Impact of rainstorm-triggered landslides on high turbidity in a mountain reservoir

Typhoon-triggered landslides deliver huge amounts of sediment to the upstream channel of the Shihmen Reservoir in northern Taiwan. Observation data regarding landsliding, sediment discharge and water turbidity following five major typhoon events from 1985 to 2006 demonstrated that each time water turbidity in the reservoir area rapidly increased up to ten-fold from the river catchment drainage, and the weight of landslide debris exceeded total sediment discharge five-fold. The fact that huge amounts of landslide debris still remained on upstream slopes and water turbidity suddenly increased in the reservoir area but not in upstream channel implied that the increasing water turbidity in the Shihmen Reservoir was indirectly related to the large landslides occurring in the upstream catchment. The main cause of high turbidity in the reservoir area was that, during a typhoon event, high water discharge flowing into the reservoir scoured the fine fraction sediment at the bottom of the reservoir and formed hyperpycanl flow with high turbidity, which then ascended to contaminate the reservoir surface water.     

Integrated modelling for water quality management in a eutrophic reservoir in south-eastern Portugal

The Enxoé Reservoir was built in 1998. Since 2000, it has exhibited frequent high chlorophyll-a concentrations, reaching a geometric mean three times higher than the national limit for eutrophication, presenting the reservoir with the highest eutrophic state in Portugal. Toxic algal blooms have also often been observed, which pose serious challenges to water managers, as the reservoir is used for potable water production (25,000 inhabitants). The objective of this study was to implement a reservoir model (CE-QUAL-W2), with inputs from a watershed model (SWAT), in order to represent the actual reservoir state and to test management measures to reduce its trophic level and algal bloom concentration peaks. The integrated model was used to depict the origin of its trophic status. Simulations were also compared to measured data at the reservoir surface (water level, nitrate, orthophosphate, suspended solids, and oxygen) and in water profiles (temperature, oxygen). The model was able to represent stratification and thermocline depths, as well as the actual chlorophyll-a and dissolved oxygen concentrations. The model results showed that internal phosphorus load from deposited sediments was an important factor in fuelling the algal blooms. This process occurs predominantly in summer, when stratification takes place and aeration is reduced, promoting anoxic conditions in the bottom waters. Since the reservoir is relatively shallow (average 5 m), released phosphorus is then easily able to reach the photic zone in most parts of the reservoir, where it is consumed. Different management scenarios were tested, suggesting that a mesotrophic level could barely be reached and maintained simply by reducing the nutrient loads (both external and internal). It is suggested that only an increase in the reservoir dam height could produce a mesotrophic level, averting anoxia by blocking the release of phosphorus from sediments to the photic zone. Future work should focus on a cost–benefit analysis to test the feasibility of each of the proposed scenarios, taking advantage of the integration strategy to assess where in the watershed load reductions would be most effective.     

Hydrological modeling of typhoon-induced extreme storm runoffs from Shihmen watershed to reservoir, Taiwan

Typhoon-induced extreme storm runoffs often cause flood hazards. In this study, a hydrological model (HEC-HMS) was applied to Shihmen watershed located in Taiwan. Three typhoon-induced storm events, with return period ranging from 1 to 90 years, were used in case studies to characterize storm runoff. With a 5-year storm for model calibration, model parameters were carefully calibrated through the comparison between model simulated and observed flows at a stream gage station. The calibrated model was then verified for a 90-year storm and a 1-year storm event. Results indicate that the calibrated and verified HEC-HMS hydrological model is capable of providing satisfactory predictions of the typhoon-induced extreme storm runoff to support reservoir operation and flood hazard mitigation. Based on model simulations, typhoon-induced water table increases for different initial water volumes at Shihmen Reservoir was derived by adding storm-runoff volume to the reservoir’s initial elevation-volume rating curve. Water tables above the top elevation of the dam in the reservoir indicate the need for immediate water releases to avoid the risk of overflow over the dam.     

Two-dimensional modelling of hydrodynamics and water quality of a stratified dam reservoir in the southern side of the Mediterranean Sea

A vertical two-dimensional, laterally averaged hydrodynamic and water quality model CE-QUAL-W2 was used to simulate water temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, chlorophyll a, total suspended solids, alkalinity, ammonium, phosphate, and total iron in the Sejnane Dam (North Tunisia) in response to external forcings that characterize main features of climate in the southern side of the Mediterranean Sea. The hydrodynamic modelling results show that the model is able to reproduce accurately the measured water surface elevation, spatio-temporal patterns of temperature, dissolved oxygen and other state of variables and to capture most of the seasonal changes in the reservoir. Three scenarios involving the impacts of severe drought season, summer rainfall and total suspended solids load on hydrodynamics and water quality are analyzed. Severe drought reduces the thickness of hypoxic waters from 10 to 2–4 m and shifts the temperature of the entire water column up to 5 °C during summer and about 1.2 °C in winter. The thermocline takes place 1 month before that of the reference and sinks to the bottom faster by 1–2 m per month. Summer rainfall dilutes the first waves of the autumn rains and disrupts the thermal gradient in the water column, which may show complex thermal structures. TSS load has the most negative effects on water quality in that it shifts the phosphorus concentration by 1–3 mg/l and promotes an early warming of surface water in spring and an early cooling since late summer by up to 1 °C. During summer stratification, it contributes to the cooling of the metalimnion by 2 °C on average, which may alter its structure and dynamics as an aquatic biotope.     

Pollutant association with suspended solids in stormwater in Tijuana,Mexico

Stormwater runoff from urban areas is a major source of many pollutants to water bodies. Suspended solids are one of the main pollutants because of their association with other pollutants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between suspended solids and other pollutants in stormwater runoff in the city of Tijuana. Seven sites were sampled during seven rain events during the 2009–2010 season and the different particle size fractions were separated by sieving and filtration. The results have shown that the samples have high concentration of total suspended solids, the values of which ranged from 725 to 4,411.6 mg/L. The samples were analyzed for chemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and turbidity. The results show that most of the particles in suspended solids are in the particle fraction between 10 and 62 μm. A high association between the concentrations of suspended solids was found for chemical oxygen demand, phosphorus, and turbidity but not for total nitrogen.     

热分层效应控制的水库水体氢氧同位素特征

为掌握水库热分层与氢氧同位素空间分布的关系,研究了广西兴安县五里峡水库夏季氢氧同位素空间分布特征及影响因素。研究表明:①五里峡水库夏季出现明显的热分层,库表层至-5 m为表水层,-5 m至-20 m为温跃层,-20 m以下为底温层;②五里峡水库δ18O、δD值沿大气降水线分布,但均落在桂林市大气降水线右下方,其线性方程为δD=4.66δ18O-10.85（R2=0.76）,其斜率与全球大气降雨线（GMWL）和桂林市降雨线（CLMWL）的斜率和截距差异明显,表明五里峡水库主要由降水补给,但在补给五里峡水库前已经过了强烈的蒸发作用和水岩作用;③ δ18O、δD随水深的增加逐渐偏负,具有表水层 > 入库水体 > 温跃层 > 底温层 > 出库水体（>表示偏正）的垂向分布特征。分析认为入库水体氢氧同位素的季节变化和蒸发作用随深度增加而降低是五里峡水库夏季分层期间水体氢氧同位素垂向变化的主要影响因素。     

A Modeling Study of the Impacts of Mississippi River Diversion and Sea-Level Rise on Water Quality of a Deltaic Estuary

Freshwater and sediment management in estuaries affects water quality, particularly in deltaic estuaries. Furthermore, climate change-induced sea-level rise (SLR) and land subsidence also affect estuarine water quality by changing salinity, circulation, stratification, sedimentation, erosion, residence time, and other physical and ecological processes. However, little is known about how the magnitudes and spatial and temporal patterns in estuarine water quality variables will change in response to freshwater and sediment management in the context of future SLR. In this study, we applied the Delft3D model that couples hydrodynamics and water quality processes to examine the spatial and temporal variations of salinity, total suspended solids, and chlorophyll-α concentration in response to small (142 m³ s^?1) and large (7080 m³ s^?1) Mississippi River (MR) diversions under low (0.38 m) and high (1.44 m) relative SLR (RSLR = eustatic SLR + subsidence) scenarios in the Breton Sound Estuary, Louisiana, USA. The hydrodynamics and water quality model were calibrated and validated via field observations at multiple stations across the estuary. Model results indicate that the large MR diversion would significantly affect the magnitude and spatial and temporal patterns of the studied water quality variables across the entire estuary, whereas the small diversion tends to influence water quality only in small areas near the diversion. RSLR would also play a significant role on the spatial heterogeneity in estuary water quality by acting as an opposite force to river diversions; however, RSLR plays a greater role than the small-scale diversion on the magnitude and spatial pattern of the water quality parameters in this deltaic estuary.     

The concentrations and distribution of mercury in aquatic ecosystem of Baihua Reservoir

1Introduction Thebiogeochemicalcycleofmercuryinaqueous systemisthekeyfactorleadingtotheexpansionof mercurypollutiononaglobalscaleandthesafetyof fishconsumers.Dissolvedgaseousmercury(DGM)e vasionisconsideredasoneofthemostimportantmer curysourcesforatmosphere.Atthesametime,this procedurewillreducetheHgburdeninthewatercol umnandmaythusdecreasemethylmercuryproduction andaccumulationinfish(Nriagu,1994).TheBaihua ReservoirissituatedinGuizhouProvince,andithas sufferedseriousmercurycontaminationfr…     

Spatial characters of nutrients in Wujiangdu Reservoir in karst river,SW China

A preliminary assessment of the Wujiangdu Reservoir examined nutrient distribution and transport. Water samples were collected in the summer (July) of 2004, during the high-flow season. Inorganic nutrients (N, P, Si) and chlorophyll a (chl a) concentrations of the Wujiangdu Reservoir and its inflow rivers were analyzed. Other water parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and electrical conductivity) were measured as well. The results show gradually decreasing concentrations of NO₃ ^?-N and dissolved silicate in the surface water moving downstream to the dam of the Wujiangdu Reservoir. Additionally, soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations measured very low, with most falling below the sensitivity threshold of the method used in surface waters. Particulate phosphorus and NO₃ ^?-N were the predominant species of phosphorus and nitrogen in the reservoir, respectively. The concentration of nutrients in the Yeji River was the largest of all inflow rivers. The maximum concentration of chl a was found near the dam. These results reflect upstream conditions similar to that of a river, and reservoir conditions near the dam similar to that of a natural lake system.     

Geochemical characterization and origins of the thermal springs in southern Gaoligong Mountains,China

Hydrogeochemistry and environmental isotope data were utilized to understand origins and characteristics of the thermal springs in southern Gaoligong Mountains, China. The groundwater at the thermal springs has low values of total dissolved solids, and its main water types are Na-HCO₃. The thermal springs are mainly recharged from meteoric precipitations. The recharge areas are located near the springs at an approximate elevation of 1,800 m. The groundwater of the thermal springs is immature and partially equilibrated with a strong mixture of the shallow cold waters during the flow process. The shallow cold water accounts for more than 90 %. The temperatures of thermal reservoir that feed the springs are between 146 and 260 °C, and the calculated groundwater circulation depths range from 2,000 to 5,700 m below ground surface.     

多层渗滤介质处理微污染水体的中试研究

对传统的渗滤系统进行改进,采用多层渗滤介质系统,以期增大人工土层对颗粒有机物的接触氧化表面积,同时设置曝气装置保证好氧过程的氧气供应,可以大大提高污水地下处理系统的水力负荷。以北京典型的细砂、中砂、粗砂和砾石为填充材料,处理北京市海淀区上庄水库的污染水体,远优于类似的系统。现场试验结果表明,改进后的系统能创造良好的好氧/厌氧环境,对污染物去除效果良好,COD_Cr、TN、NH⁺₄-N和TP去除率分别达到了48.57%~94.87%、18.49%~70.21%、20.51%~87.50%和5692%~80.65%,出水达到了地表水Ⅲ-Ⅳ类水质标准。多层渗滤介质系统通过微生物的硝化、反硝化作用实现生物脱氮是去除氮的主要途径;土壤的吸附与沉淀作用是去除磷的主要途径。      

Evaluating the effectiveness of bank infiltration process in new Aswan City, Egypt

Riverbank filtration (RBF) is an efficient and low-cost natural alternative technology for water supply application in which surface water contaminants are removed or degraded as the infiltrating water moves from the river to the pumping wells. In this study, a full-scale RBF site consisting of three vertical wells installed 50 m from Nile bank was investigated. The RBF systems are particularly well suited for providing better water quality than withdrawal directly from the Nile River to produce drinking water for New Aswan city. The study is carried out by taking samples over 1 year from riverbank filtrates wells, Nile River (as induced surface water), and some production wells were collected and analyzed. Physicochemical and microbiological measurements such as turbidity, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, total organic carbon, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, pH, Fe, Mn, NH₃, NO₂, NO₃, PO₄, Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO₃, SO₄, Cl, total bacteria, and total coliform were carried out. The results of bank filtrate were compared with those of the natural groundwater and previous reported Nile water. Chemical and bacterial quality parameters of RBF are under the allowable limits for drinking water. Moreover, bank filtration is simultaneously improved the ambient groundwater and cleaned Nile water in the studied area. Result of this full-scale RBF plant showed the effectiveness of riverbank filtration as a proven treatment technique in Nile Valley with a fraction of cost comparing to conventional surface treatment plants.     

Modeling the risk of nitrate leaching and nitrate runoff loss from intensive farmland in the Baiyangdian Basin of the North China Plain

The water movement and soil nitrogen cycle of the Baiyangdian Basin were simulated, and the risk of nitrate leaching and nitrate runoff loss from intensive farmland was assessed by using the distributed hydrological soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) in this study. The model assessment showed that SWAT was able to simulate water and nitrate movement in the region with satisfactory results. The modeling analysis indicated that fertilizer application was the overriding source of soil nitrogen and might result in a large amount of nitrate accumulation in soils; this nitrate might be lost by leaching or runoff driven by water movement. In 2009, nitrate nitrogen leaching represented 19.5 % of the total amount of nitrogen fertilizer application, while nitrate nitrogen runoff represented 1.7 % only. Thus, it showed that the nitrate leaching was the main approach of soil nitrogen movement in farmland because of strong percolation. It also showed a significant variation of nitrate leaching from different soil depths, with the largest amount leached from surface soil layers and the smallest amount leached from lower soil layers. Therefore, it could be further revealed that the nitrate concentration was very low at soil layers lower than the root zone of crops (1.2 m). Validated by groundwater observations, groundwater pollution by nitrate derived from fertilizers was not serious because of the deep groundwater level in the study plain. However, the risk of groundwater pollution would increase significantly if precipitation increased.     

密云水库中总磷迁移转化机制的分析

通过对2001、2002年进行的四次大规模取样测试结果进行分析,认为密云水库目前为中营养型水库,富营养化趋势明显,水中磷的主要来源为以工业、生活污水及水土流失携带进入水体的外源磷和以水库底泥释放为主的内源磷。磷在表层水中浓度小于底层水中的浓度,东西库区的浓度小于内湖的浓度;垂向上由上至下逐渐增高。磷的迁移转化途径为:一部分在水体悬浮物表层吸附或沉积,另一部分被水中的藻类吸收,进入生物作用。对水中磷的迁移转化影响较大的因素为:水中的pH值、溶解氧含量、温度、水动力条件及生物作用。     

乌江渡水库中溶解性硅的时空分布特征

在2003年10月-2004年9月期间每月一次采集了乌江干流上乌江渡水库大坝前开阔水域中的表层水;并于2003年10月、2004年4月和7月在同一采样点采集了分层水样及其底部的柱状沉积物。分别测定了其中溶解性硅(DSi)和叶绿素a(Chl-a)的浓度,同时还现场测定了水体中的温度(T),溶解氧(DO)和pH值。结果表明:乌江渡水库表层水中DSi的浓度范围为0.53~3.96 mg/L,平均值为1.74 mg/L;但沉积物孔隙水中DSi浓度大约是上覆水体中DSi浓度的7倍。分层期间,水体中DSi浓度在垂直方向上随水深增加而升高,而孔隙水中DSi浓度随沉积深度先增加后降低。同时还发现乌江渡水库中DSi与叶绿素a之间存在较好的反相关关系,这表明该水库中DSi的含量和分布可能主要受到浮游植物尤其是硅藻的生物活动调节。     

Sinohyliopsis schlegeli珍珠层中Si、Mn、Fe和Sr离子的微生物固定化和环境因素

在日本Ishikawa Prefecture的Kanazawa大学进行了为期8个月的排水池培养实验,利用特征水和营养元素的基本因素对Sinohyliopsis schlegeli贝壳珍珠质所记录的环境变化进行观察。在2007年5月份到11月份之间,每个月向贝壳珍珠质注入四环素作为指示剂。定期测量水质,诸如pH、氧化还原势、电导率、溶解氧以及水温,通过过滤法除掉水中悬浮固体并进行光学显微镜和荧光X射线分析以及扫描电镜 能量色散X射线观察(SEM EDX)。对贝壳珍珠质的X射线荧光化学分析表明那些富含四环素的层对应高含量的Si、Mn、Fe和Sr离子。氧化还原势和溶解氧分析都证明在珍珠质中存在层。排水池中悬浮物质主要由Si、Mn和Fe元素组成,这与2007年夏季贝壳珍珠层的生物固定化中所涉及的元素一致。SEM EDX分析证明离子来自Siderocapsa sp.和Gallionella ferruginea硅藻的胃部。冬季几乎没有发生离子的生物固定化。结果表明在层化的贝壳珍珠质中存在元素的固定化,Sinohyliopsis schlegeli 在夏季以离子为食来生长珍珠质。具有这些生物氧化物的Sinohyliopsis schlegeli可能对自然界水体中重金属的清除有一定的贡献。     

Geostatistics as a groundwater exploration planning tool: case of a brackish-saline aquifer

This paper discusses a geostatistical approach to model a groundwater aquifer in 3-D. The study aims at utilizing geostatistics as a tool for characterizing zones of better-water quality in a brackish-saline aquifer. In particular, the geostatistical model was constructed to characterize the aquifer’s salinity, represented by total dissolved solids (TDS), using logs of porosity and resistivity. Quality-checked estimated TDS vertical profiles were employed to construct and model horizontal and vertical semivariograms. Parameters of semivariogram models were used to develop both the kriging plan and the generated model. Results of this modeling process are shown in the form of horizontal salinity distribution maps. The aquifer was sliced into 20 layers, each 20 m thick, to represent its overall thickness. Salinity layers maps reflect vertical stratification of TDS concentrations in the aquifer and show that water quality deteriorates with depth and toward the northern part of the aquifer. Relatively better-quality water (TDS ≤10,000 mg/l) can be found at depths between 100 and 250 m below the aquifer’s top in both eastern and southeastern parts. Water in the same interval to the western and southwestern parts reflects the presence of higher TDS concentration. From a planning point of view, it is more feasible to target the eastern part of the aquifer for pumping and desalination purposes. In addition, the generated model could be utilized as an initial condition for flow simulation.     

The influence of the Three Gorges Reservoir regulation on a typical tributary heat budget

Reservoir regulation and local climate both affect the heat budget of tributary bay. It is difficult for traditional methods to identify the influence of different factors on heat budget quantitatively. In this paper, for analysis of the control mechanisms of the heat budget of a large reservoir tributary, the water temperature distribution, and heat budget processes of the Meixi River, a typical tributary to the Three Gorges Reservoir was measured, and a new method was used to calculate the heat content composition of the tributary bay and identify the key factor of the heat balance. The result shows significant variation in the spatial and temporal distributions of water temperatures in the Meixi River, ranging from 12.4 to 28.9 °C on the surface and 12.0 to 24.4 °C at the bottom. The total heat exchange across the air–water interface that ranges from 0.1 to 6% of the budget is not the primary control factor of the annual tributary heat budget. Rather, the change in water depth produced by regulation of the Three Gorges Reservoir is the primary control factor of the tributary heat budget in the whole year, which ranges from 72 to 99% of the budget. The water temperature difference between the main stream and tributary is the not key factor of the heat budget, which ranges from 0.1 to 28% of the heat budget.     

Landsliding triggered by reservoir operation: a general conceptual model with a case study at Three Gorges Reservoir

The Three Gorge Reservoir, one of the largest civil engineering projects in human history, dams the Yangtze River to form a 660-km-long and 1.13-km-wide reservoir. Today, although the project has been completed and is in normal operation, the on-going landslide initiation and movement in response to the reservoir operating is one of the main geologic hazards. The Huangtupo (meaning “yellow soil slope” in Chinese) Slope typifies such on-going landslides along the reservoir. Observations from a multi-year monitoring program conducted on this slope indicate that there are multiple slides on the reservoir banks that move episodically into the reservoir and their movements appear to be highly correlated with the initial and seasonal changes in the reservoir pool level. A hydro-mechanical numerical model is constructed to investigate the quantitative links among the episodic movements and the variations in pore water pressure, suction stress, hydrostatic reservoir water loading, and slope self-weight induced by the fluctuating water levels. Modeling results identify regions within the variably saturated slope where significant changes in stress occur during the periods of the initial impoundment that raised water levels from 68 to 135 m and that occur in response to seasonal fluctuations of the reservoir pool level between 145 and 175 m. We find that the rise or decline of reservoir pool level can either increase or decrease the stability of landslide. In general, hydrostatic reservoir water loading has positive correlation with the stability; pore water pressure and suction stress have negative correlation with the stability; and the effects of slope self-weight depend on the dip angle and mechanical properties of sliding surface.     

Radium Sampling Methods and Residence Times in St. Andrew Bay,Florida

Activity ratios (AR) of radium isotopes have been used with success to constrain estimates of water ages and to approximate residence times in coastal waters. We compared two common radium sampling methods (grab sampling and stationary moorings) to estimate water ages and the residence time of St. Andrew Bay waters in northwest Florida, USA. Both sampling methods utilize manganese dioxide fibers (“Mn fibers”) to adsorb dissolved radium from the water column. Grab samples capture radium activities at a discrete time while moorings integrate radium activities over longer deployments. The two methods yielded similar results in this study and thus both approaches are useful for water age comparisons and residence time approximations. However, since radium often varies as a function of tidal stage, deploying moorings over a complete tidal cycle is the preferred approach. An estimated residence time for North Bay and West Bay of 8–11 days was approximated using ARs for both ex²²⁴Ra/²²³Ra and ex²²⁴Ra/²²⁸Ra. Some complications were introduced as St. Andrew Bay is a tidally dominated, rather than a river-dominated bay system where this method has previously been applied. The largest freshwater source to this bay system is from a man-made reservoir, with an average freshwater flow of only 20 m³ s^?1. The activity concentrations and ARs measured by both sampling methods suggest that while the reservoir is the prominent radium source, it is not the only radium source. Nonetheless, a tidal mixing model applied to the western half of the system yielded an approximate flushing time of 10–12 days, similar to that derived from our radium-based water age approach.