A water-budget approach to restoring a sedge fen affected by diking and ditching

A vast, ground-water-supported sedge fen in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA was ditched in the early 1900 s in a failed attempt to promote agriculture. Dikes were later constructed to impound seasonal sheet surface flows for waterfowl management. The US Fish and Wildlife Service, which now manages the wetland as part of Seney National Wildlife Refuge, sought to redirect water flows from impounded C-3 Pool to reduce erosion in downstream Walsh Ditch, reduce ground-water losses into the ditch, and restore sheet flows of surface water to the peatland. A water budget was developed for C-3 Pool, which serves as the central receiving and distribution body for water in the affected wetland. Surface-water inflows and outflows were measured in associated ditches and natural creeks, ground-water flows were estimated using a network of wells and piezometers, and precipitation and evaporation/evapotranspiration components were estimated using local meteorological data. Water budgets for the 1999 springtime peak flow period and the 1999 water year were used to estimate required releases of water from C-3 Pool via outlets other than Walsh Ditch and to guide other restoration activities. Refuge managers subsequently used these results to guide restoration efforts, including construction of earthen dams in Walsh Ditch upslope from the pool to stop surface flow, installation of new water-control structures to redirect surface water to sheet flow and natural creek channels, planning seasonal releases from C-3 Pool to avoid erosion in natural channels, stopping flow in downslope Walsh Ditch to reduce erosion, and using constructed earthen dams and natural beaver dams to flood the ditch channel below C-3 Pool. Interactions between ground water and surface water are critical for maintaining ecosystem processes in many wetlands, and management actions directed at restoring either ground- or surface-water flow patterns often affect both of these components of the water budget. This approach could thus prove useful in guiding restoration efforts in many hydrologically altered and managed wetlands worldwide.     

A simple daily soil–water balance model for estimating the spatial and temporal distribution of groundwater recharge in temperate humid areas

Quantifying the spatial and temporal distribution of natural groundwater recharge is usually a prerequisite for effective groundwater modeling and management. As flow models become increasingly utilized for management decisions, there is an increased need for simple, practical methods to delineate recharge zones and quantify recharge rates. Existing models for estimating recharge distributions are data intensive, require extensive parameterization, and take a significant investment of time in order to establish. The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) has developed a simple daily soil–water balance (SWB) model that uses readily available soil, land cover, topographic, and climatic data in conjunction with a geographic information system (GIS) to estimate the temporal and spatial distribution of groundwater recharge at the watershed scale for temperate humid areas. To demonstrate the methodology and the applicability and performance of the model, two case studies are presented: one for the forested Trout Lake watershed of north central Wisconsin, USA and the other for the urban-agricultural Pheasant Branch Creek watershed of south central Wisconsin, USA. Overall, the SWB model performs well and presents modelers and planners with a practical tool for providing recharge estimates for modeling and water resource planning purposes in humid areas.

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Resumen La cuantificación de la distribución espacial y temporal de la recarga natural de agua subterránea es un requisito previo para una modelación y una gestión efectivas de las aguas subterráneas. Dado que se está incrementando el uso de los modelos de flujo para la toma de decisiones de gestión, existe una necesidad creciente de métodos simples y prácticos para delimitar las zonas de recarga y cuantificar los rangos de la misma. Los modelos existentes para la estimación de la distribución de la recarga requieren datos intensivos, una parametrización extensiva y una inversión de tiempo significativa para ser establecidos. El Servicio Geológico y de Historioa Natural de Wisconsin (WGNHS) ha desarrollado un modelo simple de balance diario de agua en el suelo (SWB) que usa de forma sencilla datos disponibles de suelo, de cobertera, topográficos y climáticos conjuntamente con un Sistema de Información Geográfica (GIS) para estimar la distribución espacial y temporal de la recarga de aguas subterráneas a escala de cuenca para zonas templadas húmedas. Para demostrar la metodología, aplicabilidad y el comportamiento del modelo, se presentan dos casos: uno en la cuenca boscosa de Trout Lake, en la zona Norte-Central de Wisconsin, USA y el otro en la Cuenca urbano-agrícola de Pheasant Branch Creek, Sur-Centro de Winconsin, USA. En conjunto, el modelo SWB funciona bien y presenta a los modeladores y planificadores una herramienta práctica para llevar a cabo una estimación de la recarga para propósitos de modelación y planificación de los recursos de agua en zonas húmedas.

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Résumé Quantifier les distributions temporelle et spatiale de la réalimentation naturelle des eaux souterraines est en règle générale un préalable à une modélisation et une gestion efficaces des eaux souterraines. Etant donné que les modèles numériques sont utilisés de manière croissante dans les prises de décisions en matière de gestion, il existe un besoin accru pour des méthodes simples et pratiques, afin de délimiter les zones d’alimentation et de quantifier les recharges associées. Les modèles existants, destinés à l’estimation de la répartition des réalimentations, demandent énormément de données, un paramétrage long, et un investissement conséquent en temps de mise en œuvre. Le Wisconsin Geologic and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) a développé un modèle simple basé sur un bilan en eau quotidien dans les sols (SWB); il utilise les données directement disponibles sur les sols, l’occupation des sols, la topographie et le climat, en conjonction avec un Système d’Information Géographique, afin d’estimer les distributions temporelle et spatiale de la réalimentation des eaux souterraines à l’échelle du bassin versant, pour les zones humides tempérées. Afin de démontrer la méthodologie, l’applicabilité et les performances du modèle, deux applications sont présentées: la première sur le bassin versant boisé de Trout Lake au centre-nord du Wisconsin (Etats-Unis), et le second sur le bassin versant agricole et urbanisé de Pheasant Branch Creek au centre-sud du Wisconsin. Le modèle SWB se comporte globalement bien, et offre aux modélisateurs un outil fonctionnel pour estimer les réalimentations, dans le cadre de modélisations et de plans de gestion des ressources en eau souterraine dans les zones humides.

     

HYDROLOGY AND GEOMORPHIC EFFECTS OF A HIGH-MAGNITUDE FLOOD IN AN ALPINE RIVER

The catchment of the River Partnach, a torrent situated in a glacial valley in the Northern Calcareous Alps of Bavaria/Germany, was affected by a high‐magnitude flood on 22/23 August 2005 with a peak discharge of more than 16 m³s^‐1 at the spring and about 50 m³s^‐1 at the catchment outlet. This flood was caused by a long period of intense rainfall with a maximum intensity of 230 mm per day. During this event, a landslide dam, which previously held a small lake, failed. The flood wave originating from the dam breach transported a large volume of sediment (more than 50 000 m³) derived from bank erosion and the massive undercutting of a talus cone. This caused a fundamental transformation of the downstream channel system including the redistribution of large woody debris and channel switching. Using terrestrial survey and aerial photography, erosional and depositional consequences of the event were mapped, pre‐ and post‐event surfaces were compared and the sediment budget of the event calculated for ten consecutive channel reaches downstream of the former lake. According to the calculations more than 100 000 tonnes of sediment were eroded, 75% of which was redeposited within the channel and the proximal floodplain. A previous large flood which occurred a few weeks prior to the August 2005 event had a significant effect on controlling the impact of this event.     

CHANGES IN ICE-MARGIN PROCESSES AND SEDIMENT ROUTING DURING ICE-SHEET ADVANCE ACROSS A MARGINAL MORAINE

Advance of part of the margin of the Greenland ice sheet across a proglacial moraine ridge between 1968 and 2002 caused progressive changes in moraine morphology, basal ice formation, debris release, ice‐marginal sediment storage, and sediment transfer to the distal proglacial zone. When the ice margin is behind the moraine, most of the sediment released from the glacier is stored close to the ice margin. As the margin advances across the moraine the potential for ice‐proximal sediment storage decreases and distal sediment flux is augmented by reactivation of moraine sediment. For six stages of advance associated with distinctive glacial and sedimentary processes we describe the ice margin, the debris‐rich basal ice, debris release from the glacier, sediment routing into the proglacial zone, and geomorphic processes on the moraine. The overtopping of a moraine ridge is a significant glaciological, geomorphological and sedimentological threshold in glacier advance, likely to cause a distinctive pulse in distal sediment accumulation rates that should be taken into account when glacial sediments are interpreted to reconstruct glacier fluctuations.     

Simulation on sand grain/bed collision mechanism: Cascade collision and ejection (1)

Ejection of sand grains from a sand surface is assumed to result from cascade collision caused by the impact of a saltating particle. Allowing for only two-body cascade collision and introducing new quantities such as the cross-section for sand grain–grain collisions and sand surface binding energy, the theoretical model for the cascade collision of ion particles is applied to simulate sand grain/bed collision processes. The results of simulations indicate that the collision cascade events caused by impacting particles can eventually lead to the ejection of grains taking place from the sand surface. The number of ejected grains at any surface point is found to be proportional to the fractional energy deposited at that point and inversely proportional to the sand surface binding energy. This cascade collision model also confirms that the peak in the spatial distribution of ejected grains does not appear at the impact point but is located downwind, and that the speed distribution of ejected grains at a fixed angle exhibits a peak having a value directly related to the ratio of surface binding energy to the mass of the ejected grain. The angular distribution at a certain ejection speed also exhibits a maximum at an ejection angle near 90°. The model also offers a new interpretation for the observed variability in the number of ejected grains under constant impact velocity; this variability is directly related to the wide distribution of the energy deposition in the surface layer of the sand bed.     

Volcanic hazards zonation of the Nevado de Toluca Volcano,Central Mexico

Nevado de Toluca Volcano (NTV), located in central Mexico, is a large stratovolcano, with an explosive history. The area is one of the most important developing centers (>2 millions) in Mexico and in the last 30 yrs large population growth and expansion have increased the potential risk in case of a reactivation of the volcano. As part of a study to assess volcanic risk, this paper presents the results of the volcanic hazard analysis for the NTV. A total of 150 stratigraphic sections were made in the field and three new ages were obtained. Eruptions from NTV produced a complex sequence of pyroclastic deposits that have affected the area at least 18 times during the last 100,000 yrs. Eight vulcanian, four plinian and one-ultraplinian eruptions as well as the destruction of at least three domes occurred in the last 42,000 yr BP as well as two sector collapses in the last 100,000 yrs. Isopach and isopleth maps for the main ulraplinian eruption were also made. The original cone height (5,080 m.a.s.l) was reconstructed through geomorphologic methods. The maximum distance calculated with the energy line for the block and ash flows was 41 km, 35 km for pumice flows and 45 km for debris avalanches. The dominant wind direction at altitudes of 20–30 km is to the east-northeast from November to March, west-northwest in April and west from May to October. Five hazards maps (block and ash flows, pumice flows, ash fall, debris avalanches, and lahars) were made for the NTV. The pyroclastic flows and lahars represent very high to medium hazard for Toluca, Villa Guerrero, Coatepec, Tianguistengo, Metepec, Tenango, Lerma and Zinacantepec. A new debris avalanche would probably affect the south and northeast because of active faulting (E–W and NW–SE) and existing topographic differences in height.     

A neuro-genetic approach for prediction of time dependent deformational characteristic of rock and its sensitivity analysis

The creep strain is proportional to the logarithm of the time under load, and is proportional to the stress and the temperature. At higher temperatures the creep rate falls off less rapidly with time, and the creep strain is proportional to a fractional power of time, with exponent increasing as the temperature increases and reaching a value ∼1/3 at temperatures, of about 0.5 T _m. At these temperatures the creep increases with stress according to a power greater than unity and possibly exponentially increases with temperature as (−U/kT), where U is an activation energy and k is Boltzman’s constant. There are different methods to determine the creep strain and the energy of Jog (B) such as by experimental methods and multivariate regression analysis etc. These methods are cumbersome and time consuming. In conjunction with statistics and conventional mathematical methods, a hybrid method can be developed that may prove a step forward in modeling geotechnical problems. In the present investigation, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technique and Co-active neuro-fuzzy inference system (CANFIS) backed Genetic algorithm technique have been used for the prediction of creep strain and energy of Jog (B), and a comparative study has made between the two models.     

Carbon budgets of three temperate forest ecosystems in Dongling Mt.,Beijing,China

There is a general agreement that forest ecosystems in the Northern Hemisphere function as signifi-cant sinks for atmospheric CO2; however, their magnitude and distribution remain large uncertainties. In this paper, we report the carbon (C) stock and its change of vegetation, forest floor detritus, and mineral soil, annual net biomass increment and litterfall production, and respiration of vegetation and soils between 1992 to 1994, for three temperate forest ecosystems, birch (Betula platyphylla) forest, oak (Quercus liaotungensis) forest and pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) plantation in Mt. Dongling, Beijing, China. We then evaluate the C budgets of these forest ecosystems. Our results indicated that total C density (organic C per hectare) of these forests ranged from 250 to 300 t C ha-1, of which 35―54 t C ha-1 from vegetation biomass C and 209―244 t C ha-1 from soil organic C (1 m depth, including forest floor detritus). Biomass C of all three forests showed a net increase, with 1.33―3.55 t C ha-1 a-1 during the study period. Litterfall production, vegetation autotrophic respiration, and soil heterotrophic respira-tion were estimated at 1.63―2.34, 2.19―6.93, and 1.81―3.49 t C ha-1 a-1, respectively. Ecosystem gross primary production fluctuated between 5.39 and 12.82 t C ha-1 a-1, about half of which (46%―59%, 3.20―5.89 t C ha-1 a-1) was converted to net primary production. Our results suggested that pine forest fixed C of 4.08 t ha-1 a-1, whereas secondary forests (birch and oak forest) were nearly in balance in CO2 exchange between the atmosphere and ecosystems.     

Hydrodynamics and scale up in Rushton turbine flotation cells: Part 1 — Cell hydrodynamics

The effect of operating parameters on the hydrodynamics of three geometrically similar Rushton turbine flotation cells with volumes of 2.25, 10 and 50 dm³ was determined. The operating parameters investigated were superficial gas velocity (J_g), impeller rotational speed (N), and frother (methyl isobutyl carbinol, MIBC) concentration.