Estimating the impact of inflow on the chemistry of two different caldera type lakes located on the Bali Island (Indonesia)

This paper is a preliminary attempt to assess the composition of pollutants in two different caldera lakes situated in the Indonesian Archipelago: Batur and Bratan. Both lakes are characterized by largely different physico-chemical regimes; Batur Lake is located in an area that is currently volcanically active, unlike Bratan Lake. The latter is much smaller and shallower than Batur Lake. The concentration of pollutants in the Indonesian equatorial lakes is largely unknown, and the impact of both biological and geothermal processes on their distribution requires attention. This study shows that the concentrations of cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+), anions (SO42-, F-, Cl-, Br-) and trace elements (Li, B, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sn, Cs, Ba, Pb, U, Be, Ag, Sb, Tl, Bi) differ greatly between both lakes. Most chemical parameters determined in volcanically influenced Batur Lake were tens to hundreds times higher than in Bratan Lake, and in the case of trace metals, the ratios of the two lakes' concentrations reached several hundreds. This study also compared the composition and concentration levels of organic compounds in both lakes, such as fatty acids, halocarbons and esters. On the other hand, the content of organic chemicals in the lakes also results from biological activity by phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacteria

The magnetic method as a tool to investigate the Werenskioldbreen environment (south-west Spitsbergen, Arctic Norway)

We used a novel approach of applying magnetic analyses to investigate the material released from the receding glacier Werenskioldbreen on Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Arctic Norway. Surface sediments were taken from the bay Nottinghambukta and the Werenskioldbreen foreland, along two main proglacial streams. Magnetic analyses, namely the low-field mass magnetic susceptibility, anhysteretic susceptibility mass normalized and hysteresis parameters, served to determine magnetic properties and identify the magnetic composition of the study material. We selected two distinct types of sediments. The first group, consisting of magnetite and pyrrhotite, has more single-domain grains in comparison to the second one, containing only magnetite. In the second group, multi-domain particles dominate. Deposits from the north stream, glacier river and an area close to the estuary of Nottinghambukta include magnetite and pyrrhotite. Magnetite was found in the south stream and in the outside part of the bay. Magnetic composition reflects different source rocks of sediments. This study demonstrates the utility of the magnetic method in analysing the current state of glacier environments

Tree stumps from the bottom of the Vistula Lagoon as indicators of water level changes in the Southern Baltic during the Late Holocene

The Vistula Lagoon is situated along the south-eastern shoreof the Gulf of Gdansk and is linked with the gulf through theStrait of Baltiysk. Separated from the open sea by the VistulaSpit, the Vistula Lagoon is a shallow body of water with a meandepth of 3 m; the bottom is covered with a layer of mud severalmetres thick.This article presents a unique, newly discovered localityof tree stumps occurring in situ at the bottom of the VistulaLagoon. The radiocarbon age of the alder stumps and the top ofthe peat in which they are rooted is Subboreal. The alder woodwas dated to 4770±35 and 3295±35 years BP. Thetop layers of peat were dated to 4670±40, 4410±35and 3690±35 years BP. The considerable scatter of thedates indicates the significance of erosional processes duringmarine transgressions. Radiocarbon dates and pollen analysesindicate that in the late Atlantic - early Subboreal periods,the water level of the Vistula Lagoon was about 3 m lower thanit is today. The -2 m level was passed no earlier than c. 3500years ago; the -1 m level was reached around 2000 years ago

Optimisation of sample pre-treatment method for the determination of triclosan in marine sediments by high-performance liquid chromatography and marine benthic quality assessment in the southern Baltic Sea

<p>This study comprises optimisation of sample preparation and HPLC analytical procedure for the determination of a personal care product ingredient, triclosan (TCS), in marine sediments. The testing of several varying pre-treatment parameters confirmed that ultrasonic extraction is an effective method for the isolation of TCS from marine sediments, and that the choice of extraction solvent appeared to be of major importance. The selection of the mobile-phase composition and the absorption wavelength was made for the high-performance liquid chromatography analysis step. Based on the validated method, a preliminary assessment of the benthic ecosystem quality with regards to TCS contamination has been demonstrated in the southern Baltic Sea – a semi-enclosed sea, characterised by poor water exchange, thus particularly susceptible to anthropopression. TCS has been identified and quantified <i>in situ</i> in marine bottom sediments, sediment dwelling isopod – <i>Saduria entomon</i> L. and estimated <i>in silico</i> in pore waters based on the equilibrium partition theory in order to assess the potential exposure and uptake from the aqueous phase. TCS concentrations identified in the bottom sediments of the Gdansk Basin, as the natural habitat for studied <i>S.entomon</i> L., appear to be threatening to the benthic environment. Particularly when considering <i>S. entomon</i> L. as a major nutrition source for cod (<i>Gadus morhua</i>) undergoing the feminisation process, since the recent studies prove TCS to have a potential to induce critical alterations in the endocrine system of marine ichthyofauna.</p

Fe-Mn nodules from the Polish sector of the Baltic Sea : state of knowledge and need for research

Studies on Baltic nodules have been undertaken since the1920s. In the 1970sand 1980s, the Polish Geological Institute - National Research Institute conducted researches on the bottom sediments of the Baltic Sea, which allowed identifying the regions of occurrence of Fe-Mn nodules in the southern part of the Baltic Sea (Mojski, 1989-1994). Nodules from the Polish Baltic Sea Zone are the least studied element of the marine environment. So far, there is a lack of information on environmental-geological conditions of formation and occurrence of nodules, their metal resources and deposit potential. The Fe-Mn nodules may be a valuable source of information on the contamination of the Baltic Sea water and bottom sediments. In cooperation between the Institute of Oceanography of the University ofGdañsk and the Polish Geological Institute-NRI, two research cruises were carried out in August and September 2020 on a 5 X 5 km testing ground in the Gotland-Gdańsk Threshold region. The seabed surface was profiled using multibeam echo sounders and a side-scan sonar. A hundred samples of Fe-Mn nodules, 25 samples of surface sediments associated with the nodules, and25 samples of clay rocks underlain by marine sediments were collected. The extensive documentary material will enable, for the first time, to estimate the nodule resources and determine the regularity of their occurrence