Article
Environmental Sciences
Guilin Han, Kunhua Yang, Jie Zeng, Ye Zhao
Summary: Iron (Fe) is an essential element for terrestrial and aquatic organisms, and understanding the aquatic iron cycle and geochemical characteristics is important for earth-surface evolution. The stable iron isotopic composition in the Mun River shows a primary contribution from rock weathering and a secondary contribution from urban activities. The correlations between delta Fe-56 and Fe, Al, and physicochemical parameters can be used to distinguish different iron sources in river water.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mengting Li, Guisheng Song, Huixiang Xie
Summary: This study investigated the bio- and photo-lability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in different areas of the Pearl River estuary. The headwater had higher levels of bio- and photo-labile DOM compared to the mixing zone and mouth, while the latter two had higher levels of bio- and photo-refractory DOM. The impact of pre-biotransformation on DOM photodegradation varied depending on the specific site. UV absorption coefficients were indicators of bio- and photo-refractory DOC, and the relative proportions of transparent and chromophoric DOM controlled the turnover of biolabile DOC and the effect of pre-biotransformation on DOM photodegradation.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Review
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Sofie Lindstrom, Sara Callegaro, Joshua Davies, Christian Tegner, Bas van de Schootbrugge, Gunver K. Pedersen, Nasrrddine Youbi, Hamed Sanei, Andrea Marzoli
Summary: Various geochemical signals and proxy records have been used to link CAMP volcanic activity to the end-Triassic mass extinction. These records include iridium anomalies, carbon isotope excursions, atmospheric pCO2 changes, and climate cooling events, providing a comprehensive understanding of the events leading to the mass extinction.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhenwei Yan, Na Yang, Zhou Liang, Maojun Yan, Xiaosong Zhong, Yu Zhang, Wenqi Xu, Yu Xin
Summary: Large rivers like the Yellow River play a crucial role in the cycling of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), with DON<1kDa dominating the DON pool and correlating inversely with dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN). Geographical features and microbial communities are closely related in driving DON cycling, highlighting the importance of DON mineralization in carbon cycling in marginal seas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
Yuheng Yang, Baisha Weng, Denghua Yan, Xiaoyan Gong, Yanyu Dai, Yongzhen Niu, Guoqiang Dong
Summary: The study focused on analyzing the contribution of different water sources to streamflow in the Nagqu River watershed on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results showed that rain and snowmelt reflected the chemical characteristics of precipitation, with groundwater and snowmelt being the primary sources of water flow. Different types of groundwater were identified in the region, with varying levels of permeability and recoverability.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ziming Fang, Wen-Xiong Wang
Summary: The Pearl River Estuary in Southern China, the largest estuary in the region, regulates the fluxes of riverine trace metals into the South China Sea. The study found that trace metals undergo transformations between different phases during estuarine mixing, with an increase in dissolved metal concentration accompanied by a decrease in particulate metal concentration.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wei Qian, Shi Zhang, Chuan Tong, Jordi Sardans, Josep Penuelas, Xiaofei Li
Summary: This study summarizes the dissolved oxygen concentrations in northwestern and southern Hong Kong as well as Mirs Bay over the past three decades and analyzes the crucial factors driving hypoxia in these areas. The results suggest that local productivity and water stratification are the main drivers of hypoxia formation and maintenance.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xinru Li, Min Zhou, Feng Shi, Bo Meng, Jiang Liu, Yidong Mi, Cuimin Dong, Hailei Su, Xuesong Liu, Fanfan Wang, Yuan Wei
Summary: The microorganisms existing between soil and rice systems in heavy metal-contaminated soil environments have significant impacts on heavy metal pollution in rice and rice growth. This study investigated the effects of soil microorganisms on mercury (Hg) uptake by rice plants and identified potential phytoremediation agents. The results showed that the inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) significantly reduced the Hg concentration in rice, and AMF tended to cause Hg to accumulate in non-edible parts of the rice. AMF also inhibited Hg absorption by rice plants and improved growth indices and antioxidant enzyme activities. These findings suggest the potential use of co-existing microorganisms for soil heavy metal remediation and provide insights into reducing human Hg exposure through rice consumption.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Weiqing Li, Hui Qian, Panpan Xu, Kai Hou, Qiying Zhang, Yao Chen, Jie Chen, Wengang Qu, Wenhao Ren
Summary: Geochemical investigations of fluvial sediment in the Yellow River reveal the provenance, weathering and sedimentary recycling characteristics. The study finds that the surface sediment of the Yellow River has undergone a low intensity of weathering and recycling overall, but significant differences exist among the upper, middle, and lower reaches due to varying climatic conditions and tectonic settings. The source rocks exhibit a mixed type composition, consisting of felsic igneous rocks, intermediate igneous rocks, quartzose sedimentary rocks, and mafic components. These findings provide valuable insights into the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes in large watersheds in arid and semi-arid areas.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shaochen Yang, Ping Li, Kaifeng Sun, Nan Wei, Jinling Liu, Xinbin Feng
Summary: Anthropogenic activities and climate change have led to increased mercury (Hg) levels in seawater, but the sources and processes of Hg in different marine compartments are not well understood. This study analyzed Hg concentrations and stable isotopes in seawater and fish samples collected from different marine compartments of the South China Sea to investigate Hg cycling in marine ecosystems. The results showed that estuarine seawater had higher Hg concentrations than marine continental shelf and pelagic seawater, and the sources of Hg varied in different compartments. This study highlights the importance of Hg stable isotopes for understanding Hg cycling in marine ecosystems.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lulu Mao, Wenbo Ren, Xitao Liu, Mengchang He, Chunye Lin, Ying Zhong, Yang Tang, Wei Ouyang
Summary: In this study, the total mercury (THg) content and mercury isotope composition in sediments in the Lianxi River, Zijiang River, and South Dongting Lake were investigated to identify and quantify multiple mercury sources and evaluate mercury environmental processes. The results showed that the THg content, delta Hg-202, and Delta Hg-199 values in the sediments varied from 48.22 to 4284.32 μg/kg, 1.33 to 0.04‰, and 0.25 to 0.03‰, respectively. The sediments from the Lianxi River, Zijiang River, and South Dongting Lake exhibited distinct mercury isotope characteristics, indicating significant variations in dominant mercury sources in these regions. Source apportionment based on MixSIAR revealed that mercury in sediments mainly originated from industrial activities, with non-ferrous metal smelting being the dominant industrial mercury contributor in the Lianxi River. Compared to the Lianxi River, the relative contribution of mercury from industrial activities significantly decreased, while the relative contributions of mercury from background releases significantly increased in the Zijiang River and South Dongting Lake.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chong Sheng, Jiu Jimmy Jiao, Xin Luo, Jinchao Zuo, Lei Jia, Jinghe Cao
Summary: Large-river deltaic estuaries and adjacent continental shelves contain a previously unknown offshore freshened groundwater body, with potential as potable water or raw water source. This offshore low-salinity groundwater, likely a global phenomenon, has great potential in alleviating water shortages in highly urbanized coastal areas.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chu Zhao, Chuan Wang, Jianhong Li, Lize Meng, Jingya Xue, Yang Gao, Tao Huang, Yixin Bai, Shuaidong Li, Hao Yang, Kun Shi, Yuanhui Xu, Changchun Huang
Summary: The boom in dam construction and continuous river-lake exchange has had a profound impact on the transmission and transformation of riverine dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). An in-depth understanding of the change mechanisms of DIC concentrations and sources driven by dam operation and lake recharge is crucial for regulating greenhouse gas emissions and evaluating the impact of DIC on the global carbon cycle.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Hao Jiang, Qianqian Zhang, Wenjing Liu, Jiangyi Zhang, Ke Pan, Tong Zhao, Zhifang Xu
Summary: The study identified the main driving forces behind high nitrogen levels in urban rivers, including in-stream nitrification, insufficient source control, and lack of removal mechanisms. Special attention should be focused on wastewater treatment plants, non-point sources, and internal transformation processes to reduce nitrogen levels.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Yiying Sun, Haixian Xiong, Man-Ting Lee, Chris Brodie, Yongqiang Zong
Summary: This study investigated the geochemical dynamics of sediment organic matter in mangrove wetlands and found significant exchanges of mangrove OM with marine and mixed forest OM. Despite these exchanges, distinct values of delta C-13, TOC and C/N were observed in modern surface sediments of different vegetational zones, confirming their usefulness as coastal environmental proxies. The proxies, combined with chronologies based on radiocarbon, 210 Pb and 137 Cs analyses, were successfully used to reconstruct the depositional history of the mangrove wetland, providing new insights into environmental responses to natural and anthropogenic drivers.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wang Zheng, Anwen Zhou, Ruoyu Sun, Jiubin Chen
Summary: The co-evolution of Earth's environment and life is a fundamental question in Earth science. Precise paleoenvironmental reconstruction using the proxy of mercury isotopes in ancient sedimentary rocks has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding the evolution of life and predicting the future habitability of Earth.
CHINESE SCIENCE BULLETIN-CHINESE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jeroen E. Sonke, Vladimir P. Shevchenko, Jonathan Prunier, Ruoyu Sun, Anatoly S. Prokushkin, Oleg S. Pokrovsky
Summary: This study investigated the mercury concentrations and isotopic compositions in lichens and mosses from remote locations in the Eurasian Arctic and sub-Arctic. The results showed that tree lichens had higher mercury levels than terricolous lichens and mosses, especially near the Arctic Ocean. The isotopic signatures indicated that marine air masses are the main source of elevated coastal mercury levels, while atmospheric deposition is the dominant source for inland terricolous lichens and mosses.
ACS EARTH AND SPACE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ruoyu Sun, Fei Cao, Shifeng Dai, Bing Shan, Cuicui Qi, Zhanjie Xu, Pengfei Li, Yi Liu, Wang Zheng, Jiubin Chen
Summary: Pollutant emissions from coal fires have caused serious concerns in major coal-producing countries, and China has made great efforts to suppress them. Recent surveys have revealed that although fires in the notorious Wuda Coalfield in Inner Mongolia have been nearly extinguished near the surface, they still persist underground. The impacts of Hg volatilized from underground coal fires remain unclear.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jingjing Yuan, Yi Liu, Shun Chen, Xiaotong Peng, Yu-Feng Li, Songjing Li, Rui Zhang, Wang Zheng, Jiubin Chen, Ruoyu Sun, Lars-Eric Heimburger-Boavida
Summary: This study reveals that there are differences in the sources of mercury in chemosynthetic food webs and trench food webs in the deep sea. Chemosynthetic food webs mainly assimilate mercury from ambient seawater, sediments, and hydrothermal fluids formed by percolated seawater through magmatic/mantle rocks. In contrast, trench food webs mainly assimilate mercury from the monomethylmercury (MMHg) pollutants in the upper marine photosynthetic food webs. The findings suggest that mercury isotopes can be promising tools to trace the deep-sea mercury biogeochemical cycle.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yi Liu, Maoqing Chen, Ting Zhang, Rui Zhang, Fei Cao, Shaobo Sun, Wang Zheng, Ruoyu Sun, Jiubin Chen
Summary: Human activities have released a large amount of biologically active metals into the oceans, but it is challenging to identify their sources and migration processes. This study presents century-long records of Zn and Cu concentrations and isotope compositions in corals from the northern South China Sea. The results show a significant increase in Zn and Cu concentrations since the 1980s, in line with increases in delta Zn-66 and delta Cu-65. The enrichment trends are attributed to human-induced rock weathering and soil erosion, transferring isotopically heavy Zn and Cu fluxes into the coastal ocean.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Ye Wang, Jing Lu, Minfang Yang, Joyce A. Yager, Sarah E. Greene, Ruoyu Sun, Xiaomiao Mu, Xiao Bian, Peixin Zhang, Longyi Shao, Jason Hilton
Summary: The deep-time geological record reveals that the collapse of ice sheets during the Late Paleozoic Ice Age around 290 million years ago was due to massive glacial melting associated with global temperature increase, atmospheric pCO2 rise, and sea level rise. The causes and effects of this melting are hypothesized to be multiple large-scale volcanic events, but detailed coeval records are lacking. A new study examines an Artinskian terrestrial succession in the Liujiang Coalfield, North China and finds that large-scale volcanism associated with the Tarim-II, Panjal, and Choiyoi volcanic provinces were intricately linked with environmental changes, including carbon cycle perturbation, wildfire, and continental weathering.
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Yi Liu, Shichen Tao, Ruoyu Sun, Chen-Feng You, Tzu-Hao Wang, Thomas Felis, Wang Zheng, Shaobo Sun, Xiaodong Liu, Qi Shi, Jianxin Zhao, Kefu Yu
Summary: This study examines the impact of nutrient enrichment on coral growth in remote ocean reefs. It finds that variations in coral growth rate over the past centuries are closely related to changes in seabird populations, suggesting a role of nutrient loads in controlling coral growth. This highlights the importance of considering historical nutrient inputs when projecting future coral growth under human activities and climate change.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Xiaohua Li, Zhen Zeng, Yi Liu, Chuan-Chou Shen, Ruoyu Sun, Ching-Chih Chang, Weidong Sun, Hui-Min Yu, Fang Huang, Chung-Che Wu, Tsai-Luen Yu, Chun-Yuan Huang, Hong-Wei Chiang
Summary: Soil erosion in East and Southeast Asia has increased significantly since the 1970s-1980s economic boom, but limited records make it difficult to understand and verify these changes. This study presents new records from coral skeletons in Taiwan and Vietnam, suggesting intervals of elevated seawater Ba concentrations linked to soil erosion associated with land use changes and socioeconomic developments. The increased sediment loads also contribute to the degradation of regional coral reefs.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Dun Wu, Jian Wu, Balal Yousaf, Ruoyu Sun, Munira Raji
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruoyu Sun, Yi Liu, Jeroen E. E. Sonke, Zhang Feifei, Yaqiu Zhao, Yonggen Zhang, Jiubin Chen, Cong-Qiang Liu, Shuzhong Shen, Ariel D. D. Anbar, Wang Zheng
Summary: According to the evaluation of mercury isotopes from the Meishan Section, China and a global box model, marine photic zone euxinia (PZE) with toxic, sulfide-rich conditions was likely an important kill mechanism and obstacle to recovery during the end-Permian mass extinction (EPME), alongside the dominant influence of volcanism. This model provides further evidence that PZE played a crucial role in both the EPME and the impeded recovery afterward.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wang Zheng, Anwen Zhou, Swapan K. Sahoo, Morrison R. Nolan, Chadlin M. Ostrander, Ruoyu Sun, Ariel D. Anbar, Shuhai Xiao, Jiubin Chen
Summary: We used mercury isotope compositions from black shale sections in South China to reconstruct the redox conditions of the Ediacaran ocean. Our results provide compelling evidence for recurrent photic zone euxinia occurring on the continental margin of South China during times of ocean oxygenation events. We suggest that this euxinia was driven by increased availability of sulfate and nutrients from a transiently oxygenated ocean, but also may have inhibited oxygen production and restricted the expansion of macroscopic oxygen-demanding animals in the Ediacaran.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Zhanjie Xu, Xiaomai Zhao, Peisen Li, Zhichao Dong, Ruoyu Sun, Pingqing Fu, Chandra Mouli Pavuluri
Summary: This study analyzed fine aerosols from an underground coal fire in Wuhai, Inner Mongolia, and found a high abundance of dicarboxylic acids associated with the coal fire emissions. The study also revealed an unusually high level of azelaic acid, which is believed to originate from unsaturated fatty acids emitted from the coal fires.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Menghan Li, Yilun Xu, Lilin Sun, Jiubin Chen, Ke Zhang, Dandan Li, James Farquhar, Xiaolin Zhang, Ruoyu Sun, Francis A. Macdonald, Stephen E. Grasby, Yong Fu, Yanan Shen
Summary: The Cryogenian Sturtian and Marinoan Snowball Earth glaciations were followed by a non-glacial period characterized by the appearance of demosponge and green-algal biomarkers. Through isotopic measurements in the Datangpo Formation of South China, it was found that enhanced volcanism potentially caused by depressurization of terrestrial magma chambers during deglaciation and rising sulfate levels were present during this interval. Model results suggest that extreme temperatures and anoxia delayed green algal production after the Sturtian glaciation, while the subsequent reoxygenation of the iron-rich and sulfate-depleted ocean paved the way for the evolution of animals.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jingjing Yuan, Yi Liu, Shun Chen, Xiaotong Peng, Yu-Feng Li, Songjing Li, Rui Zhang, Wang Zheng, Jiubin Chen, Ruoyu Sun, Lars-Eric Heimburger-Boavida
Summary: Recent studies have indicated that deep oceans receive mercury from various sources, but the sources of mercury in deep-sea chemosynthetic food webs are still uncertain. In this study, the researchers investigated the mercury concentrations and isotopic compositions in indigenous biota at hydrothermal fields and cold seeps. They found that hydrothermal sulfides were highly enriched in mercury, and the biota in these regions had slightly positive Delta 199Hg values. The authors suggest that deep-sea chemosynthetic food webs mainly assimilate mercury from ambient seawater/sediments and hydrothermal fluids, and the transfer of monomethylmercury from photosynthetic food webs is limited.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Miao Shi, Bridget A. Bergquist, Anwen Zhou, Yaqiu Zhao, Ruoyu Sun, Jiubin Chen, Wang Zheng
Summary: The efficiency of cold vapor generation (CVG) method for sample introduction in mercury (Hg) isotope analysis and its impact on Hg isotope analysis have been investigated in this study. The efficiency of Hg CVG can be affected by the sample uptake rate, sample matrix, and the design of the gas-liquid separator (GLS). Matrix separation, optimal GLS design, and tuning the sample uptake rate are crucial for obtaining high accuracy and precision in Hg isotope analysis.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY
(2023)