This paper presents a study on the impact of underwater gas blowouts near the ocean surface, which has a greater relevance to assess Health, Safety, and Environmental risks. In this analysis the gas flux near the surface, reduction of bulk density, and gas surfacing area are studied for different scenarios. The simulations include a matrix of scenarios for different release depths, release rates, and initial bubble size distributions. The simulations are carried out using the MEGADEEP model, for a location in East China Sea. Significant changes in bulk density and gas surface flux near the surface are observed under different release conditions, which can pose a potential threat for cleanup and rescue operations. Furthermore, the effect of hydrate formation on gas surfacing is studied for much greater release depths. The type of outcomes of this study is important to conduct prior risk assessments and contingency planning for underwater gas blowouts.

A total of 112 bottom water and sediment samples collected at fixed stations in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon from four estuaries (Pennar, Uppateru, Swarnamukhi, and Kalangi) showed foraminiferal test abnormalities in heavy metal concentrations (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb). Low diversity of fauna was due to the predominance of a limited number of opportunistic species capable of achieving high densities in adverse environmental conditions and the reduction in the number of species intolerant of such conditions. In this study, classification of 54 common species according to their distribution is presented. Approximately 15 species showed quite low diversities at stations 23–27 and 44–51. Because of the effect of heavy metal pollution in these estuaries, drastic changes in the number of species and diversity of foraminifera were observed. These changes in foraminiferal species and the increase in test abnormalities are proxies of environmental stress on the estuarine ecosystem.

Marine environment in the Laizhou Bay is potentially contaminated by metals from industrial discharges. In this study, metal concentrations in shrimps Crangon affinis indicated that two typical sites (S6283 and S5283) close to Longkou and Zhaoyuan cities along the Laizhou Bay have been contaminated by metals, including Cd, As, Cu, Ni, Co, and Mn. In particular, Cd and As were the main metal contaminants in S6283. In S5283, however, Cu was the most important metal contaminant. The metabolic responses in the shrimps indicated that the metal pollution in S6283 and S5283 induced disturbances in osmotic regulation and energy metabolism and reduced anaerobiosis, lipid metabolism, and muscle movement. However, alteration in the levels of dimethylglycine, dimethylamine, arginine, betaine, and glutamine indicated that the metal pollution in S5283 induced osmotic stress through different pathways compared to that in S6283. In addition, dimethylamine might be the biomarker of Cu in shrimp C. affinis.

30 sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded along the coasts of the North Sea between January and February 2016. The gastro-intestinal tracts of 22 of the carcasses were investigated. Marine debris including netting, ropes, foils, packaging material and a part of a car were found in nine of the 22 individuals. Here we provide details about the findings and consequences for the animals. While none of the items was responsible for the death of the animal, the findings demonstrate the high level of exposure to marine debris and associated risks for large predators, such as the sperm whale.

Plastic pollution is now ubiquitous in the world's oceans, and studies have shown macroplastic and microplastic pollution of beaches in several East Asian countries. However, to our knowledge, no study of microplastic pollution has been conducted in Taiwan yet. Therefore, we collected sand samples from four beaches along the northern coast of Taiwan in 2015 and extracted microplastic particles using a saturated NaCl solution. Microplastic particles were identified using synchrotron-based FTIR spectroscopy. We recovered 4 to 532 particles from eight 0.0125m3 samples, with a total of 1097 particles weighing 0.771g. A negative trend between the size of the particles and their numbers was documented. We thus established that microplastic pollution was ubiquitous along Taiwan's northern coast. Future research should more comprehensively sample beaches around the entirety of Taiwan's coast, and special emphasis should be placed on identifying different sources and movements of microplastic.

A novel approach combining gas chromatography-atmospheric pressure laser ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (GC-APLI-MS) with the micrometeorological eddy covariance (EC) technique is demonstrated to quantify particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) mass fluxes above a central European city. During the case study, 18 different PAH compounds could be identified in two one-hour particle samples and, in combination with size-resolved particle deposition velocities obtained from EC measurements, inferred particulate PAH mass fluxes for two respective size fractions (0.060–0.108 μm and 0.170–10 μm) were quantified. Maximum concentrations and fluxes (in the order of 0.9 ± 0.09–17 ± 8 ng m−2 hr−1) were estimated for the 5-ring PAHs benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene and perylene. Fingerprints of PAH concentrations suggest strong pyrogenic sources, particularly wood burning.

A total of 59 categories of litter items were found at 20 beaches (13 mechanically cleaned, 7 non-cleaned) in the Cádiz tourist environment, Spain. Cluster Analysis and Principal Components Analysis were used to highlight similarities and contrasts between sites and/or associations between litter categories. Multivariate analyses separated beaches according to the total numbers of litter items present. Non-cleaned sites showed a variety of litter category abundance with distinct origins and abundant, ubiquitous items (plastic and glass fragments). Of the 7 non-cleaned beaches (49 litter categories) river-mouth sites were distinct due with high numbers of litter items. The sheltered inner part of Cádiz Bay beaches had a wide range of litter type. Many sites were associated with locally deposited recreational litter categories; while industrial/commercial/fishing categories were abundant only at a few sites, indicating items transported onto the shore from the Guadalete river.

The management of dredged marine sediment is an issue for many harbours, particularly when contaminant concentrations prevent disposal at sea. The stabilisation/solidification of the sediments with hydraulic binders for a use in road subgrade layer is a potential alternative solution. However, the environmental acceptability is not yet fully established. This paper presents the results of a case study to comprehensively determine the stabilisation of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. After demonstrating that stabilisation/solidification affects the microstructure of the sediment, a mobility study is realised (single, sequential and kinetic extractions). According to the regulatory/technical guidelines the studied elements do not pose a risk to the environment. However, results from more complex mobility studies reveal that stabilisation in the short term is only effective for Ni while other elements are mobilised after treatment by at least one type of extraction. Stabilisation in the long term is not universally effective.

Due to a combination of factors, such as a new coastal/aerosol band and improved radiometric sensitivity of the Operational Land Imager aboard Landsat 8, the atmospherically-corrected Surface Reflectance product for Landsat data, and the growing availability of corrected fDOM data from U.S. Geological Survey gaging stations, moderate-resolution remote sensing of fDOM may now be achievable. This paper explores the background of previous efforts and shows preliminary examples of the remote sensing and data relationships between corrected fDOM and Landsat 8 reflectance values. Although preliminary results before and after Hurricane Sandy are encouraging, more research is needed to explore the full potential of Landsat 8 to continuously map fDOM in a number of water profiles.

The present work was carried to decipher the trace element accumulation in surface sediments of Palk Strait, southeast coast of Tamil Nadu, India. The elemental concentration and correlation results suggest that fine fractions with CaCO3 content followed by organic matter (OM) of the surface sediments control the trace element accumulation in the study area. In addition, Fe and Mn concentration is chiefly contributed from riverine process and controlled by the mangrove ecosystem. The other elements are derived into marine environment through confluence of untreated industrial pollutants into the river system. The EF result shows that the studied marine sediments are enriched by Ni, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, followed by Zn. The order of the pollution intensity with respect to geo-accumulation index suggests the following ascending order: Ni>Mn>Fe>Cu>Pb>Cd>Cr>Zn. Pollution Load Index (PLI) values reveal that all the samples are falling under moderately to unpolluted category.