Elemental composition in the sediments of the Yangtze and the Yellow Rivers and their tracing implication

Elemental compositions in the surface sediments of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River are quite different. The Yangtze River' s sediment is rich in K, Fe, Mg, Al and most of trace elements, and its elemental composition show remarkable spatial variations, whereas the Yellow River s sediment has higher contents of Ca, Na, Sr, Ba, Zr and Hf, and the elemental composition remains relatively stable. The ratios of some elements are also different in the sediments of the two rivers. The elemental composition of the Yangtze River sediment results from widely distributed igneous rocks and complicated source rocks and strong chemical weathering in the Yangtze River catchment basin, while the main provenance of the Yellow River sediment is the Loess Plateau which has dominant influence on the elemental composition, and the intense physical weathering is another controlling factor. The elements such as Cu, Zn, Sc, Ti, Fe, V, Ni, Cr, Co, Li and element ratios such as La/Sc, La/Co, Th/Co, Ti/Zr and Zr/Y can be used as the tracers to distinguish the Yangtze River sediment from the Yellow River s. The tracers can be used in the study of the mixing and distribution of the substances of the two rivers matters in coastal zones of China.     

Sediment provenance and province of the southern Yellow Sea： Evidence from light mineral

The distribution for percent content of light mineral is divided in detail to emphasize distributional trends of higher and lower contents by using 222 samples of light mineral in the southern Yellow Sea. 5 mineral provinces are divided, and they are Ⅰ -north mineral province of the southern Yellow Sea, the sediment dominantly derived from the Yellow River; Ⅱ-mixed mineral province, the sediment derived from both the Yellow River and Yangtze River; Ⅲ-middle mineral province, the sediment derived mainly from the Yellow River and a part of sediment derived from Yangtze River; Ⅳ-province east of Yangtze River mouth, the sediment derived dominantly from Yangtze River; and Ⅴ-south mineral province, sediment was affected by relict sediment and modern sediment of Yangtze River. In this paper, the assemblage of dominant mineral and diagnostic mineral for the five provinces are discerned.     

Sources and transportation of suspended matter and sediment in the southern Yellow Sea： Evidence from stable carbon isotopes

The concentrations of total suspended matter (TSM) and the compositions of organic stable carbon isotopes of TSM and bottom sediments were analyzed to study the sources of TSM and sediments and the transportation processes. For this study, 284 TSM samples and 64 sediment ones taken from 67 stations along 7 transects and in 5 layers were collected in the southern Yellow Sea on the cruise in May, 1998. The main sediment transportation pattern in the southern Yellow Sea was obtained by analyzing the distribution characteristics of TSM concentration and particulate organic carbon δ^13C values. It was confirmed from the pattern that the bottom layer plays a more important role than the surface one in the transportation processes of terrigenous material to the central deep-water area of the southern Yellow Sea. The Yellow Sea circulation is an important control factor in determining the sediment transportation pattern in the southern Yellow Sea. The carbon isotope signals of sedimentary organic matter confirmed that the main material in sediments with high sedimentation rate in the Shandong subaqueous delta originated from the modern Yellow River.The terrigenous sediments in the deep-water area of the southern Yellow Sea are mainly from the abandoned Yellow River and the modern Yellow River, and a small portion of them are from the modern Yangtze material. The amount of terrigenous material from Korean Peninsula and its influence range are relatively limited. The conclusions derived from TSM and stable carbon isotopes were further confirmed by another independent material source tracer--PAHs.     

Impacts of Soil.Water Conservation in Jialing River on Sedimentation of the Three Gorges Reservoir

The Jialing River is one of the main tributaries of the Yangtze River. The average annual runoff accounts for 16 % and the sediment load 26% of the total at Yichang therefore it＇s one of the main contributors of sediment to the Three Gorges Reservoir. Ever since 1989, our country has implemented ＂Yangtze River soil and water conservation＂ project, Till the end of 1996, altogether 25.8 % of erosion area in Jialing River has been improved after large scale conservation has taken effect. The analysis and comparison between records taken before and after the implementation of soil and water conservation on runoff and sediment yield indicated that the sediment load soil erosion in Jialing river basin has been taken under control to some extent. Amount of annual runoff in main conservations have generally dropped by exponential function. Obvious result has been achieved in Jialing River, efficiency of sand reduction is about 10%-25%. Therefore, sediment to Three Gorges Reservoir is decreased accordingly, and it will be beneficial to take advantage of reser- voir＇s synthetic benefit.     

Distribution characteristics of magnetic susceptibility of the surface sediments in the southern Yellow Sea

The characteristic distributions of magnetic susceptibility (MS) are analyzed on the basis of susceptibility of 172 surface sediment samples in the southern Yellow Sea (SYS). The preliminary results are as follows: first, the distributions clearly correspond to different modern sediment assemblages in the continental sea, which indicates different sediment origins. With the 30 μCGS isoline being taken as demarcation line, the study area can then be divided into section H (high MS value area) and section L (low MS value area). Section H is mainly adjacent to land with two main sources of the Changjiang River and the Huanghe River.Section L is mainly an eddy sediment area, where Yellow Sea Cold Water is entrenched all the year round. The distribution pattern of MS could tell apart strong or weak hydrodynamic conditions and has a close relation to the circulation system in this area. At the areas of the SYS Circumfluent and northern East China Sea (NECS) Circumfluent (weak hydrodynamic), the MS has low values, while in the areas of Coastal Current (strong hydrodynamic), the values are high.At the same time, the oxidizing areas tend to take on higher MS, while the reducing areas have lower one. It seems safe to say that the MS in the continental sea reflects more of the sediment origin and sedimentary environment, which is different from that of loess, lake and surface soil as a climate proxy.     

Clay mineral distributions in the southern Yellow Sea and their significance

To better understand the characteristics of the clay minerals in the southern Yellow Sea, the X-ray quantitative determinations have been carried out for the surface samples obtained from the Yellow Sea. With newly compiled clay mineral synoptic maps, the depositional processes were described for four main clay minerals (illite, chlorite, kaolinite and smectite). The analysis shows that most clay minerals are of terrigenous source with the Huanghe River acting as the major sediment supplier. Besides, the source of muddy sediments in the Yellow Sea was also discussed. As for the central Yellow Sea mud (CYSM), the sediments in its northern part mainly come from the Huanghe River, and those in the rest are of multi-origin. Very similarly, a large amount of sediments in the northern part of the southeastern Yellow Sea Mud (SEYSM) derive from the Keum River and Yeongsan River, while those in the southern part are of multi-origin.     

Sources and transportation of suspended matter and sediment in the southern Yellow Sea: Evidence from stable carbon isotopes

The concentrations of total suspended matter (TSM) and the compositions of organic stable carbon iso- topes of TSM and bottom sediments were analyzed to study the sources of TSM and sediments and the transportation processes. For this study, 284 TSM samples and 64 sediment ones taken from 67 stations along 7 transects and in 5 layers were collected in the southern Yellow Sea on the cruise in May, 1998. The main sediment transportation pattern in the southern Yellow Sea was obtained by analyzing the distribu- tion characteristics of TSM concentration and particulate organic carbon δ~(13)C values. It was confirmed from the pat- tern that the bottom layer plays a more important role than the surface one in the transportation processes of terrigenous material to the central deep-water area of the southern Yel- low Sea. The Yellow Sea circulation is an important control factor in determining the sediment transportation pattern in the southern Yellow Sea, The carbon isotope signals of sedi- mentary organic matter confirmed that the main material in sediments with high sedimentation rate in the Shandong subaqueous delta originated from the modern Yellow River. The terrigenous sediments in the deep-water area of the southern Yellow Sea are mainly from the abandoned Yellow River and the modern Yellow River, and a small portion of them are from the modern Yangtze material. The amount of terrigenous material from Korean Peninsula and its influen- ce range are relatively limited. The conclusions derived from TSM and stable carbon isotopes were further confirmed by another independent material source tracer-PAHs.     

The main-channel restoration objective and the relevant flow regime required for the lower Yellow River

The main-channel of the lower Yellow River is the main path of water and sediment transportation. In this paper, we put forth a suggestion that the bank-full discharge of the main-channel in the lower Yellow River should be no less than 4000 m^3/s, which is based on the demand from effective sediment transportation （or riverbed scouring）, the demand of flood control on morphology of the cross section of the main-channel, and the possible riverbed-forming force of future flood. The forming of the main-channel is the process for the flood force to overcome the resistance from the riverbed. The forming of the main-channel configuration comes from the competition between riverbed-forming force of flood and resistance from the riverbed. Regarding the flood with medium or less sediment content and without floodplain inundated, the main-channel forming mechanism can be simplified as the relationship between the change of cross section area and W^αQ^β. For forming same main-channel, the needed flood force W^0.32Q^0.37 is definite, i.e., when the discharge is large, the flood volume can be smaller; if some flood is able to scour the main-channel, its force W^0.32Q^0.37 should be larger than 41. Not all floods that inundate floodplain have the function of silting in floodplain and scouring main-channel. Regarding flood with medium or less sediment content, only when the flood discharge is over 1.5 times of the relevant bankfull discharge, obvious scouring effect can occur in the main-channel.     

Analysis on River Sediment Changes of the Upper Reaches of Yangtze River

The sediment load and river sedimentation of the upper reaches of Yangtze River has been undergoing constant changes as complex landformlarge mountain area and plentiful precipitation make the drainage area of Yangtze River very vulnerable to water erosion and gravity erosion. Through analyzing the hydrological and sediment load statistics recorded by major hydrological stations along Yangtze River since 1950s, and editing the accumulation graph of annual runoff volume and annual sediment load, we find out that the suspended-sediment of Yangtze river has been decreasing year by year in Wulong Hydrological Station on Wujiang River, Beibei Hydrological Station on Jialingjiang River, Lijiawan Hydrological Station on Tuojiang River and Gaochang Hydrological Station on Minjiang River, Yichang Hydrological Station, Cuntan Hydrological Station along Yangtze River mainstream share the same experience too. But the statistics obtained at Pingshan Hydrological Station on Jinshajiang River shows the sediment load there has increased. Taking ecological construction, hydraulic engineering construction and precipitation changes into consideration, the thesis analyses the cauls for the sediment load decrease of Jialingjiang River, Tuojiang River, Minjiang River and Wujiang River and provides us both scientific foundation for further study of river sediment changes of the upper reaches of Yangtze River, and measures to control river sedimentation.     

Modern sedimentary environments and dynamic depositional systems in the southern Yellow Sea

Based on analyses of more than 600 surface sediment samples together with large amounts of previous sedimeutologic and hydrologic data, the characteristics of modern sedimentary environments and dynamic depositional systems in the southern Yellow Sea (SYS) are expounded, and the controversial formation mechanism of muddy sediments is also discussed. The southern Yellow Sea shelf can be divided into low-energy sedimentary environment and high-energy sedimentary environment; the lowenergy sedimentary environment can be further divided into cyclonic and anticyclonic ones, and the high-energy environment is subdivided into high-energy depositional and eroded environments. In the shelf low-energy environments,there developed muddy depositional system. In the central part of the southern Yellow Sea, there deposited the cold eddy sediments under the actions of a meso-scale cyclonic eddy (cold eddy), and in the southeast of the southern Yellow Sea, an anticyclonic eddy muddy depositional system (warm eddy sediment) was formed. These two types of sediments showed evident differences in grain size, sedimentation rate,sediment thickness and mineralogical characteristics. The high-energy environments were covered with sandy sediments on seabed; they appeared mainly in the west, south and northeast of the southern Yellow Sea. In the high-energy eroded environment, large amounts of sandstone gravels were distributed on seabed. In the high-energy depositional environment, the originally deposited fine materials (including clay and fine silt) were gradually re-suspended and then transported to a low-energy area to deposit again. In this paper, the sedimentation model of cyclonic and anticyclonic types of muddy sediments is established, and a systematic interpretation for the formation cause of muddy depositional systems in the southern Yellow Sea is given.     

人类活动与黄河三角洲发育的关系

从历史地理学和沉积学角度探讨了晚全新世以来人类活动对黄河三角洲发育过程的影响。一方面，黄河流域高原产沙区土地利用方式的改变影响着入黄泥沙数量和河口地区堆积方式；另一方面，河口三角洲地区的人工改造、引水引沙等一系列工程措施控制着黄河三角洲的发育模式和空间展布规律。     

黄河下游河道变迁及新构造运动作用的初步分析

黄河以其高含沙量、善淤、善决、善徙闻名于世。历史时期,黄河下游河道曾多次变迁。综观其河道迁徙,北宋前多在现行黄河以北,向东北流入渤海;南宋至清末,改行今河道以南,向东南经淮河注入黄海;清末至今,复向东北入渤海,河道多呈西南—东北向、西北—东南向或西—东向,与区域内新构造运动断裂线方向相一致     

海平面变化、黄河改道与贝壳堤发育关系的探讨

全新世海侵高峰过后，海平面一直处于幅度不大（约１ｍ左右）的振荡运动状态．对应四次小高海面时期，天津滨海平原上堆积了四道贝壳堤，黄河在本区入海，使贝壳堤的组成发生了变化．     

Impact on the Yangtze (Changjiang) Estuary from its drainage basin: Sediment load and discharge

This paper focuses on the sediment transport and freshwater discharging from upper Yangtze drainage basin downstream, primarily on the basis of multiyear hy-drological data collected from three major hydrological gauge stations (Yichang, Hankou and Datong). Data indicate highest sediment load in Yichang (5.6×108 t/a), lowest in Hankou (5.1×108t) and second highest in Datong (5.4×108 t). This fluctuations are identical with what has been observed from the annual flood season. About one thirds of the sediment load are trapped in the middle Yangtze River course, where meandering river pattern prevails; rest of them are directly transported to the river mouth area via lower Yangtze River channel, where the river is typically confined by the exposed base rock and almost none is being trapped, instead, minor being drained to the mainstream from the local tributaries. To recognize this sediment delivery and river flow media is vital, because it can highlight morphologic/topographic correlation between the upper drainage basin and the estuary and the erosion and siltation in the river mouth area, where extensive coast has been exclaimed and or being exclaimed, and new navigation channel and port is being constructed. It is particularly crucial for monitoring the impact on estuarine change after 3-Gorges dam being closed in 2009. Data also indicate an increase in freshwater discharging downstream (>7.7×1111 m3/a), of which -50% derived from the upstream and another half concentrated from the local tributaries. The result shows that this numerous freshwater has constantly flowed into the river mouth area to support the estuarine aquaculture and ecosystem, where it is confronted with huge amount of tidal prism (>10 times more than that of the annual runoff) transforming from offshore. Thus, a great concern for saltwater intrusion especially during the dry season is aroused, largely due to the intense upstream agriculture irrigation and large water transfer project, such as the well-planned South-North Water Transfer project.     

珠江入海泥沙的浓度和成分特征及其沉积扩散趋势

分析了珠江入海泥沙浓度的时空分布及成分特性,探讨了3种动力因素作用下泥沙搬运、沉积、扩散的范围和去向,指出河口海区是珠江入海泥沙沉积的良好环境,雷东环流地区为其向西南扩散、沉积的终极场所。     

三亚河入海口和外海水体悬浮物分布特征的比较

为了研究三亚河入海口水体悬浮物的特征,在2005年4月和2007年4月大潮期间连续26 h对三亚河入海口水体悬浮物进行了监测,分析了入海口水体悬浮物与潮位、风速、沉积物组分的关系.结果表明:三亚河入海口及附近海域水体悬浮物的浓度为底层高于表层,河流入海口水体悬浮物的浓度与潮高呈显著负相关(P0.01),外海水体悬浮物的浓度与潮高的相关性不明显(P0.05);同时发现,悬浮物的浓度与风速的相关性不明显(P0.05),悬浮物特征与沉积物组分有关.     

巢湖沉积物总磷分布及其地质成因

以巢湖为研究对象,分析研究了巢湖沉积物总磷含量的水平、垂直分布.结果表明:巢湖北部河流入湖口处沉积物中总磷含量高于其他的河流入湖口处,原因是发源于北部地区的水系带来大量的磷质,丰富了巢湖中磷的来源.柘皋河和兆河沉积物总磷的垂直分布存在变化程度的差异,主要与柘皋河补给来源于含磷地层区有关.     

长江流域重大工程对滩涂冲淤变化影响及潜在土地资源的可持续利用

上海陆域面积现约7 000 km2,其中约65％是近6 000年由长江人海泥沙堆积而形成,约17.5％为1949年以来通过围涂新增的土地,后者极大缓解了上海市尖锐的人地矛盾关系.近几十年来,尤其是三峡大坝建成后长江年均人海泥沙已大幅减少,由1951-1968年间的4.97亿t降低至2003-2008年间的1.54亿t,今后随着流域内更多大型水利工程的实施完成将进一步降低.长江人海泥沙是建造滩涂的物质基础,随着人海泥沙大幅减少,河口滩涂自然淤涨速率趋于减缓,未来整个三角洲的冲淤演化趋势备受关注.以2005年为基准年,Delft3d模型预测结果认为长江口主要浅滩今后20年将继续向海淤涨,但速度减缓.综合分析认为,上海市今后20年可通过工程促淤770 km2,圈围485 km2,但滩涂资源利用一定要兼顾河口生态环境保护,努力实现人与自然相和谐的可持续发展.     

River plumes as a source of large-amplitude internal waves in the coastal ocean

Satellite images have long revealed the surface expression of large amplitude internal waves that propagate along density interfaces beneath the sea surface. Internal waves are typically the most energetic high-frequency events in the coastal ocean, displacing water parcels by up to 100 m and generating strong currents and turbulence that mix nutrients into near-surface waters for biological utilization. While internal waves are known to be generated by tidal currents over ocean-bottom topography, they have also been observed frequently in the absence of any apparent tide-topography interactions. Here we present repeated measurements of velocity, density and acoustic backscatter across the Columbia River plume front. These show how internal waves can be generated from a river plume that flows as a gravity current into the coastal ocean. We find that the convergence of horizontal velocities at the plume front causes frontal growth and subsequent displacement downward of near-surface waters. Individual freely propagating waves are released from the river plume front when the front's propagation speed decreases below the wave speed in the water ahead of it. This mechanism generates internal waves of similar amplitude and steepness as internal waves from tide-topography interactions observed elsewhere, and is therefore important to the understanding of coastal ocean mixing.     

珠江广州河段沉积物中典型抗生素的污染特征

采用乙腈/柠檬酸缓冲液超声提取沉积物中的抗生素,并以固相萃取法富集和净化萃取物,以高分离度快速液相色谱/质谱(SPE-RRLC-MS/MS)进行测定,研究了珠江广州河段13个采样点41种目标抗生素的质量分数水平和时空分布特征. 结果表明,珠江广州河段沉积物在枯水期或丰水期共有24种抗生素被检出,枯水期和丰水期质量分数范围分别为ND（未检出）~54.800 g/g和ND~3.433 g/g,两季质量分数最高的抗生素均为氧四环素;沉积物中氟喹诺酮类和四环素类抗生素占比较高;在枯水期总抗生素质量分数整体上高于丰水期,抗生素的质量分数在珠江广州河段沉积物中空间分布整体上呈现人口密集城区河涌人口密集城区航道航道中下游航道上游,与广州市区产污排污的分布状况基本一致.