Influence of a thin veneer of low‐hydraulic‐conductivity sediment on modelled exchange between river water and groundwater in response to induced infiltration

A thin layer of fine‐grained sediment commonly is deposited at the sediment–water interface of streams and rivers during low‐flow conditions, and may hinder exchange at the sediment–water interface similar to that observed at many riverbank‐filtration (RBF) sites. Results from a numerical groundwater‐flow model indicate that a low‐permeability veneer reduces the contribution of river water to a pumping well in a riparian aquifer to various degrees, depending on simulated hydraulic gradients, hydrogeological properties, and pumping conditions. Seepage of river water is reduced by 5–10% when a 2‐cm thick, low‐permeability veneer is present on the bed surface. Increasing thickness of the low‐permeability layer to 0·1 m has little effect on distribution of seepage or percentage contribution from the river to the pumping well. A three‐orders‐of‐magnitude reduction in hydraulic conductivity of the veneer is required to reduce seepage from the river to the extent typically associated with clogging at RBF sites. This degree of reduction is much larger than field‐measured values that were on the order of a factor of 20–25. Over 90% of seepage occurs within 12 m of the shoreline closest to the pumping well for most simulations. Virtually no seepage occurs through the thalweg near the shoreline opposite the pumping well, although no low‐permeability sediment was simulated for the thalweg. These results are relevant to natural settings that favour formation of a substantial, low‐permeability sediment veneer, as well as central‐pivot irrigation systems, and municipal water supplies where river seepage is induced via pumping wells. Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of land use on the hydraulic properties of the topsoil in a small French catchment

The hydraulic properties of the topsoil control the partition of rainfall into infiltration and runoff at the soil surface. They must be characterized for distributed hydrological modelling. This study presents the results of a field campaign documenting topsoil hydraulic properties in a small French suburban catchment (7 km²) located near Lyon, France. Two types of infiltration tests were performed: single ring infiltration tests under positive head and tension‐disk infiltration using a mini‐disk. Both categories were processed using the BEST—Beerkan Estimation of Soil Transfer parameters—method to derive parameters describing the retention and hydraulic conductivity curves. Dry bulk density and particle size data were also sampled. Almost all the topsoils were found to belong to the sandy loam soil class. No significant differences in hydraulic properties were found in terms of pedologic units, but the results showed a high impact of land use on these properties. The lowest dry bulk density values were obtained in forested soils with the highest organic matter content. Permanent pasture soils showed intermediate values, whereas the highest values were encountered in cultivated lands. For saturated hydraulic conductivity, the highest values were found in broad‐leaved forests and small woods. The complementary use of tension‐disk and positive head infiltration tests highlighted a sharp increase of hydraulic conductivity between near saturation and saturated conditions, attributed to macroporosity effect. The ratio of median saturated hydraulic conductivity to median hydraulic conductivity at a pressure of − 20 mm of water was about 50. The study suggests that soil texture, such as used in most pedo‐transfer functions, might not be sufficient to properly map the variability of soil hydraulic properties. Land use information should be considered in the parameterizations of topsoil within hydrological models to better represent in situ conditions, as illustrated in the paper. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A statistically based runoff‐yield model coupling infiltration excess and saturation excess mechanisms

A statistically based runoff‐yield model is proposed in this paper. The model considers spatial heterogeneities of rainfall, soil infiltration capacity and soil water storage capacity that are main factors controlling runoff‐yield process. It assumes that the spatial variation of rainfall intensity at each time step can be characterized by a probability density function, which is estimated by matching the hyetograph through goodness‐of‐fit measure, whereas the spatial heterogeneities of soil infiltration capacity and soil water storage capacity are described by parabola‐type functions. Surface runoff is calculated according to infiltration excess mechanism; the statistical distribution of surface runoff rate can be deduced with the joint distribution of rainfall intensity and soil infiltration rate, thus obtaining a quasi‐analytical solution for surface runoff. Based on saturation excess mechanism, the groundwater flow (flows below the ground are collectively referred to as groundwater flow) is calculated by infiltration and the probability distribution of soil water storage capacity. Consequently, the total runoff is composed of infiltration excess and saturation excess runoff components. As an example, this model is applied to flood event simulation in Dongwan catchment, a semi‐humid region and a tributary of Yellow River in China. It indicates that the proposed runoff‐yield model could achieve acceptable accuracy. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil infiltration processes of different underlying surfaces in the permafrost region on the Tibetan Plateau

ABSTRACT

Soil infiltration processes were evaluated under field conditions by double-ring infiltrometers with different underlying surfaces in permafrost regions of the Tibetan Plateau. The results show that initial infiltration rates, stable soil infiltration rates and cumulative soil infiltration are strongly dependent on the underlying surface types, with the highest initial and stable soil infiltration rates in the alpine desert steppe, and the lowest in alpine meadow. The effects of soil moisture and texture on infiltration processes were also assessed. Within the same underlying surfaces, the values of infiltration parameters increased with the amount of vegetation cover, while soil moisture and soil infiltration rates displayed opposing trends, with fitting slopes of ?0.03 and ?0.01 for the initial and stable soil infiltration rates, respectively. The accuracies of the five models in simulating soil infiltration rates and seven models in predicting cumulative infiltration rates were evaluated against data generated from field experiments at four sites. Based on a comparative analysis, the Horton model provided the most complete understanding of the underlying surface effects on soil infiltration processes. Altogether, these findings show that different underlying surfaces can alter soil infiltration processes. This study provides a useful reference for understanding the parameterization of land surface processes for simulating changes in hydrological processes under global warming conditions in the permafrost region on the Tibetan Plateau.     

A probabilistic investigation of infiltration in the vadose zone: proposal for a new formula of infiltration rate

The infiltration rate in the unsaturated zone is analysed from a probabilistic point of view. It is shown that the empirical formulas of Horton and Kostiakov, without apparent physical basis, are explained in a probabilistic approach. Horton's formula reflects a Markovian process contrary to Kostiakov's formula. This approach made it possible to explain why Kostiakov's formula is more powerful than that of Horton. A new equation of infiltration is proposed. The three formulas were compared, for four types of soil, with the model of van Genuchten based on the Richards equation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

变水头入渗试验推求垂向渗透系数的计算方法

在Philip与Nestingen土壤水运动计算方法基础上,推导出描述单环变水头入渗试验中水深变化过程的计算公式,提出了确定土壤垂向渗透系数的MP方法.利用土壤非饱和数值模拟及室内土槽入渗试验得到的单环水位变化过程,验证了MP方法推求土壤垂向渗透系数的可靠性.结果表明:MP方法推求的土壤垂向渗透系数比目前采用的Philip方法、Nestingen方法及Green-Ampt方法精度更高,具有广泛的应用前景.     

汶川M_s 8.0级地震地表破裂带近断层水平缩短量研究

2008年5月12日四川汶川发生Ms8.0特大地震后,地表同震位移量已有了大量的详细调查和研究,然而对于近断层同震水平缩短量的研究却相对较少。笔者在中央断裂、前山断裂以及北西向分支断裂上选择合适地点进行大量探槽开挖,获得了近断层同震水平缩短量的分布情况为:中央断裂清平镇(2.8 m)、擂鼓镇(3.2 m)、平通镇(1.3 m),前山断裂白鹿镇(2.5 m)、九龙镇(1.4 m)、汉旺镇(0.6 m)。文中进一步在中央断裂和小鱼洞分支断裂地表破裂带上开挖数个探槽研究其近断层水平缩短量的问题,得到结果如下:龙门山中央断裂带映秀镇、擂鼓镇、平通镇探槽近断层水平缩短量分别约为(2.6±0.1)m、(2.6±0.2)m、(1.8±0.1)m;小鱼洞分支断层近断层水平缩短量约为(2±0.1)m。汶川5.12地震中央断裂地表破裂近断层较大水平缩短量出现在深溪沟和擂鼓一带,分别约为3.4 m、3.2 m;前山断裂地表破裂带近断层水平缩短量最大值出现在白鹿一带,约为2.5 m,白鹿以北,近断层水平缩短量逐渐减小。中央断裂和前山断裂联合破裂段水平缩短量值之和大于中央断裂带其两侧段落,最大水平缩短量总和可能约为5.3 m,地表破裂带近断层水平缩短量为整个地壳缩短量的主体部分。     

Probabilistic Flood Prediction in the Upper Huaihe Catchment Using TIGGE Data

Based on the precipitation and temperature data obtained from THORPEX (The Observing System Research and Predictability Experiment) Interactive Grand Global Ensemble (TIGGE)-China Meteorological Administration (CMA) archiving center and the raingauge data,the three-layer variable infiltration capacity (VIC-3L) land surface model was employed to carry out probabilistic hydrological forecast experiments over the upper Huaihe River catchment from 20 July to 3 August 2008.The results show that the performance of the ensemble probabilistic prediction from each ensemble prediction system (EPS) is better than that of the deterministic prediction.Especially,the 72-h prediction has been improved obviously.The ensemble spread goes widely with increasing lead time and more observed discharge is bracketed in the 5th-99th quantile.The accuracy of river discharge prediction driven by the European Centre (EC)-EPS is higher than that driven by the CMA-EPS and the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)-EPS,and the grand-ensemble prediction is the best for hydrological prediction using the VIC model.With regard to Wangjiaba station,all predictions made with a single EPS are close to the observation between the 25th and 75th quantile.The onset of the flood ascending and the river discharge thresholds are predicted well,and so is the second rising limb.Nevertheless,the flood recession is not well predicted.     

秦巴地区古生代构造特征分析

秦巴地区的构造单元若按习惯以五条深断层带为界划分成四个褶皱带,就使早古生代构造特征显得模糊不清。但若以下部构造层的特征为依据,以靖口关—丹凤—商南断裂带为界,划分为南北两个构造单元,就显得十分明晰。在早古生代推覆构造的控制下,晚古生代使南部构造单元中形成山间槽,发育了泥盆系层控铅锌矿床。     

Fracturing and Displacement Types of Active Faults in Unconsolidated Accumulative Materials and Their Implication for Timing Palaeoseismic Rupture Events

Seismic rupture produced by active faulting causes ground surface fracturing and seriously damages buildings.However,the fracture traces are usually indistinct or non-visible because of complicated deformations in Quaternary unconsolidated materials,so their upper parts can hardly be discovered on exploratory trenches.The aim of this paper is to study the types of fault rupture and displacement in different loose deposit beds from a joint view of mega-,meso-,and microscopic scales,and to find the mark and method for timing the palaeoseismic rupture on exploratory trenches.