Capturing the essential spatial variability in distributed hydrological modelling: Infiltration parameters

Selecting the correct resolution in distributed hydrological modelling at the watershed scale is essential in reducing scale-related errors. The work presented herein uses information content (entropy) to identify the resolution which captures the essential variability, at the watershed scale, of the infiltration parameters in the Green and Ampt infiltration equation. A soil map of the Little Washita watershed in south-west Oklahoma, USA was used to investigate the effects of grid cell resolution on the distributed modelling of infiltration. Soil-derived parameters and infiltration exhibit decreased entropy as resolutions become coarser. This is reflected in a decrease in the maximum entropy value for the reclassified/derived parameters vis a vis the original data. Moreover, the entropy curve, when plotted against resolution, shows two distinct segments: a constant section where no entropy was lost with decreasing resolution and another part which is characterized by a sharp decrease in entropy after a critical resolution of 1209 m is reached. This methodology offers a technique for assessing the largest cell size that captures the spatial variability of infiltration parameters for a particular basin. A geographical information system (GIS) based rainfall-runoff model is used to simulate storm hydrographs using infiltration parameter maps at different resolutions as inputs. Model results up to the critical resolution are reproducible and errors are small. However, at resolutions beyond the critical resolution the results are erratic with large errors. A major finding of this study is that a large resolution (1209 m for this basin) yields reproducible model results. When modelling a river basin using a distributed model, the resolution (grid cell size) can drastically affect the model results and calibration. The error structure attributable to grid cell resolution using entropy as a spatial variability measure is shown.     

利用黄河泥沙围出“渤海湖”的初步设想

本文是一个关于将渤海变成淡水湖的水利工程的构想。让黄河的大量泥沙通过人工导流的方式沿莱州湾南岸与渤海海峡沉积延伸,产生的陆地将渤海封闭并逐渐形成淡水湖。这一工程将陆地连接山东半岛与辽东半岛,并为华北提供巨大淡水库,具有显著的经济、生态效益。具体实施上,可通过两道渔网式围栏促使黄河泥沙定点沉积并阻挡浪潮侵蚀,通过加强汛期水量增加黄河口泥沙。     

The added value of joint PP–PS inversion for reservoir characterization: A case study using Jubarte PRM seismic data (offshore Brazil)

The added value of the joint pre-stack inversion of PP (incident P-wave and reflected P-wave) and PS (incident P-wave and reflected S-wave) seismic data for the time-lapse application is shown. We focus on the application of this technique to the time-lapse (four-dimensional) multicomponent Jubarte field permanent reservoir monitoring seismic data. The joint inversion results are less sensitive to noise in the input data and show a better match with the rock physics models calibrated for the field. Further, joint inversion improves S-impedance estimates and provides a more robust quantitative interpretation, allowing enhanced differentiation between pore pressure and fluid saturation changes, which will be extremely useful for reservoir management. Small changes in reservoir properties are expected in the short time between the time-lapse seismic acquisitions used in the Jubarte project (only 1 year apart). The attempt to recover subtle fourth-dimensional effects via elastic inversion is recurrent in reservoir characterization projects, either due to the small sensitivity of the reservoirs to fluid and pressure changes or the short interval between the acquisitions. Therefore, looking for methodologies that minimize the uncertainty of fourth-dimensional inversion outputs is of fundamental importance. Here, we also show the differences between PP only and joint PP–PS inversion workflows and parameterizations that can be applied in other projects. We show the impact of using multicomponent data as input for elastic seismic inversions in the analysis of the time-lapse differences of the elastic properties. The larger investment in the acquisition and processing of multicomponent seismic data is shown to be justified by the improved results from the fourth-dimensional joint inversion.     

Response characteristics of plunge pool slabs of Xiaxiluodu Hydropower Station to flood discharge pulsating-pressure under valley deformation conditions

The key problem of the energy dissipation scheme of the arch dam body flood discharge and plunge pool below the dam is the stability problem of the plunge pool slab. As the protection structure of the underwater bed, the plunge pool slab bears the continuous impact of high-speed water flow. The hourly average dynamic water pressure on the slab is one of the main loads directly affecting the stability of the slab and is the main factor causing its erosion destruction. After the impoundment of the Xiluodu Hydropower Station, the measuring line of valley width in the plunge pool area has been continuously shrinking. By 2020, the cumulative shrinking value is about 80 ​mm. In light of the general background condition of valley shrinkage, daily inspection, annual detailed inspection, underwater inspection and drainage inspection of the plunge pool found that the plunge pool has experienced different degrees of damage, which greatly influences the long-term safety stability of the plunge pool. In this paper, the prototype observation data of flood discharge is used as the input load of pulsating-pressure, and the stress and displacement distribution of the plunge pool structure under the vibration load of flood discharge is analyzed under the condition that the stress and strain state of the plunge pool is changed under the influence of valley displacement. The results show that the stress, strain, and displacement distribution of the plunge pool are mainly caused by valley deformation, the vibration caused by flood discharge is little in influence, and the impact effect of deep hole flood discharge tongue on the plunge pool slab is weak.     

Use of WorldView-2 time series to establish a wetland monitoring program for potential offsite impacts of mine site rehabilitation

The Ramsar-listed wetlands of the Magela Creek floodplain, situated in the World Heritage Kakadu National Park, in northern Australia are recognised for their biodiversity and cultural values. The floodplain is also a downstream receiving environment for Ranger uranium mine, which is entering closure and rehabilitation phases. Vegetation on the floodplain is spatially and temporally variable which is related to the hydrology of the region, primarily the extent and level of inundation and available soil moisture. Time-series mapping of the floodplain vegetation will provide a contemporary baseline of annual vegetation dynamics to assist with determining whether change is natural or a result of the potential impacts of mine closure activities such as increased suspended sediment moving downstream. The research described here used geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) to classify the upper Magela Creek floodplain vegetation from WorldView-2 imagery captured over four years (2010–2013) and ancillary data including a canopy height model. A step-wise rule set was used to implement a decision tree classification. The resulting maps showed the 12 major vegetation communities that exist on the Magela Creek floodplain and their distribution for May 2010, May 2011, June 2012 and June 2013 with overall accuracies of over 80% for each map. Most of the error appears to be associated with confusion between vegetation classes that are spectrally similar such as the classes dominated by grasses. Object-based change detection was then applied to the maps to analyse change between dates. Results indicate that change between dates was detected for large areas of the floodplain. Most of the change is associated with the amount of surface water present, indicating that although imagery was captured at the same time of year, the imagery represents different stages of the seasonal cycle of the floodplain.     

1965—2014年黑龙江省洪涝灾害时空演变特征

基于1965—2014年黑龙江省63个气象站逐月降水资料,利用Z指数、区域洪涝指数、数理统计和反距离权重插值等方法,得出洪涝等级（轻涝、中涝、重涝）,分析近50年黑龙江省不同等级洪涝灾害时空分布特征及其变化趋势。结果表明,近50年黑龙江省发生区域性轻度、中度和重度洪涝灾害分别为7次、7次和6次,降水倾向率为0.864 mm/a;洪涝灾害发生频率分布不均,发生轻涝104次、中涝74次以及重涝29次,洪涝灾害发生频率较高地区逐年扩大;同时,发生洪涝灾害的站数比差异明显,且随时间呈缓慢上升趋势,其中,轻涝、中涝和重涝站数比的增幅分别为1.3/10a、1.6/10a和0.85/10a;洪涝灾害高发期主要在20世纪80年代、90年代和2010年之后,主洪涝区为鹤岗、伊春、黑河和牡丹江地区,次洪涝区为大兴安岭和大庆地区。     

吉林省主汛期典型多雨年和少雨年成因对比分析

将1951-2011年吉林省主汛期降水量排名的前、后6位分别定义为多、少雨年,利用NCEP（2.5°×2.5°）再分析资料计算主汛期平均高度场、温度场、风场及比湿、涡度等物理量场;根据天气学原理和常规天气预报经验,对比分析主汛期典型多雨与少雨天气系统结构形态、分布位置、中心强度等特征。结果表明：500 hPa多雨年568等高线较少雨年平均偏南3个纬度,副热带高压588等高线较少雨年平均偏西7个经度偏北1个纬度;低层辐合高层辐散是多雨年的重要特征;850 hPa和700 hPa平均水汽含量多雨年明显多于少雨年;典型多雨年850 hPa风场贝加尔湖附近为单辐合中心,少雨年为双辐合中心。     

Diagnostic monitoring of a changing environment: an alternative UK perspective

Adaptive management of the marine environment requires an understanding of the complex interactions within it. Establishing levels of natural variability within and between marine ecosystems is a necessary prerequisite to this process and requires a monitoring programme which takes account of the issues of time, space and scale. In this paper, we argue that an ecosystem approach to managing the marine environment should take direct account of climate change indicators at a regional level if it is to cope with the unprecedented change expected as a result of human impacts on the earth climate system. We discuss the purpose of environmental monitoring and the importance of maintaining long-term time series. Recommendations are made on the use of these data in conjunction with modern extrapolation and integration tools (e.g. ecosystem models, remote sensing) to provide a diagnostic approach to the management of marine ecosystems, based on adaptive indicators and dynamic baselines.     

Diffuse CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> degassing at Vesuvio,Italy

At Vesuvio, a significant fraction of the rising hydrothermal–volcanic fluids is subjected to a condensation and separation process producing a CO₂–rich gas phase, mainly expulsed through soil diffuse degassing from well defined areas called diffuse degassing structures (DDS), and a liquid phase that flows towards the outer part of the volcanic cone. A large amount of thermal energy is associated with the steam condensation process and subsequent cooling of the liquid phase. The total amount of volcanic–hydrothermal CO₂ discharged through diffuse degassing has been computed through a sequential Gaussian simulation (sGs) approach based on several hundred accumulation chamber measurements and, at the time of the survey, amounted to 151 t d^–1. The steam associated with the CO₂ output, computed assuming that the original H₂O/CO₂ ratio of hydrothermal fluids is preserved in fumarolic effluents, is 553 t d^–1, and the energy produced by the steam condensation and cooling of the liquid phase is 1.47×10¹² J d^–1 (17 MW). The location of the CO₂ and temperature anomalies show that most of the gas is discharged from the inner part of the crater and suggests that crater morphology and local stratigraphy exert strong control on CO₂ degassing and subsurface steam condensation. The amounts of gas and energy released by Vesuvio are comparable to those released by other volcanic degassing areas of the world and their estimates, through periodic surveys of soil CO₂ flux, can constitute a useful tool to monitor volcanic activity.Editorial responsibility: H. Shinohara     

Extremely slow slope movements influencing the stability of Spis Castle,UNESCO site

Spis Castle, a monument included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list (Eastern Slovakia) is built on a travertine mound overlying soft Paleogene rocks. Lateral spreading resulting from the subsidence of strong upper travertine into soft claystone strata has fractured and separated the castle rock into several cliffs. The differential movement of individual cliff faces is the primary influence on the stability of the monument. In order to monitor and quantify the movement, two techniques were adopted: a mechanical-optical TM-71 crack gauge and a demec gauge (demountable mechanical—SOMET type crack gauge). This paper presents the results and interpretation of medium and short-term monitoring at the site.