Analysis of best management practice effectiveness and spatiotemporal variability based on different targeting strategies

In this study, ten best management practices (BMP) were implemented on agricultural areas in the Saginaw River Watershed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool model based on four targeting methods (Load per Subbasin Area Index (LPSAI), Load per Unit Area Index (LPUAI), Concentration Impact Index (CII), and Load Impact Index (LII)). The effective BMPs both for targeting and non‐targeting pollutants were contour farming (CF) (except total nitrogen reduction during total phosphorus targeting scenario), residue management 1000 kg/ha and 2000 kg/ha, strip cropping, recharge structures, terracing, and native grass (NG). In contrast, conservation tillage and no tillage did not reduce significant amount of pollutants for any combination of targeting methods and priority areas. In regard to spatial correlation between targeting methods, a strong relationship was found between the LPSAI and LPUAI methods both for the sediment and total nitrogen targeting scenarios. In addition, a similar result was found between the CII and LPSAI targeting methods. Regarding the spatiotemporal variability of BMP implementation plan, distinct change in priority area was observed in the case of NG implementation by the end of the second year; however, this impact was minimal for CF due to less pollutant reduction efficiency compared to NG. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sedimentary environments and depositional characteristics of the Middle to Upper Eocene whale‐bearing succession in the Fayum Depression,Egypt

The discovery of whale fossils from Eocene strata in the Fayum Depression has provoked interest in the life and lifestyle of early whales. Excellent outcrop exposure also affords the dataset to develop sedimentological and stratigraphic models within the Eocene strata. Previous work generally asserts that the thick, sand‐rich deposits of the Fayum Depression represent shoreface and barrier island successions with fine‐grained lagoonal and fluvial associations capping progradational successions. However, a complete absence of wave‐generated sedimentary structures, a preponderance of thoroughly bioturbated strata and increasingly proximal sedimentary successions upwards are contrary to accepted models of the local sedimentological and stratigraphic development. This study considers data collected from two Middle to Upper Eocene successions exposed in outcrop in the Wadi El‐Hitan and Qasr El‐Sagha areas of the Fayum Depression to determine the depositional affinities of Fayum strata. Based on sedimentological and ichnological data, five facies associations (Facies Association 1 to Facies Association 5) are identified. The biological and sedimentological characteristics of the reported facies associations indicate that the whale‐bearing sandstones (Facies Association 1) record distal positions in a large, open, quiescent marine bay that is abruptly succeeded by a bay‐margin environment (Facies Association 2). Upwards, marginal‐marine lagoonal and shallow‐bay parasequences (Facies Association 3) are overlain by thick deltaic distributary channel deposits (Facies Association 4). The capping unit (Facies Association 5) represents a transgressive estuarine depositional environment. The general stratigraphic evolution resulted from a regional, tectonically controlled second‐order cycle, associated with northward regression of the Tethys. Subordinate cycles (i.e. third‐order and fourth‐order cycles) are evidenced by several Glossifungites‐ichnofacies demarcated discontinuities, which were emplaced at the base of flooding surfaces. The proposed depositional models recognize the importance of identifying and linking ichnological data with physical–sedimentological observations. As such – with the exception of wave‐generated ravinement surfaces – earlier assertions of wave‐dominated sedimentation can be discarded. Moreover, this study provides important data for the recognition of (rarely reported) completely bioturbated sand‐dominated offshore to nearshore sediments (Facies Association 1) and affords excellent characterization of bioturbated inclined heterolithic stratification of deltaic deposits. Another outcome of the study is the recognition that the whales of the Fayum Depression are restricted to the highstand systems tracts, and lived under conditions of low depositional energy, low to moderate sedimentation rates, and (not surprisingly) in fully marine waters characterized by a high biomass.     

数字黑河的思考与实践1:为流域科学服务的数字流域

多学科数据的收集和积累、多学科模型的集成以及现代化的观测系统是发展流域科学的必要前提。"数字黑河"是为黑河流域科学研究和流域集成管理而搭建的集数据、模型和观测系统于一体的信息化平台,是"数字地球"在流域尺度上的一次实践性尝试。数字黑河由数据平台、模型平台和数字化观测系统组成,其核心是观测、数据和模型平台中的信息基础设施建设,但同时也外延而扩展为以流域综合模型为骨架的各种应用。"数字黑河"已阶段性地完成了数据集成,在线数据量超过1 000 GB,并实现了完全共享,有力地支持了黑河流域的各项研究工作;在模型集成方面已初步建成了流域综合模型和空间决策支持系统。"数字黑河"的进一步构想是在e-Science的框架下将数据系统、观测系统、模型系统、信息发布系统、高性能计算及科学计算可视化集成为一个整体。     

CATCHMENT-WIDE ANALYSIS OF THE SEDIMENT REGIME WITH RESPECT TO RESERVOIR SEDIMENTATION

1 INTRODUCTIONIn Anstria reservoirs are frequentiy multi-purpose schemes, being used for power generation, floodprotechon and for wate suPPly downstream. These reservoirs have some adVerse imPaCts on theenvironment around the reservoir and also on the dOwnstream pat:. in rivers with mean annual discharge above 30 m3ls about 36 % of the total length of l884 lQn isimpounded, and only 35% remains as free flowing sections (Muhar, l992),. flooding has been, and continues to be, a serious pr…     

Determination of the drainage structure of a watershed using a digital elevation model and a digital river and lake network

Distributed hydrological models require a detailed definition of a watershed's internal drainage structure. The conventional approach to obtain this drainage structure is to use an eight flow direction matrix (D8) which is derived from a raster digital elevation model (DEM). However, this approach leads to a rather coarse drainage structure when monitoring or gauging stations need to be accurately located within a watershed. This is largely due to limitations of the D8 approach and the lack of information over flat areas and pits. The D8 approach alone is also unable to differentiate lakes from plain areas.

To avoid these problems a new approach, using a digital river and lake network (DRLN) as input in addition to the DEM, has been developed. This new approach allows for an accurate fit between the DRLN and the modelled drainage structure, which is represented by a flow direction matrix and a modelled watercourse network. More importantly, the identification of lakes within the modelled network is now possible. The proposed approach, which is largely rooted in the D8 approach, uses the DRLN to correct modelled flow directions and network calculations. For DEM cells overlapped by the DRLN, flow directions are determined using DRLN connections only. The flow directions of the other DEM cells are evaluated with the D8 approach which uses a DEM that has been modified as a function of distance to the DRLN.

The proposed approach has been tested on the Chaudière River watershed in southern Québec, Canada. The modelled watershed drainage structure showed a high level of coherence with the DRLN. A comparison between the results obtained with the D8 approach and those obtained by the proposed approach clearly demonstrated an improvement over the conventionally modelled drainage structure. The proposed approach will benefit hydrological models which require data such as a flow direction matrix, a river and lake network and sub-watersheds for drainage structure information.     

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT PLAN OF SEDIMENT AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN WATERSHEDS, A CASE STUDY IN CHINA

1 INTRODUCTION Soil erosion is serious in Western China. With the implementation of a development strategy for western China, soil and water conservation and ecological restoration in western China earn more attention because economic development requires parallel efforts on ecological restoration. To protect the ecology of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, integrated management of sediment and ecological restoration are being conducted in Sichuan Province. The Yufeng Watershed…     

Watershed modeling of rainfall excess transformation into runoff

In this paper an attempt is made to present a distributed physiographic conceptual model that uses the principles of flow continuity and momentum. For this purpose, the watershed under study is divided into subwatersheds keeping in view the drainage patterns and characteristics. Then the main tributaries are identified and their drainage areas are delineated to form tributary subwatersheds. The main channel subwatersheds have taken care of the remaining area in the vicinity of the main channel. The kinematic wave theory is applied for the overland runoff computations from these subwatersheds. Further, the overland flows are superimposed onto the main channel. The dynamic wave theory is used to route the flows through the main channel to compute the watershed responses at the outlet. The proposed model is tested onto a natural watershed. The computations were performed for few storm events. Comparison of the significant parameters of the computed and the observed hydrographs shows that the maximum relative error in prediction is 5.8%. Thus, the results are satisfactory. Better results can be obtained when measured rainfall-excess data are available or a more realistic loss index is adopted for rainfall-excess separation.     

基于地理数据库模型的流域数据模型设计

为实现水问题研究的信息化处理，必须做大量的基础性工作。解决现实对象抽象和信息化后的表达问题。基于物理联系，定义各种特征的连接关系，信息化前人研究成果的集成问题。分析了流域数据模型的特征、组成、结构，以及特征之间的相互关系，建立了流域数据模型，为我国流域数据模型的设计做了有益的探索。     

鄱阳湖流域可持续发展综合模型框架

本文以鄱阳湖流域为例,所描述的流域可持续发展框架是一个基于流域系统理论和实践的生态系统模型.包括了三个主要的部分:(1)环境政策与规划;(2)地球空间信息系统;(3)社区发展与区域网络.框架将多个学科,如:流域生态学,环境规划,可持续发展与资源管理汇集一起,形成了一套综合的流域制图、模拟和监测的流域管理方法.