Ecogeomorphic state variables and phase‐space construction for quantifying the evolution of vegetated aeolian landscapes

Cellular automaton modelling for the simulation of dune field formation and evolution has developed progressively in aeolian geomorphology in the last decade or so. A model that incorporates the effects of vegetation and its interactions with geomorphic landscape development – the Discrete Ecogeomorphic Aeolian Landscapes (DECAL) model – can replicate a number of important visual and qualitative aspects of the complex evolution of aeolian dune landscapes under the influence of vegetation dynamics in coastal environments. A key challenge in this research area is the analysis and comparison of both simulated and real‐world vegetated dune landscapes using objective and quantifiable principles. This study presents a methodological framework or protocol for numerically quantifying various ecogeomorphic attributes, using a suite of mathematically defined landscape metrics, to provide a rigorous and statistical evaluation of vegetated dune field evolution. Within this framework the model parameter space can be systematically explored and simulation outcomes can be methodically compared against real‐world landscapes. Based on a simplified scenario of parabolic dunes developing out of blow‐outs the resulting dune field realizations are investigated as a function of variable growth vigour of two simulated vegetation types (pioneer grass and successional woody shrub) by establishing a typological phase‐diagram of different landscape classes. The set of simulation outcomes furthermore defines a higher‐dimensional phase‐space, whose axes or dimensions can be interpreted by analysing how individual ecogeomorphic landscape metrics, or state variables, contribute to the data distribution. Principal component analysis can reduce this to a visual three‐dimensional (3D) phase‐space where landscape evolution can be plotted as time‐trajectories and where we can investigate the effects of changing environmental conditions partway through a simulation scenario. The use of landscape state variables and the construction of a 3D phase‐space presented here may provide a general template for quantifying many other eco‐geomorphic systems on the Earth's surface. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sedimentation in the floodplains of the Mekong Delta,Vietnam. Part I: suspended sediment dynamics

Suspended sediment is the primary source for a sustainable agro‐ecosystem in the Mekong Delta by providing nutrient input for the subsequent cropping season. In addition, the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) plays an important role in the erosion and deposition processes in the Delta; that is, it influences the morphologic development and may counteract the deltaic subsidence and sea level rise. Despite this importance, little is known about the dynamics of suspended sediment in the floodplains of the Mekong Delta. In particular, quantitative analyses are lacking mainly because of data scarcity with respect to the inundation processes in the floodplains. In 2008, therefore, a comprehensive in situ system to monitor the dynamics of suspended sediment in a study area located in the Plain of Reeds was established, aiming at the characterization and quantification of suspended sediment dynamics in the deeply inundated parts of the Vietnamese part of the Mekong Delta. The monitoring system was equipped with seven water quality–monitoring stations. They have a robust design and autonomous power supply suitable for operation on inundated floodplains, enabling the collection of reliable data over a long period of time with a high temporal resolution. The data analysis shows that the general seasonal dynamics of suspended sediment transport in the Delta is controlled by two main mechanisms: the flood wave of the Mekong River and the tidal backwater influences from the coast. In the channel network, SSC decreases exponentially with distance from the Mekong River. The anthropogenic influence on SSC could also be identified for two periods: at the start of the floodplain inundation and at the end of the flood period, when subsequent paddy rice crops are prepared. Based on the results, we recommend an operation scheme for the sluice gates, which intends to distribute the sediment and thus the nutrients equally over the floodplain. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A multisurface kinematic hardening model for the behavior of clays under combined static and undrained cyclic loading

In dynamic geotechnical problems, soils are often subjected to a combination of sustained static and fast cyclic loading. Under such loading conditions, saturated and normally consolidated clays generally experience a build-up of excess pore water pressure along with a degradation of stiffness and strength. If the strength of the soil falls below the static stress demand, a self-driven failure is triggered. In this paper, a constitutive model is presented for the analysis of such problems, based on a general multisurface plasticity framework. The hardening behavior, the initial arrangement of the surfaces, and the nonassociated volumetric flow rule are defined to capture important aspects of cyclic clay behavior. This includes nonlinear hysteretic stress-strain behavior, the effect of anisotropic consolidation, and the generation of excess pore water pressure during undrained cyclic loading along with a degradation of stiffness and strength. The model requires nine independent parameters, which can be derived from standard laboratory tests. A customized experimental program has been performed to validate the model performance. The model predictions show a good agreement with test results from monotonic and cyclic undrained triaxial tests, in particular with respect to the strain-softening response and the number of loading cycles to failure. A procedure for a general stress-space implicit numerical implementation for undrained, total stress-based finite element analyses is presented, including the derivation of the consistent tangent operator. Finally, a simulation of the seismic response of a submarine slope is shown to illustrate a possible application of the presented model.     

On the present habitats and ecology of Vertigo pseudosubstriata Ložek, 1954 (Mollusca,Gastropoda, Vertiginidea) in Central Asia and its distribution history in Central and Eastern Europe

The small terrestrial gastropod Vertigo pseudosubstriata Ložek, 1954 is one of the rarest glacial indicator species in the Pleistocene of Central and Eastern Europe. In all, this species has been found at only about 15 sites in Europe. V. pseudosubstriata was initially described as a fossil in Central Europe and was discovered only later alive in Central Asia. With regard to its modern distribution, 25 habitats with V. pseudosubstriata have been examined in Tien Shan and in the central and southern Altai. These findings seem to capture the contemporary distribution of the species and provide information on the boundaries of its ecological requirements. These data are of great significance for the interpretation of the fossil assemblages. Since the few fossil specimens in Europe date from very different glacial periods in the Elsterian, Saalian Complex and Weichselian, it can be concluded that V. pseudosubstriata apparently immigrated in at least three distinct waves. Most of the Pleistocene specimens in eastern Central Europe and Eastern Europe are reported from archaeological sites of the Upper Middle Weichselian (Gravettian), roughly between 33 and 29 ka cal bp. In this paper, we review all reported modern and fossil occurrences and discuss the species' ecological range.     

Molecular characterization of uranium(VI) sorption complexes on iron(III)-rich acid mine water colloids

A mixing of metal-loaded acid mine drainage with shallow groundwater or surface waters usually initiates oxidation and/or hydrolysis of dissolved metals such as iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al). Colloidal particles may appear and agglomerate with increasing pH. Likewise chemical conditions may occur while flooding abandoned uranium mines. Here, the risk assessment of hazards requires reliable knowledge on the mobility of uranium (U). A flooding process was simulated at mesocosm scale by mixing U-contaminated acid mine water with near-neutral groundwater under oxic conditions. The mechanism of U-uptake by fresh precipitates and the molecular structure of U bonding were determined to estimate the mobility of U(VI). Analytical and spectroscopic methods such as Extended X-ray Absorption Fine-Structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy at the Fe K-edge and the U L_III-edge, and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy were employed. The freshly formed precipitate was identified as colloidal two-line ferrihydrite. It removed U(VI) from solution by sorption processes, while surface precipitation or structural incorporation of U was not observed. EXAFS data suggest a mononuclear inner-sphere, edge-sharing complex of U(VI) with ferrihydrite in the absence of dissolved carbonate. By employing a novel EXAFS analysis method, Monte Carlo Target Transformation Factor Analysis, we could for the first time ascertain a 3-D configuration of this sorption complex without the necessity to invoke formation of a ternary complex. The configuration suggests a slightly tilted position of the adsorbed unit relative to the edge-sharing Fe(O, OH)₆ octahedra. In the presence of dissolved carbonate and at pH ∼8.0, a distal carbonate O-atom at ∼4.3 Å supports formation of ternary U(VI)-carbonato surface complexes. The occurrence of these complexes was also confirmed by ATR-FTIR. However, in slightly acidic conditions (pH 5-6) in equilibrium with atmospheric CO₂, the U(VI) sorption on ferrihydrite was dominated by the binary complex species Fe(O)₂UO₂, whereas ternary U(VI)-carbonato surface complexes were of minor relevance. While sulfate and silicate were also present in the mine water, they had no detectable influence on U(VI) surface complexation. Our experiments demonstrate that U(VI) forms stable inner-sphere sorption complexes even in the presence of carbonate and at slightly alkaline pH, conditions which previously have been assumed to greatly accelerate the mobility of U(VI) in aqueous environments. Depending on the concentrations of U(VI) and carbonate, the type of surface complexes may change from binary uranyl-ferrihydrite to ternary carbonato-uranyl-ferrihydrite complexes. These different binding mechanisms are likely to influence the binding stability and retention of U(VI) at the macroscopic level.     

Storm-related sea level variations along the North Sea coast as simulated by a high-resolution model 1958–2002

Storm-related sea level variations 1958–2002 along the North Sea coast from a high-resolution numerical hindcast are investigated and compared to the results of earlier studies. Considerable variations were found from year to year and over the entire period. The large-scale pattern of these variations is consistent with that derived from previous studies, while the magnitudes of the long-term trends differ. The latter is attributed to different analysis periods, improvements in the atmospheric forcing, and the enhanced spatial resolution of the numerical simulation. It is shown that the different analysis periods, in particular, represent an issue as the increase in storm-related sea levels was found to be weaker over the last few years that have not been included in earlier studies. These changes are consistent with observed changes of the storm climate over the North Sea. It is also shown that observed and hindcast trends may differ significantly. While the latter are in agreement with observed changes in the storm climate, it may be concluded that observed sea level changes along the North Sea coast comprise a considerable fraction that cannot be attributed to changes in the large-scale atmospheric circulation.

Ice crystal shape effects on solar radiative properties of Arctic mixed-phase clouds—Dependence on microphysical properties

Based on 1-year cloud measurements with radar and microwave radiometer broadband solar radiative transfer simulations were performed to quantify the impact of different ice crystal shapes of Arctic mixed-phase clouds on their radiative properties (reflectance, transmittance and absorptance). The ice crystal shape effects were investigated as a function of microphysical cloud properties (ice volume fraction f_i, ice and liquid water content IWC and LWC, mean particle diameter D_m^I and D_m^W of ice/water particle number size distributions, NSDs).The required NSDs were statistically derived from radar data. The NSD was composed of a liquid and a solid mode defined by LWC, D_m^W (water mode) and IWC, D_m^I (ice mode). It was found that the ratio of D_m^I and D_m^W determines the magnitude of the shape effect. For mixed-phase clouds with D_m^I ≤ 27 μm a significant shape effect was obtained. The shape effect was almost insensitive with regard to the solar zenith angle, but highly sensitive to the ice volume fraction of the mixed-phase cloud. For mixed-phase clouds containing small ice crystals (D_m^I ≤ 27 μm) and high ice volume fractions (f_i > 0.5) crystal shape is crucial. The largest shape effects were observed assuming aggregates and columns. If the IWC was conserved the shape effect reaches values up to 0.23 in cloud reflectance and transmittance. If the ice mode NSD was kept constant only a small shape effect was quantified (≤ 0.04).     

Theoretical considerations on the mass and energy consistent treatment of precipitation in cloudy atmospheres

The purpose of this paper is to present a rigorous derivation of a model equation system for the mass and energy open precipitating atmosphere. The derivation is based on the treatment of the atmosphere in terms of three open thermodynamic subsystems consisting of cloudy air, rain water and snow, respectively. Each of the three subsystems moves with a different velocity as caused by the different fall velocities of rain and snow in comparison to the cloudy air.A basic assumption of the model consists in the neglect of the inertia terms in the momentum equation of the falling hydrometeors. It will be shown that this simplification yields additional source terms in the budget equations of the total momentum and the total kinetic energy of the system. However, the prognostic equations for the atmospheric wind field and the corresponding kinetic energy equation remain free of these source terms. The model equations strictly conserve the total mass and energy of the system. It is concluded that the combination of the barycentric velocity of the cloudy air and the total density of the system is the best choice to describe the time evolution of the atmospheric wind field.     

On Reynolds Averaging of Turbulence Time Series

We show that validity of Reynolds averaging for estimating the (ensemble) mean of a turbulence time series requires that the series values be both stationary and uncorrelated. In strict statistical terminology, these two conditions are jointly designated as independent identically distributed (i.i.d.). Moreover, we show that when the series values are correlated, knowledge of the correlation between the values is needed to obtain a reliable estimate of the mean. Last, we contend that a viable averaging algorithm must be Reynolds number (Re) dependent, requiring one version for low Re (Gaussian) turbulence and another for high Re (non-Gaussian) turbulence. Alternatively the median (as opposed to the mean) is recommended as a measure of the central tendency of the turbulence probability density function.