Oceanographic observations in the Gulf of Guayaquil, 1962-1964. Part I. Physical and Chemical

ENGLISH: During 1961 the government of Ecuador, with the financial assistance of the Special Fund of the United Nations and the technical assistance of FAO experts, initiated an extensive program of fisheries research centered in a fisheries institute established in Guayaquil. In cooperation with this program, and in connection with Ecuador's adherence in 196l to the Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, a two-and-a-half year investigation of the ecology of the Gulf of Guayaquil and adjacent waters was started by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. SPANISH: En 1961 el gobierno del Ecuador con el apoyo financiro del Fondo Especial de las Naciones Unidas y la asistencia tenica de los expertos de la FAO, inicio un programa extensivo de investigacion pesquera centralizado en el instituto de pesquerias establecido en Guayaquil. En cooperacion con este programa y en conexion con la adhesion del Ecuador en 1961 a la Convencion para el establecimiento de una Comision Interamericana del Atun Tropical, se comenzo por esta misma Comision una investigacion de dos anos y medio sobre la ecologia del Golfo de Guayaquil y las aguas adyacentes. (PDF contains 1532 pages.)

Oceanographic observations in the Gulf of Guayaquil, 1962-1964. Part II. Biological, chemical and physical.

ENGLISH: During 1961 the government of Ecuador, with the financial assistance of the Special Fund of the United Nations and the technical assistance of FAO experts, initiated an extensive program of fisheries research centered in a fisheries institute established in Guayaquil. In cooperation with this program, and in connection with Ecuador's adherence in 1961 to the Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, a two-and-a-half year investigation of the ecology of the Gulf of Guayaquil and adjacent waters was started by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. SPANISH: Durante 1961 el gobierno ecuatoriano con el apoyo financiero del Fondo Especial de las Naciones Unidas y la ayuda técnica de los expertos de la FAO, inició un programa extensivo de investigación pesquera, centralizado en el instituto pesquero establecido en Guayaquil. En cooperación con este programa y en conexión a la afiliaci6n del Ecuador a la Convención, en 1961, para el establecimiento de una Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical, Cue iniciada por la Comisión una investigación de dos aftos y medio sobre la ecología del Golfo de Guayaquil y de las aguas adyacentes. (PDF contains 501 pages.)

A chemical survey of standing waters in south-east England, with reference to acidification and eutrophication

This study looks at the distribution and magnitude of acidification and eutrophication in south-east England where there are no natural lakes but a large number of shallow artificial ponds. The study area is defined as the region lying within a 100 km radius of central London but excluding the area within the M25 motorway. Water samples were taken from 120 sites between mid-January and the end of February 1990, with a subsequent monthly survey of a subset of 31 of these waters. Twelve chemical variables were measured in the laboratory using standard techniques. PH values for the full dataset ranged from 3.2 to 8.4, although the majority of sites had pH values in the range 7.0 to 8.5; only five sites had a pH of less than 6.0. The five low pH sites expectedly had low alkalinities and are the only sites with values below 0.1 meq per litre. Concentrations of calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, sulphate and nitrate had normal distributions. The majority of sites had total phosphorus concentrations in the range 25 to 200 mu g per litre, although 10 sites had concentrations above 400 mu g per litre. The low number of acid sites suggests that surface water acidity is not a widespread regional problem in south-east England. However the survey shows that a large number of standing waters in the region have high total phosphorus and nitrate concentrations, and 89% may be considered moderately to considerably eutrophic.

Calcareous concretions in the Levriere (tributary of the Epte, secondary tributary of the Seine, Eure department) [Translation from: Bull.Ass.fr.Etud.Quaternaire 1973(2), 79-87, 1973]

From research carried, out on a section of the Levriere, concretions (granules, nodules, which were sometimes joined together) partly covering the river ”bottom” were observed. The authors propose to make besides a petrographic examination of the calcareous precipitations and to see if their origin is connected to a biological activity, or if it is purely a case of a physical-chemical precipitation. The hydrological background of the Levriere, a small river of the Normandy Vexin, is given and conditions of the formation of the concretions studied.

Chemical composition of Iraq water resources (abbreviated translation) [Translation from: Vodnye Resursy 1975(4,) 173-185]

This abbreviated translation summarises the chemical composition of Iraq water resources. Among the described water bodies are the River Euphrates, Shatt al Arab River and a number of standing waters.

The chemical budget of a lake

A progress report on research undertaken on the chemical budget of a lake, outlining the importance of nitrogen and phosphorus in governing the production of life in freshwater. The report uses the Rivers Brathay and Leven, which flow into Windermere, as examples. The report also refers to the Rivers Rothay, Troutbeck and Cunsey. A table is including which shows the monthly average nitrate content (mg per litre) of the River Brathey and River Leven for 1937 into 1938. The report also includes a figure showing Windermere lake levels, discharge and rainfall during 1937. It also briefly considers possible anthropogenic influences on water quality.

Changes in physical and chemical variables

An article reviewing the work undertaken looking at the seasonal variation of chemical conditions in water at various depths in lakes. The laboratory tests undertaken for the research is outlined, as well as details of the sampling locations and the staff involved with the work. One figure shows the seasonal variation in the amounts of dissolved substances in the surface water of Windermere during 1936. Another figure shows seasonal varation inthe dry weight of phyto- and zooplankton in Windermere. Seasonal changes are discussed further and a table is included showing chemical conditions in winter and summer for Windermere.

The changing chemical composition of chalk streams and rivers

The area studied was the River Frome system below Dorchester. The main river has its origins mainly in chalk springs, although some of its tributaries have surface run-off from farm lands and heath-lands. Thus the chemistry of the river is affected by changes in land practice and differences in the geology of the catchment area. Regular chemical analysis of chalk waters started at the River Laboratory in 1964, Regular weekly analyses have been carried out since 1965 at Bere Stream (a small chalk stream) and the River Frome (a large chalk stream); also single samples have been analysed to provide preliminary information. In 1970-71 an attempt was made to discover the contribution each main source made to the flow and chemical composition of the River Frome. Results of these investigations are presented in the paper.

Studies of chemical speciation in naturally anoxic basins

The chemical speciation of both metals and non-metals, the use of polarographic techniques, and application to the study of the chemistry of anoxic waters are considered. In the first part of the paper unfamiliar terminology is explained and then an example of simple lake chemistry is presented to illustrate why the concept of speciation is necessary.

Acid precipitation and its effects on aquatic systems in the English Lake District

There is no evidence of an increase in the acidity (lower pH or alkalinity) of water-bodies in the Lake District over the last 50 years. Brown trout occur in acid streams and upland tarns where pH is 4.5-5.2 throughout the year. Their occurrence in such waters in Britain and Ireland has been known for most of this century and there is no previous evidence of harmful effects on salmonid fisheries, though numbers of fish are naturally low. However, many benthic invertebrates that are common in hill-streams where pH is above 5.7 do not occur in more acid streams. This phenomenon occurs in the headwaters of several western rivers in Cumbria. It is not a recent response to "acid rain". Harmful effects of pH are undoubtedly more pronounced in waters that are poor in other dissolved ions. Low concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride are especially important and may limit the distributions of some aquatic animals even where pH is above 5.7. The concentration of sulphate ions is usually relatively high but this is not important to the fauna; concentrations are at least two times higher in productive alkaline water-bodies than they are in unproductive acid waters.

Physico-chemical factors and bacteria in fish ponds

Analyses of pond water and mud samples show that nitrifying bacteria (including ammonifying bacteria, nitrite bacteria, nitrobacteria and denitrifying bacteria) are in general closely correlated with various physico-chemical factors, ammonifying bacteria are mainly correlated with dissolved oxygen; denitrifying bacteria are inversely correlated with phosphorus; nitrite bacteria are closely correlated with nitrites, nitrobacteria are inversely correlated with ammoniac nitrogen. The nitrifying bacteria are more closely correlated with heterotrophic bacteria. Nitrobacteria are inversely correlated with anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria. The correlation is quite weak between all the nitrite bacteria which indicates that the nitrite bacteria have a controlling and regulating function in water quality and there is no interdependence as each plays a role of its own. The paper also discusses how the superficial soil (pond mud down to 3.5 cm deep) and different layers of the mud affect the biomass of bacteria. The study shows that the top superficial layer (down to 1.5 cm deep) is the major area for decomposing and converting organic matter.

Dendroclimatic reconstructions of temperature, precipitation, and pressure patterns over the western and central USA, 1602-1961 [abstract]

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Verified reconstructions of seasonal temperature, precipitation and sea-level pressure over North America and the North Pacific have been derived from 65 arid-site tree-ring chronologies in the North American West. Significant reconstructions were obtained for temperature for wide areas in the West and mid-continent. Precipitation reconstructions were significant only in the West, and pressure was reconstructed over wide areas of the North Pacific Ocean and the North American continent.