Spatial and temporal variability of sediment and dissolved loads from two alpine watersheds of the Lesser Himalayas

Estimation of sediment load from Himalayan basins is of considerable importance for the planning, designing, installation and operation of hydro-power projects, including management of reservoirs. In the present study, an assessment of physical and chemical load, sediment yield and erosion rate has been undertaken at eight different locations in the Sainj and Tirthan watersheds. The analysis revealed that the maximum load was transferred during the monsoon season. Moreover, the estimated average chemical erosion rate of the Sainj (83 t km^− 2 yr^− 1) and Tirthan (80 t km^− 2 yr^− 1) watersheds were higher than that of the Indian average (69 t km^− 2 yr^− 1) representing all the rivers. Both watersheds were eroding physically and chemically at a faster rate than that of the world global average erosion rate (185 t km^− 2 yr^− 1). The flattish nature of the channels in some segments of these watersheds showed a lower transport of sediments, where as the constricted segments having steep bed slopes increased the velocity of flow and the sediment transport rate. These findings have important implications for water resource management in the context of sediments mobilization, erosion, channel management, ecological functions and operation of the hydro-power projects in the Lesser Himalayan region.     

南极半岛海洋气候区的土壤 I.风化作用

南极海洋性气候区是南极风化与成土作用相对较强的地区。本文在对本区气候特点进行分析的基础上,明确了冻胀风化是本区最主要的物理风化形式,强烈的现代地貌过程对本区风化与成土过程具有显著影响。阐述了本区内化学风化的主要过程、机制与产物,同时指出生物因素在本区的岩石风化与原始土壤形成过程具有重要意义。     

三峡库区土壤元素分布特征及其发生学意义

选取三峡库区万州段具有代表性母岩和土壤作为研究样点,测定了土壤和母岩中Si、Al、Fe、K、Mg、Ca、Na等几种风化成土元素的含量,探讨了土壤元素分布特征及其发生学意义。研究表明:母岩元素平均含量顺序为:Si>Al>Fe>K>Mg>Ca>Na,其中Fe、Ca、Mg、Na、K高于中国和世界元素背景值,而Al介于中国和世界元素背景值之间,Si的平均含量则低于背景值;灰岩区上的土壤中,Ca、Mg、K元素最高,砂岩母质区的土壤风化素含量较低;而碎屑岩类中,泥岩区土壤风化元素相对较高,粉砂岩区土壤风化元素含量介于泥岩与砂岩区之间;母岩的淋失强度为Ca>Mg>Al>Si>K>Fe>Na,Na元素的迁移程度小,是由于母岩中Na元素对土壤的不断补充。因此以土壤中风化元素含量为基础计算的风化指标,难以反映亚热带温暖潮湿地区的成土风化过程,常用的土壤分子硅铝率和硅铁铝率也不能指示所有土壤的风化成土作用程度,只适用于判断风化初期或成土作用早期。     

Protection and fastness of green color of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) treated with chromium-based reagents

The attractive green color of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) culms fades without chemical treatment. Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) has been used to protect the green color of bamboo, but CCA is harmful to factory workers and the environment. To overcome the toxicity of arsenic in CCA, two chromium-based formulas developed by the authors, chromated copper phosphate (CCP) and chromated phosphate (CP), were evaluated for their protection of the green color of moso bamboo. The results revealed that bamboo treated with CP had a greener color than those treated with CCA or CCP. The concentration, treatment time, and CrO₃/H₃PO₄ ratio in CP solution greatly affected the color of moso bamboo culms. The attractive green color, which resembles the color of fresh-cut moso bamboo, was obtained by treating bamboo with 2% CP solution at 60°C for 3h, using a 11 CrO₃/H₃PO₄ ratio in aqueous solution. In addition, the CP-treated moso bamboo exhibited excellent green color fastness in both accelerated ultraviolet lightfastness testing and outdoor weathering exposure.     

Surface deterioration of wood-flour polypropylene composites by weathering trials

The market for wood-fiber plastic composites (WPCs) is expanding rapidly in many countries including Japan, where WPCs are mainly used for exterior products. In such applications, WPCs undergo undesirable color change, chalking, and shrinkage and swelling, and accordingly there is a need to better understand the mechanisms responsible for the weathering of WPC and develop methods of improving their weathering resistance. In this study, weatherability of WPC was assessed by natural and accelerated weathering trials. Discoloration (whitening) of WPC during exposure was caused by degradation of both wood and plastic. Darker color pigments as additives improved the color stability of WPC; however, chalking on the surfaces still occurred. The color stability of WPC was improved by application of exterior coatings. Preweathering of WPC (before coatings were applied) increased the absorption of coatings by the WPC and had a positive effect on the color stability and prevented chalking of the composites. Parts of this study were presented at the IUFRO XXII World Congress Meeting, Brisbane, August 2005 and the IAWPS 2005, Yokohama, November 2005     

基于化学蚀变指数的湟水河流域化学风化分析

以青海省湟水河表层沉积物为研究对象,选取该河流沉积物常量元素含量、CIA风化程度指数,通过与大陆壳表层、黄土相关元素的对比,分析了湟水河流域地表化学风化程度.结果表明,湟水河沉积物富Ca、m,而K在全流域含量变化小,与大陆壳表层含量基本一致,表明湟水河流域地表物质化学风化程度低,处于饱和硅铝阶段早期（即脱Ca、Na阶段）,地表的物理风化强于化学风化;CIA值大致反映了化学风化的程度,在中游段CIA低,上游和下游段CIA较高,具有相对稍强的化学风化过程.     

不同粒级煤矸石风化物矿质元素的含量变化及风化程度分析

以抚顺矿区汪良排土场、东排土场和西排土场为研究对象,选择荒草地类型区进行采样,研究了不同粒级煤矸石风化物矿质元素含量的变化,并对不同粒级煤矸石风化物成壤指标进行了测定。结果表明,随煤矸石风化物堆积年限的增加,SiO2,Al2O3和Fe2O3的含量在不同粒级间变化不大,K2O,Na2O,CaO,MgO的含量变化明显;由各个成壤指标来看,煤矸石堆积物的风化程度随堆积年限的增长和粒级的减小而增强。     

Effect of Bacillus subtilis on granite weathering: A laboratory experiment

We performed a comparative experiment to investigate: (1) how the ubiquitous soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis weathers granite; and (2) which granite-forming minerals weather more rapidly via biological processes. Batch system experiments (granite specimen in a 500 ml solution including NaCl, glucose, yeast extract and bacteria B. subtilis at 27 °C) were carried out for 30 days. Granite surfaces were observed by SEM before and after the experiment. B. subtilis had a strong influence on granite weathering by forming pits. There were 2.4 times as many pits and micropores were 2.3 times wider in granite exposed to B. subtilis when compared with bacteria-free samples. B. subtilis appear to preferentially select an optimum place to adhere to the mineral and dissolve essential elements from the mineral to live. Plagioclase was more vulnerable to bacterial weathering than biotite among the granite composing minerals.     

Mineralization rate of C-labelled dissolved organic matter from leaf litter in soils of a weathering chronosequence

During the processes of primary succession and soil development, large stocks of organic C with very long residence times accumulate in many soils. Soluble organic C adsorbed by soils may contribute to the stock of organic C accumulating during soil development. We determined whether the mineralization rate of water-soluble organic C and the insoluble residue from ¹⁴C-labelled leaf litter added to soils from a weathering chronosequence decrease as soil age and adsorption capacity increase. The soils were formed on mudflows of andesitic material deposited about 75, 255, 616 y ago, and another older but undetermined time before this study. The percentage of the DOC adsorbed by the soils increased with age. After 1 year of incubation there were no significant differences in the mineralization rates of DOC added to soils of different ages. The DOC appeared to be comprised of two fractions, one that comprises about 32% of the total that mineralized with a half decay time of 0.02 y (7 d) and a second fraction comprising 68% with a half decay time of about 1.6 y. Consequently, the slowly mineralized fraction of the soluble C contributed to the accumulation of slowly mineralized C in the soil. Both the slowly and rapidly mineralized fractions of the insoluble residue decomposed more slowly than the corresponding fractions in DOC. We found no support for the idea that increased adsorption capacity due to weathering resulted in protection of soluble organic C from microbial mineralization.