Numerical modeling of the Rideau Valley Watershed

Using the Mike11 modeling system by the Danish Hydraulic Institute, a detailed model of the Rideau Valley Watershed was constructed. It includes 532 km of rivers and lakes, 106 basins, 122 bridges and culverts, and 20 water control structures. The model was calibrated using measured streamflow data for a time period of 5 years; additional 5 years of data was used for validation. Various methods, both qualitative and quantitative, were used to evaluate the model performance. It was found that the model can simulate the hydrological response with a reasonable to high degree of accuracy. This model is now being used for various watershed management purposes, including flood forecasting, dam safety assessment, quantification of wetland functions, and derivation of design flows.     

Effects of natural and calcined oyster shells on Cd and Pb immobilization in contaminated soils

In Korea, soils adjacent to abandoned mines are commonly contaminated by heavy metals present in mine tailings. Further, the disposal of oyster shell waste by oyster farm industries has been associated with serious environmental problems. In this study, we attempted to remediate cadmium (Cd)- and lead (Pb)-contaminated soils typical of those commonly found adjacent to abandoned mines using oyster shell waste as a soil stabilizer. Natural oyster shell powder (NOSP) and calcined oyster shell powder (COSP) were applied as soil amendments to immobilize Cd and Pb. The primary components of NOSP and COSP are calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and calcium oxide (CaO), respectively. X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscope analyses conducted in this study revealed that the calcination of NOSP at 770°C converted the less reactive CaCO₃ to the more reactive CaO. The calcination process also decreased the sodium content in COSP, indicating that it was advantageous to use COSP as a liming material in agricultural soil. After 30 days of incubation, we found that the 0.1 N HCl-extractable Cd and Pb contents in soil decreased significantly as a result of an increase in the soil pH and the formation of metal hydroxides. COSP was more effective in immobilizing Cd and Pb in the contaminated soil than NOSP. Overall, the results of this study suggest that oyster shell waste can be recycled into an effective soil ameliorant.     

Strain analysis and stratigraphic status of Nongkhya,Sumer and Mawmaram conglomerates of Shillong basin,Meghalaya, India

Shillong basin, one of the Purana basins of the Indian peninsula is situated in the central and eastern parts of the Shillong plateau of NE India. Metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks of the basin are of Mesoproterozoic age and lithostratigraphically belong to Shillong Group (erstwhile Shillong series) comprising Lower Metapelitic Formation (LMF) and Upper Quartzitic Formation (UQF). A long, persistent, faulted and tectonically attenuated conglomerate known as Nongkhya-Sumer-Mawmaram-conglomerate separates these two formations. In the present work, quantitative strain analyses of the pebbles of Sumer, Nongkhya and Mawmaram conglomerates of Ri-Bhoi and West Khasi Hills districts of Meghalaya are carried out using manual and computerized programmes. Eight different techniques for intrapebble, interpebble and bulk rock strain estimation are applied and results are compared systematically. Sumer and Mawmaram conglomerates bear the testimony of broadly flattening type of deformation (0 < k < 1) while Nongkhya conglomerate shows constriction type (1 < k < α). The change in strain ellipsoid shape from Nongkhya to Mawmaram area is accompanied by a change of fabric from S < L to L < S tectonites. Affinity of rotational strain is more in Nongkhya conglomerate as compared to Sumer and Mawmaram conglomerates. The compactness of pebbles is high in case of Nongkhya conglomerate and low to moderate in Sumer and Mawmaram conglomerates indicating high strain in Nongkhya conglomerate (northeastern part of Shillong basin) relative to Sumer and Mawmaram conglomerates (southwestern part of Shillong basin). Thus strain magnitude increases from SW to NE direction of the Shillong basin.     

New Urbanist developments in flood-prone areas: safe development,or safe development paradox?

Government policies intended to reduce flood losses can increase the potential for catastrophe by stimulating development inside the floodplain, a phenomenon referred to as the “safe development paradox.” New Urbanist design has the potential to both exacerbate and alleviate flood risks. Because they are built at relatively high densities, New Urbanist developments can exacerbate risk by placing more people and property in harm’s way. Conversely, New Urbanist design features theoretically better enable designers of New Urbanist developments to avoid floodplain portions of project sites than designers of conventional subdivisions. Using a sample of New Urbanist developments in the US that contain floodplain portions within their boundaries, this paper focuses on whether and why these developments locate built structures inside the floodplain. The authors find that roughly 30% of the developments locate structures inside the floodplain, and that the odds of locating structures inside the floodplain increase with the proportion of the project site located inside the floodplain and decrease with the presence of government policies that prohibit residential development in the floodplain. The authors also identify confusion among government planners regarding the distinction between pre and postconstruction floodplain boundaries. A subset of New Urbanist developments is found to have built structures located outside the postconstruction floodplain boundary, but inside the preconstruction floodplain boundary. This finding is cited as an example of the “safe development paradox” in action. The authors recommend changes in New Urbanist design codes and local government floodplain management to increasingly direct new development away from the floodplain.     

Vulnerabilities and migration in Small Island Developing States in the context of climate change

The unique characteristics of Small Island Developing States and structural vulnerabilities they face in terms of development have earned them particular consideration in the development agenda. This article sheds light on some of the vulnerabilities that these countries face, making particular reference to their environmental and economic vulnerabilities. It then highlights the ambiguous role that international migration plays in the recreation of those vulnerabilities.     

Effect of attachment configuration on the trapping efficiency of Vaseline-coated slide catchers for windblown particles

There are various types of the windblown sediment traps developed for wind tunnel and field studies. One of the main supports expected from these traps is in measuring surface dust concentrations to appropriately derive flux equations. The measurement performance and accuracy of a trap is very important and depends strictly upon the physical characteristics and the behaviors of dust grains with air flows. This paper presents the measurement results of static pressure distribution (SPD) of wind flow around Vaseline-coated slide (VCS) catchers with an aim of finding out whether or not particle trapping efficiency (η) of the VCS is related to the SPD. The SPD was evaluated by a wind reduction coefficient (R _c) in a series of wind tunnel experiments with different VCS settings which have different attachment configurations on a pole. Three VCS configurations were considered: a configuration on a circular plastic pole (CPP) and two configurations on wooden square poles (WSP₁ and WSP₂, respectively). Thus, the primary contribution of this work was to experimentally analyze the effect of the different attachment configurations on the SPD, and the secondary objective was to determine the effect of the SPD on the η. It was shown that spatial correlation and spatial pattern of the R _c were different in the surrounding area of each configuration, and ANOVA and DUNCAN tests indicated that η(s) of WSP₁, WSP₂, and CPP were different at the significant level of P ≤ 0.05 with the mean of 0.94 ± 0.09, 0.63 ± 0.14, and 1.13 ± 0.07, respectively. Additionally, the amount of PM₂₀, PM₄₀, PM₆₀, PM₈₀, and PM₁₀₀ trapped by the configurations of WSP₁, WSP₂, and CPP considerably varied depending upon the particular aerodynamic circumstances associated with every configuration.     

Application of a distributed erosion model for the assessment of spatial erosion patterns in the Lushi catchment,China

A grid-based erosion model is developed by integrating the distributed hydrological model, BTOPMC, with the modified USLE to estimate soil erosion and sediment outflow during single storms. The possible sheet, rill, channel erosion types, and sediment transport processes are considered within each grid under the model structure. Instead of representing the sheet erosion and rill erosion separately, the classic USLE method is modified to simulate the lumped sheet–rill erosion during storms. In the modification, the runoff ratio and a relevant correction coefficient are brought into the R-factor which improves the model’s applicability in predicting erosion during single storms. Instead of representing a grid with a unique erosion type, a channel component is assumed to exist in each grid, and its width varies with the upstream contributing area of the grid. This assumption avoids the problems that are caused by the difference between the channel widths in the upstream area and the downstream area if the grid is simply recognized as a channel grid. It also enables the model to be applicable in simulating soil erosion and sediment outflow from a large catchment. Through a case study in the Lushi catchment, China, the results show an overall satisfactory accuracy for the selected events. Moreover, by analyzing the spatial distribution of soil erosion or deposition, the erosion-prone areas are identified for the prioritization purpose.     

Prediction of Land Subsidence Under Cyclic Pumping Based on Laboratory and Numerical Simulations

In this study subsidence due to groundwater withdrawal was investigated. Kerman Province in Iran is struggling with land subsidence problem due to extensive groundwater withdrawal mainly for farming. The rate and type of groundwater withdrawal has very important impact on settlement rate. In this research, effective parameters on land subsidence caused by groundwater withdrawal were determined by laboratory tests. Sampling had done up to depth of 300 m mainly with remolded specimens from Shams-abad, Nouq plain in Kerman province. Similar to the field preconsolidation pressure was applied on specimens in the laboratory. Rate of applied stress on prepared specimens was similar to effect of oscillation of groundwater level. In order to model the actual soil behavior in the laboratory, one-dimensional consolidation device (odometer) was adopted for testing. In these tests, the effect of loading caused by seasonal oscillation of groundwater table is considered by means of cyclic loading in the testing which has great effect on rate of settlements. The results of tests show that when the water table level periodically increases and decreases the amount of settlement decrease, comparing with the case when the groundwater table drop to a constant level. In order to predict the further effects of groundwater level oscillation and actual field condition on land subsidence, a finite element model based on Biots’ three-dimensional consolidation theory was developed. After calibration of finite element model with laboratory tests, this model was used for prediction the effect of groundwater level oscillation on actual field conditions.     

Real-time monitoring and early warning of landslides at relocated Wushan Town,the Three Gorges Reservoir,China

A special monitoring and warning system has been established and improved in the Three Gorges Reservoir area since 1999. It is necessary to develop a real-time monitoring system on landslides because there are dense populations centered in the reservoir area and geo-hazards may be triggered by a 30-m water level fluctuation between 145 and 175 m in elevation during reservoir operation; the regular monitoring could not be suitable to the early warning on landslides. Since 2003, the authors have carried out a real-time monitoring and early warning project on landslides at the relocated Wushan town in the Three Gorges Reservoir area. The monitoring station includes Global Positioning System with high-accuracy double frequency to monitor ground displacement, time domain reflection technology, and immobile borehole, inclinometer to monitor deep displacement, piezometer to monitor pore water pressure, and precipitation and reservoir water level monitoring. Compared with traditional methods, the real-time monitoring is continuous and traceable in the acquisition process, and the cycle of data acquisition is very short, usually within hours, minutes, or even shorter. Based on the landslide monitoring experience at the Three Gorges Reservoir area, the early warning criteria on landslide are established in which the critical situation is classified into four levels: blue, yellow, orange, and red, respectively, expressed by no, slight, moderate, and high risk situation. Comprehensive judgment from multimonitoring data of Yuhuangge landslide in this area since 2004 suggested that the new Wushan town will be at the blue early warning level, although some monitoring data of individual displacement at deep borehole showed that the displacement was increased by 5 mm in 5 months with an average velocity of 1.0 mm/month, and the data of BOTDR also showed an obvious dislocation along a stairway on the landslide.