Efficient conceptual model for simulating the effect of aquifer heterogeneity on natural groundwater discharge to rivers

When linearity can be assumed (linear response of heads to stresses), stream–aquifer flow exchange can be simulated as the drainage of a number of independent linear reservoirs. This conceptual model, which can be mathematically deduced in a univocal way from an eigenvalue solution of the linear groundwater flow problem, facilitates the understanding of the physical phenomenon and the analysis of influencing factors. The number of reservoirs required to simulate stream depletion in some ideal homogeneous cases of stream–aquifer connection was analyzed in detail in a previous investigation using analytical eigenvalue solutions [16]. However, most aquifers are heterogeneous in nature and numerical solutions must be employed to analyze whether they could also be simulated using few reservoirs. This paper presents a stochastic analysis of the influence of heterogeneity on the simulation of natural groundwater discharges in aquifers connected to rivers, as a series of linear reservoirs. A Monte-Carlo approach was employed to perform this study. The results show that, on a monthly time scale, many cases (even heterogeneous aquifers) can be simulated using just a few reservoirs with sufficient accuracy and at minimum computational cost. Therefore, this modeling technique can be useful to efficiently simulate the integrated management of complex water resources systems at the basin scale (with many aquifers, reservoirs, demands, etc.) that need to simultaneously consider surface and groundwater flow and stream–aquifer interaction.     

Modelling increased soil cohesion due to roots with EUROSEM

As organic root exudates cause soil particles to adhere firmly to root surfaces, roots significantly increase soil strength and therefore also increase the resistance of the topsoil to erosion by concentrated flow. This paper aims at contributing to a better prediction of the root effects on soil erosion rates in the EUROSEM model, as the input values accounting for roots, presented in the user manual, do not account for differences in root density or root architecture. Recent research indicates that small changes in root density or differences in root architecture considerably influence soil erosion rates during concentrated flow. The approach for incorporating the root effects into this model is based on a comparison of measured soil detachment rates for bare and for root‐permeated topsoil samples with predicted erosion rates under the same flow conditions using the erosion equation of EUROSEM. Through backwards calculation, transport capacity efficiencies and corresponding soil cohesion values can be assessed for bare and root‐permeated topsoils respectively. The results are promising and present soil cohesion values that are in accordance with reported values in the literature for the same soil type (silt loam). The results show that grass roots provide a larger increase in soil cohesion as compared with tap‐rooted species and that the increase in soil cohesion is not significantly different under wet and dry soil conditions, either for fibrous root systems or for tap root systems. Power and exponential relationships are established between measured root density values and the corresponding calculated soil cohesion values, reflecting the effects of roots on the resistance of the topsoil to concentrated flow incision. These relationships enable one to incorporate the root effect into the soil erosion model EUROSEM, through adapting the soil cohesion input value. A scenario analysis shows that the contribution of roots to soil cohesion is very important for preventing soil loss and reducing runoff volume. The increase in soil shear strength due to the binding effect of roots on soil particles is two orders of magnitude lower as compared with soil reinforcement achieved when roots mobilize their tensile strength during soil shearing and root breakage. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nutrient Concentrations are High in the Turbid Waters of the Colorado River Delta

We studied the seasonal change of the spatial distribution of nitrite (NO^-₂), nitrate (NO^-₃), reactive phosphate (PO^3-₄), and silicate (SiO₂) in the Colorado River Delta. We also generated 24-h time series at one location to study their short-period variability. The delta is a negative estuary. During summer, salinity may be as high as 40. Amplitude of spring tides is as large as 9 m, and this causes great water turbidity by sediment resuspension. Nutrient concentrations were high throughout the whole year, with lower values towards the oceanic region. Maximum nutrient values in the river delta were 15, 53, 11·5 and 92 μM, for NO^-₂, NO^-₃, PO^3-₄, and SiO₂, respectively. Most values were under 2, 40, 5, and 60 μM, for NO^-₂, NO^-₃, PO^3-₄, and SiO₂, respectively. Our nutrient data show no clear seasonal pattern. Possibly, high NO^-₃ values in the delta are due to groundwater input, mostly at the internal extreme, and high NO^-₂, PO^3-₄, and SiO₂ values are due to resuspension of sediments and mixing of porewaters with the water column, caused mainly during spring tides. In the case of NO^-₂, oxidation of NH⁺₄ in the water column would be part of the mechanism. This would explain the high negative correlation between NO^-₃ and sea-level, and the relatively low correlation between the other nutrients and sea-level, for the time series generated at a single location.     

Evaluation of the use of photochemical indicators to assess ozone—NOx—VOC sensitivity in the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula

Understanding the chemical links between ozone (O₃) and its two main precursors, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), is important for designing effective photochemical smog reduction strategies. This chemical relationship will determine which precursor (NOx or VOC) emission reduction will be more effective for decreasing the ozone formation. Under certain conditions, ozone levels decrease as a result of a reduction in NOx emissions but do not respond significantly to changes in VOC emissions (NOx-sensitive condition), while under other conditions ozone concentrations decrease in response to reductions in VOCs and may even increase when NOx emissions are reduced (VOC-sensitive conditions). Indicator species can be used to assess the sensitivity of ozone to changes in the emissions of its precursors. These indicators are species or species ratios involved in ozone photochemistry which reflect the primary chemical process through which the ozone was formed. In this work we use the MM5-CAMx model system to explore the behaviour of various indicator species during two meteorological situations featuring different atmospheric conditions in a complex terrain area. The results show that indicators based on nitrogen compounds (i.e,. NOy and NOz) are suitable for defining the transition range from VOC- to NOx-sensitive chemistry, and that despite the uncertainties associated with the use of chemical indicators, the ratios O₃/NOy and O₃/NOz may provide a simple and useful way to summarize the response of ozone to changes in NOx and VOC emissions in Southwestern Spain.     

Le champ électrique atmosphérique à Dakar

Résumé Les mesures de champ électrique atmosphérique sont jusqu'à présent assez rares dans les régions de faible latitude. Il nous a semblé intéressant d'entreprendre des observations à Dakar afin de pouvoir comparer les résultats recueillis avec ceux obtenus ailleurs et de mettre en évidence les anomalies éventuelles.

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Summary Atmospheric potential gradient measurements are rare enough up to now in low latitude. It seemed interesting to undertake observations at Dakar in order to compare the results obtained with those obtained elsewhere and to consider possible anomalies.

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Zusammenfassung Messungen des luftelektrischen Potentialgefälles sind in niedrigen Breiten bisher ziemlich selten. Wir haben daher Beobachtungen in Dakar angestellt und die Ergebnisse mit den in anderen Gegenden ausgeführten Messungen verglichen.

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Avec 6 Figures     

Estimates of Horizontal Groundwater Flow Velocities in Boreholes

Currently, monitoring tools can be deployed in observation boreholes to better assess groundwater flow, flux of dissolved contaminants and their mass discharge in an aquifer. The relationship between horizontal water velocity in observation boreholes and Darcy fluxes in the surrounding aquifer has been studied for natural flow conditions (i.e., no pumping). Interpretation of measurements taken with dilution tests, the colloidal borescope, the Heat Pulse Flowmeter, and other techniques require the conversion of observed borehole velocity u to aquifer Darcy flux q_∞ . This conversion is typically done through a proportionality factor α = u/q_∞ . In experimental studies as well as in theoretical developments, reported values of α vary almost three orders of magnitude (from 0.5 to 10). This large variability in reported values of α could be explained by: (1) unclear distinction between Darcy flux and water seepage velocity, (2) unclear definition of water velocity in the borehole, (3) effects of well screen and the presence of the measurement device itself on the observable velocities, and (4) hydraulic conditions in the borehole annulus. We address (1), (2) from a conceptual/theoretical perspective, and (3) by means of numerical simulations. We show that issue (1) in low porosity aquifers can yield to order-of-magnitude discrepancies in estimates of q_∞ ; (2) may result in discrepancies of up to 50%, and (3) can cause differences up to 20% of water velocity in the borehole void space compared to the theoretical case of an open borehole.     

Effects of water quality on infiltration,runoff and interrill erosion processes during simulated rainfall

This paper discusses the effects of water quality on the hydrological and erosion response of non‐saline, non‐sodic soils during simulated rain experiments. It is well known that rain water quality affects the behaviour of saline soils. In particular, rain simulation experiments cannot be run using tap water if realistic values of infiltration rates and soil erosion are to be found. This paper reports on similar effects for non‐saline, non‐sodic soils. Two soils – a well‐aggregated clay‐rich soil developed on marine silty clay deposits and a soil developed on silt loam – were selected and subjected to a series of simulated rainstorms using demineralized water and tap water. The experiments were conducted in two different laboratories in order to obtain results independent of the tap water quality or the rainfall simulator characteristics. The results indicate that time‐to‐ponding is largely delayed by solute‐rich water (tap water). When tap water is used, infiltration rates are significantly overestimated, i.e. by more than 100 per cent. Interrill erosion rates increase by a factor of 2·5–3 when demineralized water is used. The silty clay soil was more affected by the water quality than the silt loam soil, with respect to infiltration and runoff production. Regarding interrill erosion rates, the two tested soils were similarly affected by the water quality. Therefore, it can be concluded that rainfall simulation experiments with non‐dispersive soils (e.g. non‐saline, non‐sodic) must also be conducted using water with very low electrical conductivity (i.e. less than 30–50 µS cm⁻¹), close to that of distilled water. The use of tap water certainly hampers comparisons and the relative ranking of the hydrological and erosion response of different soils, while parameter values, such as final infiltration rate or time‐to‐ponding, cannot be extrapolated and extended to natural situations. Therefore, the majority of hydrological and erosion models and parameter values measured during rainfall simulations in the past should be used with caution for all types of soils. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantification of bank erosion in a drained agricultural lowland catchment

The long‐term and current volumes of sediment exported from stream banks were calculated as potential sources of sediment in a large pond located at the catchment outlet of a small agricultural lowland basin strongly affected by anthropogenic pressure in France. Bank erosion was measured over a short period using a network of erosion pins along a small stream (1400 m long) to quantify the material exported during a single winter (2012–2013). The material exported by this same stream over the last 69 years was quantified using an original approach involving the comparison of a compilation of three‐dimensional historical stream redesign plans that date back to 1944 with the state of the banks in 2013 (differential global positioning system and LiDAR data). The results suggest that a global trend of material loss along the stream banks monitored by erosion pins, with an average erosion rate of 17.7 mm year^?1 and an average volume of exported material of 75 t km^?1. Over 69 years, this same stream exported an average of 36 t km^?1 year^?1, and the average loss of material from the banks throughout the whole catchment was estimated to be 14 t km^?1 year^?1. The contribution of bank material to the filling of the pond over the last 10 years is between 46% and 52% based on an extrapolation of erosion pin dynamics or between 27% and 30% based on the comparison of LiDAR data to the average historical profile extrapolated for the catchment. These results suggest that bank erosion represents a major source of sediment in degraded waters in traditionally understudied agricultural lowland catchments, where anthropogenic pressures are high.     

Modeling aquifer�Criver interactions under the influence of groundwater abstraction in the Mancha Oriental System (SE Spain)

The Mancha Oriental System (MOS, 7,260?km²) is one of the largest aquifers within Spain, and is encompassed by the Jucar River Basin. Over the past 30?years, socioeconomic development within the region has been largely due to intensive use of groundwater resources for irrigating crops (1,000?km²). Groundwater pumping (406 million m³/year) has provoked a steady drop in the groundwater level and a reduction of MOS discharge to the Jucar River. The study aims to characterize the river?Caquifer relationship, to determine the influence that groundwater abstraction has on the river discharge. This research has advanced a three-dimensional large-scale numerical groundwater-flow model (MODFLOW 2000) in order to spatially and temporally evaluate, quantify and predict the river?Caquifer interactions that are influenced by groundwater abstraction in MOS. It is demonstrated that although groundwater abstraction increased considerably from the early 1980s to 2000, the depletion of water stored in the aquifer was lower than might be expected. This is mainly due to aquifer recharge from the Jucar River, induced by groundwater abstraction. The area of disconnection between the river and the water table (i.e. where groundwater head is lower than the riverbed) is found to have spread 20?km downstream from its position before pumping started.