Basin Seawater Research Articles

UNDERWATER CANYONS OF THE SOUTHWESTERN OUTSKIRTS OF SOUTHERN BAIKAL AS PRESUMABLE TRANSITERS OF TECHNOGENIC MATERIALS TO THE ABYSSAL SURFACE

Numerous publications by domestic and foreign authors deal with a significant role of underwater canyons in transit of loose material from the littoral to the abyssal surfaces of the seas. Lake Baikal fully corresponds in its hydrodynamic and bathymetric parameters to sea water basins, and the Baikal canyons are similar in their morphological and morphometric factors to sea canyons. A digital elevation model of the southwest underwater tip of the lake, generated based on a large array of bathymetric data, allowed identifying clearly defined valleys of the Shamanka and Slyudyanka canyons. The data obtained during the study of the canyon-valley area, carried out using special geophysical measuring instruments – Kongsberg EM710S multibeam echosounder and Knudsen CHIRP 3260 profilograph, – and analysis of the published materials showed a rather high degree of confindness of coarse debris to the canyon valleys and alluvial fans which implies their significant role in sediment transit. It has been shown that high seismicity of the Baikal basin and active wave conditions give rise to the formation of movable loose sediment masses and to the occurrence of gravity flows in the canyon valleys. Climate changes over the last decades contribute also to permafrost decomposition in the Baikal basin and to new-sediment transport into the lake. It is implied that an intensive development of the coastline leads to the coastal accumulation of a large amount of industrial and municipal contaminants which can move through the canyons to different distances into the lake water area. To date, there is no definite answer to the question about an actual role of underwater canyons in the transit of technogenic wastes to the abyssal lake surface. This requires organized large-scale specialized fieldwork with the use of high-precision geological-geophysical measuring instruments, and systematic sampling and thorough analysis of the bottom material.

A thermo-economic study of tubular solar distillers with V-corrugated basin and reflective mirrors

The advantage of the tubular solar still is the large receiving and condensation area that characterizes the performance of the distiller. This study aims to achieve the maximum possible benefit from this advantage by utilizing the best effective modifications to achieve the highest freshwater productivity. This was done by hybrid use of a V-corrugated basin and reflective mirrors in the seawater basin of the tubular distillers. To illustrate the influences of dual uses of V-corrugated basin and reflective mirrors on tubular distiller’s performance, the experimentations were conducted on two sets of experiments. In the first set, both the tubular solar distiller with V-corrugated absorber (TSD-VCA) and conventional tubular solar distiller (CTSD) were designed and tested at the same conditions. In the second set, both the tubular solar distiller with a V- corrugated absorber and reflective mirrors (TSD-VCA&RM) and CTSD were designed and tested under the same conditions in Tanta city, Egypt. Also, the influences of basin seawater masses were studied. The results indicated that the dual use of V-corrugated basin and reflective mirrors (TSD-VCA&RM) increases the accumulated productivity to 9.49 L/m2 day with 100.2 % improvement compared to CTSD. The highest achieved accumulative thermal and exergy efficiencies of TSD-VCA&RM are 80.25 and 15.26 %, with an improvement of 98.76 and 525.4 %, respectively, compared to CTSD. Furthermore, the economic feasibility illustrated that the dual use of V-corrugated basin and reflective mirrors are a very effective choice where it reduces the distillate water cost by 33.33 % compared to CTSD.

Improving the thermo-economic performance of hemispherical solar distiller using copper oxide nanofluids and phase change materials: Experimental and theoretical investigation

In the present work, a thermo-economic performance of the modified hemispherical solar still (MHSS) was studied and compared to traditional hemispherical solar still (THSS). The modulations accounted for two additives, namely: paraffin wax as phase change materials (PCM), and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles. Three cases of MHSS were investigated and compared to THSS: (0.3 wt%) CuO nanomaterials were immersed in the basin water, implementing PCM container below the basin, and combining PCM container below the basin plus mixing CuO nanoparticles in the basin water. The basin water depth in all stills was set at 1.0 cm in all cases. Moreover, the thermo-economic performance of the four studied cases was compared and evaluated by determining the freshwater productivity, the daily energy efficiency, and the freshwater cost. Experiments have been carried out on the proposed hemispherical distillers under hot climatic conditions of El-Oued (33°27′N, 7°11′E), Algeria. The results show that the single utilization of CuO/water nanofluid and pure PCM improved productivity by 60.41% and 29.17%, respectively, compared to THSS. While, the dual usage of PCM and CuO/water nanofluid further enhanced the productivity by up to 80.20%, relative to THSS. Moreover, the daily energy efficiencies of the hemispherical distillers under the different studied cases (THSS, MHSS/PCM, MHSS/CuO-water nanofluid, and MHSS/PCM + CuO-water nanofluid) were found to be 35.52%, 45.45%, 56.46%, and 63.61%), respectively. The economic feasibility of these modifications presented that the dual usage of PCM and CuO/water nanofluid is more effective as it reduces the cost of freshwater production by 75% compared to THSS. In the third distiller (Modified hemispherical solar still with 0.3 wt% CuO/water nanofluid (MHSS-CuO/water NF)), the modified was done by adding (0.3 wt%) copper oxide (CuO) nanomaterials to the basin water, to improve the thermal properties of nanofluid and increase the intensity of the absorbed solar energy. In the fourth distiller (Modified hemispherical solar still with paraffin wax as phase change materials and 0.3 wt% CuO/water nanofluid (MHSS-PCM + CuO/water NF)), it was designed and constructed a circular galvanized steel container 1 mm thick, 340 mm diameter, and edge height 40 mm, coated with the black pained. This container was placed inside the wooden basin of the hemispherical solar still. A gap of 20 mm thickness was maintained between the container and the wooden basin on the bottom side and sidewall. 2.0 kg of paraffin wax as phase change materials was placed in the gap between the container and the wooden basin, to store the solar energy in the periods of higher solar rays and recovery it in the periods of low solar rays and after sunset. Moreover, in this modification copper oxide (CuO) nanomaterials were also added to the basin seawater with a concentration of 0.3 wt%, to improve the thermal properties of saline water and increase the intensity of absorbed solar energy, and improve the rates of heat transfer. • Dual usage of PCM and CuO nanofluid has great influence on hemispherical distiller performance. • Thermo-economic performance of the modified hemispherical solar still was studied. • Dual usage of PCM and CuO/water nanofluid enhanced the productivity by 80.20%. • Dual usage of PCM and CuO/water nanofluid reduces the freshwater cost by 90%. • Daily efficiency of MHSS with dual usage of PCM and CuO/water nanofluid reached 63.61%.

In-situ LA-ICP-MS and EMP trace element analyses of hematite: Insight into the geochemical signature of the Neoproterozoic Urucum iron formation, Brazil

Hematite hosted in iron formations (IFs) is widely held as a transformation of (bio)chemical precipitates, which may register depositional conditions and sources responsible for the origin of these enigmatic rocks. Consequently, this is an attractive target to mineral-specific geochemical investigations aiming at distinguishing primary signatures from ore-related transformations and terrigenous contamination. This study reports in situ Electron Microprobe (EMP) and Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses of hematite grains from the Neoproterozoic Urucum IF, Jacadigo-Boqui Gr. The hematite grains were divided into three main morpho-textural types: (i) anhedral, micro-crystalline hematite (Hm1); (ii) coarser, subhedral to euhedral, microspecular (Hm2) and (iii) microplaty (Hm3) hematite. Factor analysis (FA) was used to trace underlying relationships among the trace elements (TEs). The identified factors were correlated to: (i) substitutions in the hematite structure (F3a, MgO-MnO-Al2O3-TiO2; and F1b, Al-Ti-V); (ii) mineral inclusions (F1a, SiO2; F2a, P2O5-CaO-MgO; and F2b, Mg-Mn-Sr); (iii) hydrogenous and diagenetic incorporation (F3b, Th-Zr-Cu and Ba-REE; F4b, Si-U-Hf). The TE compositions are broadly consistent in all hematite types; this trend suggests limited post-depositional overprinting. Nearly isochemical signatures show that transformation of ferrihydrite to hematite and the subsequent recrystallization of this mineral were dominated by solid-state processes under high Eh. Elements exclusively incorporated in the hematite structure (Al, Ti, V) did not show significant fractionation with increasing recrystallization. Replacement and solution precipitation also occurred, albeit to a lesser extent. The recrystallization of Hm1 to Hm2 and Hm3 was likely controlled by texture and assisted by pressure and fluid circulation. Warm, alkaline, basin brines were also responsible for the dissolution of gangue minerals, particularly chert. Consequently, elements associated with mineral inclusions (Si, P, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Sr) decrease in abundance from Hm1 to Hm2 and Hm3. Ptygmatic quartz veinlets and chert dissolution pods attest to silica leaching and volume reduction leading to hypogene enrichment. Supergene enrichment resulted in ubiquitous secondary porosity, but generally did not affect the composition of the hematite grains. Non-CHARAC Zr/Hf ratios suggest active HFSE fractionation processes. Super-chondritic ratios record basin seawater enriched in Zr as a consequence of the fractionation of Hf onto amorphous silica, registered by sub-chondritic Zr/Hf ratios and a correlation between Si and Hf in factor F4b. Distinctively seawater-like REE pasterns suggest a common precursor hydrogenous phase. Consistent true negative Ce anomalies and generally low Th/U ratios, together with the relatively common occurrence of hematite peloids, suggest that the precursor ferrihydrite particles were deposited and accumulated near the water-sediment interface, in a well-oxygenated shallow water setting. This implies the existence of a discrete chemocline separating the deep ferruginous waters from oxygenated shallow waters.

Methods for Optical Monitoring of Oil Pollution of Sea Water Basins Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

We present the results of devising new techniques and technical means for utilizing small-sized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in ecological monitoring of marine water basins in compliance with the MARPOL 73/78 international convention. The development of a hardware-software complex is described for the system of recognizing oil spills using elements of artificial intelligence. The laboratory experiments on identifying oil spills by laser induced fluorescence (LIF) methods are presented, as well as the methods of recording the spectrum of upward solar radiation.

A Palaeoproterozoic dolomite (Vempalle Formation, Cuddapah Basin, India) showing Phanerozoic-type dolomitisation

The Palaeoproterozoic Vempalle Formation of the Cuddapah Basin, India, significantly adds to our understanding of the evolution of Precambrian marine carbonate systems and the redox state of the Earth’s early oceans. A facies-microfacies-diagenetic-geochemical examination of samples from a ∼1000-m long exposure in a freshly-cut canal section shows that 10–15% of precursor limestone is still preserved in the Vempalle Formation in the form of remnant patches of calcimicrite and ooids with calcite spar cement. The ooids, preserving primary radial and concentric fabrics and radial fractures, are considered to have been originally precipitated as calcite, which may have been low-Mg. In places the preserved calcite spar, that is partially replaced by fabric-destructive dolomite, shows Type I calcite twin lamellae. Petrographic observations demonstrate that Vempalle Formation dolomite formed through very early precipitation, which in stromatolites preserved microbial filaments, as well as through fabric-destructive dolomitization during shallow to moderate burial. Vempalle Formation dolomite is characterized by micritic dolomite crystals which suggest rapid early dolomitization of lime mud and micritic calcite from a supersaturated Mg-Ca-rich solution, probably near-surface or during shallow burial. Depletion of Na and Sr contents of Vempalle Formation dolomite along with negative δ18O values indicate dolomite recrystallisation during burial and further replacement. Dolomite δ13C values of −0.5 to 2‰ are likely inherited original marine values. Geochemical proxies (trace elements and rare earths) imply that Cuddapah Basin seawater and dolomitizing fluids were anoxic and ferruginous but not euxinic. Geochemical analyses also indicate that the burial diagenetic fluids evolved from Eu-enriched seawater that probably resulted from continental rifting around 1.9–2.0 Ga. This probable ocean chemistry is in contrast with the anoxic, ferruginous and extremely high Mg/Ca “dolomite oceans” that prevailed during Proterozoic time. The Vempalle dolomite shows more similarities with dolomitised Phanerozoic platform carbonates than typical Precambrian dolomite with its well-preserved textures and burial dolospar cements.

Is seawater geochemical composition recorded in marine carbonate? Evidence from iron and manganese contents in Late Devonian carbonate rocks

Iron and manganese are the important redox-sensitive elements in the ocean. Previous studies have established a series of paleo-depositional redox proxies based on the form and content of iron in sedimentary rocks (e.g., degree of pyritization, FeHR/FeT, Fe/Al). These proxies were developed and applied on siliciclastic-rich marine sediments. Although marine carbonate rocks are generally considered to preserve the geochemical signals of ancient seawater, neither Fe nor Mn content in marine carbonate rocks (Fecarb, Mncarb) has been independently used as a proxy to quantify environmental cues in paleo-oceans. Both Fe and Mn are insoluble in oxic conditions (Fe2O3, Fe(OH)3, MnO2), while their reduced forms (Fe2+ and Mn2+) are soluble. Therefore, oxic seawater should have low concentrations of dissolved Fe2+ and Mn2+, and accordingly carbonate rocks precipitated from oxic seawater should have low Fecarb and Mncarb, and vice versa. To evaluate whether Fecarb and Mncarb can be used to quantify oxygen fugacity in seawater, we measured Fecarb and Mncarb of Upper Devonian marine carbonate rocks collected from nine sections in South China. Fecarb of intraplatform basin samples was significantly higher than that of shelf samples, while shelf and basin samples had comparable Mncarb. The modeling result indicates that the dramatic difference in Fecarb cannot be explained by variation in oxygen fugacity between the shelf and basin seawater. Instead, both Fecarb and Mncarb appear to be more sensitive to benthic flux from sediment porewater that is enriched in Fe2+ and Mn2+. Porewater Fe2+ and Mn2+ derive from bacterial iron and manganese reduction; flux was controlled by sedimentation rate and the depth of the Fe(Mn) reduction zone in sediments, the latter of which is determined by oxygen fugacity at the water–sediment interface. Thus, high Fecarb of the basin samples might be attributed to low sedimentation rate and/or low oxygen fugacity at the seafloor. However, invariant Mncarb of the shelf and basin samples might be the consequence of complete reduction of Mn in sediments. Our study indicates that marine carbonate rocks may not necessarily record seawater composition, particularly for benthic carbonate rocks. The influence of benthic flux might cause carbonate rocks’ geochemical signals to deviate significantly from seawater values. Our study suggests that interpretation of geochemical data from carbonate rocks, including carbonate carbon isotopes, should consider the process of carbonate formation.

Lake Peipsi as a biggest transboundary lake in Europe

Lake Peipsi sensu lato (s.l.) (Chudskoe or Chudsko-Pskovskoe in Russian) (3555 km2) is the biggest international lake in Europe and the fourth largest lake in Europe after the Ladoga, the Onega, and the Vänern with respect to surface area and is located in the Baltic Sea water basin. Three states share its water basin – the Russian Federation 59%, Estonia 34% and Latvia 7% of the basin area. The formation and distribution of the structural types of bottom deposits of Lake Peipsi is determined by hydro-meteorological (waves, currents, seasonal water-level fluctuations, lake ice impacts) as well as by the local geologic and geomorphologic factors like the topography and coastal morphology. The central part of the Lake Peipsi s.s. is 9–11 m deep; the coastal zone is shallow and the rather monotonous floor descends for some kilometres in the eastern and western coasts. The main land cover of the Lake Peipsi catchment is forest (50–70%) and agricultural lands (~30%). The water quality of the Lake Peipsi basin depends on natural processes and human activities. The trophic level of Lake Peipsi has increased step by step from mesotrophic-eutrophic to eutrophic-hypertrophic during the past decades. The main commercial fishes of Lake Peipsi are lake smelt, perch, ruff, roach, bream, pike, vendace and pikeperch. Being officially approved by the Estonian-Russian Transboundary Water Commission, the Lake Peipsi basin Management Programme forms a base for the future joint actions in the basin. River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) has been established for the shared river basin district, but separately in Estonia and Russia. Both sides notify each other regularly on the planned and implemented measures, however, the implementation of such measures is decided and done independently from each other. The management measures in Estonia should prioritize land use issues, such as a reduction of diffuse emissions from agriculture; in contrast, the Russian policy should focus on improved municipal and industrial waste-water treatment and the drinking water quality.

Water Column Distribution of Mercury Species in Permanently Stratified Aqueous Environments

Biogeochemical structures of three permanently stratified waterbodies were studied: a sea water basin (the Black Sea), an estuary (Hunnbunn fjord), and a freshwater lake (Nordbytjernet), with focus on the distributions of methylmercury (MeHg) and total mercury (THg). THg concentrations were similar in the sea water basin (0.2–1.8 ng/L) and the freshwater lake (0.8–1.2 ng/L), but significantly higher in the estuary (0.6–9.4 ng/L). An increase in the MeHg concentration and MeHg/THg ratio were found in the redox zone in all three basins, indicating bacterial production of MeHg in the aqueous phase. In the lake and estuary, the maximum MeHg concentration and MeHg/THg ratio were found in samples located closest to the bottom sediments, likely due to the formation of MeHg in surface sediments and subsequent diffusion to the overlying waters.

Basin-scale controls on the molybdenum-isotope composition of seawater during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (Late Cretaceous)

It is well established that the burial of organic carbon in marine sediments increased dramatically at a global scale at the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary (Oceanic Anoxic Event 2: OAE-2, ∼94Myr ago, Late Cretaceous). Many localities containing chemostratigraphic expressions of this event are not, however, enriched in organic carbon, and point to a heterogeneous set of oceanographic and environmental processes operating in different ocean basins. These processes are difficult to reconstruct because of the uneven geographical distribution of sites recording OAE-2, thus limiting our understanding of the causes and palaeoceanographic consequences of the environmental changes that occurred at this time. A new, highly resolved molybdenum-isotope dataset is presented from the Cape Verde Basin (southern proto-North Atlantic Ocean) and a lower resolution record from the Tarfaya Basin, Morocco. The new data reveal periodic oscillations in the Mo-isotope composition of proto-North Atlantic Ocean sediments, from which coupled changes in the dissolved sulphide concentration and Mo inventories of the basin seawater can be inferred. The cyclic variations in sedimentary Mo-isotope compositions can be hypothetically linked to regional changes in the depth of the chemocline, and in the rate of seawater exchange between basinal waters and global seawater. The new data suggest that a global seawater Mo-isotope composition of ∼1.2‰ was reached very soon after the onset of OAE-2, implying a rapid expansion of marine deoxygenation coeval with, or slightly preceding, enhanced global rates of organic-carbon burial. During OAE-2, the modelled flux of Mo into anoxic sediments is likely to have been ∼60–125 times greater than at the present day, although the spatial extent of anoxia is unlikely to have been greater than 10% of the total seafloor.

The reliability of ∼2.9 Ga old Witwatersrand banded iron formations (South Africa) as archives for Mesoarchean seawater: Evidence from REE and Nd isotope systematics

Pure marine chemical sediments, such as (Banded) Iron Formations, (B)IFs, are archives of geochemical proxies for the composition of Precambrian seawater and may provide information about the ancient hydrosphere-atmosphere system. We here present rare earths and yttrium (REY) and high precision Sm–Nd isotope data of ∼2.90 Ga old Superior-type BIFs from the Witwatersrand Supergroup, South Africa, and compare those with data for near-contemporaneous BIFs from the correlative Pongola Supergroup (Superior-type BIF) and from the Pietersburg Greenstone Belt (Algoma-type IF), respectively. All Witwatersrand samples studied display the typical general REY distribution of Archean seawater, but their REY anomalies are less pronounced and their immobile element concentrations are higher than those of other pure (B)IFs. These observations indicate the presence of significant amounts of detrital aluminosilicates in the Witwatersrand BIFs and question the reliability of the Contorted Bed and Water Tower BIFs (Parktown Formation, West Rand Group) as archives of Mesoarchean seawater. Significant post-depositional alteration of the REY budget and the Sm–Nd isotope system is not observed. The Nd isotopic compositions of the purest BIF samples, i.e. the most reliable archives for Witwatersrand seawater, show initial εNd values between −3.95 and −2.25. This range is more negative than what is observed in ambient shales, indicating a decoupling of suspended and dissolved loads in the “near-shore” Witwatersrand Basin seawater. However, εNd range overlaps with that of the correlative Pongola BIF (Alexander et al., 2008). The deeper-water Algoma-type Pietersburg BIF shows more positive (i.e. more mantle-like) εNd2.9Ga values, supporting the hypothesis that a significant amount of its REY inventory was derived from black smoker-style, high-temperature hydrothermal fluids that had altered seafloor basalts. In marked contrast, the dissolved REY budgets (including the Nd isotopic compositions) of the Witwatersrand and Pongola seawater, however, were dominated by similar terrigenous REY sources from the Kaapvaal Craton.

Oxygenation of a Cryogenian ocean (Nanhua Basin, South China) revealed by pyrite Fe isotope compositions

The nature of ocean redox chemistry between the Cryogenian Sturtian and Marinoan glaciations (ca. 663–654 Ma) is important for understanding the relationship between environmental conditions and the subsequent emergence and expansion of early animals. The Cryogenian-to-Ediacaran stratigraphic succession of the Nanhua Basin in South China provides a nearly complete sedimentary record of the Cryogenian, including a continuous record of interglacial sedimentation. Here, we present a high-resolution pyrite Fe isotope record for a ∼120-m-long drill-core (ZK105) through Sturtian glacial diamictites and the overlying interglacial sediments in the Nanhua Basin to explore changes in marine chemistry during the late Cryogenian. Our pyrite Fe isotope profile exhibits significant stratigraphic variation: Interval I, comprising middle to upper Tiesi'ao diamictites (correlative with the Sturtian glaciation), is characterized by light, modern seawater-like Fe isotope compositions; Interval II, comprising uppermost Tiesi'ao diamictites and the basal organic-rich Datangpo Formation, is characterized by an abrupt shift to heavier Fe isotope compositions; and Interval III, comprising organic-poor grey shales in the middle Datangpo Formation, is characterized by the return of lighter, seawater-like Fe isotope compositions. We infer that Interval I pyrite was deposited in a predominantly anoxic glacial Nanhua Basin through reaction of dissolved Fe2+ and H2S mediated by microbial sulfate reduction (MSR). The shift to heavier pyrite Fe isotope values in Interval II is interpreted as partial oxidation of ferrous iron to ferric iron and subsequent near-quantitative reduction and transformation of Fe-oxyhydroxides to pyrite through coupling with oxidation of organic matter in the local diagenetic environment. In Interval III, near-quantitative oxidation of ferrous iron to Fe-oxyhydroxides followed by near-quantitative reduction and conversion to pyrite in the local diagenetic environment was likely responsible for the return of lighter, seawater-like Fe isotope compositions in pyrite. Our pyrite Fe isotope profile thus records increased oxygenation in the Nanhua Basin between the Sturtian and Marinoan glaciations.The increased oxygenation of Nanhua Basin seawater deduced from pyrite Fe isotopes could have resulted from either local or global controls. Further work will be needed to determine whether this increasing oxygenation extended to the global scale.

Simulations of currents and pollution transport in the coastal waters of Big Sochi

We suggested a method for modelling the transport of pollutants over the Black Sea water basin adjacent to Big Sochi. The model is based on the application of the Institute of Numerical Mathematics Ocean Model (INMOM) over the entire basin of Big Sochi in two versions: M1 and M2. In the first version, we use uniform spatial resolution of the model with a step of ∼4 km; in the M2 version, the resolution is not uniform. The step decreases to 50 m in the basin of Big Sochi. The M2 version is used only in the periods when pollution transport is simulated, for which the initial hydrothermodynamic state is specified from the M1 version. Both versions reflect a complex character of Black Sea circulation; however, the M2 version more adequately reproduces the eddy circulation in its eastern part, where the horizontal resolution of the M2 version is higher. A conclusion is made on this basis that, in order to reproduce the eddy structure of the Black Sea circulation, the resolution of the model should be on the order of 1.5 km and the main factor of the formation of the quasi-stationary Batumi anticyclonic eddy is the topographic peculiarities in this part of the sea. The pollution spreading from the Sochi, Khosta, and Mzymta rivers and from 18 pipes of deep-water sewage was simulated for the flood periods from April 1, 2007, to April 30, 2007. It was shown that mesoscale eddy formations that form a complex three-dimensional structure of pollution spreading make the greatest contribution to the spread of pollution.

Complex monitoring of the state of sea water basins by optical methods: part 4. Fiber optic system for measurements of the phytoplankton concentration

Engineering tools for the real time monitoring of phytoplankton by the fluorescence method in coastal waters are considered. Preliminary results of the monitoring using a submersible fluorimetric system for the real time measurements are given. A possibility of using fiber optic submersible and pumped systems for integrated monitoring of coastal waters is discussed.

Complex monitoring of the state of sea water basins by optical methods. Part 2. Sea surface pollution registration

Optical instruments and methods for a rapid and complex monitoring of coastal waters are analyzed. Usability of polarization panoramic shore-based optical systems for mapping and estimating the dynamic parameters of sea surface pollution with organic films is shown. A possibility of estimating the near-surface wind velocity by processing a temporal sequence of panoramic images is considered. In addition, this video system can be used for real-time direction of research vessels to hydrologic objects (vortices, internal waves, sea surface pollution, etc.) in coastal zones via mobile Internet.

Complex monitoring of the state of sea water basins by optical methods. Part 3. Recording of dynamic processes by slicks on the sea surface

This is the third in a series of papers devoted to the development of instruments and techniques for rapid and complex analysis of the ecological status of coastal waters by optical methods. Capabilities of shore-based optical systems to map and determine the dynamic characteristics of ocean eddies and internal waves are shown. The efficiency of the maximum cross correlation method for retrieving the flow velocity field in the vortex body and the phase velocities of internal waves from optical images of the sea surface is discussed.

Interfacial film formation: Influence on oil spreading rates in lab basin tests and dispersant effectiveness testing in a wave tank

Test facilities such as lab basins and wave tanks are essential when evaluating the use of chemical dispersants to treat oil spills at sea. However, these test facilities have boundaries (walls) that provide an ideal environment for surface (interfacial) film formation on seawater. Surface films may form from surfactants naturally present in crude oil as well as dispersant drift/overspray when applied to an oil spill. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of surface film formation on oil spreading rates in a small scale lab basin and on dispersant effectiveness conducted in a large scale wave tank. The process of crude oil spreading on the surface of the basin seawater was influenced in the presence of a surface film as shown using a 1st order kinetic model. In addition, interfacial film formation can greatly influence chemically dispersed crude oil in a large scale dynamic wave tank.

Details of oil-water interaction in sea and fresh waters

Deterioration of the surface waters of fresh and sea water basins of the North caused by human interven� tion requires more active development of the grounds of sustainable water utilization and estimation of the hydrosphere resistance to human impact. Physico� chemical simulation of the interaction of oil hydrocar� bons with water may make a considerable contribution to the solution of this problem. The hypothesis of hydrolytic disproportionation at high temperature and pressure [1] indicates that СО2, СН3СООН, and СН3СОО – may exist under these conditions. It was shown [2] that carboxylic acids can form in the hypergenesis area. A study of the spectrum of methanogen substrates demonstrated [3] that they are primary species with respect to microbiological methanogenesis and that in most fresh water ecologi� cal systems, acetates, Н 2 , and СО 2 predominate among them, which is evidence for the occurrence of disproportionation. The physicochemical model for the interaction of atmospheric water with coal beds [4] provides the con� clusion that the subsurface water of the Nezhinskoe deposit is in equilibrium with the nitrogen–carbon dioxide atmosphere (which also contains methane and hydrogen sulfide) and demonstrates that for Eh < 0, the alkalinity increases due to formation by the scheme: + NH4 The analytical data on the chemical composition of water usually do not include nitrogen content; there� fore, no unambiguous conclusions about either equi�

Complex monitoring of the state of sea water basins by optical methods. Part 1. The concept of constructing the multilevel measurement systems for ecological monitoring of coastal water basins

We begin a series of works devoted to the creation of technical means and methods for a rapid and complex monitoring of the state of sea water basins by optical methods. The feasibility of multilevel measurement systems for the ecological monitoring of coastal water basins is demonstrated. We present preliminary results of monitoring of spills formed by organic films of different types of pollutants; the monitoring was performed by means of lidar diagnostics of the water surface with the help of stationary coastal video surveillance systems. The application of submerged fluorometric systems for real-time monitoring of sea waters is shown. The effectiveness of the combined use of these systems for monitoring coastal water basins is discussed.

Trace Element Level in Different Tissues of Rutilus frisii kutum Collected from Tajan River, Iran

Tajan River is among the most significant rivers of the Caspian Sea water basin. In this study, the concentration of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Zn were determined in brain, heart, liver, gill, bile, and muscle of Rutilus frisii kutum which has great economic value in the Mazandaran state. Trace element levels in fish samples were analyzed by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. Nearly all non-essential metals levels (Ni, Pb, Cd) detected in tissues were higher than limits for fish proposed by FAO/WHO, EU, and TFC. Generally, non-essential metals (Ni, Pb) were so much higher in muscle than the essential metals (Cu, Zn, and Mn) except Fe, which was higher than other metals in nearly all parts, except in gills. Fe distribution pattern in tissues was in order of heart>brain>liver>muscle>bile>gill. Distribution patterns of metal concentrations in the muscle of fish as a main edible part followed the sequence: Fe>Pb>Ni>Cu>Mn>Zn>Cd.