Effects of Coal-Bed Methane Discharge Waters on the Vegetation and Soil Ecosystem in Powder River Basin, Wyoming

Coal-bed methane (CBM) co-produced discharge waters in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming, resulting from extraction of methane from coal seams, have become a priority for chemical, hydrological and biological research during the last few years. Soil and vegetation samples were taken from affected and reference sites (upland elevations and wetted gully) in Juniper Draw to investigate the effects of CBM discharge waters on soil physical and chemical properties and on native and introduced vegetation density and diversity. Results indicate an increase of salinity and sodicity within local soil ecosystems at sites directly exposed to CBM discharge waters. Elevated concentrations of sodium in the soil are correlated with consistent exposure to CBM waters. Clay-loam soils in the study area have a much larger specific surface area than the sandy soils and facilitate a greater sodium adsorption. However, there was no significant relation between increasing water sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) values and increasing sediment SAR values downstream; however, soils exposed to the CBM water ranged from the moderate to severe SAR hazard index. Native vegetation species density was highest at the reference (upland and gully) and CBM affected upland sites. The affected gully had the greatest percent composition of introduced vegetation species. Salt-tolerant species had the greatest richness at the affected gully, implying a potential threat of invasion and competition to established native vegetation. These findings suggest that CBM waters could affect agricultural production operations and long-term water quality.     

Geochemistry of Coalbed Natural Gas (CBNG) Produced Water in Powder River Basin, Wyoming: Salinity and Sodicity

Extraction of natural gas from a confined coal aquifer requires the pumping of large amounts of groundwater, commonly referred to as produced water. Produced water from the extraction of coalbed natural gas is typically disposed into nearby constructed discharge ponds. The objective of this study was to collect produced water samples at outfalls and corresponding discharge ponds and monitor pH, electrical conductivity (EC), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and alkalinity. Outfalls and corresponding discharge ponds were sampled from five different watersheds including Cheyenne River (CHR), Belle Fourche River (BFR), Little Powder River (LPR), Powder River (PR), and Tongue River (TR) within the Powder River Basin (PRB), Wyoming from 2003 to 2005. From Na, Ca, and Mg measurements, sodium adsorption ratios (SAR) were calculated, and used in a regression model. Results suggest that outfalls are chemically different from corresponding discharge ponds. Sodium, alkalinity, and pH all tend to increase, possibly due to environmental factors such as evaporation, while Ca decreased from outfalls to associated discharge ponds due to calcite precipitation. Watersheds examined in this study were chemically different form each other and most discharge ponds with in individual watersheds tended to increase in Na and SAR from 2003 to 2005. Since discharge pond water was chemically changing as a function of watershed chemistry, we predicted SAR of discharge pond water using a regression model. The predicted discharge pond water results suggested a high correlation (R ²?=?0.83) to discharge well SAR. Overall, results of this study will be useful for landowners, water quality managers, and industry in properly managing produced water from the natural gas extraction.     

Characteristics of sediment discharge in the subarctic Yukon River, Alaska

The characteristics of sediment discharge in the Yukon River, Alaska were investigated by monitoring water discharge, water turbidity and water temperature. The river-transported sediment, 90 wt.% or more, consists of silt and clay (grain size62.5 μm), which probably originated in the glacier-covered mountains mostly in the Alaska Range. For early June to late August 1999, we continuously measured water turbidity and temperature near the estuary and in the middle of Yukon River by using self-recording turbidimeters and temperature data loggers. The water turbidity (ppm) was converted to suspended sediment concentration (SSC; mg/l) of river water, using a relation between simultaneous turbidity and SSC at each of the two sites, and then, the suspended sediment discharge, approximately equal to water discharge times SSC, was numerically obtained every 1 or 2 h. It should be noted that the sediment discharge in the Yukon River is controlled by SSC rather than water discharge. As a result, a peak sediment discharge occurred in mid or late August by local sediment runoffs due to glacier-melt (or glacier-melt plus rainfall), while a peak water discharge was produced by snowmelt in late June or early July. Application of the “extended Shields diagram” indicates that almost all the river-transported sediments are under complete suspension.     

Dissolved and Particulate Heavy Metals in the Salado River (Santa FE, Argentina)

The objective of this work is to analyze Fe, Mn, Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn distributions in the water column in terms of total, dissolved, and particulate concentrations in the Salado River (Santa Fe – Argentina); their relationship with total, dissolved and suspended solids; and the impact of two pollution sources on the watercourse: a stream that collects domestic and industrial wastewater discharges of the region and a direct discharge that releases urban and industrial effluents to the river. Water samples obtained from 5 surveys were analyzed. The Salado River transported a load of heavy metals that ranged from 700 g/s to 2200 g/s of Fe, 20 g/s to 60 g/s of Mn and 1 g/s to 3 g/s of Cr. Results show that most metals were found in particulate form, that the metal input from the direct discharge may be significant at low water levels, whereas a lesser impact was produced by the stream, and that both pollution sources were negligible at high water levels.     

非恒定流对浅沟侵蚀产沙及水动力参数的影响

浅沟侵蚀是黄土高原独特的侵蚀类型,在坡面侵蚀中占有重要的地位。关于浅沟侵蚀的研究,以往多采用恒定流量进行冲刷试验,而在实际中流量是变化的,有关非恒定流的浅沟侵蚀实验尚未见报道。采用野外放水冲刷试验,定量分析10～15、15～20、20～25 L/min 3个非恒定流的放水流量级和10、15、20 L/min 3个恒定流量的放水流量级对14°坡耕地坡面浅沟侵蚀产沙及其水动力参数的影响。结果表明:恒定流量级的流速、雷诺数、弗劳德数、剪切力、水流功率和径流含沙量分别较变流量后的非恒定流小6.64%～13.44%、2.73%～8.26%、6.15%～49.59%、0.27%～10.27%、4.27%～15.77%和2.02%～19.36%;恒定流的阻力系数则较与其相对应的非恒定流增大23.45%～43.41%。     

Dissolved and Particulate Metals in the Mero River (NW Spain): Factors affecting Concentrations and Load during Runoff Events

This article examines the metal [aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)] runoff dynamics in the Mero River (northwestern Spain). At the catchment outlet, metal concentrations, suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon, pH, and discharge were determined during three runoff events. The river drains an agroforestry catchment of 65 km² with relatively high livestock density. Dissolved and particulate metal concentrations increased during the events with respect to pre-event concentrations, but the increase of the dissolved fraction is relatively small compared to that of the particulate fraction. The dissolved metal concentration peaks appeared after the hydrograph peak, suggesting transport associated with subsurface flow. For particulate metals, peaks usually occurred during the falling limb of hydrograph, implying distant-river source of metals. Particulate forms represented more than 90% of total Al, Fe, and Mn load, whereas for Cu and Zn its contributions were 52–76% and 31–56%, respectively. The high positive correlations of all particulate metals, except Zn, with suspended solid concentrations indicate that these constituents play a major role in transport of metals. Soil erosion is the main process responsible for causing elevated Al, Fe, and Mn concentrations in the river during rainfall–runoff events while Zn and Cu come mainly from the addition of slurries and manures to farmland.     

黑龙江省东部山地红松人工林生态系统水化学特征

对黑龙江省东部山地红松人工林生态系统的大气降水、穿透水、树干径流、枯透水和地表径流中的pH值、溶解氧、浊度、总溶解固体、K、Na、Ca、Mg、Cu、Zn、Mn和Fe等水质指标进行了检测。结果表明:大气降水经过林冠层后,其水化学特征发生了明显变化,pH和DO降低,TURB和TDS明显增加,化学元素含量均不同程度增加。树干径流除了Cu外其余各化学元素含量均明显增加。穿透水和树干径流中各元素的变异系数较大。枯透水各化学元素的变异系数低于其他水样,只有Mn元素变化较大。穿透水、树干径流和枯透水中的K、Ca淋溶量较大,Cu、Zn淋溶量较少,根据淋溶系数的大小排列穿透水的淋溶序列为Mn>K>Mg>Cu>Fe>Ca>Na>Zn,树干径流的淋溶序列为Mn>Mg>K>Fe>Ca>Cu>Na>Zn,而枯透水的淋溶序列为Mg>Mn>K>Fe>Ca>Cu>Na>Zn。     

Supplemental oxygenation of electric generating station cooling water

The Delaware River Basin Commission established the requirement that the Philadelphia Electric Eddystone Generating Station shall add 5000 pounds (≈2.3 tonnes) of dissolved oxygen (DO) per day to the Delaware River as a condition for increased use of cooling water at this station. It has been found that the Eddystone Station normally adds from ≈1 to 3 tonnes per day of DO to the river arising from entrainment of air into the cooling water discharge tunnel. Further additions can readily be accomplished by bleeding air into the condenser tailpipe. The Delaware River Basin Commission's requirements can readily be met without significant expenditure of funds and without altering normal plant operating conditions.     

Heavy‐Metal Losses from an Agroforestry Catchment

Abstract

Long‐term agricultural sustainability and water quality are impacted by different chemicals, including heavy metals. Heavy‐metal losses at the catchment scale depend largely on land‐management practices. Water‐quality indicators are required near soil‐quality indicators for different regions and farming systems. The purpose of this work is to analyze the heavy‐metal losses from a mixed agroforestry catchment. Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mn), Zinc (Zn), and Copper (Cu) were measured in the drainage water of a 36.3 km² catchment located at the Valiñas River (Coruña, northwest Spain), and a total of 193 samples were collected during the course of 2003. The sampling strategy was a stratified point sampling involving more frequent sampling when flow was high. Water metal content was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP‐AES). The content ranges of dissolved heavy metals were as follows: Fe between 10 and 267 µg/L, Mn 0.2 and 77 µg/L, Zn 0.62 and 53.7 µg/L, and Cu 0.20 and 9.26 µg/L. Heavy metal content strongly varied along the study time, depending on storm flow but also on timing of animal‐waste applications.     

上方来水来沙对浅沟侵蚀产沙及水动力参数的影响

 浅沟侵蚀是黄土高原重要的侵蚀类型,上方汇水对坡面浅沟侵蚀具有重要的影响。采用野外放水冲刷试验,定量分析26°坡耕地在上方来水量为5、10和15L/min时对坡下方浅沟侵蚀产沙及其水动力参数的影响。结果表明：上方来水的汇入使浅沟水流流速明显增大,雷诺数、弗劳德数、水流功率和剪切力分别增大33%～76%、21%～47%、29%～72%和18%～42%,阻力系数减少11%～13%,导致浅沟侵蚀产沙量明显增大;除流速和弗劳德数外,其余水动力参数随放水时间的延长呈递增趋势;上方来水使浅沟侵蚀产沙量相对增量与水流功率和剪切力相对增量均呈幂函数关系。     

Empirical models for estimating the concentrations and exports of metals in rural rivers and streams

Concentrations of Al, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were measured monthly at 24 sites in 21 rivers in Ontario and Quebec. Relationships between metal and suspended particulate matter (SPM), turbidity, colour (g440), temperature and system hydrology were quantified, and used to derive empirical models for predicting metal concentrations. In a test of the models using an independent data set, they explained a significant proportion of the variation in Al (90%), Fe (85%), and Mn (57%), but only 37% of the variation in riverine Zn concentrations. Metals concentrations are most strongly associated with SPM concentrations. The proportion of the total metal load associated with particulates (>0.45 μm) is highly variable below 10 ppm SPM, indicating that this concentration approximates the division between systems dominated by weathered (solution) versus eroded (particulate) inputs. Annual metal exports were calculated, and empirical models for predicting catchment exports were developed using system hydrology and average SPM concentrations. These simple models can be used to estimate metals concentrations and exports from routine water quality monitoring data, without requiring chemical analyses. They also serve to distinguish background levels from those indicating metal contamination, and will, therefore, be useful for water quality evaluation.     

渭河干流陕西段水体中CODMn,NH3-N的时空变化特征

渭河是陕西省的第一大河,然而近年来渭河水体污染严重,阻碍了区域经济的发展。依据1991—2002年渭河水质监测资料,对渭河干流陕西段水质主要污染指标CODMn,NH3-N的时空变化特征及其产生的原因进行了分析研究。(1)渭河陕西段污染严重,其中咸阳铁路桥为CODMn污染最严重的断面;卧龙寺桥、虢镇桥、兴平是NH3-N污染较严重的断面。(2)从90年代以来该流域的污染呈加重的趋势。1996年NH3-N污染最为严重,1995年CODMn最高。(3)造纸企业排放的污水是造成渭河流域CODMn污染的主要污染源;农田大量化肥的施用以及化肥工业废水的排放是造成渭河NH3-N污染的主要原因。     

Release Rates of Ammonium‐Nitrogen,Nitrate‐Nitrogen,Phosphorus, Potassium,Magnesium, Iron,and Manganese from Seven Controlled‐Release Fertilizers

Abstract

Samples of seven controlled‐release fertilizers, Nutricote Total 13–13–13, Nutricote Total 18–6–8, Osmocote Plus 15–9–12, Osmocote 13–13–13, Polyon 18–6–12, Polyon 14–14–14, and Plantacote 14–8–15, were placed in leaching columns containing acid‐washed sand. Samples of all leachates were analyzed weekly to determine release rates of ammonium‐nitrogen (N), nitrate‐N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe). Release rates for P from all products were slower than those for NH₄‐N, NO₃‐N, and K. Release of Mg, Mn, and Fe was very poor, with less than 50% of the total amount of each of these elements ever being released from the prills for some products. Nutricote products released Fe and Mn more effectively than did Osmocote or Plantacote.     

西藏尼洋河水体重金属分布特征及风险评价

重金属含量是影响水生态环境安全的重要因素,该文意在探索西藏河流水体重金属变化规律。研究了雅鲁藏布江第二大支流尼洋河的Zn、Cu、Mn、Cd、Fe5种重金属含量时空变化特征和相关性,以及迁移变化机理,对重金属富集程度和污染风险进行了评价。结果表明:尼洋河重金属含量源头较低,中上游位置有突变。Fe、Mn、Cd是影响水质变化的敏感因子。Zn、Cu、Mn含量平水期枯水期丰水期。丰水期重金属含量主要受人类活动或水文气象活动影响,平水期及枯水期的Zn、Cu、Mn、Fe含量主要受自然过程影响,枯水期Cd主要受人类活动影响。水库对重金属富集有一定的影响。河源和中下游河段污染较轻,上游河段重金属综合污染指数最高。     

Fractionation and Distribution of Metals in Guadiamar River Sediments (SW Spain)

Traditionally, the Guadiamar River (Seville, Southwest Spain) has received pollution from two different sources, in its upper section, from a pyrite exploitation (Los Frailes mine) and, in its lower section, from untreated urban and industrial wastes and from intensive agricultural activities. In 1998, the accidental spillage of about 6 million m³ of acid water and sludge from mine tailings to Guadiamar River worsened the pollution of an already contaminated area. The main polluting agents of the spillage were heavy metals. The total concentration of a metal provides scarce information about the effects on environmental processes or about the toxicity of the sediment samples. A more sophisticated fractionation of the sediment samples based on a species distribution can help to understand the behaviour and fate of the metals. This article describes a distribution study of the metals Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn by fractionation analysis of sediments from eleven sample sites alongside the Guadiamar Riverbed. The samples were collected in summer 2002, four years after the spillage and after the area had been cleaned. Sequential extraction analysis resulted in the definition of four fraction categories: exchangeable metal (the most available fraction), reducible metal (bound to hydrous oxides of Fe and Mn), oxidizable metal (bound to organic matter and sulphides) and a residual fraction (bound to minerals). Significant increases in the available fraction of several potentially toxic metal ions like Cd, Mn and Zn were found. The distribution pattern was variable along the River. At the site closest to the mineworks, the soluble forms of Cd, Mn and Zn were significantly more abundant that those downstream. Cu and Pb were present in the reducible fraction while Fe was present associated in the residual fraction.     

Hydraulic Loading Rate Effect on Removal Rates in a BioSand Filter: A Pilot Study of Three Conditions

Safe drinking water is a luxury to approximately 800 million people worldwide. The number of people without access to clean water has been reduced, thanks to technologies like the biosand filter (BSF), an intermittently operated household scale slow sand filter. The BSF outlet (control diameter 0.5??) was modified in this study by reducing the outlet diameter (0.37?? and 0.25??) to determine the effects of hydraulic retention time on removal rates. Filters were dosed with 20?L of spiked lake water daily and observed for pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), fecal coliforms (FC), turbidity, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, and ammonia until initial flow rates dropped below 0.2?L/min. Consistent with previous studies, the average turbidity was reduced to below 1?NTU; the average DO was reduced by 45?%. No significant difference was observed between the modified BSFs and the control BSF. Removal efficiency of FC was not significantly different between the modified BSFs (93.3?% and 91.9?%) and the control BSF (89.6?%). Mean FC reduction during the startup period (17?days) was significantly greater in the modified 0.25?? BSF when compared with the control during the same time period. After the first 17?days of the experiment, the average reduction efficiency of all filters was >97?%. While source water was below guideline values for nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and sulfate during the course of the experiment, total nitrogen reduction was observed. The reduction indicates that the plastic BSF is capable of accomplishing limited denitrification during the filtering process.     

冲刷条件下黄土丘陵区浅沟侵蚀形态及产流产沙特征

浅沟是农耕区特有的一种侵蚀沟类型,浅沟侵蚀是耕地土壤流失的主要方式之一。该文采用野外放水冲刷试验,研究黄土丘陵区典型坡耕地浅沟在不同坡度及放水流量条件下的产流产沙及侵蚀形态特征。结果表明:1)产流时间变化范围7.00~68.02 s,与坡度×放水流量交互项呈极显著负指数幂函数关系。稳定径流率变化范围3.06~23.71 L/min,与放水流量呈极显著线性函数关系,并随坡度的增大呈增大趋势。稳定流速变化范围27.35~55.59 cm/s,与坡度×放水流量交互项呈极显著幂函数关系;2)产沙率呈波动减小-稳定和增大-波动减小-稳定2种变化趋势,平均产沙率随放水流量的增加呈极显著指数函数增大,随坡度增加先增大后减小,并在26°条件下存在临界值;3)侵蚀沟槽平均宽、深变化范围分别为4.45~17.09、1.88~10.15 cm,平均宽深比变化范围1.45~2.39。平均横断面面积变化范围为11.40~197.91 cm2,是描述浅沟侵蚀产沙量的最优形态因子,二者呈极显著线性函数关系。结果可为黄土丘陵区浅沟防治及浅沟侵蚀产沙模型的建立和修正提供参考。     

The sediment budget of a large river regulated by dams (The lower River Ebro, NE Spain)

Purpose

The aim of this work was to develop a comprehensive fluvial suspended sediment budget for a large regulated river, the lower River Ebro (NE Spain).

Materials and methods

The sediment loads of the Ebro mainstem and its main tributaries were estimated from continuous records of water discharge and turbidity (appropriately transformed to suspended sediment concentrations). Records were obtained at ten monitoring sections during the relatively dry 2008–2011 period.

Results and discussion

The sediment load estimated for the River Ebro upstream of the Mequinenza Reservoir is remarkable (i.e. mean suspended load of 0.6?×?10⁶?t?year^?1), despite the fact that the site is already affected by a sediment deficit due to upstream reservoirs. Further downstream, and owing to their humid characteristics, the contribution of the Pyrenean tributaries (Segre and Cinca Rivers) is much larger compared with their Iberian Massif counterparts (Matarranya and Algars Rivers), with sediment loads of 0.49?×?10⁶ and 2,260 t, respectively. The suspended sediment load trapped in the Mequinenza-Ribarroja-Flix Dam Complex for the study period was estimated at 2.3?×?10⁶?t. Below the dams, the sediment load was reduced by 95 % but increased gradually in a downstream direction due to the erosion processes that clear water (i.e. very low sediment concentrations) flood flows exert on the river bed and banks and the episodic contribution from ephemeral tributaries.

Conclusions

Reservoirs have reduced the overall sediment load and the natural variability of flow and sediment transport in the River Ebro. In addition, the sediment budget revealed that floods were not the only drivers of the sediment dynamics in the lower Ebro. For instance, the particular location of the monitoring sections showed that episodic contributions from small tributaries alter the general sediment load of the river during certain torrential events.     

Trace metal concentrations in borehole waters from the Upper Regions and the Accra Plains of Ghana

The concentrations of Hg, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Fe, Mn, Cr and As were measured in groundwaters from the Upper West and Upper East Regions and the Accra Plains of Ghana. Apart from Fe, the trace metal levels for the two Upper Regions were similar. Samples from the Accra Plains had the highest trace metal concentration. However, Hg and As were undetected in all the samples. While the mean Cd, Mn and Cu concentrations for all the 3 study areas fell below the WHO limit, values for Pb and Cr exceeded the WHO limits for drinking water. Iron exceeded the limits in the Upper West Region and the Accra Plains. Overall, the most abundant elements in groundwaters were Zn, Fe and Cr.     

黄土区坡耕地耕作对浅沟径流产沙及其形态发育特征的影响

为研究耕作对浅沟径流产沙及形态发育特征的影响,在野外调查的基础上,设计坡度(15°、20°、25°)、雨强(1.0、1.5、2.0 mm/min)及放水流量(7.53~23.45 L/min)3个处理,采用室内模拟降雨和放水冲刷的方法,测定了不同处理下浅沟径流量、产沙量。结果表明:1)2种浅沟水流均为紊流,耕作使浅沟水流雷诺数和弗劳德数分别减小0.95%~30.77%、2.64%~39.14%,阻力系数和糙率系数分别增加4.01%~58.82%、0.88%~27.87%;2)试验条件下,耕作使浅沟土壤剥蚀率增大9.48%~37.87%,未耕作与耕作浅沟土壤剥蚀率分别与坡度—流量交互作用、雨强—坡度交互作用呈极显著线性关系,土壤剥蚀率与径流剪切力、径流功率及单位径流功率均呈显著的线性关系,未耕作浅沟发生剥蚀的临界剪切力、临界功率及临界单位径流功率分别为17.576 N/m2、5.036 W/(m2·s)、0.0381 m/s,耕作浅沟为10.585 N/m2、3.544 W/(m2·s)、0.0277 m/s;3)耕作使浅沟宽度增加1.98%~31.79%,浅沟面积增大0.84%~32.03%,下切深度降低2.82%~26.67%;4)耕作使浅沟土壤侵蚀量增加0.91%~22.80%,未耕作和耕作浅沟土壤侵蚀量分别占坡面土壤侵蚀总量的44.09%~74.16%和42.44%~56.44%,与雨强—流量交互作用均呈极显著的线性函数关系。结果可为该区浅沟侵蚀预测模型的建立及农业生态环境安全与保护提供科学依据。