Zhidan Wen

Characterization of CDOM from urban waters in Northern-Northeastern China using excitation-emission matrix fluorescence and parallel factor analysis

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) plays an important role in aquatic systems, but high concentrations of organic materials are considered pollutants. The fluorescent component characteristics of CDOM in urban waters sampled from Northern and Northeastern China were examined by excitation-emission matrix fluorescence and parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) to investigate the source and compositional changes of CDOM on both space and pollution levels. One humic-like (C1), one tryptophan-like component (C2), and one tyrosine-like component (C3) were identified by PARAFAC. Mean fluorescence intensities of the three CDOM components varied spatially and by pollution level in cities of Northern and Northeastern China during July–August, 2013 and 2014. Principal components analysis (PCA) was conducted to identify the relative distribution of all water samples. Cluster analysis (CA) was also used to categorize the samples into groups of similar pollution levels within a study area. Strong positive linear relationships were revealed between the CDOM absorption coefficients a(254) (R2 = 0.89, p < 0.01); a(355) (R2 = 0.94, p < 0.01); and the fluorescence intensity (Fmax) for the humic-like C1 component. A positive linear relationship (R2 = 0.77) was also exhibited between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the Fmax for the humic-like C1 component, but a relatively weak correlation (R2 = 0.56) was detected between DOC and the Fmax for the tryptophan-like component (C2). A strong positive correlation was observed between the Fmax for the tryptophan-like component (C2) and total nitrogen (TN) (R2 = 0.78), but moderate correlations were observed with ammonium-N (NH4-N) (R2 = 0.68), and chemical oxygen demand (CODMn) (R2 = 0.52). Therefore, the fluorescence intensities of CDOM components can be applied to monitor water quality in real time compared to that of traditional approaches. These results demonstrate that EEM-PARAFAC is useful to evaluate the dynamics of CDOM fluorescent components in urban waters from Northern and Northeastern China and this method has potential applications for monitoring urban water quality in different regions with various hydrological conditions and pollution levels.

Characterization of CDOM of river waters in China using fluorescence excitation‐emission matrix and regional integration techniques

The spatial characteristics of fluorescent-DOM (FDOM) components in river waters in China were firstly examined by excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectra and fluorescence regional integration (FRI) with the data collected during September to November between 2013 and 2015. One tyrosine-like (R1), one tryptophan-like (R2), one fulvic-like (R3), one microbial protein-like (R4) and one humic-like (R5) components have been identified by FRI method. Principle components analysis (PCA) was conducted to assess variations in the five FDOM components (FRί (ί = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)) and the humification index (HIX) for all 194 river water samples. The average fluorescence intensities of the five fluorescent components and the total fluorescence intensities FSUM differed under spatial variation among the seven major river basins (Songhua, Liao, Hai, Yellow and Huai, Yangtze, Pearl and Inflow Rivers) in China. When all the river water samples were pooled together, the fulvic-like FR3 and the humic-like FR5 showed a strong positive linear relationship (R2 = 0.90, n = 194), indicating that the two allochthonous FDOM components R3 and R5 may originate from similar sources. There is a moderate strong positive correlation between the tryptophan-like FR2 and the microbial protein-like FR4 (R2 = 0.71, n = 194), suggesting parts of two autochthonous FDOM components R2 and R4 are likely from some common sources. However, the total allochthonous substance FR(3+5) and the total autochthonous substances FR(1+2+4) exhibited a weak correlation (R2 = 0.40, n = 194). Significant positive linear relationships between FR3 (R2 = 0.69, n = 194), FR5 (R2 = 0.79, n = 194) and CDOM absorption coefficient a(254) were observed, respectively, which demonstrated the CDOM absorption were dominated by the allochthonous FDOM components R3 and R5.

Estimation of Maize Residue Cover Using Landsat-8 OLI Image Spectral Information and Textural Features

The application of crop residue has become increasingly important for providing a barrier against water and wind erosion and improving soil organic matter content, infiltration, evaporation, temperature, and soil structure. The objectives of this work were to: (i) estimate maize residue cover (MRC) from Landsat-8 OLI images using seven vegetation indices (VIs) and eight textural features; and (ii) compare the VI method, textural feature method, and combination method (integration of textural features and spectral information) for estimating MRC with partial least squares regression (PLSR). The results showed that the normalized difference tillage index (NDTI), simple tillage index (STI), normalized difference index 7 (NDI7), and shortwave red normalized difference index (SRNDI) were significantly correlated with MRC. The MRC model based on NDTI outperformed (R2 = 0.84 and RMSE = 12.33%) the models based on the other VIs. Band3mean, Band4mean, and Band5mean were highly correlated with MRC. The regression between Band3mean and MRC was stronger (R2 = 0.71 and RMSE = 15.21%) than those between MRC and the other textural features. The MRC estimation accuracy using the combination method (R2 = 0.96 and RMSE = 8.11%) was better than that based on only the VI (R2 = 0.88 and RMSE = 11.34%) or textural feature (R2 = 0.90 and RMSE = 9.82%) methods. The results suggest that the combination method can be used to estimate MRC on a regional scale.

Spatial Distribution of Diffuse Attenuation of Photosynthetic Active Radiation and Its Main Regulating Factors in Inland Waters of Northeast China

Light availability in lakes or reservoirs is affected by optically active components (OACs) in the water. Light plays a key role in the distribution of phytoplankton and hydrophytes, thus, is a good indicator of the trophic state of an aquatic system. Diffuse attenuation of photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) (Kd(PAR)) is commonly used to quantitatively assess the light availability. The PAR and the concentration of OACs were measured at 206 sites, which covered 26 lakes and reservoirs in Northeast China. The spatial distribution of Kd(PAR) was depicted and its association with the OACs was assessed by grey incidences(GIs) and linear regression analysis. Kd(PAR) varied from 0.45 to 15.04 m−1. This investigation revealed that reservoirs in the east part of Northeast China were clear with small Kd(PAR) values, while lakes located in plain areas, where the source of total suspended matter (TSM) varied, displayed high Kd(PAR) values. The GIs and linear regression analysis indicated that the TSM was the dominant factor in determining Kd(PAR) values and best correlated with Kd(PAR) (R2 = 0.906, RMSE = 0.709). Most importantly, we have demonstrated that the TSM concentration is a reliable measurement for the estimation of the Kd(PAR) as 74% of the data produced a relative error (RE) of less than 0.4 in a leave-one-out cross validation (LOO-CV) analysis. Spatial transferability assessment of the model also revealed that TSM performed well as a determining factor of the Kd(PAR) for the majority of the lakes. However, a few exceptions were identified where the optically regulating dominant factors were chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and/or the chromophroic dissolved organic matter (CDOM). These extreme cases represent lakes with exceptionally clear waters.

Differences in the distribution and optical properties of DOM between fresh and saline lakes in a semi-arid area of Northern China

In limnological environments, most organic carbon is present in the dissolved form. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the main source of energy for microbial metabolism and biosynthesis, and also affects photosynthetic radiation level and the attenuation of ultraviolet irradiation to protect aquatic organisms. There are large differences in DOC concentration, source, and characteristics due to regional variations in water quality and basin characteristics. Reliable estimates of DOC and analysis of optical characteristics are crucial to understand the true role of lakes in the global carbon cycle. In this article, the distribution of DOC across 30 lakes in semi-arid areas of Northern China is reported. The data shows that saline lakes exhibited higher DOC concentrations than freshwater lakes, and the positive relationship between salinity and DOC was established (R2 = 0.42, p < 0.01, n = 196). The mean DOC concentration in eutrophic lakes was lower than in mesotrophic and oligotrophic lakes. Analysis of optical characteristics of CDOM indicated that saline lakes in this semi-arid regions contained abundant fulvic acid, and greater levels of autochthonous dissolved organic matter (DOM) with a lower molecular mass than fresh waters. The total suspended matter (TSM) is the main factor influencing on SUVA254 in both freshwater and saline lakes with a negative correlation. SUVA254 was negatively correlated with the salinity only in freshwater lakes, and with pH only in saline lakes. The result suggests that it was doubtful whether CDOM or SUVA254 alone can be a predictor of DOC concentration and other water quality parameters, especially in different types of lakes with different optical and physicochemical characteristics.

Quantification of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) storage in lakes and reservoirs of mainland China

As a major fraction of carbon in inland waters, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) plays a crucial role in carbon cycling on a global scale. However, the quantity of DOC stored in lakes and reservoirs was not clear to date. In an attempt to examine the factors that determine the DOC storage in lakes and reservoirs across China, we assembled a large database (measured 367 lakes, and meta-analyzed 102 lakes from five limnetic regions; measured 144 reservoirs, and meta-analyzed 272 reservoirs from 31 provincial units) of DOC concentrations and water storages for lakes and reservoirs that are used to determine DOC storage in static inland waters. We found that DOC concentrations in saline waters (Mean/median ± S.D: 50.5/30.0 ± 55.97 mg/L) are much higher than those in fresh waters (8.1/5.9 ± 6.8 mg/L), while lake DOC concentrations (25.9/11.5 ± 42.04 mg/L) are much higher than those in reservoirs (5.0/3.8 ± 4.5 mg/L). In terms of lake water volume and DOC storage, the Tibet-Qinghai lake region has the largest water volume (552.8 km3), 92% of which is saline waters, thus the largest DOC (13.39 Tg) is stored in these alpine lake region; followed by the Mengxin lake region, having a water volume of 99.4 km3 in which 1.75 Tg DOC was stored. Compared to Mengxin lake region, almost the same amount of water was stored in East China lake region (91.9 km3), however, much less DOC was stored in this region (0.43 Tg) due to the lower DOC concentration (Ave: 3.45 ± 2.68 mg/L). According to our investigation, Yungui and Northeast lake regions had water storages of 32.14 km3 and 19.44 km3 respectively, but relatively less DOC was stored in Yungui (0.13 Tg) than in Northeast lake region (0.19 Tg). Due to low DOC concentration in reservoirs, especially these large reservoirs having lower DOC concentration (V > 1.0 km3: 2.31 ± 1.48 mg/L), only 1.54 Tg was stored in a 485.1 km3 volume of water contained in reservoirs across the entire country.

Relationship changes between CDOM and DOC in the Songhua River affected by highly polluted tributary, Northeast China

In this study, the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption coefficient a(254), and excitation-emission matrix fluorescence (EEM) were examined in the Songhua River (SHR) and its highly polluted tributary of Northeast China. Fluorescence regional integration (FRI) was used to identify five fluorescent regions: one tyrosine-like (R1), one tryptophan-like (R2), one fulvic-like (R3), one microbial by-product-like (R4), and one humic-like (R5) regions. The five EEM-FRI regions for all water samples have site-specific properties. Principle component analysis (PCA) was conducted to assess variations in the five FRI regions and the humification index (HIX) for all water samples. For the water samples from the mainstream of SHR, CDOM absorption coefficient a(254) was correlated with either DOC or FRI fluorescent regions (R3 and R5), respectively. FRI R3 region was also correlated with R5 region for the water samples in the mainstream of SHR. However, the determination coefficients (R2) and slopes of these relationships among CDOM absorption, fluorescent regions, and DOC all decreased when the SHR waters were influenced by the highly polluted tributary of Yinma River (YMR) and Yitong River (YTR), which has a negative effect on the estimation of DOC flux transported by the SHR to oceans.