Variability in the discharge of South American rivers and in climate / Variabilité des débits de rivières d'Amérique du Sud et du climat

Abstract

Changes in trend and quasi-periodicities are sought in the time series of river discharges in all major South American basins. The relationship between trends and quasi-periodicities found and climate variations on interannual and longer time scales are discussed. Consideration of multiple rivers gives insight into the geographical extent of hydrological signals and climate impacts. It is found that the streamflow of all major rivers of South America has experienced an increased trend since the early 1970s. It is suggested that this simultaneity may reflect the impact of a large-scale climate change. All the time series of river streamflows that were analysed show El Niño-like periodicities. Only for La Plata Basin do these explain a larger part of the total variance than the other quasi-periodicities. There are two other quasi-oscillations in the time series analysed: one of them with a longer period—around 17 years—and the other of about 9 years. Previous work has related these oscillations to sea-surface temperature anomalies in the Atlantic Ocean.     

Precipitation,temperature and runoff analysis from 1950 to 2002 in the Yangtze basin,China / Analyse des précipitations,températures et débits de 1950 à 2002 dans le bassin du Yangtze,en Chine

Abstract

Abstract Monthly precipitation and temperature trends of 51 stations in the Yangtze basin from 1950–2002 were analysed and interpolated. The Mann-Kendall trend test was applied to examine the monthly precipitation and temperature data. Significant positive and negative trends at the 90, 95 and 99% significance levels were detected. The monthly mean temperature, precipitation, summer precipitation and monthly mean runoff at Yichang, Hankou and Datong stations were analysed. The results indicate that spatial distribution of precipitation and temperature trends is different. The middle and lower Yangtze basin is dominated by upward precipitation trend but by somewhat downward temperature trend; while downward precipitation trend and upward temperature trend occur in the upper Yangtze basin. This is because increasing precipitation leads to increasing cloud coverage and, hence, results in decreasing ground surface temperature. Average monthly precipitation and temperature analysis for the upper, middle and lower Yangtze basin, respectively, further corroborate this viewpoint. Analysis of precipitation trend for these three regions and of runoff trends for the Yichang, Hankou and Datong stations indicated that runoff trends respond well to the precipitation trends. Historical flood trend analysis also shows that floods in the middle and lower Yangtze basin are in upward trend. The above findings indicate that the middle and lower Yangtze basin is likely to face more serious flood disasters. The research results help in further understanding the influence of climatic changes on floods in the Yangtze basin, providing scientific background for the flood control activities in large catchments in Asia.     

Suspended sediment estimation using neuro-fuzzy and neural network approaches/Estimation des matières en suspension par des approches neurofloues et à base de réseau de neurones

Abstract

The abilities of neuro-fuzzy (NF) and neural network (NN) approaches to model the streamflow–suspended sediment relationship are investigated. The NF and NN models are established for estimating current suspended sediment values using the streamflow and antecedent sediment data. The sediment rating curve and multi-linear regression are also applied to the same data. Statistic measures were used to evaluate the performance of the models. The daily streamflow and suspended sediment data for two stations—Quebrada Blanca station and Rio Valenciano station—operated by the US Geological Survey were used as case studies. Based on comparison of the results, it is found that the NF model gives better estimates than the other techniques.     

Investigations du caractère multifractal des débits maximaux annuels de crue / Investigation of multifractality of maximum annual flood discharges

Abstract

Abstract The multifractal analysis of maximum annual flood discharges at 55 stations of the Tunisian gauging network allows one to associate the various statistical moments of surface discharges of the basins through a scale-invariant law. On this basis, a random cascades model is identified. The scale-invariant law obtained for extreme values represents a theoretical foundation for empirical models proposed since the 1960s which link extreme values, and their associated hazards, with surfaces of drainage areas.     

Sediment delivery processes and chemical transport in a small forested basin/Processus de production sédimentaire et transport chimique dans un petit bassin versant forestier

Abstract

Because the properties of eroded soil affect the deposition phenomena and transport capacity of chemical materials by eroded particles, recent research is trying to link the grain-size distribution of the eroded sediment to that of the original soil in order to explain the enrichment of chemical content of the sediment with the respect to the parent soil. In this study, the spatial distribution of nitrogen, phosphorus and total organic carbon was firstly deduced using the measurements carried out in 47 soil samples distributed over a forested basin together with a kriging interpolation method. Then the load of each chemical was calculated at morphological unit and basin scales using the above-mentioned spatial distributions and sediment yield values calculated by the SEDD (SEdiment Delivery Distributed) model, which couples the universal soil loss equation with a spatial disaggregation criterion of sediment delivery processes. Finally, at basin scale, a new expression of the enrichment ratio of a given chemical was applied.     

A reservoir flood forecasting and control system for China / Un système chinois de prévision et de contrôle de crue en barrage

Abstract

Abstract Reservoirs play a vital role in flood prevention and disaster relief in China. The objectives of the project described in this study were to establish a reservoir flood forecasting and control system and to design and develop corresponding application software. This paper introduces the current reservoir flood control and operation practice with this system in China. Using modern integration technologies, an application software for this Reservoir Flood Forecasting and Control System (RFFCS) has been developed and updated since 1995. The structure of the system and its main functions, telemetric data acquisition and processing, the hydrological database, flood forecasting, and reservoir operation components are described in detail. The working environment, key technologies and standardization design are emphasized. Having been successfully applied to 212 reservoirs in China, the software has proved to be reliable and user-friendly. In its latest version, the software supports reservoir flood forecasting and flood dispatch decisions. The future research direction and the extension of the software function are also discussed.     

Tracer tests in fractured rocks with a new fluorescent dye—pyrene-1,3,6,8-tetra sulphonic acid (PTS) / Tests de traçage en roches fracturées avec un nouveau produit fluorescent—l'acide pyrène 1.3.6.8 tétra sulfonique (PTS)

Abstract

Two multi-tracer tests were performed in fissured rocks accessible in underground laboratories to examine a new fluorescent dye: pyrene-1,3,6,8-tetra sulphonic acid (PTS). The first test was carried out at the Lindau Rock Laboratory (LRL), Germany, in a highly permeable ore dike, and the second, at the Grimsel Test Site (GTS), Switzerland, in a heterogeneous granite fault zone (AU 126). At the LRL new tracer was injected together with uranine in a convergent flow field (monopole test), and slightly different tracer breakthrough curves were observed according to different diffusion coefficients of both tracers. The matrix porosity calculated with the aid of the one-dimensional (1-D) single-fissure dispersion model (SFDM) agrees well with that found in earlier tracer tests and with measurements performed on core samples. At the GTS, the PTS tracer was applied together with pyranine in two-well injection–withdrawal (dipole) tests. Both tracers yielded identical tracer concentration curves, which confirm their conservative behaviour. Mathematical simulations performed with the aid of a 3-D numerical model (FRAC3DVS) yielded equally good fits for different sets of parameters, independent of whether matrix porosity was included or neglected. That lack of unique solution and the difficulty in observing the influence of matrix diffusion result from a wide distribution of the transit times of particular streamlines, which is characteristic for injection–withdrawal tests. However, both tracer tests clearly indicated that the new tracer (PTS) behaves conservatively at high pH values and can be successfully used for groundwater labelling.     

Remote sensing algorithms for monitoring eutrophication in Ishizuchi storm water reservoir in Kochi Prefecture,Japan / Algorithmes de télédétection pour la surveillance de l'eutrophisation du réservoir d'orage d'Ishizuchi dans la Préfecture de Kochi,Japon

Abstract

Remote sensing technology is being conceived as a cost-effective tool to monitor the eutrophication problem in shallow inland lakes and reservoirs. The objective of this study is to develop hyperspectral remote sensing algorithms for chlorophyll and accessory pigments retrieval in the Ishizuchi Reservoir in Japan. The laboratory reflectance data of 207 field samples with manipulated pigment and suspended sediment concentrations were measured between 400 and 700 nm with a hyperspectral spectroradiometer, and integrated into 60 contiguous narrow bands. Band ratio and spectral absorption algorithms were developed by regression analysis with the observed chlorophyll measurements, and their estimation accuracies were evaluated using the RMSE of the estimates. Algorithms developed from spectral absorption ratios a(675 nm)/a*(675 nm) for five different classes of total pigment concentrations were more accurate than the algorithms based on band ratios R_rs (538 nm)/R_rs (488 nm), R_rs (581 nm)/R_rs (463 nm) and R_rs (674 nm)/R_rs (622 nm) as a result of removing the influence of overlapping absorption and scattering by water molecules and suspended solids from total absorption spectra.     

Simple water balance modelling of surface reservoir systems in a large data-scarce semiarid region / Modélisation simple du bilan hydrologique de systèmes de réservoirs de surface dans une grande région semi-aride pauvre en données

Abstract

Abstract Water resources in dryland areas are often provided by numerous surface reservoirs. As a basis for securing future water supply, the dynamics of reservoir systems need to be simulated for large river basins, accounting for environmental change and an increasing water demand. For the State of Ceará in semiarid Northeast Brazil, with several thousands of reservoirs, a simple deterministic water balance model is presented. Within a cascade-type approach, the reservoirs are grouped into six classes according to storage capacity, rules for flow routing between reservoirs of different size are defined, and water withdrawal and return flow due to human water use is accounted for. While large uncertainties in model applications exist, particularly in terms of reservoir operation rules, model validation against observed reservoir storage volumes shows that the approach is a reasonable simplification to assess surface water availability in large river basins. The results demonstrate the large impact of reservoir storage on downstream flow and stress the need for a coupled simulation of runoff generation, network redistribution and water use.     

Changes of the 0°C isotherm and the equilibrium line altitude in central Chile during the last quarter of the 20th century / Changements de l'isotherme 0°C et de la ligne d'équilibre des neiges dans le Chili central durant le dernier quart du 20ème siècle

Abstract

An overall retreat of glaciers has been observed in the Andes of central Chile during the last ~100 years. Precipitation is mainly of frontal origin and concentrates in winter months. Analysis of precipitation data shows a decrease until 1976, an increase thereafter north of 34°S and a decrease south of 34°S, but overall no significant trends during the last quarter of the 20th century. Analysis of radiosonde data of central Chile shows mid-tropospheric warming with an elevation increase of the 0°C isotherm of 122 ± 8 m and 200 ± 6 m in winter and summer, respectively, during the 27-year period between 1975 and 2001. The results point to a snowline elevation increase in the region during the last quarter of the 20th century and a concurrent rise of the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) and suggest that mid-troposphere warming is the main cause for glacier retreat in central Chile.