Capabilities and limitations of detailed hillslope hydrological modelling

Hillslope hydrological modelling is considered to be of great importance for the understanding and quantification of hydrological processes in hilly or mountainous landscapes. In recent years a few comprehensive hydrological models have been developed at the hillslope scale which have resulted in an advanced representation of hillslope hydrological processes (including their interactions), and in some operational applications, such as in runoff and erosion studies at the field scale or lateral flow simulation in environmental and geotechnical engineering. An overview of the objectives of hillslope hydrological modelling is given, followed by a brief introduction of an exemplary comprehensive hillslope model, which stimulates a series of hydrological processes such as interception, evapotranspiration, infiltration into the soil matrix and into macropores, lateral and vertical subsurface soil water flow both in the matrix and preferential flow paths, surface runoff and channel discharge. Several examples of this model are presented and discussed in order to determine the model's capabilities and limitations. Finally, conclusions about the limitations of detailed hillslope modelling are drawn and an outlook on the future prospects of hydrological models on the hillslope scale is given.The model presented performed reasonable calculations of Hortonian surface runoff and subsequent erosion processes, given detailed information of initial soil water content and soil hydraulic conditions. The vertical and lateral soil moisture dynamics were also represented quite well. However, the given examples of model applications show that quite detailed climatic and soil data are required to obtain satisfactory results. The limitations of detailed hillslope hydrological modelling arise from different points: difficulties in the representations of certain processes (e.g. surface crusting, unsaturated–saturated soil moisture flow, macropore flow), problems of small‐scale variability, a general scarcity of detailed soil data, incomplete process parametrization and problems with the interdependent linkage of several hillslopes and channel–hillslope interactions. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling subsurface flow conditions in a salinized catchment in south‐western Australia,with a view to improving management practices

Finite element modelling of the saturated–unsaturated surface–subsurface flow mechanisms operative in a small salinized catchment in south‐western Australia was used to help define the flow system and explain the causes of waterlogging and salinization there. Data available at the site from a previous study were used to obtain a first approximation to the flow system. Altering the properties of some of the strata gave a closer calibration. It was found that the modelled saturated hydraulic conductivity of the B horizon in the duplex soil zone needed to be at least an order of magnitude lower than that measured in order to reproduce the perching conditions observed in the field. Also, the model indicated the influence of a doleritic dyke, whose presence was confirmed by field measurement. Our analysis showed that there were two main flow systems operating in the hillslope. The first, and most dominant, was the recharge occurring through the upslope gradational soil zone and percolating down to both the deeply weathered regolith and the basal aquifer. The second flow system is an unsaturated flow system operating in the high permeability A horizon in the downslope duplex soil zone. The first system is primarily responsible for the saline seepage zone in the valley bottom. The second contributes to the waterlogging and perching occurring upslope of the seepage zone. Vertical flow through the higher permeability B horizon in the gradational soil zone in the upper slopes is a major contributor of recharge. Recharge by flow through macropores occurs where, but only where, perched aquifers develop and allow the macropores to be activated. Areas with perched aquifers occurred in downslope locations and near a doleritic dyke located upslope. Thus, the area where macropore recharge occurred was not large. The recharge rate required to maintain the piezometric levels at present values is only about 30 mm/yr (about 5% of the annual rainfall). The piezometric levels under the upper part of the catchment varied greatly with only small changes in recharge rate. A 50% reduction in recharge rate had the effect of reducing the length of the seepage zone at the end of winter by 40%. Changes in recharge rate had little effect on the extent of the perched aquifer at the end of winter. Deep‐rooted perennial forages, shrubs or trees on the gradational soil zone in the upper part of the catchment and on the zones upslope of geological barriers to flow would be required to reduce the recharge and to allow for rehabilitation of the saline valley floor. Waterlogging associated with the perched water table in the bottom part of the catchment would be best addressed by tree plantations located just upslope of the salinized zone in the valley floor. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种实现西安80坐标系地形图向北京54坐标系快速转换的简易方法

本文针对GIS应用中经常遇到的西安80和北京54坐标之间的转换问题,提出了实现两种坐标系地形图相互转换的简易方法。首先利用MAPGIS软件自动生成西安80矢量标准图框,根据坐标改正参数,将西安80坐标系图框转换到北京54坐标系,再以它为参照基准,对地形图进行逐格网纠正,实现西安80坐标系地形图向北京54坐标系的转换。该方法操作简单,易于实现,非常适合于非测绘人员使用。     

国家标准修订研究与实践

国家标准应根据技术发展及时修订,以保证其适应性,本文归纳了国家标准修订的一般要求,提出了国家标准修订具体方法,并以国家标准《数字地形图产品基本要求》为例展现了两项国家标准修订整合为一项国家标准的具体过程,该标准已经通过专家审查,进入报批阶段。     

泥石流滑坡发生的降水预报方法与雨量标准--以四川省盆地区域为例

通过对η坐标数值预报模式预报的降水量检验分析,发现η坐标数值预报模式对青藏高原天气系统活动造成的四川盆地降水预报明显偏弱,且雨区偏北、偏西。我们使用风场资料对高原天气系统作自动识别,进行了对高原天气系统影响降水的强化与雨区漂移的处理,研究得出了η坐标数值预报模式释用强降水预报方法。通过对1991-2001年四川盆地发生泥石流、滑坡灾害的气象成因(强降水)分析,研究得出了四川盆地不同的地质地貌条件下泥石流、滑坡预测雨量标准。在上述研究基础上,建立了四川盆地泥石流、滑坡产生的强降水预报方法。经2003-08-09业务试运行,效果较好,较成功的预报了四川盆地西部、西南部3次大暴雨过程触发的多处泥石流、滑坡灾害,在防灾减灾中发挥了好的作用。     

广西钦州湾围垦工程对茅尾海潮汐动力参数的影响

北部湾茅尾海是中国南方重要的经济开发区,兴建有滨海新城和多个港口码头,近年来围垦开发严重。本研究通过建立二维水动力数值模型系统,分析重要潮汐动力参数,对比研究1985年与2020年间钦州湾围垦和港口建设对当地水动力环境的影响。结果表明：经过围填海和港口工程之后,茅尾海的潮差变化较小,略微增加了0.05 m左右;全日分潮K1、O1及半日分潮M2、S2是影响钦州湾潮汐动力较大的驱动力,围垦后在茅尾海内海地区都略微增加了0.02~0.03 m,其中K1、O1是影响茅尾海的关键潮汐动力参数,敏感性测试分析表明三墩公路建设、钦州港海岸围垦和核电厂导堤建设对茅尾海潮差增加贡献率大致占60%、20%和10%;同时,围垦对束窄钦州湾航道具有一定的优化效应,围垦后钦州湾外湾三条水道峰值通量都明显增加,形成航道束水攻沙效果,对通航和维护主航道稳定性具有一定优势。因此,仅从潮汐动力参数变化角度分析,目前的围垦和港口工程迎合了当地河势特征,对潮汐动力场扰动较小,具有优化局部水动力场环境和提升通航安全性作用。     

Macroscale surface roughness and frictional resistance in overland flow

The hydraulics of overland flow on rough granular surfaces can be modelled and evaluated using the inundation ratio rather than the flow Reynolds number, as the primary dimensionless group determining the flow behaviour. The inundation ratio describes the average degree of submergence of the surface roughness and is used to distinguish three flow regimes representing partially inundated, marginally inundated and well-inundated surfaces. A heuristic physical model for the flow hydraulics in each regime demonstrates that the three states of flow are characterized by very different functional dependencies of frictional resistance on the scaled depth of flow. At partial inundation, flow resistance is associated with the drag force derived from individual roughness and therefore increases with depth and percentage cover. At marginal inundation, the size of the roughness elements relative to the depth of flow controls the degree of vertical mixing in the flow so that frictional resistance tends to decrease very rapidly with increasing depth of flow. Well-inundated flows are described using rough turbulent flow hydraulics previously developed for open channel flows. These flows exhibit a much more gradual decrease in frictional resistance with increasing depth than that observed during marginal inundation. A data set compiled from previously published studies of overland flow hydraulics is used to assess the functional dependence of frictional resistance on inundation ratio over a wide range of flow conditions. The data confirm the non-monotonic dependence predicted by the model and support the differentiation of three flow regimes based on the inundation ratio. Although the percentage cover and the surface slope may be of importance in addition to the inundation ratio in the partially and marginally inundated regimes, the Reynolds number appears to be of significance only in describing well-inundated flows at low to moderate Reynolds numbers. As these latter conditions are quite rare in natural environments, the inundation ratio rather than the Reynolds number should be used as the primary dimensionless group when evaluating the hydraulics of overland flow on rough surfaces. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Suspended sediment discharge in subsurface flow from the head hollow of a small forested watershed,northern Japan

Surface flow and suspended sediment discharge from the head hollow of the Jozankei Experimental Watershed in Hokkaido, northern Japan, were measured to clarify the implications of subsurface hydrology for soil movement. Subsurface discharges during the extremely large storms of 1993 to 1994 were measured in a V-notch weir installed at a natural spring near the bottom of the head hollow, and shallow groundwater levels were observed in the wells excavated in the hollow. Sediment samples whose particle size range from 0·001 to 0·1 mm were manually and automatically collected at 15 to 60 min intervals, by use of 1 or 21 polyethylene bottles. Maximum concentration and flux of suspended sediment during the storms preceded the peak discharge of subsurface flow by several hours. Neither the changes in concentration (mg l⁻¹) nor flux (mg s⁻¹) of suspended sediment coincided with those in subsurface discharge (l s⁻¹). Furthermore, sediment concentration was poorly correlated with the rate of change in subsurface discharge (l s⁻²) during the rising limb of the hydrograph. Suspended sediment flux during the acceleratory limb, however, was closely correlated with the rate of change in subsurface discharge. The relationship between suspended sediment flux and rate of change in subsurface discharge were in inverse proportion to initial subsurface discharge before the storm runoff and they represented rare seasonal variation. Subsurface hydraulic erosion and transport of suspended sediment resulting from changes in rate of change in subsurface discharge actively occur during the acceleratory rising limb of the hydrograph. Accordingly, subsurface hydraulic erosion during the acceleratory rising limb of the hydrograph can be physically understood by analysing suspended sediment flux associated with rate of change in subsurface discharge and initial subsurface discharge. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

THE USE OF BOREHOLE VIDEO IN INVESTIGATING THE HYDROLOGY OF A TEMPERATE GLACIER

A GeoVision Micro™ colour video camera was used to investigate the internal structure of 11 boreholes at Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland. The boreholes were distributed across a half-section of the glacier, with closest spacing towards the glacier margin. The boreholes were used to investigate the hydrology of the glacier through automatic monitoring of borehole water level and electrical conductivity (EC) at the glacier bed. EC profiling was undertaken in several boreholes to determine the existence of water quality stratification. Temporal variations in EC stratification were used to infer borehole water sources and patterns of water circulation. Borehole video was used to confirm the conclusions made from these indirect sources of evidence, and to provide an independent source of information on the structure and hydrology of this temperate valley glacier. The video showed variations in water turbidity, englacial channels and voids, conditions at the glacier bed and down-borehole changes in ice structure. Based on the video observations, englacial channels accounted for approximately 0·1% of the vertical ice thickness, and englacial voids for approximately 0·4%. Overall, the video images provided useful qualitative and semi-quantitative data that reinforce interpretations of a range of physical and chemical parameters measured in boreholes. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Using TOPMODEL towards identifying and modelling the hydrological patterns within a headwater,humid, tropical catchment

Increasing pressure on the tropical environment requires a more thorough understanding of hydrological processes as part of reconciling the conflicting demands of economic development vis-à-vis sustainable land management. Using TOPMODEL, a physically based semi-distributed topohydrological model, we test its validity in modelling the stream flow dynamics (hydrograph) in a 1 ha tropical rainforest catchment in French Guiana. Another objective is through field validation of TOPMODEL to ascertain possible runoff generation mechanisms. The field validation of the temporal and spatial hydrodynamics across a rainfall–runoff event reveals that TOPMODEL may be suited for applications to this particular tropical rainforest environment; in fact, this is possibly the first successful application of such a model within the humid tropics. The main reasons why the model was successful are the presumed low hydraulic conductivities of the subsoil, coupled with the absence of an additional deep groundwater body, the contribution from which has caused difficulties in application of topographically, ‘physically’ based runoff models elsewhere in the humid tropics. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.