Through the use of general sampling and measurement by ^(137)Cs dating,problems regarding the absence of monitoring data can easily be resolved.Further,weighted values need to be determined while Environment Quality Comprehensive Index(EQCI)is commonly used as applied in environmental quality comprehensive evaluation.In order to overcome the subjectivity in determining weights,the modified Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP)method was designed.The modified AHP method involved the following key procedures:First,the parameters y_(i1) and y_(i2) were calculated based on the monitoring data;second,the factors were put in order according to the symbol and value of y_(i1) and y_(i2);third,the continuous odd integers,which represented the importance of factors,were given to factors according to their seating order;and,fourth,the factor weights were determined from the pair-wise comparison matrix calculated by the ratio of the given odd integers.Therefore,the weights were completely based on the monitoring data.In the present study,the comprehensive quality of sediments in five sections of Lake Dianchi were evaluated and the results indicated that the current contamination of sediments in each lake section is much more serious than at any other time in history.
Yan ZHANGXiang GAOZhenyu ZHONGXihai DENGBuzhuo PENG
Lakes are an important component of terrestrial carbon cycling. As the trend of eutrophication in many lakes continues, the mechanisms of organic carbon(OC) burial remain unclear. This paper aims to understand the distribution of OC and the effect of trophic level changes on OC burial in Chaohu Lake, a shallow eutrophic lake located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, SE China. Two hundred and one surface sediment samples(0–20 cm) and 53 subsurface samples(150–200 cm) from the lake were collected.The OC accumulation rates(OCARs) are relatively low, with an average of 10.01 g/m2/year in the surface sediments. The spatial distribution of the OCARs is similar to that of allochthonous OC. The difference in total phosphate(TP) content between the surface and subsurface sediments(ΔTP) is significantly correlated with the autochthonous OC,suggesting that TP loading is a critical limiting nutrient for the lake's primary productivity.It is concluded that allochthonous OC is the dominant source of total OC in surface sediments compared to autochthonous OC. The primary productivity of Lake Chaohu increased due to increasing nutrient loading. However, the autochthonous OC contributed11% of the total OC in the surface sediments. This could be ascribed to strong mineralization in the water column or surface sediments.
