Suspended sediment transport in a small Mediterranean agricultural catchment

The aim of this study is to analyze suspended sediment transport in a Mediterranean agricultural catchment under traditional soil and water conservation practices. Field measurements were conducted in Can Revull, a small ephemeral catchment (1.03 km²) on the island of Mallorca. This study uses continuous turbidity records to analyse suspended sediment transport regimes, construct and interpret multiple regression models of total suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and of SSC related to stormflow discharge, and assess the sediment loads and yields of three hydrological years (2004–2005 to 2006–2007). An annual average SSC of 17.3 mg l^?1, with a maximum of 2270 mg l^?1, was recorded in the middle of the winter period when rainfall intensities are high and headwater slopes are ploughed and thus bare. Strong seasonal contrasts of baseflow dynamics associated with different degrees of dilution provide a large scatter in SSC and in the derived rating curves, reflecting that other factors control the supply of suspended sediment. Multiple regression models identify rainfall intensity as the most significant variable in sediment supply. However, under baseflow conditions, physical and biological processes generate sediment in the channel that is subsequently removed during high flow. In contrast, when baseflow is not present, rainfall intensity is the only process that supplies sediment to the channel, mostly from hillslopes. Considering the study period as average in terms of total annual rainfall and intensities, suspended sediment yields were an order of magnitude lower than those obtained in other Mediterranean catchments, a factor that can be related to the historical use of soil conservation practices. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of weather forecast systems for storm surge modeling in the Chesapeake Bay

Accurate forecast of sea-level heights in coastal areas depends, among other factors, upon a reliable coupling of a meteorological forecast system to a hydrodynamic and wave system. This study evaluates the predictive skills of the coupled circulation and wind-wave model system (ADCIRC+SWAN) for simulating storm tides in the Chesapeake Bay, forced by six different products: (1) Global Forecast System (GFS), (2) Climate Forecast System (CFS) version 2, (3) North American Mesoscale Forecast System (NAM), (4) Rapid Refresh (RAP), (5) European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), and (6) the Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT2). This evaluation is based on the hindcasting of four events: Irene (2011), Sandy (2012), Joaquin (2015), and Jonas (2016). By comparing the simulated water levels to observations at 13 monitoring stations, we have found that the ADCIR+SWAN System forced by the following: (1) the HURDAT2-based system exhibited the weakest statistical skills owing to a noteworthy overprediction of the simulated wind speed; (2) the ECMWF, RAP, and NAM products captured the moment of the peak and moderately its magnitude during all storms, with a correlation coefficient ranging between 0.98 and 0.77; (3) the CFS system exhibited the worst averaged root-mean-square difference (excepting HURDAT2); (4) the GFS system (the lowest horizontal resolution product tested) resulted in a clear underprediction of the maximum water elevation. Overall, the simulations forced by NAM and ECMWF systems induced the most accurate results best accuracy to support water level forecasting in the Chesapeake Bay during both tropical and extra-tropical storms.     

Evaluation and modeling of runoff and sediment yield for different land covers under simulated rain in a semiarid region of Brazil

This paper quantifies the runoff and sediment yield for four different land covers in a semiarid region of Brazil. The WESP model, a distributed, event-oriented runoff-erosion model, was applied and its physical parameters, N_s and K_R, were adjusted based on observed runoff and sediment yield data using simulated rainfall with an average intensity of 53 mm h^-1. The sediment yield obtained was 53.02 kg ha^-1 (caatinga vegetation), 231.96 kg ha^-1 (bare soil), 309.75 kg ha^-1 (beans), and 847.38 kg ha^-1(corn). The results showed that caatinga cover yields the lowest erosion and runoff when compared to the other treatments. The results also show that the sediment yield and runoff values simulated with N_s, K_I, and K_R parameters were well calibrated, within acceptable deviations. The caatinga vegetation was more effective in protecting the soil, when compared to the other types of coverage. The beans and corn covers had the highest values of runoff and sediment yield, even higher than those observed for bare soil.     

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON AGGRADATION

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Relationship between age of waste and natural electric potential generation in Sanitary Landfill

The geophysical methods are effective tools for determining changes in physical parameters of the geological environment, as soil or groundwater in the presence of contamination. This work consisted on analyzing the natural electric potential obtained over domestic solid waste ditches with controlled closure dates. The interpretation data suggest the generation of electric potential predominantly through the redox phenomenon, as opposed to the flow potential phenomenon. The statistical data analysis indicates a correlation between residence time of the waste and growing variations of voltage. In addition highlights that eight years are required to achieve the reported values for the area with absence of waste, time estimated for decomposition of most organic matter contained in the buried waste.     

Minimum Variance Analysis of Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections Around Solar Cycle 23 Maximum (1998–2002)

The minimum variance analysis of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) observed close to the Earth's orbit around solar cycle 23 maximum (1998–2002) was performed. The ICMEs were classified in three categories: magnetic clouds (MC), undefined ejecta (UE), and complex ejecta (CE). An analysis of the full ICMEs set shows that the average of minimum variance direction inclination angle is 1.6°± 24.8° in relation to the ecliptic plane, with more than 33% of the events presenting inclination angles lower than 10°. The average of minimum variance direction azimuthal angle (in relation to the Sun–Earth line) was 56°. However, around 60% of the ICMEs presented an azimuthal angle lower than 30°, close to the radial direction. It was also observed that the MC set had lower axial (intermediate variance) inclinations relative to the ecliptic plane than the UE and CE events. The intermediate variance axis is close to 90° to the Sun–Earth line. The results obtained in the present analysis were also compared with previous works, permitting a comparison of the ICMEs orientations in solar cycle 23 with previous sor cycles.     

Integration of GIS and remote sensing for estimation of soil loss and prioritization of critical sub-catchments: a case study of Tapacurá catchment

Mapping of erosion risk areas is an important tool for the planning of natural resources management, allowing researchers to propose the modification of land use properly and implement more sustainable long-term management strategies. The objective of this study was to assess and identify critical sub-catchments for soil conservation management using the USLE, GIS, and remote sensing techniques. The Tapacurá catchment is one of the planning units for water resource management of the Recife Metropolitan Region. Maps of the erosivity (R), erodibility (K), slope (LS), cover-management (C), and support practice (P) factors were derived from the climate database, digital elevation model, and soil and land-use maps. In order to validate the simulation process, total sediment delivery ratio was estimated. The results showed a mean sediment delivery ratio (SDR) of around 11.5?% and a calculated mean sediment yield of 0.108?t?ha^?1?year^?1, which is close to the observed one, 0.169?t?ha^?1?year^?1. The obtained soil loss map could be considered as a useful tool for environmental monitoring and water resources management. The methodology applied showed acceptable precision and allowed the identification of the most susceptible areas to soil erosion by water, constituting an important predictive tool for soil and environmental management in this region, which is highly relevant for the prediction of varying development scenarios for Tapacurá catchment. This approach can be applied to other areas for simple and reliable identification of critical areas of soil erosion in catchments.     

Baurusuchus salgadoensis, a New Crocodylomorpha from the Bauru Basin (Cretaceous), Brazil

Baurusuchus salgadoensis is a new baurusuchid crocodylomorph from Bauru Basin (Cretaceous), Brazil, partially preserved through a complete skull. The fossil comes from a fine sandstone sequence of Adamantina Formation, General Salgado County, São Paulo State. The sedimentary sequence where it was found, located in Fazenda Buriti, is considered Turonian-Santonian in age. The described species _Baurusuchus salgadoensis sp. nov. _ is a baurusuchid with an antorbital fenestra, double external nares with a bony septum, two well-fused supraorbitals, the supratemporal fenestrae larger than the orbits and a quadrangular-shaped laterotemporal fenestra. The position of the external nares, located on anterior and terminal portion of the rostrum together with the theropod-like lateral compression of the snout and teeth are indicators that Baurusuchus salgadoensis was a terrestrial crocodyliform. This was a carnivorous species and the lateral compression of the rostrum could be interpreted as a mechanism to increase the skull resistance forces during biting. The pointed, conical teeth, some with crenulated borders, could be used to perforate and to carve the prey. The geological context of Baurusuchus salgadoensis indicates that it probably lived in a hot and arid climate.