Spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity and bulk density along a blanket peatland hillslope

This article presents the results of a field investigation of saturated hydraulic conductivity K_sat and bulk density (ρ_bd) in an Atlantic blanket bog in the southwest of Ireland. Starting at a peatland stream and moving along an uphill transect toward the peatland interior, ρ_bd and K_sat were examined at regular intervals. Saturated horizontal hydraulic conductivity (Kh_sat) and vertical (Kv_sat) was estimated at two depths: 10–20 and 30–40 cm below the peat surface, whereas ρ_bd was estimated for the full profile. We consider two separate zones, one a riparian zone extending 10 m from the stream and a second zone in the bog interior. We found that the K_sat was higher (~10^–5 m s^–1) in the bog interior than that in the riparian zone (~10^–6 m s^–1), whereas the converse applied to bulk density, with lowest density (~0.055 g cm^–3) at the interior and highest (~0.11 g cm^–3) at the riparian zone. In general, we found Kh_sat to be approximately twice the Kv_sat. These results support the idea that the lower K_sat at the margins control the hydrology of blanket peatlands. It is therefore important that the spatial variation of these two key properties be accommodated in hydrological models if the correct rainfall runoff characteristics are to be correctly modelled. Stream flow analysis over 3 years at the peatland catchment outlet showed that the stream runoff was composed of 8% base flow and 92% flood flow, suggesting that this blanket peatland is a source rather than a sink for floodwaters. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Field study on influence of root characteristics on soil suction distribution in slopes vegetated with Cynodon dactylon and Schefflera heptaphylla

Vegetation evapotranspiration (ET) induced soil water suction reduces hydraulic conductivity and increases shear strength of slopes. Several field studies have been conducted to investigate suction distribution in vegetated slopes. However, these studies were conducted on natural slopes, which are prone to heterogeneity in vegetation and soil conditions. Moreover, studies quantifying the effect of different vegetation species, root characteristics (root depth and root area index) and transpiration reduction function (T_rf) on suction in slopes under natural variation are rare. This study investigated the suction distribution and root characteristics in recompacted slopes vegetated with two different species, i.e. Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) and Schefflera heptaphylla (ivy tree). Bare slope served as a control. Suction distributions during different seasons and rainfall events were monitored. It is found that during the dry season, slope vegetated with young Schefflera heptaphylla seedlings have substantially higher suction within the root zone compared with bare slope and slope vegetated with Cynodon dactylon. This is because Schefflera heptaphylla has a higher root biomass, T_rf and ET than Cynodon dactylon. It was also found that suctions within root zones of vegetated slopes and bare slope were completely destroyed under rainfall events corresponding to 2 years and 20 years return period. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Verification of land surface evapotranspiration estimation from remote sensing spatial contextual information

Estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) is of great significance in modeling the water and energy interactions between land and atmosphere. Negative correlation of surface temperature (T_s) versus vegetation index (VI) from remote sensing data provides diagnosis on the spatial pattern of surface soil moisture and ET. This study further examined the applicability of T_s–VI triangle method with a newly developed edges determination technique in estimating regional evaporative fraction (EF) and ET at MODIS pixel scale through comparison with large aperture scintillometer (LAS) and high‐level eddy covariance measurements collected at Changwu agro‐ecological experiment station from late June to late October, 2009. An algorithm with merely land and atmosphere products from MODIS onboard Terra satellite was used to estimate the surface net radiation (R_n) and soil heat flux. In most cases, the estimated instantaneous R_n was in good agreement with surface measurement with slight overestimation by 12 W/m². Validation results from LAS measurement showed that the root mean square error is 0.097 for instantaneous EF, 48 W/m² for instantaneous sensible heat flux, and 30 W/m² for daily latent heat flux. This paper successfully presents a miniature of the overall capability of T_s–VI triangle in estimating regional EF and ET from limited number of data. For a thorough interpretation, further comprehensive investigation needs to be done with more integration of remote sensing data and in‐situ surface measurements. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Woody buffer effects on water temperature: The role of spatial configuration and daily temperature fluctuations

Water temperature is a key driver for riverine biota and strongly depends on shading by woody riparian vegetation in summer. While the general effects of shading on daily maximum water temperature T_max are well understood, knowledge gaps on the role of the spatial configuration still exist. In this study, the effect of riparian buffer length, width, and canopy cover (percentage of buffer area covered by woody vegetation) on T_max was investigated during summer baseflow using data measured in seven small lowland streams in western Germany (wetted width 0.8–3.7 m). The effect of buffer length on T_max differed between downstream cooling and heating: T_max approached cooler equilibrium conditions after a distance of 0.4 km (~45 min travel-time) downstream of a sharp increase in canopy cover. In contrast, T_max continued to rise downstream of a sharp decrease in canopy cover along the whole 1.6 km stream length investigated. The effect of woody vegetation on T_max depended on buffer width, with changes in canopy cover in a 10 m wide buffer being a better predictor for changes in T_max compared to a 30 m buffer. The effect of woody vegetation on T_max was linearly related to canopy cover but also depended on daily temperature range T_range, which itself was governed by cloudiness, upstream canopy cover, and season. The derived empirical relationship indicated that T_max was reduced by −4.6°C and increased by +2.7°C downstream of a change from unshaded to fully shaded conditions and vice versa. This maximum effect was predicted for a 10 m wide buffer at sunny days in early summer, in streams with large diel fluctuations (large T_range). Therefore, even narrow woody riparian buffers may substantially reduce the increase in T_max due to climate change, especially in small shallow headwater streams with low baseflow discharge and large daily temperature fluctuations.     

Quantifying and modelling urban stream temperature: a central US watershed study

Hydrologic models that rely on site specific linear and non‐linear regression water temperature (T_w) subroutines forced solely with observed air temperature (T_a) may not accurately estimate T_w in mixed‐use urbanizing watersheds where hydrogeological and land use complexity may confound common T_w regime assumptions. A nested‐scale experimental watershed study design was used to test T_w model predictions in a representative mixed‐use urbanizing watershed of the central USA. The linear regression T_w model used in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), a non‐linear regression T_w model, and a process‐based T_w model that accounts for watershed hydrology were evaluated. The non‐linear regression T_w model tested at a daily time step performed significantly (P < 0.01) better than the linear T_w model currently used in SWAT. Both regression T_w models overestimated T_w in lower temperature ranges (T_w < 10.0 °C) with percent bias (PBIAS) values ranging from ?28.2% (non‐linear T_w model) to ?66.1% (linear regression T_w model) and underestimated T_w in the higher temperature range (T_w > 25.0 °C) by 3.2%, and 7.2%, respectively. Conversely, the process‐based T_w model closely estimated T_w in lower temperature ranges (PBIAS = 4.5%) and only slightly underestimated T_w in the higher temperature range (PBIAS = 1.7%). Findings illustrate the benefit of integrating process‐based T_w models with hydrologic models to improve model transferability and T_w predictive confidence in urban mixed‐land use watersheds. The findings in this work are distinct geographically and in terms of mixed‐land use complexity and are therefore of immediate value to land‐use managers in similarly urbanizing watersheds globally. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of tree transpiration under wet and dry canopy conditions in a Costa Rican premontane tropical forest

Spatial and temporal variation in wet canopy conditions following precipitation events can influence processes such as transpiration and photosynthesis, which can be further enhanced as upper canopy leaves dry more rapidly than the understory following each event. As part of a larger study aimed at improving land surface modelling of evapotranspiration processes in wet tropical forests, we compared transpiration among trees with exposed and shaded crowns under both wet and dry canopy conditions in central Costa Rica, which has an average 4200 mm annual rainfall. Transpiration was estimated for 5 months using 43 sap flux sensors in eight dominant, ten midstory and eight suppressed trees in a mature forest stand surrounding a 40‐m tower equipped with micrometeorological sensors. Dominant trees were 13% of the plot's trees and contributed around 76% to total transpiration at this site, whereas midstory and suppressed trees contributed 18 and 5%, respectively. After accounting for vapour pressure deficit and solar radiation, leaf wetness was a significant driver of sap flux, reducing it by as much as 28%. Under dry conditions, sap flux rates (J_s) of dominant trees were similar to midstory trees and were almost double that of suppressed trees. On wet days, all trees had similarly low J_s. As expected, semi‐dry conditions (dry upper canopy) led to higher J_s in dominant trees than midstory, which had wetter leaves, but semi‐dry conditions only reduced total stand transpiration slightly and did not change the relative proportion of transpiration from dominant and midstory. Therefore, models that better capture forest stand wet–dry canopy dynamics and individual tree water use strategies are needed to improve accuracy of predictions of water recycling over tropical forests. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Canopy transpiration obtained from leaf transpiration,sap flow and FAO‐56 dual crop coefficient method

With a maize seed planting area of about 67 000 hm², Zhangye city supplies the seeds for more than 40% of the maize planting area in China. Irrigation water is often overused to ensure the quality of the maize seeds, leading to serious water shortage problems in recent years. An accurate and convenient estimate of canopy transpiration is of particular importance to ease the problem. In this paper, leaf transpiration and sap flow in a maize field were measured in 2012 using a portable photosynthesis system and a heat balance sap flow system. Based on a large amount of meteorological data and relevant maize plant‐growing parameters, canopy transpiration was up‐scaled from both leaf transpiration (T_l) and sap flow (T_f), and also calculated by the FAO‐56 dual crop coefficient method (T). Comparing these three types of transpiration, T_f was proved to be more reliable than T_l. Taking T_f as a benchmark, the basal crop coefficient (K_cb, the key parameter of FAO‐56 dual crop coefficient method) was further adjusted and verified for the maize plants in this region. In addition, the errors when using up‐scaling methods and FAO‐56 dual crop coefficient method are summarized. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Methods for estimating Curie temperatures of titanomaghemites from experimentalJs-T data

Methods for determining the Curie temperature (T_c) of titanomaghemites from experimental saturation magnetization-temperature (J_s-T) data are reviewed.J_s-T curves for many submarine basalts and synthetic titanomaghemites are irreversible and determining Curie temperatures from these curves is not a straightforward procedure. Subsequently, differences of sometimes over 100°C in the values ofT_c may result just from the method of calculation. Two methods for determiningT_c will be discussed: (1) the graphical method, and (2) the extrapolation method. The graphical method is the most common method employed for determining Curie temperatures of submarine basalts and synthetic titanomaghemites. The extrapolation method based on the quantum mechanical and thermodynamic aspects of the temperature variation of saturation magnetization nearT_c, although not new to solid state physics, has not been used for estimating Curie temperatures of submarine basalts. The extrapolation method is more objective than the graphical method and uses the actual magnetization data in estimatingT_c.     

First approximations of soil moisture retention curves using the filter‐paper method

Relationships between gravimetric soil moisture content (w) and matric potential (ϕ), and between volumetric soil moisture content (θ_v) and pressure head (h) were approximated for the unsaturated zone on Long Island, New York. Soil samples were collected from two sites using a hand auger. The soil moisture content was determined using the filter‐paper (w_f) and gravimetric (w) methods, respectively. The w_f was then used in an empirical equation to estimate ϕ_m. Each set of ϕ_m and w was combined with a straight‐line empirical model to obtain a w(ϕ_m) relationship. Soil ϕ_m was converted to h, and w to the volumetric moisture content θ_v, in order to produce a θ_v(h) curve. Graphical and statistical comparison showed that the resulting θ_v(h) curves fell within one order of magnitude of similar curves generated by a more sophisticated non‐linear model developed previously. The simplicity and low cost of the filter‐paper approach described in this study recommends it for preliminary studies of hydraulic properties in the unsaturated zone. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Short‐term stream water temperature observations permit rapid assessment of potential climate change impacts

Assessment of potential climate change impacts on stream water temperature (T_s) across large scales remains challenging for resource managers because energy exchange processes between the atmosphere and the stream environment are complex and uncertain, and few long‐term datasets are available to evaluate changes over time. In this study, we demonstrate how simple monthly linear regression models based on short‐term historical T_s observations and readily available interpolated air temperature (T_a) estimates can be used for rapid assessment of historical and future changes in T_s. Models were developed for 61 sites in the southeastern USA using ≥18 months of observations and were validated at sites with longer periods of record. The T_s models were then used to estimate temporal changes in T_s at each site using both historical estimates and future T_a projections. Results suggested that the linear regression models adequately explained the variability in T_s across sites, and the relationships between T_s and T_a remained consistent over 37 years. We estimated that most sites had increases in historical annual mean T_s between 1961 and 2010 (mean of +0.11 °C decade^?1). All 61 sites were projected to experience increases in T_s from 2011 to 2060 under the three climate projections evaluated (mean of +0.41 °C decade^?1). Several of the sites with the largest historical and future T_s changes were located in ecoregions home to temperature‐sensitive fish species. This methodology can be used by resource managers for rapid assessment of potential climate change impacts on stream water temperature. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using equilibrium temperature to assess thermal disturbances in rivers

Flow regulation is widely known to modify the thermal regime of rivers. Here, we examine the sensitivity of an empirical approach, the Equilibrium Temperature Concept (ETC), to detect both the effects of hydraulic infrastructures on the annual thermal cycle and the recovery of the thermal equilibrium with the atmosphere. Analysis was undertaken in a Pyrenean river (the Noguera Pallaresa, Ebro basin) affected by a series of reservoirs and hydropower plants. Equilibrium temperature (T_e) is defined as the water temperature (T_w) at which the sum of all heat fluxes is zero. Based on the assumption of a linear relationship between T_e and T_w, we identified changes in the T_e–T_w regression slope, used as an indicator of a thermal alteration in river flow. We also assessed the magnitude of the alteration by examining the regression slope and its statistical significance. Variations in the regression parameters were used as indicators of the influence of factors other than atmospheric conditions on water temperature. Observed T_w showed a linear relationship with T_e at all river stations. However, the slopes of the T_e–T_w relationship appeared to be lower in the reaches downstream from hydraulic infrastructures, particularly below large dams. A seasonal analysis indicated that T_e–T_w relationships had higher slopes and lower p‐values during autumn, while no significant differences were found at other seasons. Although thermal characteristics did not strongly depend on atmospheric conditions downstream of hydraulic infrastructures, the river recovered to pre‐alteration conditions with distance downstream, indicating the natural tendency of water to attain thermal equilibrium with the atmosphere. Accepting associated uncertainties, mostly because of the quality of the data and the lack of consideration of other factors influencing the thermal regime (e.g. discharge), ETC appears to be a simple and effective method to identify thermal alterations in regulated rivers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of initial soil water content and saturated hydraulic conductivity variability on small watershed runoff simulation using LISEM

Abstract

Soil water content (θ) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) vary in space. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of initial soil water content (θ_i) and K_s variability on runoff simulations using the LImburg Soil Erosion Model (LISEM) in a small watershed in the Chinese Loess Plateau, based on model parameters derived from intensive measurements. The results showed that the total discharge (TD) and peak discharge (PD) were underestimated when the variability of θ_i and K_s was partially considered or completely ignored compared with those when the variability was fully considered. Time to peak (TP) was less affected by the spatial variability compared to TD and PD. Except for TP in some cases, significant differences were found in all hydrological variables (TD, PD and TP) between the cases in which spatial variability of θ_i or K_s was fully considered and those in which spatial variability was partially considered or completely ignored. Furthermore, runoff simulations were affected more strongly by K_s variability than by θ_i variability. The degree of spatial variability influences on runoff simulations was related to the rainfall pattern and θ_i. Greater rainfall depth and instantaneous rainfall intensity corresponded to a smaller influence of the spatial variability. Stronger effects of the θ_i variability on runoff simulation were found in wetter soils, while stronger effects of the K_s variability were found in drier soils. For accurate runoff simulation, the θ_i variability can be completely ignored in cases of a 1-h duration storm with a return period greater than 10 years, while K_s variability should be fully considered even in the case of a 1-h duration storm with a return period of 20 years.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor A. Fiori     

Controls on effective settling velocities of mud flocs in the Changjiang Estuary,China

Theoretical and experimental studies were undertaken to gain insight into physical parameters controlling the flocculation and settling properties of mud flocs in the Changjiang Estuary, China. The Rouse equation is applied to vertical profiles of suspended sediment concentration to determine the bulk mean settling velocity (w_s) of sediment suspended in the Changjiang Estuary. Both in situ point‐sampled and acoustically measured profiles of suspended mud concentrations were fit selectively. The calculated settling velocities w_s mainly ranged from 0·4 to 4·1 mm s^?1 for the point‐sampled data set, and from 1·0 to 3·0 mm s^?1 for the acoustically measured data set. Furthermore, the settling velocities of mud flocs increased with mean concentration (C?) of mud flocs in suspension and were proportional to increasing bottom shear stress (τ_b) of tidal flow. The best equation for the field settling velocity of mud flocs in the Changjiang Estuary can be expressed by the power law: w_s = mC?ⁿ (m, 1·14–2·37; n, 0·84–1·03). It is suggested that C? and τ_b were the dominant physical parameters controlling the flocculation and w_s of mud flocs in suspension. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Relationships between riparian evapotranspiration and groundwater depth along a semiarid irrigated river valley

Evapotranspiration (ET) from riparian vegetation can be difficult to estimate due to relatively abundant water supply, spatial vegetation heterogeneity, and interactions with anthropogenic influences such as shallower groundwater tables, increased salinity, and nonpoint source pollution induced by irrigation. In semiarid south-eastern Colorado, reliable ET estimates are scarce for the riparian corridor that borders the Arkansas River. This work investigates relationships between the riparian ecosystem along the Arkansas River and an underlying alluvial aquifer using ET estimates from remotely sensed data and modelled water table depths. Results from a calibrated, finite-difference groundwater model are used to estimate weekly water table fluctuations in the riparian ecosystem from 1999 to 2009, and estimates of ET are calculated using the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model with over 200 Landsat scenes covering over 30 km² of riparian ecosystem along a 70-km stretch of the river. Comparison of calculated monthly SSEBop ET to estimated alfalfa reference ET from local micrometeorological station data indicated statistically significant high linear correspondence (R² = .87). Daily calculated SSEBop ET showed statistically significant moderate linear correspondence with data from a local weighing lysimeter (R² = .59). Simulated monthly SSEBop ET values were larger in drier years compared with wetter years, and ET variability was also larger in drier years. Peak ET most commonly occurred during the month of June for all 11 years of analysis. Relationships between ET and water table depth showed that peak monthly ET was highest when groundwater depths were less than about 3 m, and ET values were significantly lower for groundwater depths greater than 3 m. Negative sample Spearman correlation highlighted riparian corridor locations where ET increased as a result of decreased groundwater depths across years with different hydroclimatic conditions. This study shows how a combination of remotely sensed riparian ET estimates and a regional groundwater model can improve our understanding of linkages between riparian consumptive use and near-river groundwater conditions influenced by irrigation return flow and different climatic drivers.     

Transpiration from three dominant shrub species in a desert‐oasis ecotone of arid regions of Northwestern China

Conservation management for the water dependent desert‐oasis ecotone in arid northwest China requires information on the water use of the dominant species. However, no studies have quantified their combined water use or linked species composition to ecotone transpiration. Here, the water use of three dominant shelterbelt shrubs (Haloxylon ammodendron, Nitraria tangutorum, and Calligonum mongolicum) within an ecotone was measured throughout the full leaf‐out period for three shrub species from 30 May to 16 October 2014, with sap flow gauges using the stem heat balance approach. Species‐specific transpiration was estimated by scaling up sap flow velocities measured in individual stems, to stand area level, using the frequency distribution of stem diameter and assuming a constant proportionality between sap flow velocity and basal cross‐sectional area for all stems. The mean peak sap flux densities (J_sn) for H. ammodendron, N. tangutorum, and C. mongolicum, were 40.12 g cm^?2 h^?1, 71.33 g cm^?2 h^?1, and 60.34 g cm^?2 h^?1, respectively, and the mean estimated daily area‐averaged transpiration rates (T_daily) for the same species were 0.56 mm day^?1, 0.34 mm day^?1, and 0.11 mm day^?1. The accumulative stand transpiration was approximately 140.8 mm throughout the measurement period, exceeding precipitation by as much as 42.1 mm. Furthermore, T_daily of these shrubs appeared to be much less sensitive to soil moisture as compared to atmospheric drivers, and the relationship between J_sn and atmospheric drivers was likely uninfluenced by soil moisture regimes in the whole profile (to 1‐m depth), especially for H. ammodendron and C. mongolicum. Results indicate that these shrubs may use deep soil water recharged by capillary rise, or may directly access shallow groundwater. This study provides quantitative data offering important implications for ecotone conservation and water and land resource management. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solute dynamics across the stream‐to‐riparian continuum under different flood waves

To enhance the understanding of solute dynamics within the stream‐to‐riparian continuum during flood event‐driven water fluctuation (i.e., flood wave), a variable saturated groundwater flow and solute transport model were developed and calibrated against in situ measurements of the Inbuk stream, Korea, where seasonal flooding prevails. The solute dynamics were further investigated for flood waves (varying by amplitude [A], duration [T], roundness [r], and skewness [t_p]) that were parameterised by real‐time stream stage fluctuations. We found that the solute transferred faster and farther in the riparian zone, especially within the phreatic zone, above which in the variable saturated zone the concentration required a significantly longer time, particularly at higher altitudes, to return to the initial state. By comparison, solute transferred shallowly in the streambed where the solute plume exhibited an exponential growth trend from the centre to the bank. The dynamic changes of solute flux and mass along the stream–aquifer interface and stream concentration were linked to the shape of flood wave. As the flood wave became higher (A↗), wider (T↗), rounder (r↘), and less skewed (t_p↗), the maximum solute storage in aquifer increased. Maximum stream concentration (C_str?max) not only presented a positive linear relationship with A or t_p but also showed a negative logarithmic trend with increasing T or r. The sensitivity of C_{str_max} to A was approximately two times that of t_p, and between these values, the r was slightly more sensitive than T. C_str?max linearly increased as hydraulic conductivity increased and logarithmically increased as longitudinal dispersivity increased. The former relationship was more sensitive than the latter.     

Climate sensitivity of water use by riparian woodlands at landscape scales

Semi-arid riparian woodlands face threats from increasing extractive water demand and climate change in dryland landscapes worldwide. Improved landscape-scale understanding of riparian woodland water use (evapotranspiration, ET) and its sensitivity to climate variables is needed to strategically manage water resources, as well as to create successful ecosystem conservation and restoration plans for potential climate futures. In this work, we assess the spatial and temporal variability of Cottonwood (Populus fremontii)-Willow (Salix gooddingii) riparian gallery woodland ET and its relationships to vegetation structure and climate variables for 80 km of the San Pedro River corridor in southeastern Arizona, USA, between 2014 and 2019. We use a novel combination of publicly available remote sensing, climate and hydrological datasets: cloud-based Landsat thermal remote sensing data products for ET (Google Earth Engine EEFlux), Landsat multispectral imagery and field data-based calibrations to vegetation structure (leaf-area index, LAI), and open-source climate and hydrological data. We show that at landscape scales, daily ET rates (6–10 mm day⁻¹) and growing season ET totals (400–1,400 mm) matched rates of published field data, and modelled reach-scale average LAI (0.80–1.70) matched lower ranges of published field data. Over 6 years, the spatial variability of total growing season ET (CV = 0.18) exceeded that of temporal variability (CV = 0.10), indicating the importance of reach-scale vegetation and hydrological conditions for controlling ET dynamics. Responses of ET to climate differed between perennial and intermittent-flow stream reaches. At perennial-flow reaches, ET correlated significantly with temperature, whilst at intermittent-flow sites ET correlated significantly with rainfall and stream discharge. Amongst reaches studied in detail, we found positive but differing logarithmic relationships between LAI and ET. By documenting patterns of high spatial variability of ET at basin scales, these results underscore the importance of accurately accounting for differences in woodland vegetation structure and hydrological conditions for assessing water-use requirements. Results also suggest that the climate sensitivity of ET may be used as a remote indicator of subsurface water resources relative to vegetation demand, and an indicator for informing conservation management priorities.     

Modelling spatial variations in dissolved oxygen in fine‐grained streams under uncertainty

This paper presents a novel triple‐layer model, called VART DO‐3L, for simulation of spatial variations in dissolved oxygen (DO) in fine‐grained streams, characterized by a fluid mud (fluff or flocculent) layer (an advection‐dominated storage zone) as the interface between overlying stream water and relatively consolidated streambed sediment (a diffusion‐dominated storage zone). A global sensitivity analysis is conducted to investigate the sensitivity of VART DO‐3L model input parameters. Results of the sensitivity analysis indicate that the most sensitive parameter is the relative size of the advection‐dominated storage zones (A_s/A), followed by a lumped reaction term (R) for the flocculent layer, biological reaction rate (μ_o) in diffusive layer and biochemical oxygen demand concentration (L) in water column. In order to address uncertainty in model input parameters, Monte Carlo simulations are performed to sample parameter values and to produce various parameter combinations or cases. The VART DO‐3L model is applied to the Lower Amite River in Louisiana, USA, to simulate vertical and longitudinal variations in DO under the cases. In terms of longitudinal variation, the DO level decreases from 7.9 mg l at the Denham Springs station to about 2.89 mg l^?1 at the Port Vincent station. In terms of vertical variation, the DO level drops rapidly from the overlying water column to the advection‐dominated storage zone and further to the diffusive layer. The DO level (C_F) in the advective layer (flocculent layer) can reach as high as 40% of DO concentration (C) in the water column. The VART DO‐3L model may be applied to similar rivers for simulation of spatial variations in DO level. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.