Spatial–temporal variability and hydrologic connectivity of runoff generation areas in a North Alabama pasture—implications for phosphorus transport

This study delineated spatially and temporally variable runoff generation areas in the Sand Mountain region pasture of North Alabama under natural rainfall conditions, and demonstrated that hydrologic connectivity is important for generating hillslope response when infiltration‐excess (IE) runoff mechanism dominates. Data from six rainfall events (13·7–32·3 mm) on an intensively instrumented pasture hillslope (0·12 ha) were analysed. Analysis of data from surface runoff sensors, tipping bucket rain gauge and HS‐flume demonstrated spatial and temporal variability in runoff generation areas. Results showed that the maximum runoff generation area, which contributed to runoff at the outlet of the hillslope, varied between 67 and 100%. Furthermore, because IE was the main runoff generation mechanism on the hillslope, the data showed that as the rainfall intensity changed during a rainfall event, the runoff generation areas expanded or contracted. During rainfall events with high‐intensity short‐ to medium‐duration, 4–8% of total rainfall was converted to runoff at the outlet. Rainfall events with medium‐ to low‐intensity, medium‐duration were found less likely to generate runoff at the outlet. In situ soil hydraulic conductivity (k) was measured across the hillslope, which confirmed its effect on hydrologic connectivity of runoff generation areas. Combined surface runoff sensor and k‐interpolated data clearly showed that during a rainfall event, lower k areas generate runoff first, and then, depending on rainfall intensity, runoff at the outlet is generated by hydrologically connected areas. It was concluded that in IE‐runoff‐dominated areas, rainfall intensity and k can explain hydrologic response. The study demonstrated that only connected areas of low k values generate surface runoff during high‐intensity rainfall events. Identification of these areas would serve as an important foundation for controlling nonpoint source pollutant transport, especially phosphorus. The best management practices can be developed and implemented to reduce transport of phosphorus from these hydrologically connected areas. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On low-frequency errors of uniformly modulated filtered white-noise models for ground motions

Low-frequency errors of a commonly used non-stationary stochastic model (uniformly modulated filtered white-noise model) for earthquake ground motions are investigated. It is shown both analytically and by numerical simulation that uniformly modulated filter white-noise-type models systematically overestimate the spectral response for periods longer than the effective duration of the earthquake, because of the built-in low-frequency errors in the model. The errors, which are significant for low-magnitude short-duration earthquakes, can be eliminated by using the filtered shot-noise-type models (i.e. white noise, modulated by the envelope first, and then filtered).     

Surface sensible heat flux over a deep moist convective region and its interplay with synoptic and mesoscale features

The surface parameters are being evaluated using a methodology which considers the vertical temperature structure of MONTBLEX ’90. For this 30 metre micrometeorological tower data are utilised. In this process, a concept of isolated layers has been introduced. The parameters have been evaluated following two successive iterative processes to give a consistent value both in the flux-profile relation and the related similarity relation. The heat flux obtained using the present methodology, is then utilised to examine its interplay with the synoptic as well as mesoscale features. The existence of such an interplay is observed.     

西藏“一江两河”中部流域地区土地沙漠化防治目标,对策与治沙工程布局

西藏“一江两河”中部流域地区是我国沙漠化强烈发展的地区之一。根据“一江两河”综合开发部署和沙漠化的实际状况，制定了本区沙漠化防治的目标、对策和治沙工程布局。“八·五”、“九·五”期间治理沙漠化土地８．４６万ｈａ。治沙工程实施后，综合效益指数将比１９９０年提高３３．７％，系统功能状况与效益水平在整体上提高１／３。     

全站仪近距离测距精度检验方法的探讨

提出了室内基线法，给出了相应的数据处理方法，并用实测数据进行了计算，结果显示全站仪在室内、短边条件下的测距精度较标称精度有很大的提高。该法所得结果与现存两种方法的结果基本相当，从而证明了该法能够客观地反映出工业测量用全站仪的近距离测距精度。     

中尺度数值模式(MM5V3)在沈阳区域气象中心的试用

简单介绍了沈阳区域气象中心在微机上调试和试用中尺度数值模式MM5V3的情况，MM5V3在前、后处理上使用Fortran90编程，与MM5V2有一定差别，利用T106L19资料和常规探空报形成经、纬网格的初值，预处理场和侧边界，代入模式前处理系统中，模式运行完毕后，预报产品直接进入MICAPS、Vis5d、Grads系统，进行图形显示，在2000年汛期试用中发现，MM5V3对东北地区的强降水过程有一定的预报能力，预报评分表明，MM5V3的降水预报结果和MM5V2互有优劣，总体来看，MM5V3的预报质量略高于MM5V2。