Assessment of gully erosion rates through interviews and measurements: a case study from northern Ethiopia

Gullying has been widespread in the Ethiopian Highlands during the 20th century. It threatens the soil resource, lowers crop yields in intergully areas through enhanced drainage and desiccation, and aggravates flooding and reservoir siltation. Knowing the age and rates of gully development during the last few decades will help explain the reasons for current land degradation. In the absence of historical written or photographic documentation, the AGERTIM method (Assessment of Gully Erosion Rates Through Interviews and Measurements) has been developed. It comprises measurements of contemporary gully volumes, monitoring of gully evolution over several years and semi‐structured interview techniques. Gully erosion rates in the Dogu'a Tembien District, Tigray, Ethiopia, were estimated in three representative case‐study areas. In Dingilet, gullying started around 1965 after gradual environmental changes (removal of vegetation from cropland in the catchment and eucalyptus plantation in the valley bottom); rill‐like incisions grew into a gully, which increased rapidly in the drier period between 1977 and 1990. The estimated evolution of the total gully volume in the other areas show patterns similar to those of the Dingilet gully. Average gully erosion rate over the last 50 years is 6·2 t ha^?1 a^?1. Since 1995, no new gullies have developed in the study area. Area‐specific short‐term gully erosion rates are now on average 1·1 t ha^?1 a^?1. The successful application of the AGERTIM method requires an understanding of the geomorphology of the study area and an integration of the researchers with the rural society. It reveals that rapid gully development in the study area is some 50 years old and is mainly caused by human‐induced environmental degradation. Under the present‐day conditions of ‘normal’ rain and catchment‐wide soil and water conservation, gully erosion rates are decreasing. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enhancing RUSLE to include runoff‐driven phenomena

RUSLE2 (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) is the most recent in the family of Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)/RUSLE/RUSLE2 models proven to provide robust estimates of average annual sheet and rill erosion from a wide range of land use, soil, and climatic conditions. RUSLE2's capabilities have been expanded over earlier versions using methods of estimating time‐varying runoff and process‐based sediment transport routines so that it can estimate sediment transport/deposition/delivery on complex hillslopes. In this report we propose and evaluate a method of predicting a series of representative runoff events whose sizes, durations, and timings are estimated from information already in the RUSLE2 database. The methods were derived from analysis of 30‐year simulations using a widely accepted climate generator and runoff model and were validated against additional independent simulations not used in developing the index events, as well as against long‐term measured monthly rainfall/runoff sets. Comparison of measured and RUSLE2‐predicted monthly runoff suggested that the procedures outlined may underestimate plot‐scale runoff during periods of the year with greater than average rainfall intensity, and a modification to improve predictions was developed. In order to illustrate the potential of coupling RUSLE2 with a process‐based channel erosion model, the resulting set of representative storms was used as an input to the channel routines used in Chemicals, Runoff, and Erosion from Agricultural Management Systems (CREAMS) to calculate ephemeral gully erosion. The method was applied to a hypothetical 5‐ha field cropped to cotton in Marshall County, MS, bisected by a potential ephemeral gully having channel slopes ranging from 0·5 to 5% and with hillslopes on both sides of the channel with 5% steepness and 22·1 m length. Results showed the representative storm sequence produced reasonable results in CREAMS indicating that ephemeral gully erosion may be of the same order of magnitude as sheet and rill erosion. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lake sediment phosphorus release management—Decision support and risk assessment framework

The release of phosphorus (P) from the sediments of eutrophic lakes is often associated with the proliferation of nuisance algal blooms, especially cyanobacteria. The successful implementation of management actions aimed at reducing such algal blooms requires an integrated approach, including both external and internal nutrient loads. The internal load of P can be a significant source of P for primary production, with greatest inputs occurring when lakes stratify and the hypolimnetic waters become anoxic. We reviewed the nature and characteristics of New Zealand lakes in relation to factors which affect the application of technologies to manage internal P loads within individual lakes. New Zealand's windy maritime climate causes lakes to mix more deeply than lakes in continental areas, which are characterised by relatively hot, calm summers. We assessed a range of management options which may be used to control internal P loads, and considered these in a de cision‐support framework aimed at identifying the key factors which may limit successful application. Methods to reduce P release from sediments include: physical approaches—such as artificial destratification, hypolimnetic aeration, enhanced lake flushing, and dredging/discing; and geochemical approaches—such as the application of alum and iron as flocculation agents, and other products as “capping” materials. The capping materials may be either a passive physical barrier (e.g., sand, gravel, clay) or an active barrier. The active barrier systems are generally pervious chemical or geochemical materials capable of binding contaminants by adsorption or precipitation processes. A decision‐support and risk assessment framework is provided to assist managers in the development of appropriate strategies for reducing or controlling internal P loads, and thus cyanobacteria blooms. A review of the sediment characteristics of lakes in the Taupo volcanic zone showed marked variability in sediment P content, and elevated geothermal arsenic concentrations in some lake sediments, which may affect the efficacy of chemical capping agents, indicating that site‐specific consideration of capping agent dose is required.     

武夷山石源龙铀矿区地质环境治理效果初析

矿山地质环境治理,对消除地质灾害隐患、恢复生态环境、保护水源地、保证矿山安全生产及当地人民的生命安全,稳定经济发展具有重要意义,针对武夷山石源龙铀矿区地质勘探设施放射性污染危害及造成的安全隐患,采取"封、挡、疏、填、清、盖、植"等方法进行综合治理,探讨铀矿区地质环境治理技术及其应用效果。     

运用STOMP数值模拟器进行多空介质中尿素水解以及方解石沉淀数值模拟

遍布于美国能源部所辖野外场地的地下放射性核素和痕量金属污染对美国能源部的长期监管职能提出了最严峻的挑战。目前较有前景的一个原地固化污染物方法是利用尿素酶催化尿素水解,进而推动方解石沉淀及与之共同沉淀。运用STOMP数值模拟器实施一系列反应性溶质数值模拟来研究系统中水流、运移、反应与反应导致的介质性质变化之间的紧密的非线性耦合,并在研究中系统性增加反应系统的复杂度和物理-化学的非均质性以考察模拟效果。通过调整反应速率表达式中尿素酶浓度和沉淀反应常数,对尿素水解和方解石沉淀速率进行了敏感度分析。结果显示:尿素水解速率是矿物沉淀总量的决定性因素,沉淀物的空间分布既取决于水解速率也取决于沉淀速率;在一维水流柱6个空隙体积的时间段模拟中,观察到了5%的最大空隙度减少;当二维模拟中考虑一个低渗透性包裹体时,被改变的流场重新对生成的沉淀组成物进行了分布,形成了扭曲的反应锋面。模拟结果也显示沉淀在低渗透性区域边界上形成,这说明位于这个区域里面的污染物可能被囊裹而从流线中被隔离起来。     

超临界CO2流体萃取土壤中污染物的应用研究进展

CO2在超临界状态下具有许多独特的物理化学性质,作为一种“绿色”溶剂,它具有无毒、无污染、易获取等优点。近年来,有关超临界CO2流体热力学相行为和溶解度性质的研究引起人们广泛的关注,与之密切相关的超临界流体萃取技术已在许多领域得到重视和发展。根据近年国内外运用超临界CO2流体对土壤中多环芳烃、多氯联苯、重金属等污染物的萃取应用,分析了温度、压力、共溶剂等因素对萃取效果的影响,通过与其他土壤修复技术的比较,展望了超临界流体萃取技术应用于土壤修复领域的可行性和研究方向。     

基于RTK-GPS技术的干热河谷冲沟沟头形态特征

采用高精度实时动态差分GPS(以下简称RTK-GPS)技术对干热河谷冲沟进行野外调查,获取36个不同活跃度类型沟头的形态参数,研究不同活跃度类型之间沟头的形态特征差异,并分析集水区、沟床植被盖度与形态特征之间的关系。结果表明:1.沟头不同活跃度类型之间,其跌坎高差、沟床比降差异最为显著,可作为沟头活跃度类型野外判别的主要参考指标;沟壁坡度、宽-深比等的差异较为显著,亦可在一定程度上表征沟头活跃程度。2.沟床植被盖度与各形态特征参数的相关性显著,表明沟床植被盖度可作为形态参数的综合替代性指标。同一活跃度类型的沟头,其跌坎高差、沟床比降等与沟床植被盖度呈极显著负相关关系,说明随着沟床植被盖度的增加(或减小),跌坎高差、沟床比降均呈减小(或增加)趋势。3.集水区植被盖度与各形态特征参数的关系不显著,表明干热河谷集水区植被盖度对沟头发育的贡献有限。     

离心实验在污染物迁移研究中的应用

离心实验模拟以其可以获得与原型一致的应力水平并且能够大大缩短原型历时而被应用于污染物迁移实验研究。在离心相似理论及离心实验模拟的相似基础上,重点回顾了离心机在饱和带水分、非饱和带水分、保守性溶质、NAPLs、重金属、核素迁移以及污染场地修复方面的实验应用。最后讨论了离心模拟中土壤预制和加速度选择的问题,并简单介绍了离心监测方法。可以得出结论:离心机能够成功用于各类物质迁移的实验研究中,离心实验模拟能够为理论和数值等分析方法快速提供真实可靠的参数依据,但离心实验的理论基础和监测方法需要进一步完善,此外也应积极开展更接近实际情况下的离心实验模拟研究。     

Analysis of the Grain Size Properties and Flow Body Classes of the Mud Sand Flow: An Example of Liantanggang Collapsing Hill and Gully in Wuhua County of Guangdong

Mud sand flow is a kind of solid-liquid two-phase flow formed in collapsing hill and gully basin during rainfall. It is the main way to export erosion product. The discrimination of its fluid type is one of the collapsing hill and gully control theoretical basis. This paper analyzed the basic characteristics of mud sand flow like grain size and so on through fieldwork and sampling. The results show that the density of mud sand flow is between 1.16~1.60 t/m³ and the solids content is between 257.03~960.55 kg/m³, both of which decrease from the upper to the lower channel. The slurry of mud sand flow is composed mainly of silt and clay. As the density increases, the particle size distribution curve transforms from a single peak to the bimodal distribution similar to the weathering crust with no sorting, and the grain size of mud sand flow becomes coarser which shows a well positive linear correlation between the sediment median particle diameter and density of mud sand flow. The comparison during mud sand flow, hyperconcentrated flow and debris flow shows that collapsing hill and gully mud sand flow, which belongs to an intermediate class between hyperconcentrated flow and debris flow, has a closer link with debris flow. Therefore, mud sand flow can be considered as a sub-class of generalized debris flow that may be called as collapsing hill and gully type debris flow.     

Factors and processes of permanent gully evolution in a Mediterranean marly environment (Cape Bon,Tunisia)

Abstract

Gully erosion is considered to be one of the most important soil erosion processes in Mediterranean marly environments, but its actual contribution to total soil loss is still under discussion. The objectives of this paper are: (a) to acquire the distributed value of erosion rate in a permanent gully developed on a marly substratum in a Mediterranean environment; and (b) to quantify the key factors responsible for the spatial and temporal differences in erosion rates observed within the gully. A permanent gully located in Cap Bon (northeastern Tunisia) has been intensively and regularly monitored over a 7-year period with electronic survey equipment (total station) to give five field topographic surveys, as well as hydrological measurements at the gully outlet. The net soil loss for the 7-year period comprised a denudation of 51 m³ of sediment on the gully bank slopes, which corresponds to a mean soil loss of 61 m³ ha^?1 year^?1 or 6.1 mm year^?1. Denudation was observed on bed units with a slope gradient greater than 20%, while the remainder showed deposition. By confirming the factors involved in gully evolution, and by refining the statistical link between factors and erosion rates within the gully, the results provide important information to predict gully erosion rates in Mediterranean marly environments.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor G. Mahé

Citation El Khalili, A., Raclot, D., Habaieb, H., and Lamachère, J.M., 2013. Factors and processes of permanent gully evolution in a Mediterranean marly environment (Cape Bon, Tunisia). Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (7), 1519–1531.