Connectivity as an emergent property of geomorphic systems

Connectivity describes the efficiency of material transfer between geomorphic system components such as hillslopes and rivers or longitudinal segments within a river network. Representations of geomorphic systems as networks should recognize that the compartments, links, and nodes exhibit connectivity at differing scales. The historical underpinnings of connectivity in geomorphology involve management of geomorphic systems and observations linking surface processes to landform dynamics. Current work in geomorphic connectivity emphasizes hydrological, sediment, or landscape connectivity. Signatures of connectivity can be detected using diverse indicators that vary from contemporary processes to stratigraphic records or a spatial metric such as sediment yield that encompasses geomorphic processes operating over diverse time and space scales. One approach to measuring connectivity is to determine the fundamental temporal and spatial scales for the phenomenon of interest and to make measurements at a sufficiently large multiple of the fundamental scales to capture reliably a representative sample. Another approach seeks to characterize how connectivity varies with scale, by applying the same metric over a wide range of scales or using statistical measures that characterize the frequency distributions of connectivity across scales. Identifying and measuring connectivity is useful in basic and applied geomorphic research and we explore the implications of connectivity for river management. Common themes and ideas that merit further research include; increased understanding of the importance of capturing landscape heterogeneity and connectivity patterns; the potential to use graph and network theory metrics in analyzing connectivity; the need to understand which metrics best represent the physical system and its connectivity pathways, and to apply these metrics to the validation of numerical models; and the need to recognize the importance of low levels of connectivity in some situations. We emphasize the value in evaluating boundaries between components of geomorphic systems as transition zones and examining the fluxes across them to understand landscape functioning. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A suburban sediment budget: Coarse-grained sediment flux through hillslopes,stormwater systems and streams

Sediment in urban stormwater systems creates a significant maintenance burden, while a lack of coarse-grained bed sediment in streams limits their ecological value and geomorphic resilience. Gravel substrates, for example, provide benthic habitat yet are often scoured from the channel bed only to end up in a detention basin or treatment wetland. This dual problem of both ‘too much’ and ‘too little’ coarse-grained sediment reflects a watershed sediment budget that is profoundly altered. We developed a conceptual urban coarse-grained (>0.5 mm) sediment budget across three domains: hillslopes (urban land surfaces), the built stormwater network and stream channels. We then quantified key sources, sinks and storages for a suburban case study, using a combination of hillslope and in-channel monitoring, and interrogation of local government records. Around 36% of the sediment supplied to the stormwater network reached the catchment outlet, a level of sediment delivery much higher than observed in similar-sized natural catchments. The remainder was deposited in the sediment cascade and either stored, or extracted and removed from the catchment (e.g. material deposited in sediment ponds and gross pollutant traps). Conventional urban drainage networks are characterized by high hillslope sediment supply and low storage, resulting in efficient sediment delivery. Channel erosion, deposition in (and extraction from) pipes and channels, and floodplain deposition are small compared to sediment transport through the cascade. An understanding of the sediment budget of urban headwater catchments can provide stormwater and waterway managers with the information they need to address specific sediment problems such as sedimentation in stormwater assets and geomorphic recovery of urban streams. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distribution and sources of obsidian in the Rio Grande gravels of New Mexico

The obsidian in the gravels deposited by the Rio Grande in New Mexico has interested archaeologists of the region, particularly the use of these gravels by prehistoric populations and the implications for obsidian sourcing studies. Previous investigations of Rio Grande gravel obsidian have focused on obsidian in the archaeological record. This study focuses on the natural occurrence and distribution of obsidian in the gravels and the implications for archaeological investigations. Spatial sampling of the gravels clearly indicate that obsidian, as well as other chipped stone material, is not uniformly distributed across the landscape. Geochemical analysis of the obsidian in the gravels establishes the true source constituents for the obsidian present in the gravels. The main source area for obsidian in the Rio Grande gravels is the Jemez Mountains, although some obsidian comes from Grant's Ridge, Polvadera, and No Aqua sources. Sources south of Mount Taylor, such as Red Hill and Mule Creek, do not occur in the Rio Grande gravels of southern New Mexico. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Relevance of peat draining rivers in central Sumatra for the riverine input of dissolved organic carbon into the ocean

Sources and discharges of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the central Sumatran river Siak were studied. DOC concentrations in the Siak ranged between 560 and 2594 μmol l⁻¹ and peak out after its confluence with the river Mandau. The Mandau drains part of the central Sumatran peatlands and can be characterized as a typical blackwater river due to its high DOC concentration, its dark brown-coloured, acidic water (pH 4.4–4.7) and its low concentration of total suspended matter (12–41 mg l⁻¹). The Mandau supplies about half of the DOC that enters the Siak Estuary where it mixes conservatively with ocean water. The DOC input from the Siak into the ocean was estimated to be 0.3 Tg C yr⁻¹. Extrapolated to entire Indonesia the data suggest a total Indonesian DOC export of 21 Tg yr⁻¹ representing 10% of the global riverine DOC input into the ocean.     

热带海气相互作用对大气BSISO年际振荡的影响

利用卫星观测OLR资料以及海气耦合数值模拟试验结果,从每年波-频分析结果提取了各种传播模态的强度指数序列,分析了热带北半球夏季季节内振荡(BSISO)各种传播模态的年际变化谱特征,探讨了热带各海区海气相互作用对其影响。主要结果如下:赤道外西传波和印度洋北传波以准2 a为显著振荡周期,赤道东传波、南海北传波和西太平洋北传波则都包含准2 a和准5 a两种周期,南海北传波是5种指数中惟一以准5 a为最主要周期振荡的模态。热带印度洋、西太平洋、东太平洋各海区海气相互作用对各指数准2 a振荡、准5 a振荡既有加强作用,也有削弱作用。各海区比较而言,对赤道东传波准2 a和准5 a振荡、南海北传波准2 a和准5 a振荡起最大加强作用的是西太平洋海区海气相互作用;对赤道外西传波准2 a振荡、西太平洋北传波准2 a和准5 a振荡起最大加强作用的是印度洋海区海气相互作用。     

THE RANK-SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF MEDIEVAL ENGLISH TAXATION HIERARCHIES WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Although much work has been undertaken on urban rank-size distribution, their rural counterparts have generally been ignored. This paper considers the rank-size distributions disclosed by medieval English taxation documents, both in one county through time and in contrasting counties at one date in the 14th century. It finds that the distributions tend to be curved in a convex-upward fashion on double-logarithmic paper regardless of date, area chosen, or documents used. This appears to be the result of a right-skewed frequency distribution of settlement size.     

Towards a conceptual model of hydrological change on an abandoned cutover bog,Quebec

Cutover bogs do not return to functional peatland ecosystems after abandonment because re‐establishment of peat‐forming mosses is poor. This paper presents a conceptual model of bog disturbance caused by peat harvesting (1942–1972), and the hydrological evolution that occurred after abandonment (1973–1998). Two adjacent bogs of similar size and origin, one harvested and the other essentially undisturbed, provide the basis for understanding what changes occurred. The model is based on historical trends evident from previous surveys of land‐use, bog ecology and resource mapping; and from recent hydrological and ecological data that characterize the current condition. Water balance data and historical information suggest that runoff increased and evapotranspiration decreased following drainage, but tended towards pre‐disturbance levels following abandonment, as vegetation recolonized the surface and drainage became less efficient over time. Dewatering of soil pores after drainage caused shrinkage and oxidation of the peat and surface subsidence of approximately 80 cm over 57 years. Comparisons with a nearby natural bog suggest that bulk density in the upper 50 cm of cutover peat increased from 0·07 to 0·13 g cm^?3, specific yield declined from 0·14 to 0·07, water table fluctuations were 67% greater, and mean saturated hydraulic conductivity declined from 4·1 × 10^?5 to 1·3 × 10^?5 cm s^?1. More than 25 years after abandonment, Sphagnum mosses were distributed over broad areas but covered less than 15% of the surface. Areas with ‘good’ Sphagnum regeneration (>10% cover) were strongly correlated with high water tables (mean ?22 cm), especially in zones of seasonal groundwater discharge, artefacts of the extraction history. Forest cover expanded from 5 to 20% of the study area following abandonment. The effect of forest growth (transpiration and interception) and drainage on lowering water levels eventually will be countered by slower water movement through the increasingly dense soil, and by natural ditch deterioration. However, without management intervention, full re‐establishment of natural hydrological functions will take a very long time. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.