scholarly journals Hydrogeological investigations in preparation of an in situ bioremediation strategy based on a novel bacterial desulfitobacterium dichloroeliminans strain DCAl

2020 ◽  
pp. 413-424
Author(s):  
Katherine A. Smith ◽  
Alexander Vandenbohed ◽  
Ann Maes ◽  
Willy Verstraet ◽  
Luc Lebbe
Keyword(s):  
Solute Transport ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Numerical Density ◽  
Carcinogenic Effect ◽  
Soil Matrix ◽  
In Situ Bioremediation ◽  
Halogenated Compound

Understanding the wide variety of aquifer physical, chemical and microbiological processes is necessary for the effective implementation of in situ bioaugmentation strategies. Therefore, a numerical density dependent 3D solute transport model MOCDENS3D was developed in combination with field experiments to characterise the subsurface control parameters. This also allowed for the study of the effect of aquifer heterogeneity upon the fate and transport of the reactive solutes and the injected bacterial strain.  These investigations were conducted during the evaluation of an in situ bioremediation strategy intended for the cleanup of a test site. The site lies within a historically 1,2- dichloroethane (l ,2-DCA) contaminated sandy phreatic aquifer in Tessenderlo (Belgium). The halogenated compound has a putative carcinogenic effect and a high recalcitrance towards reductive dechlorination. The isolation of the novel anaerobic Desulfitobacterium dichloroeliminans strain DCAI from the soil matrix of the Tessenderlo site at LabMET (Ghent University, Belgium) offered perspectives for the execution of a bioaugmentation strategy at this site, since this strain selectively degrades 1,2-DCA to ethene under anaerobic conditions without the production of toxic vinyl chloride.  First, a step-drawdown pumping test followed by a forced gradient multiple-well tracer test was conducted to obtain values for the hydrogeological parameters such as hydraulic conductivity, longitudinal and transverse dispersivity and effective porosity. The solute transport model was used as a predictive field-scale modelling tool in aid of designing the preliminary field tests as well as the bacterial injection. The aim of the latter was the assessment of the transport of the augmented strain DCAI. Prior modelling of these experiments provides an insight in the possible design strategies and hence, it can be concluded that profound preliminary field investigation aided by a solute transport model such as MOCDENS3D, results in a more time- and cost-effective execution of large scale cleanup processes of contaminated sites.

scholarly journals Utilisation of 2,2DCP by Staphyloccocus aureus ZT and In Silico Analysis of Putative Dehalogenase

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Zatty Zawani Zaidi ◽  
Fahrul Huyop
Keyword(s):  
In Silico ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Enrichment Culture ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
In Situ Bioremediation ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
Halogenated Compound ◽  
Silico Analysis ◽  
Dehalogenase Gene

Halogenated compound such as 2,2-dichloropropionic acid is known for its toxicity and polluted many areas especially with agricultural activities. This study focused on the isolation and characterization of the bacterium that can utilise 2,2-dichloropropionic acid from palm oil plantation in Lenga, Johor and in silico analysis of putative dehalogenase obtained from NCBI database of the same genus and species. The bacterium was isolated using an enrichment culture media supplemented with 20 mM 2,2-dicholoropropionic acid as a carbon source.  The cells were grown at 30˚C with cells doubling time of 2.00±0.005 hours with the maximum growth at A680nm of 1.047 overnight. The partial biochemical tests and morphological examination concluded that the bacterium belongs to the genus Staphylococcus sp.. This is the first reported studies of  Staphylococcus sp. with the ability to grow on 2,2-dichloropropionic acid. The genomic DNA from NCBI database of the same species was analysed assuming the same genus and has identical genomic sequence.  The full genome of Staphylococcus sp. was screened for dehalogenase gene and  haloacid dehalogenase gene was detected in the mobile genetic element of the species revealed that the dehalogenase sequence has little identities to the previously reported dehalogenases.The main outcome of the studies suggesting an in situ bioremediation can be regarded as a natural process to detoxify the contaminated sites provided that the microorganisms contained a specialised gene sequence within its genome that served the nature for many long years. Whether microorganisms will be successful in destroying man-made contaminants entirely rely on what types of organisms play a role in in situ bioremediation and which contaminants are most susceptible to bioremediation. 

scholarly journals Using ship-borne observations of methane isotopic ratio in the Arctic Ocean to understand methane sources in the Arctic

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Berchet ◽  
Isabelle Pison ◽  
Patrick M. Crill ◽  
Brett Thornton ◽  
Philippe Bousquet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Isotopic Ratio ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Isotopic Ratios ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
The Arctic Ocean

Abstract. Due to the large variety and heterogeneity of sources in remote areas hard to document, the Arctic regional methane budget remain very uncertain. In situ campaigns provide valuable data sets to reduce these uncertainties. Here we analyse data from the SWERUS-C3 campaign, on-board the icebreaker Oden, that took place during summer 2014 in the Arctic Ocean along the Northern Siberian and Alaskan shores. Total concentrations of methane, as well as isotopic ratios were measured continuously during this campaign for 35 days in July and August 2014. Using a chemistry-transport model, we link observed concentrations and isotopic ratios to regional emissions and hemispheric transport structures. A simple inversion system helped constraining source signatures from wetlands in Siberia and Alaska and oceanic sources, as well as the isotopic composition of lower stratosphere air masses. The variation in the signature of low stratosphere air masses, due to strongly fractionating chemical reactions in the stratosphere, was suggested to explain a large share of the observed variability in isotopic ratios. These points at required efforts to better simulate large scale transport and chemistry patterns to use isotopic data in remote areas. It is found that constant and homogeneous source signatures for each type of emission in the region (mostly wetlands and oil and gas industry) is not compatible with the strong synoptic isotopic signal observed in the Arctic. A regional gradient in source signatures is highlighted between Siberian and Alaskan wetlands, the later ones having a lighter signatures than the first ones. Arctic continental shelf sources are suggested to be a mixture of methane from a dominant thermogenic origin and a secondary biogenic one, consistent with previous in-situ isotopic analysis of seepage along the Siberian shores.

scholarly journals Ozone pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown in the spring 2020 over Europe analysed from satellite observations, in situ measurements and models

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Cuesta ◽  
Lorenzo Costantino ◽  
Matthias Beekmann ◽  
Guillaume Siour ◽  
Laurent Menut ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Emission Inventories ◽  
Ozone Pollution ◽  
Chemistry Transport Model ◽  
Near Surface

Abstract. We present a comprehensive study integrating satellite observations of ozone pollution, in situ measurements and chemistry transport model simulations for quantifying the role of anthropogenic emission reductions during the COVID-19 lockdown in spring 2020 over Europe. Satellite observations are derived from the IASI+GOME2 multispectral synergism, which provides particularly enhanced sensitivity to near-surface ozone pollution. These observations are first analysed in terms of differences between the average on 1–15 April 2020, when the strictest lockdown restrictions took place, and the same period in 2019. They show clear enhancements of near-surface ozone in Central Europe and Northern Italy, and some other hotspots, which are typically characterized by VOC-limited chemical regimes. An overall reduction of ozone is observed elsewhere, where ozone chemistry is limited by the abundance of NOx. The spatial distribution of positive and negative ozone concentration anomalies observed from space is in relatively good quantitative agreement with surface in situ measurements over the continent (a correlation coefficient of 0.55, a root-mean-squared difference of 11 ppb and the same standard deviation and range of variability). An average bias of ∼8 ppb between the two observational datasets is remarked, which can partly be explained by the fact the satellite approach retrieves partial columns of ozone with a peak sensitivity above the surface (near 2 km of altitude). For assessing the impact of the reduction of anthropogenic emissions during the lockdown, we adjust the satellite and in situ surface observations for withdrawing the influence of meteorological conditions in 2020 and 2019. This adjustment is derived from the chemistry transport model simulations using the meteorological fields of each year and identical emission inventories. This observational estimate of the influence of lockdown emission reduction is consistent for both datasets. They both show lockdown-associated ozone enhancements in hotspots over Central Europe and Northern Italy, with a reduced amplitude with respect to the total changes observed between the two years, and an overall reduction elsewhere over Europe and the ocean. Satellite observations additionally highlight the ozone anomalies in the regions remote from in situ sensors, an enhancement over the Mediterranean likely associated with maritime traffic emissions and a marked large-scale reduction of ozone elsewhere over ocean (particularly over the North Sea), in consistency with previous assessments done with ozonesondes measurements in the free troposphere. These observational assessments are compared with model-only estimations, using the CHIMERE chemistry transport model. For analysing the uncertainty of the model estimates, we perform two sets of simulations with different setups, differing in the emission inventories, their modifications to account for changes in anthropogenic activities during the lockdown and the meteorological fields. Whereas a general qualitative consistency of positive and negative ozone anomalies is remarked between all model and observational estimates, significant changes are seen in their amplitudes. Models underestimate the range of variability of the ozone changes by at least a factor 2 with respect to the two observational data sets, both for enhancements and decreases of ozone, while the large-scale ozone decrease is not simulated. With one of the setups, the model simulates ozone enhancements a factor 3 to 6 smaller than with the other configuration. This is partly linked to the emission inventories of ozone precursors (at least a 30 % difference), but mainly to differences in vertical mixing of atmospheric constituents depending on the choice of the meteorological model.

scholarly journals The regional European atmospheric transport inversion comparison, EUROCOM: first results on European-wide terrestrial carbon fluxes for the period 2006–2015

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (20) ◽  
pp. 12063-12091
Author(s):  
Guillaume Monteil ◽  
Grégoire Broquet ◽  
Marko Scholze ◽  
Matthew Lang ◽  
Ute Karstens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Flux ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Terrestrial Carbon ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
First Results

Abstract. Atmospheric inversions have been used for the past two decades to derive large-scale constraints on the sources and sinks of CO2 into the atmosphere. The development of dense in situ surface observation networks, such as ICOS in Europe, enables in theory inversions at a resolution close to the country scale in Europe. This has led to the development of many regional inversion systems capable of assimilating these high-resolution data, in Europe and elsewhere. The EUROCOM (European atmospheric transport inversion comparison) project is a collaboration between seven European research institutes, which aims at producing a collective assessment of the net carbon flux between the terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere in Europe for the period 2006–2015. It aims in particular at investigating the capacity of the inversions to deliver consistent flux estimates from the country scale up to the continental scale. The project participants were provided with a common database of in situ-observed CO2 concentrations (including the observation sites that are now part of the ICOS network) and were tasked with providing their best estimate of the net terrestrial carbon flux for that period, and for a large domain covering the entire European Union. The inversion systems differ by the transport model, the inversion approach, and the choice of observation and prior constraints, enabling us to widely explore the space of uncertainties. This paper describes the intercomparison protocol and the participating systems, and it presents the first results from a reference set of inversions, at the continental scale and in four large regions. At the continental scale, the regional inversions support the assumption that European ecosystems are a relatively small sink (-0.21±0.2 Pg C yr−1). We find that the convergence of the regional inversions at this scale is not better than that obtained in state-of-the-art global inversions. However, more robust results are obtained for sub-regions within Europe, and in these areas with dense observational coverage, the objective of delivering robust country-scale flux estimates appears achievable in the near future.

scholarly journals Estimating CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from point sources: a case study of an isolated power station

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 31551-31601 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Utembe ◽  
N. Jones ◽  
P. J. Rayner ◽  
I. Genkova ◽  
D. W. T. Griffith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Concentration Field ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Surface Concentration ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Power Station

Abstract. A methodology to estimate CO2 emissions from an isolated power plant is presented and illustrated for the Northern Power Station at Port Augusta, South Australia. The method involves measurement of in-situ and column-averaged CO2 at a site near the power plant, forward modelling (using WRF-Chem) of the observed signals and inverse modelling to obtain an estimate of the fluxes from the power plant. By subtracting the simulated background CO2 (obtained from Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate CO2 fields) from the observed and simulated signals, we are able to account for fluxes from the power plant that are mainly responsible for the variations in the CO2 concentrations. Although the enhancements of the surface concentration of CO2 are a factor of 10 larger than the enhancements in the column-averaged concentration, the forward transport model has difficulty predicting the in-situ data, which is complicated by sea breeze effects and influence from other local sources. Better simulation is obtained for the column-averaged data leading to better estimates of fluxes. The ratio of our estimated emissions to the reported values is 1.06 ± 0.54. Modelling local biospheric fluxes makes little difference either to the estimated emissions or quality of the fit to the data. Variations in the large-scale concentration field have a larger impact highlighting the importance of good boundary conditions even in the relatively homogeneous Southern Hemisphere. The estimates are insensitive to details of the calculation such as stack height or modelling of plume injection. We conclude that column-integrated measurements offer a reasonable trade-off between sensitivity and model capability for estimating point sources.

scholarly journals Simulation of reactive solute transport in the critical zone: a Lagrangian model for transient flow and preferential transport

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 1483-1508
Author(s):  
Alexander Sternagel ◽  
Ralf Loritz ◽  
Julian Klaus ◽  
Brian Berkowitz ◽  
Erwin Zehe
Keyword(s):  
Solute Transport ◽  
Reactive Transport ◽  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Transient Flow ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Lagrangian Model ◽  
Retardation Factor ◽  
Soil Matrix ◽  
Reactive Solute Transport ◽  
Partially Saturated

Abstract. We present a method to simulate fluid flow with reactive solute transport in structured, partially saturated soils using a Lagrangian perspective. In this context, we extend the scope of the Lagrangian Soil Water and Solute Transport Model (LAST) (Sternagel et al., 2019) by implementing vertically variable, non-linear sorption and first-order degradation processes during transport of reactive substances through a partially saturated soil matrix and macropores. For sorption, we develop an explicit mass transfer approach based on Freundlich isotherms because the common method of using a retardation factor is not applicable in the particle-based approach of LAST. The reactive transport method is tested against data of plot- and field-scale irrigation experiments with the herbicides isoproturon and flufenacet at different flow conditions over various periods. Simulations with HYDRUS 1-D serve as an additional benchmark. At the plot scale, both models show equal performance at a matrix-flow-dominated site, but LAST better matches indicators of preferential flow at a macropore-flow-dominated site. Furthermore, LAST successfully simulates the effects of adsorption and degradation on the breakthrough behaviour of flufenacet with preferential leaching and remobilization. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the method to simulate reactive solute transport in a Lagrangian framework and highlight the advantage of the particle-based approach and the structural macropore domain to simulate solute transport as well as to cope with preferential bypassing of topsoil and subsequent re-infiltration into the subsoil matrix.

scholarly journals Remote Sensing for Optimal Estimation of Water Temperature Dynamics in Shallow Tidal Environments

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia Pivato ◽  
Luca Carniello ◽  
Daniele Pietro Viero ◽  
Chiara Soranzo ◽  
Andrea Defina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Proper Time ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures

Given the increasing anthropogenic pressures on lagoons, estuaries, and lakes and considering the highly dynamic behavior of these systems, methods for the continuous and spatially distributed retrieval of water quality are becoming vital for their correct monitoring and management. Water temperature is certainly one of the most important drivers that influence the overall state of coastal systems. Traditionally, lake, estuarine, and lagoon temperatures are observed through point measurements carried out during field campaigns or through a network of sensors. However, sporadic measuring campaigns or probe networks rarely attain a density sufficient for process understanding, model development/validation, or integrated assessment. Here, we develop and apply an integrated approach for water temperature monitoring in a shallow lagoon which incorporates satellite and in-situ data into a mathematical model. Specifically, we use remote sensing information to constrain large-scale patterns of water temperature and high-frequency in situ observations to provide proper time constraints. A coupled hydrodynamic circulation-heat transport model is then used to propagate the state of the system forward in time between subsequent remote sensing observations. Exploiting the satellite data high spatial resolution and the in situ measurements high temporal resolution, the model may act a physical interpolator filling the gap intrinsically characterizing the two monitoring techniques.

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