Non-linear laminar flow into well partially penetrating a porous aquifer of finite thickness

In steady state condition, non-linear laminar flow of fluid into a well partially penetrating a porous aquifer of finite thickness is considered. The influence of such a flow on discharge and its dependence on related physical quantities are investigated. It is observed that the discharge into the well decreases as the depth of the well is decreased and the region of non-linear laminar flow is widened, which is quite obvious from physical considerations. As a particular case, result for a fully penetrating well has been deduced.     

Ecohydrological modelling of flow duration curve in Mediterranean river basins

Flow duration curve provides an important synthesis of the relevant hydrological processes occurring at the basin scale, and, although it is typically obtained from field observations, different theoretical approaches finalized to its indirect reconstruction have been developed in recent years. In this study a recent ecohydrological model for the probabilistic characterization of base flows is tested through its application to a study catchment located in southern Italy, where long historical series of daily streamflow are available. The model, coupling soil moisture balance with a simplified scheme of the hydrological response of the basin, provides the daily flow duration curve. The original model is here modified in order to account for rainfall reduction due to canopy interception and stress its potential applicability to most of the ephemeral Mediterranean basins, where measurements of air temperature and rainfall often represent the only meteorological data available. The model shows a high sensitivity to two parameters related to the transport and evapotranspiration processes. Two different operational approaches for the identification of such parameters are explored and compared: by the first approach, these parameters are considered as time invariant quantities, while, in the second approach, empirical relationships between such parameters and the underlying climatic forcings are first derived and then adopted in the parameters calibration procedure. The model ability in reproducing the empirical flow duration curves and the model sensitivity to climate forcings, here referred as elasticity of the model, are investigated and it is shown how the adoption of the second approach leads to a general improvement of the model elasticity.     

A non-linear perturbation model considering catchment wetness and its application in river flow forecasting

A non-linear perturbation model for river flow forecasting is developed, based on consideration of catchment wetness using an antecedent precipitation index (API). Catchment seasonality, of the form accounted for in the linear perturbation model (the LPM), and non-linear behaviour both in the runoff generation mechanism and in the flow routing processes are represented by a constrained non-linear model, the NLPM-API. A total of ten catchments, across a range of climatic conditions and catchment area magnitudes, located in China and in other countries, were selected for testing daily rainfall-runoff forecasting with this model. It was found that the NLPM-API model was significantly more efficient than the original linear perturbation model (the LPM). However, restriction of explicit non-linearity to the runoff generation process, in the simpler LMP-API form of the model, did not produce a significantly lower value of the efficiency in flood forecasting, in terms of the model efficiency index R².     

Application of L‐moments and Bayesian inference for low‐flow regionalization in Sefidroud basin,Iran

Reliable estimation of low flows at ungauged catchments is one of the major challenges in water‐resources planning and management. This study aims at providing at‐site and ungauged sites low‐flow frequency analysis using regionalization approach. A two‐stage delineating homogeneous region is proposed in this study. Clustering sites with similar low‐flow L‐moment ratios is initially conducted, and L‐moment‐based discordancy and heterogeneity measures are then used to detect unusual sites. Based on the goodness‐of‐fit test statistic, the best‐fit regional model is identified in each hydrologically homogeneous region. The relationship between mean annual 7‐day minimum flow and hydro‐geomorphic characteristics is also constructed in each homogeneous region associated with the derived regional model for estimating various low‐flow quantiles at ungauged sites. Uncertainty analysis of model parameters and low‐flow estimations is carried out using the Bayesian inference. Applied in Sefidroud basin located in northwestern Iran, two hydrologically homogeneous regions are identified, i.e. the east and west regions. The best‐fit regional model for the east and west regions are generalized logistic and Pearson type III distributions, respectively. The results show that the proposed approach provides reasonably good accuracy for at‐site as well as ungauged‐site frequency analysis. Besides, interval estimations for model parameters and low flows provide uncertainty information, and the results indicate that Bayesian confidence intervals are significantly reduced when comparing with the outcomes of conventional t‐distribution method. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An analysis of shear stress distribution in circular channels with sediment deposition based on Gene Expression Programming

Knowledge of the boundary shear stress distribution in channels is important because it is a key factor affecting on erosion and sedimentation rates. The presence of sediment deposits in sewers is often reported during operation, and circular channels are frequently used in sewer networks. Gene expression programming(GEP) is applied in this study to determine an equation for evaluating the shear stress distribution along the wetted perimeter of a circular channel with a flat bed, because of the presence of sediment on the bed. In view of the parameters affecting the shear stress distribution, five dimensionless parameters are applied to develop six GEP models to be used with 905 experimental data. The impact of the shear stress parameters is studied using the six GEP models and by dividing the wetted perimeter into wall and bed sections. Two equations are extracted from the GEP models' output to estimate wall and bed shear stresses. The best model results are compared with a well-known equation based on the entropy concept. The GEP model predictions of wall and bed shear stresses are very similar to the experimental outcomes, whereas the entropy-based model overestimates the shear stress distribution.The proposed GEP models demonstrate superior performance in estimating the shear stress distribution with a mean absolute percentage error(MAPE) of 3.79% compared to an existing equation with MAPE of 9.52%.     

Impact of a CO2-induced climatic change on river flow variability in three rivers in Belgium

A hydrological conceptual model developed by the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium has been run to assess the potential hydrological impacts of an hypothetical doubling of the atmospheric CO₂ concentration. The simulated scenarios were derived from the predictions of climatic change currently provided by General Circulation Models (GCMs). Three typical drainage basins in Belgium have been selected for assessing their common responses and bringing out possible specific behaviours attributable to catchment characteristics. The study dealt essentially with modifications of the streamflow and with alterations of the flood and low-flow regimes. In catchments with prevailing surface flow the considered change in climate could induce:

• An increase in flood frequencies during the winter season together with a strengthening of the extreme river stages leading to greater flooding risks;
• A decrease in streamflow during the summer season and, as a corollary, increased risks of water pollution;
• Possible restraints, in summer and autumn, on water availability from local groundwater storages.

In catchments with high infiltration rate and with strong aquifer the impact could be:

• An increase in groundwater storage, bringing about an increase in the base flow throughout the year, which in turn involves increased flood risks;
• A reduction of the number of low-stage occurrences in summer, resulting in reduced river pollution;
• A possible increase in water availability from the aquifers.

     

Climate models and hydrological parameter uncertainties in climate change impacts on monthly runoff and daily flow duration curve of a Mediterranean catchment

ABSTRACT

Climate models and hydrological parameter uncertainties were quantified and compared while assessing climate change impacts on monthly runoff and daily flow duration curve (FDC) in a Mediterranean catchment. Simulations of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model using an ensemble of behavioural parameter sets derived from the Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) method were approximated by feed-forward artificial neural networks (FF-NN). Then, outputs of climate models were used as inputs to the FF-NN models. Subsequently, projected changes in runoff and FDC were calculated and their associated uncertainty was partitioned into climate model and hydrological parameter uncertainties. Runoff and daily discharge of the Chiba catchment were expected to decrease in response to drier and warmer climatic conditions in the 2050s. For both hydrological indicators, uncertainty magnitude increased when moving from dry to wet periods. The decomposition of uncertainty demonstrated that climate model uncertainty dominated hydrological parameter uncertainty in wet periods, whereas in dry periods hydrological parametric uncertainty became more important.

Editor M.C. Acreman; Associate editor S. Kanae     

Use of terrain variables for mapping gully erosion susceptibility in Lebanon

This paper predicts the geographic distribution and size of gullies across central Lebanon using a geographic information system (GIS) and terrain analysis. Eleven primary (elevation; upslope contributing area; aspect; slope; plan, profile and tangential curvature; flow direction; flow width; flow path length; rate of change of specific catchment area along the direction of flow) and three secondary (steady‐state; quasi‐dynamic topographic wetness; sediment transport capacity) topographic variables were generated and used along with digital data collected from other sources (soil, geology) to statistically explain gully erosion field measurements. Three tree‐based regression models were developed using (1) all variables, (2) primary topographic variables only and (3) different pairs of variables. The best regression tree model combined the steady‐state topographic wetness and sediment transport capacity indices and explained 80% of the variability in field gully measurements. This model proved to be simple, quick, realistic and practical, and it can be applied to other areas of the Mediterranean region with similar environmental conditions, thereby providing a tool to help with the implementation of plans for soil conservation and sustainable management. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of climate and land use change on flow duration in the Maryland Piedmont region

This paper describes the use of a continuous streamflow model to examine the effects of climate and land use change on flow duration in six urbanizing watersheds in the Maryland Piedmont region. The hydrologic model is coupled with an optimization routine to achieve an agreement between observed and simulated streamflow. Future predictions are made for three scenarios: future climate change, land use change, and jointly varying climate and land use. Future climate is modelled using precipitation and temperature predictions for the Canadian Climate Centre (CCC) and Hadley climate models. Results show that a significant increase in temperature under the CCC climate predictions produces a decreasing trend in low flows. A significant increasing trend in precipitation under the Hadley climate predictions produces an increasing trend in peak flows. Land use change by itself, as simulated by an additional 10% increase in imperviousness (from 20·5 to 30·5%), produces no significant changes in the simulated flow durations. However, coupling the effects of land use change with climate change leads to more significant decreasing trends in low flows under the CCC climate predictions and more significant increasing trends in peak flows under Hadley climate predictions than when climate change alone is employed. These findings indicate that combined land use and climate change can result in more significant hydrologic change than either driver acting alone. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Expression of Mammalian Metallothionein-I Gene in Cyanobacteria to Enhance Heavy Metal Resistance

Metallothionein (MT) from mammals is a low molecular weight (about 6–7 KD), and cystein-rich (20 cystein per molecular) protein (Vallee, 1991). So MT has the strong binding ability of metal such as Cd, Hg and Pd. Wild-typed cyanobacteria have their own metallothionein-like proteins, which are of low cysteine content and have weak ability to bind heavy metal. Therefore, it is imperative to transfer the MT-I gene from mammal into cyanobacteria cell for the absorption and accumulation of heavy metals in aqueous system including marine and lake ( Misra and Gedamu, 1989). We inserted the MT-I cDNA gene after the strong promoter PpsbA or Psmt into the intermediary vector pRL-439, and then pRL-MT was ligated with shuttle vector pKT-210 (a shuttle vector pDC-08 was used at an earlier time) to construct the shuttle expression vector pKT-MT. (The MT-I mutant -KKS- also was selected as aim gene.) Then the constructed vector was introduced into cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC7120, Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 with triparental conjunctive transfer (Bryant, 1994). The expression efficiency is about 1%. We also used homologous recombination vector pTZ18-8 to introduce MT-I cDNA into chromosomes in cyanobacteria and got higher expression efficiency. Metal tolerance tests show that the transgenic cyanobacteria acquire metal resistance up to 60 μmol/g CdCl₂ and expression efficiency up to 1045 μg MT/g fresh cells according to the data of ELISA.     

Use of soil moisture data and curve number method for estimating runoff in the Loess Plateau of China

The Soil Conservation Service curve number (CN) method commonly uses three discrete levels of soil antecedent moisture condition (AMC), defined by the 5‐day antecedent rainfall depth, to describe soil moisture prior to a runoff event. However, this way may not adequately represent soil water conditions of fields and watersheds in the Loess Plateau of China. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the effective soil moisture depth to which the CN is most related; (2) to evaluate a discrete and a linear relationship between AMC and soil moisture; and (3) to develop an equation between CN and soil moisture to predict runoff better for the climatic and soil conditions of the Loess Plateau of China. The dataset consisted of 10 years of rainfall, runoff and soil moisture measurements from four experimental plots cropped with millet, pasture and potatoes. Results indicate that the standard CN method underestimated runoff depths for 85 of the 98 observed plot‐runoff events, with a model efficiency E of only 0·243. For our experimental conditions, the discrete and linear approaches improved runoff estimation, but still underestimated most runoff events, with E values of 0·428 and 0·445 respectively. Based on the measured CN values and soil moisture values in the top 15 cm of the soil, a non‐linear equation was developed that predicted runoff better with an E value of 0·779. This modified CN equation was the most appropriate for runoff prediction in the study area, but may need adjustments for local conditions in the Loess Plateau of China. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of debris supply conditions in predicting debris flow activity

Debris flow frequency and magnitude were determined for 33 basins in southwest British Columbia. Basins were first classified as either weathering-limited or transport-limited using a discriminant function based on debris-contributing area, an area-weighted terrain stability number, and drainage density. Multiple regression was used to predict magnitude, peak discharge, frequency and activity (frequency times magnitude) within each group of basins. Model performance was improved by stratifying the total sample of debris flow basins into weathering-and transport-limited groups. Explained variance increased by an average of 15 per cent in the transport-limited sample, indicating that sediment supply conditions in the more active basins are fundamental in predicting debris flow activity. An independent test of the regression models with 11 basins yielded generally good results for debris flow magnitude and peak discharge. Prediction of debris flow frequency proved problematical in weathering-limited basins. The methods developed here provide estimates of debris flow attributes in basins for which few data on past events are available. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation of irrigation flow by hydrograph analysis in a complex agricultural catchment in subtropical China

Estimating the amount of irrigation water is challenging at the catchment scale because of the difficulties in direct measurement and interactions between the flow components. The objectives of the study were to characterize the catchment flows in an agricultural catchment with an irrigation system in subtropical China and to estimate catchment irrigation flow using hydrograph analysis methods. A weighting model and multiple regression models were established to estimate catchment irrigation outflow according to the hydrographs of the inflows and outflows of the catchment. The multiple regression models took into consideration the drainage time of base flow, resulting in better estimation on an event and annual basis. Using the MR‐6d method, the estimated irrigation outflows amounted to 3700 mm, 2600 mm and 2760 mm during 2001, 2002 and 2003 respectively, which covered 70%, 60% and 64% respectively of the total catchment outflows in the corresponding years. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

PI-RADS v2.1联合PSA相关指标预测PSA灰区前列腺癌的价值研究

目的：探讨建立前列腺影像报告及数据系统（PI-RADS v2.1）联合前列腺抗原（PSA）相关衍生物的Logistic模型对PSA灰区（4～10ng/mL）前列腺癌（PCa）的诊断价值。材料与方法：回顾性分析经病理证实的49例前列腺癌（PCa）和118例非癌患者的资料,包括年龄、tPSA、fPSA、PI-RADS v2.1评分、PSAD、fPSA/tPSA。对组间有统计学差异的指标进行Logistic回归分析,确定PCa独立预测指标,并分别联合PI-RADS v2.1评分建立Logistic回归预测模型。通过受试者工作特性曲线（ROC）评价各模型的诊断效能。结果：①年龄、tPSA、fPSA在PCa与非癌组间无统计学差异,fPSA/tPSA、PSAD、PI-RADS v2.1评分有统计学差异。②Logistic回归分析显示PI-RADS v2.1评分、PSAD、fPSA/tPSA为PCa独立预测因子;拟建立预测模型,A模型：Logit（P）=-10.82+2.32×PI-RADS v2.1+11.89×PSAD;B模型：Logit（P）=-6.13+2.19×PI-RADS v2.1-12.02×fPSA/tPSA。ROC曲线下面积分别为0.918和0.893,均高于单独使用PI-RADS v2.1评分,差异具有统计学意义。其中A模型敏感度0.843、特异度0.829,较单独使用PI-RADS v2.1评分（敏感度0.767、特异度0.801）诊断效能最佳。结论：PI-RADS v2.1评分联合PSA相关指标建立的Logistic模型在PSA灰区前列腺癌的诊断效能均优于单独运用PI-RADS v2.1评分,能够避免不必要的穿刺活检,对优化临床治疗策略具有较好的指导作用。     

Changes of flow regimes and precipitation in Huai River Basin in the last half century

Huai River Basin, as the sixth largest river basin in China, has a high‐regulated river system and has been facing severe water problems. In this article, the changing patterns of runoff and precipitation at 10 hydrological stations from 1956 to 2000 on the highly regulated river (Shaying River) and less‐regulated river (Huai River) in the basin are evaluated at the monthly, seasonal and annual scales using the Mann–Kendall test and simple linear regression model. The results showed that: (1) No statistically significant trends of precipitation in the upper and middle Huai River Basins were detected at the annual scale, but the trend of annual runoff at Baiguishan, Zhoukou and Fuyang stations in Shaying River decreased significantly, whereas the others were not. Moreover, the decreasing trends of runoff for most months were significant in Shaying River, although the trend of monthly precipitation decreased significantly only in April in the whole research area and the number of months in the dry season having significantly decreasing trends in runoff was more than that in the wet season. (2) The rainfall–runoff relationship was significant in both highly regulated river and less‐regulated river. In regulated river, the reservoirs have larger regulation capacity than the floodgates and thus have the smaller correlation coefficient and t‐value. In Huai River, the correlation coefficients decreased from upper stream to downstream. (3) The regulation of dams and floodgates for flood control and water supply was the principal reason for the decreasing runoff in Huai River Basin, although the decreasing precipitation in April in this basin was statistically significant. The findings are useful for recognizing hydrology variation and will provide scientific foundation to integrated water resources management in Huai River Basin. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of contrasting flow and thermal regimes in two adjacent subarctic alpine headwaters in Northwest Canada

Alpine headwaters in subarctic regions are particularly sensitive to climate change, yet there is little information on stream thermal regimes in these areas and how they might respond to global warming. In this paper, we characterize and compare the hydrological and thermal regimes of two subarctic headwater alpine streams within an empirical framework. The streams investigated are located within two adjacent catchments with similar geology, size, elevation and landscape, Granger Creek (GC) and Buckbrush Creek (BB), which are part of the Wolf Creek Research Basin in the Yukon Territory, Canada. Hydrometeorological and high-resolution stream temperature data were collected throughout summer 2016. Both sites exhibited a flow regime typical of cold alpine headwater catchments influenced by frozen ground and permafrost. Comparatively, GC was characterized by a flashier response with more extreme flows, than BB. In both sites, stream temperature was highly variable and very responsive to short-term changes in climatic conditions. On average, stream temperature in BB was slightly higher than in GC (respectively 5.8 and 5.7°C), but less variable (average difference between 75th and 25th quantiles of 1.6 and 2.0°C). Regression analysis between mean daily air and stream temperature suggested that a greater relative (to stream flow) groundwater contribution in BB could more effectively buffer atmospheric fluctuations. Heat fluxes were derived and utilized to assess their relative contribution to the energy balance. Overall, non-advective fluxes followed a daily pattern highly correlated to short-wave radiation. G1enerally, solar radiation and latent heat were respectively the most important heat source and sink, while air–water interface processes were major factors driving nighttime stream temperature fluctuations.     

Use of a watershed hydrologic model to estimate interbasin groundwater flow in a Costa Rican rainforest

The watershed hydrologic model TOPMODEL was used to estimate interbasin groundwater flow (IGF) into a small lowland rainforest watershed in Costa Rica. IGF is a common hydrological process but often difficult to quantify. Four‐year simulations (2006–2009) using three different model approaches gave estimates of IGF that were very similar to each other (10.1, 10.2, and 9.8 m/year) and to an earlier estimate (10.0 m/year) based on 1998–2002 data from a budget study that did not use a hydrologic simulation model, providing confidence in the new estimates and suggesting each of the three model approaches is viable. Results show no significant temporal variation in IGF during 2006–2009 (or between this period and the earlier study from 1998–2002). Simulations of the 16 consecutive 3‐month periods in 2006–2009 gave 16 values of IGF rate with a mean (10.1 m/year, standard deviation = 0.6 m/year) very similar to the estimates above from the 4‐year simulations. This suggests the modified version of TOPMODEL can be used to model stream discharge and estimate IGF for sub‐annual time periods during which change in water storage is not necessarily equal to zero. Thus, simple watershed models may be used to estimate IGF based on even relatively short calibration periods, making such models useful tools in the study of this widespread hydrological process that affects water and chemical fluxes and budgets but is often difficult and costly to quantify. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of a nonstationary copula to predict future bivariate low flow frequency in the Connecticut river basin

Frequency analysis of streamflow provides an essential ingredient in our understanding of hydrologic events and provides needed guidance in the design and management of water resources infrastructure. However, traditional hydrologic approaches often fail to include important external effects that can result in unpredictable or unforeseen changes in streamflow. Moreover, previous studies investigating multiple characteristics of streamflow do not address a nonstationary approach. This study explores nonstationary frequency analysis of bivariate characteristics, including occurrence and severity, of annual low flow in the Connecticut River Basin, United States. To investigate bivariate low flow frequency, copulas and their marginal distributions are constructed by using stationary and nonstationary approaches. Our study results indicate that streamflow used in this study demonstrate significant nonstationarity. Over time, the occurrence and severity of low flows are shown to be lower with the same probability based on the results of nonstationary copulas. Bivariate low flow frequencies in the years 1970, 2000, and 2030, and their joint return periods are estimated under the nonstationary copulas. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.