Effects of urbanization on streamflow in the Atlanta area (Georgia,USA): a comparative hydrological approach

For the period from 1958 to 1996, streamflow characteristics of a highly urbanized watershed were compared with less‐urbanized and non‐urbanized watersheds within a 20 000 km² region in the vicinity of Atlanta, Georgia: in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge physiographic provinces of the southeastern USA. Water levels in several wells completed in surficial and crystalline‐rock aquifers were also evaluated. Data were analysed for seven US Geological Survey (USGS) stream gauges, 17 National Weather Service rain gauges, and five USGS monitoring wells. Annual runoff coefficients (RCs; runoff as a fractional percentage of precipitation) for the urban stream (Peachtree Creek) were not significantly greater than for the less‐urbanized watersheds. The RCs for some streams were similar to others and the similar streams were grouped according to location. The RCs decreased from the higher elevation and higher relief watersheds to the lower elevation and lower relief watersheds: values were 0·54 for the two Blue Ridge streams, 0·37 for the four middle Piedmont streams (near Atlanta), and 0·28 for a southern Piedmont stream. For the 25 largest stormflows, the peak flows for Peachtree Creek were 30% to 100% greater than peak flows for the other streams. The storm recession period for the urban stream was 1–2 days less than that for the other streams and the recession was characterized by a 2‐day storm recession constant that was, on average, 40 to 100% greater, i.e. streamflow decreased more rapidly than for the other streams. Baseflow recession constants ranged from 35 to 40% lower for Peachtree Creek than for the other streams; this is attributed to lower evapotranspiration losses, which result in a smaller change in groundwater storage than in the less‐urbanized watersheds. Low flow of Peachtree Creek ranged from 25 to 35% less than the other streams, possibly the result of decreased infiltration caused by the more efficient routing of stormwater and the paving of groundwater recharge areas. The timing of daily or monthly groundwater‐level fluctuations was similar annually in each well, reflecting the seasonal recharge. Although water‐level monitoring only began in the 1980s for the two urban wells, water levels displayed a notable decline compared with non‐urban wells since then; this is attributed to decreased groundwater recharge in the urban watersheds due to increased imperviousness and related rapid storm runoff. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Low-frequency variability in atmospheric middle latitudes

A short review of research trends in the study of low-frequency mid-latitude variations is presented. Theoretical developments have been concentrated upon with the major themes of multiple equilibria, flow stability and eddy-mean flow interaction reflecting the authors main interests. A new interpretation of the role of transient eddies in maintaining atmospheric blocking is also suggested in which eddy potential vorticity fluxes are considered to mediate a downstream transition between a zonal and a steady free Rossby wave flow. This treatment avoids emphasizing local balances and fluxes by the transients which are often entirely or partially reversible. The consequences of this interpretation are explored in the barotropic model of blocking first presented by Shutts (1983). This interpretation is used to suggest conditions in which the jetstream may be unlikely to undergo transition to a blocked weather regime.     

Nitrogen pools in Georgia coastal waters

The amount of nitrogen present as ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, dissolved organic nitrogen, and particulate nitrogen was determined for nearshore Georgia shelf waters and for tidal water inundating a 0.5 hectare dikedSpartina alterniflora salt marsh in the adjacent estuary. Concentrations of ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite were comparatively low in offshore water (<2.2 μg-at N/1), and in high tide water in the marsh (<9.9 μg-at N/1). High concentrations of ammonia, up to 73.4 μg-at N/1, were measured in low tide water draining from marsh. The largest pools of nitrogen in offshore water and in high tide water in the marsh creek were dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) (2.5 to 20.4 μg-at N/1) and particulate nitrogen (PN) (0.1 to 30.0 μg-at N/1). Concentrations in marsh creek water at low tide were higher, ranging from 4.4 to 38.0 μg-at N/1 for DON and from 13.0 to 239.0 μg-at N/1 for PN. Comparisons of the average concentrations of dissolved and particulate forms of nitrogen in the marsh tidal creek during flood and during ebb tide suggested no net movement of the inorganic nitrogen nutrients, a net influx of PN to the marsh, and a net outflux of DON from the marsh.     

Growth dynamics of cordgrass,Spartina alterniflora loisel., on control and sewage sludge fertilized plots in a Georgia salt marsh

Seasonal plant growth dynamics were followed for a year in undisturbed plots of tall and short formSpartina alterniflora Loisel. and in plots of short formS. alterniflora which were enriched with sewage sludge at a rate of 100 g dry sludge m^?2wk^?1, corresponding to a nitrogen enrichment of 2 g N m^?2wk^?1. Monthly determinations of aboveground live and dead biomass, density of live stems, the ratio of number of young shoots to total number of shoots, and belowground mass of macro-organic matter to a depth of 30 cm were made for each area. Sludge fertilization increased the live biomass of the short formS. alterniflora by up to 150% of the control live biomass, but had little effect on the dead biomass, stem density, or proportion of young shoots. There was a trend of increased amount of belowground macro-organic matter in fertilized compared to control plots during the last 6 months of the study. In all areas, there was a marked decrease in the proportion of young shoots from winter to early summer, followed by a rapid increase in the percent of young shoots from late summer to fall. Sampling of plots 7 and 20 months after termination of sludge enrichment showed higher plant biomass and % N content in surface soils, but no difference in N content of live plant tissue, in fertilized compared to unfertilized marsh. After 20 months, about half of the sludge nitrogen remaining in the soils of the fertilized plots had disappeared.     

西藏班公湖-怒江缝合带--深部地球物理结构给出的启示

通过跨越缝合带的综合地球物理和地质调查研究，查明了地质上推测的“班公湖一怒江缝合带”的深部结构和构造，提出了下述观点：现有资料尚不足以证明，“班公湖一怒江缝合带”是严格意义上的缝合带，而趋向表明是一个老的弧后拉张区，在后来的印度大陆与拉萨地块碰撞挤压过程中，先是沉积了巨厚的第三纪地层，仅在20Ma(?)以来才转变成挤压体制，形成多条逆冲断裂；纳木错一申扎逆冲的蛇绿岩片带代表着侏罗纪洋的主要缝合带位置，在其闭合过程中洋壳与陆壳一起向北发生俯冲，并形成班戈岩带所代表的岩浆弧，在岩浆弧后出现了拉张区；下地壳向北挤压增厚，物理性质不同的上、下地壳之间相互运动而形成了一条缓倾的剪切片理化带，南北长达300km，命名为主羌塘逆冲断裂带(MQT)；并使班戈岩片整体向南逆推上去，致使地壳分层增厚；在拉张期伦坡拉小地块向下运动，20Ma以后转变成压缩体制后又开始向上逆推，再加上后期的剥蚀，致使班戈深成岩体出露于地表；唐古拉山、各拉丹冬等年轻的火山岩浆带与地表显示的构造活动无直接关系，推测应是地壳深层作用引起的构造岩浆活动的显示。