An integrated water balance model for assessing water scarcity in a data-sparse interfluve in eastern India

Abstract

The objective of this study is to measure the balance of water demand versus water resource availability in an interfluve of West Bengal, India to support water resource planning, particularly of inter-basin transfers. Surface water availability was modelled using the US Soil Conservation Service curve number (SCS-CN) approach, whilst groundwater availability was modelled based on water-level fluctuations and the rainfall infiltration method. Water use was modelled separately for the agricultural, industrial, and domestic sectors using a predominantly normative approach and water use to availability ratios calculated for different administrative areas within the interfluve. Overall, the approach suggested that the interfluve receives 327 × 10⁶ m³ year^-1 of excess water after satisfying these sectoral demands, but that the eastern part of the study area is in deficit. However, a sensitivity analysis carried on the approach to several assumptions in the model suggested changed circumstances would produce surplus/deficit ranging from ?215 × 10⁶ to 435 × 10⁶ m³ year^-1 . The approach could have potential for localised water balance modelling in other Indian catchments.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor D. Hughes     

Towards using pedotransfer functions for estimating infiltration parameters

ABSTRACT

Water infiltration into soils is an important component of hydrological processes. Direct measurement of infiltration is time consuming, expensive and often involves large spatial and temporal variability. The objective of this study was to develop and verify parametric pedotransfer functions (PTFs) to predict infiltration parameters. Consequently, 119 double-ring infiltration data were collected. The parameters of Philip, Kostiakov, Kostiakov-Lewis and Horton models were obtained, using the sum of squares error optimization method. Some parametric PTFs were then derived to predict the parameters of the infiltration models, using stepwise regression analysis. The results indicated a reasonable estimation of infiltration parameters by the derived PTFs. These results were more accurate when the land use of the studied area was considered. Overall results of this study suggest infiltration-based PTFs could be established as a reasonable indirect method for estimating infiltration parameters.

Editor M.C. Acreman; Associate editor N. Verhoest     

Numerical simulation of groundwater flow patterns using flux as upper boundary

Since the 1960s, most of the studies on groundwater flow systems by analytical and numerical modelling have been based on given‐head upper boundaries. The disadvantage of the given‐head approach is that the recharge into and discharge from a basin vary with changes in hydraulic conductivity and/or basin geometry. Consequently, flow patterns simulated with given‐head boundaries but with different hydraulic conductivities and/or basin geometry may not reflect the effects of these variables. We conducted, therefore, numerical simulations of groundwater flow in theoretical drainage basins using flux as the upper boundary and realistically positioned fluid‐potential sinks while changing the infiltration intensity, hydraulic conductivities, and geometric configuration of the basin. The simulated results demonstrate that these variables are dominant factors controlling the flow pattern in a laterally closed drainage basin. The ratio of infiltration intensity to hydraulic conductivity (R_ic) has been shown to be an integrated pattern‐parameter in a basin with a given geometric configuration and possible fluid‐potential‐sink distribution. Successively, the changes in flow patterns induced by stepwise reductions in R_ic are identical, regardless of whether the reductions are due to a decrease in infiltration intensity or an increase in hydraulic conductivity. The calculated examples show five sequential flow patterns containing (i) only local, (ii) local–intermediate, (iii) local–intermediate–regional, (iv) local–regional, and (v) just regional flow systems. The R_ic was found to determine also whether a particular sink is active or not as a site of discharge. Flux upper boundary is preferable for numerical simulation when discussing the flow patterns affected by a change of infiltration, the hydraulic conductivity, or the geometry of a basin. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and parameterization of an infiltration model accounting for water depth and rainfall intensity

Experimental work has clearly shown that the effective hydraulic conductivity (K_e) or effective infiltration rate (f_e) on the local scale of a plot cannot be considered as constant but are dependent on water depth and rainfall intensity because non‐random microtopography‐related variations in hydraulic conductivity occur. Rainfall–runoff models generally do not account for this: models assume that excess water is uniformly spread over the soil surface and within‐plot variations are neglected. In the present study, we propose a model that is based on the concepts of microtopography‐related water depth‐dependent infiltration and partial contributing area. Expressions for the plot scale K_e and f_e were developed that depend on rainfall intensity and runon from upslope (and thus on water depth). To calibrate and validate the model, steady state infiltration experiments were conducted on maize fields on silt loam soils in Belgium, with different stages and combinations of rainfall intensity and inflow, simulating rainfall and runon. Water depth–discharge and depth–inundation relationships were established and used to estimate the effect of inundation on K_e. Although inflow‐only experiments were found to be unsuitable for calibration, the model was successfully calibrated and validated with the rainfall simulation data and combined rainfall–runon data (R²: 0.43–0.91). Calibrated and validated with steady state infiltration experiments, the model was combined with the Green–Ampt infiltration equation and can be applied within a two‐dimensional distributed rainfall–runoff model. The effect of water depth–dependency and rainfall intensity on infiltration was illustrated for a hillslope. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

采煤沉陷对风沙区土壤非饱和水分入渗的影响

为研究采煤沉陷后风沙区土壤水分入渗变化规律,通过定水头注水结合入渗湿润峰测定的方法,对毛乌素沙地南缘补连塔矿区沉陷于2004、2005年的2个沉陷区土壤水分非饱和入渗变化进行研究,结果表明,垂直入渗观测时段(入渗开始后0~175 min)后期,与坡面剖面相比,丘间低地较多剖面垂直湿润峰的间距明显较大,垂直入渗持续能力较强。2004年沉陷区坡面未裂处平均垂直入渗速率、第175 min垂直入渗深度显著超过对照区坡面(P<0.05),2005年沉陷区坡面未裂处平均侧渗速率显著超过对照区坡面(P<0.05)。沉陷区丘间低地垂直入渗速率在入渗10 min左右前期升高后期降低,侧渗速率在入渗10~12 min的前期升高后期降低;沉陷区坡面垂直入渗速率、侧渗速率在大部分观测时段内升高。因子分析表明沉陷区入渗特征是丘间低地垂直入渗偏强,坡面侧渗偏强。     

Application of HYDRUS-1D in understanding soil water movement at two typical sites in the North China Plain

Recharge and discharge, such as rainfall infiltration and evapotranspiration in vertical direction, are major processes of water cycle in the shallow groundwater area of the North China Plain. During these processes, soil water movement in the unsaturated zone plays an important role in the transformation from rainfall infiltration to groundwater. The soil water movement models were developed by using HYDRUS-1D software at two typical experimental sites in Cangzhou (CZ) and Hengshui (HS) with different soil, vegetation and similar climate conditions. As shown in the results, the comparison in precipitation infiltration features between the two sites is distinct. The soil water experiences strong evaporation after precipitation infiltration, which accounts for 63% of the total infiltration at the HS site where the soil is homogenous. It is this strong evaporation effect that leads to slight increase of soil water storage. At the CZ site, where the soil is heterogeneous, the evaporation effect exists from July to October of the simulation period. The total evaporation accounts for 33% of the total infiltration, and the evaporation rate is slow. At the end of the simulation period, the soil water storage increases and the water table decreases, indicating a strong storage capacity at this site.     

Distribution characteristics of tritium in the soil in Beishan area of Gansu Province

Beishan region in Gansu was the preselected area for China’s high-level radioactive waste (HLW) repository. In selecting and evaluating a new dump site, the tritium study is of great significance. The Xinchang-Xiangyangshan preselected area in the Beishan area was taken as an example. This paper selects typical unit and tries to use the distribution characteristics of tritium in the soil to study the atmospheric precipitation infiltration recharge in this area. The results show: In this region, the spatial variability of the tritium content in surface soil is large; it is feasible to use bound tritium tracer method to study the theory of atmospheric precipitation infiltration recharge; the atmospheric precipitation infiltration has close relationship with the soil particle composition, salt content, mineral composition, water content and organic matter content. These results can provide important basis for developing the atmospheric precipitation infiltration recharge, groundwater numerical simulation, nuclide migration study and so on.     

紫色土中砾石夹层对土壤水分入渗的影响

为探究紫色土中砾石夹层对土壤水分入渗的影响因素,通过室内模拟土柱入渗试验,采用一维垂直水头法研究2种砾石粒径（10~20 mm、20~76 mm）和5种砾石含量（0%、10%、20%、30%和40%）分别与累积入渗量、入渗特性和湿润锋进程之间的关系。利用Horton方程和Philip公式验证入渗特性,以及幂函数拟合湿润锋进程。结果表明:① 在相同砾石粒径下,累积入渗量随着砾石含量的增加而减小;对于20~76 mm粒径砾石夹层,20%砾石含量及以上含量对水分入渗的阻碍程度相似。② 当砾石粒径相同时,初始入渗率、平均入渗率、稳定入渗率都随砾石含量的增加而减小;当砾石含量相同时,大粒径砾石夹层的初始入渗率大于小粒径砾石夹层。③ 砾石粒径大小与其对湿润锋的阻碍程度呈负相关。④ Horton方程对累积入渗量变化规律的验证效果要优于Philip公式;幂函数能较好地模拟含砾石夹层土壤中湿润锋的进程。     

岩溶含水系统降水入渗补给研究进展

岩溶含水系统中赋存着丰富的优质地下水,而大气降水是浅部可供开采的岩溶地下水的最主要补给来源。受岩溶含水系统各向异性、不均一性和直接观测难度大等因素的影响,降水入渗补给量的计算是一个非常复杂的过程。确定岩溶含水系统的汇水范围是降水入渗补给计算的首要问题,示踪法与经验公式法被证明是最有效的两种方法。降水入渗补给量的计算方法主要包括水文过程线法分析法、氧同位素法、氯质量平衡法、基于GIS的多变量综合分析法和模型法。本文对目前岩溶含水系统降水入渗补给计算方法的关键点和适用条件进行了总结和对比,同时指出大气降水物理化学性质的时空特征以及水-岩反应可以作为未来研究岩溶含水系统降水补给的研究方向之一。     

台兰河河床渗漏能力实验研究

地下水人工补给技术是地下水库建设的关键技术问题之一。采用流速仪法和堰板法对台兰河现有河床渗漏能力进行实验研究,两种方法得到的结果很接近,实验研究结果表明：台兰河实验河段河床渗漏能力为0．243 m/d。此结果为台兰河地下水库人工补给方案比选提供重要依据,采用台兰河现代河床对台兰河地下水库进行人工补给是可行的。