Decomposition of dissolved organic matter in Arctic and boreal streams

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2017Arctic and boreal rivers connect terrestrial, oceanic, and atmospheric carbon (C) pools by transporting and processing dissolved organic matter (DOM). DOM composition influences its susceptibility to decomposition (biolability), which in turn determines whether the associated C is respired, stored, or exported. High-latitude ecosystems are changing rapidly due to processes such as permafrost thaw, shifts in vegetative communities, and increasing discharge, and each of these processes can influence the composition of DOM reaching rivers. The eventual fate of riverine DOM, whether it is mineralized or exported, shifts the balance of global C pools. Therefore, to understand how changes to high-latitude ecosystems influence the global C cycle, we must be able to connect patterns in DOM composition to its biolability and subsequent fate within the C cycle. The objectives of this study were to describe spatial and temporal patterns in DOM composition and biolability, and to determine links between the composition and biolability of DOM. I sampled DOM from streams along an Arctic-boreal gradient in interior Alaska throughout the year. I measured DOM biolability and nutrient limitation of decomposition in laboratory incubations and characterized DOM composition using optical properties and chemical analysis. I found that temporal patterns in DOM composition corresponded to seasonal trends in the hydrology of high-latitude catchments, linking DOM source to shallow, organic-rich flowpaths in spring and deeper groundwater flows in winter. Biolability was low, indicating that the majority of riverine DOM is recalcitrant to biological decomposition. I observed increased biolability in response to phosphorus (P) addition, particularly during spring, indicating that phosphorus limits DOM decomposition. To further examine the mechanisms driving C processing in streams, I also conducted a series of whole-stream experiments to compare the relative influence of molecular composition and nutrient content of DOM. I added leaf leachate to boreal streams and measured C retention, which represents both biological uptake and sorption. The leachates varied by molecular composition, due to differences in tissue chemistry of plant species, and in nutrient content, because the leaves were collected from plots with different fertilization regimes. Retention was greatest for leachates derived from trees that had been fertilized with P, indicating P-limitation of biological uptake of C or preferential sorption of P-containing organic molecules. Although leachates varied in molecular composition as determined by optical properties, these differences did not correspond to a difference in uptake rates by species. These patterns in DOM retention indicate that nutrient content is a greater constraint on C uptake than molecular composition. Together, the two studies suggest that export is the primary fate of ambient DOM in high-latitude streams, but that C processing is highly sensitive to inputs of bioavailable DOM. The coupling between the P and C cycles observed in both studies highlights the potential for nutrient availability to constrain or promote CO₂ emissions from C-rich, high-latitude catchments.Chapter 1. Regional and intra-annual stability of dissolved organic matter composition and biolability in high-latitude rivers -- Chapter 2 Influence of molecular composition and nutrient availability on uptake of dissolved organic matter in boreal streams -- General Conclusion

Infrasonic observations of large-scale HE events

The Los Alamos Infrasound Program has been operating since about mid-1982, making routine measurements of low frequency atmospheric acoustic propagation. Generally, the authors work between 0.1 Hz to 10 Hz; however, much of the work is concerned with the narrower range of 0.5 to 5.0 Hz. Two permanent stations, St. George, UT, and Los Alamos, NM, have been operational since 1983, collecting data 24 hours a day. For the purposes of this discussion, the authors concentrate on their measurements of large, high explosive (HE) events at ranges of 250 km to 5330 km. Because their equipment is well suited for mobile deployments, they can easily establish temporary observing sites for special events. The measurements are from the permanent sites, as well as from various temporary sites. A few observations that are typical of the full data set are given

Infrasonic signals from an accidental chemical explosion

A series of large accidental explosions occurred at a chemical plant in Henderson, Nevada on May 4, 1988. The explosions were produced by the ignition of stores of ammonium perchlorate produced for solid rocket fuel at the Pacific Engineering and Production Co. This material, prior to the incident, had been believed to be non- explosive. The blasts destroyed the plant and caused one death. There was a series of explosions over a period of time with two major explosions which we will identify as A at 18:53:34 (all times herein will be given in C.U.T.) and B at 18:57:35. Signals from events A and B as well as smaller events were detected by the infrasound arrays operated by the Los Alamos National Laboratory at St. George, Utah (distance 159 km) and at Los Alamos, N.M. (distance 774 km). The Henderson explosions present an interesting and challenging set of infrasound observations. The case may be unique in providing two very large sources separated in time by only four minutes. To fully understand the propagation details will require further analysis and probably a modeling effort. The understanding of the St. George signals in the context of Lamb waves would be valuable for a better understanding of this mode of propagation. The improved understanding of long range infrasonic propagation is now especially important in the context of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). A portion of the plan for CTBT monitoring includes a global distribution of sixty infrasound arrays to provide for the monitoring of signals in as uniform a way as possible. It is expected that under this global network many signals and interpretation questions of the type described here will be encountered. Investigations of propagation over the ranges of hundreds to thousands of kilometers will be highly desired

The design and operation of infrasonic microphones

This report is intended as a guide to the design and operation of infrasonic microphones. It will emphasize general principles and the effects of parameter choices upon performance but will not provide details of design for specific microphones. The report will consider primarily the mechanical aspects that control the acoustic properties; it will not discuss the features of electronic design, which vary greatly among microphones. Here the authors define infrasonic microphones as sensors capable of detecting pressure variations in the period range of about 0.1 s to 1000 s with changes from about 0.1 {mu}bar (microbar = 1 dyne cm{sup {minus}2}) to about 1 mbar

Drainage flow over complex terrain

Model calculations even carried in order to simulate tracer release experiments at the Geysers Area. Comparisons with the experimental data provide a test of current ability to model pollutant transport. The calculations were carried out with a windfield code (ATMOS1) and an advection-diffusion code (ATMOS2). The resulting concentrations permit prediction of tracer particle collections at the measurement stations. Comparison of the observations and predictions of sequential and integrated counts shows generally good agreement, but with discrepancies in some instances. The method appears to be a useful one for pollutant transport predictions and for parametric studies

Numerical Simulation of the Atmospheric Signature of Artificial and Natural Seismic Events

The mechanical coupling between solid planets and their atmospheres enables seismically induced acoustic waves to propagate in the atmosphere. We numerically simulate this coupled system for two application cases: active seismic experiments (ASEs) and passive seismic experiments. A recent ASE (Krishnamoorthy et al., 2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/2018GL077481) observed the infrasonic signals produced by a seismic hammer. To measure the sensitivity of observations to seismic parameters, we attempt to reproduce the results from this experiment at short range by considering a realistic unconsolidated subsurface and an idealized rock-solid subsurface. At long range, we investigate the influence of the source by using two focal mechanisms. We found surface waves generate an infrasonic plane head wave in the ASE case of the rock-solid material. For the passive seismic experiments, the amplitude of atmospheric infrasound generated by seismic surface waves is investigated in detail. Despite some limitations, the simulations suggest that balloon measurement of seismically induced infrasound might help to constrain ground properties

The Abundance Of Lithium, Beryllium, And Lead In The Solar Atmosphere.

PhDAstronomyAstrophysicsUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/185942/2/6400864.pd

Infrasonic observation of earthquakes

Infrasound signals generated by earthquakes have been detected at arrays operated by the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Three modes of propagation are possible and all have been observed by the authors. The observations suggest that regions remote from the epicenters are excited and may serve as secondary source regions. A relation is found between the normalized peak amplitudes and the seismic magnitudes

Nuclear Theory and Applications Progress Report, January 1, 1989-- April 1, 1990

This report contains brief papers on the following topics: data evaluation and libraries; data processing; nuclear applications; reactions; fission; and nuclear structure