Riverine Sources Research Articles

Establishment of base population for selective breeding of catla (Catla catla) depending on phenotypic and microsatellite marker information

The phenotypic and microsatellite marker information of nine strains of catla (Catla catla) for growth trait was used to infer relationship within and between strains. This information helped in optimizing the proportion of individuals to be used from each strain while creating a base population for selective breeding. For this purpose, nine strains were collected from different sources and places of India namely West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Two riverine sources i.e. Ganga and Subarnarekha were also represented among the nine strains collected for base population. They were brought to Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA) at fry stage and reared separately till fingerlings. After passive integrated transponder tagging fingerlings were stocked in three communal ponds for one year culture. Live body weights were then measured and least square means were obtained after pond effect correction. A wide range of variation was observed among and between strains. Microsatellite markers were used to estimate genetic differences of different strains of catla using pair wise F ST estimates. Overall multi locus F ST, including all loci was estimated to be 0.4137 (P < 0.05), indicating genetic heterogeneity among them. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that, 58.63% of variation was due to within individual variation, 3.45% of variation was due to among individuals within strain and 37.92% was due to among strain variations. Both phenotypic as well as microsatellite data will be used to form a base population of catla with individuals from the stock having broad genetic variation for selective breeding programme.

Assessing the Effects of WFD Nutrient Reductions Within an OSPAR Frame Using Trans-boundary Nutrient Modeling

The reduction of riverine nutrients inputs is considered the means of choice to improve the eutrophication status of the southern North Sea. With the European Union's Water Framework Directive (WFD) reduction measures presently under debate, two questions arise: (1) What changes in eutrophication indicators can be expected? (2) How do the reductions by the individual member states contribute to these? We combine an element tracing method (TBNT) with a biogeochemical model to analyze the effects of WFD-compliant nitrogen reductions proposed by OSPAR's North Sea member states. We first analyze changes in selected OSPAR assessment parameters relative to a reference simulation. Second, we quantify the source-specific contributions to total nitrogen (TN) in different regions. An overall nitrogen load reduction of 14 % is achieved. However, the response shows significant spatial variations due to strong differences between the countries' load reductions. TN and dissolved inorganic nitrogen reductions up to 60 % and 35 % are simulated near the Bay of Seine (France) and in the German Bight, respectively. Along the Dutch coast, reductions are below 10 %, and no changes occur along the British coast. Reductions in chlorophyll-a are generally lower. The TBNT analysis for the German Exclusive Economic Zone shows a TN reduction in the coastal region comparable to the N reductions in the German rivers (~25 %). In the offshore region, TN is reduced by only 6 % due to the strong influence of riverine sources with only low reductions and non-riverine sources. Our analysis reveals that non-linear responses in the biogeochemistry cause a faster removal of N from rivers with strong reductions by benthic denitrification, which enhances indirectly the removal of N from less reduced sources. Consequently, reductions in remote sources in non-problem areas can have a relevant positive effect on problem areas. This demonstrates that the TBNT method is an ideal tool to put in practice the “source-oriented approach” advocated by OSPAR, and to inform stakeholders about the effects of defined reduction strategies. However, an assessment framework is required to efficiently use it in management and for decision making, either by OSPAR, or in the context of WFD or Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Limited impact of eolian and riverine sources on the biogeochemical cycling of Cd in the tropical Atlantic

We present coupled cadmium (Cd) concentrations and Cd isotopic compositions (expressed as δ114Cd) in seawater profiles along the northeast-southwest GEOTRACES GA11 section in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The GA11 section encompasses three contrasting regions including the Amazon River plume, the North African dust plume, and the Guinea Dome oxygen deficient zone (ODZ). Given the long oceanic residence time of Cd (104 to 105 yr), local inputs such as atmospheric and riverine sources are generally considered to be of little importance for the open ocean Cd budget, and the limited Cd isotope dataset available thus far has prevented any unambiguous conclusions on the importance of these processes. The GA11 section is ideally located for assessing the influence of external, natural and anthropogenic riverine and eolian inputs, as well as internal processes, on the Cd mass balance in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. As in previous Cd isotope studies, this dataset documents that both surface consumption–regeneration of micronutrients within the water column and deep water mass mixing exert the prime control on the cycling of Cd. However, we do observe some near-surface samples with lower-than-expected δ114Cd signatures along the western section of the transect. Surface waters sampled at the margin of the Amazon freshwater plume show no resolvable difference in [Cd] and δ114Cd compared to waters outside of the plume, suggesting that the Amazon River is not an important source of Cd to the open ocean. Although the eastern GA11 transect is directly downwind of the Saharan dust plume, atmospheric Cd deposition accounts for <1% of the inferred upwelling flux, indicating that atmospheric inputs to the surface North Atlantic Ocean, even within the main Saharan dust plume, only have a relatively minor influence on the Cd budget. In the subsurface tropical Atlantic (100–200 m water depth), there is a clear deviation from a tight linear Cd-PO4 correlation toward lower Cd concentrations for a given PO4 concentration. Our new Cd data show that this Cd-PO4 decoupling is likely a feature of the entire tropical Atlantic and may possibly reflect PO4 enrichment via preferential re-mineralization of organically-bound phosphorus. Alternatively, the decoupling may arise from subsurface Cd depletion caused by precipitation of Cd sulphide within sinking organic particulate microenvironments, as has been suggested in recent studies.This article is part of a special issue entitled: “Cycles of trace elements and isotopes in the ocean – GEOTRACES and beyond” - edited by Tim M. Conway, Tristan Horner, Yves Plancherel, and Aridane G. González.

Lateral variations and vertical structure of the microbial methane cycle in the sediment of Lake Onego (Russia)

ABSTRACTThe significance of methane production by lakes to the global production of greenhouse gas is well acknowledged while underlying processes sustaining the lacustrine methane budget remain largely unknown. We coupled biogeochemical data to functional and phylogenetic analyses to understand how sedimentary parameters characterize the methane cycle vertically and horizontally in the ice-covered bay of the second largest lake in Europe, Lake Onego, Russia. Our results support a heterogeneous winter methane cycle, with higher production and oxidation closest to riverine inputs. Close to the river mouth, the largest numbers of copies of methane-related functional genes pmoA and mcrA were associated with a specific functional community, and methane production potential exceeded oxidation, resulting in 6–10 times higher methane fluxes than in the rest of the bay. The elevated fluxes arise from the spatial differences in quantity and type (lacustrine versus riverine sources) of organic matter. More homogeneity is found toward the open lake, where the sediment is vertically structured into 3 zones: a shallow zone of methane oxidation; a transitional zone (5–10 cm) where anaerobic methane oxidation is dominant; and a methane production zone below. This vertical pattern is structured by the redox gradient and human-induced changes in sedimentary inputs to the bay. Retrieved 16S rRNA gene sequences from Candidatus Methanoperedens and Cand. Methylomirabilis suggest that anaerobic oxidation of methane occurs in these freshwater lake sediments.

Black Sea rivers capture significant change in catchment-wide mean annual temperature and soil pH during the Miocene-to-Pliocene transition

The Neogene sedimentary successions of the Black Sea basin are ideal to study ancient paleoclimatic and hydrological changes in the Eurasian continental interior. Previous investigations revealed several phases of strongly enhanced evaporitic and dry conditions in the late Miocene. Here, we present the first reconstructed mean annual air temperature (MAAT) and soil pH data, combined with compound specific hydrogen isotopic (δD) records for the late Miocene to early Pliocene Black Sea basin, based on the analyses of biomarkers. Our MAAT, pH and δD data indicate that in the latest Tortonian (~8–7 Ma) mean annual air temperatures were approximately 5° higher than today, and that dry and warm climatic conditions prevailed. The early Messinian (7–6 Ma) is marked by a gradual change towards more humid, but still warm, conditions. The MAAT record shows a sharp decrease from 16 to 8 °C during the late Messinian (6.2–5.8 Ma) coinciding with a change towards extremely dry conditions. This cold and dry interval correlates to the time span marked by the late Miocene cooling of the northern hemisphere, and may also reflect a sea level change, restricting the Azov/Taman basin from the Black Sea. The calculated soil pH values in the range 7.1 to 7.7 are indicative for alkaline soils, such of those in the northern Eurasian hinterland, indicating a dominant northern Black Sea riverine source for the soil biomarkers. Finally, the Pliocene is marked by warmer conditions and lower soil pH, indicating a revival of the climatic conditions that characterized the Black Sea area during the late Messinian.

Headwater gas exchange quantified from O2 mass balances at the reach scale.

Headwater streams are important in the carbon cycle and there is a need to better parametrize and quantify exchange of carbon‐relevant gases. Thus, we characterized variability in the gas exchange coefficient (k 2) and dissolved oxygen (O2) gas transfer velocity (k) in two lowland headwaters of the River Avon (UK). The traditional one‐station open‐water method was complemented by in situ quantification of riverine sources and sinks of O2 (i.e., groundwater inflow, photosynthesis, and respiration in both the water column and benthic compartment) enabling direct hourly estimates of k 2 at the reach–scale (~ 150 m) without relying on the nighttime regression method. Obtained k 2 values ranged from 0.001 h−1 to 0.600 h−1. Average daytime k 2 were a factor two higher than values at night, likely due to diel changes in water temperature and wind. Temperature contributed up to 46% of the variability in k on an hourly scale, but clustering temperature incrementally strengthened the statistical relationship. Our analysis suggested that k variability is aligned with dominant temperature trends rather than with short‐term changes. Similarly, wind correlation with k increased when clustering wind speeds in increments correspondent with dominant variations (1 m s−1). Time scale is thus an important consideration when resolving physical drivers of gas exchange. Mean estimates of k 600 from recent parametrizations proposed for upscaling, when applied to the settings of this study, were found to be in agreement with our independent O2 budget assessment (within < 10%), adding further support to the validity of upscaling efforts aiming at quantifying large‐scale riverine gas emissions.

Numerical Modeling of the Interactions of Oil, Marine Snow, and Riverine Sediments in the Ocean

AbstractNatural or spilled oil in the ocean can interact with marine snow and sediment from riverine sources and form Marine Oil Snow (MOS) aggregates including aggregates consisting of phytoplankton, detritus, and feces. Such aggregates have a fractal structure and can transport oil from the surface layers to greater depths in the ocean, eventually settling on the seafloor. In recent studies of the Deepwater Horizon and IXTOC‐1 oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico, this process was identified as one of the main mechanisms for transporting oil vertically in the water column. We have adapted a stochastic, one‐dimensional numerical model that uses coagulation theory to simulate MOS formation and sinking in the ocean and predict the time evolution of physical properties and spatial distribution of MOS. Here we present the model development, calibration, and validation with measured MOS field data in the Gulf of Mexico during the Deepwater Horizon spill. We use a sensitivity analysis to identify critical parameters, and suggest future model improvements and areas where further experimental investigation is needed to improve our understanding of MOS formation and sedimentation. The model can be used during response and planning activities associated with oil spills in the marine environments.

Migration path and isotope tracing of 137Cs and 239 + 240Pu in estuary sediments: a case study of Liao River estuary in China

Currently, the distribution characteristics and transport processes of the radionuclides 137Cs and 239 + 240Pu in the sediments of estuaries are still a controversial issue. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the distribution characteristics, sources and migration path of 137Cs and 239 + 240Pu in sediment cores of the Liao River estuary (LRE), China, and evaluated the relative contributions of the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG) and riverine sources of Pu for the sediments in this area. We used 137Cs and Pu isotopes for dating the sediments and estimated the sedimentation rates by the two radionuclides in the LRE. Seven sediment samples were collected using a box corer from the Liao River estuarine wetland and tidal flat in the LRE in October 2012 and April 2015, respectively. The activities of 137Cs in the various samples were determined by γ spectrometry using HP-Ge detectors with 60% relative counting efficiency. Approximately 2–5 g of sediment were spiked with 242Pu (ca. 1 mBq) as a chemical yield tracer for Pu isotopic analysis at the School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University. The measurement of Pu isotopes (239Pu, 240Pu, 242Pu) was performed by a sector field ICP-MS. In order to quantitatively differentiate the relative proportions of global fallout and PPG, we employed a two-end member mixing model to estimate their contributions. The average values of 137Cs, 239 + 240Pu activity concentrations, and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in the surface sediment samples of the LRE were 6.727 ± 0.251 mBq g−1, 0.294 ± 0.024 mBq g−1, and 0.188 ± 0.049 (1σ), respectively. The average 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios ranged from 0.180 ± 0.034 to 0.199 ± 0.021 in sediment cores from the east and west sides of the LRE. For core LT-2 values for 137Cs and 239 + 240Pu concentrations were from below the detection limit: 3.380 ± 0.414 and 0.036 ± 0.007 to 0.105 ± 0.007 mBq g−1. The mean 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio 0.217 ± 0.050 (1σ) in sediment core LT-2 lies between the global fallout and PPG close-in fallout. We found that atmospheric fallout is the main source of Pu in sediment cores from the east and west sides of the LRE. For core LT-2, atmospheric fallout and riverine input (~ 73.4%) are the major sources of Pu with the source of the rest of Pu (~ 26.6%) attributed to the PPG via the Tsushima Warm Current and the coastal water of the East China Sea. The sedimentation rates (means 0.62–0.8 cm year−1) estimated by the two radionuclides were in good agreement and without any statistically significant difference.

Elemental concentration based potential ecological risk (PER) status of the surface sediments, Pulicat lagoon, Southeast coast of India

Eighty-three surface sediments were collected to investigate the element concentration based sediment pollution and potential ecological risk status of the Pulicat lagoon, southeast coast of India. The textural characteristics, Fe and Mn concentration in the surface sediments are chiefly controlled by the confluence of riverine inputs and vicinity of the marine environment. The varied distribution of CaCO3 concentration is due to the depth of the lagoon followed by the sand and silty sand characteristics of the substratum. The surface sediments are derived from riverine sources. Sediment Pollution Index (SPI), Potential Ecological Risk Index of the sediments suggests that they are falling under less polluted and low potential ecological risk category.

Carbon Isotopes (δ13C and Δ14C) in Shell Carbonate, Conchiolin, and Soft Tissues in Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica)

AbstractBiogeochemical analyses of eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are frequently included in environmental monitoring and paleoecological studies because their shells and soft tissues record environmental and dietary signals. Carbon isotopes in the mineral phase of the shell are derived from ambient bicarbonate and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), while organic carbon present in soft tissue is of dietary origin. Mineral-bound organic matter within the carbonate shell matrix (“conchiolin”) is studied less frequently. The purpose of this study was to compare carbon isotope composition (δ13C and Δ14C) of conchiolin to those of shell carbonates and soft tissues in eastern oysters and assess the extent to which conchiolin can provide insight into paleoecological records. Eleven oyster specimens were live-collected from Apalachicola Bay, USA, as well as a set of environmental samples (water, sediment, and terrestrial plants). Overall, the δ13C values in all studied oyster tissue types record environmental signals related to carbon sources, with conchiolin being enriched in13C by an average of 2.3‰ relative to bulk soft tissues. Δ14C values in oyster shell carbonates generally reflect the marine versus riverine source of DIC, while conchiolin Δ14C values are impacted by variable relative contributions of young and old organic matter. Environmental samples indicate a significantly large difference in Δ14C among sources, from –127‰ in particulate organic matter to approximately +15‰ in DIC. Conchiolin is significantly depleted in14C relative to other tissue types, by as much as 56.6‰, posing a major obstacle to the use of conchiolin as an alternative material for radiocarbon dating.

Seasonal variations and environmental risk assessment of trace elements in the sediments of Uppanar River estuary, southern India

Twenty four surface sediments were gathered from the Uppanar river estuary, southern India to evaluate the trace element contamination risk in the sediments. The circulation of organic matter and calcium carbonate were controlled by algal blooms and shell fragments. Moreover, the concentrations of iron and manganese in the estuarine sediments were possibly contributed by riverine sources and geogenic processes. The geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor and contamination factor reveals that the sediments were contaminated by copper and chromium. The pollution load index recommends that the estuarine sediments have the risk of pollution. The sediment pollution index highlights that the majority of the sediments are low polluted sediments. The potential ecological risk index discloses that the Uppanar river estuary is under moderate risk. The statistical analysis reveals that the organic matter content is managed by fine fractions and the majority of the trace elements are associated with each other having similar origin.

Spatial and vertical variations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the Bohai and Yellow Seas: Bridging the gap between riverine sources and marine sinks

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are being increasingly reported as emerging contaminants in riverine and marine settings. This study investigated the contamination level and spatial distribution of 17 PFAAs within the depth profile of the Bohai and Yellow Seas using newly detected sampling data from 49 sites (June 29 to July 14, 2016). Moreover, the riverine flux of 11 selected PFAAs in 33 rivers draining into the Bohai and Yellow Seas was estimated from previous studies (2002–2014) in order to establish the relationship between riverine sources and marine sinks. The results showed that the Bohai and Yellow Seas were commonly contaminated with PFAAs: total concentrations of PFAAs in the surface, middle, and bottom zones ranged from 4.55 to 556 ng L−1, 4.61–575 ng L−1, and 4.94–572 ng L−1, respectively. The predominant compounds were PFOA (0.55–449 ng L−1), PFBA (<LOQ-34.5 ng L−1), and PFPeA (<LOQ-54.3 ng L−1), accounting for 10.1–87.0%, 5.2–59.5%, and 0.6–68.6% of the total PFAAs, respectively. In general, the ∑PFAA concentrations showed a slightly decreasing trend with sampling depth. Contamination was particularly severe in Laizhou Bay, fed by the Xiaoqing River and an industrial park known for PFAA production. The total riverine PFAA mass flux into the Bohai and Yellow Seas was estimated to be 72.2 t y−1, of which 94.8% was carried by the Yangtze and Xiaoqing Rivers. As the concentration of short-chain PFAAs begins to rise in seawater, further studies on the occurrence and fate of short-chain PFAAs with special focus on effective control measures would be very timely, particularly in the Xiaoqing River and Laizhou Bay.

Significant production of humic fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the continental shelf waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean

Fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) is important for marine organisms and the global carbon cycle contributing to the optical properties of surface seawater and organic carbon budgets. Rivers are known to be the main source of FDOM in coastal oceans and marginal seas. In this study, however, we show that the contribution of FDOM produced from organic sediments of the northwestern Pacific continental shelf is similar to that from the Changjiang River. FDOM showed relatively higher concentrations at stations off the Changjiang River mouth and in the central Yellow Sea. Based on temperature-salinity diagrams, the major source of surface FDOM in summer surface waters was found to be from the Changjiang River while that observed in the winter water column was produced mainly in the continental shelf. A good correlation between 228Ra and the humic-like FDOM (FDOMH) during the winter suggests that the FDOMH is produced mainly from marine sediments and enriched in water over the water residence times. A simple mass balance calculation shows that the excess FDOMH fluxes produced from marine sediments account for 30–40% of the riverine source. This result suggests that the continental shelf is an important hidden source of FDOM in the upper ocean.

Time series models of decadal trends in the harmful algal species Karlodinium veneficum in Chesapeake Bay

The harmful dinoflagellate, Karlodnium veneficum, has been implicated in fish-kill and other toxic, harmful algal bloom (HAB) events in waters worldwide. Blooms of K. veneficum are known to be related to coastal nutrient enrichment but the relationship is complex because this HAB taxon relies not only on dissolved nutrients but also particulate prey, both of which have also changed over time. Here, applying cross-correlations of climate-related physical factors, nutrients and prey, with abundance of K. veneficum over a 10-year (2002–2011) period, a synthesis of the interactive effects of multiple factors on this species was developed for Chesapeake Bay, where blooms of the HAB have been increasing. Significant upward trends in the time series of K. veneficum were observed in the mesohaline stations of the Bay, but not in oligohaline tributary stations. For the mesohaline regions, riverine sources of nutrients with seasonal lags, together with particulate prey with zero lag, explained 15%–46% of the variation in the K. veneficum time series. For the oligohaline regions, nutrients and particulate prey generally showed significant decreasing trends with time, likely a reflection of nutrient reduction efforts. A conceptual model of mid-Bay blooms is presented, in which K. veneficum, derived from the oceanic end member of the Bay, may experience enhanced growth if it encounters prey originating from the tributaries with different patterns of nutrient loading and which are enriched in nitrogen. For all correlation models developed herein, prey abundance was a primary factor in predicting K. veneficum abundance.

Spatio-temporal Distribution and Source Apportionment of Nitrogen in Rivers of Tieling

This study analyzed the spatio-temporal distribution and sources of nitrogen (N) in 22 rivers in Tieling City during 2013-07-2014-07. The results showed that the concentrations of TN, NO3--N, and NH4+-N were 1.26-18.85, 0.53-11.8, and 0.3-15.7 mg·L-1, with an annual mean value of (5.8±1.9), (2.8±1.74), and (2.0±1.1) mg·L-1, respectively. Overall, NO3--N was the main form of N with a percentage of 48%. The concentration of N in the wet season was significantly higher than that in the normal and dry seasons. According to the standards for surface water quality, water quality in eight rivers was worse than grade Ⅲ. Tiaozi River and Xiaoqing River were seriously polluted by ammonia N with a grade Ⅴ water quality through the sampling period, while Xiliao River, Xiaohezi River, and Liao River met the water quality standards. During the sampling period, δ15 N and δ18 O in nitrate in river waters were -3.0‰-23.9‰ and -11.7‰-57‰, respectively. Based on the data on the isotopes of N and O, N in the rivers in Tieling City mainly originated from human and animal excreta, industrial effluents, and domestic sewage. Sources of riverine N varied with seasons. For example, N in Tiaozi River and Nianpan River was mainly from fertilizer use and soil nitrogen in the wet season while it was from the industrial effluents and domestic sewage in the dry season.

Submarine groundwater discharge driven nitrogen fluxes to Long Island Sound, NY: Terrestrial vs. marine sources

Bottom-waters in Smithtown Bay (Long Island Sound, NY) are subject to hypoxic conditions every summer despite limited nutrient inputs from waste-water and riverine sources, while modeling estimates of groundwater inputs are thought to be insignificant. Terrestrial and marine fluxes of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) were quantified to Smithtown Bay using mass balances of 222Rn, 224Ra, 226Ra and 228Ra during the spring and summer of 2014/2015, in order to track this seasonal transition period. Intertidal pore waters from a coastal bluff (terrestrial SGD) and from a barrier beach (marine SGD) displayed substantial differences in N concentrations and sources, traced using a multi-isotope approach (222Rn, Ra, δ15N-NO3−, δ18O-NO3−). NO3− in terrestrial SGD did not display any seasonality and was derived from residential septic systems and fertilizer. Marine SGD N concentrations varied month-to-month because of mixing between oxic seawater and hypoxic saline pore waters; N concentrations were greatest during the summer, when NO3− was derived from the remineralization of organic matter. Short-lived 222Rn and 224Ra SGD fluxes were used to determine remineralized N loads along tidal recirculation flow paths, while long-lived 228Ra was used to trace inputs of anthropogenic N in terrestrial SGD. 228Ra-derived terrestrial N load estimates were between 20 and 55% lower than 224Ra-derived estimates (excluding spring 2014); 228Ra may be a more appropriate tracer of terrestrial SGD N loads. Terrestrial SGD NO3− (derived from 228Ra) to Smithtown Bay varied from (1.40–12.8)∗106 molN y−1, with comparable marine SGD NO3− fluxes of (1.70–6.79)∗106 molN y−1 derived from 222Rn and 224Ra. Remineralized N loads were greater during the summer compared with spring, and these may be an important driver toward the onset of seasonal hypoxic conditions in Smithtown Bay and western Long Island Sound. Seawater recirculation through the coastal aquifer can rival the N load from terrestrial SGD from a heavily polluted aquifer.

Stratification and salt-wedge in the Seomjin river estuary under the idealized tidal influence

Advection, straining, and vertical mixing play primary roles in the process of estuarine stratification. Estuaries can be classified as salt-wedge, partially-mixed or well-mixed depending on the vertical density structure determined by the balancing of advection, mixing and straining. In particular, straining plays a major role in the stratification of the estuarine water body along the estuarine channel. Also, the behavior of a salt wedge with a halocline shape in a stratified channel can be controlled by the competition between straining and mixing induced by buoyancy from the riverine source and tidal forcing. The present study uses Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM) to show that straining and vertical mixing play major roles in controlling along-channel flow and stratification structures in the Seomjin river estuary (SRE) under idealized conditions. The Potential Energy Anomaly (PEA) dynamic equation quantifies the governing processes thereby enabling the determination of the stratification type. By comparing terms in the equation, we examined how the relative strengths of straining and mixing alter the stratification types in the SRE due to changes in river discharge and the depth resulting from dredging activities. SRE under idealized tidal forcing tends to be partially-mixed based on an analysis of the balance between terms and the vertical structure of salinity, and the morphological and hydrological change in SRE results in the shift of stratification type. While the depth affects the mixing, the freshwater discharge mainly controls the straining, and the balance between mixing and straining determines the final state of the stratification in an estuarine channel. As a result, the development and location of a salt wedge along the channel in a partially mixed and highly stratified condition is also determined by the ratio of straining to mixing. Finally, our findings confirm that the contributions of mixing and straining can be assessed by using the conventional non-dimensional parameters with respect to salt-wedge behavior.

Land use mediates riverine nitrogen export under the dominant influence of human activities

Riverine nitrogen (N) export is a crucial process that links upstream and downstream ecosystems and coastal zones. However, the driving forces of riverine N export that is closely related to water N pollution are still not well understood. In this study, we used a mass balance approach to quantify the sources of N discharge and analyzed the effect of land use composition on riverine N export, taking Zhejiang Province, China as a case study. We found that the total reactive N discharge to rivers in Zhejiang increased from 0.22 to 0.26 Tg yr−1 from 2000 to 2015. At the watershed scale, our estimate of N export agrees well with the monitored riverine N concentration in the eight major watersheds in Zhejiang. Direct discharge of domestic wastewater and effluents from wastewater treatment plants are dominant sources of riverine N export, followed by agricultural non-point sources. Although riverine N export increases with the increasing proportion of urban and agricultural land uses, we did not find any relationship between land use change and changes in riverine N export. This suggests that the dominant factor affecting riverine N export should be human activities (e.g. wastewater discharge and fertilization level), while land use only mediates riverine N export.

Transport and transformation of riverine neodymium isotope and rare earth element signatures in high latitude estuaries: A case study from the Laptev Sea

Marine neodymium (Nd) isotope and rare earth element (REE) compositions are valuable tracers for present and past ocean circulation and continental inputs. Yet their supply via high latitude estuaries is largely unknown. Here we present a comprehensive dissolved Nd isotope (expressed as εNd values) and REE data set together with seawater stable oxygen isotope (δ18O) compositions of samples from the Laptev Sea recovered in two Arctic summers and one winter.The Laptev Sea is a shallow Siberian Shelf sea characterized by extensive river-runoff, sea-ice production and ice transport into the Arctic Ocean. The large variability in εNd (−6 to −17), REE concentrations (16 to 600 pmol/kg for Nd) and REE patterns is controlled by freshwater supply from distinct riverine sources and open ocean Arctic Atlantic Water. Strikingly and contrary to expectations, except for cerium no evidence for significant release of REEs from particulate phases is found, which is attributed to low amounts of suspended particulate matter and high dissolved organic carbon concentrations present in the contributing rivers. Essentially all shelf waters are depleted in light (L)REEs, while the distribution of the heavy REEs shows a deficiency at the surface and a pronounced excess in the bottom layer. This distribution is consistent with REE removal through coagulation of riverine nanoparticles and colloids starting at salinities near 10 and resulting in a drop of all REE concentrations by ∼30%. With increasing salinity preferential LREE removal is observable reaching ∼75% for Nd at a salinity of 34. Although the delayed onset of dissolved REE removal contrasts with most previous observations from other estuarine environments, it agrees remarkably well with results from recent experiments simulating estuarine mixing of seawater with organic-rich river waters. In addition, melting and formation of sea ice leads to further REE depletion at the surface and strong REE enrichment near the shelf bottom as a function of ice melting and brine transfer, respectively. The ice-related processes significantly affect the distribution of dissolved REEs in high-latitude estuaries and likely also similarly contribute to the redistribution of other dissolved seawater constituents.

The competition between coastal trace metal fluxes and oceanic mixing from the 10Be/9Be ratio: Implications for sedimentary records

AbstractAt an ocean margin site 37°S offshore Chile, we use the meteoric cosmogenic 10Be/9Be ratio to trace changes in terrestrial particulate composition due to exchange with seawater. We analyzed the marine authigenic phase in surface sediments along a coast‐perpendicular transect and compared to samples from their riverine source. We find evidence for growth of authigenic rims through coprecipitation, not via reversible adsorption, that incorporate an open ocean 10Be/9Be signature from a deep water source only 30 km from the coast, overprinting terrestrial 10Be/9Be signatures. Together with increasing 10Be/9Be ratios, particulate‐bound Fe concentrations increase, which we attribute to release of Fe‐rich pore waters during boundary exchange in the sediment. The implications for the use of 10Be/9Be in sedimentary records for paleodenudation flux reconstructions are the following: in coast‐proximal sites the authigenic record will likely preserve local riverine ratios unaffected by exchange with seawater, whereas sites beneath well‐mixed seawater will preserve global flux signatures.