Comparative hydrology: analysis of a semiarid and a humid tropical watershed

This paper analyses measured data from two small tropical watersheds: one in a semiarid (Aiuaba, Brazil, 12·0 km², 5 years of measurements) and another in a humid environment (Jaruco, Cuba, 43·5 km², 21 years of measurements). The watersheds are similar with respect to catchment area (tens of km²), potential evaporation (2·1–2·6 m year^?1), temperature (22–30 °C) and relief (mild hillslope steepness); but show considerable hydrological discrepancies: average precipitation in the humid watershed is two times higher; average river discharge (mm year^?1) is five times higher; and surface water availability (mm year^?1) is 14 times higher than in the semiarid watershed. Long‐term operation of hypothetical surface reservoirs in both basins is simulated. The analysis shows that 73% of the average river discharge are available (with 90% annual reliability) in the humid watershed, against only 28% in the semiarid. The main cause of this difference is the excess evaporation, which consumes 55% of the stored water in the semiarid reservoir, but only 12% in the humid one. The research concludes that: (1) although precipitation indicators are higher in the humid area, they are of the same order of magnitude as in the semiarid; and (2) fluvial‐regime and water‐availability variables are more than one order of magnitude higher in the humid basin, which shows a multiplication effect of these hydrological processes. Such major hydrological differences, despite the similarities between the two tropical watersheds, show the importance of further investigations in the field of comparative hydrology. Copyright © 2009 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.     

Flow separation on Zongo Glacier,Cordillera Real,Bolivia

Meltwaters collected from the proglacial stream escaping from Zongo Glacier (2·1 km²), Bolivia (16°S), have been monitored in order to analyse the internal drainage system of an Andean glacier. Electrical conductivity has been measured sporadically between February 1995 and March 1996, during 16 one-day field surveys, under various meteorological conditions in summer and winter. The mixing-model technique based on the electrical conductivity is used for a quantitative separation of discharge which is derived from continuous water level registration. Tracer experiments (mainly uranine dye and NaCl salt) have been carried out from March to June 1997 to obtain information about the internal drainage system. In the tropical Andes, accumulation only occurs in austral summer, whereas ablation occurs throughout the year and is higher during the accumulation season, between November and March. The assumptions involved in the use of mixing models for analysis of glacial drainage structure are applicable for tropical glaciers because glacial conduits do not suffer complete closure, and are permanently supplied by meltwaters, even in wintertime. Two components of discharge are separated: an englacial flow originating from surface meltwater which is routed without chemical enrichment, and offering low electrical conductivity; and a subglacial one routed in contact with bedrock or sediments showing high ionic concentrations. Electrical conductivity of meltwater varies diurnally, inversely to discharge fluctuations. According to this behaviour, total discharge is mainly formed by the englacial component. The drainage structures for englacial and subglacial flow have to be widely interconnected, as indicated by diurnal variations of the subglacial discharge. Comparison of hydrograph separation based on conductivity and on ¹⁸O isotope confirms that the subglacial flow is influenced by surface melting. A hydrograph separation of the subglacial flow is proposed, between a diurnal variable component, composed of water coming from the englacial network, and a base flow, which may vary seasonally. The dye tracing experiments confirm the drainage complexity of Zongo Glacier and demonstrate the interest of identifying three main drainage components. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial variability in beach biogeomorphology in a tropical archipelago

Beaches of tropical island coasts exhibit high levels of diversity in composition and form in comparison with their continental counterparts. To investigate the nature and origin of this diversity, individual beach morphology and sedimentology was investigated in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), a Caribbean archipelago of > 60 high volcanic and low reef islands. The islands exhibit a diversity of orientations (some facing the Atlantic and some the Caribbean), elevation and gradient, rock type and wave energy. An examination of 100 beaches in the archipelago revealed a first-order division into sand (70 beaches) and coral rubble (30 beaches). These beaches occur in seven planform types (determined by the antecedent geological framework) and are further subdivided according to shoreface type (seagrass, sandy shoreface, or reef). Mainland-attached headland-embayment beaches are the most common form of sand beach while coral rubble beaches usually occur as barriers that enclose salt ponds and wetlands. Among sand beaches, carbonate content is greatest on Atlantic-facing beaches, and coral rubble beaches are more common on Caribbean-facing beaches. Grain size characteristics on sandy beaches are highly variable and range from fine to very coarse sands while coral rubble beaches range up to boulder-sized clasts. The local source material is a primary determinant of sediment composition. The local factors such as the underlying geology, source and availability of sediments are the primary determinants of beach form, composition and texture in the BVI. Oceanographic and climatic conditions such as the prevailing easterly trade winds and waves which seasonally range in direction from east-northeast to southeast as well as beach orientation to Atlantic- or Caribbean-facing waves also contribute to the variability, but in a secondary role. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The kinetic energy budget of monsoon circulation over the Indian region during ISMEX-1973

A kinetic energy budget over the Indian region is computed for the period 4–9 July 1973, when a twin monsoon depression-one in the Bay of Bengal and another in the Arabian sea were the dominant synoptic features. The generation term caused by the cross-contour flow is a dominant source to the kinetic energy. The dissipation term is computed as a residual and is a major sink for the kinetic energy. The horizontal flux divergence is also a sink term but is much smaller in magnitude than other major source and sink terms. From the results it may be inferred that the generation term is the most important for the maintenance of monsoon disturbances.     

The effect of ENSO on rainfall characteristics in the tropical peatland areas of Central Kalimantan,Indonesia

Abstract

The effect of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on rainfall characteristics in the tropical peatland areas of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, is demonstrated. This research used rainfall data collected between 1978 and 2008. The results suggest a relationship between ENSO events and the trend in rainfall observed in the study area. Further analyses show that El Niño events have a stronger effect on the rainfall compared to La Niña events. El Niño events were also correlated to the increase in the number of days with less than 1 mm of rainfall in the dry season. The analysis reveals that the impact of El Niño events on rainfall in dry seasons is intensifying annually. Furthermore, ENSO events are not the only factors affecting rainfall trends in the observed area. Other factors, such as deforestation, may also affect the trend.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz

Citation Susilo, G.E., Yamamoto, K., Imai, T., Ishii, Y., Fukami, H., and Sekine, M., 2013. The effect of ENSO on rainfall characteristics in the tropical peatland areas of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (3), 539–548.     

A spreadsheet-based technique (Lotus 1-2-3) for separating tropical forest storm hydrographs using Hewlett and Hibbert's slope

The inclined line separation technique of Hewlett and Hibbert has been widely adopted to separate delayed flow from the total stream storm runoff. Presented here is the application of the technique to highly responsive storm hydrographs using a personal computer method based on a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet. Using discharge measurements (in m³ s⁻¹), catchment area (in km²) and time (in Julian days), the separation slope is adjusted on the monitor screen until the precise time at which the end of quickflow as storm runoff gives way to delayed flow may be established. The application of the inclined line method is compared with other separation techniques applied to the same dataset. The annual stream quickflow runoff for the study catchment was calculated by the four different separating lines — (i) best-fit curve, (ii) N-day after peak, (iii) inclined line and (iv) horizontal line — was 250, 312, 368, and 588 mm, amounting to 33, 31, 51 and 78 per cent respectively of the annual total stream runoff. Separation of flow by computer spreadsheet methods may be consistently applied throughout a dataset and therefore have a comparative advantage over more arbitrary techniques. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A numerical model for simulating Hortonian overland flow on tropical hillslopes with vegetation elements

This paper describes a two‐dimensional hydrodynamic model that characterizes surface runoff process resulting from a varying rainfall intensity event, on an infiltrating soil surface. The soil surface has spatially varied soil physical, hydraulic and microtopographic characteristics. Infiltration process is modelled with the Philip two‐term equation and the time before ponding approximated with the time compression algorithm. Vegetation is modelled as a dynamic component with the modified Gash model. The equation is solved with a modified second order Leapfrog explicit finite difference scheme with centred time and space derivatives. The model was validated with standard analytical solutions. Evaluation with results from field campaigns in the Volta Basin of West Africa during the 2002 rainfall season indicates good agreement, with r² values ranging from 0·89 to 0·96. The developed method will be useful in studying the dynamics of surface runoff generation under complex microtopographic conditions, spatially varying soil hydraulic characteristics and temporally dynamic rainfall intensity, as found in many tropical catchments. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The filtering capacity of a tropical riverine wetland: I. Water balance

Wetlands in the coastal catchments adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon play an important role in local hydrological processes and provide important ecological habitats for terrestrial and aquatic species. Although many wetlands have been removed or degraded by agricultural expansion, there is now great interest in their protection and restoration as important aquatic ecosystems and potential filters of pollutant runoff. However, the filtering capacity of tropical wetlands is largely unknown, so the current study was established to quantify the water, sediment and nutrient balance of a natural riverine wetland in tropical north Queensland. Surface and groundwater fluxes of water, sediment and nutrients into and out of the wetland were monitored for a 3‐year period. This paper focuses on the water balance of this natural wetland and a companion paper presents its sediment and nutrient balance and estimates of water quality filtering. Wetland inflows and outflows were dominated by surface flows which varied by 3–4 orders of magnitude through the course of the year, with 90% of the annual flow occurring during the period January to March. Although groundwater inputs to the wetland were only 5% of the annual water balance, they are very important to sustaining the wetland during the dry season, when they can be the largest input of water (up to 90%). Water retention times in this type of wetland are very short, particularly when most of the flow and any associated materials are passing through it (i.e. 1–2 h), so there is little time to filter most of the annual flux of water through this wetland. Longer retention times occur at the end of the dry season (up to 8·5 days); but this is when the lowest fluxes of water pass through the wetland. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

琼中地震台PET重力仪和CTS-1EF地震计记录的热带气旋信号特征分析

收集了琼中地震台PET重力仪和CTS-1EF地震计在“威马逊”“海鸥”“莎莉嘉”等3个热带气旋影响期间的观测数据,通过计算获得速度和加速度。比较了热带气旋接近和远离琼中地震台时,重力仪、地震计记录的波形特征,并通过频谱、时频对比,分析重力仪和地震计数据受热带气旋影响的程度。结果表明,在热带气旋影响期间,2台仪器记录数据的速度与加速度具有较好的一致性,均有明显扰动,波形形态基本一致。但PET重力仪的最大扰动幅度均小于CTS-1EF地震计,热带气旋的信号主频段为0.15—0.25 Hz。     

海南井水位对热带气旋响应特征分析

2001——2010年, 海南省地下流体观测台网记录到多次热带气旋引起的井水位抖动现象．本文以2003年7月21日强热带气旋ldquo;天鹅rdquo;和2005年9月27日台风ldquo;达维rdquo;为例, 系统地研究了这两次热带气旋引起的水位抖动变化的特征．结果表明, 经过高通滤波, 水位抖动变化图像更加明显;通过频谱分析,得知热带气旋引起的水位抖动周期为100——101 min;井水位抖动的起始时间、 幅度最大值的时间与热带气旋通过海南岛陆的时间一致, 且与热带气旋的结构特点、发展和运动过程密切相关,与井孔自身的井-含水层系统对微动态信息响应的能力也有关系．分析认为,气压振荡式升降变化和摩擦是热带气旋引起水位抖动的原因．      

广东省水库枝角类组成特征的初步研究

于2000年丰水期和枯水期调查了广东省19座典型大中型水库枝角类,随后对其中3座代表性水库进行了4年的枝角类种类定性调查.在鉴定出的枝角类16属24种中有13个广温种、7个嗜暖种、3个嗜寒种和1个特有种;每个水库的平均种类数5-6种.从个体大小来看,水库枝角类以小个体种类为主,有14种的体长小、于1 mm,它们分布广且数量多,其中优势种主要为长额象鼻溞、秀体溞、微型裸腹溞、颈沟基合溞和角突网纹溞等.透明溞和透明薄皮溞是主要的大个体种类,出现在4座贫、中营养水库的水样中.水库枝角类的丰度较低,在丰水期,平均丰度小于10 ind./L和10-20 ind./L的水库分别为14座和5座,在枯水期,为12座和5座,而高州水库和河溪水库中的平均丰度达67ind./L.主要优势种在不同营养类型水库中分布差别不大.枝角类的丰度受水力滞留时间影响,直流型水库的枝角类种群丰度的分布明显受到水流速度的影响,湖泊区枝角类个体及其食物均随水库放水输出而减少.由于采样点主要位于大坝附近,枝角类以敞水区的种类为主.从种类组成和数量来看,广东省水库枝角类具有明显的热带特点,枝角类的生物量小,以个体较小的种类优势种,大型种类的个体数量极低且身体透明.     

Suspended sediment transport during tropical‐cyclone floods in Fiji

Flow records, rising‐stage sediment samplers, and a sand suspension model are used to examine suspended sediment concentrations during major floods caused by tropical cyclones TC Joni and TC Kina in the Rewa River, Fiji. The highest concentrations of total suspended solids were measured during the early stages of TC Kina. The suspension model predicts higher sand concentrations for TC Kina compared with TC Joni because of the larger slope and higher shear stresses during Kina. Extremely high wash load concentrations early in TC Kina are at least partly due to remobilization of fine sediment deposited during the earlier TC Joni flood. Samples from the TC Kina had volumetric concentrations larger than 5%, indicating hyperconcentrated streamflows. Mass‐density shear stresses in the hyperconcentrated flows are up 1·6 times larger than clear‐water shear stresses, but they occur early during low stages of the flood and probably do not result in severe bed erosion. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Yearly tropical cyclone potential impact index in China

A new composite index called the yearly tropical cyclone potential impact(YTCPI)is introduced.The relationship between YTCPI and activities of tropical cyclones(TCs)in China,disaster loss,and main ambient fields are investigated to show the potential of YTCPI as a new tool for short-term climate prediction of TCs.YTCPI can indicate TC activity and potential disaster loss.As correlation coefficients between YTCPI and frequency of landfalling TCs,the frequency of TCs traversing or forming inside a 24 h warning line in China from 1971 to 2010 are 0.58 and 0.56,respectively(both are at a statistically significant level,aboveα=0.001).Furthermore,three simple indexes are used to compare with YTCPI.They all have very close relationships with it,with correlation coefficients 0.75,0.82 and 0.78.For economic loss and YTCPI,the correlation coefficient is 0.57 for 1994–2009.Information on principal ambient fields(sea surface temperature,850 and 500 hPa geopotential heights)during the previous winter is reflected in the relationship with YTCPI.Spatial and temporal variabilities of ambient fields are extracted through empirical orthogonal function(EOF)analysis.Spatial distributions of correlation coefficient between YTCPI and ambient fields match the EOF main mode.Correlation coefficients between YTCPI and the EOF time array for the three ambient fields are 0.46,0.44 and 0.4,respectively,all statistically significant,aboveα=0.01.The YTCPI has the overall potential to be an improved prediction tool.     

广东流溪河水库后生浮游动物生物量谱时空异质性

于2001年4月至2002年12月调查了流溪河水库后生浮游动物,建立后生浮游动物乍物量谱并分析了其时空分布特征．后生浮游动物Sheldon型生物量谱并不是平谱,生物量随着浮游动物粒径(等效球体直径,ESD)的增大而增大．轮虫在粒径大小范围为50-160μm内生物量随着粒径的增大而减少;枝角类(100-512μm ESD)的生物量谱呈‘单峰型’．最大生物量出现在中等大小的粒径组(200-256μm)．桡足类的生物量大约占总后生浮游动物生物量的60％,为水库后生浮游动物最重要的组成部分;粒径分布范围较宽,覆盖了轮虫和枝角类．总体而言,桡足类生物量随着粒径的增大而逐渐增大．河流区后生浮游动物标准生物量谱斜率为-0．75;湖泊区标准生物量谱斜率为-0．58在河流区．后生浮游动物生物量中轮虫和无节幼体所占的比例要高于湖泊区,而湖泊区温中剑水蚤和舌状叶镖水蚤的成体和晚期桡足幼体所占的比例高于河流区．由于河流区小个体的优势度大于湖泊区,因此河流区后生浮游动物标准谱的斜率小于湖泊区.从后生浮游动物大小分布的季节性变化看,湖泊区季节性变化不明显;河流区则变化显著,丰水期标准化谱的斜率大于-0．75．枯水期小于-0.75,斜率的变化与水位波动呈正相关关系．水库库盆的形状及水动力学的时空差异可能是影响浮游动物大小分布时空差异的重要非生物因素之一．     

Global vorticity budget over the tropics and subtropics at 200-mb during northern hemisphere summer

The large-scale terms in the vorticity equation are evaluated usingKrishnamurti's (1971a, b) summer mean winds at 200 mb for a global belt from 25°S to 45°N. The production of vorticity by the divergent wind field is found to be imbalanced over all of the tropical and subtropical belt. As a result there is a requirement for a sub-grid scale (space or time) mechanism which removes negative vorticity from the regions of strong divergence (Tibetan and Mexican highlands) and removes positive vorticity from the regions of strong convergence (mid-oceanic troughs) at 200 mb during northern summer at a rate of approximately 4×10^–10 sec^–2. As suggested byHolton andColton (1972), in regions of strong and persistent convection, such as the Tibetan Plateau, deep cumulus clouds can account for this transport. However, the mechanism for removing positive vorticity in the vicinity of the upper tropospheric mid-oceanic troughs is still an intriguing and open question.On leave-of-absence at the National Science Foundation, Climate Dynamics Research Section.     

Seasonal variation in cascade‐driven hyporheic exchange,northern Honduras

A characterization of hyporheic exchange for dry and wet season baseflow, as well as partially dewatered discharge, was done in Prieta Creek, a first‐order cascade in northern Honduras. The cascade had discharges from 1 to 15 l s^?1, had average slopes of 12%, pool spacing of 3 m, and shallow substrate of sand and gravel. Tracer tests were conducted in a 15‐m sub‐reach, a length considered to be adequate for the experiment based on the DaI test, a ratio of exchange and transport processes. In the three tests, between 9 and 18% of tracer was not recovered, possibly due to entrainment in flowpaths passing beneath the downstream monitoring location. Tracer data were analysed by the one‐dimensional transport with inflow and storage (OTIS) transient storage model (TSM) to derive standard exchange parameters, and by the solute transport in rivers (STIR) model to examine hyporheic residence time distributions (RTDs). The best fit of the observed tracer breakthrough curves was obtained by using the STIR model with a combination of two exponential RTDs to represent hyporheic retention. With increasing discharge, the OTIS model predicted increasing storage exchange fluxes and exchange coefficients and decreasing storage zone areas and transient storage times, which are trends supported by riparian and streambed piezometric head data. Riparian water levels rose during the transition from the dry to wet season, which could constrict the hyporheic storage zone. Thirteen of the 19 streambed piezometers recorded seasonal changes in hydraulic gradients and flux direction, with fewer yet stronger upwelling zones during higher discharges. The MODFLOW model missed the observed seasonal changes, possibly due to subtle changes in the seasonal change in water surface profiles. We conclude that partially dewatered dry season exchange, compared to wet season exchange, was initiated and terminated with smaller pressure gradients and, in different streambed locations, was smaller in volume, had longer residence times, and may connect with deeper and longer flow paths. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coupled rainfall and water vapour stable isotope time series reveal tropical atmospheric processes on multiple timescales

High-frequency stable isotope data are useful for validating atmospheric moisture circulation models and provide improved understanding of the mechanisms controlling isotopic compositions in tropical rainfall. Here, we present a near-continuous 6-month record of O- and H-isotope compositions in both water vapour and daily rainfall from Northeast Australia measured by laser spectroscopy. The data set spans both wet and dry seasons to help address a significant data and knowledge gap in the southern hemisphere tropics. We interpret the isotopic records for water vapour and rainfall in the context of contemporaneous meteorological observations. Surface air moisture provided near-continuous tracking of the links between isotopic variations and meteorological events on local to regional spatial scales. Power spectrum analysis of the isotopic variation showed a range of significant periodicities, from hourly to monthly scales, and cross-wavelet analysis identified significant regions of common power for hourly averaged water vapour isotopic composition and relative humidity, wind direction, and solar radiation. Relative humidity had the greatest subdiurnal influence on isotopic composition. On longer timescales (weeks to months), isotope variability was strongly correlated with both wind direction and relative humidity. The high-frequency records showed diurnal isotopic variations in O- and H-isotope compositions due to local dew formation and, for deuterium excess, as a result of evapotranspiration. Several significant negative isotope anomalies on a daily scale were associated with the activity of regional mesoscale convective systems and the occurrence of two tropical cyclones. Calculated air parcel back trajectories identified the predominant moisture transport paths from the Southwest Pacific Ocean, whereas moisture transport from northerly directions occurred mainly during the wet season monsoonal airflow. Water vapour isotope compositions reflected the same meteorological events as recorded in rainfall isotopes but provided much more detailed and continuous information on atmospheric moisture cycling than the intermittent isotopic record provided by rainfall. Improved global coverage of stable isotope data for atmospheric water vapour is likely to improve simulations of future changes to climate drivers of the hydrological cycle.     

The filtering capacity of a tropical riverine wetland: II. Sediment and nutrient balances

The ability of wetlands to improve the quality of water has long been recognized and has led to the proliferation of wetlands as a means to treat diffuse and point source pollutants from a range of land uses. However, much of the existing research has been undertaken in temperate climates with a paucity of information on the effectiveness of wetlands, particularly natural wetlands, in tropical regions. This paper contributes to addressing this issue by presenting a comprehensive measurement based assessment of the potential for a naturally occurring tropical riverine wetland to improve the quality of the water entering it. We found small net imports and exports of sediment to/from the wetland in individual years, but over the longer term this kind of wetland is neither a sink nor source of sediment. In contrast, phosphorus was continually removed by the wetland with an overall net reduction of 14%. However, it should be noted that there is no ‘permanent’ gaseous loss mechanism for phosphorus, and its removal from the water column is equal to its accumulation in the wetland soil. We found very little removal of nitrogen by this type of wetland from several analyses including: (i) Surface and groundwater fluxes, (ii) Estimation of water column and soil denitrification rates, (iii) Wetland residence times, and (iv) Hydraulic loading. We also found no clear evidence for transformation of nitrogen to more or less bio‐available forms. Hence, while the benefits of using wetlands to improve water quality in controlled environments have been demonstrated in the literature, these benefits may not always be directly translated to unmanaged natural wetland systems when there is strong seasonality in flows and short residence time during the periods of maximum sediment and nutrient load. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.