Quantifying sediment connectivity: Moving toward a holistic assessment through a mixed methods approach

The sediment connectivity concept is particularly suitable for tackling complex, multidisciplinary questions through systems thinking. However, it is unclear how to directly measure connectivity, and so proxy variables are often applied by indices to provide estimates. In this study, we critically evaluate a broad range of connectivity indices encompassing structural and functional connectivity as well as hillslope channel coupling. We then discuss their role in providing a more holistic estimation of connectivity within the Tahoma Creek Watershed, WA. Of the 14 km of channel below the glacier front, the upper 6 km (0–6 km) are coupled to the adjacent hillslopes. Coupled reaches correspond to regions with a high proportion of area contributing sediment and relatively high connectivity values, where all measures decrease in the downstream direction. A significant transition occurs near river kilometer 6. Here the valley bottom abruptly widens, deposition occurs, and the hillslopes become decoupled from the active channel. This transitional reach is also identified as a geomorphic hotspot based on the network structure. The lower 8 km of channel downstream of this reach are largely depositional and percent contributing area and connectivity values remain low, eventually reaching a minimum. Despite their limitations, we found each method to provide unique and useful information regarding connectivity. The effect of scale and event magnitude on connectivity is illustrated. We also found vegetation, topographic characteristics, and network structure to be important in high-gradient glacio-volcanic landscapes. The choice of an index will depend on the research objectives, data availability, and the proxy variables that best describe the variability within the defined area.     

Spatial GR4J conceptualization of the Tamor glaciated alpine catchment in Eastern Nepal: evaluation of GR4JSG against streamflow and MODIS snow extent

Snow and glacial melt processes are an important part of the Himalayan water balance. Correct quantification of melt runoff processes is necessary to understand the region's vulnerability to climate change. This paper describes in detail an application of conceptual GR4J hydrological model in the Tamor catchment in Eastern Nepal using typical elevation band and degree‐day factor approaches to model Himalayan snow and glacial melt processes. The model aims to provide a simple model that meets most water planning applications. The paper contributes a model conceptualization (GR4JSG) that enables coarse evaluation of modelled snow extents against remotely sensed Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer snow extent. Novel aspects include the glacial store in GR4JSG and examination of how the parameters controlling snow and glacial stores correlate with existing parameters of GR4J. The model is calibrated using a Bayesian Monte Carlo Markov Chain method against observed streamflow for one glaciated catchment with reliable data. Evaluation of the modelled streamflow with observed streamflow gave Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency of 0.88 and Percent Bias of <4%. Comparison of the modelled snow extents with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer gave R² of 0.46, with calibration against streamflow only. The contribution of melt runoff to total discharge from the catchment is 14–16% across different experiments. The model is highly sensitive to rainfall and temperature data, which suffer from known problems and biases, for example because of stations being located predominantly in valleys and at lower elevations. Testing of the model in other Himalayan catchments may reveal additional limitations. © 2016 The Authors. Hydrological Processes published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Simultaneous water and vapour transfer in an unsaturated mudstone in badlands terrain,southwestern Taiwan

The simultaneous transfer of pore fluid and vapour was studied in the unsaturated shallow subsurface of a Plio-Pleistocene marine mudstone badland slope in southwestern Taiwan during the dry season using field monitoring data and numerical simulations. Data from field monitoring show mass-basis water contents of ~0.05 to ~0.10 that decrease towards the unsaturated ground surface and were invariant during the middle part of the dry season, except for daily fluctuations. In addition, the observed daily fluctuations in water content correlate with fluctuations in bedrock temperature, especially at depths of 2.5–5.0 cm. Periodic increases in water content occurred most notably during the day, when the bedrock temperature showed the greatest increase. Water contents then decreased to the previous state as bedrock temperature decreased during the night. Calculated vapour fluxes within the mudstone during the day increased up to 6 × 10⁻⁶–1 × 10⁻⁵ kg m⁻² s⁻¹, deriving a 0.01–0.02 increase in mass-basis water content at 2.5 cm depth for a 12-h period. This agrees with field monitoring data, suggesting that increases in water content occurred due to vapour intrusions into the bedrock. Pore water electrical conductivity (EC) showed periodic variations due to vapour intrusion, and gradually increased between the ground surface and depths of 2.5–5.0 cm. In contrast, pore water EC gradually decreased between 15 and 40 cm depth. Calculated water fluxes at depths of 2.5–40.0 cm varied from −4 × 10⁻⁶ to −2 × 10⁻⁹ kg m⁻² s⁻¹. These fluxes generated an increase in solute concentrations at the ground surface, with negative values of water flux indicating an upwards movement of water towards the surface. We show that the increase in solute content due to solute transfer from depth is highly dependent on variations in water flux with depth. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

太湖小时尺度水面蒸发特征及3种模型模拟效果对比

小时尺度水面蒸发可影响水面大气边界层热力和动力结构,分析湖泊小时尺度水面蒸发主要影响因素,选取准确模拟其特征的蒸发模型,将有助于改善流域天气预报和空气质量预报.基于太湖避风港站2012—2013年通量、辐射和气象观测数据,分析太湖小时尺度水面蒸发主要影响因子和3个模型(传统质量传输模型、Granger and Hedstrom经验模型、DYRESM模型)的模拟效果.结果表明:影响太湖小时尺度水面蒸发的主要因子为水气界面水汽压差和风速的乘积,而非净辐射.传统质量传输模型、Granger and Hedstrom经验模型、DYRESM模型模拟值与全年实测值的一致性系数分别为0.92、0.87和0.89,均方根误差分别为28.35、41.58和38.26 W/m~2.传统质量传输模型对太湖小时尺度水面蒸发的日变化和季节动态模拟效果最佳,其夜间模拟相对误差小于3%,除秋季外,其他季节的模拟绝对误差均小于4 W/m~2.Granger and Hedstrom经验模型系统性地高估太湖潜热通量,在大气较为稳定的午后(高估22~32 W/m~2)和冬季(高估72%)高估最为明显,模拟效果最差.DYRESM模型也系统地高估太湖潜热通量,模拟效果居中.考虑水汽交换系数随风速的变化特征将有助于改善传统质量传输模型和DYRESM模型对太湖小时尺度水面蒸发的模拟精度.