Recent hydrological behavior of the East African great lakes region inferred from GRACE,satellite altimetry and rainfall observations

We have jointly analysed space gravimetry data from the GRACE space mission, satellite altimetry data and precipitation over the East African Great Lakes region, in order to study the spatiotemporal variability of hydrological parameters (total water storage, lake water volume and rainfall). We find that terrestrial water storage (TWS) from GRACE and precipitation display a common mode of variability at interannual time scale, with a minimum in late 2005, followed by a rise in 2006–2007. We argue that this event is due to forcing by the strong 2006 Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on East African rainfall. We also show that GRACE TWS is linked to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle. Combination of the altimetry-based lake water volume with TWS from GRACE over the lakes drainage basins allows estimating soil moisture and groundwater volume variations. Comparison with the WGHM hydrological model outputs is performed and discussed.     

Statistical distribution of rainy events characteristics and instantaneous hyetographs generation (Merguellil watershed in central Tunisia)

In semi-arid regions, variability of rainfall inputs is high at different time and space scales. Thus, intense and highly variable hydro-meteorological events, which generate both potential resource and hazards, are of major interest. The Merguellil watershed is characterized by a large majority of rainfall in the form of storms, particularly violent in spring and autumn. Storms of summer are short and violent and can be the origin of important floods. Due to the strong rainfall variability, precipitation and hydrological regime are very irregular. This is what led us to think of a detailed study of rainy events. It was founded that two statistical distributions of parameters characterizing events are dominated (log normal, exponential).Thus, our objective consists in studying, in its globality, the collected pluviographic data in order to make a synthesis and analysis which should make it possible the generation of fictitious events to better control the rainfall risk and to study the response of the watershed faces to several types of rainfall. As result, we obtained hyetographs of the height studied rain gauges. These hyetographs show several types of events that are well in conformity with the observed reality. This generation is an advantageous tool in terms of both its robustness and its performance. Its relevance is based on the analysis of the fine time structure of recorded rainfall events. It can be made over several years, and would permit us to avoid being constrained by sample size. Generating rainfall events provides extensive time-related rainfall data that are consistent at all time steps, and can be seen as solution, even partially, of data lack in hydrological study.     

Shallow landslides in pyroclastic soils: a distributed modelling approach for hazard assessment

An effective assessment of shallow landslide hazard requires spatially distributed modelling of triggering processes. This is possible by using physically based models that allow us to simulate the transient hydrological and geotechnical processes responsible for slope instability. Some simplifications are needed to address the lack of data and the difficulty of calibration over complex terrain at the catchment's scale. We applied two simple hydrological models, coupled with the infinite slope stability analysis, to the May 1998 landslide event in Sarno, Southern Italy. A quasi-dynamic model (Barling et al., 1994) was used to model the contribution to instability of lateral flow by simulating the time-dependent formation of a groundwater table in response to rainfall. A diffusion model [Water Resour. Res. 36 (2000) 1897] was used to model the role of vertical flux by simulating groundwater pressures that develop in response to heavy rainstorms. The quasi-dynamic model overestimated the slope instability over the whole area (more than 16%) but was able to predict correctly slope instability within zero order basins where landslides occurred and developed into large debris flows. The diffusion model simulated correctly the triggering time of more than 70% of landslides within an unstable area amounting to 7.3% of the study area. These results support the hypothesis that both vertical and lateral fluxes were responsible for landslide triggering during the Sarno event, and confirm the utility of such models as tools for hazard planning and land management.     

Spectral analysis of climate cycles to predict rainfall induced landslides in the western Mediterranean (Majorca,Spain)

In the present work, spectral analysis has been applied to determine the presence and statistical significance of climate cycles in long-term data series from different rainfall and gauging stations located in the Tramuntana Range, in the north-western sector of the island of Majorca. Climate signals recorded previously in the Mediterranean region have been identified: the ENSO, NAO, HALE, QBO and Sun Spot cycles as well as others related to solar activity; the most powerful signals correspond to the annual cycle, followed by the 6-month and NAO cycles. The incorporation of data derived from gauging stations contributes to better climate signal detection as local and exceptional influences are eliminated. Simulations have been performed for each rainfall/gauging station, using the most significant climate cycles obtained by means of the power spectrum. A good correlation between rainfall/flow values and simulated cycles has been obtained. The NAO and ENSO cycles are the most influential in the rainy periods, and specifically the NAO cycle, where a good correlation between episodes of high rainfall/flow and high values of ANAOI can be observed. At a second stage, landslides dated and recorded in the Tramuntana Range since 1954 (174 events) have been correlated with the simulated cycles obtaining good results, as the landslide events match rainfall peaks well. The correlation for the past decade (since 2005), when a detailed landslide inventory is available, also reveals a coincidence between landslide events and climate cycles, and specifically NAO and ENSO cycles. That is the case of the period 2008–2010, when numerous mass movements took place, and when the largest movement of the inventory was recorded. Results show a potential rainy period in the Tramuntana Range for the coming years (with maximum values around year 2021), when conditions similar to those related to the 2008–2010 event could take place again. The methodology presented in this work can contribute to the prediction of temporal, extreme hydrological events in order to design short-/medium-term mitigation strategies on a regional scale.     

<Emphasis>H</Emphasis>ydrological variability of the <Emphasis>S</Emphasis>oummam watershed <Emphasis>(N</Emphasis>ortheastern <Emphasis>A</Emphasis>lgeria<Emphasis>)</Emphasis> and the possible links to climate fluctuations

The long-term variability of rainfall in the Soummam watershed (NE Algeria) has been analysed over the past 108 years using continuous wavelet method in order to identify the interannual modes controlling the rainfall variability. Statistical analyses of rainfall timeseries have shown its distribution following five periods of time, limited by a series of discontinuities around 1935, 1950, 1970 and 1990. The continuous wavelet transform have demonstrated different low frequency modes: 2–4, 4–8, 8–16 and 16–32 years.The annual band is expanded during the full study period with some pics around 1905, 1920–1935 and 1960; it shows a negative long-term trend, in particular since the period 1970–1990 when a major change has been identified. Then, the relationships between climate patterns of North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and the hydrological variability in the frequency domain have been investigated; they have shown a mean explained variance of 40 and 24 %, respectively. Such variances are less obvious for the annual mode and increase for the interannual frequencies. The coherence suffer from high perturbations since the period 1970–1990 when the NAO (SOI) shifts from negative (positive) phases to positive (negative) ones. Such anomalies are responsible for significant changes of rainfall variability, emphasising the global warming effects.     

降雨输入不确定性对分布式流域水文模拟的影响研究——以武烈河流域为例

降雨输入对分布式流域水文模拟具有重要影响。针对流域降雨资料不完整的情况,以武烈河流域为例,基于反距离加权平均法对雨量站降雨资料进行插补延长,并结合SWAT模型研究了降雨输入不确定性对分布式流域水文模拟的影响。结果表明:不同降雨输入对流域平均降雨量的影响较小,但基于气象站资料的降雨数据在降雨空间差异显著的年份会明显低估面雨量,且在夏季汛期表现更为显著;不同降雨输入对分布式流域水文模拟的影响较大;在雨量站降雨资料不完整的情况下,通过对雨量站降雨数据进行插补延长,相对于直接利用气象站降雨资料,在一定程度上可以提高径流模拟精度,满足降雨资料欠缺流域分布式水文模拟的实际需求。     

Climate and hydrological models to assess the impact of climate change on hydrological regime: a review

Quantitative knowledge about the impacts of climate change on the hydrological regime is essential in order to achieve meaningful insights to address various adverse consequences related to water such as water scarcity, flooding, drought, etc. General circulation models (GCMs) have been developed to simulate the present climate and to predict future climatic change. But, the coarse resolution of their outputs is inefficient to resolve significant regional scale features for assessing the effects of climate change on the hydrological regimes, thus restricting their direct implementation in hydrological models. This article reviews hierarchy and development of climate models from the early times, importance and inter-comparison of downscaling techniques and development of hydrological models. Also recent research developments regarding the evaluation of climate change impact on the hydrological regime have been discussed. The article also provides some suggestions to improve the effectiveness of modelling approaches involved in the assessment of climate change impact on hydrological regime.     

中国大陆流域分区TRMM降水质量评价

根据中国境内2 257个气象站点1998-2013年逐日降水资料,结合流域分区,采用探测准确性、相关系数以及相对误差等指标,对热带降水测量（TRMM）降水精度和一致性进行系统评价。结果表明:① TRMM日降水准确性从东南沿海向西北内陆递减;② 气象站点年均降水日数显著大于TRMM年均降水日数;③ 西北片区以外气象站点降水量和TRMM降水量在月尺度和年尺度上均具有较好的相关关系;④ 各流域年均TRMM面降水量均高于气象站点面降水量,且TRMM面降水量相对误差雨季较小,枯季较大;⑤ 各流域TRMM面降水量与气象站点面降水量演变趋势基本一致,南方各流域年降水量均呈减少趋势,北方各流域年降水量均呈增加趋势,全国尺度上年降水量呈微弱的减少趋势。     

气候变化对陆地水循环影响研究的问题

简要地回顾了现存的由气候情景驱动水文模型研究气候变化对陆地水循环影响的方法。指出这种单向连接方法很难将气候变暖及人类活动引起的陆地水循环变化反馈给大气。这既影响对降雨的预测精度,又不能正确地描写陆地水循环的变化。近10年来气候学家对大气环流模型中陆面过程模型的改进以及水文气候学家对大尺度水文模型研究所取得的进展,展现了它们之间的互补性,以及未来用水文-气候耦合模型方法研究气候变化与人类活动对陆地水循环影响及水资源预测的可能性。     

Assessment of climate change impacts on rainfall using large scale climate variables and downscaling models – A case study

Many of the applied techniques in water resources management can be directly or indirectly influenced by hydro-climatology predictions. In recent decades, utilizing the large scale climate variables as predictors of hydrological phenomena and downscaling numerical weather ensemble forecasts has revolutionized the long-lead predictions. In this study, two types of rainfall prediction models are developed to predict the rainfall of the Zayandehrood dam basin located in the central part of Iran. The first seasonal model is based on large scale climate signals data around the world. In order to determine the inputs of the seasonal rainfall prediction model, the correlation coefficient analysis and the new Gamma Test (GT) method are utilized. Comparison of modelling results shows that the Gamma test method improves the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient of modelling performance as 8% and 10% for dry and wet seasons, respectively. In this study, Support Vector Machine (SVM) model for predicting rainfall in the region has been used and its results are compared with the benchmark models such as K-nearest neighbours (KNN) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The results show better performance of the SVM model at testing stage. In the second model, statistical downscaling model (SDSM) as a popular downscaling tool has been used. In this model, using the outputs from GCM, the rainfall of Zayandehrood dam is projected under two climate change scenarios. Most effective variables have been identified among 26 predictor variables. Comparison of the results of the two models shows that the developed SVM model has lesser errors in monthly rainfall estimation. The results show that the rainfall in the future wet periods are more than historical values and it is lower than historical values in the dry periods. The highest monthly uncertainty of future rainfall occurs in March and the lowest in July.     

Spatial contribution of one-day precipitations variability to rainy days and rainfall amounts in Iran

Rainfalls with short persistency are the tangible characteristics of arid and semiarid regions such as Iran. Iran is an arid and semiarid region with dramatic tempo-spatial changes of rainfall. In this regard, the short persistency of rainfall is approximately observed from 1 to 7 days in whole parts, while the greater ones are only separated in eastern parts of Iran. According to the results, the rainfall persistency is ranged from 1 to 45 days, but the maximum amount and rainy days are generated by rainfalls with short persistency. So, the rainfall events with long persistency are considered as an extreme event with extreme variability. One-day precipitations generate the maximum rainy days and rainfall amounts, especially in eastern parts of Iran. Decrease in the one-day precipitations contribution to eastern parts may indicate to decrease in regional precipitation. However, decrease in contribution in western parts may indicate to increased amounts of rainfall at other persistency rates. Our results revealed that the contribution of the one-day precipitation to general rainfall has reductive trends in almost 17.5 % of the whole Iran. The most integrated and significant reductive trend of one-day precipitation contribution to rainfall spreads northeastern and eastern parts of Iran. However, in the western parts of Iran, decreasing one-day precipitation contribution to rainy days affects to increase in the diurnal rainfall. The mentioned variability can be considered as the climate change signals in respect of one-day precipitation.     

水文模型在估算冰川径流研究中的应用现状

冰川径流估算是气候变化风险评估和水资源可持续管理的重要内容.冰川径流估算方法主要包括:直接观测法、冰川物质平衡法、水量平衡方程法、水化学示踪法和水文模型法.本文首先对五种方法的应用情况进行简要总结,进而重点阐述水文模型法在估算冰川径流研究中的应用现状.水文模型法是冰川径流估算研究中使用最频繁的方法,使用方式主要包括耦合冰川模块和开发新的冰川水文模型.冰川水文模型中的消融算法主要包括温度指数模型(度日因子法)、修正的温度指数模型、能量平衡模型.受当前观测条件限制,修正的温度指数模型兼顾能量平衡模型和温度指数模型的优势而成为冰川水文模型中最流行的方法.随着学科的发展进步,能量平衡模型与水文模型的耦合将会成为未来的研究重点,发展大尺度分布式冰川水文模型是冰川水文学的未来发展方向之一.     

Impact of climate change on extreme rainfall events and flood risk in India

The occurrence of exceptionally heavy rainfall events and associated flash floods in many areas during recent years motivate us to study long-term changes in extreme rainfall over India. The analysis of the frequency of rainy days, rain days and heavy rainfall days as well as one-day extreme rainfall and return period has been carried out in this study to observe the impact of climate change on extreme rainfall events and flood risk in India. The frequency of heavy rainfall events are decreasing in major parts of central and north India while they are increasing in peninsular, east and north east India. The study tries to bring out some of the interesting findings which are very useful for hydrological planning and disaster managements. Extreme rainfall and flood risk are increasing significantly in the country except some parts of central India.     

流域湿地水文调蓄功能研究综述

湿地是流域水循环和水量平衡的重要调节器,在维护流域水量平衡、减轻洪旱灾害和应对气候变化等方面发挥极其重要的作用。流域湿地水文调蓄功能是湿地生态水文学研究的重要内容,科学认识和理解流域湿地水文调蓄功能对流域湿地恢复保护、水资源综合管控与应对气候变化具有极其重要的意义。本文阐述了流域湿地水文调蓄功能的概念与内涵,剖析了流域湿地水文调蓄功能时空变异性、阈值性和多维性三大特征及其影响因素（包括湿地土壤特性、植被特征和初始水文条件等内在因素和流域特征、降雨特征、气候变化和人类活动等外在因素）,探讨了流域湿地不变情景下和变化情景下水文调蓄功能评估方法,并介绍了流域湿地水文调蓄功能定量评估模型与应用情况。最后,从学科发展和实践需求的视角提出了流域湿地水文调蓄功能未来亟需加强研究的重点方向。     

黄土地区小流域降雨空间变化特征分析

利用黄土地区雨量站网较密,控制条件较好的小流域资料,统计分析了5min、15min、30min、60min时段降雨及次降雨空间变化的点面关系、频率特征及结构特征,研究了时段降雨分布同次降雨分布的内在联系,为进一步在产流模拟计算中的应用提供了基础。     

Hydrological impact of forest fires and climate change in a Mediterranean basin

Forest fire can modify and accelerate the hydrological response of Mediterranean basins submitted to intense rainfall: during the years following a fire, the effects on the hydrological response may be similar to those produced by the growth of impervious areas. Moreover, climate change and global warming in Mediterranean areas can imply consequences on both flash flood and fire hazards, by amplifying these phenomena. Based on historical events and post-fire experience, a methodology to interpret the impacts of forest fire in terms of rainfall-runoff model parameters has been proposed. It allows to estimate the consequences of forest fire at the watershed scale depending on the considered burned area. In a second stage, the combined effect of forest fire and climate change has been analysed to map the future risk of forest fire and their consequence on flood occurrence. This study has been conducted on the Llobregat river basin (Spain), a catchment of approximately 5,000 km² frequently affected by flash floods and forest fires. The results show that forest fire can modify the hydrological response at the watershed scale when the burned area is significant. Moreover, it has been shown that climate change may increase the occurrence of both hazards, and hence, more frequent severe flash floods may appear.     

Combination of GIS and mathematical modeling to predict floods in semiarid areas: case of Rheraya watershed (Western High Atlas,Morocco)

The Tinitine sub-watershed of Rheraya is renowned for its semiarid climate, irregular supply of water flow, and its historical floods; for these reasons, it is classified as vulnerable areas during a rainfall event. We conducted this study to propose flood prediction models adapted to this risky zone. For this, a hydrological method of flood forecasting rainfall-runoff used to determine a model conforms to the semiarid basin. This model is based on the articulation of the series production and transfer function. The goal of the production function is to determine the portion of the rainfall runoff, which is performed by two approaches that differ in their structures: (1) the first approach is based on the mathematical model of Horton; (2) the second approach is based on the determination of the part of the rain contributes to runoff and obtained by a spatial map of runoff coefficient (GIS). The transfer function is based on the two models of Clark and Nash, rainy efficient routes to the catchment outlet from a unit hydrograph. The characteristic parameters of these models are obtained through the application of mathematical optimization methods such as genetic algorithms. Thereby, the coupling function producing Horton (identified by the parameters: initial infiltration?=?15.03, final infiltration?=?0.3, and phi?=?0.45) and Clark transfer function (identified by the parameters C_A?=?0.21 and C_B?=?0.79) was given very satisfying results, mainly the low difference between observed and simulated hydrograph and Nash coefficient which is about 85%. This shows the interest of this coupling model in flood forecasting.     

Modelling the formation of residual dune ridges behind barchan dunes in North-east Brazil

Residual dune ridges are often formed by vegetation growing along a line some distance upwind of the lower stoss slope of migrating dunes. This process is common in areas where vegetation germinates along the edge of the water during the rainy period when the water level is higher and interdune areas are flooded. The phenomenon occurs on a large scale in North‐east Brazil, because of the rise and fall in groundwater level at the end of the rainy season. Each residual dune ridge corresponds to the position of the dune during the wet period in each year. Therefore, variations in the distance between these residual dune ridges could be used potentially to monitor climatic fluctuations in rainfall and wind. To examine the potential use of these residual dune ridges for the reconstruction of past climatic fluctuations, a model that simulates them under varying conditions of wind, rainfall and evaporation rates was formulated. The model was tested for sensitivity to climatic variability in North‐east Brazil and validated against residual dune ridge displacements as measured in the field and from high spatial resolution satellite images. Based on the results, it is concluded that residual dune ridges may not form in North‐east Brazil in years which are exceptionally dry, as may happen during El‐Niño events. When this type of event happens, the distance between adjacent residual dune ridges corresponds to more than one year and, therefore, the correlation between dune displacements and wind power becomes weak or even disappears. Additionally, because of biotic, aeolian and hydrological processes, these arcuate residual dune ridges may not preserve their initial shape for long periods. The presence of residual dune ridges testifies to the temporary flooding which may or may not be seasonal. However, the potential for using residual dune ridges to reconstruct the palaeo‐climate of wind regime on a yearly basis or to identify past El‐Niño events seems to be limited.     

Cretaceous terrestrial deposits in China

As an important part of an epidermic system, terrestrial deposits can provide a good record of major geological events in the Cretaceous epidemic system. This article is a review of the geological background, paleogeography, paleoclimate, basin evolution and sedimentary characteristics in China through the Cretaceous period, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding for interested researchers. During the Berriasian-Hauterivian age, red-mainly fluvial and shallow lacustrine deposition developed under arid and semi-arid climates in westen China when eastern China had been occupied by the “East Plateau”. During the Barremian-Albian, age coal-bearing depositions occurred to the north of the Yanshan Mountain under the wet and warm climate. However, mainly red fluvial and shallow lacustrine depositions prevailed in most of the south to the Yanshan Mountain except basins where seawater could enter and caused mostly green depositions. During the Cenomanian-Santonian age, high land uplift took place in northwestern China. Mainly red deposition with developed alluvial plains occupied southwestern China and South China when the Songliao Basin was filled by black deep lacustrine mud shale caused by transgression. Mainly red deposition under an arid and semi-arid climate occupied all basins in China during the Campanian-Maastrichtian age.     

蒙古弧形褶皱带上叠沉积盆地油气远景

根据我们近年来在蒙古国开展的油气地质调查和勘探开发实践,对蒙古大地构造演化、盆地沉积充填、构造发育以及盆地含油气系统等开展综合研究。探讨了蒙古弧形褶皱带构造叠加变形特征,指出北西、北东向构造是蒙古西部和东部中新生代的叠加构造,南北向构造带是蒙古西部晚期发育的上叠构造;发育于蒙古弧形褶皱带的中生代沉积盆地群可分为残余海盆地、前陆盆地、裂陷盆地三种类型。根据石油地质条件综合分析,认为蒙古盆地群中塔木察格、东戈壁等盆地具有良好的油气勘探远景。