An improved process-based representation of stream solute transport in the soil and water assessment tools

Hydrological models have long been used to study the interactions between land, surface and groundwater systems, and to predict and manage water quantity and quality. The soil and water assessment tool (SWAT), a widely used hydrological model, can simulate various ecohydrological processes on land and subsequently route the water quality constituents through surface and subsurface waters. So far, in-stream solute transport algorithms of the SWAT model have only been minimally revised, even though it has been acknowledged that an improvement of in-stream process representation can contribute to better model performance with respect to water quality. In this study, we aim to incorporate a new and improved solute transport model into the SWAT model framework. The new process-based model was developed using in-stream process equations from two well established models—the One-dimensional Transport with Inflow and Storage model and the Enhanced Stream Water Quality Model. The modified SWAT model (Mir-SWAT) was tested for water quality predictions in a study watershed in Germany. Compared to the standard SWAT model, Mir-SWAT improved dissolved oxygen (DO) predictions by removing extreme low values of DO (<6 mg/L) simulated by SWAT. Phosphate concentration peaks were reduced during high flows and a better match of daily predicted and measured values was attained using the Mir-SWAT model (R² = 0.17, NSE = −0.65, RSR = 1.29 with SWAT; R² = 0.28, NSE = −0.04, RSR = 1.02 with Mir-SWAT). In addition, Mir-SWAT performed better than the SWAT model in terms of Chlorophyll-a content particularly during winter months, improving the NSE and RSR for monthly average Chl-a by 74 and 42%, respectively. With the new model improvements, we aim to increase confidence in the stream solute transport component of the model, improve the understanding of nutrient dynamics in the stream, and to extend the applicability of SWAT for reach-scale analysis and management.     

Dinoflagellate Cyst Assemblages in Surface Sediments from Three Shallow Mediterranean Lagoons (Sardinia,North Western Mediterranean Sea)

The present study identified and quantified dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments from three Mediterranean lagoons. Sediment samples were recovered from 11 stations in May 2009 at Cabras Lagoon, eight stations in May 2010 at Corru S'Ittiri Lagoon, and five stations in May 2011 at Santa Giusta Lagoon. Fifty-three dinoflagellate cyst morphotypes were identified. Sixteen species are first reports for the lagoons, and two for the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, a new Scrippsiella species was discovered in Cabras. Seven harmful algal species were identified, primarily belonging to the potentially toxic genus Alexandrium. Total cyst abundance, number of morphotypes, and assemblages varied among lagoons, and each lagoon showed a distinct morphotype composition. A degree of heterogeneity was also detected within lagoon. Cabras and Santa Giusta cyst assemblages were characterised by morphotypes belonging to the autotrophic genus Scrippsiella, whereas Corru S'Ittiri assemblages showed dominance of heterotrophic morphotypes, including Protoperidinium cf tricingulatum. Differentiation among lagoons was also evident according to environmental conditions. Salinity proved to be a fundamental variable in determining total cyst abundance, morphotype number, and composition. This study was among the first to examine dinoflagellate cyst composition in coastal lagoons, especially from the Mediterranean region, and contributed data that increased our knowledge of cyst-producing dinoflagellates in these environments.     

Modeling the effects of environmental variables on short-term spatial changes in phytoplankton biomass in a large shallow lake,Lake Taihu

Understanding the short-term response of phytoplankton biomass on environmental variables is needed for issuing early warnings of harmful algal blooms in aquatic ecosystems. Predicting harmful algal blooms are particularly challenging in large shallow lakes due to their complex mixing patterns. This study used a two-dimensional hydrodynamic–phytoplankton model to evaluate the effects of environmental variables on short-term changes in the horizontal distribution of phytoplankton biomass in a large shallow lake, Lake Taihu, China. Two simulations were performed using daily and hourly average wind condition and water temperature data collected in 2009. Other model inputs were identical for these two simulations. The response of phytoplankton to wind conditions, light intensity, water temperature, and total dissolved phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations were examined based on a sensitivity analysis using the hourly data. Hourly simulation achieved a more realistic distribution of phytoplankton biomass than the daily simulation. This finding implies that data with a higher temporal resolution are more useful for short-term prediction of phytoplankton biomass in this lake. Sensitivity analysis indicated that water temperature and light intensity dominate short-term changes in phytoplankton biomass in this lake. Wind conditions also affect phytoplankton biomass distribution by causing advective water movement.     

Relative pointing offset analysis of calibration targets with repeated observations with Herschel-SPIRE Fourier-transform spectrometer

We present a method to derive the relative pointing offsets for SPIRE Fourier-Transform Spectrometer (FTS) solar system object (SSO) calibration targets, which were observed regularly throughout the Herschel mission. We construct ratios R _obs(ν) of the spectra for all observations of a given source with respect to a reference. The reference observation is selected iteratively to be the one with the highest observed continuum. Assuming that any pointing offset leads to an overall shift of the continuum level, then these R _obs(ν) represent the relative flux loss due to mispointing. The mispointing effects are more pronounced for a smaller beam, so we consider only the FTS short wavelength array (SSW, 958–1546 GHz) to derive a pointing correction. We obtain the relative pointing offset by comparing R _obs(ν) to a grid of expected losses for a model source at different distances from the centre of the beam, under the assumption that the SSW FTS beam can be well approximated by a Gaussian. In order to avoid dependency on the point source flux conversion, which uses a particular observation of Uranus, we use extended source flux calibrated spectra to construct R _obs(ν) for the SSOs. In order to account for continuum variability, due to the changing distance from the Herschel telescope, the SSO ratios are normalised by the expected model ratios for the corresponding observing epoch. We confirm the accuracy of the derived pointing offset by comparing the results with a number of control observations, where the actual pointing of Herschel is known with good precision. Using the method we derived pointing offsets for repeated observations of Uranus (including observations centred on off-axis detectors), Neptune, Ceres and NGC 7027. The results are used to validate and improve the point-source flux calibration of the FTS.     

Evaluation of a constitutive model for clays and sands: Part I – sand behaviour

This paper evaluates the performance of a generalized effective stress soil model for predicting the rate independent behaviour of freshly deposited sands, while a companion paper describes model capabilities for clays and silts. Most material parameters can be obtained from standard laboratory data, including hydrostatic or one‐dimensional compression, drained and undrained triaxial shear testing. A compilation of data on compression behaviour allows for estimation of compression parameters when this type of data is not available. Extensive comparisons of model predictions with measured data from undrained triaxial shear tests shows that the model gives excellent predictions of the transition from dilative to contractive shear response as the confining pressure and/or the initial formation void ratio increases. A parametric study of drained response shows that the model describes realistically the variation of peak friction angle and dilation rate as a function of confining pressure and density when compared with an empirical correlation valid for many sands. The proposed formulation predicts a unique critical state locus for both drained and undrained triaxial testing which is non‐linear over the entire range of stresses and is in excellent agreement with recent experimental data. Overall, the model provides excellent predictions of the stress–strain–strength relationships over a wide range of confining pressures and formation densities. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Semi-active control of the benchmark highway bridge based on seismic early warning systems

Possible interactions between seismic early warning systems and structural control are herein investigated. A SEWS can provide the knowledge of some parameters, ahead of time, of the seismic event that is going to occur in a certain site. Current research activities on SEWS include the estimate of the anticipated peak ground acceleration (PGA) and the acceleration response spectrum (S_a) of an incoming earthquake. This paper proposes the exploitation of this information in the framework of semi-active (SA) control strategies, by using magnetorheological dampers. The latter are time-varying properties devices able to achieve a wide range of physical behaviours using low-power electrical currents. The main idea of this work consists in changing the MR damper behaviour according to the forecasted intensity of an incoming earthquake provided by the SEWS, in order to obtain the optimal seismic response of the hosting structure. This is investigated assuming a case-study problem. It consists in the 91/5 highway bridge located in Orange County of southern California and proposed in literature as a benchmark structure for applications in the field of structural control. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is assessed and compared to more consolidated control techniques.     

Fluid flow modeling of a coastal fractured karstic aquifer by means of a lumped parameter approach

Fluid flow and solute transport phenomena in fractured and karstic aquifers remain an open issue that calls the attention of numerous researchers belonging to different disciplinary fields as far as the aspects linked both to shallow and to deep phenomena are concerned. The hydrogeologic knowledge of these phenomena proves to be of high importance especially if considered in relationship with water resource exploitation, with the problems linked to contamination and the ones linked to urban and industrial development of the territory. In the examined area, characterized by a dismissed contaminated site, the realization of the landfill has required the development of a 3D flow model supported by a detailed local scale geologic model in order to evaluate the effects on groundwater flow and subsequently on contaminant propagation. The results of the flow model prove to be coherent with the fractured and karstic nature of the site in that they show at higher depths the presence of a subterranean stream channel that would speed up pollutant propagation. The obtained results represent the fundamental basis to implement a transport model that will permit to achieve a more in depth knowledge of the subsoil transport phenomena, and therefore to optimize any anthropic intervention that can involve the site.     

The coral assemblages of an off‐shore deep Mediterranean rocky bank (NW Sicily,Italy)

In this study we characterized the deep assemblages dwelling at 200–250 m depth on a large shoal off Capo St. Vito Promontory (Northwestern coast of Sicily, South Tyrrhenian Sea) by means of ROV‐imaging. Two assemblages of suspension feeders, dominated by the gorgonian Callogorgia verticillata and by the black coral Leiopathes glaberrima, together with a tanatocoenosis of the colonial yellow scleractinian coral Dendrophyllia cornigera, were examined. The three main species were significatively distributed into two areas corresponding to different habitat preferences: a more elevated hardground hosting black corals and a gently sloping, silted rocky bottom hosting the other coral species. The study area is subjected to a heavy pressure from the professional fishery, resulting in the mechanical damage of numerous colonies, some of which are then overgrown by various epibionts including a parasitic bioluminescent zoanthid, new for the Mediterranean fauna, and tentatively identified as Isozoanthus primoidus. In the Mediterranean Sea, these deep off‐shore rocky banks are widely known among recreational and professional fishermen due to their rich fish fauna. However, there has been still little effort into quantifying and characterizing the extent of the impact and its consequences on the benthic communities, which may represent, as in this case, only a partial picture of their original structure and extent.