The Evolution Of Turbulence Across A Forest Edge

An experiment was set-up to investigate the adjustment of turbulence over a roughness transition (moorland to forest). Results from this experiment support the development of an internal boundary layer (IBL) at the transition, which propagates upwards by turbulent diffusion as a function of distance downwind from the transition. Spectra and length-scale results uphold the hypothesis that, over a transition to a rough surface, the variance distribution shifts towards smaller wavelengths/length scales. However, results suggest that the adjustment of streamwise velocity variance may be faster than the adjustment of the vertical velocity variance. The concept of an equilibrium layer developing above the new surface is supported. Fetch requirements for equilibrium are, however, found to differ between first order and second order (flux) statistics, with second order statistics requiring a longer fetch. Results indicate that fetch should exceed 25 times the height of the measurement above the zero plane, which is a 2° (±0.5) growth angle, for flux equilibrium.     

DERIVATION OF FLUXES FROM PROFILES OVER A MODERATELY HOMOGENEOUS FOREST

Measurements of fluxes and profiles of wind andtemperature are performed in the roughness layer ofa moderately homogeneous forest location. Weinvestigate to what extent vertical scalar fluxescan be derived from profile measurements. Theinfluence of inhomogeneities in the upwind terrainis investigated with footprint analysis and with aninhomogeneous surface-layer model. Four methods toestimate displacement height are suggested, amongthem is a method involving the structure parameterof the vertical wind. All methods give a decrease ofdisplacement height with increasing wind speed,while roughness length is found to increase withincreasing wind speed. For near-neutral conditionsdimensionless temperature gradients are found to besubstantially lower than the surface-layer valuesfound in the literature for homogeneous terrain with lowvegetation. Dimensionless shear however iscomparable with the surface-layer value. The heightof the roughness layer is 20 times the roughnesslength. Two schemes with locally derived surfaceparameters are tested to derive friction velocityand sensible heat flux from the profilemeasurements. These site specific schemes performsatisfactorily. A third scheme based on surface parameters chosen a priorifrom the literatureperforms significantly worse especially for low windspeed and unstable cases.     

The impact of resolution on the accuracy of hydrologic data derived from DEMs

Hydrologic data derived from digital elevation models (DEM) has been regarded as an effective method in the spatial analysis of geographical information systems (GIS). However, both DEM resolution and terrain complexity has impacts on the accuracy of hydrologic derivatives. In this study, a multi-resolution and multi-relief comparative approach was used as a major methodology to investigate the accuracy of hydrologic data derived from DEMs. The experiment reveals that DEM terrain representation error affects the accuracy of DEM hydrological derivatives (drainage networks and watershed etc.). Coarser DEM resolutions can usually cause worse results. However, uncertain result commonly exists in this calculation. The derivative errors can be found closely related with DEM vertical resolution and terrain roughness. DEM vertical resolution can be found closely related with the accuracy of DEM hydrological derivatives, especially in the smooth plain area. If the mean slope is less than 4 degrees, the derived hydrologic data are usually unreliable. This result may be helpful in estimating the accuracy of the hydrologic derivatives and determining the DEM resolution that is appropriate to the accuracy requirement of a particular user. By applying a threshold value to subset the cells of a higher accumulation flow, a stream network of a specific network density can be extracted. Some very important geomorphologic characteristics, e.g., shallow and deep gullies, can be separately extracted by means of adjusting the threshold value. However, such a flow accumulationbased processing method can not correctly derive those streams that pass through the working area because it is hard to accumulate enough flow direction values to express the stream channels at the stream's entrance area. Consequently, errors will definitely occur at the stream’s entrance area. In addition, erroneous derivatives can also be found in deriving some particular rivers, e.g., perched (hanging up) rivers, anastomosing rivers and braided rivers. Therefore, more work should be done to develop and perfect the algorithms.     

FLOOD DISTURBANCE AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF RIPARIAN SPECIES DIVERSITY*

ABSTRACT. Biodiversity varies considerably in Southern Californian riparian vegetation. The intermediate disturbance hypothesis posits greatest diversity in settings that are subject to moderate-intensity disturbance. Flood intensity tends to vary systematically in watersheds, potentially imposing patterns of biodiversity. In two study watersheds, species richness increases with flood severity. Diversity, or heterogeneity, is less predictable: Biodiversity patterns in these watersheds are complicated by atypical patterns of flood severity. Although riparian diversity may be intimately dependent on flood disturbance, the relationship is predictable only with due attention to the physiographic details of individual stream networks.     

The application of spatial data processing to land use conflict resolution in the lal lal water catchment of the Ballarat growth corridor: a case study from chapter one of the Buninyong planning scheme

Land use conflict within the Lal Lal Water Catchment is between landowners, the Shire, the Water Board and those directing regional pressures for development. It is exacerbated by inconsistency in building permit appraisal outcomes. The deliberations involved would clearly have benefited from access to spatial data sets through use of a Geographical Information System (GIS) during applications appraisal, in that inconsistencies are most obvious when mapped in relation to the criteria applied. GIS methodologies would ensure that information of a high standard was produced. Three strategic points are identified for the implementation of GIS: at the planning scheme formulation stage; the permit application stage; and the formal conflict resolution stage. Reference to GIS at the first two stages presupposes the existence of a local government area (LGA) spatial data base and a GIS/LIS that can output overlay maps. Application of GIS at the third stage is somewhat ‘after the event’. This study suggests that without such a regional review of the spatial patterns of permit appraisal criteria (including overland flow modelling) each appeal or negotiation is likely to yield an outcome that is inconsistent in relation to other cases. An LGA planning office maintaining a GIS with all layers relating to these criteria will have assembled its spatial data according to the requirements of its planning scheme and will make most use of it in a GIS at the permit appraisal stage.     

THE COMPARISON OF CHINESE AND EUROPEAN STREAM RUNOFF

ComparativehydrologyisthesciencedealingwithdifferentiationofhydrologicalphenomenaandinherentlawsofhydrologicaltyPesonthebasisofgnograPhy.Tllecomparativestudiesonstrea1llrunoffofEuropeandCl1ina11avebeendoneinthispaPerinordertodeepentheunderstandingofregionaldifferentiationandthecauseofforll1ationofstrea111nlnoffinbothregio11s.ThecomparisonbetweenChineseandEuropeanstreamrunoffcanalsogiveafurtl1erknoWedgeonChinesestreamrtl1offcl1aracteristic5andtheirinfltlenceo11l1u111a11.I.ComparisonorNatura…     

Copper dispersion in ephemeral stream sediments

Sediment transport related parameters in ephemeral streams may be used to model and delineate: (1) average dispersion patterns of copper-laden sediments; (2) differences in dispersion of copper in bedload and suspended sediments; and (3) variability in the copper-sediment dispersion patterns. A model that effectively describes dispersion of copper in ephemeral stream sediments in a simple mixing model: where C_r is the resultant concentration beneath the confluence of the main channel with a tributary, C_t is the concentration of metal in sediments of the tributary, C_m is the metal concentration in main channel sediments, and X_m and X_t are the basin areas or sediment yields of the main channel and tributary channel at their confluence. Variability in metal concentrations about values predicted by this model may be due to the different responses of bedload and suspended load to changes in stream hydraulics, the dynamics of bedload transport, the spatial and temporal variability rainfall within the drainage basin, and chemical mobility of the copper.     

数字河流数据的组织和制图综合

本文概略地介绍了通过使数据合理化和溪流顺序排列的软件的研制,把某些结构引入TIS已拥有的河流数据里所进行的工作。这项工作不仅施惠于水文学和地理学,而且可用于制图。它便于根据重新组织过的数据在逻辑上的联结,借助计算机生产各种比例尺的制图综合过的地图。综合样图以英格兰西南部的水系加以说明。     

Infiltration-excess caused by Stemflow in a cyclone-prone tropical rainforest

Tropical rainforest canopy trees that have large projected areas of upwardly inclined branches are capable of funnelling large volumes of rainwater down their trunks. During periods of prolonged heavy rainfall on Mount Bellenden Ker in northeast Queensland, Australia, stemflow volumes were found to be as much as two orders of magnitude greater than the volume of incident rainfall expected in a rain gauge occupying an area equal to the trunk basal area. Stemflow totals ranging from 6000 to 70000 litres were generated by individual trees from 7800 mm of rainfall over two successive wet seasons. The combination of high intensity rainfall and the funnelling effect results in significant quantities of infiltration-excess at the ground surface. Stemflow fluxes as high as 31.4 cm³ min^?1 per cm² of basal area (i.e. the equivalent of 314 mm min^?1) were recorded when rainfall intensity was only 2 mm min^?1. The mean infiltration capacity of the topsoil was determined to be 6.2 mm min^?1. The areas over which the stemflow would have had to spread in order to infiltrate were computed to be as much as 3 m² around the bases of individual canopy trees. Approximations of the distances that the infiltration-excess would have travelled away from the tree bases were calculated by assuming that the infiltration area either expands radially outward in the form of an annulus or extends straight downslope from the tree base.     

Comparison of taxon calibrations,modern analogue techniques,and forest-stand simulation models for the quantitative reconstruction of past vegetation

We compared results of three quantitative methods for reconstructing past vegetation, including (1) calibrations of per cent dominance vs. per cent pollen for individual tree taxa; (2) coefficients of dissimilarity between fossil and modern pollen assemblages; and (3) simulation modelling of long-term forest succession. For calibration, we used 1684 modern pollen samples and 1742 forest-inventory summaries from eastern North America. We applied the calibrations at 1 000-year intervals to the 19000-year pollen record from Anderson Pond, Tennessee. Dominance values reconstructed using taxon calibrations typically paralleled the changes in percentages of arboreal pollen. Dissimilarity values between fossil and modern pollen assemblages were lowest from 19 000 yr BP to 15 000 yr BP and from 9 000 yr BP to the present, indicating good modern analogues for both full-glacial and Holocene time periods. During times of good analogue, forest composition estimated from forest inventories at the locations of best pollen analogues was similar to that reconstructed using taxon calibrations. Relatively poor modern analogues exist for late glacial and early Holocene pollen spectra from Anderson Pond. During times of poor analogues, forest composition reconstructed from taxon calibrations differed from that derived from analogue methods. FORET-model simulations of forest-stand biomass differed markedly from palaeovegetation estimates made from the other two methods. This is primarily because the FORET model is scaled to forest succession on 1/12-ha forest plots rather than forest dynamics integrated over a broad landscape mosaic. Because they are based upon fundamental relationships of pollen production and dispersal, taxon calibrations provide the best available means for reconstructing forest history both during times of good and of poor analogues.