Seasonal and long-term trends in the water quality of Florida Bay (1989–1997)

Analysis of 6 yr of monthly water quality data was performed on three distinct zones of Florida Bay: the eastern bay, central bay, and western bay. Each zone was analyzed for trends at intra-annual (seasonal), interannual (oscillation), and long-term (monotonic) scales. the variables TON, TOC, temperature, and TN∶TP ratio had seasonal maxima in the summer rainy season; APA and Chla, indicators of the size and activity of the microplankton tended to have maxima in the fall. In contrast, NO₃ ⁻, NO₂ ⁻, NH₄ ⁺, turbidity, and DO_sat, were highest in the winter dry season. There were large changes in some of the water quality variables of Florida Bay over the study period. Salinity and TP concentrations declined baywide while turbidity increased dramatically. Salinity declined in the eastern, central, and western Florida Bay by 13.6‰, 11.6‰, and 5.6‰, respectively. Some of the decrease in the eastern bay could be accounted for by increased freshwater flows from the Everglades. In contrast to most other estuarine systems, increased runoff may have been partially responsible for the decrease in TP concentrations as input concentrations were 0.3–0.5 μM. Turbidity in the eastern bay increased twofold from 1991 to 1996, while in the central and western bays it increased by factors of 20 and 4, respectively. Chla concentrations were particularly dynamic and spatially heterogeneous. In the eastern bay, which makes up roughly half of the surface area of Florida Bay, Chla declined by 0.9 μg l⁻¹ (63%). The hydrographically isolated central bay zone underwent a fivefold increase in phytoplankton biomass from 1989 to 1994, then rapidly declined to previous levels by 1996. In western Florida Bay there was a significant increase in Chla, yet median concentrations of Chla in the water column remained modest (∼2 μg l⁻¹) by most estuarine standards. Only in the central bay did the DIN pool increase substantially (threefold to sixfold). Notably, these changes in turbidity and phytoplankton biomass occurred after the poorly-understood seagrass die-off in 1987. It is likely the death and decomposition of large amounts of seagrass biomass can at least partially explain some of the changes in water quality of Florida Bay, but the connections are temporally disjoint and the process indirect and not well understood.     

Types,characteristics, and time–space distribution of molybdenum deposits in China

Molybdenum exploration activity in China has accelerated tremendously during the past decade owing to the continuous, increasing demand for Earth resources. China possesses the largest Mo reserves in the world (exceeding 19.6 Mt). The major ore deposits are of porphyry, porphyry–skarn, skarn, vein, and sedimentary types. Porphyry molybdenum deposits contain 77.5% of the Chinese Mo reserves, with lesser amounts in porphyry–skarns (13%), skarns (5.1%), and veins (4.4%). Exploitation of sedimentary-type molybdenum deposits thus far has been uneconomical. The six Mo provinces are in the Northeast China, Yanliao, Qinling–Dabie, middle–lower Yangtze River Valley, South China, and Sanjiang areas. We recognize six ore-forming periods: (1) Precambrian (>541 Ma), (2) Palaeozoic (541–250 Ma), (3) Triassic (250–200 Ma), (4) Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (190–135 Ma), (5) Cretaceous (135–90 Ma), and (6) Cenozoic (55–12 Ma). The abundance of Mo ore deposits in China reflects the occurrence of multiple periods of tectonism, involving interactions between the Siberian, North China, Yangtze, India, and Palaeo-Pacific plates. Precambrian molybdenum deposits are related to Mesoproterozoic volcanism in an extensional setting. Palaeozoic Cu–Mo deposits are related to calc-alkaline granitic plutons in an island arc or a continental margin setting. Triassic Mo deposits formed in the syn-collision–postcollision tectonic setting between the Siberian and North China plates and between the North China and Yangzi plates. Jurassic–Early Cretaceous molybdenum deposits formed along the eastern margin of Asia and are associated with the palaeo-Pacific plate-subduction tectonic setting. Cretaceous Mo deposits are related to high-K calc-alkaline granitic rocks and formed in a lithospheric thinning setting. Cenozoic molybdenum deposits formed in a collision setting between the Indian and Eurasian continents and the subsequent extensional setting.     

The effects of Dissolution–Precipitation Creep on quartz fabrics within the Purgatory Conglomerate,Rhode Island

Quartz Crystallographic Preferred Orientation (CPO) patterns are most commonly a result of deformation by dislocation creep. We investigated whether Dissolution–Precipitation Creep (DPC), a process that occurs at lower differential stresses and temperatures, may result in CPO in quartz. The Purgatory Conglomerate is part of the SE Narragansett basin where strain intensity increases from west to east and is associated with top-to-the-west transport and folding during the Alleghanian orogeny. Within the Purgatory Conglomerate, DPC led to quartz dissolution along cobble surfaces perpendicular to the shortening direction, and quartz precipitation in overgrowths at the ends of the cobbles (strain shadows), parallel to the maximum extension direction. Quartz c-axis orientations as revealed by Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) methods were random in all analyzed domains within the cobbles and strain shadows irrespective of the intensity of strain or metamorphic grade of the sample. Quartz dissolution probably occurred exclusively along the cobbles' margins, leaving the remaining grains unaffected by DPC. The fact that quartz precipitated in random orientations may indicate that the strain shadows were regions of little or no differential stress.     

Field observations of meteotsunami locally called “abiki” in Urauchi Bay, Kami-Koshiki Island, Japan

A seasonal scale field observation extending over a period of 82?days was conducted in Urauchi Bay on Kami-Koshiki Island, to record meteotsunami events, disastrous secondary oscillations locally known as ??abiki.?? The bay has an elongated T-shape topography with a narrow mouth opening westward to the East China Sea. The area has suffered the effects of meteotsunami causing flooding in residential area and damage to fishing fleets and facilities. A comprehensive observation system for sea level, ocean currents and barometric pressure was deployed to cover the regions within and offshore from Urauchi Bay and the open sea near the island of Mejima in the East China Sea. Vigorous meteotsunami events, where the total height exceeded 150?cm, were observed over five-day periods during the observation period. One or two hours prior to the arrival of meteotsunami events at Kami-Koshiki Island, abrupt 1?C2?hPa pressure changes were observed at the Mejima observation site. Pressure disturbances were found to travel eastward or northeastward. The propagation speed was found to nearly coincide with that of ocean long waves over the East China Sea, and as a result, resonant coupling should be anticipated. The incoming long waves were also amplified by geometric resonance with eigen oscillations inherent in the T-shape topography of Urauchi Bay.     

Heavy mineral distribution and characterisation of ilmenite of Kayamkulam — thothapally Barrier Island, southwest coast of India

Mineral concentration and ilmenite characterization of the Thothapally — Kayamkulam Barrier Island of the southern Kerala has been studied. 96.86% concentrations of heavy minerals are recorded in the surficial and core samples (4 m) in the southern Kayamkulam and northern Thothapally areas. The total heavy mineral content decreases with depth. The primary heavy mineral suite of the surficial and core samples consists of ilmenite, sillimanite, zircon, garnets, rutile, monazite and magnetite. Longshore current and onshore-offshore movements of sediment during the southwest monsoon are primarily responsible in sorting of the heavy minerals. TiO₂ content in ilmenite is significantly higher in the Kayamkulam core sediments than the surface samples. XRD analysis supports intensive weathering and alteration leading to the higher TiO₂ concentration. Higher percentage of ferric iron than ferrous iron in the core samples reveals that considerable weathering occurred under burial condition. SEM examination of ilmenite grains reveal the presence of solution pit, chemical leaching, corrosion and replacement textures, supporting the intense epigenetic alteration and weathering under subaerial condition and post-depositional changes by water-table condition.     

Peculiarities of Subduction in the Junction of the Kuril–Kamchatka and Aleutian Island Arcs

Doklady Earth Sciences - The peculiarities of the junction between the Kuril–Kamchatka and Aleutian island arcs are studied using different techniques and experimental data. The models of...     

Spatiotemporal distribution of flood disasters in Asia and influencing factors in 1980–2019

Natural Hazards - Floods are common natural disasters in Asia. Flood datasets from 48 countries in Asia were collected to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution and influencing factors, using...     

Distribution and Abundance of Arsenic in the Soils and Sediments of O‘ahu,Hawai‘i

Lack of high-spatial-resolution soil and sediment arsenic data for Hawai‘i has generated substantial disagreement between researchers and regulators regarding the magnitude of natural levels of arsenic in Hawai‘i and rendered difficult the defining of areas of anthropogenically elevated arsenic. Our earlier research into the occurrence of arsenic in terrestrial and marine environments revealed widely disparate concentrations of arsenic with no apparent spatial pattern. To better understand the distribution and abundance of arsenic in soils and sediments of O‘ahu, we collected an additional 64 samples at locations chosen to represent different environments with varying degrees of human impact. We found surface arsenic values that ranged from 0.28 to 740 ppm with a median concentration of 8.1 ppm, which is above the global median of 5 ppm and US soil median of 5.2 ppm. Higher concentrations of arsenic (up to 913 ppm) were encountered at depth in soil cores. The median arsenic in streambed sediments from one of our earlier studies of 6.1 ppm was comparable to the conterminous US median of 6.3 ppm; however, we encountered arsenic concentrations as high as 43.9 ppm (median = 8.60 ppm, n = 75) in marine sediments in recent work off the leeward coast of O‘ahu. Overall, arsenic in the soils and sediments of O‘ahu is elevated relative to world and national values, but there still is no readily discernible pattern in the distribution of arsenic to explain these elevated values.     

Later stages of evolution of an epithermal system: Au–Ag mineralizations at Apigania Bay, Tinos Island, Cyclades, Hellas, Greece

Precious metals accompany all types of epithermal deposits. In general, the largest of these deposits occur in intrusive or extrusive rocks of alkaline or calc-alkaline affinity. The Apigania Bay vein system and Au–Ag mineralization is hosted in Mesozoic marbles and schists, and is composed primarily of five nearly parallel, high-angle quartz veins that extend for at least 200 m. Gold–silver mineralization, in association with more than thirty ore and vein minerals, is developed in three stages and occurs at the contact of marbles and schists. Zones of epidote–chlorite–calcite and sericite–albite alteration are associated with precious metal-bearing milky and clear quartz veins. Fluid inclusion studies suggest that hydrothermal mineralization was deposited under hydrostatic pressures of ~100 bars, at temperature of 120–235°C, from low to moderate, calcium-bearing, saline fluids of 0.2 to 6.8 equiv. wt.% NaCl. Calculated isotope compositions (δ¹⁸O?=??4.7‰ to 1.7‰ and δD?=??120‰ to ?80‰) for waters in equilibrium with milky and clear quartz are consistent with mixing with dilute, low temperature meteoric ore fluids. Calculated δ ¹³C_CO2 (0.6‰ to 1.1‰) and δ ³⁴S_H2S (?7.3 to ?0.3‰) compositions of the ore fluids indicate exchange, in an open system, with a metasedimentary source. Gold and silver deposition was associated with degassing of hydrogen due to intense uplift of the mineralizing area. The physicochemical conditions of mineralization stages I to III range between 200°C and 150°C, $f_{{\text{S}}_2 } = 10^{ - 18.1} $ to 10^?16.8, $f_{{\text{O}}_2 } = 10^{ - 44.0} $ to 10^?41.5, pH?=?6.9 to7.6, $f_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{S}}} = 10^{ - 3.4} $ to 10^?2.6 and $a_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{S}}} = 10^{ - 2.7} $ to 10^?2.6. Apigania Bay could be possibly considered the latest evolutional phase of Tinos hydrothermal system.     

Mercury enrichments in core sediments in Hugli–Matla–Bidyadhari estuarine complex,north-eastern part of the Bay of Bengal and their ecotoxicological significance

Mercury concentrations (Hg_T) in fine-grained fraction (<63 μm) of core sediments of the Hugli–Matla–Bidyadhari estuarine complex, India were analyzed. Results revealed a wide range of spatial variations (<4–93 ng g⁻¹ dry weight) with a definite enhancement level at the lower stretch of the estuarine complex infested with mangrove plants, which might act as a sink to Hg_T. An elevated concentration of Hg was encountered in surface/subsurface layer of the core in majority of the cases resulting from physical, biogenic and postdepositional diagenetic processes that remobilized and resuspended the metal from deeper sediments. A strong positive correlation was observed between the Hg and clay fraction content of the sediments, while the correlations of Hg with Al, Fe and Mn were poor. Based on the index of geoaccumulation (I _geo) and effects range-low (ER-L) value, it is considered that the sediments are less polluted and thus there is less chance of ecotoxicological risk to organisms living in sediments.     

Temporal and Spatial Variability of Freshwater Plumes in a Semienclosed Estuarine–Bay System

While the physical forcing mechanisms that govern the outflows of major rivers throughout the world are well documented in the literature, comparably less research has been done to examine the mechanisms that govern the contributions of small rivers and streams to coastal ocean systems. These rivers and streams provide a direct means for the transport of anthropogenic and terrigenous materials from watersheds to coastal oceans. This study describes the temporal and spatial variability of freshwater plumes from Kaneohe Stream, Hawaii, USA, after storm events in the Kaneohe Bay watershed. Freshwater plumes were examined using a combination of fixed moorings, synoptic shipboard surveys, and lagrangian surface drifters. Data sets were collected over the course of 19 months from August 2005 to March 2007 with particular attention paid to storms during the boreal winters. Stream discharge and duration were found to exert a primary control on plume persistence in the southern Kaneohe Bay system. Time series data show a strong coherence between wind forcing and surface currents, which, in combination with data derived from shipboard and aerial surveys, indicate that the spatial variability of freshwater plumes is primarily determined by atmospheric forcing.     

Long-Term Variability of Nutrients and Chlorophyll in the Chesapeake Bay: A Retrospective Analysis, 1985–2008

A retrospective analysis of freshwater discharge, riverine dissolved nutrient loads, dissolved nutrients, and chlorophyll in the Chesapeake Bay from 1985 to 2008 is presented. It is evident that each field displays an interannual variability averaged over the Bay. The N and P loads peaked in 1997 and have fluctuated with a decreasing trend since early 2004. Dissolved nutrient concentrations in the Bay appear to be largely controlled by riverine nutrient loads. The temporal variability of chlorophyll is positively correlated with nutrient loads and concentrations. Over the study period, N:P (DIN:DIP) molar ratios were consistently higher than the Redfield ratio (N:P?=?16:1) and strongly correlated with river discharge (R ²?=?0.68, p??16:1), and N is the limiting nutrient in summer and early autumn (N:P?4 from anoxic sediments. Long-term climate indices, such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), appear to exert only a moderate control over the riverine discharge to the Bay or over the ecosystem response in terms of chlorophyll in the Bay. While not all related mechanisms can be inferred from available data, this analysis should help in determining future data needs for monitoring water quality and human and climate influence on the health of the Bay.     

Calibration and validation of a model of forest disturbance in the Western Ghats,India 1920–1990

This paper introduces a new statistical method that we recommend should become standard procedure to quantify the goodness-of-fit of calibration and validation for land-use change models. We present a multiple-resolution Relative Operating Characteristic (ROC) that measures the goodness-of-fit between a reference map, which is considered reality, and a simulated map, which is a model’s output. This proposed ROC is based on: (1) multiple-resolutions, (2) soft classification, (3) sampling without replacement, and 4) explicit separation of factors of quantity versus location of land-use change. We illustrate the method with a case study in India’s Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot, where we have maps of cumulative forest disturbance for 1920 and 1990. We use a predictive modeling approach similar to GEOMOD in which we calibrate the model with the map of 1920, then predict the map of 1990, at which point we subject the model to validation. We show that the fit of calibration tends to be much larger than the fit of validation. Thus if a modeler assess a model by goodness-of-fit of calibration only, then the modeler will likely be over confident in the model’s predictive ability.     

Desertification and Re-Afforestation of the Coastal Land in Changjiang County,Hainan Island

Changjiang County is located to the northwest of the tailing range of the Wuzhi Mountains on Hainan Island,facing the sea and being against he Mountains.From southeast to northwest,it gradually descends in relief from mountain,hill,tableland,terrace to coastal plain.Its sandy coastal line is measued at 44.85km in length and its rocky coastal line at 7.15km along the county.The desertified coastal land covers and area of about 61.15km^2,extending from hundreds of meters to 3 km in width,of which the active sand land accounts for 5.333km^2 and the semi-active sand land,7.333km^2.The dunes are developed at the rate of 10-30m per year from the seashore toward the hinterland. The Forest Departments of Hainan Province and Changjiang County done a series of sand-control experiments.The chief technological measures are as follows:(1)to stabilize the drift sand first to create an adequate condition for afforestation;(2)to plant the big and strong saplings of Casuarin equisetifolia with nutrient bags in deep pits;and(3) to apply new techniques in “dry-season planting”to guarantee the quality of afforestation.The above experiments were successful.However,there still exist some problems such as quite seriously wilting shoot,lower survival rate of Pandanus tectorius in the vertical lines to the usual wind direction,monotonous the species in afforestation and subsequent poor management.Thus some suggestions are offered in this paper for future extension;(1)to apply REE fertilizers in the process of afforestation to increase the resistance of the plants;(2)to increase the vertical lines of Pandanus tectorius to the usual wind direcion to raise their survival rate in the network of sand stabilization;(3)to enlarge he area of liana planting to enhance the stability of sand;(4) to try to introduce new tree species from oter regions,which are of good performance in sand stabilization;(5) to interplant th adaptable economic crops;and (6)to make more investments and better management and conduct more extensive environmental education o ensure the early accomplishment of the protection forest belt around the island.     

Heavy metal distribution and contamination in soils of Thane–Belapur industrial development area,Mumbai, Western India

There is a growing public concern over the potential accumulation of heavy metals in soil, owing to rapid urban and industrial development in the last decade in India. Therefore, an attempt was made to investigate the pollution caused due to excessive accumulation of heavy metals in soils near Thane–Belapur industrial belt of Mumbai. Soil samples were collected from surrounding industrial areas and were analyzed for toxic/heavy metals by X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The analytical results indicate that the soils in the study area were enriched with Cu, Cr, Co, Ni and Zn. The concentration ranges were: Cu 3.10–271.2 mg/kg (average 104.6 mg/kg), Cr 177.9–1,039 mg/kg (average 521.3 mg/kg), Co 44.8–101.6 mg/kg (average 68.7 mg/kg), Ni 64.4–537.8 mg/kg (average 183.6 mg/kg) and Zn 96.6–763.2 mg/kg (average 191.3 mg/kg). The visualization of spatial data is made by preparing distribution maps of heavy metal concentration in soils and co-relation diagrams. These results highlight the need for instituting a systematic and continuous monitoring of the study area for heavy metals and other forms of pollution to ensure that pollution does not become a serious problem in future.     

Contamination and distribution of heavy metals in urban soil in Zhangzhou City, Fujian, China

The urban environment quality is of vital importance as the majority of people now live in cities. Due to the continuous urbanization and industrialization with rapidly increasing economy in China, metals are continuously emitted into soils, imposing a great threat on human health. Urban soils might be affected by industrial activities, transport, agricultural practice, and waste disposal. An extensive survey was conducted in the highly urbanized Zhangzhou City （Fujian Province, China） using a systematic sampling strategy. Concentrations of Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, As, Cr and Ni were measured on 108 topsoil samples collected from parks （0-15 cm）, residential areas and suburban agricultural soils. Statistic approach （cluster analysis） was adopted for identification of natural and anthropogenic influence on heavy metal contents. The maps of metal concentrations in surface soils were made based on geographical information system （GIS） data. All of these aim at assessing the distribution of these heavy metals in the urban environment.     

Regional stratigraphy and distribution of epigenetic stratabound celestine, fluorite, barite and Pb–Zn deposits in the MVT province of northeastern Mexico

Northeastern Mexico hosts numerous epigenetic stratabound carbonate-hosted low-temperature hydrothermal deposits of celestine, fluorite, barite and zinc-lead, which formed by replacement of Mesozoic evaporites or carbonate rocks. Such deposits can be permissively catalogued as Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits. The deposits studied in the state of Coahuila are associated with granitic and metasedimentary basement highs (horsts) marginal or central to the Mesozoic Sabinas Basin. These horsts controlled the stratigraphy of the Mesozoic basins and subsequently influenced the Laramide structural pattern. The Sabinas Basin consists of ~6,000-m-thick Jurassic to Cretaceous siliciclastic, carbonate and evaporitic series. The MVT deposits are mostly in Barremian and in Aptian-Albian to Cenomanian formations and likely formed from basinal brines that were mobilized during the Laramide orogeny, although earlier diagenetic replacement of evaporite layers (barite and celestine deposits) and lining of paleokarstic cavities in reef carbonates (Zn–Pb deposits) is observed. Fluid inclusion microthermometry and isotopic studies suggest ore formation due to mixing of basinal brines and meteoric water. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions range from 45°C to 210°C; salinities range from 0 to 26 wt.% NaCl equiv., and some inclusions contain hydrocarbons or bitumen. Sulfur isotope data suggest that most of the sulfur in barite and celestine is derived from Barremian to Cenomanian evaporites. Regional geology and a compilation of metallogenic features define the new MVT province of northeastern Mexico, which comprises most of the state of Coahuila and portions of the neighboring states of Nuevo León, Durango and, perhaps extends into Zacatecas and southern Texas. This province exhibits a regional metal zonation, with celestine deposits to the south, fluorite deposits to the north and barite and Zn–Pb deposits mostly in the central part.     

Geogenic distribution and baseline concentrations of Cu and Zn in surficial soil of Guiyang, China

1 IntroductionThe term“Environmental Geochemical Baseline(EGB)”first appeared in the International Geochemi-cal Mapping Program (IGCP259) and the InternationalGeochemical Baseline Program (IGCP360) of Interna-tional Geography Contrast Program. The defin…