Reach-scale suspended sediment balance downstream from dams in a large Mediterranean river

Abstract

This paper presents a reach-scale sediment balance of a large impounded Mediterranean river (the lower Ebro, 1998–2008). Multi-temporal sediment storage and the influence of floods and tributaries on the sediment load were examined using continuous discharge and turbidity records. The mean annual suspended sediment load at the reach outlet (Xerta) is 0.12?×?10⁶ t, corroborating previous results. Suspended sediment concentrations were low (SSC_mean?=?13 mg L^-1), attaining a maximum of 274 mg L^-1. Erosion processes (channel-scour, bank erosion) are dominant, and net export of sediment occurs over the long term. Unexpectedly, ephemeral tributaries were found to contribute significantly: sediment delivered during torrential events attained 5% of the Ebro annual load, and was even larger than that in flushing flows. Overall, most of the suspended sediment load is transported by floods (up to 65% in some years). The results constitute basic information to underpin current management actions aiming to achieve the sustainability of the riverine and deltaic system.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor D. Hughes

Citation Tena, A., Batalla, R.J. and Vericat, D., 2012. Reach-scale suspended sediment balance downstream from dams in a large Mediterranean river. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (5), 831–849.     

Remote sensing applications to hydrology: future impact

Abstract

The case is made that the hydrological sciences are data limited and that future progress in understanding hydrological processes is hampered by the lack of adequate data. The future applications of remote sensing to hydrology should provide new types of data that enable hydrologists to address the previously unsolved questions.     

Reassessment of flood frequency using historical information for the River Ouse at York,UK (1200–2000)

Abstract

The reassessment of flood risk at York, UK, is pertinent in light of major flooding in November 2000, and heightened concerns of a perceived increase in flooding nationally. Systematic flood level readings from 1877 and a wealth of documentary records dating back as far as 1263 AD give the City of York a long and rich history of flood records. This extended flood record provides an opportunity to reassess estimates of flood frequency over a time scale not normally possible within flood frequency analysis. This paper re-evaluates flood frequency at York, considering the strengths and weaknesses in estimates resulting from four contrasting methods of analysis and their corresponding data: (a) single-site analysis of gauged annual maxima; (b) pooled analysis of multi-site gauged annual maxima; (c) combined analysis of systematic annual maxima augmented with historical peaks, and (d) analysis of only the very largest peaks using a Generalized Pareto Distribution. Use of the historical information was found to yield risk estimates which were lower and considered to be more credible than those achieved using gauged records alone.

Citation Macdonald, N. & Black, A. R. (2010) Reassessment of flood frequency using historical information for the River Ouse at York, UK (1200–2000). Hydrol. Sci. J. 55(7), 1152–1162.     

Use of artificial flood events to demonstrate the invalidity of simple mixing models / Utilisation de crues artificielles pour prouver l'invalidité des modèles de mélange simple

Abstract

The whole of a basin responds to a precipitate on event. The resulting flood wave introduces a complex pattern of interrelated processes which occur in the vegetation, soil, bedrock, human facilities, channel and in the different parts of the basin. The main advantage of field experiments is that it becomes possible to exclude several governing factors or sources and to control others by the experimental design. In a small brook near Trier (Germany), artificial flood events are created. In-channel transport processes of sediment are investigated without taking into account the interference of soil erosion and runoff. It is demonstrated that kinematic waves-describing the translation of flow with limited hydraulic dispersion or diffusion-also occur in small basins. The kinematic waves-travelling only a few hundred meters-have a large impact on the relationship between the hydrograph and dissolved or particle-bound substances. Consequently, classifications and simple mixing models between those components are impeded.     

构建城市地表产流和汇流模型探讨

本文基于空间离散化理论与方法和DEM技术,将城市地表划分成一系列网格单元,从水平方向和垂直方向研究城市地表空间位置和综合因素的空间离散化描述、表达以及参数模型化处理机制,创新构建出一个特定的以DEM空间离散化解析函数式表达的、综合顾及城市地表地形特征、下垫面物质形态和人工建筑物等因素的地表产流和汇流模型,实施城市地表产流和汇流的路径以及水流累积量的分析计算。     

高分辨湖泊沉积和孢粉记录对气候、水文变化的响应

通过对长江中游网湖钻孔高精度分层样品(1.5年/样品)的沉积学和孢粉学研究,试图揭示过去百年网湖在由开放到封闭体系变化中,沉积孢粉与气候、水文动力变化的过程及其相互关系.相关分析和低频滤波分析,反映出沉积物和孢粉的变化对流域降水和长江流量的敏感响应.在过去130年中的多雨洪水年份,湖泊受长江倒灌影响,沉积物以黏土细颗粒...     

历史极端雨涝事件研究——1823年我国东部大范围雨涝

1823年(清道光三年)我国发生大范围、多流域的严重雨涝,这是在小冰期寒冷气候背景下的重大气象灾害和极端气候事件.文章依据历史文献记载复原了1823年的气候实况并绘图显示,指出该年我国华北夏季雨期长、多大雨,北京6～8月雨日53天、降水量663mm超过现代(1971～2000年)平均值5成;长江中下游全年多雨,梅雨期长...     

1819年黄河中游极端降水:史实、特征及气候背景

据清官档案与方志记载,复原了1819年(清嘉庆二十四年)黄河中、下游大范围房屋倒塌、民田冲没、人口伤亡、黄河多处决溢等雨涝灾情图景及时空分异特征,这是在明清小冰期大气候背景下的极端气候事件和重大气象灾害.研究指出,该年黄河中游夏秋季雨期长(连阴雨)、且多大到暴雨,二级流域(汾河、渭河)6-9月份降水县区雨日高达40日以...     

Response and recovery of the Eel River, California, and its tributaries to floods in 1955, 1964, and 1997

Northwestern California is prone to regional, high magnitude winter rainstorms, which repeatedly produce catastrophic floods in the basins of the northern Coast Ranges. Major floods on the Eel River in 1955 and 1964 resulted in substantial geomorphic changes to the channel, adjacent terraces, and tributaries. This study evaluated the changes and the effects of a moderate flood in 1997 through field observations and examination of aerial photographs that spanned from 1954 to 1996. The purpose was to document the nature and magnitude of geomorphic responses to these three floods and assess the rates and controls on the recovery of the Eel River and its tributaries. Channel widening from extensive bank erosion was the dominant geomorphic change along the lower Eel River during major floods. As a result of the 1964 flood, the largest amount of widening was 195 m and represented an 80% change in channel width. Channel narrowing characterized the periods after the 1955 and 1964 floods. More than 30 years after the 1964 flood, however, the river had not returned to pre-flood width, which suggests that channel recovery required decades to complete. A long recovery time is unusual given that the Eel River is located in an area with a “superhumid” climate and has an exceptionally high sediment yield. This long recovery time may reflect highly seasonal precipitation and runoff, which are concentrated in 3–5 months each winter. In contrast to the main stem of the Eel River, the dominant effects of floods on the tributaries of the Eel River were rapid aggradation of channel bed and valley floor followed by immediate downcutting. Dendrogeomorphic data, aerial photographs, and field observations indicate that thick wedges of gravel, derived largely from hillslope failures in upper reaches of the tributaries, are deposited at and immediately upstream of the mouths of tributaries as the stage of the Eel River exceeded that of the tributaries during major floods. In the waning stages of the flood, the tributaries cut through the gravel at a rate equal to the lowering of the Eel and generated unpaired terraces and nickpoints. The complete process of deposition and incision can occur within a few days of peak discharge. Although reworking of some sediment on the valley floor may continue for years after large floods, channel morphology in the tributaries appears to be a product of infrequent, high magnitude events. The morphology of the tributary channel also appears to be greatly influenced by the frequency and magnitude of mass wasting in headwater areas of small basins.     

长江上游全新世特大洪水对西南 季风变化的响应

利用24次全新世特大洪水序列与川渝地区近两千年的洪灾史料,对长江上游特大洪水事件和气候变化的响应机制进行了分析。从长江上游特大洪水序列与阿拉伯海记录的西南季风气候变化对比分析来看,特大洪水事件与西南季风变化具有很好的响应关系,特大洪水事件多发生于西南季风较弱的阶段,这些阶段以西南季风气候快速变化为特征,是气候剧烈波动期或气候的转型期。与北大西洋、贵州董歌洞石笋所记录的气候变化比较,特大洪水有的与全新世气候突变一致,有的则不一致,可能特大洪水事件更多表现为地方事件。与文献记载的历史洪灾事件相比,长江上游低频高量级的特大洪水事件对西南季风的变化具有更好的响应关系,而高频低量级的洪灾事件具有更高的随机性,由于历史文献记载的洪水量级差异较大,如果将他们笼统地放在一起分析,可能会掩盖洪水事件对气候变化响应机制。