The characteristics of turbulence in a shear zone downstream of a channel constriction in a coarse-grained forced pool

A field-based project was initiated to characterize the influence of varying discharge and bed topography along a pool exit-slope on the strength of turbulence generated by vortex shedding. Velocities were measured with an ADV downstream of a boulder constriction within a shear zone of a large pool. Measurements were repeated for four flows that varied from 20% to 50% of bankfull discharge. An additional longitudinal profile was conducted along the pool thalweg. Plots of velocity demonstrate high near-bed velocities and turbulence levels in the pools. Turbulence levels were highest closer to the constriction in the shear zone. Turbulent kinetic energy decayed in the downstream direction in response to the bed topography and at lower discharges. Instantaneous velocities are large enough to temporarily lift pebbles at this depth. It appears that instantaneous forces created by vortex shedding may play an important role in scouring pools downstream of constrictions. The turbulence may also respond to changes in bed topography in a manner that encourages feedbacks among bed topography, characteristics of turbulence, and sediment transport.     

2008年6月广西锋前暖区暴雨过程分析

利用常规观测资料、卫星TBB和NCEP再分析资料,对2008年6月8-13日持续性暖区暴雨的环流特征、影响系统及物理量变化进行了诊断分析,结果表明:本次暴雨过程是在高层200hPa出现环流型调整、500hPa贝加尔湖至新疆地区为弱阻高形势和地面锋面低槽的环境下产生的,主要影响系统有低层切变线和低涡;低空急流迅速建立、北抬,使低层风速辐合加强是产生锋前暖区暴雨的有利因素;广西的中尺度环境存在南北明显差异,可能是形成双雨带的主要原因;在切变线和低涡切变锋区上垂直运动结构有明显差异,低涡切变上低层辐合高层强辐散,上升运动更强烈;暴雨前相对湿度明显增大,湿层深厚,中高层相对湿度在降水减弱时率先出现下降趋势;水汽通量中心的出现与暴雨发生时段和暴雨落区较为对应;夏季风向北推进,华南地区发生经向风扰动,出现了季风涌,使南海的水汽和能量源源不断地传送到华南地区,为这次持续性暴雨提供有利条件。     

Medium-term evolution of a gully developed in a loess-derived soil

Field surveys in the Belgian loess belt revealed the presence in many forested areas of large, permanent gully systems, most of which are currently inactive. In cultivated areas, such gullies can only be observed in cross-sectional soil profiles through hollows, as virtually all such large gullies are currently infilled with colluvium. Little is known about the spatial distribution, initiation and temporal evolution of these large, permanent gully systems on loess-derived soils. Therefore, the medium-term evolution of a gully initiated in a cultivated area on loess-derived soils southwest of Leuven (Belgium) in May–June 1986, was studied over 13 years. Two intense rainfall events created this (ephemeral) gully, which was not erased by subsequent tillage. Between June 1986 and the December 1999, eight field surveys were conducted to measure gully dimensions. During two surveys, topographic indices (e.g., slope and drainage area) were also measured. Daily rainfall for the measuring period were obtained from a rainfall station located some 10 km southwest of the gully. Analysis of rainfall data showed that no extreme rainfall event was required to initiate such large (permanent) gullies, as observed in forested areas and through cross-sectional profiles in cultivated fields in the Belgian loess belt. Return periods of the event that caused the gully varied between <1 year and 25 years, depending on the assumptions used for defining event rain intensity. Once established, length, surface area and volume of the studied gully evolved with time, cumulative rainfall or cumulative runoff, following a negative exponential relation. This accords with observations reported for gullies in Australia and the USA. This study shows that a degressive increase of gully extension, can be largely explained by the evolution of a “slope–drainage area” factor (S×A, which is proportional to stream power) with time. While gully length and gully surface area asymptotically evolve towards a final value, gully volume decreased at a given point in time. From this, it is inferred that sediment deposition will potentially infill the gully to such an extent that the farmer can drive across it. From this moment on, the combined effect of water and tillage erosion in the gully drainage area, will lead towards rapid infilling. This expected evolution of a gully in cultivated fields accords with observations of large infilled gully systems in cultivated areas in eastern Belgium. The permanent gullies observed under forest are attributed to the fact that after severe gully erosion, this area was reforested or abandoned. Therefore, the sediment source was cut off and the gully was not filled in by sediment deposition.     

Creating and coupling a high-resolution DTM with a 1-D hydraulic model in a GIS for scenario-based assessment of avulsion hazard in a gravel-bed river

In this paper we explore the development and assimilation of a high resolution topographic surface with a one-dimensional hydraulic model for investigation of avulsion hazard potential on a gravel-bed river. A detailed channel and floodplain digital terrain model (DTM) is created to define the geometry parameter required by the 1D hydraulic model HEC-RAS. The ability to extract dense and optimally located cross-sections is presented as a means to optimize HEC-RAS performance. A number of flood scenarios are then run in HEC-RAS to determine the inundation potential of modeled events, the post-processed output of which facilitates calculation of spatially explicit shear stress (τ) and level of geomorphic work (specific stream power per unit bed area, ω) for each of these. Further enhancing this scenario-based approach, the DTM is modified to simulate a large woody debris (LWD) jam and active-channel sediment aggradation to assess impact on innundation, τ, and ω, under previously modeled flow conditions. The high resolution DTM facilitates overlay and evaluation of modeled scenario results in a spatially explicit context containing considerable detail of hydrogeomorphic and other features influencing hydraulics (bars, secondary and scour channels, levees). This offers advantages for: (i) assessing the avulsion hazard potential and spatial distribution of other hydrologic and fluvial geomorphic processes; and (ii) exploration of the potential impacts of specific management strategies on the channel, including river restoration activities.     

Sustainability in a materials world

Many adverse impacts on the environment can be directly related to the materials dispersed to the environment during processing or use, or after use as refuse and waste. Some materials, such as toxic wastes, are a major concern because they create immediate problems with longerterm effects. Gases released by major manufacturing industries can contribute to long-term regional and global problems such as acid rain or increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The use of other materials, however, appears to be more benign or strictly localized in their impacts. If the current per capita level of material consumption in the United States was achieved worldwide, it would create major stresses on both resource adequacy and the environment. In fact, stresses have been created and will continue from this consumption style (developed countries) even if others don't achieve them.Correspondence should be directed to Earle B. Amey, U.S. Geological Survey, National Center 983, Reston, Virginia 20192.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区典型小流域土地持续利用案例研究

本文选择我国水土流失最为严重的黄土丘陵沟壑区作为研究地区,通过野外调查、土地利用填图,结合区域国民经济发展规划提出了4种基本土地利用规划方案附加2种保护性耕作措施;开展了生态适宜性、经济可行性和社会可接受性评价。提出:在得到大量外部经济支持的前提下,应积极实行15°以上的坡耕地全部退耕还林还草的方案,其中在中等坡度的地区(15°-25°)应发展果园和经济林;若缺少外部强有力的经济支持,该区土地利用调整应逐步开展,短期内(约0-5年),建议坡度大于25°的坡耕地逐步退耕还林还草,其中,坡度大于25°,地形条件较好的地区应种植果园和经济林;中期(约5-10年),坡度大于20°的黄土地区应逐步退耕还林还草,其中坡度介于20°-25°之间的地区应转变为果园和经济林;10年之后,建议大于15°的坡耕地全部转变为其他用途,其中坡度介于15°-25°的黄土地区应转变为果园和经济林,坡度大于25°的地区转变为林地/灌丛和草地     

Ground deformation in a viscoelastic medium composed of a layer overlying a half-space: a comparison between point and extended sources

We obtain and compare analytical and numerical solutions for ground displacement caused by an overpressurized magma chamber placed in a linear viscoelastic medium composed of a layer over a half-space. Different parameters such as size, depth and shape of the chamber, crustal rheology and topography are considered and discussed. Numerical solutions for an axisymmetric extended source are computed using a finite element method (FEM). Analytical solutions for a point source are obtained using the dislocation theory and the propagator matrix technique. In both cases, the elastic solutions are used together with the correspondence principle of linear viscoelasticity to obtain the solution in the Laplace transform domain. Viscoelastic solutions in the time domain are derived inverting the Laplace transform using the Prony series method. The differences between the results allow us to constrain the applicability of the point source and the flat surface hypothesis, which are usually implicitly assumed when analytical solutions are derived. The effect of the topography is also considered. The results obtained show that neglecting the topographic effects may, in some cases, introduce an error greater than that implicit in the point-source hypothesis. Therefore, for an adequate modelling and interpretation of the time-dependent displacements, topography must be considered.     

Acoustic-Gravity Wave Calculations in a Layer with a Linear Temperature Variation

Summary An exact expression is obtained for the acoustic-gravity layer matrix for an atmospheric layer having a linear temperature variation. Expressions are also derived for the layer derivative matrices needed to calculate group velocity and mode excitation. The method requires the evaluation of confluent hypergeometric functions, whose series representations are rapidly convergent for layers, such as the lower thermosphere, which have large temperature gradients. The procedure allows rapid accurate calculations in studies of acoustic gravity wave propagation. The new procedure is used to calculate phase and group velocities for the GR_o mode at periods between 5 and 12 min and gives a change in these velocities of 0.3 percent as compared with Press and Harkrider's results.     

Climatic patterns in a tropical rainforest in Brunei

Meteorological parameters were monitored on an hourly basis over ten months during 1991–2, from altitudes of 45 and 913 metres in an undisturbed tropical rainforest in Brunei, near the north-west coast of Borneo. In general, the observed characteristics of the climate accorded with the regional meteorological systems and with published results from other studies in northern Borneo, although a greater degree of temporal variability was apparent. The seasonal variability was probably enhanced by the El Niño Southern Oscillation event of early 1992. Rainfall events were typically highly variable in nature, although storm intensity profiles were broadly similar. High magnitude and high intensity events are common among the large total number of events. More rain, of generally higher intensity, fell on the mountain. The total daily solar energy receipt was similar at both altitudes owing to greater cloud cover on the mountain. Temperatures varied significantly with season at both altitudes and the mean lapse rate was 4.5°C/km. Relative humidity at 913 metres tended to be significantly higher during the day and significantly lower at night than at 45 metres. Wind directions were dominantly controlled by local mountain and valley wind systems. Wind speeds were significantly higher during the dry seasons and at the higher altitude. Previous studies have shown that small but significant variations in meteorological parameters can have distinct ecological responses, and rainfall characteristics are important controls on geomorphological processes.     

Working a fraction and making a fraction work: a rough guide for geographers in the academy

Little is known about the issues facing geographers working on fractional appointments in higher education institutions in the UK. This paper draws on a survey of UK geography departments and personal experiences to explore some of that territory for the first time. The purpose is both to set the agenda for institutional policy issues and to provide some immediate points of reflection for staff intending to take up fractional work. We consider the place of fractional working in the dominant discourses around paid work, problems of workload division and the impact on professional standing (including the RAE). We suggest that while personal 'life' reasons for fractional working are often positive, fractional workers in the academy risk professional marginalization.     

The Tilling in a Village in Southern India

Raagaard, Svend, 1973: The Tilling in a Village in Souther India. Geoarafisk Tidsskrift 73: 66–81. Kabenhavn, juni 1, 1974

This study was carried out in a village in the southeastern part of the Karnataka state (former Mysore) near Bangalore, India. The primary purpose was to find the average energy developed by the draught-animals during the tilling process as well as the variations in this energy from time to time.     

Displacement fields and finite strains in a sandbox model simulating a fold-thrust-belt

A sandbox model consisting of two adjacent mechanically different decollements (frictional and viscous) loosely simulated the southeastern part of the Zagros fold-thrust-belt. Digital images of the model surface are used to coordinate passive markers on the surface and quantify displacement fields and estimate 2-D finite strains. These analyses show that, mapped in a fixed coordinate system, the deformation front propagates at different rates above the two decollements. Strain analysis of the model surface at different stages of deformation also shows that cumulative strain is more heterogeneous above the viscous decollement where strain domains are separated by fault zones. Maps of displacement fields, finite strain ellipses and dilatation also differ in character above the two decollements. Displacements above a viscous decollement decrease gradually towards the foreland, whereas they decrease sharply in front of the frontal thrust above the frictional decollement. Our analyses also show that the estimated finite strain depends not only on the density of the marker points chosen for the analysis, but also their initial distribution relative to the structures. This comparison shows that marker density limits measuring the actual strains in a heterogeneously deforming fold-thrust-belt and marker density and distribution have a strong impact on the strain analysed in nature. The similarity of our model with nature is examined with recent GPS study in the Zagros fold-thrust-belt (SW Iran) and shows, similar to the model results, that a weak salt decollement causes divergent movement in the sedimentary cover in SE Zagros.     

Wave-induced responses in a fluid-filled poro-elastic solid with a free surface—a boundary layer theory

Summary. Wave-induced stress in a porous elastic medium is studied on the basis of Biot's linearized theory which is a special case of the mixture theory. For sufficiently high frequencies which are pertinent to ocean waves and seismic waves, a boundary layer of Stokes' type is shown to exist near the free surface of the solid. Outside the boundary layer, fluid and the solid skeleton move together according to the laws of classical elasticity for a single phase. This division simplifies the analysis of the equations governing the two phases; and several examples of potential interest to geophysics and foundation mechanics are treated analytically.