Appropriate monitoring techniques using bomb tritium and other geochemical parameters in hydrogeological investigations

ABSTRACT

A critical review of earlier uses of bomb tritium spotlights problems in its applications that may result in erroneous interpretations. The old monitoring technique using boreholes causes mixing of groundwaters of different age zones. In this study, the mixing problem is overcome by using modern monitoring devices of multi-level samplers and bundle piezometers that yield groundwater samples of small volumes at closely-spaced intervals. The old method may be used to determine recharge and discharge areas of aquifers and used where pollution poses no serious threat. Otherwise, the major pumpage of the aquifer distorts and reverses flow directions, causes mixing of different waters and may spread the pollutants. The disadvantages of the modern method include its restricted use in shallow aquifers and porous media.     

Comparison of direct statistical and indirect statistical-deterministic frameworks in downscaling river low-flow indices

ABSTRACT

This work explores the ability of two methodologies in downscaling hydrological indices characterizing the low flow regime of three salmon rivers in Eastern Canada: Moisie, Romaine and Ouelle. The selected indices describe four aspects of the low flow regime of these rivers: amplitude, frequency, variability and timing. The first methodology (direct downscaling) ascertains a direct link between large-scale atmospheric variables (the predictors) and low flow indices (the predictands). The second (indirect downscaling) involves downscaling precipitation and air temperature (local climate variables) that are introduced into a hydrological model to simulate flows. Synthetic flow time series are subsequently used to calculate the low flow indices. The statistical models used for downscaling low flow hydrological indices and local climate variables are: Sparse Bayesian Learning and Multiple Linear Regression. The results showed that direct downscaling using Sparse Bayesian Learning surpassed the other approaches with respect to goodness of fit and generalization ability.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor K. Hamed     

Zonal shear flows with a free surface: Hamiltonian formulation and linear and nonlinear stability

General theoretical results via a Hamiltonian formulation are developed for zonal shear flows with the inclusion of the vortex stretching effect of the deformed free surface (equivalent barotropic model). These results include a generalization of the Flierl–Stern–Whitehead zero angular momentum theorem for localized nonlinear structures (whether or not on a β-plane), and sufficient conditions for linear and nonlinear stability in the Liapunov sense–the latter are given as estimates in terms of an L ²-type perturbation norm which are global in time and are derived via bounds on the equilibrium potential vorticity gradient.     

A high order Godunov scheme with constrained transport and adaptive mesh refinement for astrophysical and geophysical MHD

We propose to extend the well-known MUSCL-Hancock scheme for Euler equations to the induction equation modeling the magnetic field evolution in kinematic dynamo problems. The scheme is based on an integral form of the underlying conservation law which, in our formulation, results in a “finite-surface” scheme for the induction equation. This naturally leads to the well-known “constrained transport” method, with additional continuity requirement on the magnetic field representation. The second ingredient in the MUSCL scheme is the predictor step that ensures second order accuracy both in space and time. We explore specific constraints that the mathematical properties of the induction equations place on this predictor step, showing that three possible variants can be considered. We show that the most aggressive formulations reach the same level of accuracy than the other ones, at a lower computational cost. More interestingly, these schemes are compatible with the Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) framework. It has been implemented in the AMR code RAMSES. It offers a novel and efficient implementation of a second order scheme for the induction equation. The scheme is then adaptated to solve for the full MHD equations using the same methodology. Through a series of test problems, we illustrate the performances of this new code using two different MHD Riemann solvers (Lax–Friedrich and Roe) and the need of the Adaptive Mesh Refinement capabilities in some cases. Finally, we show its versatility by applying it to the ABC dynamo problem and to the collapse of a magnetized cloud core.     

Mode coupling analysis and differential rotation in a flow driven by a precessing cylindrical container

We present a theoretical weakly nonlinear analysis of the dynamics of an inviscid flow submitted to both rotation and precession of an unbounded cylindrical container, by considering the coupling of two Kelvin (inertial) waves. The parametric centrifugal instability known for this system is shown to saturate when one expands the Navier–Stokes equation to higher order in the assumed small precession parameter (ratio of precession to rotation frequencies) with the derivation of two coupled Landau equations suitable to describe the dynamics of the modes. It is shown that an azimuthal mean flow with differential rotation is generated by this modes coupling. The time evolution of the associated dynamical system is studied. These theoretical results can be compared with water experiments and also to some numerical simulations where viscosity and finite length effects cannot be neglected.     

Kinematics of active earthflows revealed by digital image correlation and DEM subtraction techniques applied to multi‐temporal LiDAR data

Earthflow‐type landslides are persistent natural hazards having deep socio‐economic and environmental consequences. They have significantly contributed to the geomorphic evolution of mountainous slopes in Europe since the Late Glacial. An understanding of their complex kinematics is crucial to better constrain the processes governing their occurrence and mobility. In this work we explored the possibility to quantify displacement vectors on a spatially distributed basis and to quantify volumetric transfer at the slope scale with regard to a large flow‐type landslide located in the northern Apennines of Italy. For this purpose we applied digital image correlation (DIC) and digital elevation model differencing (DEMoD) techniques to multi‐temporal airborne LiDAR surveys of 2006, 2007 and 2009. The DIC was applied to greyscale slope gradient maps retrieved after precise co‐registration of LiDAR surveys. Thereby, movement patterns over various sectors of the landslide were reconstructed and quantified, most notably up to 20 m in the head zone, up to 51 m in the lower main track, and up to about 27 m at the landslide toe. The DEMoD analysis revealed significant mass transfer from the source to the tracks and toe zone, with the upper flow tracks acting as temporal storage of large amounts of material. The mass balance indicated that significant amounts of advancing landslide debris were eroded by a local stream. An integrated analysis of DEMoD and DIC results allowed for a discussion of governing processes, such as the transition from slide to flow, the influence of underlying topography on earthflow mobility, and the role of undrained loading as a mechanism of toe zone reactivation. In conclusion, the successful application of DIC and DEMoD to the case study underlines the added value of high‐resolution DEMs in the analysis of earthflow kinematics toward a better understanding of their role in the geomorphic evolution of slopes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于GIS的坡面泥石流危险性评价

综合不同的泥石流评价因子对泥石流危险性进行了研究,利用地理信息系统（ GIS）来计算潜在的泥石流危险区域。选取虹口乡高原村与庙坝村共处坡面为研究区域,在ArcGIS中生成研究区域的坡面立体图。选取适当的评级指标,确定了流域内主要的泥石流影响因子。采用层次分析法得出各主要因子的权重值,将各因子划分为五个不同等级,并分别对各个因子进行数值化和归一化处理。利用ArcGIS形成各评价因子专题层,再分别给不同评价栅格赋权重值,最终运用叠置分析与插值分析得出研究坡面的不同色带所表示的危险等级区划图,从而实现单坡面泥石流危险性的评价。     

甘肃舟曲县庙儿沟泥石流形成条件及运动特征研究

庙儿沟为白龙江中游右岸河段的一条沟谷,历史上曾发生多次泥石流。在查明泥石流形成条件的基础上,分析了庙儿沟泥石流的运动特征,包括泥石流的流速、流量、冲击力。这一结论为评价该泥石流对该地区居民的生命安全及财产的影响具有现实意义。建议右岸前期施工场地和右岸上游备料场沿江设置挡墙,且场地要注意少占行洪断面,防止泥石流沉积淤塞河道。     

Application of a BEM time stepping algorithm in understanding complex unsteady propulsion hydrodynamic phenomena

We solve the problem of unsteady potential flow around a system of arbitrarily moving rigid or flexible, lifting or non-lifting bodies, in an infinite fluid free of distributed vorticity. For the solution we use a time stepping algorithm and a potential based formulation of the corresponding free BVP. Nonlinear free shear layer dynamics are included in our modeling. This is a major innovation in treating complex unsteady propulsion problems since no simplifying assumptions (like that of a helicoidal wake) are used regarding the wake model. Bilinear quadrilateral elements are used to describe body and shear layer geometry at each time t. Three types of Kutta conditions can be alternatively applied for the determination of the shed vorticity from lifting bodies. The theoretical and numerical aspects of the method are presented followed by a number of applications, elucidating the qualitative and quantitative physical characteristics of a number of complex unsteady propulsion problems.     

密云水库周边山区滑坡泥石流易发区预估

滑坡、泥石流等地质灾害的易发度主要是地质灾害自然属性特征的体现,它与孕灾环境的各项因子密切相关。这些因子包括地形地貌、流域水文、构造等内部条件因子以及地震、降雨等外部触发因子。为突出反映滑坡及泥石流主导因子的作用,本文参考了许多研究所采用的评价方法和因子选择,重点选取对该地区滑坡及泥石流发生区域分析评价起一定主导作用的、便于研究区域数据资料与空间资料匹配、关系密切的几个指标,包括地形地貌要素(坡度、坡向、坡形、相对高差、地貌类型)、环境要素(植被指数、河网密度、洪水淹没范围)、构造要素(距断层的距离、断层密度、地质岩性),通过对这些因子的敏感性进行分析,采用专家打分方法确定每种要素及因子的权重,借助因子加权叠加办法得出研究区地质灾害易发程度空间分布,用于表示其可能发生的统计意义上的可能性(概率),该研究对于区域地质灾害预防具有一定的适用价值。