Hydrologic response to valley‐scale structure in alpine headwaters

Few systematic studies of valley‐scale geomorphic drivers of streamflow regimes in complex alpine headwaters have compared response between catchments. As a result, little guidance is available for regional‐scale hydrological research and monitoring efforts that include assessments of ecosystem function. Physical parameters such as slope, elevation range, drainage area and bedrock geology are often used to stratify differences in streamflow response between sampling sites within an ecoregion. However, these metrics do not take into account geomorphic controls on streamflow specific to glaciated mountain headwaters. The coarse‐grained nature of depositional features in alpine catchments suggests that these landforms have little water storage capacity because hillslope runoff moves rapidly just beneath the rock mantle before emerging in fluvial networks. However, recent studies show that a range of depositional features, including talus slopes, protalus ramparts and ‘rock‐ice’ features may have more storage capacity than previously thought. To better evaluate potential differences in streamflow response among basins with extensive coarse depositional features and those without, we examined the relationships between streamflow discharge, stable isotopes, water temperature and the amplitude of the diurnal signal at five basin outlets. We also quantified the percentages of colluvial channel length measured along the stepped longitudinal profile. Colluvial channels, characterized by the presence of surficial, coarse‐grained depositional features, presented sediment‐rich, transport‐limited morphologies that appeared to have a cumulative effect on the timing and volume of flow downstream. Measurements taken from colluvial channels flowing through depositional landforms showed median recession constants (K_r) of 0.9–0.95, δ¹⁸O values of ≥?14.5 and summer diurnal amplitudes ≤0.8 as compared with more typical surface water recession constant values of 0.7, δ¹⁸O ≤ ?13.5 and diurnal amplitudes >2.0. Our results demonstrated strong associations between the percentage of colluvial channel length within a catchment and moderated streamflow regimes, water temperatures, diurnal signals and depleted δ¹⁸O related to groundwater influx. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystal chemistry of perovskite-type compounds in the tausonite-loparite series, (Sr1−2 x Na x La x )TiO3

Perovskite-type compounds in the series tausonite-loparite, (Sr_{1?2 x} Na _x La _x )TiO₃, were synthesized by solid-state reaction (final heating at 1200–1300?°C), and studied using “conventional” and synchrotron X-ray powder diffractometry. The structures of intermediate compositions were determined using the Rietveld profile refinement method. In the compositional range 0?≤x?≤ 0.1, the series comprises perovskites characterized by an undistorted cubic structure (space group Pm3¯m, a?≈ 3.905–3.902?Å, Z?=?1). Intermediate compounds in the range 0.15?≤?x?≤?0.35 crystallize with tetragonal symmetry (I4/mcm, a?≈? , c?≈? , Z?=?4) derived from the cubic aristotype by antiphase rotation of the TiO₆ octahedra about a fourfold axis. The angle of rotation estimated from the positional parameters of oxygen atoms ranges from 2.5(7)° to 5.5(4)°. The cubic-to-tetragonal transition arises from substitution of Sr²⁺ by the comparatively smaller Na¹⁺ and La³⁺ cations. A further transition from the tetragonal to rhombohedral symmetry (R3¯c, a?≈? , c?≈?2 , Z?=?6) occurs between x?=?0.35 and 0.40, and apparently does not involve formation of perovskite with an intermediate two-tilt structure (Imma). The rhombohedral structure is characterized by a multicomponent octahedral tilt about a threefold axis ranging in magnitude from 6.5(2)° to 7.7(2)°. In the series (Sr_{1?2 x} Na _x La _x )TiO₃, the unit-cell dimensions decrease, and the degree of structural distortion increases with x.     

Evidence against early nineteenth century major European induced environmental impacts by illegal settlers in the New England Tablelands,south eastern Australia

Paleoenvironmental reconstructions from Little Llangothlin Lagoon have been used to argue for early European impact on the eastern Australian landscape. In particular, these studies have argued for European arrival on the New England Tablelands at about 1800 AD, with significant impacts including the clearance of one species of Casuarina before 1820 AD and significant erosion by 1836 AD (Gale et al., 1995; Gale and Pisanu, 2001; Gale and Haworth, 2002, 2005). We have re-cored the lagoon, dated the cores using ²¹⁰Pb and radiocarbon, and counted pollen and other proxies. Our ²¹⁰Pb results indicate that ²¹⁰Pb background was achieved stratigraphically later than the erosion event and we have three early Holocene radiocarbon ages in the erosion event interval. We conclude that the ‘erosion event’ predates European settlement. The ²¹⁰Pb results indicate much less erosion in response to European settlement than suggested by these earlier studies. We also find no notable decline in Casuarina in the pollen record spanning the time of initial European impact, and in fact we find very little Casuarina in the record. Instead of a Casuarina dominated vegetation we conclude that the area was dominated by open Eucalypt forest prior to European settlement. Rather than changes in the regional vegetation in the early 19th century, we attribute changes in the palynoflora spanning the ‘erosion event’ to changes within the lake/wetland and in particular to changes in the dominance of different species of Myriophyllum; most likely due to water depth fluctuation. This site has stood out as indicating an earlier European impact than other localities in eastern Australia, beyond the original limits of settlement near Sydney. Our findings suggest that a more traditional interpretation of this site is warranted and that no very early impact is discernable.     

Estimating backscattering strength for a correlation log

A correlation log is a type of sonar system used for measuring the velocity of a surface vessel or of a submersible vehicle. The operation is similar to that of a conventional echo sounder, and the direction of acoustic propagation is vertically downwards. Since a correlation log can be used for either bottom tracking or water tracking, it is of interest to relate the transmitted power level to the echo levels from both bottom and volume scatterers, which is a means of predicting the log's performance. This is done by modeling the transmission channel in terms of the sonar equations     

The geology of dam spillways

Over the past 25 years, embankment dam design has shown trends towards increased use of poorer quality rockfill and omission of concrete lining and energy dissipation structures in spillways. The most economic design may be an unlined rockcut spillway, supplying the total rockfill requirement for the embankment construction. However, such a design does impose significant restrictions upon construction program flexibility, and the apparent cost advantage can quickly disappear if geological problems are encountered during construction. Geological criteria for the acceptability of rockfill and for the omission of concrete lining in spillways have, therefore, become increasingly important in recent years. The decision to omit concrete lining and energy dissipation structures from the spillway should only be taken after detailed consideration of the site geology, the probable erosion mechanism and the operational characteristics of the spillway. It should be recognised that frequently operating spillways with severe discharge conditions require special consideration and a certain degree of conservatism over and above that required for spillways where discharge conditions are only moderate.