A modified trapezoid framework model for partitioning regional evapotranspiration

While evapotranspiration (ET) is normally measured as one hydrologic component, evaporation (E), and transpiration (T) result from different physical-biological processes. Using a two-source model, a trapezoid framework has been widely applied in recent years. The key to applying the trapezoid framework model is the determination of the dry/wet boundaries of the land surface temperature-fractional vegetation coverage trapezoid (LST-f_c). Although algorithms have been developed to characterize the two boundaries, there remains a significant uncertainty near the wet boundary which scatters in a discrete and uneven manner. It is therefore difficult to precisely locate the wet boundary. To address this problem, a Wet Boundary Algorithm (WBA) was developed in this study with the algorithm applied in the region of Huang-Huai-Hai plain of China, using the Pixel Component Arranging and Comparing Algorithm (PCACA) to retrieve ET from MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Data. The eddy covariance (EC) measurements from Yucheng station was used to verify the modified model where the root mean square error (RMSE) of 17.8 W/m², Bias of −7.2 W/m² for latent heat flux (LE) simulation in 28 cloudless test days. The ratio of transpiration to evapotranspiration (T/ET) varied between 0.48 and 0.81 over the Huang-Huai-Hai plain. The spatial and temporal distribution of ET revealed that agriculture practices have a significant influence on the hydrological cycle, where crop growth promotes the magnitude of ET. Likewise, harvesting activities significantly reduce ET. The proposed WBA algorithm significantly reduces the uncertainty of the trapezoid ET model caused by wet edge positioning. The analysis of the impact of agricultural activities on ET provide a better understanding how human activities change the hydrological cycle at regional scales.     

Detrending methods for fluctuation analysis in hydrology: amendments and comparisons of methodologies

Detrending is a key step in the study of the scaling behaviors using Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) to explore the long‐range correlation of hydrological series. However, the irregular periodicity and various trends within hydrological series as a result of integrated influences of human activities such as construction of water reservoirs and human withdrawal of freshwater and climate changes such as alterations of precipitation changes in both space and time make difficult the selection of detrending methods. In this study, we attempt to address the detrending problem due to the important theoretical and practical merits of detrending in DFA‐based scaling analysis. In this case, with focus on the irregularity of the periodic trends, a modified DFA, varying parameter DFA (VPDFA), and its combination with adaptive detrending algorithm (ADA) are employed to eliminate the influences of irregular cycles on DFA‐based scaling results. The results indicate that, for streamflow series with no more than 20 cycles, VPDFA is recommended; otherwise, the combined method has to be employed. Comparison study indicates that the scaling behavior of the detrended observed streamflow series by average removed method, when compared to those by DFA, VPDFA, and ADA, is the one of the periodic residues around the averaged annual cycle for the entire series rather than that excluding all annual cycles. However, although the result by VPDFA for short observed streamflow record can well correspond to that for numerically simulated series, the scaling behavior obtained by combined method analyzing long record looks strange and is different from that by numerical analysis. We attribute this difference to the complicated hydrological structure and the possible hydrological alternation due to the increasing integrated impacts of human activities and human activities with the extending record. How to include the most of the important factors into the detrending procedure is still a challenging task for further study in the analysis of the scaling behavior of hydrological processes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Regionalization-based spatiotemporal variations of precipitation regimes across China

Daily precipitation data from 595 stations are analyzed based on regionalization to investigate changing properties of precipitation regimes across the entire China. The results indicate that the northwestern China is characterized by increasing monthly precipitation. The abrupt increase of precipitation is after early 1980s and early 1990s in the western arid zone and Qinghai-Tibet plateau, respectively. Other climate zones are dominated by decreasing precipitation regimes in autumn and increasing precipitation regimes in winter, and it is particularly true in the southwestern, southern and central China, showing seasonal shifts of precipitation changes. Besides, weak precipitation regimes are decreasing and strong precipitation regimes are increasing, and it is particularly the case in the southwestern, southern and central China, implying intensifying hydrological cycle reflected by precipitation changes in these regions. This study steps further into different hydrological responses within different regions of China to climate changes and will be relevant in regional management of agriculture development and water resources.     

Dynamic characteristics of monthly rainfall in the Korean Peninsula under climate change

Global climate change is one of the most serious issues we are facing today. While its exact impacts on our water resources are hard to predict, there is a general consensus among scientists that it will result in more frequent and more severe hydrologic extremes (e.g. floods, droughts). Since rainfall is the primary input for hydrologic and water resource studies, assessment of the effects of climate change on rainfall is essential for devising proper short-term emergency measures as well as long-term management strategies. This is particularly the case for a region like the Korean Peninsula, which is susceptible to both floods (because of its mountainous terrain and frequent intense rainfalls during the short rainy season) and droughts (because of its smaller area, long non-rainy season, and lack of storage facilities). In view of this, an attempt is made in the present study to investigate the potential impacts of climate change on rainfall in the Korean Peninsula. More specifically, the dynamics of ‘present rainfall’ and ‘future rainfall’ at the Seoul meteorological station in the Han River basin are examined and compared; monthly scale is considered in both cases. As for ‘present rainfall,’ two different data sets are used: (1) observed rainfall for the period 1971–1999; and (2) rainfall for the period 1951–1999 obtained through downscaling of coarse-scale climate outputs produced by the Bjerknes Center for Climate Research-Bergen Climate Model Version 2 (BCCR-BCM2.0) climate model with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emission Scenarios (IPCC SRES) 20th Century Climate in Coupled Models (20C3M) scenario. The ‘future rainfall’ (2000–2099) is obtained through downscaling of climate outputs projected by the BCCR-BCM2.0 with the A2 emission scenario. For downscaling of coarse-scale climate outputs to basin-scale rainfall, a K-nearest neighbor (K-NN) technique is used. Examination of the nature of rainfall dynamics is made through application of four methods: autocorrelation function, phase space reconstruction, correlation dimension, and close returns plot. The results are somewhat mixed, depending upon the method, as to whether the rainfall dynamics are chaotic or stochastic; however, the dynamics of the future rainfall seem more on the chaotic side than on the stochastic side, and more so when compared to that of the present rainfall.     

Retrieval of cloud classification parameters using two-dimensional fast Fourier transform

A method is presented for the retrieval of classification parameters of clouds observed by satellite-borne imaging systems. It is based on a two-dimensional fast Fourier transform of cloud images and an analysis of their power spectra. The parameters retrieved provide quantitative information on mean brightness, size, shape and directional properties of clouds. The efficacy of the subdivision of the original cloud image into smaller regions and the determination of individual parameters is demonstrated by applying this procedure to some NOAA and INSAT cloud images.     

Validity and extension of the SCS‐CN method for computing infiltration and rainfall‐excess rates

A criterion is developed for determining the validity of the Soil Conservation Service curve number (SCS‐CN) method. According to this criterion, the existing SCS‐CN method is found to be applicable when the potential maximum retention, S, is less than or equal to twice the total rainfall amount. The criterion is tested using published data of two watersheds. Separating the steady infiltration from capillary infiltration, the method is extended for predicting infiltration and rainfall‐excess rates. The extended SCS‐CN method is tested using 55 sets of laboratory infiltration data on soils varying from Plainfield sand to Yolo light clay, and the computed and observed infiltration and rainfall‐excess rates are found to be in good agreement. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Complementary aspects of linear flood routing modelling and flood frequency analysis

Similarity and differences between linear flood routing modelling (LFRM) and flood frequency analysis (FFA) techniques are presented. The moment matching used in LFRM to approximate the impulse response function (IRF) was applied in FFA to derive the asymptotic bias caused by the false distribution assumption. Proceeding in this way, other estimation methods were used as approximation methods in FFA to derive the asymptotic bias. Using simulation experiments, the above investigation was extended to evaluate the sampling bias. As a feedback, the maximum likelihood method (MLM) can be used for approximating linear channel response (LCR) by the IRFs of conceptual models. Impulse responses of the convective diffusion and kinematic diffusion models were applied and developed as FFA models. Based on kinematic diffusion LFRM, the equivalence of estimation problems of discrete‐continuous distribution and single‐censored sample are shown both for the method of moments (MOM) and the MLM. Hence, the applicability of MOM is extended for the case of censored samples. Owing to the complexity and non‐linearity of hydrological systems and resulting processes, the use of simple models is often questionable. The rationale of simple models is discussed. The problems of model choice and overparameterization are common in mathematical modelling and FF modelling. Some results for the use of simple models in the stationary FFA are presented. The problems of model discrimination are then discussed. Finally, a conjunction of linear stochastic processes and LFRM is presented. The influence of river courses on stochastic properties of the runoff process is shown by combining Gaussian input with the LCR of the simplified Saint Venant model. It is shown that, from the classification of the ways of their development, both LFRM and FFA can benefit. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of Land Surface Subsidence Due to Underground Metal Mining Using Integrated Spaceborne Repeat-Pass Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) Technique and Ground Based Observations

Differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) is a novel remote sensing technique to measure earth surface deformation. It is capable of obtaining dense information related to the deformation of a large area efficiently, economically and effectively. Therefore, DInSAR is a promising technology for monitoring the earth surface deformation related to some natural hazardous events, such as earthquake, volcano eruption, land subsidence, landslide. In present study, Conventional DInSAR technique have been applied to a mineral rich zone, coming under the Khetri copper belt, a part of Northern Aravali range of hillocks in India, predominant with mining activities since late 1960’s to address the possibility of deformation phenomena due to hard rock underground metal mining. Four interferometric SAR data sets of Radarsat-2 was used for the study area to address the subsidence/uplift phenomena. Further, results obtained from conventional DInSAR technique using Radarsat-2 data sets compared with results obtained from ground based observation technique for its validity. In both the techniques, deformation results obtained in terms of average subsidence rate in mm (quarterly basis) of points under study within mining zone of Mine-A has well agreed to each other. Further, it has been observed that average subsidence rate in mm (quarterly basis) obtained from space based observation and ground based observation are 5.6 and 6.67, respectively over the points under study in mining zone of Mine-A.     

Satellite Data Assimilation of Upper-Level Sounding Channels in HWRF with Two Different Model Tops

The Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A(AMSU-A) onboard the NOAA satellites NOAA-18 and NOAA-19 and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites(EUMETSAT)Met Op-A, the hyperspectral Atmospheric Infrared Sounder(AIRS) onboard Aqua, the High resolution Infra Red Sounder(HIRS) onboard NOAA-19 and Met Op-A, and the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder(ATMS) onboard Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership(NPP) satellite provide upper-level sounding channels in tropical cyclone environments. Assimilation of these upper-level sounding channels data in the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting(HWRF) system with two different model tops is investigated for the tropical storms Debby and Beryl and hurricanes Sandy and Isaac that occurred in 2012. It is shown that the HWRF system with a higher model top allows more upper-level microwave and infrared sounding channels data to be assimilated into HWRF due to a more accurate upper-level background profile. The track and intensity forecasts produced by the HWRF data assimilation and forecast system with a higher model top are more accurate than those with a lower model top.     

Spatial structure of internal tidal waves generated on weak topographies

The generation of internal gravity waves by barotropic tidal flow passing over a two-dimensional topography is investigated. Rather than calculating the conversion of tidal energy, this study focuses on delineating the geometric characteristics of the spatial structure of the resulting internal wave fields (i.e., the configurations of the internal beams and their horizontal projections) which have usually been ignored. It is found that the various possible wave types can be demarcated by three characteristic frequencies: the tidal frequency, ω₀; the buoyancy frequency, N; and the vertical component of the Coriolis vector or earth's rotation, f. When different possibilities arising from the sequence of these frequencies are considered, there occur 12 kinds of wave structures in the full 3D space in contrast to the 5 kinds identified by the 2D theory. The constant wave phase lines may form as ellipses or hyperbolic lines on the horizontal plane, provided the buoyancy frequency is greater or less than the tidal frequency. The effect that stems from the consideration of the basic flow is also found, which not only serves as the reason for the occurrence of higher harmonics but also increases the wave strength in the direction of basic flow.