Forecasting changes of water resources in large rivers following land drainage / Méthode de prévision des modifications des ressources en eau des grands fleuves sous l'effet du drainage

ABSTRACT

Techniques are described for annual forecasts of the water balance after drainage of large river basins. In the development of these techniques precipitation was assumed to be constant and unaffected by drainage. It is shown that the effect of drainage upon the annual runoff of the improved basins is to decrease the groundwater and swamp water resources which leads to evaporation changes. According to experimental data on the hydrophysical properties of peats, mineral soils and subsoils and how they change after drainage, the decrease in the groundwater resources was estimated for each per cent of the basin drained. This allowed account to betaken of this effect while making forecasts of runoff changes. Evaporation changes are computed as the difference between the maximum possible evaporation (potential evaporation) from cultivated areas and that from undisturbed swamps.     

An isotopic and geochemical study of snowmelt runoff in a small arctic watershed

‘Old’ water contributions to snowmelt runoff in a stream can be defined as water which was stored in the catchment prior to the start of the runoff event in question. We used mass balance techniques for natural oxygen-18 and several chemical parameters (electrical conductivity, Ca and Mg) to estimate the magnitude and timing of ‘old’ water contributions to snowmelt runoff in the Apex River watershed during the 1983 field season. The Apex River catchment is located in the southern part of Baffin Island, Northwest Territories, Canada. The watershed has an area of 60 km², it is in the zone of continuous permafrost, and the geology is dominantly Precambrian gneiss with sporadic, thin, glacial overburden. The isotopic data indicate that for the snowmelt season of 1983 (third highest peak discharge of 11 years of record), approximately 50 per cent of the peak stream discharge consisted of ‘old’ water. Our data also suggest that about 60 per cent of the entire 1983 hydrograph was ‘old’ water. The chemical parameters give old water contributions which are at least 10 per cent less than the isotopically-derived estimate, but they are consistent with the isotopic estimate during peak flow.     

Solution of marble in the karst of the Pikikiruna range,Northwest Nelson,New Zealand

The paper reports the first research on karst solution processes and rates in New Zealand. The study area is an IHD representative basin in the northwest corner of the South Island in a mountain range consisting principally of Ordovician marble. The climate is sunny and warm (17°C) in summer and wet and cool (7°C) in winter. Average precipitation is 2,158 mm of which 525 mm evapotranspires, yielding a discharge of 51–75 l/s/km² in the river basin studied. Almost half of the catchment of 45.1 km² consists of karst which occurs mainly as a doline covered plateau at 600–900 m within which most drainage is subterranean. Water tracing is with fluorescein defined drainage patterns. Marble solution was established by estimating inputs, throughputs and outputs of water and dissolved calcium and magnesium in both autogenic and allogenic karst drainage systems. Particular attention was paid to estimating errors. Water samples for chemical analysis were taken irregularly for approximately one year, and a rating curve relating chemical load to discharge was established. The best estimate of solution loss from the basin yields a mean rate of 100 ±M24 m³/km²/a. Of this 80 per cent is derived from solution of marble by autogenic waters, mostly in the top 10–30 m of the marble outcrop. The remaining 20 per cent is accomplished by allogenic stream solution. Approximately 9.9 per cent of the dissolved calcium and magnesium load leaving the basin originates from non-karst rocks and 4.6 per cent is initially introduced by rainfall. River flows that are exceeded only 5 per cent of the time transport approximately 44 per cent of the annual dissolved load, while mean to low flows that occur for 75 per cent of the time transport 35 per cent of the annual solute load. This confirms the importance of low frequency-high magnitude events, but indicates also that in corrosion systems high frequency events of moderate to low magnitude can also accomplish significant work.     

Innovative mitigation method for buried pipelines crossing faults

A new remediation technique is proposed to mitigate large deformations imposed on buried pipeline systems subject to permanent ground deformation. With this technique, low-density gravel(LDG) with high porosity, such as pumice,is used as backfill in the trench containing the pipe near an area susceptible to PGD. This countermeasure decreases soil resistance, soil-pipe interaction forces and strain on the pipe as the pipeline deformation mechanism changes to a more desirable shape. Expanded polys...     

A review of numerical simulation of hydrothermal systems / Examen de la simulation numérique des systèmes hydrothermiques

Abstract

Many advances in simulating single and two-phase fluid flow and heat transport in porous media have recently been made in conjunction with geothermal energy research. These numerical models reproduce system thermal and pressure behaviour and can be used for heat-transport problems other than those associated with geothermal energy development, such as high-level radioactive waste disposal and heat-storage projects. Although these models are general, additional research is necessary before they can be applied to certain site-specific problems that are concerned with additional processes, such as mass transport and flow in fractured media.     

A MONTHLY WATER BALANCE MODEL INCLUDING DEEP INFILTRATION AND CANAL LOSSES / Un modèle mensuel du bilan hydrologique inclusive l'infiltration profonde et les pertes des canaux

Abstract

A monthly water balance model is being successfully applied to the Grote Nete test basin (553 km²) in the North of Belgium. This low region has a complex geological structure, its boundaries are more or less unknown and deep infiltration into a deep aquifer is most likely to occur. Moreover, the area is crossed by several navigation canals which import and export an unknown volume of water.

The inputs are monthly precipitation and Penman potential evapotranspiration values. The model computes actual evapotranspiration, water storage in the basin, direct runoff and infiltration, baseflow and total stream discharge, deep infiltration loss into the underlying aquifer and constant seepage from the canals. The ‘pattern search’ procedure has been used for automatic optimization of the six model parameters. All parameters have a physical meaning and can be evaluated initially.

For the calibration period 1967–1972, total stream discharge has been calculated with a precision of 0.2 per cent compared to total measured volume. The correlation coefficient is 92 per cent for the same calibration period. Prediction for the period 1973–1974 gave a volume precision of 8.7 per cent and a correlation coefficient of 93 per cent.     

Dynamics of Wood Transport in Streams: A Flume Experiment

The influence of woody debris on channel morphology and aquatic habitat has been recognized for many years. Unlike sediment, however, little is known about how wood moves through river systems. We examined some dynamics of wood transport in streams through a series of flume experiments and observed three distinct wood transport regimes: uncongested, congested and semi-congested. During uncongested transport, logs move without piece-to-piece interactions and generally occupy less than 10 per cent of the channel area. In congested transport, the logs move together as a single mass and occupy more than 33 per cent of the channel area. Semi-congested transport is intermediate between these two transport regimes. The type of transport regime was most sensitive to changes in a dimensionless input rate, defined as the ratio of log volume delivered to the channel per second (Q_log) to discharge (Q_W); this ratio varied between 0·015 for uncongested transport and 0·20 for congested transport. Depositional fabrics within stable log jams varied by transport type, with deposits derived from uncongested and semi-congested transport regimes having a higher proportion of pieces orientated normal to flow than those from congested transport. Because wood input rates are higher and channel dimensions decrease relative to piece size in low-order channels, we expect congested transport will be more common in low-order streams while uncongested transport will dominate higher-order streams. Single flotation models can be used to model the stability of individual pieces, especially in higher-order channels, but are insufficient for modelling the more complex intractions that occur in lower-order streams. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Beach erosion as a function of variations in the sediment budget,Sandy Hook,New Jersey,U.S.A.

Many of the world's beaches have recently been eroding, even on progradational landforms. This study uses the sediment budget approach to identify and rank the causes of the hazard along Sandy Hook spit where the primary recreational beach has been eroding at about 10 m/yr since 1953 and 23 m/yr in the 1970s. Large spatial variations in longshore sediment transport are found to result from differences in refracted wave energies and intersegmental sediment transport. Erosion results from a 60 per cent deficit (-270,000 m³/yr) in the sediment budget that is primarily caused by (1) refraction induced locally high waves that increase the transport rate by 100,000 m³, and (2) shore protection structures that have lessened the longshore sediment inputs by an additional 100,000 m³/yr. A storm index is presented to analyse secular climatic variation. It suggests that the annual sediment transport rate may vary by as much as ±50 per cent about the mean and that recently, above normal storm wave energies are responsible for about 60,000 m³/yr of the budget deficit. Rising sea levels and storm overwash each account for only about one per cent of the sediment loss. Pulses of sediment, induced by accelerated erosion at the feeder beach locale of spit segments, are found to move downdrift. They alter the geomorphology of the spit through episodic extensions of the spit segments with lag times exceeding one year per segment.     

Drought impacts on water quality and potential implications for agricultural production in the Maipo River Basin,Central Chile

ABSTRACT

Droughts can have serious negative impacts on the water quality needed for irrigated agriculture. The Metropolitan region of Chile is a relevant producer of high-value crops and is prone to droughts. Standardized Drought Indices were used to characterize meteorological and hydrological droughts for the period from 1985 to 2015. To understand the relationship between droughts and water quality, we evaluated the correlations between daily discharge and surface water quality observations. The threshold level method was used to compare physicochemical parameters during hydrological drought periods with the Chilean water quality thresholds for agricultural uses. A significant (p < 0.05) negative relationship between discharge and electrical conductivity and major ions was found in most of the basin. Hydrological stations located in irrigation districts exceeded the official thresholds for these parameters during hydrological drought periods seriously threatening irrigated agriculture of the region.     

Changes in concentration–discharge regression parameters due to coal mining and reclamation activities / Changements dans les paramètres de régression entre concentration et débit,causés par l’exploitation minière de charbon et des activités de reconversion

Abstract

Abstract Assessment of the impacts of mining and reclamation, and design of management practices to reduce chemical loads in stream channels, require knowledge of changing hydrological conditions and of changing sources and rates of release of chemicals into stream waters. One simple method for evaluating these impacts is to combine flow duration curves with regression relations between surface-water chemical concentrations (C) and instantaneous discharge (Q). However, little is known regarding the drainage basin-scale effects of mining and reclaiming drainage basins on regression relations. These effects were assessed on three small experimental drainage basins in Ohio subjected to surface mining for coal. Comparisons were made between regression parameter changes for natural/undisturbed conditions, land disturbances caused by mining and reclamation, incomplete reclamation, and the final condition of the reclaimed drainage basins. Regression analysis used a total of 5047 laboratory analyses of 36 constituents. Of 429 regressions, 153 (36%) were statistically significant. Knowledge of changes in regression parameters is important because regressions supply information on the rate of release and supply of chemical constituents in mined and reclaimed drainage basins. Duration curves of concentration and loads can be constructed using these regressions with flow–duration curves to give estimates of the percentage of time that concentrations and loads are exceeded during different phases of disturbance. This study assessed the changes in regression relations due to mining coal seams and reclamation activities for 36 chemical constituents, two mining methods, three reclamation practices and three distinct geologic settings.     

Secondary airflow and sediment transport in the lee of a reversing dune

Lee-side windspeed and sediment transport were measured over a small (1·2 m) transverse ridge in the Silver Peak dunefield, west-central Nevada, USA, using an intensive array of 25 cup anemometers and seven total flux traps. During crest-transverse and transporting flow conditions (u_0·3crest ≈ 8·4 m s⁻¹), windspeed near the surface of the lee slope averaged half (48 per cent) that of crest speeds. Dimensionless speeds in the separation zone ranged from 0·2 to 0·8 that of the outer flow (u₁₂). Along the boundary of the separation cell, windspeed increased by 10 per cent of the crest speed before separation. Equilibrium of upper and lower wake regions was not observed by the documented eight dune heights, suggesting that wake recovery may not occur over closely spaced dunes. Sediment transport measured directly on both the lee slope and interdune surfaces averaged approximately 15 per cent of crest inputs. This suggests that a significant amount (c. 70–95 per cent) of sediment transported over the crest moved as fallout. For this data set, flux was approximately proportional to the cube of the near-surface windspeed (u_0·3) and in general there was an order of magnitude difference between flux measured at the crest and that measured within the separation zone. Transport direction in the separation zone was acutely oblique to the incident direction owing to secondary flow deflection. Beyond the interdune, transport direction progressed from oblique to crest-transverse. This indicates that an appreciable amount of sediment may move laterally along the lee slope and interdune corridor under crest-transverse flows. Regarding the grain size and sorting properties of transported sediment, there was no significant difference in mean grain size over the dune, although in general particles were finer and more poorly sorted in the lee. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

MAPPING AND INTERPRETATION OF FIELD PHENOMENA FOR GROUNDWATER RECONNAISSANCE IN A PRAIRIE ENVIRONMENT,ALBERTA, CANADA

ABSTRACT

Theoretically, a small drainage basin may be divided into equal areas of downward flow and upward flow of groundwater. In regions where surface water does not obscure the phenomena produced by groundwater, these areas can be differentiated by mapping springs, seepages, groundwater levels, flowing wells, chemical quality of water, natural vegetation, salt precipitates, quality of crops, soap holes, and moist and dry depressions.

Mapping and interpretation of field phenomena have been carried out in a section of the Ghostpine Creek valley in a Prairie environment. The relief is gently rolling, the geology is simple, and the climate is cold, humid, and continental. The area of the “north flow-systems” is apportioned as follows: 26 per cent underlain by downward flow; 42 per cent underlain by a mid-line area; and 32 per cent underlain by upward flow.

Noting that groundwater flow is nearly parallel to the water table in the vicinity of the mid-line these results comply with the above-mentioned theory of groundwater flow distribution in small drainage basins. Thus, the method is suggested for: 1. A reconnaissance study of the groundwater regime in certain areas, and 2. Specific problems related to groundwater in a Prairie environment, such as: finding suitable locations for dug-out type water supplies, estimating prospects for slough-draining and irrigation, and explanation of the development of certain soil types. For such purposes, the method appears to be competitive with test drilling.     

A MEASUREMENT OF ALBEDO CHANGES RESULTING FROM AFFORESTATION PRACTICES

ABSTRACT

The measurement of albedo using portable battery-powered logging equipment before and after the ploughing of drainage ditches by the Forestry Commission on a small catchment in Northern England is described. The change in the evaporation brought about by the reduction of the mean basin albedo from 15.2±0.7 per cent to 13.1 ±0.8 per cent would not in itself produce a significant change in the basin's hydrological behaviour.     

Wind effects on sediment transport by raindrop‐impacted shallow flow: a wind‐tunnel study

In wind‐driven rains, wind velocity and direction are expected to affect not only energy input of rains but also shallow ?ow hydraulics by changing roughness induced by raindrop impacts with an angle on ?ow and the unidirectional splashes in the wind direction. A wind‐tunnel study under wind‐driven rains was conducted to determine the effects of horizontal wind velocity and direction on sediment transport by the raindrop‐impacted shallow ?ow. Windless rains and the rains driven by horizontal wind velocities of 6 m s^?1, 10 m s^?1, and 14 m s^?1 were applied to three agricultural soils packed into a 20 by 55 cm soil pan placed on both windward and leeward slopes of 7 per cent, 15 per cent, and 20 per cent. During each rainfall application, sediment and runoff samples were collected at 5‐min intervals at the bottom edge of the soil pan with wide‐mouth bottles and were determined gravimetrically. Based on the interrill erosion mechanics, kinetic energy ?ux (E_rn) as a rainfall parameter and product of unit discharge and slope in the form of q^bS^c_o as a ?ow parameter were used to explain the interactions between impact and ?ow parameters and sediment transport (q_s). The differential sediment transport rates occurred depending on the variation in raindrop trajectory and rain intensity with the wind velocity and direction. Flux of rain energy computed by combining the effects of wind on the velocity, frequency, and angle of raindrop impact reasonably explained the characteristics of wind‐driven rains and acceptably accounted for the differences in sediment delivery rates to the shallow ?ow transport (R₂ ≥ 0·78). Further analysis of the Pearson correlation coef?cients between E_rn and qS_o and q_s also showed that wind velocity and direction signi?cantly affected the hydraulics of the shallow ?ow. E_rn had a smaller correlation coef?cient with the q_s in windward slopes where not only reverse splashes but also reverse lateral raindrop stress with respect to the shallow ?ow direction occurred. However, E_rn was as much effective as qS_o in the sediment transport in the leeward slopes where advance splashes and advance lateral raindrop stress on the ?ow occurred. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DETERMINATION OF A SALT-WATER INTERFACE BY ELECTRIC RESISTIVITY DEPTH SOUNDINGS / Détermination d'un interface d'eau salée à l'aide des mesures verticales de résistivité électrique

Abstract

Vertical electrical resistivity soundings were measured near hydrological observation wells in order to ascertain whether geophysical means could be used to map saline water intrusion into a fresh water aquifer in Israel. The soundings showed that the low resistivity layers associated with the salt water are readily discernible. The technique was applied to the entire coastal belt and resulted in a detailed study of the saline water body and its extent. Measurements were repeated six years later and good agreement between the two sets of measurements was noted. This technique is therefore judged to be an accurate tool for the mapping of salt water intrusion in fresh-water aquifers.     

Limestone solution rates and processes in the Waitomo District,New Zealand

Karst solution processes are investigated on Oligocene limestones in the Waitomo district, west central North Island, New Zealand. Estimates of the inputs, throughputs and outputs of water and dissolved calcium and magnesium in two drainage basins were used to establish the rate of limestone solution by autogenic waters. The best estimate for solution loss from the basins during the study year is 69 m³/km². The potential measurement errors inherent in each parameter used in the erosion rate computations were assessed and the probable maximum and minimum erosion rates were estimated to be 88 and 61 m³/km². In both basins approximately 67 per cent of the annual solute load is transported by flows greater than the mean annual discharge, over 15 per cent being transported by flood flows that are exceeded only 5 per cent of the time. Almost half of the annual load is transported during the three winter months (June-August), but no one month accounts for more than 18 per cent or less than 2.7 per cent of the annual total. Approximately 37 per cent of solution takes place within the soil profile, and most of the remainder is concentrated in 5–10 m of weathered bedrock (the subcutaneous zone) beneath this. Thus, it is likely that at least 85 per cent of the total solutional erosion contributes to the surface lowering of soil and bedrock.     

Modelling of space weather effects on pipelines

The interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field produces time varying currents in the ionosphere and magnetosphere. The currents cause variations of the geomagnetic field at the surface of the earth and induce an electric field which drives currents in oil and gas pipelines and other long conductors. Geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) interfere with electrical surveys of pipelines and possibly contribute to pipeline corrosion.In this paper, we introduce a general method which can be used to determine voltage and current profiles for buried pipelines, when the external geoelectric field and the geometry and electromagnetic properties of the pipeline are known. The method is based on the analogy between pipelines and transmission lines, which makes it possible to use the distributed source transmission line (DSTL) theory. The general equations derived for the current and voltage profiles are applied in special cases. A particular attention is paid to the Finnish natural gas pipeline network.This paper, related to a project about GIC in the Finnish pipeline, thus provides a tool for understanding space weather effects on pipelines. Combined with methods of calculating the geoelectric field during magnetic storms, the results are applicable to forecasting of geomagnetically induced currents and voltages on pipelines in the future.     

Developing a sediment budget for a small drainage basin in Australia

A sediment budget was developed for the 1.7 km² Maluna Creek drainage basin located in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia, for the period 1971-86. the impact of viticulture, which commenced at Maluna in 1971, was studied using erosion plots, with caesium-137 as an indicator of both soil erosion and sedimentation. Two methods were used to estimate vineyard soil losses from caesium-137 measurements. Sediment output from the catchment was measured for three years, and extrapolated from readings taken at a nearby long-term stream flow gauging station for the remaining 13 years. Relative amounts of soil loss from forest (60 per cent basin area), grazing land (30 per cent) and vineyards (10 per cent) were calculated. Soil losses by rain splash detachment were ten times greater from bare/cultivated sufaces than from the forest. Erosion plots of area 2 m² showed no significant differences in soil loss between forest and grassland but, under bare soil, losses were 100 times greater. the ¹³⁷Cs method was employed to calculate net soil loss from all vineyard blocks using both a previously established calibration curve and a proportional model. the latter method gave estimates of soil loss which were 3-9 times greater than by the calibration curve, and indicated that average soil losses from the vineyard were equivalent to 62 t ha^?1 y^?1 (1971-86). It was estimated that the forest contributed 1-8 per cent, the grazing land 1.6 per cent, and the vineyard 96.6 per cent of the total soil loss during that period. Sediment storages within the fluvial system adjacent to the vineyard ws 9460 t for the period, whereas sediment output was equivalent to 215 t km^?1 y^?1. Independent measurements of soil erosion, storage, and output showed that 56 per cent of the eroded sediment remained in the catchment, and 34 per cent was transported out by Maluna Creek. the budget was able to be balanced to within 10 per cent.     

SOME ASPECTS OF THE HYDRIC BALANCE OF LAKES IN THE EASTERN ROMANIAN PLAIN IN THE YEARS 1956–1970

ABSTRACT

Because of the late withdrawal of the Levantine lake waters and because of low relief the Eastern Romanian Plain was fragmented only by big alochthonous rivers (Ialomi?a, C?lm??ui and Buz?u).

The tabular-like, 40–50-km-wide interfluve areas covered by loessoid deposits and eolian sands on the periphery are deprived of surface drainage which accounts for their present evolution.

The major relief forms in these interfluves are depressions called in Romanian ‘crov’ (sink-holes) in the central areas and short valleys formed initially by erosion processes and now modelled by mechanical and chemical weathering at their periphery: in these depressions (sink-holes) and in the secondary valleys, peripheral to the interfluve areas, lakes had started to be formed.

Because of the semiarid climate sink-hole lakes have an intermittent hydrological regime, whereas those located in the small fluviatile liman-type valleys, enjoy a permanent regime. By the absence of surface drainage, by the loss of significant amounts of water through evaporation and the degree of mineralization, these lakes fall within the group of salt lakes.

In the past few years (since 1966 and especially since 1969) the level of these lakes has continually risen and the depressions formerly lacking water started being flooded by the rising of the piezometric level.

An analysis was made of the water balance of the Amara-Ialomi?a lake to investigate this phenomenon.

Level and evaporation recordings were made in the period 1956–1970. The findings revealed that the supply of underground water to the lake amounts to 47·3 per cent exceeding the water supply produced by the rains that fell on the surface of the lake (46·7 per cent). A close relationship was established (with a lapse of 8–12 months) between the surface supply of the basin (through rainfalls) and the flow of underground water to the lake.

Extending the precipitation-induced level changes over a longer period (1896–1915 and 1921–1970) it was found that level increases are cyclic, as a direct consequence of the corresponding precipitation regime.     

Transport of nitrogen in soil water following the application of animal manures to sloping grassland

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on a sloping grassland soil in southwest England to investigate the downslope transport of nitrogen in soil water following the application of cattle manure, slurry and inorganic fertilizer. Transport of nitrogen (N) species was monitored on hydrologically isolated plots. Manure (50 t ha^?1), slurry (50 m³ ha^?1) and fertilizer (250 kg N ha^?1) were applied in February/March 1992. Subsurface water movement, by both matrix and preferential flow, was the dominant flow route during the experiment. Subsurface and surface nutrient flow pathways were monitored by analysing soil water and surface runoff for NO₃-N, NH₄-N and total N. Subsurface flow chemistry was dominated by NO₃-N, with concentrations usually between 2 and 5 mg NO₃ ?N dm^?3. Differences between fertilizer and manure treatments and the untreated control were not significant. Significantly elevated NO₃-N concentrations were observed in soil water in the buffer zone, indicating the importance of a buffer zone at least 10 m wide between manure spreading zones and an adjacent water course.