Streambank dewatering for increased stability

Streambank erosion is often the dominant source of sediment leaving modified watersheds. Mass failure of high, steep banks is one of the most serious forms of streambank erosion. The risk of a given bank experiencing mass failure is a function of bank height, angle, and soil strength, which is governed by soil moisture. Two methods for bank dewatering were tested in adjacent sections of streambank bordering a deeply incised channel in northern Mississippi: a low‐cost pump system and subsurface horizontal drains. Pore water pressures (both positive and negative pressures, or matric suction) were continuously monitored for 2 years at the pumped site, at an adjacent untreated control section, and for 1 year at the site stabilized with horizontal drains. Resulting data were used to calculate a time series of the factor of safety using a computer model. Over the course of two wet seasons, average bank retreats for the control and pumped plots were 0·43 and 0·21 m, respectively. More limited monitoring revealed that the site with passive drains retreated about 0·23 m. At the pumped site pore water pressure was 3–4 kPa lower than at the control site during the most critical periods. Accordingly, computed factors of safety were above the failure threshold at the pumped site, but fell below unity at the control site on 11 occasions over the period of observation. Similarly, the drained site displayed generally lower pore water pressure and higher safety factors except for two events when drains were evidently overwhelmed with the volume of local surface and subsurface flows. These results suggest, but do not prove, that bank dewatering promoted lower rates of bank retreat and higher levels of stability since the three sites had slight differences in soils, geometry and boundary conditions. Initial cost of the dewatering treatments were significantly less than orthodox bank stabilization measures, but operation and maintenance requirements may be greater. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Outflow Propagation in Collapsars: Collimated Jets and Expanding Outflows

We investigate the outflow propagation in the collapsar in the context of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with 2D relativistic hydrodynamic simulations. We vary the specific internal energy and bulk Lorentz factor of the injected outflow from non-relativistic regime to relativistic one, fixing the power of the outflow to be 10⁵¹erg s⁻¹. We observed the collimated outflow, when the Lorentz factor of the injected outflow is roughly greater than 2. To the contrary, when the velocity of the injected outflow is slower, the expanding outflow is observed. The transition from collimated jet to expanding outflow continuously occurs by decreasing the injected velocity. Different features of the dynamics of the outflows would cause the difference between the GRBs and similar phenomena, such as, X-ray flashes.     

Water source characterization through spatiotemporal patterns of major,minor and trace element stream concentrations in a complex,mesoscale German catchment

The link between spatiotemporal patterns of stream water chemistry and catchment characteristics for the mesoscale Dill catchment (692 km²) in Germany is explored to assess the catchment scale controls on water quality and to characterize water sources. In order to record the spatiotemporal pattern, ‘snapshot sampling’ was applied during low, mean and high flow, including 73 nested sites throughout the catchment. Water samples were analysed for the elements Li, B, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ba, Pb and U using inductively‐coupled‐plasma mass spectrometry, and for electric conductivity and pH. Principle component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to find typical element associations and to group water samples according to their hydrochemical fingerprints. This revealed regional hydrochemical patterns of water quality which were subsequently related to catchment attributes to draw conclusions about the controls on stream chemistry. It was found that various lithologic signals and anthropogenic point source inputs controlled the base flow hydrochemistry. During increased flows, stream waters were diluted causing additional hydrochemical variability in response to heterogeneous precipitation inputs and differences in aquifer storage capacities. The hydrochemical patterns further displayed in‐stream mixing of waters. This implied, that stream waters could be apportioned to the identified water sources throughout the catchment. The basin‐wide hydrochemical variability has the potential to outrange the tracer signatures typically inferred in studies at the hillslope scale and is able to strongly influence the complexity of the catchment output. Both have to be considered for further catchment scale tracer and modelling work. Despite the likelihood of non‐conservative behaviour, the minor and trace elements enhanced the rather qualitative discrimination of the various groundwater types, as the major cations were strongly masked by point source inputs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

“菲特”台风路径和强度预报难点分析

利用1°×1°NCEP再分析资料、NOAA海温资料对其进行分析,结果表明:(1)副高突然加强西进,中低层高压带加强,在台风北侧形成高压坝和强盛偏东气流,是台风路径突然西折的主要原因;(2)"丹娜丝"的活动在一定程度上阻止了副热带高压的南落,有利于副高南侧偏东急流的维持和加强,对"菲特"路径的突然西折起一定作用。敏感性数值试验结果表明"双台风"效应对"菲特"登陆前进一步西折具有决定作用;(3)高低空急流的配置,产生了动力场的耦合作用,加强了台风的对流活动,所释放的潜热可以补偿海温降低的影响,对"菲特"在近海强度维持起到了重要作用;(4)"菲特"的强度和环境风垂直切变的演变规律基本一致,较低的环境风垂直切变是"菲特"在近海强度维持的重要原因。     

重庆“5.6”强风雹天气过程成因分析

利用常规观测、NCEP分析场及雷达、自动站等资料对重庆＂5.6＂强风雹天气的成因进行了分析,结果表明：冷锋和副热带高空急流在风雹发生地近乎重叠的配置结构促进了次级环流的形成并有利于上升运动的强烈发展;风暴天气发生前,下垫面强烈加热、低层增温增湿、中高层干冷对大气对流不稳定性增强的作用显著;对流有效位能（CAPE）、K指数、SI指数高值区边缘的强指数梯度区、对流抑制（CIN）的小值区以及较强的垂直风切变对大风冰雹的预报有重要的指示意义;雷达回波显示多单体风暴具有三体散射、弱回波区等冰雹回波特征,中层径向辐合和反射率因子核心的反复上升下降也是形成地面大风和冰雹的重要特征;四川盆地东部东北西南向山脉对冷空气的移动有阻挡作用,山脉之间的槽状地形为多单体风暴的持续发展保留了较大的空间,明月山南麓的地形起到了强迫抬升和触发的作用,由于地形的阻挡形成狭管效应,加强了下击暴流形成的地面大风,是形成11级大风的重要因素。     

Chlorophyll production,in response to nutrient additions,by the algae in Lake Taupo water

In batch cultures of Lake Taupo water, phosphorus was the nutrient limiting plant growth from January to June, and nitrogen took over this role from July to December. Chlorophyll production by algae was often stimulated by trace element additions, but it was uncertain whether total cytoplasmic production was also involved.     

成矿带1∶20万水系沉积物地球化学分区的方法及地质意义:以西藏冈底斯铜多金属成矿带为例

以冈底斯铜多金属成矿带为例,阐述了利用1∶20万和1∶50万水系沉积物地球化学测量开展成矿区带地球化学分区的方法和思路,进一步对其地质意义进行了探讨。结果表明:小比例尺的水系沉积物地球化学数据具有地球化学分区示踪意义。总结出一套操作性强的地球化学分区方法,其方法具有指示找矿方向的实际意义,对区域构造单元划分具参考价值。地球化学分区为该区的找矿方向、成矿远景评价及基础地质调查奠定了基础。     

甘肃省黑河干流中游地区泉水动态特征及预报

在简述区域水文地质条件的基础上,依据1986～2007年泉水流量系列观测资料,详细论述了区内下降泉、上升泉的年内和多年动态变化特征,对比分析了1967年、1984年、2006年测区各泉域泉水量和泉水总量的时空分布规律和变化特征。利用已有的潜水二维流水量数学模型,推递并建立了利用泉点周围节点水头(水位)预报泉水流量的数学模型,并对测区泉水总量未来15年的变化趋势进行了预报。结果表明,在现状节水灌溉条件下,由于出山径流量的增加和地下水开采量的减少,未来黑河干流中游地区的泉水资源基本处于稳定状态。     

利用氮氧同位素研究桂林寨底地下河硝酸盐来源

工农业生产的迅速发展使地下水硝酸盐氮(NO3-—N)污染成为世界性的环境问题。地下水中硝酸盐的来源研究在水文地质结构特殊的西南岩溶地区就显得尤为重要。稳定氮同位素和氧同位素在地下水硝酸盐的来源示踪研究中有着广泛的应用。本研究选取岩溶地区典型地下河——广西桂林寨底地下河为研究对象,通过氮氧同位素数据,判断寨底地下河硝酸盐来源是以动物粪便为主的农家肥,为该区地下水的保护和利用提供科学依据。     

陕西柞水地区金盆梁金矿区水系沉积物地球化学特征与找矿方向

对陕西柞水地区金盆梁金矿区1∶50 000水系沉积物样品中微量元素含量,元素分布、分配、共生组合特征以及主要元素地球化学异常特征进行综合研究,进一步确定该区找矿方向。结果表明:Au是金盆梁金矿区内主要的成矿元素,Ag为主要伴生元素,As、Sb为远程指示元素;泥盆系上统桐峪寺组第五岩性段上亚段是金矿富集的有利层位;石炭系下统二峪河组下亚组下段、泥盆系上统第四岩性段上亚段、泥盆系上统桐峪寺组第五岩性段上亚段为金成矿有利岩性段;矿区经历了至少两期热液活动,金矿体的形成受低级区域变质作用的影响,与岩浆热液活动有关;以Au为主成矿元素圈定的4个综合异常区与地层展布方向一致。位于玄檀沟附近的综合异常区处在金矿富集有利层位,次级构造发育,指示元素异常套合较好,浓集中心明显,Au异常强度高且规模大,并在异常内发现金矿体,因此,位于玄檀沟附近的综合异常区具有很好的找矿前景。