Effects of Aquatic Plants on the Feature of Sediment Resuspension in Lake Taihu

[Objective] The aim was to study effects of aquatic plants on resuspen- sion of sediment in Lake Taihu. [Method] New resuspension simulator was used in the research. Elodea nuttalli, submerged plant, and Phragmites australis, emergent aquatic plant, were grown in substrate sludge with varied planting density set. Study of simulation experiment on the feature of sediment resuspension was carried on under shearing stress of 0.2-0.5 N/m2 and agitation of 1-30 min. [Result] Aquatic plant growing would effectively reduce seston concentration in water. Concentrations of final Suspended Particulate Matter （SPM） in experimental groups and control groups were as follows： water without plant〉coverage of 30% of Elodea nuttalli〉cov- erage of 60% of Elodea nuttalli〉Phragmites australis with concentration of 50 stock/m2〉 coverage of 90% of Elodea nuttalli〉Phragmites australis with concentration of 80 stock/m2〉Phragmites australis with concentration of 150 stock/m2; SPM concentration showed a tendency from increasing to stable with change of stirring time under dif- ferent shearing stresses： SPM concentration was of severe change at early stage in barrel without aquatic plant while change of SPM concentration in barrel with aquatic plant was quite mild and grew smaller with concentration increasing; SPM concentration was reduced much more if Phragmites australis planted compared with that of Elodea nuttalli; under different shearing stresses, reduction of SPM concen- tration by increase of Phragmites australis area was much more than by increase of Elodea nuttalli area. [Conclusion] It would provide powerful scientific reference for control on aquatic environment through comprehensive research on the feature of sediment resuspension.

Sediment distribution pattern mapped from the combination of objective analysis and geostatistics in the large shallow Taihu Lake, China

Investigation was made into sediment depth at 723 irregularly scattered measurement points which cover all the regions in Taihu Lake, China. The combination of successive correction scheme and geostatistical method was used to get all the values of recent sediment thickness at the 69×69 grids in the whole lake. The results showed that there is the significant difference in sediment depth between the eastern area and the western region, and most of the sediments are located in the western shore-line and northern regimes but just a little in the center and eastern parts. The notable exception is the patch between the center and Xishan Island where the maximum sediment depth is more than 4.0 m. This sediment distribution pattern is more than likely related to the current circulation pattern induced by the prevailing wind-forcing in Taihu Lake. The numerical simulation of hydrodynamics can strong support the conclusion. Sediment effects on water quality was also studied and the results showed that the concentrations of TP, TN and SS in the western part are obviously larger than those in the eastern regime, which suggested that more nutrients can be released from thicker sediment areas.

Composition analysis of colored dissolved organic matter in Taihu Lake based on three dimension excitation-emission fuorescence matrix and PARAFAC model, and the potential application in water quality monitoring

Taihu Lake is one of the five biggest lakes in China. Surface water samples from 26 sampling sites of Taihu Lake were collected. Furthermore wet chemical analysis （CODCr and BOD5） and measurement of three dimensional excitation-emission matrix （3DEEM） spectra in the laboratory have been conducted. Using parallel factor analysis （PARAFAC） model, three components of colored dissolved organic matter （CDOM） have been identified successfully, based on the analysis of 3DEEM data. The characteristics of the three components also have been described by comparing them to some components of CDOM, identified in earlier researches. Meanwhile, spatial variations of concentration for the three components in Taihu Lake have been analyzed, and the result indicates that the concentration of component 1 depends more on the situation of wastewater pollution and can be used as the indicator of wastewater pollution. The relationship between the concentrations of the three components and results of the wet chemical analysis show that none of the three components can be used as indicators of gross organic matter in water. However, the concentrations of all the three components have obvious linear relationships with the BOD5 value, especially for component 1 （r = 0.72878）. Finally, the potential applications of the composition analysis based on 3DEEM and PARAFAC model in water quality monitoring have been illuminated.

Beta-Glucosidase Activity in Paddy Soils of the Taihu Lake Region, China

The profile distribution of β-gulcosidase activity in twelve typical paddy soil profiles with high productivity in the Taihu Lake region of China were investigated. Activities of β-gulcosidase in the plow layers were in the range of 52.68- 137.02μg PNP g^-1 soil h^-1 with a mean of 89.22μg PNP g^-1 soil h^-1. However, most plow layers ranged from 70 to 110 μg PNP g^-1 soil h^-1. The profile distribution of β-gulcosidase activity in the 12 soil profiles decreased rapidly with soil depth, with activity at the 60 cm depth only about 10% of that in the surface layers （0-15 cm or 0-20 cm）. In these soil profiles, β-gulcosidase activity was significantly positively correlated with soll organic carbon and arylsulphatase activity. Meanwhile, a significantly negative correlation was shown between β-gulcosidase activity and soil pH.

Impact of Taihu Lake on City Ozone in the Yangtze River Delta

The lake-breeze at Taihu Lake generates a different specific heat capacity between the water body and the surrounding land. Taihu Lake has a significant impact on the atmospheric conditions and the air quality in the Yangtze River Delta. This phenomenon is referred to as the Taihu Lake effect. In this study, two simulations were conducted to determine the impact of the Taihu Lake effect in the reference experiment （R-E） and sensitivity experiments （NO_TH）. The control simulations demonstrated that the meteorological field and the spatial distribution of ozone （03） concentrations over Taihu lake obviously changed once the land-use type of water body was substituted by cropland. The surface temperature of Taihu Lake was reduced under the impact of Taihu Lake, and a huge temperature difference caused a strong lake-breeze effect. The results also showed that the difference in the average concentrations of 03 between the R-E and NO_TH experiments reached 12 ppbv in most areas of Taihu Lake, all day, on 20 May 2014. During daytime （0800-1600 LST, LST=UTC＋8）, the influence of the Taihu Lake effect on 03 in the Suzhou region was not significant. However, the influence of the Taihu Lake effect on 03 in the Suzhou region was obvious during nighttime （1800-2400 LST）. The larger changes in the physical and chemical processes were horizontal and vertical advections under the influence of the Taihu Lake effect in Taihu Lake.

Trade-offs and Synergies of Ecosystem Services in the Taihu Lake Ba- sin of China

Understanding the spatial interactions among multiple ecosystem services is crucial for ecosystem services management. Ecosystem services, including crop production, freshwater supply, aquatic production, net primary production, soil conservation, water conservation, flood regulation, forest recreation, were measured at 1-km grid scale covering the Taihu Lake Basin(TLB) of China. Our objective is to get a comprehensive understanding of the spatial distributions, trade-offs, synergies of multiple ecosystem services across the TLB. Our results found that: 1) majority of ecosystem services were clustered in space and had a similar spatial distribution pattern with the geographical resource endowment. Most of the landscape contributed a high supply of no services, one or two, and a low supply of three to seven services. 2) There were high correlation between forest recreation and freshwater supply and regulating services. Aquatic production had low correlation with other services. 3) The changes of provisioning services led to trade-offs between regulating services and cultural services in the TLB, while synergies mainly occurred among the provisioning service. 4) The spatial relationships of multiple services are consistent at 1-km spatial scale, counties and provinces. This research could help integrate multiple ecosystem services across scales and serve as a reference for decision making.

The decline process and major pathways of Microcystis bloom in Taihu Lake, China

Eutrophication has become a serious concern in many lakes, resulting in cyanobacterial blooms. However, the mechanism and pathways of cyanobacteria decline are less understood. To identify and define the growth and decline of Microcystis blooms in Taihu Lake of China, and to illuminate the destination of surface floating blooms, we investigated the biomass distribution and variations in colony size, morphology, and floating velocity from October 2008 to September 2009. The results showed that the Microcystis bloom declined in response to biomass decrease, colony disaggregation, buoyancy reduction, and increased phytoplankton biodiversity, and these indicative parameters could be applied for recognition of the development phases of the bloom. Three major decline pathways were proposed to describe the bloom decline process, colony disaggregation （Pathway I）, colony settlement （Pathway II）, and cell lysis in colonies （Pathway III）. We proposed a strategy to define the occurrence and decline of Microcystis blooms, to evaluate the survival state under different stress conditions, and to indicate the efficiency of controlling countermeasures against algal blooms.

A model for the retrieval of suspended sediment concentrations in Taihu Lake from TM images

A study was conducted in the Taihu Lake with the aim of deriving a model for the retrieval of suspended sediment （SS） concentrations from Landsat TM images and in situ sampled data. The correlation between suspended sediment concentrations of lake and the reflectance obtained from the TM images is significant. By TM images and in situ sampled data in summer and winter, we obtained a comparative uniform model for the retrieval of suspended sediment concentrations in the Taihu Lake, that is lnSS = a＊（R3/R1） ＋ b, where lnSS is the natural logarithm of the suspended sediment concentration, Rl and R3 are the reflectance coincident with the 1st band and the 3rd band in TM images, a and b are the regression coefficients. Furthermore, we analysed the errors particularly to make sure the model is valid. The model is accurate to within 0.33（RMSE）, suggesting that this model may be applicable to predict suspended sediment in the Taihu Lake from TM image throughout the year.

General Thinkingon the Management of Blue Algae Outbreak in the Taihu Lake,the Chaohu Lake and the Dianchi Lake

Among the Chinese lakes with the problem of eutrophication, the Taihu Lake, the Chaohu Lake and the Dianchi Lake have the worst cases of blue algae outbreak, which happen every year. Other lakes also have problems of blue algae outbreak at various degrees. However, some lakes don＇t have such problems. Practices have shown that through comprehensive management, the problem can be basically eliminated or significantly alleviated. ＂Water bloom＂ and blue algae outbreak have different connotation. The major factors affecting blue algae outbreak are sources of pollutants and ecological environment. Experiences are summed up and a new thinking on its management is developed： resolving the problem of blue algae is fundamental to lake management and development goals should be clearly set forth so as to eventually build a healthy aquatic ecosys- tem. The problem of blue algae can＇t be fully tackled by solely relying on the management of eutrophication but only by combining efforts of reducing the amount of blue algae and the management of eutrophication. The number of reduced blue algae should be larger than that of naturally prolifera- ted algae so as to alleviate and eliminate the problem of blue algae outbreak. Various engineering and technical measures and relevant protective procedures should be carried out in a scientific and proper manner. The total amount of nitrogen and phosphorous entering the lake either from point-source or non-point source pollution should be substantially reduced. Controlling the source of pollution and intercepting pollutants are the bas- ic measures. Wastewater treatment plant is the largest point source pollution in the future and adequate plants should be built with improved emission standards. Meanwhile, other measures including fishing out blue algae, diverting water, dredging, ecological restoration and expanding reed zone, should be implemented to alleviate the problem of eutrophication and eventually eliminate the problem of blue algae outbreak.

Concentrations and contamination trends of heavy metals in the sediment cores of Taihu Lake,East China,and their relationship with historical eutrophication

To assess the contamination trends and potential bio-availability of sediment-bound heavy metals,concentrations of heavy metals in acid-leaching fraction and in bulk sediments from the two typical bays(the Meiliang Bay and Xuhu Bay) of the Taihu Lake,East China,were studied.Pb and Zn showed elevated concentrations in the sediments from both areas,although sedimentation history and degree of pollution are different between the two bays.In the Meiliang Bay,both Pb and Zn pollutions started in the late 1970's,the same time as the beginning of eutrophication of the lake,while the in the Xuhu Bay the metal contamination started since recent 10 years.The concentrations of acid-leachable Pb in the sediments from the Meiliang Bay are correlated with the historical eutrophication process.Before the eutrophication and heavy metal pollution,the chemical properties of the lake sediments were the same as the source compositions of the Xiashu loess.Both Pb and Zn in the sediments mainly occur in leachable forms by nitric or hydrochloric acid,whilst most of Cu is in residual fraction.The results indicate that both Pb and Zn may have higher mobility and bioavailability in water and biology than Cu.

Speciation and potential remobilization of heavy metals in sediments of the Taihu Lake, China

The species of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr in sediments of the Taihu Lake, China, have been analyzed using the sequential chemical extraction method. Variations in the chemical fractions of these metals and their geographic distributions have also been studied. For all five metals, the residual fraction is highest but the exchangeable fraction is lowest among all the fractions. Compared to other metals, Cd has the highest percentage in the exchangeable fraction, and Cr is associated mainly with the residual fraction. Cu in the organic fraction and Pb in the Fe-Mn fraction are the important species, whereas the lowest percentages are found for Cd in the organic fraction, Cu in the Fe-Mn oxide fraction and Pb in the carbonate fraction. With respect to spatial differences, the total contents in the non-residual fractions of the metals in bay sediments are found to be higher than those in other sediments. The fractions of Cd, Cu and Cr showed significant variations in different regions. The fractions of Pb and Zn, however, did not show significant variations in spatial distribution, suggesting different amounts and different paths of anthropogenic input for the metals. Comparisons of the metal speciation indicated that Cd might be the most bioavailable metal, followed by Pb.

EFFECT OF FUTURE SEA LEVEL RISE ON DISASTROUS FLOODS IN THE TAIHU LAKE LOWER REACH DEPRESSIONS AND COUNTERMEASURES

Use of numerical simulation of the tidal flow of the Changjiang River Estuary and the HuangpuRiver to forecast flood in the Taihu Lake lower reach drainage system for the case of future sea level riseof 0.4 m and 0.8 m,and floods preventing and reducing methods are discussed in this paper.

THE APPLICABILITY OF RESEARCH ON FLOOD－DROUGHT TENDENCY－AN ANALYSIS ON DISASTROUS FLOOD OF TAIHU LAKE BASININ JUNE－JULY，1991

In Taihu Lake basin during June-July in 1991, there happened a catastrophic flood, the precipitation reached that of 1954 and the water level was the highest in the history in Taihu Lake. This heaVy flood, happening in the relatively humid period and being well accord with flood-drought change tendency, was early precautioned.The occurrence of the flood illustrated that using records of historical climate to predict flood-dronght tendency is practically significant for hazard-reduction project.

Study on the water quality of the Taihu Lake using genotoxicological methods

The micronucleus(MCN) test of Vicia faba root tip cell was used to screen the water quality of the Taihu Lake. The MCN ‰ and the pollution index ( PI ) were examined and the F test was carried out to evaluate the statistical difference in mean MCN ‰ among various samples. There were significant difference among thirty nine samples and there were six sites whose PI values are above 2. The authors suggest that the Taihu Lake has partly been polluted to different degrees and the whole water body can be divided into three types. Ames tests were then conducted to detect mutagenicity at five significant sites. The results showed that rivers flowing through urban area carried large amount of mutagenic pollutants into the lake and these pollutants contaminated the source of main waterworks.

The Effects of Pen Fish Culture on the Ecological Environments of Taihu Lake

Effects of pen fish culture in Taihu lake were studied and summarized. During 1984 to 2001, pen fish culture of Taihu lake developed from extensive models to intensive and high-returned ones, the cultured species were shifted from fishes to crabs. Pen fish culture has caused eutrophication and detrimental effect to the ecological environment and fishery. The measures of sustainable development for pen fish culture and ecological environment protection were suggested.

Evaluation of the retrieval of total suspended matter concentration in Taihu Lake,China from CBERS-02B CCD

Remote sensing techniques is used to quantify the total suspended matter concentration （CTSM）. In this study, we used remotely sensed data to retrieve the CTSM for the Taihu Lake, China, and developed an atmospheric correction algorithm especially for CBERS-02B CCD data. We simulated the remote sensing reflectance （Rr~） of CCD bands using in-situ observations made in a cruise over the Taihu Lake in autumn 2004, from which a retrieval model is established with simulated Rrs（830） and measured CTSM. In addition, we applied the atmospheric correction algorithm and retrieval model to process the CCD data over the lake in 2008 and to retrieve the CTSM. The RMS relative error between the CTSM retrieved from MODIS and from the CCD images is about 42.9%, indicating that algorithms described in this paper can be used for the application of CCD data in monitoring the CTSM distribution in the Taihu Lake.

Study on the Applicability of ERA5 Reanalysis Data at Lake Taihu

Lakes are an important component of the earth climate system. They play an important role in the study of basin weather forecasting, air quality forecasting, and regional climate research. The accuracy of driving variables is the basic premise to ensure the rationality of lake mode simulation. Based on the in-situ observations at Bifenggang site of the Lake Taihu Eddy flux Network from 2012 to 2017, this paper investigated temporal variations in temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, radiation components at different time scales (hourly, seasonal and interannual). ERA5 reanalysis data were compared with in-situ observation to quantify the error and evaluate the performance of reanalysis data. The results show that: 1) On the hourly scale, the ERA5 reanalysis data described air temperature, and downward long-wave radiation more accurately. 2) On the seasonal variation scale, the ERA5 reanalysis data described air temperature, and downward long-wave radiation more accurately. However, the descriptions of wind speed, relative humidity and downward short-wave have large deviations. 3) On the interannual scale, the ERA5 reanalysis data show a good performance for temperature, followed by downward longwave radiation, downward shortwave radiation and relative humidity.

Setting up the Goal of Eliminating Outbreaks of Blue-green Alga, Innovating the Idea of Controlling the Taihu Lake, and Ensuring the Safety of Water Supply in the Taihu Lake

Since the water supply crisis in the Taihu Lake on May 29,2007,the control of the Taihu Lake has achieved remarkable results,and the eutrophication has been greatly reduced.Existing problems are as follows:outbreaks of blue-green alga still appear seriously every year,and there is no goal to eliminate outbreaks of blue-green alga;the load into the lake greatly exceeds the environmental capacity;reed wetlands are greatly reduced;there is still the possibility of a water supply crisis;the research of eliminating outbreak of blue-green alga is weak.In this paper,the experience of controlling the Taihu Lake is summarized,and the ultimate goals of eliminating eutrophication and outbreaks of blue-green alga and restoring wetlands and biodiversity are proposed.Control measures are proposed,such as deepening the promotion of the lake chief system,establishing the lake chief system in an all-round way,and increasing applied scientific and technological efforts and capital investment.The necessity and possibility of further controlling the Taihu Lake to eliminate outbreaks of blue-green alga should be recognized.Relying on controlling eutrophication alone cannot eliminate outbreaks of blue-green alga.The point that phosphorus control is the key to eliminate outbreaks of blue-green alga is not suitable for the Taihu Lake.The integration ideas of"three types"of technologies should be innovated.The first one is"double reduction and double increase"measures to eliminate eutrophication,of which"double reduction"is to reduce external point sources and non-point sources and internal blue-green alga in sediment;for external sources,the treatment standard of sewage plants should be paid special attention to.The second one is"double algae removal"measures to salvage blue-green alga,suppresses and kills algae.The blue-green alga on the surface,middle and bottom of water should be thoroughly salvaged and eliminated from various water areas.The third one is"double restoration"measures to restore wetlands and biodiversity.The area of wetlands should be restored to the area from the 1960s to the 1970s before outbreaks of blue-green alga,and vegetation coverage reaches 25%-30%.The Taihu Lake is controlled in different waters to ensure water supply safety in water sources.Five suggestions are proposed,such as revising the"Overall Plan for the Comprehensive Treatment of Water Environment in the Taihu Lake Basin"again,incorporating the goal of eliminating outbreaks of blue-green alga in the plan,setting up this research topic,greatly improving sewage treatment standards in local legislation.