What do biphasic flow experiments reveal on the variability of exposure on alluvial fans and which implications for risk assessment result from this?

Sudden avulsions, unexpected channel migrations and backfilling phenomena are autogenic phenomena that can considerably change the propagation patterns of sediment-laden flows on alluvial fans. Once the initial and boundary conditions of the hazard scenario with a given return period are determined, the assessment of the associated exposed areas is based on one numerical, essentially deterministic, process simulation which may not adequately capture the underlying process variability. We generated sediment-laden flows on an experimental alluvial fan by following a “similarity-of-process concept”. Specifically, we considered a convexly shaped alluvial fan model layout featuring a curved guiding channel. As loading conditions, we defined a reference, an increased and a reduced level for the released water volume and the predisposed solid fraction, respectively. Further, we imposed two different stream power regimes and accomplished, for each factor combination, eight experimental runs. The associated exposure areas were recorded by video and mapped in a GIS. We then analysed exposure data and determined exposure probability maps superposing the footprints of the eight repetitions associated with each experimental loading condition. The patterns of exposure referred to the specific loading conditions showed a noticeable variability related to the main effects of the total event volume, the solid fraction, the interactions between them, and the imposed stream power in the feeding channel. Our research suggests that adopting a probabilistic notion of exposure in risk assessment and mitigation is advisable. Further, a major challenge consists in adapting numerical codes to better reflect the stochastics of process propagation for more reliable flood hazard assessments.

     

库车坳陷新近系库车组冲积扇沉积特征及相模式

通过野外露头考察和测井分析,并结合地震和三维电法资料,对库车坳陷新近系库车组冲积扇的沉积特征和分布规律进行研究,建立了冲积扇沉积模式。库车坳陷新近系库车组冲积扇岩性主要为黄色、黄红色砾岩、砂砾岩及含砾砂岩。砾石层中可见底冲刷-充填构造、交错层理和平行层理。测井曲线整体表现出GR低和电阻率高的特征,曲线呈箱形、漏斗形和钟形;地震相以杂乱反射和前积特征为主。为了提高了研究的精度,在钻井分布稀少和地震相特征不明显的地区,将三维电法资料用于冲积扇分布的研究。通过综合研究,认为冲积扇在西部的Bz1井地区和Db1井地区规模最大,在东部地区发育规模小。构造运动是冲积扇发育的主要控制因素,库车期构造运动活动强烈,南天山快速隆升,为冲积扇提供大量的物源,Bz1井地区持续隆升,遭受剥蚀,物源充足,冲积扇规模不断增大;Db1井地区由于受构造断裂的影响,局部隆升,为冲积扇提供了局部物源。通过分析,认为库车坳陷新近系库车组冲积扇主要有长期稳定的继承性单物源冲积扇模式和受局部构造控制的多物源冲积扇模式。     

Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analyses of arsenic groundwater geochemistry in the Hetao basin,Inner Mongolia

Although high As groundwater has been observed in shallow groundwater of the Hetao basin, little is known about As distribution in deep groundwater. Quantitative investigations into relationships among chemical properties and among samples in different areas were carried out. Ninety groundwater samples were collected from deep aquifers of the northwest of the basin. Twenty-two physicochemical parameters were obtained for each sample. Statistical methods, including principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), were used to analyze those data. Results show that As species were highly correlated with Fe species, NH₄-N and pH. Furthermore, result of PCA indicates that high As groundwater was controlled by geological, reducing and oxic factors. The samples are classified into three clusters in HCA, which corresponded to the alluvial fans, the distal zone and the flat plain. Moreover, the combination of PCA with HCA shows the different dominant factors in different areas. In the alluvial fans, groundwater is influenced by oxic factors, and low As concentrations are observed. In the distal zone, groundwater is under suboxic conditions, which is dominated by reducing and geological factors. In the flat plain, groundwater is characterized by reducing conditions and high As concentrations, which is dominated by the reducing factor. This investigations indicate that deep groundwater in the alluvial fans mostly contains low As concentrations but high NO₃ and U concentrations, and needs to be carefully checked prior to being used for drinking water sources.     

Land degradation risk assessment of El Fayoum depression, Egypt

The main objective of this study is to assess the land degradation risk of cultivated land in El Fayoum depression. The physiographic map of the depression was produced by using remote sensing and land surveying data. The depression comprises lacustrine plain, alluvial–lacustrine plain, and alluvial plain representing 12.22%, 53.58%, and 34.20% of the total area, respectively. The soil, climate, and topographic characteristics of the depression were extracted from land surveying, laboratory analyses, digital elevation model, and available reports. A simple model was designed to employ these data for assessing the chemical and physical risk of land degradation using Arc-GIS 9.2 software. The obtained results indicate that severe risk to chemical and physical degradation affect 54.15% and 29.23% of the depression, respectively. The current status of soil salinity, sodicity, and water table indicate that most of lacustrine and alluvial–lacustrine soils are actually degraded by salinization, sodification, and waterlogging. The results of degradation risk and the actual hazard indicate that the human activities are not sufficient to overcome the degradation processes in the most of the depression (80. 22%). Moreover, a negative human impact affects 26.29% of the area mostly in the alluvial plain. Great efforts related to the land management are required to achieve the agriculture sustainability.     

The use of microchemical analysis of alluvial gold grains in mineral exploration: experiences in Britain and Ireland

The examination of populations of gold grains by SEM and EPMA generates a microchemical signature based upon the assemblage of opaque mineral inclusions within the gold and the concentration of minor alloying metals. Duplicate samples of alluvial gold from the same locality have yielded the same microchemical signature independent of the field worker who collected the sample, or the date of collection. A study of five separate alluvial localities yielded a microchemical signature consistent with the mineralogy of the adjacent host mineralisation. This result has permitted informed speculation on the styles and complexity of gold mineralisation contributing to the alluvial population of gold grains where the style of source mineralisation is unknown.The technique can yield information about several aspects of the source mineralisation of an alluvial population at an early stage in the exploration process. Distinctive microchemical signatures can be used to evaluate the dispersion of gold either by fluvial or glacial action. The technique can identify gold derived from separate mineralising events either within a region or along a watercourse, thereby allowing speculation on the magnitude of the source mineralisation. It is also possible to establish whether specific types of gold mineralisation of potential economic interest have contributed to an alluvial population. In areas subjected to glaciation, analysis of the microchemical signature of populations of alluvial gold may indicate whether the gold grains are of proximal or distal origin.The volume of information made available through the study of alluvial gold grains has contributed greatly to the understanding of regional gold mineralisation. Interpretation of microchemical signatures of populations of alluvial gold from about 130 localities throughout Great Britain and Ireland has facilitated characterisation of gold in terms of the style of the source mineralisation. This information has augmented that available from about ten bedrock gold localities and has permitted a more complete classification of gold occurrences throughout the region.Quantitative analysis of some minerals within the opaque inclusion assemblage can provide information on the chemistry of the mineralising fluid, which may be related to the capacity for gold transportation.In Devon, South West England, a model for the emplacement of gold mineralisation was developed from interpretation of the microchemical signature of alluvial gold grains. The selenide-rich inclusion suite containing no sulphides suggested that oxidising conditions prevailed during precipitation. The model of transport of gold in solution through the oxidising environment of Permian red beds and its subsequent precipitation in underlying rocks due to reduction in Eh was consistent with the observed distribution of gold in alluvial sediment, residential overburden and drill core. Using this model other targets for gold mineralisation were successfully predicted.     

Assessment of Debris-Flow Hazards of Alluvial Fans

A strategy is presented for the assessment ofdebris-flow hazards on alluvial fans on the basis ofa case study carried out on the southern foot of astratovolcano named Mt. Yatsugatake. Transformation ofcommercial forests into a golf course was planned ata corner of the Kikkakezawa fan. The case studyinvolves an assessment of hazards due to debris flowsof different magnitudes and their recurrenceintervals. The environmental conditions for therecurrence of these debris flows are discussed as wellas the extent of the areas affected by them. In orderto generalize the case study, concepts of hazardpotential, hazard and risk for debris flows onalluvial fans are established. Accordingly, the hazardpotential is the possible hazards at any location onan alluvial fan in an indefinitely long time period,which can be assessed on the basis of hydrological andother geoscientific investigations. Hazards associatedwith a particular land use can be evaluated on thebasis of the hazard potential considering the locationand the time period associated with the land use. Riskcan be further assessed considering the life styles inthis land and the social conditions.     

The paradigm of paraglacial megafans of the San Juan river basin,Central Andes,Argentina

The spatial distribution and several morphometric characteristics of the Quaternary alluvial fans of the San Juan River, in the province of San Juan, at the Central and Western part of Argentina, have been studied to classify them as paraglacial megafans, as well to ratify its depositional environmental conditions. The high sedimentary load exported by San Juan river from the Central Andes to the foreland depressions is estimated about 3,682,200 hm³. The large alluvial fans of Ullum-Zonda and Tulum valleys were deposited into deep tectonic depressions, during the Upper Pleistocene deglaciation stages. The outcome of collecting remotely sensed data, map and DEM data, geophysical data and much fieldwork gave access to morphometric, morphographic and morphogenetic data of these alluvial fans. The main drainage network was mapped on processed images using QGis (vers.2.0.1). Several fan morphometric parameters were measured, such as the size, the shape, the thickness, the surface areas and the sedimentary volume of exported load. The analyzed fans were accumulated in deep tectonic depressions, where the alluvium fill reaches 700 to 1200 m thick. Such fans do not reach the large size that other world megafans have, and this is due to tectonic obstacles, although the sedimentary fill average volume surpasses 514,000 hm³. The author proposes to consider Ullum-Zonda and Tulum alluvial fans as paraglacial megafans. According to the stratigraphic relationships of the tropical South American Rivers, the author considers that the San Juan paraglacial megafans would have occurred in the period before 24 ka BP, possibly corresponding to Middle Pleniglacial (ca 65–24ka BP). They record colder and more humid conditions compared with the present arid and dry conditions.     

Factors responsible for high arsenic concentrations in two groundwater catchments in Taiwan

High As contents in groundwater were found in two neighboring catchments – the Chianan plain and the southern Choushui river alluvial fan in Taiwan. The groundwater quality, the redox potential and the As distribution of the Chianan plain were characterized using factor analysis, redox zoning and a geochemical program. The results were compared with those of the southern Choushui river alluvial fan. Possible As release mechanisms are also elucidated. Factors 1 and 2 of the groundwater in the Chianan plain – the salinization factor and the As enrichment factor – are similar to those in the southern Choushui river alluvial fan. However, the spatial distribution of reductive tendency in the Chianan plain is different to that in the Choushui river alluvial fan, and yields spatially distinct hydrogeochemical environments in these two neighboring areas. The reduction potential in the Chianan plain is stronger than that in the Choushui river alluvial fan. The difference between the reduction potentials in these two vicinal areas influences the concentrations of As in groundwater. The reductive dissolution of As-rich Fe oxyhydroxide is suggested to be the major mechanism for release of As to the groundwater in the Chianan plain and the Choushui river alluvial fan of Taiwan.     

塔里木盆地早白垩世沉积相特征与古地理

根据大量的钻井和露头资料,对塔里木盆地早白垩世沉积相特征和古地理进行了研究。塔里木盆地下白垩统主要发育冲积扇-扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲、氧化宽浅湖泊等3种沉积体系,包括陆相冲（洪）积扇、扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲、滨浅湖等沉积相,分布于下白垩统不同层位。塔里木盆地早白垩世主要包括塔东北和塔西南两大沉积区,总体为干旱氧化的内陆拗陷分割盆地。在塔东北沉积大区,早白垩世早期卡普沙良群沉积物受周缘4大物源区控制,为多物源的氧化宽浅湖盆环境,古地势呈“南高北低、东高西低”,盆地边缘以冲（洪）积扇、扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲相为主,盆地内部为滨浅湖亚相。早白垩世晚期巴什基奇克组沉积时期,塔里木盆地周缘进入一个新的构造活动期,古气候更加炎热干旱,氧化宽浅湖盆消失。在塔东北沉积大区,盆地受周缘4个主要物源区影响,以广泛分布的冲积扇-辫状河三角洲沉积体系占主体,盆地内部普遍为辫状河三角洲前缘-滨浅湖亚相沉积。在塔西南沉积大区,早白垩世克孜勒苏群沉积时期古地势呈“东高西低”,受北部喀什北山前和西南部古昆仑山2个物源区的控制,沉积物沿古昆仑山前呈狭长的条带状分布,沉积厚度自西向东减薄,主要是一套冲积扇-扇三角洲相和滨浅湖亚相沉积。     

Modelling of the construction of the Rhône alluvial plain since 15 000 years BP

A numerical model presented here develops a three-dimensional image of alluvial media on an elementary scale significant for groundwater flow modelling. The model was tested on the alluvial plain of the Rhône River (France), on a scale of several kilometres and, from geomorphological observations and dating, reproduced the construction of this alluvial plain from ≈15 000 years BP to the present. The history of the alluvial plain during the Late Glacial and Holocene periods is summarized. Through most of this time, the River Rhône has maintained a braided pattern, with the exception of two incising phases with a meander pattern. The model does not use any physically based equations or water representation. The main processes governing the construction of the plain are modelled by simple rules chosen according to geometrical or empirical laws taken from the literature or as modelling assumptions. Using multi-agent concepts of distribution and interaction of elementary entities, these sedimentary rules are applied to 'sediment' entities or to conceptual 'erosion' entities that simulate local deposition and erosion of sediments. The sedimentation model reproduces the various climatic periods during which the sediments were deposited by simulating genetic periods and associated modelled processes. For each period, the model was constrained by quantitative field data such as altitude of ancient channels and deposits or thickness of sediments. The general geometry of the alluvial deposits was satisfactorily reproduced. During the simulation, characteristic large-scale features emerge despite the use of local rules. The model results are discussed with reference to other approaches, such as geostatistical or Boolean models, and the applicability of the model to other less documented alluvial plains is outlined.     

北京平原区地下水位预警初步研究

借鉴美国地质调查局在宾夕法尼亚的地下水位预警方法,从统计学的角度,探索了北京平原区地下水预警方法。对监测井多年长期监测资料进行百分位统计分析,把同一时间(月平均、旬平均、日平均)地下水水位(头)标高值的最小值至百分位5、百分位5至百分位10、百分位10至百分位25、百分位25至百分位75范围内的地下水位分别定义为红色、橙色、黄色和蓝色预警,形成地下水位预警判据。根据地下水水位实时监测数据,实时判定监测井代表区域的地下水预警等级,同时修正和完善地下水位预警判据,称之为监测井单点预警,监测井代表的同一层位的区域的集合,构成不同含水层的地下水位区域预警。对北京平原区2009年12月的地下水位预警结果为:潮白河冲洪积扇顶部和中部潜水含水层地下水位为红色预警,前缘为黄色预警,冲洪积平原为蓝色预警区;城区以南地区为红色预警,海淀山后的西北部地区为红色预警,永定河冲积扇和冲积平原大部分地区黄色和蓝色预警,大石河冲洪积扇地区均为蓝色预警;承压水含水层在潮白河冲洪积扇的前缘为红色预警,冲洪积平原为蓝色预警,北运河山前地带均为橙色预警,城区东、东南地区为橙色和黄色预警,少数地区为橙色预警,除上述地区以外,承压水均为蓝色预警。北京市平原区主要地下水开采地区地下水位已经处于历史的较低水位处,特别是潮白河冲积扇中上部地区以及平谷盆地,地下水位几乎全部处于红色预警区。该预警方法原理明确,方法简便,有望在地下水主要开采区推广应用。     

Origin and distribution of different types of sinkholes in the plain areas of Southern Italy

Sinkholes constitute a significant risk in many karst areas, and may even threat human safety. Collapse sinkholes that occur catastrophically without showing premonitory signs may result in severe economic losses and casualties. In the last years, research on sinkholes and related detrimental effects has significantly increased in Italy, in the aftermath of remarkable events.

Aimed at analysing the peculiar conditions which lead to sinkhole occurrence in Southern Italy, a set of cases in the plain areas of Campania, Apulia and Calabria is discussed. The considered regions show a wide variety of environmental conditions. In Campania, the plains are underlain by alluvial deposits with intercalations of volcaniclastic sediments. Sinkholes are generally located along the Tyrrhenian margin of the carbonate massifs or within intramontane Apennine basins. In Apulia, a flat and elongated peninsula, most of the cases occur on calcarenites overlying limestone bedrock along the coast. In Calabria, one of the most seismogenic Italian regions, the surveyed cases seem to be attributable mainly to earthquake-induced liquefaction.

The article provides a first glance on the variety of sinkholes in the plain areas of Southern Italy, to highlight the possibility of further subsidence events in the considered regions, as well as in other comparable areas of the country.     

Facies,environments and sedimentary cycles in the Middle Eocene,Bracklesham Formation of the Hampshire Basin: evidence for global sea-level changes?

The Bracklesham Formation is of Middle Eocene age and occurs throughout the Hampshire Basin of southern England. The basin is elongated east-west and filled with Lower Tertiary sediments. Its southern margin is marked by either large, northward-facing monoclines, or faults, both of which underwent differential movement, with uplift of the southern side throughout the Middle Eocene. The Bracklesham Formation, which is up to 240 m thick, shows pronounced lateral facies changes with dominantly marine sediments in the east passing to alluvial sediments in the west. Four principal sedimentary environments: marine, lagoonal, estuarine and alluvial are distinguished. Marine sediments comprise six facies including offshore silty clays and glauconitic silty sands, beach and aeolian dune sands, and flint conglomerates formed on pebble beaches. Offshore sediments predominate in the eastern part of the basin, as far west as Alum Bay, where they are replaced by nearshore sediments. Lagoonal sediments comprise four facies and formed in back-barrier lagoons, coastal marshes and, on occasions, were deposited over much of the basin during periods of low salinity and restricted tidal motion. Five estuarine facies represent tidal channels, channel mouth-bars and abandoned channels. These sediments suggest that much of the Bracklesham Formation was deposited under micro- to meso-tidal conditions. Alluvial sediments dominate the formation to the west of Alum Bay. They comprise coarse to fine sands deposited on the point-bars of meandering rivers, interbedded with thick sequences of laminated interchannel mudstones, deposited in marshes, swamps and lakes. Extensive layers of ball clay were periodically deposited in a lake occupying much of the alluvial basin. In alluvial areas, fault movement exposed Mesozoic rocks along the southern margin of the basin, the erosion of which generated fault-scarp alluvial fan gravels. Locally, pisolitic limestone formed in pools fed by springs emerging at the faulted Chalk-Tertiary contact. In marine areas, flint pebbles were eroded from coastal exposures of chalk and accumulated on pebble beaches and in estuaries. From other evidence it is suggested that older Tertiary sediments were also reworked. The Bracklesham Formation is strongly cyclic and was deposited during five marine transgressions, the effects of which can be recognized throughout the basin in both marine and alluvial areas. Each of the five transgressive cycles is a few tens of metres thick and contains little evidence of intervening major regression. The cycles are thought to represent small-scale eustatic sea-level rises (‘paracycles’) superimposed upon a major transgressive ‘cycle’ that began at the base of the Bracklesham Formation, following a major regression, and was terminated, at the top of the Barton Formation by another major regression. This major cycle can be recognized world-wide and may reflect a period of rapid northward extension of the mid-Atlantic ridge.     

Vulnerability mapping of shallow groundwater aquifer using SINTACS model in the Jordan Valley area, Jordan

Jordan Valley is one of the important areas in Jordan that involves dense agricultural activities, which depend on groundwater resources. The groundwater is exploited from an unconfined shallow aquifer which is mainly composed of alluvial deposits. In the vicinity of the Kafrein and South Shunah, the shallow aquifer shows signs of contamination from a wide variety of non-point sources. In this study, a vulnerability map was created as a tool to determine areas where groundwater is most vulnerable to contamination. One of the most widely used groundwater vulnerability mapping methods is SINTACS, which is a point count system model for the assessment of groundwater pollution hazards. SINTACS model is an adaptation for Mediterranean conditions of the well-known DRASTIC model. The model takes into account several environmental factors: these include topography, hydrology, geology, hydrogeology, and pedology. Spatial knowledge of all these factors and their mutual relationships is needed in order to properly model aquifer vulnerability using this model. Geographic information system was used to express each of SINTACS parameters as a spatial thematic layer with a specific weight and score. The final SINTACS thematic layer (intrinsic vulnerability index) was produced by taking the summation of each score parameter multiplied by its specific weight. The resultant SINTACS vulnerability map of the study area indicates that the highest potential sites for contamination are along the area between Er Ramah and Kafrein area. To the north of the study area there is a small, circular area which shows fairly high potential. Elsewhere, very low to low SINTACS index values are observed, indicating areas of low vulnerability potential.     

Studies in fluviatile sedimentation: Implications of pedogenic carbonate units. Lower Old Red Sandstone,Anglo-Welsh outcrop

Carbonate units occur in varying numbers in the fine-grade members of the alluvial fining-upwards cyclothems present in the Lower Old Red Sandstone of the Anglo-Welsh outcrop. They closely resemble contemporary soil-carbonates (calcretes) and hence show that the local Siluro-Devonian climate was relatively hot with a comparatively low seasonal rainfall. Compared with contemporary calcretes, the units suggest that sites on the alluvial plains were denied river-borne sediments for periods each in the general order of 10⁴ years. The pedogenic interpretation of the carbonate units, developed in the light of the behaviour of rivers today, leads to alternative models for the geomorphology of the Siluro-Devonian alluvial plains and for their gross subsurface structure. Geomorphologically, the plains at any instant presented depositionally active and inactive areas in juxtaposition. Under some circumstances the relief was provided only by alluvial ridges. Under others, relief was afforded by valley sides and perhaps river terraces, in addition to ridges. Knowledge of the character of the Lower Old Red Sandstone in vertical sequence leaves as plausible three alternative gross structures for the alluvial pile beneath the plains. They differ chiefly in the lateral variability and connectedness of the palaeosols and place hitherto unavailable limits on the three-dimensional character of the cyclothems.     

Numerical Simulation of the Influence of Tectonics and Precipitation on the Evolution of Alluvial Fans at the Northern Foot of Qilian Mountains

As achieves of regional environmental changes in the past, alluvial fans have received extensive attention from geoscience community. Tectonic activity and climate change are two of the main factors affecting the development of alluvial fans. The Qilian Mountains, which is located on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, experienced severe uplift since the Cenozoic. With the huge relief from surrounding areas, a series of alluvial fans developed at the northern foot of the Qilian Mountains. That makes it become an ideal area to study the relationships between tectonic uplift, climate change, and alluvial fan development. In order to explore how climate and tectonic changes have effect on the formation and development of alluvial fans, based on stream power model and diffusion equations, a numerical model of the drainage basin-fan system was built. Xigou River and Dayekou River with their fans in Qilian Mountains were simulated by using the above-mentioned numerical model. The results show that both the change in precipitation and the uplift rate affect the fan slope. Either the increase in the uplift rate or the decrease in precipitation causes the increment of fan slope, and vice versa. Fan slope changes linearly with the uplift rate variation, while the effect of precipitation on fan slope is relatively small. The response of catchment to tectonic activity and precipitation disturbances, as the change of sedimentary flux, is also in different patterns. The research will provide a new perspective for understanding the influence of regional tectonic activities and climate change on the geomorphological process.     

3D alluvial aquifer reconstruction in polluted areas by means of GPR (Sabiñánigo,N Spain)

Assumptions of simple geometries for alluvial deposits (related to main rivers) can preclude determination of complexities that are revealed as fundamental controls in underground flow. Although subhorizontal contacts between alluvial and substratum materials are expected, previous sedimentary or erosional processes can result in irregular geometries, only accessible through detailed analysis. The studied case presents the 3D reconstruction of a Quaternary terrace in the proximities of Sabiñánigo (Southern Pyrenees, Northeastern Spain), lying on homogeneous Eocene marls. The studied area is located in an industrialized area supporting strongly pollutant chemical industry (chlorinated pesticides) for the past 50 years. The objective of the study was to constrain the groundwater pathway along the area to subsequently analyze leakage of chemicals to the water table. In order to reveal preferred flow paths, a detailed characterization of the internal structure of the alluvial deposits (0.5–13 m thick) and their relations with the Tertiary substratum was carried out by means of ground penetrating radar (GPR, 50 and 100 MHz antennas). The obtained models permit identifying several topographic highs in the alluvial/substratum contact, determining preferred pathways in water flow, favoring particular conditions associated with low levels of the water table. The presented results support the interest of application of GPR surveys in order to characterize the groundwater pathways in expected homogeneous areas and their importance in order to establish the contaminant surveillance network.     

Effect assessment of debris flow mitigation works based on numerical simulation by using Kanako 2D

Mitigation works are very essential for mitigation of debris-flow hazards in mountainous areas. Usually, it is difficult to assess the effectiveness of existing mitigation works in a catchment. This paper presented a method for quantitative assessment of debris flow mitigation measures by using Kanako system, a user-friendly GUI-equipped debris flow simulator that allows good visualization and easy interpretation. Kanako 2D (Ver. 2.04) was applied to a case study at Caijia Gully, Sichuan Province, China. Mitigation works including check dams, drainage channel, and deposition basin were constructed in the gully in 2001 and 2006. Kanako 2D can simulate debris flow from steep area to alluvial fan. 1D simulation was applied for assessing the effect of the check dams at the lower part of the gully, and 2D simulation was applied for the effect of the drainage channel and deposition basin on the alluvial fan. The simulation results indicate that debris flow will cause great damage to residential area on the alluvial fan if mitigation measures were not implemented in the gully. For old dams which have been filled up with deposits of previous debris flows, the results show that they still have the function for controlling debris flow due to the gradient reduction of the channel bed in front of the dams by the trapped debris flow deposition. After the comprehensive control of debris flow including trapping, drainage, and deposition in the gully, the simulation results indicate that the risk on the alluvial fan can be reduced to an acceptable level.     

Modelling the response of an alluvial aquifer to anthropogenic and recharge stresses in the United States Southern Great Plains

This paper uses Visual MODFLOW to simulate potential impacts of anthropogenic pumping and recharge variability on an alluvial aquifer in semi-arid northwestern Oklahoma. Groundwater withdrawal from the aquifer is projected to increase by more than 50% (relative to 1990) by the year 2050. In contrast, climate projections indicate declining regional precipitation over the next several decades, creating a potential problem of demand and supply. The following scenarios were simulated: (1) projected groundwater withdrawal, (2) a severe drought, (3) a prolonged wet period, and (4) a human adjustment scenario, which assumes future improvements in water conservation measures. Results indicate that the combined impacts of anthropogenic pumping and droughts would create drawdown of greater than 12 m in the aquifer. Spatially, however, areas of severe drawdown will be localized around large-capacity well clusters. The worst impacts of both pumping and droughts will be on stream–aquifer interaction. For example, the projected aquifer pumpage would lead to a total streamflow loss of 40%, creating losing stream system regionally. Similarly, a severe drought would lead to a total streamflow loss of >80%. A post-audit of the model was also carried out to evaluate model performance. By simulating various stress scenarios on the alluvial aquifer, this study provides important information for evaluating management options for alluvial aquifers.     

非饱和上海软土水力和力学特性耦合弹塑性模拟

目前大多数非饱和土的弹塑性本构模型用非饱和击实土的试验结果进行验证,但现场其他类型的土,如沉积土经常有在非饱和状态下外部环境变化的情况。现有的非饱和土弹塑性模型是否适用于沉积土一类的现场土是需要研究的课题。进行非饱和上海第③层土的吸力控制排水排气三轴剪切试验,使用文中提出的能统一考虑非饱和土水力性状和力学性状的弹塑性本构模型,预测上述三轴试验结果,并与试验数据进行比较。比较结果显示,建立的本构模型能够很好地预测非饱和上海软土的水力和力学性质,说明该模型不仅可以适用击实土的预测,还能够很好地适用于其他类型非饱和土的水力和力学性质的模拟。