Decadal‐Scale Changes of the Ödenwinkelkees,Central Austria,Suggest Increasing Control of Topography and Evolution Towards Steady State

Small mountain glaciers have short mass balance response times to climate change and are consequently very important for short‐term contributions to sea level. However, a distinct research and knowledge gap exists between (1) wider regional studies that produce overview patterns and trends in glacier changes, and (2) in situ local scale studies that emphasise spatial heterogeneity and complexity in glacier responses to climate. This study of a small glacier in central Austria presents a spatiotemporally detailed analysis of changes in glacier geometry and changes in glaciological behaviour. It integrates geomorphological surveys, historical maps, aerial photographs, airborne LiDAR data, ground‐based differential global positioning surveys and Ground Penetrating Radar surveys to produce three‐dimensional glacier geometry at 13 time increments spanning from 1850 to 2013. Glacier length, area and volume parameters all generally showed reductions with time. The glacier equilibrium line altitude increased by 90 m between 1850 and 2008. Calculations of the mean bed shear stress rapidly approaching less than 100 kPA, of the volume–area ratio fast approaching 1.458, and comparison of the geometric reconstructions with a 1D theoretical model could together be interpreted to suggest evolution of the glacier geometry towards steady state. If the present linear trend in declining ice volume continues, then the Ödenwinkelkees will disappear by the year 2040, but we conceptualise that non‐linear effects of bed overdeepenings on ice dynamics, of supraglacial debris cover on the surface energy balance, and of local topographically driven controls, namely wind‐redistributed snow deposition, avalanching and solar shading, will become proportionally more important factors in the glacier net balance.     

Two‐dimensional physically based finite element runoff model for small agricultural watersheds: I. Model development

Soil erosion by water is the root cause of ecological degradation in the Shiwalik foothills of Northern India. Simulation of runoff and its component processes is a pre‐requisite to develop the management strategies to tackle the problem, successfully. A two‐dimensional physically based distributed numerical model, ROMO2D has been developed to simulate runoff from small agricultural watersheds on an event basis. The model employs the 2‐D Richards equation with sink term to simulate infiltration and soil moisture dynamics in the vadoze zone under variable rainfall conditions, and 2‐D Saint‐Venant equations under the kinematic wave approximation along with Manning's equation as the stage‐discharge equation for runoff routing. The various flow‐governing equations have been solved numerically by employing a Galerkin finite element method for spatial discretization using quadrilateral elements and finite difference techniques for temporal solutions. The ROMO2D computer program has been developed as a class‐based program, coded in C + + in such a way that with minor modifications, the model can be used to simulate runoff on a continuous basis. The model writes output for a runoff hydrograph of each storm. Model development is described in this paper and the results of model testing and field application are to be presented in a subsequent paper. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Differential water distribution over dune slopes as affected by slope position and microbiotic crust,Negev Desert,Israel

Runoff is one of the main water sources responsible for water redistribution within a given ecosystem. Water redistribution is especially important in arid regions, and may be of great importance on sandy dunes, where the likelihood of runoff is low owing to the high infiltration rates of sand. Redistribution of water may significantly affect plant and animal distribution, and may explain vegetation patterns within an ecosystem. Runoff yield over sandy dune slopes in the western Negev Desert was measured under natural conditions during 1990–1994. The magnitude of runoff yield on different slope sections and on north and south exposures was established. The results demonstrate that while slope position controlled the microbiotic crust cover, crust cover and crust biomass controlled the amounts of runoff obtained. Whereas no runoff was measured on the upper dune sections devoid of crust, only meagre quantities were measured on the midslope sections, characterized by discontinuous crust cover. Substantially larger amounts were, however, obtained at the bottoms of the slopes, characterized by continuous crust cover. North‐facing slopes, usually characterized by a chlorophyll a content of 29–41 mg m⁻², yielded on average 3·2 times more runoff than south‐facing footslopes, characterized by a 17 mg m⁻² chlorophyll a content. Whereas microbiotic crust was found to be responsible for runoff generation, additional water supply owing to runoff may also explain the occurrence of a high biomass crust and the dense vegetation belt at the dune–interdune interface of the northern exposure, where runoff tends to collect. Thus, whereas crust may reduce infiltration in certain habitats, runoff generated by crust may also be responsible for the promotion of crust growth in other habitats. Runoff may also be used to promote vegetation growth at the dune footslopes. The possibility of using runoff to facilitate agroforestry is discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical simulation of agricultural sediment and pesticide runoff: RZWQM and PRZM comparison

Agricultural sediment and pesticide runoff is a widespread ecological and human health concern. Numerical simulation models, such as Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) and Pesticide Root Zone Model (PRZM), have been increasingly used to quantify off‐site agricultural pollutant movement. However, RZWQM has been criticized for its inability to simulate sedimentation processes. The recent incorporation of the sedimentation module of Groundwater Loading Effects of Agricultural Management Systems has enabled RZWQM to simulate sediment and sediment‐associated pesticides. This study compares the sediment and pesticide transport simulation performance of the newly released RZWQM and PRZM using runoff data from 2 alfalfa fields in Davis, California. A composite metric (based on coefficient of determination, Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency, index of agreement, and percent bias) was developed and employed to ensure robust, comprehensive assessment of model performance. Results showed that surface water runoff was predicted reasonably well (absolute percent bias <31%) by RZWQM and PRZM after adjusting important hydrologic parameters. Even after calibration, underestimation bias (?89% ≤ PBIAS  ≤ ?36%) for sediment yield was observed in both models. This might be attributed to PRZM's incorrect distribution of input water and uncertainty in RZWQM's runoff erosivity coefficient. Moreover, the underestimation of sediment might be less if the origin of measured sediment was considered. Chlorpyrifos losses were simulated with reasonable accuracy especially for Field A (absolute PBIAS  ≤ 22%), whereas diuron losses were underestimated to a great extent (?98% ≤ PBIAS  ≤ ?65%) in both models. This could be attributed to the underprediction of herbicide concentration in the top soil due to the limitations of the instantaneous equilibrium sorption model as well as the high runoff potential of herbicide formulated as water‐dispersible granules. RZWQM and PRZM partitioned pesticides into the water and sediment phases similarly. According to model predictions, the majority of pesticide loads were carried via the water phase. On the basis of this study, both RZWQM and PRZM performed well in predicting runoff that carried highly adsorptive pesticides on an event basis, although the more physically based RZWQM is recommended when field‐measured soil hydraulic properties are available.     

黑河流量对祁连山气候年代际变化的响应

利用祁连山区8个气象站自建站至2003年观测的月降水、气温资料, 在分析各站气候要素互相关的基础上, 建立了代表祁连山整体气候变化的1944-2003年历年各月、季降水距平百分率和气温距平序列, 以及黑河上游莺落峡水文站观测的径流量, 分析了黑河流量与祁连山区降水、气温的年代际变化。结果表明: 祁连山气候演变存在非常明显的年际和年代际变化。自1970年代以来, 除夏季降水量呈上升趋势外, 秋、冬、春三季均表现出明显的变干, 尤其是秋、冬两季。本世纪初降水量又有增加趋势。比较过去60a气温变化, 1940年代最暖, 1960年代最冷。自1980年代以来, 祁连山区气候明显变暖, 各季气温显著升高, 尤以冬季升温最快, 目前已超过1940年代的暖期。1980年代的流量是过去60a中最大的10a, 1990年代有所减小。1990年代后期流量明显增加, 目前除春季外, 夏、秋、冬季已转入上升趋势。     

黑河出山径流量年际变化特征和趋势研究

根据有关水文气象台站的观测数据,利用定级分类,滑动平均和波谱分析等方法,对黑河出山径流（莺落峡水文站）年际变化特征进行了分析研究,发现黑河出出径流的多年变化具有持续性,周期性和丰枯水变化较平稳,波幅不大等特性,并在此基础上对其未来变化的趋势进行了预测和分析。     

藏南卡鲁雄峰枪勇冰川新冰期冰川发育探讨

山地冰川对气候变化响应敏感,全新世以来,冰川呈加速退缩趋势。冰川地貌是冰川变化最直接的证据。枪勇冰川发源于卡鲁雄峰,位于喜马拉雅山中段北坡雨影区,雅鲁藏布江以南,冰川末端在海拔5000 m附近,冰川面积约为6.63 km2。枪勇沟从外至内共保存有4期冰碛垄,其中以"大枪勇错"外侧的新冰期冰碛垄最为高大,终碛垄高约30 m,且形态清晰。文章基于野外观察及谷歌影像（Google Earth）上冰碛垄的分布范围,恢复并计算了新冰期时枪勇冰川面积约为10.0 km2,较现代冰川扩张了1.5倍。采用VOLTA模型计算了现代冰川的体积为0.21±0.04 km3,平均厚度约为31.7 m。基于纵剖线模型模拟了新冰期冰川表面高程,新冰期冰川平均厚度约为58.5 m,冰川体积约0.59±0.12 km3,是现代冰川体积的2.8倍,体积减小较面积退缩更为剧烈。利用积累区面积比率法（Accumulation Area Ratio Method,简称AAR）,采用AAR值为0.7±0.05,基于现代冰川表面高程和模拟的新冰期冰川表面高程,计算现代冰川和新冰期冰川的物质平衡线高度（Equilibrium Line Altitude,简称ELA）分别为5780±70 m和5660±100 m,新冰期时平衡线高度降低了约120 m。而不利用模型恢复新冰期表面高程时,平衡线降低值为240 m,可能高估约120 m。新冰期时,枪勇冰川扩张受区域降温控制,冰川前进可能是对4.2 ka冷事件的响应。冰碛垄形成时代和大枪勇错孢粉数据表明,冰川可能在2.5 ka左右已经退缩,2.2 ka时退缩加剧。     

冰碛土体起动泥石流的特征研究

与广泛分布于干旱河谷的宽级配砾石土体特征不同,冰碛土广泛分布在青藏高原地区,属粗大颗粒多、粘粒含量少、摩擦阻力大、粘滞阻力小的宽级配砾石土体。在冰川融雪与降雨的共同作用下冰碛土体可失稳并起动泥石流,形成灾害。针对冰碛土体起动泥石流机理研究薄弱的现状,本文选取波密县帕隆藏布流域的支流嘎弄沟一冰碛土堆积坡面,通过模拟降水与冰雪融水起动冰川泥石流实验,比较不同颗粒组成、不同实验条件下的土体起动泥石流特征,分析其起动成因及力学特性,探讨冰碛土体起动泥石流的机理。研究发现冰碛土体失稳起动泥石流是粘滞阻力降低、孔隙水压力升高、拖曳力与渗流侵蚀共同作用的结果,起动过程受粘土颗粒含量和径流类型的影响。当粘粒含量较高时（> 3%）,土体通过铲蚀与面蚀形成泥石流;粘粒含量中低时（不高于3%）,大部分坡面土体主要经掏蚀与坍塌起动泥石流;粘粒含量过低时（< 0.32%）,土体难以起动泥石流。在降水作用下土体孔隙水压力迅速增加,易造成土体破坏,起动泥石流;而在冰雪融水的作用下,土体孔隙水压力波动幅度不大时,土体同样可能发生失稳破坏起动泥石流。

     

气候变化对洮河流域水资源的影响

过去40多年来，洮河流域主要产流区甘南高原的气候和生态环境发生了显著变化，通过对引洮工程的引水区——流域上游40多年的实测水文气象数据的统计分析发现，降水和径流总体下降趋势非常明显，20世纪80年代至90年代降水径流减少更多，达35％；而气温则呈上升趋势，但上升幅度没有降水径流的下降幅度大。由于气候升温变暖、草原载畜过量以及过度砍伐森林，导致气候干旱化、山区水土流失加剧、草原植被退化和沙漠化，这一切都将对未来引洮工程发挥效益产生不利影响。     

中天山及其北麓的降水变化及其原因分析

利用中天山地带85.0°～90.0°E,42.5°～45.0°N范围内17个气象站1961-2000年的降水、气温观测数据及美国NCEP/NCAR1950-2000年再分析月平均资料进行计算和分析,结果表明:这一区域近年来降水呈现上升趋势,且冬、夏季相对显著,山区降水增幅大于山前平原地带.年代际变化表现为60-70年代降水量减少,80-90年代逐步增加.大气可降水量多年也表现为增加趋势.近50a来该地区上空的水汽输送状况显示,年平均大气水汽输入为9217.8×10⁸m³,输出水汽8625.7×10⁸m³,净收支为592.0×10⁸m³,且水汽收支主要取决于夏半年的水汽输入量,境外全年输入的水汽只有6.4%转化为降水.从50-90年代水汽净收支总体上呈减少趋势,只在90年代有略微增长.结合该地区的河流径流增加、冰川物质平衡一直处于亏损状态,说明中天山北麓近年来降水量增加的主要原因是由于该地区内部的水循环量增加和水循环速率提高.