Determination of sand dune characteristics through geomorphometry and wind data analysis in central Iran (Kashan Erg)

The combination of wind measurements and remotely sensed geomorphometry indices provides a valuable resource in the study of desert landforms, because arduous desert environments are difficult to access. In this research, we couple wind data and geomorphometry to separate and classify different sand dunes in Kashan Erg in central Iran. Additionally, the effect of sand-fixing projects on sand dune morphology was assessed using geomorphometry indices (roughness, curvature, surface area, dune spacing and dune height). Results showed that a Digital Elevation Model of the National Cartographic Center of Iran (NCC DEM) with 10-m resolution and accuracy of 54% could discriminate geomorphometry parameters better than the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data with 30-m resolution and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data with 90-m resolution and 45.2 and 1.6% accuracy, respectively. Low classification of SRTM DEM was associated with too many non-value points found in the DEM. Accuracy assessment of comparison ground control points revealed that ASTER DEM (RMSE = 4.25) has higher accuracy than SRTM and NCC DEMs in this region. Study of curvature showed that transverse and linear sand dunes were formed in concave topography rather than convex. Reduced slopes in fixed sand dunes were established due to wind erosion control projects. Measurements of dune height and spacing show that there is significant correlation in compound dunes (R ² = 0.546), linear dunes (R ² = 0.228) and fixed dunes (R ² = 0.129). In general, the height of dunes in Kashan Erg increases from the margin of the field to the center of the field with a maximum height of 120 m in star dunes. Analysis of wind data showed that sand drift potential is in low-medium class in Kashan Erg. Linear sand dunes in Kashan Erg show that they are following a global trend in forming of these. Finally, established of geomorphometry method in dune classification will help researchers to identify priority of land management and performance assessment of sand dunes fixing projects in arid arduous environment.     

On the influence of changes in the drag relation on surface wind speeds and storm surge forecasts

In this study it is investigated how uncertainties in the magnitude of the drag coefficient translate into uncertainties in storm surge forecasts in the case of severe weather. A storm surge model is used with wind stress data from a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model, to simulate several recent storms over the North Sea. For a fixed wind speed, the wind stress is linear in the drag coefficient. However, in the NWP model the wind speed is not fixed and increasing the drag in the NWP model results into reduced wind speeds. The results from simulations show that for given increase in the drag coefficient, the weakening of the 10-m wind field reduces the increase in the stress considerably. When the Charnock parameter is increased in the NWP model, the resulting relative changes in the wind stress are almost independent of the wind speed. This is related to the fact that the depth of the surface boundary layer depends on the wind speed. The ratio between relative changes in the wind stress and relative changes in the drag coefficient depends on the wind speed. For 10-m wind speeds larger than 20?m?s^?1 the ratio is 0.52; for lower wind speed criteria the ratio is somewhat larger (??0.60). Approximately 36% of the relative change in the drag coefficient translates into a relative change in the surge in stations at the Dutch coast. The relative increase in the storm surge is approximately 68% of the relative increase in the stress.     

Migration and growth of aeolian bedforms

A two-dimensional analytical model is developed for the morphodynamics of aeolian dunes. The basis of the model is the sediment continuity equation, which is solved using a linearized sediment transport formula. The air flow over the topography is calculated with a steady-state boundary-layer model. This results in a series of analytical expressions for the shear stress, sediment transport, topography through time, and growth and migration of a sine-shaped dune. These expressions give quantitative relationships between bedform behavior (i.e., growth and migration) and factors such as wind velocity and surface roughness. In this way it can be seen that growth and migration rates increase for higher wind velocity, higher surface roughness and higher wave numbers (i.e., shorter wave lengths).     

Experimental investigation of the height profile of sand-dust fluxes in the 0–50-m layer and the effects of vegetation on dust reduction

The height profile of sand-dust flux at 0–2.0-m has been well studied. However, there have been very few experimental studies in the 0–50-m layer. In this study, the height profile of sand-dust flux at 0–50-m was observed by using three sandstorm observation towers (50 m in height) in 2006. The towers were located at three sites with different vegetation conditions (desert, edge of an oasis, and oasis) in the Minqin region, a typical desert-oasis area in China. At the same time, the features of the underlying vegetation were investigated. Results indicated that in the 0–50-m layer, sand-dust flux decreased rapidly as height rose at the desert and the edge of oasis sites, whereas it increased slightly as height rose in the oasis site. At the three sites sand-dust fluxes at each height increased with wind velocity, and there was a fairly good exponential relationship among them. In 2006, a total of 19 sandstorms occurred. The annual sand-dust that passed through a 1-m-wide, 50-m-high section was 9,169 kg at the desert site, 5,318 kg at the edge of oasis site, and 2,345 kg at the oasis site. Compared with the desert site, the annual sand flux was lower by 42% at the edge of oasis site and 74% at the oasis site. Vegetation had a significant effect in reducing the sand-dust flux.     

Determination of efficiency of Vaseline slide and Wilson and Cooke sediment traps by wind tunnel experiments

The trap efficiency of a catcher in wind erosion measurements plays a significant role, and in many cases suspension trap efficiencies at high wind velocities are still unknown. The sediment trap efficiency generally changes with particles size and with wind speed. In this study, the efficiency of Vaseline Slide (VS) and Modified Wilson and Cooke (MWAC) catchers were determined with different sand particle sizes (<50, <75, 50–75, 200–400, and 400–500 μm) at a fixed wind speed (13.3 ms⁻¹) and with different soil textures at different wind velocities (10.3, 12.3, and 14.3 ms⁻¹) in the wind tunnel of the International Center for Eremology (ICE), Ghent University, Belgium. The traps were placed at different heights (4, 6.5, 13, 20, 120, and 192 cm for VS and 1.5, 3, 5, 8, 11, and 30 cm for MWAC) to catch saltating and suspended sediments in a 12-m long, 1.2-m wide and 3.2-m high working section of the wind tunnel. In the sand particle experiments, the efficiency of the VS catcher was 92% for particles smaller than 50 μm and decreased with increasing particles size, falling to 2.2% for 400–500 μm particle size at 13.4 ms⁻¹. However, the MWAC’s efficiency was 0% for particles smaller than 50 μm and increased with increasing particle size to 69.5% at 400–500 μm. In the experiments with different soil textures, the efficiency of each catcher significantly changed with soil and with wind speed. It also considerably varied with the catchers: for instance, for sand (S), the MWAC efficiency was very high (67.4, 113.4, and 90.5% at 10.3, 12.3, and 14.4 ms⁻¹, respectively) while the efficiency of VS was relatively very low (5.2, 4.4, and 1.9% at 10.3, 12.3, and 14.4 ms⁻¹, respectively). Results indicated that the efficiency depends critically on the particle size, type of catcher, and wind speed, and these could be helpful to increase the robustness of wind erosion measurements.     

Evaluation of TRIGRS (transient rainfall infiltration and grid-based regional slope-stability analysis)’s predictive skill for hurricane-triggered landslides: a case study in Macon County,North Carolina

The key to advancing the predictability of rainfall-triggered landslides is to use physically based slope-stability models that simulate the transient dynamical response of the subsurface moisture to spatiotemporal variability of rainfall in complex terrains. TRIGRS (transient rainfall infiltration and grid-based regional slope-stability analysis) is a USGS landslide prediction model, coded in Fortran, that accounts for the influences of hydrology, topography, and soil physics on slope stability. In this study, we quantitatively evaluate the spatiotemporal predictability of a Matlab version of TRIGRS (MaTRIGRS) in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Macon County, North Carolina where Hurricanes Ivan triggered widespread landslides in the 2004 hurricane season. High resolution digital elevation model (DEM) data (6-m LiDAR), USGS STATSGO soil database, and NOAA/NWS combined radar and gauge precipitation are used as inputs to the model. A local landslide inventory database from North Carolina Geological Survey is used to evaluate the MaTRIGRS’ predictive skill for the landslide locations and timing, identifying predictions within a 120-m radius of observed landslides over the 30-h period of Hurricane Ivan’s passage in September 2004. Results show that within a radius of 24 m from the landslide location about 67% of the landslide, observations could be successfully predicted but with a high false alarm ratio (90%). If the radius of observation is extended to 120 m, 98% of the landslides are detected with an 18% false alarm ratio. This study shows that MaTRIGRS demonstrates acceptable spatiotemporal predictive skill for landslide occurrences within a 120-m radius in space and a hurricane-event-duration (h) in time, offering the potential to serve as a landslide warning system in areas where accurate rainfall forecasts and detailed field data are available. The validation can be further improved with additional landslide information including the exact time of failure for each landslide and the landslide’s extent and run out length.     

The detection of roadside pollution of rapidly growing city in arid region using the magnetic proxies

This work is a complementary investigation to the earlier urban soil survey for a rapidly growing city of relatively high traffic density. Therefore, it aims to apply the environmental magnetism approach to assess the roadside pollution at a known polluted site. The used magnetic proxies are the initial magnetic susceptibility and saturation magnetization. The results prove the applicability of this method in detecting roadside pollution. The shape and magnitude of the magnetic signals was affected by the topography and prevailing wind direction that caused the magnetic peaks to be shifted accordingly. Particle size was found to affect the magnetic material content, where sand size (63–150 μm) bears the highest magnetic signals relative to smaller silt size (<63 μm). The magnetic anomalies coincided positively with heavy metal pollution in the studied site, which might indicate that the magnetic materials serve as an effective proxy for the metallic pollution (i.e., Fe, Ni, Pb, Cu, and Zn) originated mainly from vehicular sources.     

Thermal belt and cold air drainage on the mountain slope and cold air lake in the basin at quiet, clear night

This paper reviews results of recent observations on the thermal belt, cold air drainage and cold air lake, which are striking in local climatic phenomena in mountain areas.The height (A) of the warmer part, the thermal belt, of the mountain slopes changes with time from early evening, midnight to early morning and also seasonally and differs according to the velocity of the upper general wind and cloudiness, but is generalized by the height difference (H) between the bottom of the basin and the surrounding mountain ridges. Roughly speaking, A = (0.25–0.30) H.On the mountain slopes, cold air flows down intermittently. The air temperature shows positive correlation to the wind speed of cold air drainage in the source region of cold air drainage. On the other hand, however, there is a negative correlation between the wind speed and air temperature in the drainage region at the lower part of the slope. Above the downslope cold air drainage, there is an anti-down-slope wind. The relatively large drainages are formed at frequencies corresponding to periods of oscillation of 1–2 hours and the smaller ones are of several minutes.In the basin or valley bottom, cold air lakes are formed. They are well defined by a strong inversion in air temperature. In most cases, the stagnant air in the cold air lake flows down slowly in accordance with inclination of the basin or valley floor. Above the cold air lake, we find the neutral or weak inversion layer. In some periods the drained cold air flows into this layer from the side slopes of the mountains. However, the radiation cooling of the basin or valley floor seems to be more effective for the formation of the cold air lake. Above the neutral or weak inversion layer, there is a layer of the general wind caused by the synoptic scale circulation systems. Their effects are controlled by the surrounding topography as well as the basin or the valley itself.In short, the structure of thermal belt, cold air drainage and cold air lake is a good example of the small-scale climatic processes under the influence of the synoptic scale phenomena and the one-order-greater scale topography.     

Improving the WRF/urban modeling system in China by developing a national urban dataset

Accurate modeling of urban climate is essential to predict potential environmental risks in cities. Urban datasets, such as urban land use and urban canopy parameters (UCPs), are key input data for urban climate models and largely affect their performance. However, access to reliable urban datasets is a challenge, especially in fast urbanizing countries. In this study, we developed a high-resolution national urban dataset in China (NUDC) for the WRF/urban modeling system and evaluated its effect on urban climate modeling. Specifically, an optimization method based on building morphology was proposed to classify urban land use types. The key UCPs, including building height and width, street width, surface imperviousness, and anthropogenic heat flux, were calculated for both single-layer Urban Canopy Model (UCM) and multiple-layer Building Energy Parameterization (BEP). The results show that the derived morphological-based urban land use classification could better reflect the urban characteristics, compared to the socioeconomic-function-based classification. The UCPs varied largely in spatial within and across the cities. The integration of the developed urban land use and UCPs datasets significantly improved the representation of urban canopy characteristics, contributing to a more accurate modeling of near-surface air temperature, humidity, and wind in urban areas. The UCM performed better in the modeling of air temperature and humidity, while the BEP performed better in the modeling of wind speed. The newly developed NUDC can advance the study of urban climate and improve the prediction of potential urban environmental risks in China.     

Peculiarities of tsunamis generated by Asteroid impact or nuclear explosions in the northwest of Black Sea

Different models are used to evaluate the seashore effects of the tsunami generated by an asteroid impacting the shallow-water plateau in the northwest basin of the Black Sea. The shortest distance between the impact location and the coast is about 185 km. The tsunami’s effects on the coastal regions depend on many factors among which the most important is asteroid size. The tsunami generated by a 250-m asteroid reaches the nearest dry land location in 35 min and needs about 2 h to arrive all over the Black Sea coast. The run-up value is about 2 m high on Turkish and Crimean coasts. In the western Black Sea regions, the wave height is about 3 m. The run-up values strongly depend on bathymetry and topography peculiarities. The run-up values in case of the tsunami generated by a 1,000-m-sized asteroid are up to five to six times larger than in case of the 250-m impactor, depending on location. Differences between the tsunami’s dynamics on coastal regions situated in the proximity of deep water and shallow water, respectively, are outlined. Aspects concerning accidental or deliberate nuclear explosions are briefly referred. Possible social consequences and prevention are shortly discussed.     

DEM-based morphometry of large-scale sand dune patterns in the Grand Erg Oriental (Northern Sahara Desert,Africa)

Formerly, sand dune patterns were investigated mostly by aerial and satellite images, but more recently, geomorphometric analysis based on digital elevation models (DEMs) has become an important approach. In this paper, sand dune patterns of the Grand Erg Oriental (Sahara) are studied using the De Ferranti (2014) DEM, which is a blending of SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission), ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) and other elevation datasets. In the Grand Erg Oriental, there are four large-scale dune pattern types with gradual transitions between them and with several subtypes, namely P1, consisting of large, branching linear dunes; P2, a complex pattern including small-size and widely spaced star and dome dunes; P3, a network type created mostly from crescentic dunes; and finally, P4, consisting of large and closely spaced star dunes. The largest dunes with 90–100-m mean height can be found in the southern parts of the Grand Erg Oriental, where P1 and P4 patterns dominate, and these areas are also characterised by the most intensive sand accumulation with 25–30-m equivalent sand thickness. In the present study, we use regression analysis to investigate the functional relationships between sand dune characteristics. Further on, we have elaborated a DEM-based method to delineate dunes and calculate sand volumes and dune orientations. Comparing wind rose data and sand dune axis rose diagrams, it is concluded that in some parts of the Grand Erg Oriental, the present dune types and patterns are in agreement with the actual wind regime, but in other cases, the present dune patterns are at least partially the results of former wind regimes.     

The importance of digital elevation model resolution on granular flow simulations: a test case for Colima volcano using TITAN2D computational routine

The mobility of gravity-driven granular flows such as debris flows or pyroclastic density currents are extremely sensitive to topographic changes, such as break in slopes, obstacles, or ravine deviations. In hazard assessment, computer codes can reproduce past events and evaluate hazard zonation based on inundation limits of simulated flows over a natural terrain. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a common input for the simulation algorithm and its accuracy to reproduce past flows is crucial. In this work, we use TITAN2D code to reproduce past block-and-ash flows at Colima volcano (Mexico) over DEMs with different cell size (5, 10, 30, 50, and 90 m) in order to illustrate the influences of the resolution on the numeric simulations. Our results show that topographic resolution significantly affects the flow path and runout. Also, we found that simulations of past flows with the same input parameters (such as the basal friction angle) over topography with different resolutions resulted in different flow paths, areas, and thickness of the simulated flows. In particular, the simulations performed with the 5- and 10-m DEMs produced similar results. Also, we obtained consistent simulation results for the 30- and 50-m DEMs. However, for the coarser 90-m DEM results are largely different and inaccurate. We recommend generating a benchmark table in order to acquire characteristic values for the basal friction angle of studied events. In case of rugged topographies, a DEM with high resolution should be used for more confident results.     

大型浅水湖泊水动力模型不确定性和敏感性分析

选取国内外常用的水动力学模型(EFDC)和典型的浅水湖泊(太湖),采用拉丁超立方取样(LHS),研究湖泊水动力模块中常用的5个重要参数(风拖曳系数、床面粗糙高度、涡粘性系数、紊流扩散系数以及风遮挡系数)对湖体水位和流速的影响。结果表明:针对大型浅水湖泊,湖泊岸线形状和湖底地形、湖泊周围地形、湖泊水面风场对模拟结果产生决定性影响。尤其是在湖湾区和周边地形比较复杂的地区,风场参数对水动力模拟结果不确定性的贡献率最大。在垂向上,表层流速受到参数不确定性的影响最大,底层次之,中层最小。床面粗糙高度对水动力模拟结果不确定性贡献率较风场参数要小,水体涡粘滞系数和扩散系数影响则更小。故在选择大型浅水湖泊水动力模型参数时,要充分考虑湖泊岸线和周围地形,着重率定风场参数以及床面粗糙高度。     

Soil erosion processes in the loess plateau of Northwestern China

The soil erosion processes in the Loess Plateau may be divided into three types: namely, waterflow erosion; gravitational erosion; wind erosion. The waterflow erosion is most widely distributed and is the main erosion action in the Loess Plateau. The main factors dominating the occurrence and development of the soil erosion in the Loess Plateau are: 1. rainfall; 2. topography; 3. vegetation; 4. soil character. The energy of erosion action depends upon the rainfall and topography, but erodiblity depends upon the vegetation and soil properties. The degree of soil erosion in the Loess Plateau changes with variations of interaction of erosion and anti-erosion measures.     

Thunderstorm Hazard vulnerability for the Atlanta,Georgia metropolitan region

Most U.S. metropolitan regions have experienced urban “sprawl,” or the outward spreading of urban development from city centers. For cities lying in areas prone to severe weather, the sprawl phenomenon exposes greater numbers of developed areas and inhabitants to a variety of thunderstorm hazards. This study’s principal goal is to determine how urbanization growth patterns affect a region’s vulnerability to severe weather events. To assess how sprawl may impact vulnerability to tornadoes, hail, and convective wind events, an analysis examining potential loss may be utilized. This study employs two distinct approaches to examine how the Atlanta area’s rapid and extensive development during the latter half of the twentieth Century has affected its overall potential exposure to thunderstorm hazards. First, archived census data are used to estimate overall impacts from hypothetical significant tornado, nontornadic convective wind, and hail events occurring at different time periods throughout several locations in the Atlanta metropolitan region. Second, economic factors are integrated into the analysis, which assists in determining how these hypothetical severe event scenarios may have changed from a cost standpoint if they were to occur in 2006 as opposed to 1960.     

An empirical model of aeolian dune lee-face airflow

Airflow data, gathered over dunes ranging from 60-m tall complex-crescentic dunes to 2-m tall simplecrescentic dunes, were used to develop an empirical model of dune lee-face airflow for straight-crested dunes. The nature of lee-face flow varies and was found to be controlled by the interaction of at least three factors (dune shape, the incidence angle between the primary wind direction and the dune brinkline and atmospheric thermal stability). Three types of lee-face flow (separated, attached and deflected along slope, or attached and undeflected) were found to occur. Separated flows, characterized by a zone of low-speed (0–3O% of crestal speed) back-eddy flow, typically occur leeward of steep-sided dunes in transverse flow conditions. Unstable atmospheric thermal stability also favours flow separation. Attached flows, characterized by higher flow speeds (up to 84% of crestal speed) that are a cosine function of the incidence angle, typically occur leeward of dunes that have a lower average lee slope and are subject to oblique flow conditions. Depending on the slope of the lee face, attached flow may be either deflected along slope (lee slopes greater than about 20°), or have the same direction as the primary flow (lee slopes less than about 20°). Neutral atmospheric thermal stability also favours flow attachment. As each of the three types of lee-face flow is defined by a range of wind speeds and directions, the nature of lee-face flow is intimately tied to the type of aeolian depositional process (i.e. wind ripple or superimposed dune migration, grainflow, or grainfall) that occurs on the lee slope and the resulting pattern of dune deposits. Therefore, the model presented in this paper can be used to enhance the interpretation of palaeowind regime and dune type from aeolian cross-strata.     

Geomorphology of star dunes in the southern Kumtagh Desert, China: control factors and formation

Star dunes have received less study than other major dune types, though they are widely recognized to represent a major dune type that develops under a multi-directional wind regime. Several types that include simple, compound, and complex star dunes are identified in the south of China’s Kumtagh Desert. It is suggested that the formation and development of these star dunes is controlled by wind regime, the underlying and surrounding topography, and sediment availability. A complex wind regime and rich sediment availability are generally required for the development of star dunes. Especially, wind regime appears to be the most important control factor. The wind regime under which star dunes arise is characterized by the drift potential, amount of variability in drift direction, and the direction distribution mode of the drift potential. It is strongly suggested that a rectangular bimodal wind direction distribution mode has unique significance in star dune formation. Under this mode, star dunes can develop in areas with a directional variability index typical of linear dunes or even barchan dunes. A development model is proposed for star dunes based on the following evolution: barchan dunes → transverse ridges → dune networks → simple star dunes → compound star dunes → star dunes atop complex linear dunes.     

江苏徐州市区地基土工程地质分区及岩土工程问题

通过对徐州市区多年实际勘测资料的分析,依据地形、地貌、地基土沉积年代、成因类型等组合特征将徐州市区划分为四个工程地质区;研究了不同工程地质区域内不同地基土的物理、力学等工程地质特征;阐述了四个区存在的主要岩土工程地质问题,据此对该区勘察设计及地基处理方案提出建议。     

Flow dynamics and geomorphology of a trough blowout

The dynamics and geomorphological development of a trough blowout located at Fiona Beach in the Myall Lakes National Park in NSW, Australia, are examined. Wind speeds, velocities and flow structure were measured utilizing an array of miniature Rimco cup anemometers, Gill bivane and UVW instruments, and wind vanes. Flow measurements indicate that when the wind approaches the trough blowout parallel to the throat orientation, jets occur both in the deflation basin and along the erosional walls, relative flow deceleration and expansion occurs up the depositional lobe, jets are formed over the depositional lobe crest accompanied by downwind flow separation on the leeward side of the lobe, and flow separation and the formation of corkscrew vortices occur over the crests of the erosional walls. Maximum erosion and transport occurs up the deflation basin and onto the depositional lobe. Trough blowout morphologies are explained as a function of these flow patterns. When the wind approaches the blowout obliquely, the flow is steered considerably within the blowout, and the degree and complexity of topographic steering is dependent on the blowout topography. The flow is usually extremely turbulent and large corkscrew vortices are common. The local topography of a blowout can be very important in determining overall sand transport and blowout evolutionary conditions and paths. Estimates of potential sand transport within the blowout may be up to two orders of magnitude lower than actual rates if remotely sensed wind data are used.     

Spectral variability of the STAR 55 Cyg B3 Ia

We study the variability of the Hα and Hβ lines in the spectrum of 55 Cyg based on observations carried out in 2010 on the 2-m telescope of the Shamakhy Observatory of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. These observations were carried out at the Cassegrain focus of the telescope. The spectral resolution is close to 15 000. The Hα emission and absorption components disappeared on some nights. This may be associated with asphericity of the stellar wind. A more complete explanation requires additional observations.