Organic compounds in rainfall at Horndsund, SW Spitsbergen : qualitative results

Research on the chemistry of atmospheric precipitation in the Hornsund region of Svalbard has been extended by analysis of the organic contents. In rainfall samples col− lected in September 2003, the organics were separated by solid phase extraction (SPE), eluted and analysed on gas chromatograph coupled to a mass selective detector (GC/MS). Rainfall pH was in the range 4.72–5.45, the low values suggesting possible pollution. Con− centrations of inorganic ions, expressed as total dissolved salts (TDS), were 5.40–13.18 mg L–1. Non−sea−salt (nss) sulphates were in the range 5–11 μeq L–1. In all samples, long−chain alkanes with chain length up to C36, and their methyl derivatives were detected. Among aromatic compounds biphenyl, dibenzofuran and its methyl derivatives were found. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were represented by naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluorene, acenaphthene, fluoranthene and pyrene. There were no PAHs with higher num− bers of rings. The synoptic meteorological conditions in September 2003 indicate that all organic and inorganic pollutants were of local origin

Water balance and chemical denudation in the unglaciated Fugleberget basin (SW Spitsbergen)

This paper gives the results of investigations carried out in the Fugleberget basin which lies on the northern shore of the Hornsund Fiord, in the unglaciated region of raised sea terraces and on the slopes of the Fugleberget (569 m a.s.l.) and the Ariekammen (511 m a.s.l.). The investigations were carried out between 23 July, 1979 and 4 September, 1980, including the polar night. The Fugleberget basin represents well the area of sea terraces and coastal mountains uncovered with glacier and occupying large areas in West Spitsbergen. These areas are characterized by the presence of permafrost. The aim of investigations was to determine such fluvial processes as the duration of the hydrological period, the manner of water supply to the basin and an attempt to define the elements of the water balance. In addition studies were made on hydrological processes, particulary changes in the chemical composition of water, and the magnitude of denudation determined

Characteristics of the polar hydrological year 1979/1980 in the basin of the Warenskiold Glacier, SW Spitsbergen

This paper contains thsults of hydrological and hydrochemical investigations carried out in the basin of Werenskiold Glacier against the background of determining climate elements. It also gives chosen elements of the water balance and mass balance determined from year-long investigations of the polar hydrological year 1979-1980

Long-term fluctuations of annual discharges of the main rivers in Poland and their association with the Northern Atlantic Thermohaline Circulation

Praca dotyczy przyczyn występowania multidekadowej zmienności średnich rocznych przepływów największych rzek Polski (Wisła, Bug, Odra, Warta). Taka zmienność powoduje, że w wieloletnich przebiegach przepływów rocznych zaznaczają się zmiany znaków trendów (z dodatnich na ujemne i odwrotnie). Przyczyną jest długookresowa zmienność składowej powierzchniowej cyrkulacji termohalinowej na północnym Atlantyku (NA THC – Northern Atlantic Thermohaline Circulation), która, poprzez wymuszanie zmian charakteru cyrkulacji atmosferycznej, reguluje zmienność temperatury powietrza nad Europą Środkową. Podczas występowania dodatnich faz NA THC przepływy roczne rzek maleją, zmniejsza się również zakres zmienności międzyrocznej oraz rośnie prawdopodobieństwo wystąpienia przepływów niskich. W okresie ujemnych faz NA THC przepływy rosną i rośnie zakres ich zmienności. Przeciętne różnice przepływów rocznych między okresami z występowaniem dodatnich a ujemnych faz NA THC wynoszą około 10%. Wzrost temperatury powietrza w czasie dodatnich faz NA THC, silny zwłaszcza w kwietniu, lipcu i sierpniu, powoduje wzrost ewapotranspiracji w zlewniach, co zmniejsza wartości odpływu. Nie można wykluczyć, że zmienność NA THC w znaczącym stopniu wpływa również na częstość występowania susz w Polsce

Rain water chemistry at Calypsobyen, Svalbard

Measurements of pollutants scavenged from air masses over southern Svalbard in summer precipitation are presented. Rainfall was sampled in July and August 2002 at Calypsobyen, Bellsund. Specific conductivity (SpC) and pH were measured and ion con− centrations were determined by ion chromatography. Ions of marine origin were subtracted, assuming that all chlorides were of marine origin. The FLEXTRA trajectory model was ap− plied to discover the sources of air masses arriving at Svalbard and track the paths of pollut− ant transport. Average (v/w) rainfall pH was 4.94, mean SpC amounted to 34.8 μS cm−1. To− tal dissolved solids concentration (TDS) ranged from 12.6 to 67 mg L−1, with ions of marine origin (Cl−, Na+, Mg2+) prevailing. Rains with the highest percentage of marine salts oc− curred with winds from the East at above average velocities. Non−sea salt (nss) sulphate concentrations ranged from 0.5 μeq L−1 to 23 μeq L−1, (v/w) average was 17 μeq L−1. Nitrate concentrations ranged from 0 to 24 μeq L−1. The highest concentrations of nss−SO4 2− and NO3 − were measured on 25 August, when the highest rainfall occurred (27 mm) and pH was the lowest (4.65). Rainfall at Calypsobyen deposited 194 kg km−2 of acidifying anions and 263 kg km−2 of base cations over the recording period. The polluted air masses were mostly from northern and central Europe. Rainfalls scavenging air masses formed over Greenland and Norwegian Seas displayed similar concentrations, being probably polluted by SOx and NOx from ship emissions

Location of promoter elements necessary and sufficient to direct testis-specific expression of the Hst70/Hsp70.2 gene.

The rat Hst70 gene and its mouse counterpart Hsp70.2 are expressed specifically in pachytene primary spermatocytes and spermatids. Here we demonstrate that a 165 bp fragment of the Hst70 gene promoter, containing the T1 transcription start site region, entire exon 1 and 42 bp 5' region of the intron, is sufficient to drive testis-specific expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene in transgenic mice with the same developmentally regulated pattern as the endogenous Hsp70.2 gene. We show further that high-level tissue-specific gene expression requires additional sequences localized upstream of the T2 transcription start site. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assay analysis revealed that only testes of juvenile rats, when Hst70 gene expression is repressed, contain proteins that specifically bind to the Oct (octamer) sequence localized directly downstream of the T1 site