模拟分析低低跟踪模式重力卫星反演地球重力场的精度

本文利用卫星重力反演与模拟软件ANGELS系统(ANalyst of Gravity Estimation with Low-orbit Satellites)对低低跟踪模式的重力卫星的关键载荷精度指标进行了深入分析.模拟结果表明:(1)对短弧长积分法而言,在低低跟踪模式的关键载荷精度指标中,重力场反演精度对星间距离变率精度最为敏感;(2)通过对目前在轨运行GRACE的载荷指标进行分析,发现轨道数据的误差主要影响重力场的低阶部分(约小于25阶),较高阶次部分(约大于26阶)主要受星间距离变率的误差限制;(3)如果下一代低低跟踪模式的重力卫星的目标之一是把重力异常反演精度较GRACE提高约10倍,则在保持轨道高度和GRACE相同的前提下,轨道、星间距离变率和星载加速度计等关键载荷指标需要达到的最低精度分别约为2cm、10nm·s-1和3.0×10-10 m·s-2;(4)轨道精度和混频误差将是影响下一代低低跟踪模式重力卫星重力场恢复能力进一步提高的主要制约因素,距离变率精度和加速度计精度存在盈余.     

三峡工程运用后长江中游典型江心洲植被动态变化趋势及机制探析

受三峡工程运用的影响,长江中游水沙情势剧变,江心洲生境结构发生变化,洲上植被密度、活力和分布情况也随之改变。因此亟需开展针对江心洲植被的长期观测以厘清其对三峡调控的响应机制,从而制定有效的洲滩植被保护和修复策略。卫星遥感技术是开展长时间、长河段地貌观测的常用手段。目前应用卫星遥感技术监测江心洲植被动态的研究,主要聚焦于三峡工程运用对江心洲植被面积和覆盖度的影响,而较少深入探讨植物长势和分布模式的变化趋势。因此,本文以长江中游4个典型江心洲为研究对象,提出了一系列可用于反演江心洲淹没范围和滩面上植被动态的方法,并量化分析三峡工程运用对植被动态的影响。结果表明:(1)三峡工程运用后,江心洲整体淹没频率降低,部分原有边滩逐步满足耐水植物的生长条件,促使江心洲植被面积呈现增长的趋势;原分布在高滩上的不耐水植物逐步蔓延至低滩,导致江心洲植被茂密程度整体上升;(2)三峡工程运行前,2002年含沙量较大的漫滩洪水有促进植物第二年生长的趋势;而三峡工程运行后,2016年具有同样规模但含沙量减少近80%的漫滩洪水则有抑制植物生长的作用;(3)部分形态稳定的江心洲,其高、低滩植被分布模式之间的异质性受三峡...     

应用低空航测技术识别宣化盆地南缘断裂带

利用无人机低空航测技术,对宣化盆地南缘断裂带崞村南部区段断裂带陡坎进行高分辨率数字地形影像采集与识别应用。通过结合当地地形地貌与无人机低空遥感分辨率高、实时性好、自主性强等特点,开展本次低空航测遥感技术在活动断裂带区域识别应用,结合实地野外踏勘实例对断层陡坎完成验证。结果显示,该区域断层陡坎位于宣化盆地南缘处黄土台地上,在3 km×1.5 km的遥感影像采集矩形区域内分辨率达0.8 m/pix以上。利用photoscan软件得到数字正射影像(DOM)和数字高程模型(DEM)数据,解译得到高度为数米至十余米不等断层陡坎。综合证明,应用低空航测观测技术可有效识别确定活动断层陡坎位置、量化观测陡坎等有关地形地貌现象,结合传统野外现场踏勘,能够实现构造宏观信息向精准信息追踪,完成应用低空航测技术识别断层空间位置及活动信息。     

洞庭湖洲滩土壤种子库对土壤水分变化的响应

由于三峡大坝及上游水库群的运行,长江中下游水域水文节律随之发生了改变,导致洞庭湖枯水期提前,进而影响洞庭湖洲滩植被及其土壤种子库的分布格局.本研究在洞庭湖4个自然保护区内选取共11个典型洲滩湿地,沿由水到陆方向根据植被类型将洲滩分为泥沙洲滩、泥沙—湖草洲滩过渡带、湖草洲滩、湖草—南荻洲滩过渡带、南荻洲滩5种洲滩类型.通过样带—样方法调查和采样,并结合湿润和水淹两种条件下的土壤种子库萌发实验,分析了土壤水分变化对洲滩种子库萌发特征的影响及土壤种子库与地表植被的关系.结果显示:①土壤含水量沿水到陆方向由泥沙洲滩向南荻洲滩递减;②不同类型洲滩土壤种子库密度没有显著差异;③温室萌发实验中,水淹条件下土壤种子库物种丰富度和种子库密度显著降低,东洞庭湖自然保护区土壤种子库物种丰富度和种子库密度较高;④地表植被物种丰富度高于土壤种子库,泥沙洲滩土壤种子库与地表植被物种组成的Jaccard相似性指数最低.此外,虉草(Phalaris arundinacea)、芦苇(Phragmites communis)、南荻(Miscanthus sacchariflorus)等只在地表植被中存在,而陌上菜(Lindernia procumbens)、通泉草(Mazus japonicus)等只在种子库中存在.结果表明,在进行湿地植被恢复时,不能仅依靠种子库移植技术,还要考虑湖区季节性的水位变化以及个别物种的特异性,配合有针对性的水文调控机制及相关的人工措施恢复其原有植被.     

基于LiDAR数据开展活动断层填图的实验研究——以新疆独山子背斜-逆冲断裂带为例

机载LiDAR技术为描绘活动构造相关构造地貌和最新的地表形变提供更精确的基础数据。如何将LiDAR新技术、新数据应用于活动构造填图和活动断层地震危险性评价等方面,是今后活动构造研究领域的一个重要的发展方向。文中以新疆天山北麓的独山子背斜-逆冲断裂带为试验区,开展了基于LiDAR数据的活动构造填图实验研究。首先,采用机载LiDAR技术进行数据采集,获得点云密度为6.6个/m2、平均点间距为0.39m的LiDAR原始数据;其次,利用试验区内12个测量精度可达mm级的GPS静态测量点评估LiDAR的相对垂直精度为0.12m、均方差值为0.078m;最后,对密度为6.4个/m2的地面点云数据进行DEM最佳分辨率评估,利用反距离权重算法获得0.5m分辨率的数据高程模型(DEM)。该分辨率的DEM数据足以完成独山子背斜-逆冲断裂带的精细构造地貌特征的确定以及高精度的空间解译。文中仅使用DEM可视化工具从不同虚拟的视角、不同色度或其他处理方式来识别微构造地貌、划分地貌面和确定断层位置等,宏观上获得与前人通过航片解译和野外调查一致的断裂分布特征,微观上较前者具有更高的精细程度。此外,数据采集、数据质量检验、数据处理及数据应用等技术和方法适用于其他能够获得LiDAR地形数据的活动断裂研究工作。     

同化站点观测和SSM／I亮温改善冻土活动层状态变量的模拟精度

以考虑了土壤冻融过程的一维水-热-盐分耦合模型SHAW为冻土活动层数据同化系统的动力学约束框架,通过集合卡尔曼滤波算法同化土壤水分和温度的站点观测数据以及被动微波辐射计SSM／I19GHz亮温观测数据,以改善冻土活动层水热状态变量的估计精度,实现模型模拟和观测信息的融合。冬季活动层冻结,同化的关键变量为土壤温度;而夏季同化的关键变量为土壤水分。通过单点同化试验表明,该同化系统能显著改善土壤表层水分和温度的估计精度;同时,在同化过程中给定合理的模型误差协方差项,可将表层优化后的信息迅速传递给深层土壤,达到改善整个土壤廓线状态变量估计的目的。同化结果表明,相对于SHAW模拟结果,同化4cm土壤温度观测后,各层土壤温度RMSE平均减小0.96℃,而同化4cm土壤水分观测数据后,各层土壤水分RMSE平均减小0.020m^3·m^-3;同化SSM／I 19GHz亮温后,各层土壤温度RMSE平均减小0.76℃,各层土壤水分RMSE平均减小0.018m^3·m^-3。     

鄱阳湖典型洲滩湿地土壤含水量和地下水位年内变化特征

湿地植被空间分布受多个水分因子共同影响,为了探求鄱阳湖典型洲滩湿地不同植被类型下地下水、土壤水的变化特征,本文选择鄱阳湖吴城湿地保护区内一个长约1.2 km的典型洲滩湿地为实验区,建立了气象-土壤-水文联合观测系统.对观测的气象、水文要素进行分析发现:(1)洲滩湿地地下水位年内呈单峰变化,季节性差异显著,最大埋深可达10 m,出现在1月份,丰水期8月份地下水位最高时可出露地表,且地下水位与湖泊水位变化具有高度一致性;(2)由远湖区高地至近湖区低地,不同植被带中地下水平均埋深变化为藜蒿带(4.76 m)芦苇带(2.87 m)灰化薹草带(1.61 m).地下水埋深小于50 cm的持续时间分别为:藜蒿带27 d、芦苇带112 d、灰化薹草带170 d;(3)土壤平均含水量沿不同植被带梯度变化为:藜蒿带最小(15.9%),芦苇样带(40.7%)和灰化薹草样带(43.7%)较大.土壤含水量年内变幅为:藜蒿带最大(2.5%~55.2%),芦苇带和灰化薹草带相对较小,分别为22.1%~48.1%和28.4%~54.1%;(4)不同植被带土壤含水量季节变化规律不同,藜蒿带土壤含水量年内呈单峰型,仅夏季土壤含水量较高,其余季节均在10%左右,而芦苇带和灰化薹草样带春、夏、秋季均维持较高含水量(42%以上),仅冬季水分含量较低.     

喀什—乌恰交汇区VS30经验模型估计

本文通过收集喀什—乌恰地区20个钻孔深度大于30 m的钻孔实测数据,分别获得了5、10、15及20 m深度处的等效剪切波速V_(SZ)与V_(S30)的对数线性关系,根据对数线性和对数二次回归的方法,得到了V_(SZ)与V_(S30)的经验关系。结果显示:速度梯度模型外推方法获得的V_(S30)经验模型,更加适合深度超过10 m的钻孔数据的估计。速度梯度模型外推方法中,对数二次回归和对数线性回归外推得到的V_(S30)经验模型呈现相同的规律,拟合优度差别不大,利用速度梯度外推方法获得V_(S30)经验模型,使用简单的线性模型就可以满足精度需求。     

基于无人机影像的辽宁农居建筑物提取技术与应用研究

本研究以实地调研数据为基准,无人机影像数据分析为验证,进行了基于无人机识别能力范畴的辽宁农居建筑结构类型划分,并根据区域结构类型比例、影像特性等指标优化了农居遥感解译标志整体参数,提取了不同建筑结构的不同解译标志阈值区间,并基于无人机低空正射影像DOM、数字表面模型DSM制定改进型DSM提取算法处理流程与代码,利用Python语言及开发环境完成了遥感影像要素提取与评估系统开发应用。通过最优组合解译标志获取无人机影像解译一致性系数Kappa=0.723,表明制定的解译标志特征对获得具有较好一致性的房屋结构类型具备一定的可行性。以改进型DSM提取算法为核心的建筑物提取软件提取建筑的整体精度为75%,基本满足地震应急需求。     

地磁场三维曲面Spline模型

利用149个地面实测数据以及12个子午工程测点数据,50个CHAMP卫星高度实测数据,并结合高空180 km处的50个IGRF12数据点,基于这三个高度的数据首次建立了中国地区地磁场三维曲面Spline（3D Spline）模型.在境外添加了39个测点以控制边界效应.通过CM4模型将所有测点的场源进行分离,统一通过主磁场值建模分析.通过将模拟结果与实测值、曲面Spline（2D Spline）以及Taylor（2D Taylor）、三维Taylor（3D Taylor）模型及IGRF12模型相比较,结果显示3D Spline模型的空间分布与其他模型整体趋势一致,但更为曲折,随着高度上升,3D Spline模型的要素Y的强度逐渐减弱.通过比较3D Spline、2D和3D Taylor模型对于不同高度6个缺测点的模拟值,残差和均方根偏差（RMSE）,3D Spline模型的模拟效果最好,要素Y、Z和总强度F的RMSE值要比其他模型低50%以上.3D Spline模型在不同高度处的模拟效果主要取决于该高度附近的实测值数量和精度.     

Two‐dimensional hydraulic flood modelling using a finite‐element mesh decomposed according to vegetation and topographic features derived from airborne scanning laser altimetry

Airborne scanning laser altimetry (LiDAR) is an important new data source that can provide two‐dimensional river flood models with spatially distributed floodplain topography for model bathymetry, together with vegetation heights for parameterization of model friction. Methods are described for improving such models by decomposing the model's finite‐element mesh to reflect floodplain vegetation features such as hedges and trees having different frictional properties to their surroundings, and significant floodplain topographic features having high height curvatures. The decomposition is achieved using an image segmentation system that converts the LiDAR height image into separate images of surface topography and vegetation height at each point. The vegetation height map is used to estimate a friction factor at each mesh node. The spatially distributed friction model has the advantage that it is physically based, and removes the need for a model calibration exercise in which free parameters specifying friction in the channel and floodplain are adjusted to achieve best fit between modelled and observed flood extents. The scheme was tested in a modelling study of a flood that occurred on the River Severn, UK, in 1998. A satellite synthetic aperture radar image of flood extent was used to validate the model predictions. The simulated hydraulics using the decomposed mesh gave a better representation of the observed flood extent than the more simplistic but computationally efficient approach of sampling topography and vegetation friction factors on to larger floodplain elements in an undecomposed mesh, as well as the traditional approach using no LiDAR‐derived data but simply using a constant floodplain friction factor. Use of the decomposed mesh also allowed velocity variations to be predicted in the neighbourhood of vegetation features such as hedges. These variations could be of use in predicting localized erosion and deposition patterns that might result in the event of a flood. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Floodplain hydrology of the Mekong Delta,Vietnam

The Mekong Delta is one of the largest and most intensively used estuaries in the world. Each year it witnesses widespread flooding which is both the basis of the livelihood for more than 17 million people but also the major hazard. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the hydrologic and hydraulic features is urgently required for various planning purposes. While the general causes and characteristics of the annual floods are understood, the inundation dynamics in the floodplains in Vietnam which are highly controlled by dikes and other control structures have not been investigated in depth. Especially, quantitative analyses are lacking, mainly due to scarce data about the inundation processes in the floodplains. Therefore, a comprehensive monitoring scheme for channel and floodplain inundation was established in a study area in the Plain of Reeds in the northeastern part of the Vietnamese Delta. This in situ data collection was complemented by a series of high‐resolution inundation maps derived from the TerraSAR‐X satellite for the flood seasons 2008 and 2009. Hence, the inundation dynamics in the channels and floodplains, and the interaction between channels and floodplains, could be quantified for the first time. The study identifies the strong human interference which is governed by flood protection levels, cropping patterns and communal water management. In addition, we examine the tidal influence on the inundation in various parts of the Delta, since it is expected that climate change‐induced sea level rise will increase the tidal contribution to floodplain inundation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Floodplain friction parameterization in two‐dimensional river flood models using vegetation heights derived from airborne scanning laser altimetry

Two‐dimensional (2‐D) hydraulic models are currently at the forefront of research into river flood inundation prediction. Airborne scanning laser altimetry is an important new data source that can provide such models with spatially distributed floodplain topography together with vegetation heights for parameterization of model friction. The paper investigates how vegetation height data can be used to realize the currently unexploited potential of 2‐D flood models to specify a friction factor at each node of the finite element model mesh. The only vegetation attribute required in the estimation of floodplain node friction factors is vegetation height. Different sets of flow resistance equations are used to model channel sediment, short vegetation, and tall and intermediate vegetation. The scheme was tested in a modelling study of a flood event that occurred on the River Severn, UK, in October 1998. A synthetic aperture radar image acquired during the flood provided an observed flood extent against which to validate the predicted extent. The modelled flood extent using variable friction was found to agree with the observed extent almost everywhere within the model domain. The variable‐friction model has the considerable advantage that it makes unnecessary the unphysical fitting of floodplain and channel friction factors required in the traditional approach to model calibration. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Defining the floodplain in hydrologically‐variable settings: implications for flood risk management

Flood risk management is an essential responsibility of state governments and local councils to ensure the protection of people residing on floodplains. Globally, floodplains are under increasing pressure from growing populations. Typically, the engineering‐type solutions that are used to predict local flood magnitude and frequency based on limited gauging data are inadequate, especially in settings which experience high hydrological variability. This study highlights the importance of incorporating geomorphological understanding into flood risk management in southeast Queensland (SEQ), an area badly affected by extreme flood events in 2011 and 2013. The major aim of this study is to outline the hydrological and sedimentological characteristics of various ‘inundation surfaces’ that are typical of catchments in the sub‐tropics. It identifies four major inundation surfaces; within‐channel bench [Q ~ 2.33 yr average recurrence interval (ARI)]; genetic floodplain (Q = 20 yr ARI); hydraulic floodplain (20 yr < Q ≤ 200 yr ARI) and terrace (Q > 1000 yr ARI). These surfaces are considered typical of inundation areas within, and adjacent to, the large macrochannels common to this region and others of similar hydrological variability. An additional area within genetic floodplains was identified where flood surfaces coalesce and produce an abrupt reduction in channel capacity. This is referred to here as a Spill‐out Zone (SOZ). The associated vulnerability and risk of these surfaces is reviewed and recommendations made based on incorporating this geomorphological understanding into flood risk assessments. These recommendations recognize the importance to manage for risks associated with flow inundation and sediment erosion, delivery and deposition. The increasing availability of high resolution topographic data opens up the possibility of more rapid and spatially extensive assessments of key geomorphic processes which can readily be used to predict flood risk. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydraulic and geomorphic processes in an overbank flood along a meandering,gravel‐bed river: implications for chute formation

Hydraulic interactions between rivers and floodplains produce off‐channel chutes, the presence of which influences the routing of water and sediment and thus the planform evolution of meandering rivers. Detailed studies of the hydrologic exchanges between channels and floodplains are usually conducted in laboratory facilities, and studies documenting chute development are generally limited to qualitative observations. In this study, we use a reconstructed, gravel‐bedded, meandering river as a field laboratory for studying these mechanisms at a realistic scale. Using an integrated field and modeling approach, we quantified the flow exchanges between the river channel and its floodplain during an overbank flood, and identified locations where flow had the capacity to erode floodplain chutes. Hydraulic measurements and modeling indicated high rates of flow exchange between the channel and floodplain, with flow rapidly decelerating as water was decanted from the channel onto the floodplain due to the frictional drag provided by substrate and vegetation. Peak shear stresses were greatest downstream of the maxima in bend curvature, along the concave bank, where terrestrial LiDAR scans indicate initial floodplain chute formation. A second chute has developed across the convex bank of a meander bend, in a location where sediment accretion, point bar development and plant colonization have created divergent flow paths between the main channel and floodplain. In both cases, the off‐channel chutes are evolving slowly during infrequent floods due to the coarse nature of the floodplain, though rapid chute formation would be more likely in finer‐grained floodplains. The controls on chute formation at these locations include the flood magnitude, river curvature, floodplain gradient, erodibility of the floodplain sediment, and the flow resistance provided by riparian vegetation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of input data in hydraulic modeling for flood warning systems

The main objective of this study was to quantify the error associated with input data, including various resolutions of elevation datasets and Manning’s roughness for travel time computation and floodplain mapping. This was accomplished on the test bed, the Grand River (Ohio, USA) using the HEC-RAS model. LiDAR data integrated with survey data provided conservative predictions, whereas coarser elevation datasets provided a positive difference in the travel time (11.03–15.01%) and inundation area (32.56–44.52%). The minimum differences in travel time and inundation area were 0.50–4.33% and 3.55–7.16%, respectively, when the result from LiDAR integrated with survey data was compared with a 10-m DEM integrated with survey data. The results suggest that a 10-m DEM in the channel and LiDAR data in the floodplain combined with survey data would be appropriate for a flood warning system. Additionally, Manning’s roughness of the channel section was found to be more sensitive than that of the floodplain. The decrease in inundation area was highest (8.97%) for the lower value of Manning’s roughness.     

Towards estimation of extreme floods: examination of the roles of runoff process changes and floodplain flows

This paper presents the development and application of a distributed rainfall-runoff model for extreme flood estimation, and its use to investigate potential changes in runoff processes, including changes to the ‘rating curve’ due to effects of over-bank flows, during the transition from ‘normal’ floods to ‘extreme’ floods. The model has two components: a hillslope runoff generation model based on a configuration of soil moisture stores in parallel and series, and a distributed flood routing model based on non-linear storage-discharge relationships for individual river reaches that includes the effects of floodplain geometries and roughnesses. The hillslope water balance model contains a number of parameters, which are measured or derived a priori from climate, soil and vegetation data or streamflow recession analyses. For reliable estimation of extreme discharges that may extend beyond recorded data, the parameters of the flood routing model are estimated from hydraulic properties, topographic data and vegetation cover of compound channels (main channel and floodplains). This includes the effects of the interactions between the main channel and floodplain sections, which tend to cause a change to the rating curve. The model is applied to the Collie River Basin, 2545 km², in Western Australia and used to estimate the probable maximum flood (PMF) from probable maximum precipitation estimates for this region. When moving from normal floods to the PMFs, application of the model demonstrates that the runoff generation process changes with a substantial increase of saturation excess overland flow through the expansion of saturated areas, and the dominant runoff process in the stream channel changes from in-bank to over-bank flows. The effects of floodplain inundation and floodplain vegetation can significantly reduce the magnitude of the estimated PMFs. This study has highlighted the need for the estimation of a number of critical parameters (e.g. cross-sectional geometry, floodplain vegetation, soil depths) through concerted field measurements or surveys, and targeted laboratory experiments.     

Use of fused airborne scanning laser altimetry and digital map data for urban flood modelling

Flood modelling of urban areas is still at an early stage, partly because until recently topographic data of sufficiently high resolution and accuracy have been lacking in urban areas. However, digital surface models (DSMs) generated from airborne scanning laser altimetry (LiDAR) having sub‐metre spatial resolution have now become available, and these are able to represent the complexities of urban topography. This paper describes the development of a LiDAR post‐processor for urban flood modelling based on the fusion of LiDAR and digital map data. The map data are used in conjunction with LiDAR data to identify different object types in urban areas, though pattern recognition techniques are also employed. Post‐processing produces a digital terrain model (DTM) for use as model bathymetry, and also a friction parameter map for use in estimating spatially distributed friction coefficients. In vegetated areas, friction is estimated from LiDAR‐derived vegetation height, and (unlike most vegetation removal software) the method copes with short vegetation less than ～1 m high, which may occupy a substantial fraction of even an urban floodplain. The DTM and friction parameter map may also be used to help to generate an unstructured mesh of a vegetated urban floodplain for use by a two‐dimensional finite element model. The mesh is decomposed to reflect floodplain features having different frictional properties to their surroundings, including urban features (such as buildings and roads) and taller vegetation features (such as trees and hedges). This allows a more accurate estimation of local friction. The method produces a substantial node density due to the small dimensions of many urban features. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A hydro‐economic modelling framework for flood damage estimation and the role of riparian vegetation

A modelling framework for the quick estimate of flood inundation and the resultant damages is developed in this paper. The model, called the flood economic impact analysis system (FEIAS), can be applied to a river reach of any hydrogeological river basin. For the development of the integrated modelling framework, three models were employed: (1) a modelling scheme based on the Hydrological Simulation Program FORTRAN model that was developed for any geomorphological river basin, (2) a river flow/floodplain model, and (3) a flood loss estimation model. The first sub‐model of the flood economic impact analysis system simulates the hydrological processes for extended periods of time, and its output is used as input to a second component, the river/floodplain model. The hydraulic model MIKE 11 (quasi‐2D) is the river/floodplain model employed in this study. The simulated flood parameters from the hydraulic model MIKE 11 (quasi‐2D) are passed, at the end of each time step, to a third component, the flood loss model for the estimation of flood damage. In the present work, emphasis was given to the seasonal variation of Manning's coefficient (n), which is an important parameter for the determination of the flood inundation in hydraulic modelling. High values of Manning's coefficient for a channel indicate high flow resistance. The riparian vegetation can have a large impact on channel resistance. The modelling framework developed in this paper was used to investigate the role of riparian vegetation in reducing flood damage. Moreover, it was used to investigate the influence of cutting riparian vegetation scenarios on the flow characteristics. The proposed framework was applied to the downstream part of the Koiliaris River basin in Crete, Greece, and was tested and validated with historical data. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The hydrogeomorphic influences on alluvial gully erosion along the Mitchell River fluvial megafan

Hydrogeomorphic processes influencing alluvial gully erosion were evaluated at multiple spatial and temporal scales across the Mitchell River fluvial megafan in tropical Queensland, Australia. Longitudinal changes in floodplain inundation were quantified using river gauge data, local stage recorders and HEC‐RAS modelling based on LiDAR topographic data. Intra‐ and interannual gully scarp retreat rates were measured using daily time‐lapse photographs and annual GPS surveys. Erosion was analysed in response to different water sources and associated erosion processes across the floodplain perirheic zone, including direct rainfall, infiltration‐excess runoff, soil‐water seepage, river backwater and overbank flood inundation. The frequency of river flood inundation of alluvial gullies changed longitudinally according to river incision and confinement. Near the top of the megafan, flood water was contained within the macrochannel up to the 100‐year recurrence interval, but river backwater still partially inundated adjacent gullies eroding into Pleistocene alluvium. In downstream Holocene floodplains, inundation of alluvial gullies occurred beyond the 2‐ to 5‐year recurrence interval and contributed significantly to total annual erosion. However, most gully scarp retreat at all sites was driven by direct rainfall and infiltration‐excess runoff, with the 24‐h rainfall total being the most predictive variable. The remaining variability can be explained by seasonal vegetative conditions, complex cycles of soil wetting and drying, tension crack development, near‐surface pore‐water pressure, soil block undermining from spalling and overland flow, and soil property heterogeneity. Implications for grazing management impacts on soil surface and perennial grass conditions include effects on direct rainfall erosion, water infiltration, runoff volume, water concentration along tracks, and the resistance of highly dispersible soils to gully initiation or propagation under intense tropical rainfall. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.