Evaluation of rainfall–runoff model performance under non-stationary hydroclimatic conditions

ABSTRACT

Understanding of rainfall–runoff model performance under non-stationary hydroclimatic conditions is limited. This study compared lumped (IHACRES), semi-distributed (HEC-HMS) and fully-distributed (SWATgrid) hydrological models to determine which most realistically simulates runoff in catchments where non-stationarity in rainfall–runoff relationships exists. The models were calibrated and validated under different hydroclimatic conditions (Average, Wet and Dry) for two heterogeneous catchments in southeast Australia (SEA). SWATgrid realistically simulates runoff in the smaller catchment under most hydroclimatic conditions but fails when the model is calibrated in Dry conditions and validated in Wet. All three models perform poorly in the larger catchment irrespective of hydroclimatic conditions. This highlights the need for more research aimed at improving the ability of hydrological models to realistically incorporate the physical processes causing non-stationarity in rainfall–runoff relationships. Although the study is focussed on SEA, the insights gained are useful for all regions which experience large hydroclimatic variability and multi-year/decadal droughts.     

Laboratory examination of linearity in rainfall–runoff relationships

ABSTRACT

Certain rainfall–runoff models, e.g. the unit hydrograph, assume linear relationships between the variables. These are proportionality of runoff discharges to (net) rainfall depth and linear summations of discharges resulting from (net) rainfalls during different time intervals or over different sectors of a watershed. This study examines the validity of these assumptions by use of an extensive two-dimensional laboratory experimentation. The results indicate that proportionality would be found under high rainfall intensity through a long duration. Spatial summations would more likely yield correct discharges in cases where rainfall duration is equal to, or is longer than, the time of concentration. Temporal summations may yield correct discharges when rainfall duration is longer than one half of the time of concentration. Here, the time of concentration is determined at the beginning of gradual approach of the discharge towards the equilibrium state.     

松林冠层大气湍流结构观测研究

为了更好地了解大气与物质和能量交换，用二层三维超声风速温度仪测量了重庆市郊松林风速和温度脉动值。采样速率为每秒１次和１１次，数字量记录。计算了湍流动最通量和热通量的日变化，以及湍流风速的统计量和功率谱。结果表明，冠层上动量通量向下传输，而冠层内大多向上传输；冠层内湍流风速ｕ的三阶矩平均值大于零，ｗ的小于零；冠层上无因次湍流风速分量ｕ，ｗ标准差和无因次湍流动能耗散率与局地Ｍｏｎｉｎ－Ｏｂｕｋｈｏｖ长     

河北坝上疏缓丘陵华北落叶松人工林生长特性研究

研究表明，坝上疏缓丘陵区华北落叶松（Ｌａｒｉｘｐｒｉｎｃｉｐｉｓ－ｒｕｐｐｒｅｃｈｔｉｉ）人工林高１５龄前生长阴坡大于阳坡，１５－２１龄高生长从大到小依次为阴坡中部、阳坡下部、阴坡下部；直径、材积生长阳坡大于阴坡。因此，在降水量、气温均低于华北落叶松天然分布区的坝上地区，丘陵阴坡水分条件较好，强阳性树种华北落叶松幼树生长较快，容易形成人工片林，而丘陵阳坡热量条件较好，幼树生长较慢，但成林后林分生产力较高。丘陵阴坡中部的华北落叶松人工林，２８龄后可进行天然更新，而其它立地３０龄以前不能天然更新。     

福建地貌基本特征与农业生产的关系

本文首先从发展农业生产角度出发,分析了福建地貌的基本特征及其对农业生产的直接和间接影响。继而论述了地貌与农业自然灾害的关系,指出了坡度陡、降水强度大和黑云母花岗岩分布三者相结合的部位是农业生态脆弱的地段。最后,根据福建山河分布格局,提出改善福建农业生态的根本性措施——建立防护林体系。     

从森林水文作用看长江上游防护林工程

本文通过对四川盆地森林水文效应的研究,对长江上游防护林体系的生态环境作用进行了初步预测,并提出水源林、水土保持林的分区原则,以及防护林作用的累积效应,对长江上游防护林的规划和评价具有参考意义。     

Magma mixing model for the genesis of middle crust in the Izu–Bonin–Mariana arc: evidence from plutonic rocks in the Mineoka-Setogawa ophiolitic mélange,central Japan

ABSTRACT

A Paleogene accretionary complex, the Mineoka–Setogawa belt is distributed adjacent to the northern portion of the collision zone between Honshu and Izu–Bonin–Mariana (IBM) arcs in central Japan, comprising a mélange of ophiolitic fragments of various sizes. The Eocene-Oligocene plutonic rocks in this belt (gabbro, diorite, and tonalite) have been interpreted as fragments brought from the deep crust beneath the IBM arc through tectonic collisions. The geochemical characteristics of the gabbro and associated basaltic dike are similar to those of the Eocene IBM tholeiitic basalt; thus, the gabbro was likely formed via the crystallization of the Eocene tholeiitic basaltic magmas, which was produced by the partial meltings of a depleted mantle wedge. A comparison with experimental results and geochemical modeling indicates that the tonalite was generated by 10–30% dehydration melting of the gabbro. Actually, Eocene–Oligocene felsic veins, which are coeval with the plutonic rocks, occur in the Mineoka–Setogawa gabbro. Plagioclase crystals in the diorite comprise Ca-rich and -poor parts in a single crystal. Their compositional characteristics are consistent with those of plagioclase in the gabbro and tonalite, respectively. The textures and chemical composition of plagioclase indicate that the diorite was formed by the mixing between mafic and silicic magmas. The whole-rock composition of the diorite also indicates the evidence for the mixing between basaltic magmas which were fractionated to variable degrees and homogeneous silicic magma. The mixing model proposed from the first direct observations of the IBM middle crust exposed on the Mineoka–Setogawa belt is applied to the genesis of the Eocene to present intermediate rocks in the IBM arc. If the continental crust were created at intra-oceanic arc settings such as the IBM arc, the magma mixing model would be one of the most likely mechanisms for the genesis of the continental crust.     

Jurassic uplift and erosion of the northeast Queensland continental margin: evidence from (U–Th)/He thermochronology combined with U–Pb detrital zircon age spectra

Abstract

The Jurassic–Cretaceous Great Artesian Basin is the most extensive, and largest volume, sedimentary feature of continental Australia. The source of its mud-dominated Cretaceous infill is attributed largely to contemporary magmatism along the continental margin to the east, but the source of its Jurassic infill, dominated by quartz sandstone, remains unconstrained. This paper investigates the question of a Jurassic sediment source for the northern part of the basin. Jurassic uplift and exhumation of the continental margin crustal sector to the east provided the primary Jurassic sediment source. (U–Th)/He data are presented for zircon and apatite from Pennsylvanian to mid Permian granitoids of the Kennedy Igneous Association distributed within the northern Tasmanides between the Townsville and Cairns regions and for coeval granites of the Urannha batholith from the Mount Carlton district (N Bowen Basin), also within the northern Tasmanides. The data from zircon indicate widespread Jurassic exhumation of a crustal tract located to the east of the northern Great Artesian Basin and largely occupied by rocks of the Tasmanides. Detrital zircon age spectra for samples of the Jurassic Hutton and Blantyre sandstones from the northeastern margin of the Great Artesian Basin show their derivation to be largely from rocks of the northern Tasmanides. In combination, the detrital age spectra and (U–Th)/He data from zircon indicate exhumation owing to uplift generating appreciable physiographic relief along the north Queensland continental margin during the Jurassic, shedding sediment westward into the Great Artesian Basin during its early development. A portion of (U–Th)/He data for zircon are consistent with late Permian–mid Triassic exhumation within the Tasmanides, attributable to the influence of the Hunter--Bowen Orogeny. Evidence of Cretaceous and Paleocene exhumation episodes is also indicated for some samples, mainly by apatite (U–Th)/He analysis, consistent with data previously published from fission track studies. Overall, new data from the present study reveal that the exhumation related to Jurassic regional uplift and the subsequent erosional reworking of the northeast Australian continental margin is critical for the evolution and development of the northern side of the Great Artesian Basin in eastern Australia. Apart from this, another two previously suggested Permian–Triassic and Cretaceous exhumation and uplift episodes along the northeast Australian continental margin are also confirmed by the dataset of this study.

1. KEY POINTS

2. U–Pb detrital zircon ages of sandstone samples from the northeastern Eromanga Basin reveal Paleozoic (480–280 Ma) and Proterozoic (1800–1400 Ma) age clusters.

3. (U–Th)/He zircon and apatite dating results of granitoids samples from Cairns, Townsville and the Mount Carlton districts are dominated by Jurassic (198–164 Ma) and Permian–Triassic (272–238 Ma) age clusters.

4. Combination of above two datasets proves the regional uplift-driving Jurassic exhumation episode in the northeast Australian continental is vital for the development of the northern Great Artesian Basin.

     

Effective Community Engagement for Sustainability: Wombat Community Forest Management Case Study

The first significant government sponsored community‐based forest management project in Australia was initiated in Central Victoria in 2002. This paper analyses the initial stage of the Wombat Community Forest Management Pilot Project. The paper develops a functional concept of ‘effective community’ for structuring community engagement in these kinds of natural resource management projects. The effective community has characteristics in common with a community of interest, adopts a bioregional perspective, embodies the values of environmental stewardship and interacts in a fully informed way as a ‘discursive community’ (Meppam 2000 Meppam, T. 2000. ‘The discursive community: evolving institutional structures for planning sustainability’, Ecological Economics, 34: 47–61.  [Google Scholar]). The paper offers general advice for organising effective community engagement in such projects and 12 recommendations for governments developing similar initiatives elsewhere.     

Analyse isotopique de l'air piégé dans la glace pour quantifier les variations de température

Isotopic measurements in polar ice core have shown a succession of rapid warming periods during the last glacial period over Greenland. However, this method underestimates the surface temperature variations. A new method based on gas thermal diffusion in the firn manages to quantify surface temperature variations through associated isotopic fractionations. We developed a method to extract air from the ice and to perform isotopic measurements to reduce analytical uncertainties to 0.006 and 0.020$\text{‰}$ for δ¹⁵N and δ⁴⁰Ar. It led to a 16±1.5 °C surface temperature variation during a rapid warming ($\text{?70}\text{000}$ yr). To cite this article: A. Landais et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).