally affect this species, although abundant channel catfish populations are known to occur in many fragmented rivers. To examine factors that allow channel catfish to persist in impounded rivers, we assessed relative abundance of channel catfish in three impounded and three flowing sites of the Fox River, Illinois, USA. Radiotelemetry was used to determine movement and habitat use patterns of channel catfish among flowing and impounded areas. Relative abundance of channel catfish was consistently higher at flowing sites than at impounded sites during summer. Several radio‐tagged channel catfish moved downstream into impounded areas in fall, and all tagged individuals were found in impounded areas during winter. The majority of tagged channel catfish moved upstream into flowing areas during spring. Channel catfish used a wide range of depths (0.28–2.60 m), and were always found in current velocities less than 0.50 m s^?1. They selected most strongly for coarse substrates, but were infrequently found near cover. Although low‐head dams restrict the movements of channel catfish, impounded areas appear to provide overwintering habitats that may eliminate the need for seasonal long‐distance movements. Small run‐of‐river impoundments, however, may contain unsuitable conditions for channel catfish during other seasons. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temporal and spatial patterns based on sediment and sediment–water interface characteristics along a cascade of reservoirs (Paranapanema River, south-east Brazil)

Physical and chemical characteristics of the sediments in a cascade of eight reservoirs located in the Paranapanema River (south‐east Brazil) were analysed during two consecutive years during summer (January), autumn (April), winter (July) and spring (October) of 2000 and 2001, respectively. The granulometric texture, organic matter content and nutrient concentration (total nitrogen and phosphorus) were determined in the superficial sediment of 19 sampling stations, as well as the temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity and redox potential in the bottom layer of the water column. Seasonal and spatial changes were observed for both years, especially for organic matter and nutrient concentrations. Three different areas could be identified along the river, which corresponded to the upper, middle and lower Paranapanema basin. The first area was characterized by an increase of nutrients and organic matter in the sediments and a decrease of temperature and dissolved oxygen in the downstream direction. The second one represented a region where fluctuations in nutrient and organic matter concentrations and a reduction in dissolved oxygen were observed. In the third area, there was an increase in nutrient and organic matter in the sediments and also an increase in temperature and dissolved oxygen towards the river mouth. The results of the principal components analysis, using water and sediments variables, showed the ordination of sampling stations by periods: wet (January–April) and dry (July–October) during 2000. This pattern was also verified during 2001, but with slight changes, probably due to the increase in the rains which would have produced certain homogenization effects along the river.     

长江源曲麻莱段河床沉积物分布特征

基于长江源通天河曲麻莱河段河床沉积物测量和分析,通过各参数的统计及对比,探讨沉积物粒度的基本特性及时空分布规律。结果表明:取样河段沉积物以沙砾石为主,由跃移质和悬移质成分组成,无滚动沉积,粒度参数和频率分布曲线特征显示长江源曲麻莱段河床沉积物分选较差,自然分布频率曲线多为双峰,是较典型的河流动力沉积物。而阶地沉积物则为多峰,分选差,应为河流与冰川共同作用的结果;同一断面河槽附近沉积物粒径较粗,与水流动力分布一致;洲滩沉积物粒径的垂向分布呈现粗细交替的基本规律,可反映不同历史时期河道水文节律以及青藏高原气候的定性变化。沉积物粒度的垂向分布可以为河流历史形态复原和水力反演提供基本数据。     

Spatial variations in sedimentary organic matter in surficial lake sediments of Nyanza Gulf (Lake Victoria,Kenya) after invasion of water hyacinth

No detailed studies have been conducted on the spatial distribution of sediment characteristics within Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria, especially after the invasion of water hyacinth. Accordingly, a rapid, inexpensive method was used to determine the spatial sediment organic matter variations, expressed as loss on ignition (LOI). Surficial sediments were collected during different survey periods from about thirty‐two sampling sites between 1994 and 2012, in order to characterize the sediments. Although the deeper (>40 m) depositional areas are located in the open lake, visual observations indicate that most of the offshore sediments consist of muddy deposits, plus significant shell remains, with a more sandy type of sediments located in some areas off the inflowing river mouths. The surficial sediments were characterized by a relatively high water content, with over 89% of the samples containing water contents greater than 75%. The sediment organic matter contents from the 2012 survey were more variable, ranging from 1.90% to 33.47%. The sediment organic carbon contents varied spatially, although there were no significant variations between the different sampling periods. Evaluating the SOM at different heating durations at a constant temperature (550 °C) and a very high temperatures (950 °C) did not identify any significant differences. High primary production and greater settling in the deeper areas contribute to the nature of sediments deposited, also being reflected in the relatively high OC contents. Spatially, it is thought that detritus from water hyacinth and terrestrial external loads are important sources of organic matter deposited on the lake bottom within the gulf and may support its growth because of enrichment of nutrient elements. The importance of sediments in adsorption of contaminant substances and influencing geochemical processes within the lake is also emphasized.     

Use of sediment elemental and isotopic compositions to record the eutrophication of a polymictic reservoir in central Texas, USA

Paleolimnological studies are rarely performed on reservoirs because of concern that sediments might not accurately chronicle reservoir history. Eutrophication indicators might behave differently in polymictic reservoirs and stratified natural lakes because of system and/or mixing regime differences. Particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations, carbon:nitrogen (C:N) and nitrogen:phosphorus (N:P) ratios, and carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) stable isotopes from a sediment core were measured to demonstrate that sufficient information can be derived from sediments to permit a historical reconstruction. The scattered POC data were likely biased by seasonal/annual variability in allochthonous organic matter (OM) loading. The upwardly increasing PON in the sediment core supported historic primary productivity (PP) data, suggesting PON could be a better PP indicator than POC. The upwardly increasing TP documented historic P enrichment. The upwardly decreasing C:N ratio identified an OM source shift from allochthonous to increasingly autochthonous sources with reservoir age. The upwardly increasing N:P ratio implied that N‐fixation rates have increased with reservoir age, to compensate for increasing N limitation as the P loading increased. The δ¹³C decreased as the PP increased with reservoir age producing an atypical relationship compared to stratified natural lakes. The OM source shifts likely biased the δ¹³C–PP relationship, and might weaken δ¹³C‐inferred PP reconstructions in similar reservoirs. The δ¹⁵N increased with reservoir age, likely resulting from dissolved inorganic N (DIN) source changes, rather than nitrate utilization. Watershed urban growth and dairy operation intensification potentially contributed greater loads of isotopically heavy DIN. This study demonstrated that paleolimnology has great potential to assist eutrophication assessment and management efforts in reservoirs.     

Recovery of aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages downstream of the Canning Dam,Western Australia

Macroinvertebrate assemblages downstream from the Canning Dam, on the Canning River, Western Australia, were sampled to assess the impact of long-term impoundment and the role of a major tributary in community recovery. Kick samples and associated physical measurements were taken from riffle zones in three reaches in March and July 1989. The lower reach was located immediately downstream of the confluence with Stinton Creek, the first major tributary below the dam, with the middle and upper reaches positioned between the tributary and the dam. Reduced concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the upper and middle reaches in March, compared to the lower reach were attributed to significantly higher levels of organics, high summer water temperatures, and a proposed increase in microbial activity. The build-up of organics was probably related to reduced flushing, as a result of impoundment. Stinton Creek increased the discharge of the Canning River below the confluence, particularly in winter, which presumably prevented the build-up of organics in the lower reach. Significant differences in the aquatic macroinvertebrate fauna between reaches were detected. A total of 68 taxa was recorded from the lower reach, 88 per cent of which were also present in the middle and upper reaches. However, the middle and upper reaches contained a greater number of taxa (112 and 90 respectively), approximately 50 per cent of which were not recorded from the lower reach. The additional taxa were more typical of lowland rivers or lentic (standing water) systems, suggesting that physical conditions in the middle and upper reaches were more like a lowland river than an upland stream. More collectors and shredders occurred in the upper and middle reaches, associated with the accumulation of particulate organic matter. Ordination and classification procedures based on macroinvertebrate assemblages clearly separated samples from the upper and middle reaches from the lower reach. There was also a distinct seasonal separation. These observations support a hypothesis that while the reduced flow below Canning Dam had an impact on the macroinvertebrate fauna, confluence with a major tributary (Stinton Creek) allowed recovery of the macroinvertebrate community, through the tributary acting as a source of increased discharge. The implications for the management of impounded rivers in southwestern Australia are discussed.     

Bioaccumulation Potential of Sediment-Associated Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Ashtabula Harbor,Ohio

Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio is designated as a Great Lakes Area of Concern contaminated by PCBs. Information on the bioaccumulation of PCBs from sediments is important for sediment management strategies such as dredging to restore navigable depths in the harbor. To ascertain the bioaccumulation of these PCBs, the aquatic earthworm Lumbriculus variegatus was exposed in the laboratory to contaminated sediments collected from 15 areas in the harbor. Data from these bioaccumulation experiments were used to determine the bioaccumulation potential of PCBs through the calculation of Biota- Sediment Accumulation Factors (BSAFs). The results showed that the mean values of the experimentally derived BSAFs for individual harbor areas ranged from 0.27 to 1.69. The median BSAF for sediments in the lower river sector of the harbor (0.38) was significantly lower than that for upper river sediments (1.34), indicating that the high adsorptive properties of coal soot particles constrained PCB bioavailability in the lower river sediments. These results indicate that the origin of total organic carbon (TOC) has a major influence on the bioavailability of total PCBs in harbor sediments. Moreover, the empirical BSAFs were well below the 4.0 default BSAF value recommended in joint USEPA/USACE protocols that are used to evaluate the Theoretical Bioaccumulation Potential, or bioavailability, of neutral organic chemicals in Great Lakes sediments. These empirical values should be used to more precisely predict the bioavailability of total PCBs in Ashtabula Harbor sediments.     

Delivery of nutrients and seston from the Muskegon River Watershed to near shore Lake Michigan

Drowned river mouth lakes are major features of coastal Great Lakes habitats and may influence nutrient and organic matter contributions from watersheds to near shore coastal zones. In May through October 2003, we measured loads of nutrients, surficial sediment, and seston to track the delivery of riverine-derived materials from the lower Muskegon River Watershed (MRW) into the near shore area of southeast Lake Michigan. Nutrient flux data indicated that seasonal loads of 1800 metric tons (MT) of particulate organic carbon, 3400 MT of dissolved organic carbon, and 24 MT of total phosphorus were discharged from the lower Muskegon River, with approximately 33% of TP load and 53% of the POC load intercepted within the drowned river mouth terminus, Muskegon Lake. Carbon: phosphorus molar ratios of seston in Muskegon River (C:P = 187) and Muskegon Lake (C:P = 176) were lower than in Lake Michigan (C:P = 334), indicating phosphorus limitation of phytoplankton in near shore Lake Michigan. Isotopic signatures of seston collected in Muskegon Lake were depleted in δ¹³C (− 30.8 ± 1.6‰) relative to the isotope signatures of seston from Lake Michigan (− 26.2 ± 1.3‰) or the mouth of the Muskegon River (− 28.1 ± 0.5‰), likely due to the presence of biogenic methane in Muskegon Lake. Seston δ¹⁵N increased on a strong east-to-west gradient within Muskegon Lake, indicating significant microbial processing of nutrients. The extent of nutrient uptake in Muskegon Lake altered the chemical and isotopic characterization of seston flowing into Lake Michigan from Muskegon River.     

Contamination and Ecological Risk Assessment of Long-Term Polluted Sediments with Heavy Metals in Small Hydropower Cascade

The identification of contamination level and ecological risks, associated with heavy metal pollution of sediments in small hydropower cascade was done on the base of index analyses approach. The concentration of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, total organic carbon and percentage of fines were determined in sediments of two habitats in cascade sequence – river and dam. Correlation and multivariate analyses suggest that As, Cu, Pb and Zn are associated with similar anthropogenic source. Cadmium and mercury originate from different source and have specific moving. Based on the contamination and background indices the sediments in Middle Iskar cascade are moderate contaminated at least and are subject of intensive hydrological and technological mixing. The potential ecological risk index (PERI) classifies the sediments in dam site with the higher risk level. Suitable indicators for express assessment of metal pollution in “river” sediments are contamination/enrichment indices which are more sensitive for local concentration increase of less toxic metals. In “dam” sites the process of sedimentation affects strongly the degree of metals accumulation and differences in toxicity are clearly presented – PER/PERI in combination with content of fine sediment fractions and TOC have a potential for rapid identification of sediment-associated risks.     

Stimulation of Lake Michigan Plankton Metabolism by Sediment Resuspension and River Runoff

Previous work during a major sediment resuspension event (March 1988) in southern Lake Michigan demonstrated that nutrients and carbon derived from resuspended sediment stimulated intense winter heterotrophic production while simultaneously decreasing light availability and autotrophic biomass. However, the role of riverine inputs on plankton metabolism remained unclear. Here we present results from a simulated enrichment experiment (March 2000) designed to examine the influence of resuspended sediments and riverine inputs on Lake Michigan plankton dynamics. Lake water amended with realistic levels of river water, coastal resuspended sediment and river water + sediment all showed enhanced heterotrophic bacterial production and plankton respiration rates, relative to the lake water control. Bacterial production increased by approximately 4× in river water treatments and by a factor of 2.5× for the sediment only treatment compared to lake water controls. Rates of net primary production were stimulated by river water (8.5×) and resuspended sediment (3×), but most by a combination of river water + sediments (11×). Community respiration showed a similar response with rates approximately 8x higher in river water amendment treatments and 3.5× higher in the sediment treatment. Extrapolating experimentally determined production rates to the southern Lake Michigan basin indicated that heterotrophic and autotrophic production in this nearshore region may be enhanced by as much as 3× and 5.2× due to these source inputs. Indeed, field measurements throughout southern Lake Michigan from 1998–2000 support these experimental results. Experimental and field observations suggest that both seasonal riverine inputs and episodic resuspended sediments influence the regional scale ecosystem metabolism and biogeochemistry in Lake Michigan.     

Organic carbon storage in floodplain soils of the U.S. prairies

Two data sources, field‐collected samples and values in the NRCS SSURGO database, were used to estimate organic carbon concentration (%) and stock (Mg C/ha) in floodplain soils along rivers of the tallgrass and shortgrass prairie within the United States. Field sampling of 6 sites in the tallgrass prairie and 6 sites in the shortgrass prairie (total sample size of 370 vertical cores) indicates that percent organic carbon within a planar cross section through floodplain sediment at a site is spatially heterogeneous and does not decline systematically with depth, but statistical analyses indicate that soil organic carbon is randomly distributed. The median values of organic carbon concentration at both field‐sampled and sites remotely sampled based on soil maps in the tallgrass prairie are significantly higher than those of the shortgrass prairie. Median values of organic carbon stock are not significantly different between those obtained from forested sites for comparison and either shortgrass or tallgrass prairie sites but are significantly higher at tallgrass than at shortgrass prairie sites. These results are surprising because upland net primary productivity in prairies is lower than in forested sites. We infer that the historical abundance of floodplain wetlands in river corridors of the tallgrass prairie results in high organic carbon stocks in tallgrass prairie river corridors. This implies that management designed to enhance carbon sequestration should focus on floodplain soils, especially in the tallgrass prairie region, as well as on upland forests.     

Evidence for hydrochory and the deposition of viable seeds within winter flow‐deposited sediments: the River Dove,Derbyshire, UK

Previous studies of the influence of hydrochory on plant dispersal have focused on relationships with existing vegetation patterns or litter deposits. River sediment deposition studies have assessed sediment accretion rates, particle size and quality. The link between seed and sediment transport and deposition has been overlooked and never quantified. This paper presents observations of over‐winter viable seed and sediment deposition on three river margin sites along the River Dove, England. At these sites, 105 paired artificial turf mats were installed on the river bank top, face and toe from October 1999 to March 2000 to collect river‐deposited material. From each pair, one mat was used to determine the dry weight; median particle size; percentage sand, silt, clay and organic content of deposited sediment. The other was used in germination trials to determine the number and species of deposited viable seeds. Topographic surveys and water level measurements supported the estimation of the hydrological characteristics of each mat location. Few seeds and little sediment were found on mats not inundated by river water. For these inundated, sediment characteristics varied primarily with elevation (relative to local mean river water level during the study period), with less marked between‐site contrasts. The species composition of viable seeds also varied with elevation. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) revealed associations between river/wetland‐related seed species and the bank toe samples. Regression analysis revealed significant relationships between seed number, sediment properties and mat elevation. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed associations between the species and abundance of viable seeds and elevation, sediment weight and organic matter content. These analyses suggest that sediment and seed deposition by rivers are closely related processes. The implications of these results for seed remobilization and dispersal and hydrochory within riparian zones are discussed, as are the implications of changes in sediment/seed delivery mechanisms, river flow regimes, and the hydraulic properties of river margins for seeds, sediments and riparian vegetation patterns. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nearshore Versus Offshore Copper Loading in Lake Superior Sediments: Implications for Transport and Cycling

A thorough understanding of the fate and transport of metals in Lake Superior is necessary in order to predict the ability of Lake Superior to recover from anthropogenic perturbations (copper mining). Sediment cores were collected from nearshore and offshore sites in Lake Superior and used to evaluate spatial and temporal variations in copper loading associated with mining-related activities. Although both settings have been strongly affected by anthropogenic releases of copper, copper concentrations in nearshore cores are significantly greater than those found in offshore cores, implying that nearshore copper loading is dominated by simple deposition and burial of sediment generated from mining activities. Temporal variations in copper profiles in sediments from nearshore environments closelymimic copper production rates. Conversely, copper loading histories derived from offshore sediments are not well correlated to production rates. The offshore sediment cores, when compared with analogous cores from Lakes Ontario and Michigan, show that the average, lake-wide intensity of copper loading in Lake Superior is comparable to the other two lakes, despite the fact that Lake Superior has received the largest total burden of anthropogenic copper. Cu/Zn ratios, used to evaluate the amount of copper loading derived from mining discharges, vary strongly in nearshore environments in response to loading. Cu/Zn ratios in offshore sediments are much less variable, implying that copper loading may be regulated by additional mechanisms (solution chemistry and/or biologic uptake). Study of trace metal partitioning within Lake Superior sediments indicates that the organic fraction of the sediment contains the majority of the copper. Copper concentrations in offshore sediments are significantly correlated to organic carbon content of the sediment whereas copper concentrations in nearshore sediments are not. These findings support the model that transport and deposition of particles released from mining discharges dominate copper loading in nearshore sediments, whereas biologic uptake and settling of particulate organic matter may regulate copper loading in offshore sediments.     

环境因子对黄河甘宁蒙段表层沉积物中磷吸附-解吸的影响

为研究环境因子对黄河水体磷污染的影响,采集黄河上游甘宁蒙段表层沉积物进行室内试验,模拟环境因子变化对表层沉积物中磷吸附-解吸过程的影响。结果表明,沉积物对磷的吸附过程是可自发进行的吸热反应,温度升高有利于表层沉积物对磷的吸附,并促进磷的解吸过程;吸附量随振荡频率的升高而增大,且存在能显著提高表层沉积物磷吸附量的振荡频率阈值;上覆水体积一定时,随沉积物质量的增加,磷吸附量减小;去除有机质后,表层沉积物对磷的吸附量增大;有机质含量较高时可明显促进磷的吸附过程,有机物含量较低时促进磷的解吸过程;上覆水KCl浓度小于0.02 mol/L时,KCl浓度越高,表层沉积物对磷的吸附量越大;上覆水KCl浓度大于0.02 mol/L时,KCl浓度越高,表层沉积物对磷的解吸量越大。     

黄河下游河道巨大的输沙能力与平衡的趋向性——“黄河调水调沙的根据、效益和巨大潜力”之二

尽管黄河下游河道以堆积性著称,河底、水面不断抬高,但在长期水沙作用下,特别是河流的自动调整和反馈迅速,其平衡的趋向性也很明显。从上、下河段挟沙能力及典型资料看,当流量为1000~4000 m3/s时,上段(河南河段)挟沙能力与下段(山东河段)之比为1.049~0.915,即流量小于2000 m3/s时,上段挟沙能力大于下段;而当流量大于2500 m3/s时,下段挟沙能力则大于上段;流量为2300 m3/s时,上、下河段基本平衡。从多年平均过程看,如果不考虑高含沙洪水,不漫滩,流量沿程不变,下段输沙量为上段输沙量的1.01倍,也说明多年输沙量是平衡的。特别是从1960年9月至1996年10月的资料看,三门峡至利津河段淤积36.32亿t,其中20次高含沙量洪水淤积37.22亿t,若不计高含沙洪水,则全河冲刷0.90亿t,占来沙348亿t的0.26%。