Weathering,erosion and sediment composition in a high‐gradient river,Calabria, Italy

Source rock lithology and immediate modifying processes, such as chemical weathering and mechanical erosion, are primary controls on fluvial sediment supply. Sand composition and Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) of parent rocks, soil and fluvial sand of the Savuto River watershed, Calabria (Italy), were used to evaluate the modifications of source rocks through different sections of the basin, characterized by different geomorphic processes, in a sub‐humid Mediterranean climate. The headwaters, with gentle topography, produce a coarse‐grained sediment load derived from deeply weathered gneiss, having sand of quartzofeldspathic composition, compositionally very different from in situ degraded bedrock. Maximum estimated CIA values suggest that source rock has been affected significantly by weathering, and it testifies to a climatic threshold on the destruction of the bedrock. The mid‐course has steeper slopes and a deeply incised valley; bedrock consists of mica‐schist and phyllite with a very thin regolith, which provides large cobble to very coarse sand sediments to the main channel. Slope instability, with an areal incidence of over 40 per cent, largely supplies detritus to the main channel. Sand‐sized detritus of soil and fluvial sand is lithic. Estimated CIA value testifies to a significant weathering of the bedrock too, even if in this part of the drainage basin steeper slopes allow erosion to exceed chemical weathering. The lower course has a braided pattern and sediment load is coarse to medium–fine grained. The river cuts across Palaeozoic crystalline rocks and Miocene siliciclastic deposits. Sand‐sized detritus, contributed from these rocks and homogenized by transport processes, has been found in the quartzolithic distal samples. Field and laboratory evidence indicates that landscape development was the result of extensive weathering during the last postglacial temperature maximum in the headwaters, and of mass‐failure and fluvial erosional processes in the mid‐ and low course. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detecting significant sediment motion in a laboratory flume using digital video image analysis

A video analysis method for monitoring sediment transport and sorting processes in a laboratory flume is presented. Video taken through the glass side‐wall of a laboratory flume is captured using a digital CCD (charge‐coupled device) camera and significant movements between individual frames are detected using image analysis. This method involves direct subtraction of the brightness numbers of pixels in sequential video frames, followed by thresholding to produce binarized images of significant change, above the inherent level of system noise. Experimental results showing dilation of a gravel framework and rapid infiltration of fines just prior to entrainment are discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of calanco,a badland landform in the northern Apennines,Italy

Calanco (plural, calanchi) is a term widely used in the northern Apennines, Italy, to define a type of badland formed in clayey bedrock. However, no precise geomorphological definition of calanco has been established and a variety of map symbols are used to indicate the presence of calanco landforms. With the aim of developing an improved approach to identifying calanchi, a group of experienced surveyors identified 24 catchments with calanco characteristics among 67 catchments located between Bologna and Faenza in the northern Apennines. The morphology of each catchment was classified using traditional quantitative geomorphic approaches including fieldwork, map interpretation, hypsometric curve construction and computation of the annual sediment yield. Consideration of the parameters produced by these approaches indicated that none was capable of representing the presence of calanchi unequivocally and the basins were grouped into five classes on the basis of number and type of calanco criteria that they met. A characteristic of calanchi that is evident on topographic maps is crenulation of the contour lines and in this study a new topographic parameter was developed to represent the degree of contour crenulation. This parameter, LO/LF, is defined as the ratio of the actual length of a contour line (LO) to the length of the same line smoothed by an algorithm based on a moving average (LF). Calculated values of LO/LF ranged from 1·05 to 1·38. To test whether high values of the contour crenulation parameter were associated with calanchi, LO/LF values were added to other criteria for the five classes of catchment. Class 1 catchments, consisting of 14 of the 24 calanchi catchments identified in the field, displayed all of the criteria defining calanchi, and were characterized by the highest values of LO/LF (mean value 1·27 ± 0·15). It is proposed, therefore, that the contour crenulation ratio (LO/LF) may be useful in identifying the calanco landform. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Visual characterization technique for gravel‐cobble river bed surface sediments; validation and environmental applications Contribution to the programme of CIRSA (Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche sur le Saumon Atlantique)

This paper presents an evaluation of the feasibility and the reliability of a visual characterization technique for gravel–cobble river bed surface substrate. Based on principal axis regressions, using phi scale (ϕ), comparisons of visual estimation and grid sampling techniques show that useful predictive relations (R² = 0·78–0·88) exist between visual estimates of the surface d₁₆, d₅₀ and d₈₄ and estimates obtained for the same percentiles with the grid sampling technique. Comparisons of visual estimation and the surface‐bulk sampling technique also indicate a predictive relation (R² = 0·70) between the d₅₀ of the two methods. Trained operators can visually estimate gravel–cobble bed surface d₁₆ to uncertainties of 41 per cent, d₅₀ to 15 per cent and d₈₄ to 11 per cent (for example, there is a 5·5 mm error on a d₈₄ size of 50 mm). Furthermore, evidence shows that if operators are properly trained, a calibration relation for each percentile can be applied independently of operators. This visual characterization allows effective detailed mapping of spatial patterns in substrate size distribution along extensive reaches of gravel‐bed rivers. The technique can be very useful in creating terrain models for various geomorphological, hydrological and biological applications such as the determination of entrainment thresholds, hydraulic roughness and substrate suitability for benthic insects or salmonid habitat. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Regional‐scale sedimentation process models from airborne gamma ray remote sensing and digital elevation data

Airborne gamma ray survey data were used to provide information on potassium, thorium and uranium concentrations in surface soil and rock in arid central Australia. Spatial patterns in these radioelements allow tracing of paths of sediment at catchment scale. Survey elevation data are combined with contour data to produce digital elevation models for terrain analysis, tracing of sediment flow paths and modelling of extreme floods. Gamma ray data show consistent variation with slope, a limited range of drainage areas, and erosion/deposition models derived from the conservation of mass equation. Supply‐limited sediment transport models give a reasonable reproduction of observed radioelement distribution but some elements of the distribution pattern reflect the area inundated by 500–1000 year floods rather than the effects of simple downslope movement. Partial area sediment supply models are derived by downstream accumulation of erosion and deposition rates calculated using the conservation of mass equation with transport laws based on slope alone and stream power. Comparison with observed radioelement patterns suggests that both transport laws apply in different parts of the landscape. Regional‐scale sediment transport models will require a range of models depending on location in the landscape and event frequency. This approach may allow estimation of sediment delivery ratios. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

人类活动影响下的固城湖环境变迁

2005年在江苏固城湖湖心采集了连续岩芯,进行了多环境代用指标(有机碳、氮、磷以及金属元素)的分析.210Pb CRS模式计算表明,1980s后沉积速率平均约0.067 cm/a,与137Cs 1986年时标得到的沉积速率吻合.而1920s至1980s,固城湖沉积速率变化较大,在0.056-0.167cm/a之间,其中1960s沉积速率最高,对应于该阶段固城湖强烈的人类围垦活动.元素Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr的含量在表层增长迅速,对比参考元素的变化,表明固城湖受到了一定程度的人为造成的重金属污染.岩芯0.5m到1.78m深度的AMS 14C的树轮校正年龄在8000-6500BC之间,光释光数据表明同等深度其绝对年龄在7-8ka之间,多环境代用指标在岩芯30cm深度左右出现了大的转折,表明近代存在沉积物缺失的可能。这也许与该区春秋末期以来的反复围垦活动有关,人类活动改变了湖泊沉积的模式.有资料表明,固城湖彻底与太湖隔绝是在公元1556年胥溪河河段下坝建成之后.若依此时间对应于岩芯30cm深度,得到的平均沉积速率为0.067cm/a,与1980s以来的沉积速率一致,有可能指示固城湖至下坝建成以来才出现沉积物的持续沉积.     

湖泊磷的核磁共振(NMR)分析——1环境标准样品的31P-NMR表征

通过对环境标准样进行31P-NMR测试,研究了磷的化学结构与化学位移的关系.结果表明:无机正磷酸盐(PO43-)化学位移在6.412×10-6,焦磷酸盐的化学位移在-4.353×10-6;多聚磷的化学位移分布特点是:主链末端磷化学位移在-3.53×10-6至-4.40×10-6之间,中间磷在-18.159×10-6至-20.246×10-6之间,有机磷中单酯和二醑的化学位移分别在4.3540×10-6至6.3652×10-6和-0.107×10-6至2.195×10-6之间,部分二脂不稳定,会降解为单脂;膦酸盐的化学位移在18.670×10-6至21.460×10-6之间,磷酸肌酸位于-0.380×10-6,有机多聚磷中α-P的化学位移在-8.833×10-6至-9.449×10-6之间,由于偶合作用产生P峰的裂分,P峰的偶合符合核磁中n 1的规则.结构环境影响31P的化学位移值的偏移.     

秋季太湖悬浮物高光谱估算模型

2004年10月,在太湖设置67个采样点,现场测量了水体遥感反射比、后向散射系数和辅助参数,实验室分析了水体的悬浮物浓度和水色要素吸收系数.本文在对遥感反射比光谱分析的基础上,比较了几种水体遥感反射比光谱估算悬浮物浓度的方法,结果发现广泛应用的带比值项的算法,虽然可以应用于太湖总悬浮物浓度估算,但是普遍存在相对误差较高的弱点.通过对光谱的分析,确定了750hm单波段算法的参数,并提出了利用近红外812nm波峰高度来估算水体悬浮物的方法.文中还详细阐述了为什么比值算法等在太湖水体悬浮物浓度估算中相对误差比较高,并解释了利用近红外估算精度高的原因,并指明以上算法在遥感应用中的优点和不足,以及现实水体(水质)遥感对现有遥感器配置和遥感算法的需求.     

Threshold criterion for debris flow initiation in seasonal gullies

A series of flume experiments were done to investigate the effect of grain composition on the critical gradient and discharge of debris flows initiated in seasonal gullies. The results indicated that the critical gradient and discharge for debris flow initiation decrease initially, and then increase as the mass content of fine particles (<2 mm) increases. As the mass content of fine particles increases, the angle of repose, permeability of widely graded gravel soils, and the incipient motion conditions of the coarse grains in non-uniform sediments decrease at first, and then increase. The mass content of fine particles of all inflection points is the same. The theoretical model based on the combination of hydrodynamic force and shear stress is more applicable to the prediction of the critical gradient for debris flow initiation. The critical discharge model considering the effect of non-homogeneity of the soil and the size of coarse and fine grains provides a more accurate prediction of debris flow initiation than other models based on the mean diameter.     

Experiments on the effect of inflow and outflow sequences on suspended sediment exchange rates

In laboratory experiments, the influence of inflow and outflow sequences on the behavior of fine sedi-ment was investigated. The experimental set-up consisted of two interconnected rectangular basins, between which water was moved back and forth. Suspended sediment concentration in the main basin as well as the sediment exchange rates were derived from turbidity measurements.The suspended sediment ratio, SSR, and sediment exchange rates (influx sediment rate, ISR, and evacuated sediment rate, ESR) were measured. In twenty test runs, a parametric study on the magnitude and frequency of inflow and outflow cycles, the relative duration between inflow and outflow sequences, the initial sediment concentration, and the intake position was done. An initial test with stagnant water described the set-tling behavior of fine sediment and served as a reference scenario.The test results show that settling of fine particles near the intake/outlet structure can be considerably reduced by the nature of the inflow and outflow sequences. High cycle magnitude and frequency lead to maximum suspended sediment ratio in the system. For low discharges, the evolution of suspended sediment concentration cannot be directly correlated to the inflow and outflow cycles. However, compared to"no operation"conditions, the suspended sediment ratio could be increased by 10%to 40%locally. For high discharge, the evolution of suspended sediment concentration correlated with discharge cycles and suspended sediment ratios between 50%and 80%higher than for stagnant water could be achieved. Similar ratios could be obtained when the intake is located closer to the bottom or to the free water surface.Meanwhile, the overall sediment balance remained in equilibrium over the test period, indicating that the influx and evacuated sediment rates are not significantly influenced by the inflow and outflow cycles.