Using Natural Radionuclides to Trace Sources of Suspended Particles in the Lower Reaches of the Yellow River

Natural radionuclides are powerful tools for understanding the sources and fate of suspended particulate matter(SPM).Particulate matter with different particle sizes behaves differently with respect to adsorption and desorption.We analyzed the activi-ties and distribution characteristics of multiple natural radionuclides(238U,226Ra,40K,228Ra,7Be and 210Pbex)on size-fractionated SPM at the Lijin Hydrographic Station(Huanghe or Yellow River)every month over a one-year period.Results showed that medium silt(16–32µm)was the main component.As expected,the activity of each radionuclide decreased with an increase of particle size.We examined the sources of SPM with different particle sizes using activity ratios of 226Ra/238U,228Ra/226Ra,40K/238U and 7Be/210Pbex,and concluded that SPM with different particle sizes originated from different sources.Our results indicate that fine SPM(<32µm)was mainly from the erosion of soil along the lower reaches of the Yellow River,while coarse SPM(>32µm)was mainly derived from resuspension of riverbed sediment.During high runoff periods,the concentration of SPM increased significantly,and the pro-portion of fine particles originating upstream increased.Naturally occurring radioactive isotopes,especially on size-fractionated par-ticles,are therefore seen as useful tracers to understand the sources and behaviors of riverine particles transported from land to sea.

Using Rn-222 to Study Human-Regulated River Water-Sediment Input Event in the Estuary

The implementation of the water sediment regulation scheme(WSRS)is a typical example of artificially controlling land-source input.During WSRS,the water discharge of the Yellow River will increase significantly,and so will the input of terri-genous materials.In this study,we used a natural geochemical tracer 222Rn to quantify terrestrial inputs under the influence of the 2014 WSRS in the Yellow River Estuary.The results indicated that during WSRS the concentration of 222Rn in the estuary increased by about four times than in the period before WSRS.The high-level 222Rn plume disappeared quickly after WSRS,indicating that 222Rn has a very short‘memory effect’in the estuary.Based on the investigation conducted from 2015 to 2016,the concentration of 222Rn tended to be stable in the lower reaches of the Yellow River.During WSRS,the concentrations of 222Rn in the river water in-creased sharply at about 3–5 times greater than in the non-WSRS period.Based on the 222Rn mass balance model,the fluxes of 222Rn caused by submarine groundwater discharge(SGD)were estimated to be(3.5±1.7)×10^(3),(11±3.9)×10^(3),and(5.2±1.9)×10^(3)dpm m^(-2)d^(-1)in the periods before,during,and after WSRS,respectively.This finding indicated that SGD was the major source of 222Rn in the Yellow River Estuary,which can be significantly increased during WSRS.Furthermore,the SGD-associated nutrient fluxes were estimated to be 9.8×10^(3),2.5×102,and 1.1×10^(4)μmolm^(-2)d^(-1)for dissolved inorganic nitrogen,phosphorus,and silicon,respectively,during WSRS or about 2–40 times greater than during the non-WSRS period.

海底地下水排放对南黄海沿岸海水细菌群落结构的影响

在南黄海沿岸岸滩采集海水样品,将同位素地球化学与分子生物学技术相结合,探讨海底地下水排放(submarine groundwater discharge,SGD)对沿岸海水微生物群落结构的影响.结果表明,南黄海沿岸水体微生物优势类群为变形菌门、放线菌门、拟杆菌门、蓝细菌门、疣微菌门、厚壁菌门等.海水中较高浓度的镭同位素活度极有可能是由近岸海底地下水排放过程导致.沿岸海水中的^(224)Ra活度与营养盐浓度、微生物群落的多样性及丰富度具有相对同步的变化规律.溶解氧对海水中的细菌群落结构具有显著影响(p<0.05),海底地下水排放输入的高浓度溶解无机氮、溶解硅酸盐可能是影响沿岸海水中细菌群落结构特征的主要因素之一.本研究表明,海底地下水排放对沿岸微生物群落结构的影响是不可忽视的.