The geomorphic function and characteristics of large woody debris in low gradient rivers, coastal Maine, USA

The role, function, and importance of large woody debris (LWD) in rivers depend strongly on environmental context and land use history. The coastal watersheds of central and northern Maine, northeastern U.S., are characterized by low gradients, moderate topography, and minimal influence of mass wasting processes, along with a history of intensive commercial timber harvest. In spite of the ecological importance of these rivers, which contain the last wild populations of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the U.S., we know little about LWD distribution, dynamics, and function in these systems. We conducted a cross-basin analysis in seven coastal Maine watersheds, documenting the size, frequency, volume, position, and orientation of LWD, as well as the association between LWD, pool formation, and sediment storage. In conjunction with these LWD surveys, we conducted extensive riparian vegetation surveys. We observed very low LWD frequencies and volumes across the 60 km of rivers surveyed. Frequency of LWD ≥ 20 cm diameter ranged from 15–50 pieces km^− 1 and wood volumes were commonly < 10–20 m³ km^− 1. Moreover, most of this wood was located in the immediate low-flow channel zone, was oriented parallel to flow, and failed to span the stream channel. As a result, pool formation associated with LWD is generally lacking and < 20% of the wood was associated with sediment storage. Low LWD volumes are consistent with the relatively young riparian stands we observed, with the large majority of trees < 20 cm DBH. These results strongly reflect the legacy of intensive timber harvest and land clearing and suggest that the frequency and distribution of LWD may be considerably less than presettlement and/or future desired conditions.     

Pan-African high-grade metamorphism of southern Sinai,Egypt, fluid inclusion evidence

Fluid inclusions in the leucosomes of Wadi Feiran migmatites showed that CO ₂ , H₂O and (H₂O-CO₂) fluids were likely to have been present when partial melting began in these rocks. Low salinity, aqueous fluid, to a lesser extent, CO₂-rich fluids are the most abundant fluids. The present study suggests that high-density CO₂ inclusions were formed at the earliest stage, while H₂O inclusions were formed at the late stage. In an intermediate stage, low-density CO₂ and H₂O, CO₂ inclusions were formed. At the early stage of uplift and during melt crystallization, the CO₂-bearing vapour was trapped at grain boundaries. At the late stage of uplift, H₂O released at the time of crystallization of the melt was trapped as inclusions.     

Historical aspects of soil erosion in the Mejerda catchment,Tunisia

Abstract

Agricultural use and related water erosion may lead to significant changes in the sedimentological and hydrological characteristics of watersheds, and therefore negative consequences for rural development. This research aimed to put present-day soil erosion of the important Mejerda catchment into a historical context. The catchment of Wadi Mejerda in northern Tunisia has experienced soil erosion due to weather and human impacts for thousands of years. We used historical texts and results from archaeological research that go back to 1000 BC, as well as data collected during the last century. Soil erosion from different types of agricultural landscape management was analysed together with information on the soils' production potential, the hydrographic network and flood frequency. The results showed that water erosion has increased the hydrographic network by 65 km and increased the deltaic plain by as much as 15 km²/century. However, soil productivity has decreased significantly. Moreover, due to in channel sedimentation and river choking, the number of flooding occurrences has multiplied over the last century. Finally, it is shown that water erosion follows a specific cycle of degradation throughout the watershed. These findings should be considered for better water and soil management in the context of semi-arid areas.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz

Citation Jebari, S., Berndtsson, R., Lebdi, F., and Bahri, A., 2012. Historical aspects of soil erosion in the Mejerda catchment. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (5), 901–912.     

Vecteur de la pollution metallique du bassin versant de l’Oued El Bey vers le Golfe de Tunis (Tunisie)

Résumé

L’Oued El Bey, qui draine 60% de la charge polluante hydrique de plusieurs agglomérations urbaines du Nord-Est de la Tunisie, est un exemple représentatif du transfert des métaux lourds résultant de l’activité industrielle et urbaine. Il fournit une indication sur le devenir et la répartition des métaux lourds dans le Golfe de Tunis. Dans la fraction dissoute, Cd, Pb, Co et Hg ne sont pas détectés mais Zn varie entre 0,01 et 0,07 μg/L. Les concentrations du Mn, Zn, As, Ni, Pb, Cu et du Cd sont très élevées dans la fraction particulaire par rapport à la fraction dissoute, avec un coefficient de partage Kd de l’ordre de 10⁶, ainsi que dans les sédiments du lit de l’oued pour Pb et Zn. La pollution par les métaux la plus élevé de l’Oued El Bey a été trouvée pour Zn, Pb et Cu: les concentrations variaient respectivement entre 1698,9 et 14575, de 0 à 2153,7 et de 0 à 3431,8 μg/g. La variation spatiale des teneurs en métaux lourds confirme l’effet des eaux usées rejetées dans l’Oued El Bey. Les teneurs de ces métaux lourds dans les trois phases dissoute, particulaire (MES) et sédiments confirment que la MES constitue le vecteur de transport principal via la Sebkha Soliman vers le golfe. L’examen des rapports des différents éléments (Pb, Cu et Cd) par rapport au Zn dans les sédiments de l’oued montre une augmentation au niveau de la confluence de l’Oued El Bey et de son affluent l’Oued El Meleh, ce qui signifie que les apports sédimentaires de cet affluent contrôlent la signatutue chimique des sédiments de l’Oued El Bey.

Editeur Z.W. Kundzewicz; Editeur associé B. Touaibia

Citation Khadhar, S., Mlayah, A., Chekirben, A., Charef, A., Methammam, M., Nouha, S., et Khemais, Z., 2013. Bassin versant Oued El Bey: vecteur de transport de la pollution métallique vers le Golfe de Tunis (Tunisie). Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (8), 1803–1812.     

黑河流域生态—水文过程综合遥感观测联合试验总体设计

介绍了"黑河流域生态—水文过程综合遥感观测联合试验"的背景、科学目标、试验组成和试验方案。试验的总体目标是显著提升对流域生态和水文过程的观测能力,建立国际领先的流域观测系统,提高遥感在流域生态—水文集成研究和水资源管理中的应用能力。由基础试验、专题试验、应用试验、产品与方法研究和信息系统组成。其中,①基础试验:搭载微波辐射计、成像光谱仪、热像仪、激光雷达等航空遥感设备,开展一系列关键生态和水文参量的观测;发展遥感正向模型及反演和估算方法。形成覆盖全流域的水文气象综合观测网,为流域生态—水文模型研究提供更有代表性的模型参数、驱动数据及更高精度的验证数据。构建无线传感器网络,度量生态水文模型所需的若干关键的驱动、参数和模型状态的空间异质性。开展航空遥感定标和地基遥感试验。依托传感器网络,并辅之以地面同步和加密观测,开展遥感产品真实性检验。②专题试验:开展"非均匀下垫面多尺度地表蒸散发观测试验",采用密集的涡动相关仪、大孔径闪烁仪与自动气象站的观测矩阵,为揭示地表蒸散发的空间异质性,实现非均匀下垫面地表蒸散发的尺度扩展,发展和验证蒸散发模型提供基础数据。③应用试验:在流域上、中、下游分别开展针对积雪和冻土水文、灌溉水平衡和作物生长、生态耗水的综合观测试验,将观测数据和遥感产品用于上游分布式水文模型、中游地表水—地下水—农作物生长耦合模型、下游生态耗水模型,通过实证研究提升遥感在流域生态—水文集成研究和水资源管理中的应用能力。加强试验将在2012年5月起按中游、上游、下游的顺序展开,全流域持续观测期为2013—2015年。在各类试验的支持下,开展全流域生态—水文关键参量遥感产品生产,发展尺度转换方法,建立多源遥感数据同化系统。     

Geochemistry and genesis of magmatic PGE-bearing Cu-Ni sulphide deposit in Wadi Bayhan,southeastern Yemen

The Wadi Bayhan mafic-ultramafic intrusions associated with magmatic PGE-bearing Cu-Ni sulphide deposit are located in the south margin of the Arabian-Nubian Shield,SW Yemen.The intrusions consist of dunite,olivine-pyroxenite,lherzolite,hornblendite,gabbro and gabbronorite.The dunite and lherzolite are the main host rock for the Cu-Ni ores.The new data of the chemical compositions of the rocks have SiO2(50%-53.6%),Al2O3(0-32%) and MgO(4%-28%),and relatively low TiO2(0-3.2%) and K2O+Na2O(0.04%-5.2%).The geoc...     

Geology and fluid inclusion of Wadi Sharis Neoproterozoic orogenic gold deposits in northwestern Yemen

The Wadi Sharis orogenic gold deposit in northwestern Yemen is related to the fault and shear zones vein at medium depth in the crust in the Neoproterozoic meta-sedimentary and meta-volcanosedimentary succession of greenschist to amphibolite facies metamorphism.Three distinct fluid inclusion types have been identified in the gold-bearing quartz sulphide veins of the deposit:(1) type I:vapour-liquid two-phase(VH2O-LH2O),(2) type II:three-phase CO2(VCO2-LH2O-LCO2) and(3) type III:vapour-rich(LCO2-VCO2) inclus...