Mean runoff coefficient estimation for ungauged streams in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Runoff coefficient estimation in ungauged watersheds has a priority for rain water harvesting and management of runoff water, for domestic and agriculture activities, in semi-arid and arid regions. To estimate mean runoff coefficient (C _Re) for ungauged streams, Pearson's coefficient of linear correlation (r) was measured. The method of linear regression (y?=?mx?+?c) was applied for 16 gauged catchments representing several regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, such as Al Qassim, Al Madinah, Riyadh, Asir, Makkah, and Jazan. The studied catchments were equally divided into two groups based on their main streams slopes; group A includes eight gauged streams having main stream slope less than 0.01, where group B includes eight gauged streams having main stream slope equal to or greater than 0.01. The result yields the constant of the linear regression for each group and the mean runoff coefficient of basin by an independent value (basin slope) for group A and an independent value (stream slope) for group B. The results indicate that the measured runoff coefficient (C _Rm) and the estimated runoff coefficient (C _Re) are almost equal to each other.     

A new magnetostratigraphic framework for the Lower Miocene (Burdigalian/Ottnangian, Karpatian) in the North Alpine Foreland Basin

Oligocene–Miocene chronostratigraphic correlations within the Paratethys domain are still highly controversial. This study focuses on the late Early Miocene of the Swiss and S-German Molasse Basin (Late Burdigalian, Ottnangian–Karpatian). Previous studies have published different chronologies for this time interval that is represented by the biostratigraphically well constrained Upper Marine Molasse (OMM, lower and middle Ottnangian), Upper Brackish Molasse (OBM, Grimmelfingen and Kirchberg Formations, middle and upper Ottnangian to lower Karpatian, MN 4a–MN 4b) and Upper Freshwater Molasse (OSM, Karpatian–Badenian, MN 5). Here, we suggest a new chronostratigraphic framework, based on integrated magneto-litho-biostratigraphic studies on four sections and three boreholes. Our data indicate that the OBM comprises chrons 5D.1r and 5Dn (Grimmelfingen Fm), chron 5Cr (lower Kirchberg Fm) and the oldest part of chron 5Cn.3n (upper Kirchberg Fm). The OSM begins during chron 5Cn.3n, continues through 5Cn, and includes a long reversed segment that can be correlated to chron 5Br. The OMM-OSM transition was completed at 16.0 Ma in the Swiss Molasse Basin, while the OBM-OSM changeover ended at 16.6 Ma in the S-German Molasse Basin. As the lower Kirchberg Fm represents a facies of the Ottnangian, our data suggest that the Ottnangian–Karpatian boundary in the Molasse Basin is approximately at 16.8 Ma, close to the 5Cr–5Cn.3n magnetic reversal, and thus 0.4 Myr younger than the inferred age of 17.2 Ma used in recent Paratethys time scales. Notably, this would not be problematic for the Paratethys stratigraphy, because chron 5Cr is mainly represented by a sedimentation gap in the Central Paratethys. We also realise, however, that additional data is still required to definitely solve the age debate concerning this intriguing time interval in the North Alpine Foreland Basin. We dedicate this work to our dear friend and colleague Jean-Pierre Berger (8 July 1956–18 January 2012).     

Application of Analytic Signal and Euler Deconvolution in Archaeo-Magnetic Prospection for Buried Ruins at the Ancient City of Pelusium, NW Sinai, Egypt: A Case Study

Progress in the past three decades in geophysical data processing and interpretation techniques was particularly focused in the field of aero-geophysics. The present study is to demonstrate the application of some of these techniques, including Analytic Signal, Located Euler Deconvolution, Standard Euler Deconvolution, and 2D inverse modelling, to help in enhancing and interpreting the archeo-magnetic measurements. A high-resolution total magnetic field survey was conducted at the ancient city of Pelusium (name derived from the ancient Pelusiac branch of the Nile, and recently called Tell el-Farama), located in the northwestern corner of the Sinai Peninsula. The historical city had served as a harbour throughout the Egyptian history. Different ruins at the site have been dated back to late Pharaonic, Graeco-Roman, Byzantine, Coptic, and Islamic periods. An area of 10,000 m², to the west of the famous huge red brick citadel of Pelusium, was surveyed using the magnetic method. The chosen location was recommended by the Egyptian archaeologists, where they suspected the presence of buried foundations of a temple to the gods Zeus and Kasios. The interpretation of the results revealed interesting shallow-buried features, which may represent the Temple’s outer walls. These walls are elongated in the same azimuth as the northern wall of the citadel, which supports the hypothesis of a controlling feature such as a former seacoast or shore of a distributary channel.     

SWAT manual calibration and parameters sensitivity analysis in a semi-arid watershed in North-western Morocco

Being a laborious approach, manual calibration of hydrologic model in a semi-arid context requires in-depth knowledge of the watershed and as much as possible field input data to obtain reliable simulations. In this study, manual calibration and relative sensitivity analysis approaches of the SWAT model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) were applied for water balance in a 1993 km² watershed (on the R’dom river) located in North-western Morocco. The watershed is located in a semi-arid area dominated by agro-forestry activities. The objectives of this study were (i) to perform a local sensitivity analysis of the SWAT model taking into consideration the watershed characteristics and (ii) to implement a detailed methodology of manual calibration and validation of the model in a semi-arid context. Sensitivity analysis has been carried out on 12 different SWAT input parameters, and has revealed that 4 input parameters only were the most influential ones on flow components of the R’dom watershed. Model manual calibration was conducted along 2006 and 2007 by comparing measured and predicted monthly and daily discharges and taking Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient (NSE), determination coefficient (R ²), and percent bias (PBIAS) as goodness-of-fit indicators. Validation has been performed by the same approach through 2008 and 2009 period. All final NSE values were above 0.5, R ² values exceeded 0.7, and PBIAS lower than 25% demonstrating satisfactory model performances over the study watershed conditions. The SWAT model set-up with measured input data, manually calibrated and validated, reflects well the real hydrologic processes occurring in the R’dom watershed and can be used to assess current and future conditions and to evaluate alternative management practices.     

Spatial patterns and trends of daily rainfall regime in Peninsular Malaysia during the southwest and northeast monsoons: 1975–2004

Model precipitation can be produced implicitly through convective parameterization schemes or explicitly through cloud microphysics schemes. These two precipitation production schemes control the spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation and consequently can yield distinct vertical profiles of heating and moistening in the atmosphere. The partition between implicit and explicit precipitation can be different as the model changes resolutions. Within the range of mesoscale resolutions (about 20 km) and cumulus scale, hybrid solutions are suggested, in which cumulus convection parameterization is acting together with the explicit form of representation. In this work, it is proposed that, as resolution increases, the convective scheme should convert less condensed water into precipitation. Part of the condensed water is made available to the cloud microphysics scheme and another part evaporates. At grid sizes smaller than 3 km, the convective scheme is still active in removing convective instability, but precipitation is produced by cloud microphysics. The Eta model version using KF cumulus parameterization was applied in this study. To evaluate the quantitative precipitation forecast, the Eta model with the KF scheme was used to simulate precipitation associated with the South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ) and Cold Front (CF) events. Integrations with increasing horizontal resolutions were carried out for up to 5 days for the SACZ cases and up to 2 days for the CF cases. The precipitation partition showed that most of precipitation was generated by the implicit scheme. As the grid size decreased, the implicit precipitation increased and the explicit decreased. However, as model horizontal resolution increases, it is expected that precipitation be represented more explicitly. In the KF scheme, the fraction of liquid water or ice, generated by the scheme, which is converted into rain or snow is controlled by a parameter S ₁. An additional parameter was introduced into KF scheme and the parameter acts to evaporate a fraction of liquid water or ice left in the model grid by S ₁ and return moisture to the resolved scale. An F parameter was introduced to combine the effects of S ₁ and S ₂ parameters. The F parameter gives a measure of the conversion of cloud liquid water or ice to convective precipitation. A function dependent on the horizontal resolution was introduced into the KF scheme to influence the implicit and explicit precipitation partition. The explicit precipitation increased with model resolution. This function reduced the positive precipitation bias at all thresholds and for the studied weather systems. With increased horizontal resolution, the maximum precipitation area was better positioned and the total precipitation became closer to observations. Skill scores for all events at different forecast ranges showed precipitation forecast improvement with the inclusion of the function F.     

Spatial trends of dry spells over Peninsular Malaysia during monsoon seasons

This study aims to trace changes in the dry spells over Peninsular Malaysia based on the daily rainfall data from 36 selected rainfall stations which include four subregions, namely northwest, west, southwest, and east for the periods of 1975 to 2004. Six dry spell indices comprising of the main characteristics of dry spells, the persistency of dry events, and the frequency of the short and long duration of dry spells will be used to identify whether or not these indices have increased or decreased over Peninsular Malaysia during the monsoon seasons. The findings of this study indicate that the northwestern areas of the Peninsular could be considered as the driest area since almost all the indices of dry spells over these areas are higher than in the other regions during the northeast (NE) monsoon. Based on the individual and the field significant trends, the results of the Mann–Kendall test indicate that as the total number of dry days, the maximum duration, the mean, and the persistency of dry days are decreased, the trend of the frequency of long dry spells of at least 4 days is also found to decrease in almost all the stations over the Peninsula; however, an increasing trend is observed in the frequency of short spells in these stations during the NE monsoon season. On the other hand, during the southwest monsoon, a positive trend is observed in the characteristics of dry spells including the persistency of two dry days in many stations over the Peninsula. The frequency of longer dry periods exhibits a decreasing trend in most stations over the western areas during both monsoon seasons for the periods of 1975 to 2004.     

The effect of surface profile, rock strength and pretension load on bending behaviour of fully grouted bolts

Fully encapsulated rock bolting has, in recent years, become a universally accepted system of ground reinforcement in mining and tunnel construction. The application of bolting systems extends both to rebar as well as cable bolting. The effectiveness of the bolt application has been studied in shear, both by laboratory tests as well as by numerical modeling. A specially constructed double shearing apparatus (DSA) was used to examine the shearing behaviour of a bolt installed perpendicularly across two joints. The experimental study was complemented with three-dimensional numerical analysis. Parameters examined include, the effect of reinforced material on tension/compression zones along the sheared bolt, shear resistance, shear displacement and induced strains and stresses during bolt bending process. The study was undertaken at both free load and pretension conditions. The conclusions drawn from the study were the level of bolt resistance to shear was influenced by bolt profile configuration, the strength of the rock or medium influenced the level of load generated on the bolt and the increased bolt pretension contributed to increased shearing load of the bolted medium. The numerical simulation of the bolt/medium interaction and deformational behaviour were found to be in close agreement with the experimental test results.