Modeling study of regional severe hazes over mid-eastern China in January 2013 and its implications on pollution prevention and control

The Nested Air Quality Prediction Model System(NAQPMS)was used to investigate the temporal and spatial variations of PM2.5over tropospheric central eastern China in January 2013.The impact of regional transport and its implications on pollution prevention and control were also examined.Comparison between simulated and observed PM2.5showed NAQPMS was able to reproduce the evolution of PM2.5during heavy haze episodes.The results indicated that regional transport of PM2.5played an important role in regional haze episodes in the city cluster including Hebei,Beijing and Tianjin(HBT).The cross-city clusters transport outside HBT and transport among cities inside HBT contributed 20%–35%and 26%–35%of PM2.5as compared with local emission,in HBT respectively.To meet the Air Quality Standards for Grade II,90%,90%and65%of emissions would have to be cut down in Hebei,Tianjin and Beijing,if non-control strategy was taken in the surrounding city clusters of HBT.This implicated that control of emissions in one city cluster is not sufficient to reduce regional haze events,and joint efforts among city clusters are essential.Besides regional transports,two-way feedback between boundary-layer evolution and PM2.5also significantly contributed to the formation of heavy hazes,which contributed 30%of monthly average PM2.5concentration in HBT.     

Visibility and Incidence of Respiratory Diseases During the 1998 Haze Episode in Brunei Darussalam

— Air pollution episodes as a result of forest fires in Brunei Darussalam and neighbouring regions have reached hazardous levels in recent years. Such episodes are generally associated with poor visibility and air quality conditions. In the present study, data on PM₁₀ (particulate matter of size less than 10 microns) and CO in Brunei Darussalam have been considered to study the incidence of respiratory diseases whereas data on relative humidity (RH) in addition to PM₁₀ have been used to explain the visibility with a particular emphasis on haze episode during 1998.¶Initial exploratory analysis indicates significant correlation of visibility with PM₁₀ and RH. An attempt has been made to explain visibility on the basis of PM₁₀ and RH using multiple linear regression analysis. The regression model shows that PM₁₀ and RH are two significant factors affecting the visibility at a given site. Further, canonical correlation, a multivariate method of analysis, has been used to explain the incidence of respiratory diseases as a function of air quality during the haze period. The results indicate that PM₁₀ and CO levels during the haze period have a significant bearing on the incidence of respiratory diseases (Asthma, Acute Respiratory Infections and Influenza (ARII)).     

Haze Research in Brunei Darussalam During the 1998 Episode

— Brunei Darussalam experienced a severe haze episode between the beginning of February and the end of April 1998 due mainly to local peat and forest fires in Brunei and in neighbouring Sabah and Sarawak. The extensive research studies of the haze carried out in Brunei are outlined together with selected results. Particulate matter (PM₁₀) was the only significant criteria pollutant and it exceeded WHO guidelines and accepted air quality standards on most days during the haze episode. Gaseous criteria pollutants (CO, SO₂, NO₂, O₃) were generally well below WHO guidelines and at these concentrations they are expected to have no significant health or environmental effects. Measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) revealed the presence of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), aldehydes, phenol, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Personal exposure monitoring of PM₁₀ revealed significant differences in exposure patterns between different individuals depending on the location, time and activity. Data on outpatient visits showed an increase for some illnesses (e.g., acute respiratory infection) during the months of haze. No significant impacts of haze on rainwater acidity or deposition were noted. Emission factors for some volatile compounds were determined in combustion experiments in which peat was burned at temperatures typical of smouldering.     

Mechanism for the formation of the January 2013 heavy haze pollution episode over central and eastern China

In January 2013,a long-lasting episode of severe haze occurred in central and eastern China,and it attracted attention from all sectors of society.The process and evolution of haze pollution episodes were observed by the"Forming Mechanism and Control Strategies of Haze in China"group using an intensive aerosol and trace gases campaign that simultaneously obtained data at 11 ground-based observing sites in the CARE-China network.The characteristics and formation mechanism of haze pollution episodes were discussed.Five haze pollution episodes were identified in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(Jing-Jin-Ji)area;the two most severe episodes occurred during 9–15 January and 25–31 January.During these two haze pollution episodes,the maximum hourly PM2.5mass concentrations in Beijing were 680 and 530μg m 3,respectively.The process and evolution of haze pollution episodes in other major cities in the Jing-Jin-Ji area,such as Shijiazhuang and Tianjin were almost the same as those observed in Beijing.The external cause of the severe haze episodes was the unusual atmospheric circulation,the depression of strong cold air activities and the very unfavorable dispersion due to geographical and meteorological conditions.However,the internal cause was the quick secondary transformation of primary gaseous pollutants to secondary aerosols,which contributed to the"explosive growth"and"sustained growth"of PM2.5.Particularly,the abnormally high amount of nitric oxide(NOx)in the haze episodes,produced by fossil fuel combustion and vehicle emissions,played a direct or indirect role in the quick secondary transformation of coal-burning sulphur dioxide(SO2)to sulphate aerosols.Furthermore,gaseous pollutants were transformed into secondary aerosols through heterogeneous reactions on the surface of fine particles,which can change the particle’s size and chemical composition.Consequently,the proportion of secondary inorganic ions,such as sulphate and nitrate,gradually increased,which enhances particle hygroscopicity and thereby accelerating formation of the haze pollution.     

Numerical Study of the Intertropical Convergence Zone Over the Indian Ocean During the 1997 and 1998 Northeast Monsoon Episodes

—?The hydrostatic Naval Research Laboratory/North Carolina State University (NRL/NCSU) model was used to study the mesoscale dynamics and diurnal variability of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) over the Indian Ocean in the short-range period. To achieve this objective the initial conditions from two northeast monsoon episodes (29 January, 1997 and 29 January, 1998) were run for 48-hour simulations using a triple-nested grid version of the model with 1.5°?×?1.5°, 0.5°?×?0.5° and 0.17°?×?0.17° resolutions. The 1997 case represents a typical northeast monsoon episode, while the 1998 case depicts an abnormal monsoon episode during an El Niño event.¶Comparisons between the model-produced and analyzed mean circulation, wind speed, and associated rainfall for different spatial scales are presented. During the active northeast monsoon season in 1997, the major low-level westerly winds and associated high rainfall rates between 0° and 15°S were simulated reasonably well up to 24 hours. During the 1998 El Niño event, the model was capable of simulating weak anomalous easterly winds (between 0° and 15°S) with much lower rainfall rates up to 48 hours. In both simulations, the finest grid size resulted in largest rainfall rates consistent with Outgoing Longwave Radiation data.¶The model performance was further evaluated using the vertical profiles of the vertical velocity, the specific humidity and temperature differences between the model outputs and the analyses. It is found that during a typical northeast monsoon year, 1997, the water vapor content in the middle troposphere was largely controlled by the low-level convergence determined by strong oceanic heat flux gradient. In contrast, during the 1998 El Niño year moisture was present only in the lower troposphere. Due to strong subsidence associated with Walker circulation over the central and eastern Indian Ocean, deep convection was not present. Finally, the diurnal variations of the maximum rainfall, vertical velocity and total heat flux were noticeable only during the 1997 northeast monsoon year.     

Non-parametric Seismic Hazard in Mines

— Seismic hazard analysis methods in mines are reviewed for the purpose of selecting the best technique. To achieve this goal, the most often-used hazard analysis procedure, which is based on the classical frequency-magnitude Gutenberg-Richter relation, as well as alternative procedures are investigated.¶Since the maximum regional seismic event magnitude m _max is of paramount importance in seismic hazard analysis, this work provides a generic formula for the evaluation of this important parameter. The formula is capable of generating solutions in different forms, depending on the assumptions of the model of the magnitude distribution and/or the available information regarding past seismicity. It includes the cases (i) in which seismic event magnitudes are distributed according to the truncated frequency-magnitude Gutenberg-Richter relation, and (ii) in which no specific model of the magnitude distribution is assumed.¶Both synthetic, Monte-Carlo simulated seismic event catalogues, and actual data from the copper mine in Poland and gold mine in South Africa, are used to demonstrate the discussed hazard analysis techniques.¶Our studies show that the non-parametric technique, which is independent of the assumed model of the distribution of magnitude, provides an appropriate tool for seismic hazard assessment in mines where the magnitude distribution can be very complex.     

Simulating methane emission from a Chinese rice field as influenced by fertilizer and water level

Natural and agricultural wetlands are considered to be the major sources of global atmospheric methane (CH₄). A one‐dimensional model was developed to simulate methane emission and used to examine the influence of various physical processes on the rate of methane emission. Three processes involved in the methane emission are implemented in the model: production, reoxidation and transport. Three transport pathways were considered: diffusion across water–air or soil–air interfaces, ebullition and diffusion through plants. These pathways are influenced by soil properties, plant growth, water‐table conditions, temperature and external inputs (e.g. fertilizer). The model was used to examine the seasonal variation of the methane emission at a rice field in Hunan, China, which was observed during a field experiment for consecutive (early and late) rice seasons in 1992. The observed seasonal variations of methane emission, and role of plants in transporting methane to the atmosphere, are captured by the model simulation. Further model applications were conducted to simulate effects of fertilizer and water‐level condition on the methane emission. The results indicate that unfermented organic fertilizer produces a higher methane emission rate than mineral fertilizer. The simulations with treatments of a deep‐water covering and constant moisture reduced the methane emission. The rice field study provides a framework for further development of the model towards simulations based on spatially distributed variables (e.g. water table, soil temperature and vegetation) at a regional scale. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

First application of MC2-AQ to multiscale air quality modelling over Europe

A three-dimensional air quality model (MC2-AQ) developed for studying oxidant chemistry on regional to urban scales over North America was adapted and implemented for European conditions. The modelling system is based on the Canadian Mesoscale Compressible Community (MC2) Model, a non-hydrostatic meteorological model, to which modules permitting on-line calculations of chemical transformations, anthropogenic and biogenic emissions, and deposition were added. The transport of chemical species is done on the same grid and with the same advection, convection, and diffusion schemes as are used for the meteorological fields. The developed model is highly flexible and was adapted to different scales by allowing for self-nesting. In this paper we present model results for a high-ozone episode, June 18–26, 2000, over Europe. The modelling system was able to reproduce general characteristics (growth, extent, and dissipation) of the pollution episode. Accumulation of ozone precursors during weak wind and high-temperature synoptic conditions was essential for episode formation. Subsequent episode development and advancement across Europe was driven by frontal systems. A stationary front associated with a low-pressure system over Ukraine prevented the further eastward transport of the polluted air mass. The episode was terminated after the passage of a cold front advecting relatively clean Atlantic air mass.     

过坝下泄水流中温室气体排放速率的数值模拟

当水流通过泄洪建筑物下泄时,水体中所溶解的温室气体(二氧化碳(CO2)、甲烷(CH4)等)会因为所受压力的瞬间改变而导致溶解度降低,从而造成气液之间传质的发生及水中温室气体的排放.然而,目前对于泄流条件下水中温室气体排放的研究还较为缺乏.鉴于原型观测与模型试验的局限性,本文建立了大坝泄流条件下温室气体排放速率的数学模型...     

Solar almucantar radiance and aerosol scattering: Comparative data from one tropical station and one mid-latitude station

Solar, sky, and aureole radiance data from Kensington, Australia, and Lagos, Nigeria, are analysed. The values of the aerosol optical thickness at Lagos are comparable to measured values elsewhere in the subregion (Abidjan) under light haze. The values at Kensington are close to those of the “background aerosol.” Identical and anomalous values of aerosol optical thickness occurred at 1.67 μm at both stations as less than 15% of the values can be accounted for by aerosols. The high optical depths are therefore explained in terms of absorption, possibly mainly by CO₂ (59–65%) and, to a lesser extent, by H₂O (20–26%). Following correction for molecular multiple scattering, the aerosol scattering phase function increases substantially at 0.5 μm in Kensington and decreases considerably at 0.76 μm in Lagos when compared to the uncorrected function, confirming the relative fineness of the Kensington aerosol. The Lagos aerosol size distribution for moderately dusty air is reasonably bimodally log-normal with modal radiusr _m=0.49 μm (1.36 μm) for the moder≤1 μm (r>1 μm). The Kensington aerosol resembles one withr _m=0.05 μm forr<1 μm. There the Born approximation appears appropriate, and the weighted mean square radiusp ²=0.13 μm². In the near forward direction the aerosol scattering phase funciton for Lagos resembles Deirmendjian’s simulations for a silicate-L haze and, for Kensington, a silicate-H haze.     

Identification Criteria for Sources of T Waves Recorded in French Polynesia

—?From a data set of 150 digital records of T phases from 71 sources obtained on seismometers of the Polynesian Seismic Network, we define a discriminant separating earthquake and explosion sources, which uses the maximum amplitude of recorded ground velocity, measured on its envelope, e _Max (in μm/s), and the duration of the phase measured at 1/3 of maximum amplitude, τ_1/3 (in seconds). Earthquake sources and man-made explosions are effectively separated in a log-log space by the straight line ¶¶log₁₀ e _Max = 4.9 log₁₀τ_1/3 - 4.1 .¶¶Other criteria in both the time and frequency domains fail to reliably separate the populations of the various kinds of events. The application of this technique to analog records of large-scale man-made explosions carried out in the 1960s confirms that it provides an adequate discriminant over 3.5 orders of magnitude of ground velocity.     

Bayesian autoregressive spatiotemporal model of PM<Subscript>10</Subscript> concentrations across Peninsular Malaysia

Rapid industrialization and haze episodes in Malaysia ensure pollution remains a public health challenge. Atmospheric pollutants such as PM₁₀ are typically variable in space and time. The increased vigilance of policy makers in monitoring pollutant levels has led to vast amounts of spatiotemporal data available for modelling and inference. The aim of this study is to model and predict the spatiotemporal daily PM₁₀ levels across Peninsular Malaysia. A hierarchical autoregressive spatiotemporal model is applied to daily PM₁₀ concentration levels from thirty-four monitoring stations in Peninsular Malaysia during January to December 2011. The model set in a three stage Bayesian hierarchical structure comprises data, process and parameter levels. The posterior estimates suggest moderate spatial correlation with effective range 157 km and a short term persistence of PM₁₀ in atmosphere with temporal correlation parameter 0.78. Spatial predictions and temporal forecasts of the PM₁₀ concentrations follow from the posterior and predictive distributions of the model parameters. Spatial predictions at the hold-out sites and one-step ahead PM₁₀ forecasts are obtained. The predictions and forecasts are validated by computing the RMSE, MAE, R² and MASE. For the spatial predictions and temporal forecasting, our results indicate a reasonable RMSE of 10.71 and 7.56, respectively for the spatiotemporal model compared to RMSE of 15.18 and 12.96, respectively from a simple linear regression model. Furthermore, the coverage probability of the 95% forecast intervals is 92.4% implying reasonable forecast results. We also present prediction maps of the one-step ahead forecasts for selected day at fine spatial scale.     

Three-dimensional Simulations of the Mean Air Transport During the 1997 Forest Fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia Using a Mesoscale Numerical Model

— This paper describes the meteorological processes responsible for the mean transport of air pollutants during the ENSO-related forest fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia from 00 UTC 21 September to 00 UTC 25 September, 1997. The Fifth Generation of the Pennsylvania State University-National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU-NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5) is used to simulate three-dimensional winds at 6-hourly intervals. A nonhydrostatic version of the model is run using two nested grids with horizontal resolutions of 45 km and 15 km. From the simulated wind fields, the backward and forward trajectories of the air parcel are investigated using the Vis5D model.¶The results indicate that the large-scale subsidence over Indonesia, the southwest monsoon low-level flows (2–8 m s^?1), and the shallow planetary boundary layer height (400–800 m) play a key role in the transport of air pollutants from Kalimantan to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.     

Modeling of aircraft exhaust emissions and infrared spectra for remote measurement of nitrogen oxides

Infrared (IR) molecular spectroscopy is proposed to perform remote measurements of NO_x concentrations in the exhaust plume and wake of aircraft. The computer model NIRATAM is applied to simulate the physical and chemical properties of the exhaust plume and to generate low resolution IR spectra and synthetical thermal images of the aircraft in its natural surroundings. High-resolution IR spectra of the plume, including atmospheric absorption and emission, are simulated using the molecular line-by-line radiation model FASCODE2. Simulated IR spectra of a Boeing 747–400 at cruising altitude for different axial and radial positions in the jet region of the exhaust plume are presented. A number of spectral lines of NO can be identified that can be discriminated from lines of other exhaust gases and the natural atmospheric background in the region around 5.2 µm. These lines can be used to determine NO concentration profiles in the plume. The possibility of measuring nitrogen dioxide NO₂ is also discussed briefly, although measurements turn out to be substantially less likely than those of NO. This feasibility study compiles fundamental data for the optical and radiometric design of an airborne Fourier transform spectrometer and the preparation of in-flight measurements for monitoring of aircraft pollutants.     

The factors influencing the abrasion efficiency of saltating grains on a clay‐crusted playa

The entrainment and subsequent transport of PM₁₀ (particulate matter <10 µm) has become an important and challenging focus of research for both scientific and practical applications. Arid and semi‐arid environments are important sources for the atmospheric loading of PM₁₀, although the emission of this material is often limited by surface crusts. It has been suggested that the primary mechanisms through which PM₁₀ is released from a crusted surface are abrasion by saltating grains or disturbance by agricultural and recreational activities. To examine the importance of saltation abrasion in the emission of PM₁₀, a series of field wind tunnel tests were conducted on a clay‐crusted surface near Desert Wells, Arizona. In a previous part of this study it was found that the emission rate varies linearly with the saltation transport rate, although there can be considerable variation in this relationship. This paper more closely examines the source of the variability in the abrasion efficiency, the amount of PM₁₀ emitted by a given quantity of saltating grains. The abrasion efficiency was found to vary with the susceptibility of the surface to abrasion, the ability of the sand to abrade that surface and the availability of material with a caliper size <10 µm within the crust. Specifically, the results of the study show that the abrasion efficiency is related to the crust strength, the amount of surface disturbance and the velocity of the saltating grains. It is concluded that the spatial and temporal variability of these controls on the abrasion efficiency imposes severe contextual limitations on experimentally derived models, and can make theoretical models too complex and impractical to be of use. Copyright­© 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Role of water flow in modeling methane emissions from flooded paddy soils

Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas that is emitted from paddy fields, and the large CH₄ fluxes represent a worldwide issue for the rice production eco-compatibility. In this work a model is proposed to investigate the role of water flows on CH₄ emissions from flooded paddy soils. The model is based on a system of partial differential mass balance equations of the chemical species affecting CH₄ fate, and water flows are modeled by the Darcy equation. Moreover, in order to properly model the dynamics of CH₄, a number of physico-chemical processes and features not included in currently available CH₄ emission models are considered: paddy soil stratigraphy; nutrient adsorption and root water uptake; gas transport and respiration within root aerenchyma compartment. The proposed model allows to simulate the spatio-temporal dynamics of chemical compounds within paddy soil as well as to quantify the influence of different processes on nutrient input/output budgets. Simulations without water flow have shown a considerable overestimation of CH₄ emissions due to a different spatio-temporal dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOC – source of energy for CH₄ production). In particular, when water fluxes have not been modeled the overestimation can reach 54%, 41% and 67% of daily minimum, daily maximum, and total over the whole growing season CH₄ emission, respectively. Moreover, the model results suggest that roots influence CH₄ dynamics principally due to their nutrient uptake, while root effect on advective flow plays a minor role. Finally, the analysis of CH₄ transport fluxes has shown the limiting effect of upward dispersive transport fluxes on the downward CH₄ percolation.     

藻型湖区氧化亚氮排放特征及其影响因素

湖泊等内陆水体是大气N₂O潜在的重要排放源,也是全球N₂O收支估算的重要组成部分。目前全球湖泊普遍面临富营养化和蓝藻暴发等问题,明晰藻型湖泊N₂O排放强度及其环境影响因子对准确估算湖泊N₂O排放和预测其未来变化至关重要。本研究选择太湖藻型湖区为研究对象,同时选取人为活动影响较小的湖心区作为对比区域,基于2011年8月至2013年8月为期2年的逐月连续观测,探讨藻型湖区N₂O排放特征及其影响因素。结果表明,藻型湖区呈现极强的N₂O排放,其排放通量为(4.88±3.05) mmol/(m²·d),是参考区域(湖心:(2.10±4.31) mmol/(m²·d))的2倍多。此外,在藻型湖区中不同点位N₂O排放差异显著,受河流外源输入影响,近岸区是N₂O的热点排放区,其年均排放通量高达10.93 mmol/(m²·d)。连续观测表明N₂     

A Study of Small Magnitude Seismic Events During 1961–1989 on and near the Semipalatinsk Test Site, Kazakhstan

—?Official Russian sources in 1996 and 1997 have stated that 340 underground nuclear tests (UNTs) were conducted during 1961–1989 at the Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS) in Eastern Kazakhstan. Only 271 of these nuclear tests appear to have been described with well-determined origin time, coordinates and magnitudes in the openly available technical literature. Thus, good open documentation has been lacking for 69 UNTs at STS.¶The main goal of our study was to provide detections, estimates of origin time and location, and magnitudes, for as many of these previously undocumented events as possible. We used data from temporary and permanent seismographic stations in the former USSR at distances from 500?km to about 1500?km from STS. As a result, we have been able to assign magnitude for eight previously located UNTs whose magnitude was not previously known. For 31 UNTs, we have estimated origin time an d assigned magnitude — and for 19 of these 31 we have obtained locations based on seismic signals. Of the remaining 30 poorly documented UNTs, 15 had announced yields that were less than one ton, and 13 occurred simultaneously with another test which was detected. There are only two UNTs, for which the announced yield exceeds one ton and we have been unable to find seismic signals.¶Most of the newly detected and located events were sub-kiloton. Their magnitudes range from 2.7 up to 5.1 (a multi-kiloton event on 1965 Feb. 4 that was often obscured at teleseismic stations by signals from an earthquake swarm in the Aleutians).¶For 17 small UNTs at STS, we compare the locations (with their uncertainties) that we had earlier determined in 1994 from analysis of regional seismic waves, with ground-truth information obtained in 1998. The average error of the seismically-determined locations is only about 5?km. The ground-truth location is almost alw ays within the predicted small uncertainty of the seismically-determined location.¶Seismically-determined yield estimates are in good agreement with the announced total annual yield of nuclear tests, for each year from 1964 to 1989 at Semipalatinsk.¶We also report the origin time, location, and seismic magnitude of 29 chemical explosions and a few earthquakes on or near STS during the years 1961–1989.¶Our new documentation of STS explosions is important for evaluating the detection, location, and identification capabilities of teleseismic and regional arrays and stations; and how these capabilities have changed with time.     

Occurrence of phthalate diesters in rivers of the Paris district (France)

The occurrence and fate of six phthalate esters were investigated in the River Seine and two tributaries in the Paris area, at six sites from upstream to downstream, throughout different seasons, with special attention given to a flood episode. At all sites, except the River Marne, whatever the period, diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) displayed the highest concentration (0·323–0·779 µg l^?1 as mean values), followed by di‐n‐butyl phthalate (DnBP; 0·211–0·526 µg l^?1 as mean values), which is consistent with the production pattern. High phthalate concentrations appeared to be related to population density and industrial distribution. The strongest values were located downstream from wastewater treatment plant effluent inputs. Seasonal variations were closely related to river flow and air and water temperature. The annual evolution of phthalates was linked to the hydrological conditions. During the flood episode at Paris, the DEHP concentration displayed a sharp increase (260 to 1123 ng l^?1) occurring 9 days before the flood peak. The simultaneous fluctuations of NH₄, typical of domestic origin, and of DEHP suggests a similar origin from combined sewer overflows for both compounds. Other elevated values corresponded to the highest precipitation amounts, and demonstrated the contribution of non‐point‐source runoff and wastewater overflow to DEHP inputs. The DEHP concentration relationship with river flow displayed a clockwise hysteresis loop, corresponding to a ‘first‐flush’ effect in which the finite supplies are swept along in the early stage of the flood. Annual fluxes for 2004 at Paris were 2257 kg of DEHP and 1613 kg of DnBP. The flood period seemed to have a minor impact on annual phthalate transport (29·5% and 41% of the total for DEHP and for DnBP, respectively), which is contrary to annual suspended solids transport (69%). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Video‐based gravel transport measurements with a flume mounted light table

The study of bedload transport processes is constrained by an inability to monitor the mass, volume and grain size distribution of sediment in transport at high temporal frequencies. Building upon a previously published design, we have integrated a high‐resolution (1392 × 1024 pixels) video camera with a light table to continuously capture images of 2–181 mm material exiting a flume. The images are continuously recorded at a rate of 15 to 20 frames per second and are post‐processed using LabView^(?) software, yielding continuous grain‐size‐specific transport information on a per second basis. The video capture rate is sufficient to record multiple images of each grain leaving the flume so that particle velocities can be measured automatically. No manual image processing is required. After calibration the method is accurate and precise for sediment in the 2 mm through to 45 mm grain size classes compared with other means of measuring bedload. Based on a set of validation samples, no statistically significant difference existed between the D₁₀, D₁₆, D₂₅, D₅₀, D₇₅, D₈₄, D₉₀ and D₉₅ determined by sieving captured samples and the D_i values determined with the system. On average the system overpredicted transport by 4 per cent (n = 206, SD = 42%). This error can be corrected easily by simply weighing the mass of sediment that leaves the flume. The technology is relatively inexpensive and provides high‐resolution data on coarse sediment transport out of a flume. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.