A Flux Detection Probe to Quantify Dynamic Groundwater-Surface Water Exchange in the Hyporheic Zone

A new probe was designed to quantify groundwater-surface water exchange in the hyporheic zone under dynamic stage condition. Current methods focus on either vertical pore water velocity or Darcy flux measurements. Both parameters must be understood to evaluate residence time and mass flux of constituents. Furthermore, most instruments are not well suited for monitoring instantaneous velocity or flux under dynamic exchange conditions. For this reason, the flux detection probe (FDP) was designed that employs electrogeophysical measurements to estimate in situ sediment porosity, which can be used to convert pore water velocity to Darcy flux. Dynamic pore water velocity is obtained by monitoring fluid conductivity and temperature along the FDP probe. Pressure sensors deployed at the top and bottom of the probe provide the additional information necessary to estimate vertical permeability. This study focuses on the use of a geophysical method to estimate pore water velocity, porosity, and permeability within a controlled soil column where simulated river water displaces simulated groundwater. The difference between probe derived and theoretical pore water velocity using natural tracers such as electrical conductivity and temperature was −4.9 and 3.9% for downward flow and 1.1 and 12.8% for upward flow, respectively. The difference in porosity calculated from mass and volume packed in the soil column and probe measure porosity ranged between −3.2% and 1.5%. Also, the calculated hydraulic conductivity differed from probe derived values by −8.9%.     

Using the size and position of drumlins to understand how they grow,interact and evolve

Drumlins are subglacial bedforms streamlined in the direction of ice flow. Common in deglaciated landscapes, they have been widely studied providing rich information on their internal geology, size, shape, and spacing. In contrast with bedform investigations elsewhere in geomorphology (aeolian and fluvial dunes and ripples for example) most drumlin studies derive observations from relict, and thus static features. This has made it difficult to gain information and insights about their evolution over time, which likely hampers our understanding of the process(es) of drumlin formation. Here we take a morphological approach, studying drumlin size and spacing metrics. Unlike previous studies which have focussed on databases derived from entire ice sheet beds, we adopt a space‐for‐time substitution approach using individual drumlin flow‐sets distributed in space as proxies for different development times/periods. Framed and assisted by insights from aeolian and fluvial geomorphology, we use our metric data to explore possible scenarios of drumlin growth, evolution and interaction. We study the metrics of the size and spacing of 36 222 drumlins, distributed amongst 71 flow‐sets, left behind by the former British‐Irish Ice Sheet, and ask whether behaviour common to other bedform phenomena can be derived through statistical analysis. Through characterizing and analysing the shape of the probability distribution functions of size and spacing metrics for each flow‐set we argue that drumlins grow, and potentially migrate, as they evolve leading to pattern coarsening. Furthermore, our findings add support to the notion that no upper limit to drumlin size exists, and to the idea that perpetual coarsening could occur if given sufficient time. We propose that the framework of process and patterning commonly applied to non‐glacial bedforms is potentially powerful for understanding drumlin formation and for deciphering glacial landscapes. © 2017 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Yet another moment-tensor parameterization

The source mechanism of a microseismic event, or any small earthquake, can be described by its moment tensor. The source type is described by a 3-vector formed from the ordered, principal (eigen) values of the moment tensor and the source orientation from the normalized eigenvectors. The direction and magnitude of the principal-value vector describe the source type and scalar moment, respectively. The source type can be described by the position of the principal-value vector on the permitted lune of a unit sphere. As with any projection or cartography mapping, many parameterizations have been suggested to describe this position. Two dominate in the literature – the Riedesel–Jordan and Hudson–Pearce–Rogers parameters. All have advantages and disadvantages. In this paper, we review the most popular parameterizations, illustrating their similarities and the distortion they cause in the mapping between a uniform distribution of source types in the permitted lune and the parameter space. A new parameterization is suggested based on the solid angles formed by the principal-value vector. This has the advantage of being simple to define geometrically in the principal-value space (although the formulae are complicated), being naturally normalized and having a more uniform mapping than other parameterizations. However, we do not claim that this is the best or ideal parameterization, just a reasonable choice.     

Reintroduced large wood modifies fine sediment transport and storage in a lowland river channel

This paper explores changes in suspended sediment transport and fine sediment storage at the reach and patch scale associated with the reintroduction of partial large wood (LW) jams in an artificially over‐widened lowland river. The field site incorporates two adjacent reaches: a downstream section where LW jams were reintroduced in 2010 and a reach immediately upstream where no LW was introduced. LW pieces were organized into ‘partial’ jams incorporating several ‘key pieces’ which were later colonized by substantial stands of aquatic and wetland plants. Reach‐scale suspended sediment transport was investigated using arrays of time‐integrated suspended sediment samplers. Patch‐scale suspended sediment transport was explored experimentally using turbidity sensors to track the magnitude and velocity of artificially generated sediment plumes. Fine sediment storage was quantified at both reach and patch scales by repeat surveys of fine sediment depth. The results show that partial LW jams influence fine sediment dynamics at both the patch and reach scale. At the patch‐scale, introduction of LW led to a reduction in the concentration and increase in the time lag of released sediment plumes within the LW, indicating increased diffusion of plumes. This contrasted with higher concentrations and lower time lags in areas adjacent to the LW; indicating more effective advection processes. This led to increased fine sediment storage within the LW compared with areas adjacent to the LW. At the reach‐scale there was a greater increase in fine sediment storage through time within the restored reach relative to the unrestored reach, although the changes in sediment transport responsible for this were not evident from time‐integrated suspended sediment data. The results of the study have been used to develop a conceptual model which may inform restoration design. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Refined chronology of prehistoric cultures and its implication for re-evaluating human-environment relations in the Hexi Corridor,northwest China

The reconstruction of high-resolution chronologies for prehistoric cultures is a prerequisite for understanding the history of human evolution and its relationship with environmental change, and is valuable for exploring the trajectory of transcontinental cultural exchanges in prehistoric time. The Hexi Corridor of northwest China was one of the earliest centers for long-distance culture exchange in the prehistoric world. The timing and sequence of cultural changes in this area remains poorly understood resulting from the lack of radiometric age control. This paper presents a refined radiocarbon(14 C) chronology to resolve the timing of human occupation and cultural evolution in the Hexi Corridor. Radiocarbon dating of crop remains, which have an annual life cycle, has the advantage of eliminating problems such as the carbon stored in ‘old wood'. As a result,~(14)C dates from crop remains are used to test the validity of the~(14)C dates derived from charcoal, bone and plant remains. The resultant database of ages is modelled using the Bayesian approach. The updated chronology presented in this paper shows generally good agreement with the original dates used to constrain cultural evolution in the Hexi Corridor. However, the occupation of the corridor by the Shajing and Shanma Late Bronze Age-Early Iron Age cultures appears to have taken place ～300 years later than previously thought. On the basis of comparing this updated chronology of cultural evolution with palaeoclimatic and historical records, it is proposed that the collapse of the Shajing and Shanma cultures occurred as a result of geopolitical impact rather than climate change.     

Evaluation of WaPOR V2 evapotranspiration products across Africa

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) portal to monitor water productivity through open-access of remotely sensed derived data (WaPOR) offers continuous actual evapotranspiration and interception (ETIa-WPR) data at a 10-day basis across Africa and the Middle East from 2009 onwards at three spatial resolutions. The continental level (250 m) covers Africa and the Middle East (L1). The national level (100 m) covers 21 countries and 4 river basins (L2). The third level (30 m) covers eight irrigation areas (L3). To quantify the uncertainty of WaPOR version 2 (V2.0) ETIa-WPR in Africa, we used a number of validation methods. We checked the physical consistency against water availability and the long-term water balance and then verify the continental spatial and temporal trends for the major climates in Africa. We directly validated ETIa-WPR against in situ data of 14 eddy covariance stations (EC). Finally, we checked the level consistency between the different spatial resolutions. Our findings indicate that ETIa-WPR is performing well, but with some noticeable overestimation. The ETIa-WPR is showing expected spatial and temporal consistency with respect to climate classes. ETIa-WPR shows mixed results at point scale as compared to EC flux towers with an overall correlation of 0.71, and a root mean square error of 1.2 mm/day. The level consistency is very high between L1 and L2. However, the consistency between L1 and L3 varies significantly between irrigation areas. In rainfed areas, the ETIa-WPR is overestimating at low ETIa-WPR and underestimating when ETIa is high. In irrigated areas, ETIa-WPR values appear to be consistently overestimating ETa. The relative soil moisture content (SMC), the input of quality layers and local advection effects were some of the identified causes. The quality assessment of ETIa-WPR product is enhanced by combining multiple evaluation methods. Based on the results, the ETIa-WPR dataset is of enough quality to contribute to the understanding and monitoring of local and continental water processes and water management.     

Characterizing the variability of transit time distributions and young water fractions in karst catchments using flux tracking

Hydrological and biogeochemical processes in karst environments are strongly controlled by heterogeneous fracture-conduit networks. Quantifying the spatio-temporal variability of water transit time and young water fractions in such heterogeneous hydrogeological systems is fundamental to linking discharge and water quality dynamics in the karst critical zone. We used a tracer-aided conceptual hydrological model to track the fate of each hour of rain input individually. Using this approach, the variability of transit time distributions and young water fraction were estimated in the main landscape units in a karst catchment of Chenqi in Guizhou Province, Southwest China. The model predicted that the mean young water (i.e., <~2 months old) fraction of ground conduit flow is 0.31. Marked seasonal variabilities in water storage and hydrological connectivity between the conduit network and fractured matrix, as well as between hillslopes and topographic depression, drive the dynamics of young water fraction and travel time distributions in each landscape unit. Especially, the strong hydrological connectivity between the land surface and underground conduits caused by the direct infiltration through large fractures and sinkholes, leads the drastic increasement in young water fraction of runoff after heavy rain. Even though the contribution of young water to runoff is greater, the strong mixing and drainage of small fractures accelerate the old water release during high flows during the wet season. It is notable that the young water may sometimes be the most contaminated component contributing to the underground conduit network in karst catchments, because of the direct transfer of contaminants from the ground surface with rain water via large fractures and sinkholes.     

Isotope-aided modelling of ecohydrologic fluxes and water ages under mixed land use in Central Europe: The 2018 drought and its recovery

Understanding the interactions of vegetation and soil water under varying hydrological conditions is crucial to aid quantitative assessment of land-use sustainability for maintaining water supply for humans and plants. Isolating and estimating the volume and ages of water stored within different compartments of the critical zone, and the associated fluxes of evaporation, transpiration, and groundwater recharge, facilitates quantification of these soil–plant-water interactions and the response of ecohydrological fluxes to wet and dry periods. We used the tracer-aided ecohydrological model EcH₂O-iso to examine the response of water ages of soil water storage, groundwater recharge, evaporation, and root-uptake at a mixed land use site, in northeastern Germany during the drought of 2018 and in the following winter months. The approach applied uses a dynamic vegetation routine which constrains water use by ecological mechanisms. Two sites with regionally typical land-use types were investigated: a forested site with sandy soils and a deep rooting zone and a grassland site, with loamier soils and shallower rooting zone. This results in much younger water ages (<1 year) through the soil profile in the forest compared to the grass, coupled with younger groundwater recharge. The higher water use in the forest resulted in a more pronounced annual cycle of water ages compared to the more consistent water age in the loamier soil of the grasslands. The deeper rooting zone of the forested site also resulted in older root-uptake water usage relative to soil evaporation, while the grassland site root-uptake was similar to that of soil evaporation. Besides more dynamic water ages in the forest, replenishment of younger soil waters to soil storage was within 6 months following the drought (cf. >8 months in the grassland). The temporal evaluation of the responsiveness of soil and vegetation interactions in hydrologic extremes such as 2018 is essential to understand changes in hydrological processes and the resilience of the landscape to the longer and more severe summer droughts predicted under future climate change.     

Mining at 2,500 Fathoms under the Sea: Thoughts on an Emerging Regulatory Framework

An industry to recover mineral resources on the abyssal plains is emerging. Albeit at an explorative stage in areas beyond national jurisdiction, the commercial mining of seafloor non-living resources containing strategic metals is a realistic proposition, spurred by the demand for renewable, low-carbon energy infrastructure. The achievement of worldwide techno-economic growth must, under the principle of sustainable development, be coupled with the protection of the marine environment and its natural resources. Overall, this presents not only challenges to the development of mining technologies, but also tests the resilience of international standards governing the regulation of mining activities at great depths, including the development of the highest standards of environmental protection ab inito. This paper explores the approach being taken by the International Seabed Authority in advancing the legal regime for the regulation of mining activities in the Area, and in particular the tools and mechanisms targeted toward the protection of the marine environment.     

The planet formation imager

The Planet Formation Imager (PFI, www.planetformationimager.org) is a next-generation infrared interferometer array with the primary goal of imaging the active phases of planet formation in nearby star forming regions. PFI will be sensitive to warm dust emission using mid-infrared capabilities made possible by precise fringe tracking in the near-infrared. An L/M band combiner will be especially sensitive to thermal emission from young exoplanets (and their disks) with a high spectral resolution mode to probe the kinematics of CO and H₂O gas. In this paper, we give an overview of the main science goals of PFI, define a baseline PFI architecture that can achieve those goals, point at remaining technical challenges, and suggest activities today that will help make the Planet Formation Imager facility a reality.