The occurrence on carboniferous coal of anthropogenic origin in the contemporaneous Vistula river sediments near Cracow (Southern Poland)

Carboniferous pit coal is the most important anthropogenic component of the contemporaneous Vistula river gravels and sands with individual fractions containing from 10 to 98 per cent coal fragments. Coal concentration is connected with differences in the bulk density between coal and other gravel components. The lower sediments date from the first half of the nineteenth century when the coal began to appear in large quantities in the Vistula channel. The presence of coal is also an indicator of the depth of channel sediment reworking during floods in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.     

Mineral composition and particle size distribution of river sediment and loess in the middle and lower Yellow River

Hyperconcentrated flows often occur in the middle and lower Yellow River(MLYR)and its tributaries,within which the main sediment source originates from the Loess Plateau of China due to serious water erosion.Little is known about the properties of river sediment that is transported by hyperconcentrated flows,particularly with respect to the mineral composition and size distribution.Samples of sediment and loess were collected in the northern,middle,and southern Loess Plateau and the mainstream and tributaries of the MLYR.A total of 18 loess samples and 24 river sediment samples were analyzed to determine their sediment size distribution and mineral composition.The bottom loess samples reflected the original sedimentary features of the Loess Plateau,and the median particle size reduced,and the clay content increased from the north to the south of the study region.The surface loess has been weathered under the action of wind and rainfall,and the clay particle content in the surface loess samples was higher than that in the undisturbed bottom loess.Erosion of the surface soil due to rainfall and surface runoff means that fine particles(mostly clay)have been washed away.The median diameter of surface loess particles was a little larger than that of the bottom loess particles where water erosion dominates.The particle size became coarser with increasing distance from the estuary in the MLYR,which reflects depositional sorting in the river channel.Significant logarithmic relations were found between the median diameter of the sediment particles and the i)non-clay mineral content and ii)clay mineral content.Thus,clay and non-clay mineral compositions can be conveniently estimated from the particle size distribution.     

In situ measurements of fine sediment infiltration (FSI) in gravel-bed rivers with a hydropeaking flow regime

The overpresence of fine sediment and fine sediment infiltration (FSI) in the aquatic environment of rivers are of increasing importance due to their limiting effects on habitat quality and use. The habitats of both macroinvertebrates and fish, especially spawning sites, can be negatively affected. More recently, hydropeaking has been mentioned as a driving factor in fine sediment dynamics and FSI in gravel-bed rivers. The primary aim of the present study was to quantify FSI in the vertical stratigraphy of alpine rivers with hydropeaking flow regimes in order to identify possible differences in FSI between the permanently wetted area (during base and peak flows) and the so-called dewatering areas, which are only inundated during peak flows. Moreover, we assessed whether the discharge ratio between base and peak flow is able to explain the magnitude of FSI. To address these aims, freeze-core samples were taken in eight different alpine river catchments. The results showed significant differences in the vertical stratification of FSI between the permanently wetted area during base flow and the dewatering sites. Surface clogging occurred only in the dewatering areas, with decreasing percentages of fine sediments associated with increasing core depths. In contrast, permanently wetted areas contained little or no fine sediment concentrations on the surface of the river bed. Furthermore, no statistical relationship was observed between the magnitude of hydropeaking and the sampled FSI rate. A repeated survey of FSI in the gravel matrix revealed the importance of de-clogging caused by flooding and the importance of FSI in the aquatic environment, especially in the initial stages of riparian vegetation establishment. © 2018 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Turbulent flow structure in a gravel-bed river: Markov chain analysis of the fluctuating velocity profile

Three electromagnetic current meter probes were deployed in a Canadian gravel-bed river to obtain simultaneous records at 10 Hz of streamwise (u) and vertical (v) velocity components at three heights above the bed. By looking at the positive and negative signs of the instantaneous fluctuations from the time-average values of each velocity component at each height, the fluctuating velocity profile of u or v can be treated as a Markov chain with eight states and its statistical properties can be tested against null hypotheses based on the absence of spatial structure. We report results of this novel approach. The most common states of the u profile were those with either higher-than-average or lower-than-average velocities at all heights; these ‘high speed’ and ‘low speed’ states persisted for up to 3 s. The most common v profiles were all-upwards or all-downwards, but these persisted for shorter times than the high speed and low speed u profiles. Analysis of transition probabilities shows statistically significant tendencies for acceleration from the low speed u profile, and change from all-upwards to all-downwards v profile, to take place progressively from the uppermost probe downwards, in a sweep-like way. Deceleration from the high speed to low speed u profile and change from all-downwards to all-upwards v profile (burst-like behaviour) do not show such clear patterns. The results are interpreted in terms of the advection of inverted wedges of relatively high-momentum fluid, followed by more chaotic structures. A separate set of flow visualization experiments over a mixed gravel bed in a flume supports the presence of advected wedge structures, the decelerating part of the sequence corresponding to irregular ejections of near-bed fluid.     

Channel change,fluvial geomorphology and river engineering: The case of the Afon Trannon,Mid-Wales

The Afon Trannon, a gravel-bed river in mid-Wales with a catchment area of 72 km², has recently been the subject of an engineering flood protection scheme. Following the enlargement and grading of the channel, lateral instability has produced considerable problems of maintenance. Geomorphological investigations are described which attempt to pinpoint the lessons of the scheme. Historical studies of floodplain sediments and channel change indicate firstly, an initially rather stable channel, but secondly a considerable, early history of channelization which may still have repercussions for system stability. This early channelization has now been modified in the recent scheme. Contemporary field study by survey and sediment tracing using the magnetic technique indicates the present instability of the sediments in a meandering channel given a trapezoidal cross-section and varied banks. Low-flow adjustments are as important as flood adjustments in the lower, straightened reach. Lessons for engineering schemes include the desirability of assessing erosion risk by rapid, cheap field techniques and historical investigations, and the consideration of more ecologically acceptable channel designs.     

Long-term changes in temperature of river waters in the transitional zone of the temperate climate: a case study of Polish rivers

ABSTRACT

The article discusses the range and course of changes in the thermal regime of 14 rivers in Poland over the period 1961–2010. Eleven rivers are located in the Central European Plain, and the others flow in the foothills of the Carpathians Mountains. Statistical analyses take into consideration the results of daily measurements of water temperature carried out at 16 hydrological stations by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management—National Research Institute. In the first part of the analysed period (1961–1986) water temperature in most rivers declined in relation to its mean value for the entire study period (1961–2010). In 1987 there was a reverse trend: the temperature started rising. The fastest increase in water temperature was recorded in the western part of the study area, and it became slower towards the east. In the southern part of the study area (the foothills) changes of that kind were not observed. The mean yearly temperature of fluvial waters in the Central European Plain showed a positive trend, ranging from 0.17 to 0.27°C (10 years)^-1, whereas it did not change in the rivers in the foothills of the Carpathians Mountains. Its fastest rise was recorded in spring, and it reached from 0.08 to 0.43°C (10 years)^-1. The increase in water temperature correlated strongly with rising air temperature. The temperature of river waters in the lowlands is believed to be a good indicator of climatic changes.

Editor M.C. Acreman Associate editor T. Okruszko     

结合粒度和137Cs对小流域水库沉积物的定年——以黔中喀斯特地区克酬水库为例

对取自黔中喀斯特地区克酬水库32cm长沉积物柱样进行^137Cs比活度以及粒度测定,结合气象站点降雨数据进行比对分析,对沉积物不同层位的年代进行了划分,并以此结合质量深度推算了1960-2004年间该水库的沉积速率。结合实例分析了^137Cs沉降、运移和沉积,改进了仅依靠^137Cs峰值定年方法,认为在流域面积较小、^137Cs比活度测试绝对数值较小的流域,降水和其他条件造成的土壤侵蚀程度差异可能是造成土壤中^137Cs进入湖泊沉积物多少的更主要原因,并表现为沉积物中^137Cs不同层位的差异。     

Monitoring and numerical modelling of riverbank erosion processes: a case study along the Cecina River (central Italy)

Riverbank retreat along a bend of the Cecina River, Tuscany (central Italy) was monitored across a near annual cycle (autumn 2003 to summer 2004) with the aim of better understanding the factors influencing bank changes and processes at a seasonal scale. Seven flow events occurred during the period of investigation, with the largest having an estimated return period of about 1·5 years. Bank simulations were performed by linking hydrodynamic, fluvial erosion, groundwater flow and bank stability models, for the seven flow events, which are representative of the typical range of hydrographs that normally occur during an annual cycle. The simulations allowed identification of (i) the time of onset and cessation of mass failure and fluvial erosion episodes, (ii) the contributions to total bank retreat made by specific fluvial erosion and mass‐wasting processes, and (iii) the causes of retreat. The results show that the occurrence of bank erosion processes (fluvial erosion, slide failure, cantilever failure) and their relative dominance differ significantly for each event, depending on seasonal hydrological conditions and initial bank geometry. Due to the specific planimetric configuration of the study bend, which steers the core of high velocity fluid away from the bank at higher flow discharges, fluvial erosion tends to occur during particular phases of the hydrograph. As a result fluvial erosion is ineffective at higher peak discharges, and depends more on the duration of more moderate discharges. Slide failures appear to be closely related to the magnitude of peak river stages, typically occurring in close proximity to the peak phase (preferentially during the falling limb, but in some cases even before the peak), while cantilever failures more typically occur in the late phase of the flow hydrograph, when they may be induced by the cumulative effects of any fluvial erosion. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Combined effect of climate change and human activities on the hydrological processes of an urban river: case study of the Xiaoqing River,China

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to reveal statistical characteristics and exceedance probability of discharge under the combined effect of climate change and human activities. The study is conducted in the Xiaoqing River in Jinan, China, based on data of discharge, land-use types and precipitation from the period 1970–2016. A multivariate joint probability distribution of the data is established to test the univariable, bivariable and trivariable change points. These are then used to calculate and analyse the risk probability of discharge exceeding the specific values under different conditions of precipitation and land-use type. The results show that the change point calculated by trivariate joint distribution can reduce the disturbance of the change point obtained with the univariable or bivariable approach and reflect the changes of various factors in the hydrological processes more objectively. When the land-use type is taken into consideration, the trivariate distribution can reflect the variation of hydrological processes more reasonably.     

River response to channel regulation: Case study of the Raba river,Carpathians, Poland

Processes induced by the channelization of the Raba River in the present century are examined to illustrate the response of a gravel-bed stream following narrowing and straightening of its channel. Up to 3 m of incision has occurred. The change from a slow and relatively steady degradation in the lower reaches to separate degradation events in the higher reaches is attributed to the differential rate of headcut retreat and to the control exerted by mid-channel bars upon the rate of river-energy dissipation. Progressive outwashing of finer grains from bed material has followed the diminishing sediment yield of the basin and the increase in stream power. The ensuing growth in mean grain size and changes in sediment fabric have increased boundary resistance to flow and reduced particle susceptibility to entrainment. Downstream magnification of peak discharges has become increasingly pronounced with the advancing incision. The decrease in flood-plain storage and self-acceleration of flows passing the relatively deep and straight channel has caused flood waves to become progressively more flashy in nature. An increase in channel depth and reduction in gradient caused by downward and backward erosion, as well as bed material coarsening has promoted the re-establishment of an equilibrium. Conversely, flow velocity increases due to flow concentration in the deepened channel. Reduction in grain mobility allows the river to attain a new equilibrium at flow-velocity and stream-power levels higher than before the channelization. Numerous disadvantages of the applied regulation scheme and its failure to reduce flood hazard raise the question of its maintenance. To be successful, any regulation design must take into account changes in sediment supply and flood hydrographs resulting from the simultaneous alterations in basin management.     

Channel avulsion and river metamorphosis: The case of the Thomson River,Victoria, Australia

Channel avulsion occurred on the Thomson River in Victoria, Australia, in 1952 along a 12 km length of the valley. A comparison of the old and new channels reveals considerable differences in channel characteristics. The old channel was perched above the floodplain on an alluvial ridge such that when bankfull capacity was exceeded, floodwaters concentrated on the lowest part of the floodplain some distance away. This is where the new channel formed. It is an incised channel with larger capacity and longer meander wavelength than the old channel and is also shorter and steeper. The new channel is subject to larger floodflows and a more variable flood regime than the old course because of the differences in the channel/floodplain relationship and channel capacity. The resulting concentration of stream power along the new course is responsible for the contrast in channel characteristics and for the more rapid meander migration. This example shows that river metamorphosis can occur without major environmental changes. Measures of channel geometry such as gradient, sinuosity, and meander wavelength therefore cannot be used in palaeohydrological work to infer climatic or other environmental changes without independent supporting evidence. Differences in channel geometry can arise simply from changes in the relationship between the channel and its loodplain.     

Fluvial thermal erosion investigations along a rapidly eroding river bank: application to the Lena River (central Siberia)

In Central Yakutia, frozen river banks are affected by a combination of thermal and mechanical erosion. Exceptional bank retreat of up to 40 m per year is observed. This results from ground thawing produced by heat transfer from the ?ow of water through the frozen ground, followed by mechanical transport of the thawed sediments. A one‐dimensional model is proposed to estimate the thermal erosion ef?ciency. A test of this model is a comparison of results obtained from experiments carried out in a cold room. A hydraulic channel allows measurements of the thaw front propagation, as well as the thermal erosion rate, in simulated ground ice that is subjected to warm water ?ow. Various laboratory simulations demonstrate the validity of the mathematical model for the range of laboratory conditions. A hierarchy of parameters (Reynolds number, water and ground ice temperatures) is proposed to explain the present ef?ciency of thermal erosion along the Siberian rivers. From the characteristics of the Lena River (geometry, temperature and discharge) during the ?ood season, the erosion of banks with different ice content predicted by the model is in agreement with ?eld observations. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling river temperature from air temperature: case of the River Drava (Croatia)

Abstract

Measurements made in the past few decades undeniably indicate change in the climate. The most visible sign of global climate change is air temperature, while less visible indicators include changes in river water temperatures. Changes in river temperature can significantly affect the environment, primarily the biosphere. The physical, biological and chemical characteristics of the river are directly affected by water temperature, although estimation of this relationship presents a complex problem. Although river temperature is influenced by hydrological and meteorological factors, the purpose of this study is to model daily water temperature using only one known parameter, mean air temperature. The relationship between the daily mean air and daily water temperature of the River Drava in Croatia is analysed using linear regression, stochastic modelling or nonlinear regression and multilayer perceptron (MLP) feed-forward neural networks. The results indicate that the MLP models are much better models which can be used for the estimation and prediction of daily mean river temperature.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor M. Acreman     

Fine sediment deposition affects biodiversity and density of benthic macroinvertebrates: A case study in the freshwater pearl mussel river Waldaist (Upper Austria)

Fine sediment deposition in stream beds frequently generated by certain land use practices has become an increasing stressor for rivers throughout the world. In this study, the role of fine sediment deposition and its impact on the benthic macro-invertebrate assemblages was investigated in a low mountain freshwater pearl mussel stream, the Waldaist. Communities of unaffected sites and sites under high fine sediment deposition were compared. Distinct reactions of benthic assemblages in fine gravelly habitats were ascertained demonstrating a severe but still underestimated threat for invertebrate biodiversity.     

Quantifying the actual sediment load flux into Lake Baikal:A case study of the main tributary e The Selenga River(Russia)

The significant reduction of sediment load flux into Lake Baikal from its main tributary e the Selenga River began in the mid-1970s,and can be explained by climate change and socio-economic activities.Integrated analysis was done of changes in hydro-meteorological parameters(water discharge,sediment load,air temperature,and precipitation)and their tendencies over periods of 1946-1975(baseline)and 1976-2017(warming).Changes in natural processes and human activity were negligible during the baseline period.In the warming period,against the background of an increase in temperature,the water discharge had a slight decreasing trend(-13%)whereas the sediment load has significantly decreased(-53%)these are consist with the precipitation change(-9.4%).Analysis of hydro-climatic data using statistical methods showed that in the warming period the greatest reduction in river sediment runoff occurred in the interval 1996-2017.In this period the sediment load was 768×10³t/yr,which is less than the average value during the warming period e 1048×10³t/yr.Considering sedimentation in the Selenga River delta,the actual sediment load flux from the Selenga River into Lake Baikal amounted to 515×10³t/yr,which is three times less than the average multiyear value 1535×10³t/yr for observation period(1946e2017).     

A palaeovalley system in the floodplain of the Mark River (Central Belgium)

A borehole programme on the floodplain of the River Mark has revealed an important fossilized fluvial system, now invisible in the present landscape. The palaeovalley meanders gently and is up to 200 m wide and 8 m deep. It is eroded in older fluvial sands, probably of Pleniglacial age, overlain by an aeolian cover of varying thickness. As indicated by several radiocarbon dates of the valley fill deposits, the erosion of the system took place in the pre-Holocene period. The filling proceeded in three phases. The morphological implications of each phase and their spatial extension are demonstrated. Most of the vertical fill consists of a sandy loam to loam. Around 9000 yr BP, the accumulation of an organic facies (mainly woodpeat) started, followed by the deposition of a weak fluvial clay. At 1400 yr BP the filling of the palaeovalley was complete.     

Petrography of alluvial sands as a past and present environmental indicator: Case of the Loire River (France)

Four sample sets of the Upper and Middle Loire river sands were analyzed in order to study the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on their petrographic composition in space (on an 800 km stretch) and time. Composition was determined by modal analysis of three sand-size fractions using a polarizing optical microscope and calculated for each sample (“standard sand” = Sst). The watershed is composed mainly of endogenic (Massif Central) and sedimentary (southern Parisian Basin) rocks. B-set sands collected in channels for different water flows in 1996 show that Sst compositions vary by only 5 %. Present-day sands in the Upper Loire and Middle Loire have very high petrographic immaturity comparing to others worldwide fluvial sands, although bio-climatic conditions favor sand maturation by source-rock weathering in the watershed. This shows the strong impact of the Massif Central on sediment yield due to relief rejuvenation as a consequence of the formation of the Alps during the Quaternary. Fluvial sands stored during the Weichselian and the Holocene in the Middle Loire floodplain, although partly weathered since their deposition, show higher inputs from the endogenic rocks of the Massif Central than present-day deposits. This can be explained by Weichselian periglacial conditions and the development of crop farming since the Neolithic, which favored mechanical erosion, particularly in the Massif Central which is characterized by a cold, humid climate and steep slopes. The upstream-downstream change in the composition of presently deposited sand is low in the diked area. It shows however that basalt and some heavy mineral grains are vulnerable to abrasion during transport and indicates a marked sediment yield from ancient sediment stored in the floodplain. This is in line with the high incision of the river bed over the last 150 years partly due to dam construction and aggregate mining.     

环境磁学视角下的北冰洋深海磁性地层：以罗蒙诺索夫脊ARC5-ICE4孔为例

近年来,北冰洋深海百万年尺度的磁性地层年代框架受到了来自诸如Mn旋回地层和钛磁赤铁矿“自反转”现象的强烈质疑,以致对该方法在北冰洋的适用性产生了巨大争议.鉴于此,本文对中国第五次北极科学考察在北冰洋罗蒙诺索夫海岭获得的ARC5-ICE4钻孔岩心(水深2860 m,进尺4.15 m)开展了深入的岩石磁学分析.结果证实岩心中的载磁组分以磁铁矿为主,部分颗粒表面发生轻微氧化作用,另含少量磁赤铁矿、赤铁矿、钛磁赤铁矿等;整体粒径呈现相对均一的准单畴(PSD：pseudo-single domain),且含量随深度变化不大.岩心1.15~2.04 m区间显示的负极性并非“自反转”所致,而是真实的古地磁场记录;结合相对古强度(RPI)曲线模式和S-ratio的旋回变化特征,将其对应于松山期(约2.58~0.78 Ma),钻孔底界年龄 < 3.58 Ma.另外,上述年代框架指示的沉积速率变化模式很好地吻合了北半球冰期加强(iNHG：intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation)和中更新世气候转型(MPT：mid-Pleistocene transition)等古气候事件,更加印证了其可靠性.因此,即使“自反转”现象在北冰洋深海地区真实存在,其影响范围也是局部的,即磁性地层对于建立该区新生代年代框架的重要性仍不容忽视.总之,目前北冰洋深海沉积物定年仍面临诸多难题和挑战,今后需加强多学科协作.

     

Predicting river water temperatures using stochastic models: case study of the Moisie River (Québec,Canada)

Successful applications of stochastic models for simulating and predicting daily stream temperature have been reported in the literature. These stochastic models have been generally tested on small rivers and have used only air temperature as an exogenous variable. This study investigates the stochastic modelling of daily mean stream water temperatures on the Moisie River, a relatively large unregulated river located in Québec, Canada. The objective of the study is to compare different stochastic approaches previously used on small streams to relate mean daily water temperatures to air temperatures and streamflow indices. Various stochastic approaches are used to model the water temperature residuals, representing short‐term variations, which were obtained by subtracting the seasonal components from water temperature time‐series. The first three models, a multiple regression, a second‐order autoregressive model, and a Box and Jenkins model, used only lagged air temperature residuals as exogenous variables. The root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) for these models varied between 0·53 and 1·70 °C and the second‐order autoregressive model provided the best results. A statistical methodology using best subsets regression is proposed to model the combined effect of discharge and air temperature on stream temperatures. Various streamflow indices were considered as additional independent variables, and models with different number of variables were tested. The results indicated that the best model included relative change in flow as the most important streamflow index. The RMSE for this model was of the order of 0·51 °C, which shows a small improvement over the first three models that did not include streamflow indices. The ridge regression was applied to this model to alleviate the potential statistical inadequacies associated with multicollinearity. The amplitude and sign of the ridge regression coefficients seem to be more in agreement with prior expectations (e.g. positive correlation between water temperature residuals of different lags) and make more physical sense. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.