Vertical surface water–groundwater exchange processes within a headwater floodplain induced by experimental floods

Restoring hydrologic connectivity between channels and floodplains is common practice in stream and river restoration. Floodplain hydrology and hydrogeology impact stream hydraulics, ecology, biogeochemical processing, and pollutant removal, yet rigorous field evaluations of surface water–groundwater exchange within floodplains during overbank floods are rare. We conducted five sets of experimental floods to mimic floodplain reconnection by pumping stream water onto an existing floodplain swale. Floods were conducted throughout the year to capture seasonal variation and each involved two replicate floods on successive days to test the effect of varying antecedent moisture. Water levels and specific conductance were measured in surface water, soil, and groundwater within the floodplain, along with surface flow into and out of the floodplain. Vegetation density varied seasonally and controlled the volume of surface water storage on the floodplain. By contrast, antecedent moisture conditions controlled storage of water in floodplain soils, with drier antecedent moisture conditions leading to increased subsurface storage and slower flood wave propagation across the floodplain surface. The site experienced spatial heterogeneity in vertical connectivity between surface water and groundwater across the floodplain surface, where propagation of hydrostatic pressure, preferential flow, and bulk Darcy flow were all mechanisms that may have occurred during the five floods. Vertical connectivity also increased with time, suggesting higher frequency of floodplain inundation may increase surface water–groundwater exchange across the floodplain surface. Understanding the variability of floodplain impacts on water quality noted in the literature likely requires better accounting for seasonal variations in floodplain vegetation and antecedent moisture as well as heterogeneous exchange flow mechanisms. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ice‐jam flood risk assessment and mapping

In northern regions, river ice‐ jam flooding can be more severe than open‐water flooding causing property and infrastructure damages, loss of human life and adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Very little has been performed to assess the risk induced by ice‐related floods because most risk assessments are limited to open‐water floods. The specific objective of this study is to incorporate ice‐jam numerical modelling tools (e.g. RIVICE, Monte‐Carlo simulation) into flood hazard and risk assessment along the Peace River at the Town of Peace River (TPR) in Alberta, Canada. Adequate historical data for different ice‐jam and open‐water flooding events were available for this study site and were useful in developing ice‐affected stage‐frequency curves. These curves were then applied to calibrate a numerical hydraulic model, which simulated different ice jams and flood scenarios along the Peace River at the TPR. A Monte‐Carlo analysis was then carried out to acquire an ensemble of water level profiles to determine the 1 : 100‐year and 1 : 200‐year annual exceedance probability flood stages for the TPR. These flood stages were then used to map flood hazard and vulnerability of the TPR. Finally, the flood risk for a 200‐year return period was calculated to be an average of $32/m²/a ($/m²/a corresponds to a unit of annual expected damages or risk). Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Radio-Silent Start of an Intense Solar Gamma-Ray Flare

Radio-silent -ray flares are solar flares that lack any significant emission in the (non-thermal) radio wave band during their impulsive hard X-ray and -ray emission phases. Flares with extremely suppressed long-wavelength spectra have previously been reported by White et al. (1992) and have been discussed in different context by Hudson and Ryan (1995). A striking example of a radio-silent flare was observed by SMM during the onset of the 6 March 1989 energetic -ray flare. We argue that the absence of radio emission at wavelengths longer than microwave wavelengths is an indication of the compactness of the flare rather than that the flare did not exhibit non-thermal properties. Probably the flare site was restricted to altitudes above the photosphere in a newly emerging loop configuration lower than the equivalent altitude corresponding to an emission frequency of 1.4 GHz. This implies the presence of a dense and highly magnetized closed field configuration confining the electron component which causes the impulsive -ray continuum. Reconnection in such a configuration did not lead to open magnetic fields and streamer formation. Acceleration of particles in the and hard X-ray bursts was restricted to closed field lines. Thermal expansion of the loop system may subsequently lead to the generation of radially propagating blast waves in the solar corona which are accompanied by type II solar radio bursts and decimetre emissions. The emission during the onset of the flare was dominated by a continuum originating from electron bremsstrahlung at X-ray and -ray energies with only little evidence for the presence of energetic ions. It is, therefore, concluded that energetic electrons have been primary and not secondary products of the particle acceleration process.     

The international decade for natural disaster reduction (IDNDR): A challenge to science

The United Nations proclaimed the 1990s as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). Based on the ‘Tokyo Declaration’—an action plan for the IDNDR formulated by a commission of highly recognized experts—a program was drafted in March 1991 by the International Scientific and Technical Committee for the IDNDR, whose members were appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations. Based on this international draft program a framework for national scientific programs should be developed by National Committees. The Decade and its translation into actions are briefly reviewed.     

TheUrquiola oil spill,La Coruña,Spain: Impact and reaction on beaches and rocky coasts

The supertankerUrquiola grounded, exploded, and burned at the entrance to La Coruña harbor (Spain) on May 12, 1976. A total of 100,000 tons of Persian Gulf crude oil was lost, of which about 30,000 tons washed onto shoreline environments. From May 17 to June 10, 1976, the impact and interaction of oil on fine-sand, coarse-sand, and gravel beaches and on sheltered and exposed rocky coasts was monitored in detail. At 32 localities, the beach was profiled, trenched, extensively sampled, and photographed. Another 67 stations were examined for surficial oil coverage and distribution. The surficial distribution of oil on the beaches was influenced primarily by wave activity, tidal stage, and oil quantity. Heaviest accumulations formed along the high-tide swash line. Within beach sediments, oil was present at distinct oiled sediment layers, which were often deeply buried. The depth of burial was related to wave energy and sediment type. Deepest burial (1 m) was on a high-energy, coarse-sand beach (M_z=0.82φ). Burial on fine-sand beaches was less than 30 cm. The thickness of oiled sediment depended on sedimentary characteristics, the quantity of oil present, wave action, and capillary forces. Oil-soaked sediment, as much as 65-cm thick, occurred on coarse-grained beaches. On fine-sand beaches, oiled sediment was limited to thicknesses of 10 cm or less. On rocky shores, oil distribution was determined primarily by wave energy. Along high-energy, cliffed, or steeply dipping rocky areas, wave reflection kept the oil approximately 5 m offshore and contamination was minimal. In low-energy, sheltered areas, oil readily accumulated, causing apparent environmental damage.     

Petrographie des minerais de fer de la Fosse du Labrador

Résumé Les textures des minerais de fer précambriens de type «jaspilite» sont semblables à celles des calcaires. Les éléments texturels suivants sont décrits: 1. orthochems: a) fémicrite, b) matrice siliceuse, c) ciment siliceux; 2. allochems: a) pellets, b) intraclastes, c) oolithes et pisolithes, d) échardes. Les types pétrographiques sont définis par la combinaison des éléments de texture, comme pour la classification des calcaires. Les types de faciès sont caractérisés par une séquence de bancs correspondant à un ou plusieurs types pétrographiques et par certaines structures sédimentaires. Ils forment la base de l'interprétation des conditions de dépôt et de la paléogéographie du bassin.Les transformations épigénétiques sont les suivantes: 1. dessication, fissuration, cimentation et compaction. 2. Cristallisation du gel de silice: a) quartz à cristallisation primaire, calcédonite et quartzine, b) quartz micropolygonal, c) quartz recristallisé. 3. Cristallisation de la poussière d'hématite, migration du fer et cristallisation de la spéculante et de la magnétite. 4. Cristallisation et recristallisation de la sidérite, de la minnesotaïte, de la stilpnomélane, de la riebeckite et du talc. La migration du fer et la cristallisation de la spécularite, de la magnétite et de la sidérite prennent place avant la compaction complète du sédiment et avant ou pendant la cristallisation primaire du quartz. Le quartz recristallisé, la minnesotaïte et peut-être le talc et la stilpnomélane, sont des minéraux tardidiagénétiques. La riebeckite se forme pendant le métamorphisme. Les phénomènes de recristallisation se poursuivent pendant le métamorphisme régional.

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Textures of Precambrian cherty ironstones are similar to those of limestones. The following textural elements have been recognized: 1. Orthochems: a) femicrite, b) matrix chert, c) cement chert. 2. Allochems: a) pellets, b) intraclasts, c) oolites and pisolites, d) shards. Textural lithotypes are defined by the combination of the textural elements they contain, analogous to the classification of limestones. Textural faciès consist of beds of one or several lithotypes in characteristic sequence. They commonly contain distinguishing sedimentary structures. Textural facies are the basis of the interpretation of the depositional environment and basin configuration.The following types of epigenetic transformations have been recognized: 1. Dessication, shrinkage, cementation and compaction. 2. Crystallization of silicagel in the following sequence: a) primocrystalline quartz and chalcedony (normal and lengthslow), b) micro-polygonal quartz, c) recrystallized quartz. 3. Crystallization of hematite dust, migration of iron and crystallization of specular hematite and of magnetite. 4. Crystallization and recristallization of siderite, minnesotaite, stilpnomelane, riebeckite and talc. Migration of iron and the recristallization of speculante, magnetite and siderite take place essentially before the complete compaction of the rock and before and during the primo-cristallization of quartz. Recrystallized quartz, minnesotaite, and may be stilpnomelane and talc are essentially late diagenetic minerals. Riebeckite formed during metamorphism. A certain recrystallization occured during regional metamorphism.

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Zusammenfassung Texturen der präkambrischen, kieseligen Eisensteine (Jaspilite) sind ähnlich denen von Kalken. Folgende Texturelemente wurden erkannt: 1. Orthocheme: a) Femikrit, b) Quarzmatrix (matrix chert), c) Quarzzement (cement chert). 2. Allocheme: a) Pellets, b) Intraklasten, c) Oolithe und Pisolithe, d) Scherden. Texturelle Lithotypen werden definiert durch die Kombination ihrer Texturelemente, wie in Kalken. Texturelle Fazies bestehen aus einem oder mehreren Lithotypen in regelmäßiger Folge. Sie besitzen oft kennzeichnende Strukturen. Texturfazien sind die Grundlage der Rekonstruktion der Bildungsbedingungen, Umwelt und Paläogeographie der Eisensteine.Folgende Arten epigenetischer Veränderungen wurden unterschieden: 1. Trocknung, Schrumpfung, Zementation und Kompaktion. 2. Kristallisation von Silikagel in der Reihenfolge: a) Primärquarz, Chalzedon und Quarzin, b) Kristallisation von Hämatitstaub, Wanderung von Eisen und Kristallisation von Spekulant und Magnetit. 4. Kristallisation und Rekristallisation von Siderit, Minnesotait, Stilpnomelan, Riebeckit und Talk. Wanderung von Eisen sowie Kristallisation von Spekulant, Magnetit und Siderit erfolgen im wesentlichen während der Kompaktion der Gesteine und vor (z. T. während) der Primärkristallisation von Quarz. Rekristallisierter Quarz, Minnesotait und vielleicht Stilpnomelan und Talk bilden sich weitgehend im spätdiagenetischen Stadium. Regionalmetamorphe Reaktionen führen zur Entstehung von Riebeckit und gelegentlich zu weiterer Kornvergröberung aller Minerale.

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Publié avec l'autorisation du Ministre, Ministère des Richesses Naturelles du Québec.