Stochastically conditioned flow paths and travel time distribution in highly heterogeneous synthesized aquifers / Chemins d’écoulement et distribution des temps de parcours au sein d’aquifères synthétiques hautement hétérogènes sous conditions stochastiques

Abstract

Abstract Characterization of heterogeneity at the field scale generally requires detailed aquifer properties such as transmissivity and hydraulic head. An accurate delineation of these properties is expensive and time consuming, and for many if not most groundwater systems, is not practical. As an alternative approach, stochastic representation of random fields is used and presented in this paper. Specifically, an iterative stochastic conditional simulation approach was applied to a hypothetical and highly heterogeneous pre-designed aquifer system. The approach is similar to the classical co-kriging technique; it uses a linear estimator that depends on the covariance functions of transmissivity (T), and hydraulic head (h), as well as their cross-covariances. A linearized flow equation along with a conditional random field generator constitutes the iterative process of the conditional simulation. One hundred equally likely realizations of transmissivity fields with pre-specified geostatistical parameters were generated, and conditioned to both limited transmissivity and head data. The successful implementation of the approach resulted in conditioned flow paths and travel-time distribution under different degrees of aquifer heterogeneity. This approach worked well for fields exhibiting small variances. However, for random fields exhibiting large variances (greater than 1.0), an iterative procedure was used. The results show that, as the variance of the ln[T] increases, the flow paths tend to diverge, resulting in a wide spectrum of flow conditions, with no direct discernable relationship between the degree of heterogeneity and travel time. The applied approach indicates that high errors may result when estimation of particle travel times in a heterogeneous medium is approximated by an equivalent homogeneous medium.     

Developing a Web-based flood forecasting system for reservoirs with J2EE / Développement sur Internet avec J2EE d’un système de prévision de crue pour barrages

Abstract

Abstract A flood forecasting system is a crucial component in flood mitigation. For certain important large-scale reservoirs, cooperation and communication among federal, state, and local stakeholders are required when heavy flood events are encountered. The Web-based environment is emerging as a very important development and delivery platform for real-time flood forecasting systems. In this paper, the findings of a case study are presented of the development of a Web-based flood forecasting system for reservoirs using Java 2 platform Enterprise Edition (J2EE). J2EE of Sun Microsystems is chosen as the development solution for the Web-based flood forecasting system, Weblogic 6.0 of BEA as the container provider, and JBuilder 7.0 of Borland as the development tool. One of the key objectives in this project is to establish a collaborative platform for flood forecasting via Web technology in order to render hydrological models and data available to stakeholders and experts involved and thus offer an efficient medium for transferring and sharing information, knowledge and experiences among them. Compared with general Web-based query systems and traditional flood forecasting systems, the Web-based flood forecasting system is more focused on the on-line analysis of model-based forecasting of floods and provides opportunities for improving the transfer of information and knowledge from the hydrological scientists and managers to decision makers. Finally, a prototype system is used to demonstrate the system application.     

Utility of high-resolution climate model simulations for water resources prediction over the Korean Peninsula: a sensitivity study / Utilité de simulations de modèle climatique à haute résolution pour la prévision des ressources en eau dans la Péninsule Coréenne: étude de sensibilité

Abstract

Abstract The utility of simulations of Global Climate Models (GCMs) for regional water resources prediction and management on the Korean Peninsula was assessed by a probabilistic measure. Global Climate Model simulations of an indicator variable (e.g. surface precipitation or temperature) were used for discriminating high vs low regional observations of a target variable (e.g. watershed precipitation or reservoir inflow). The formulation uses the significance probability of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for detecting differences between two distributions. High resolution Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project-II (AMIP-II) type GCM simulations performed by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and AMIP-I type GCM simulations performed by the Korean Meteorological Research Institute (METRI) were used to obtain information for the indicator variables. Observed mean areal precipitation and temperature, and watershed-outlet discharge values for seven major river basins in Korea were used as the target variables. The results suggest that the use of the climate model nodal output from both climate models in the vicinity of the target basin with monthly resolution will be beneficial for water resources planning and management analysis that depends on watershed mean areal precipitation and temperature, and outlet discharge.     

Solute Sources and Processes in the Achankovil River Basin,Western Ghats,Southern India/Sources de Solutés et Processus Associés Dans le Bassin du Fleuve Achankovil,Ghats Occidentaux,Inde du Sud

Abstract

A time series survey was carried out in 2002 to understand the hydrogeochemical processes taking place in the Achankovil River of the Western Ghats Range. The water is neutral with pH and EC ranges from 6.32 to 7.56 and 24–54 µS cm^?1, respectively. Chloride and sodium are the dominant anion and cation in the water respectively. Correlation analysis of the chemical parameters of the water shows that few ions have additional sources. The majority of carbonate is derived from carbonate weathering followed by silicate weathering. Cation concentrations show decreasing trend from upstream to downstream in contrast to the increasing trend in the major world rivers. Dissolved silica in pre-monsoon water is low. The river chemistry is dominated by rock weathering induced by precipitation. Thermodynamic plots show that dolomite, kaolinite, albite and chlorite are in equilibrium with the river water. Chemical weathering is predominant here compared to physical weathering. The overall material transport seems to be lower compared to the other Indian rivers; nevertheless, the solute loads are comparable to certain large rivers such as the River Cauvery in southern India. The solute flux including the nutrient flux is very high among the Western Ghats rivers in relation to its size, which will certainly supplement the productivity of the lake/estuary and the coastal waters. Since this study is restricted to a one-year period, long-term data procurement and analysis along with micro nutrients studies are needed, which are lacking in the present study, to gain insight into the material flux by this river into the Arabian Sea.     

The sudestadas: a hydro-meteorological phenomenon that affects river pollution (River Luján,South America)

Abstract

The “sudestadas” are short-term hydro-meteorological phenomena that produce a “hydraulic plug”, preventing the normal drainage of the water courses in the Río de la Plata Estuary. The purpose of this study was to analyse the influence of the sudestadas on the water quality of the Lower River Luján, which discharges into the Río de la Plata Estuary (59°37′W; 34°43′S). Samplings were conducted from November 1998 to July 2001 at six sites on the lower stretch of river. Physical and chemical variables were measured and a nonparametric test was applied to each variable, grouping samples affected and non-affected by sudestadas, which further diminish the water quality of the river. The frequency and intensity of sudestadas are predicted to increase as a consequence of the Earth's warming; thus, this research suggests that the environmental risk produced by the effects of global change, will be greater.     

Rhyacian-Orosirian tectonic history of the Juiz de Fora Complex: Evidence for an Archean crustal reservoir within an island-arc system

The southern São Francisco Paleocontinent (SFP) comprises Archean nuclei and Paleoproterozoic complexes encompassing magmatic arcs juxtaposed during a Rhyacian to Orosirian orogenic event. The Juiz de Fora Complex (JFC) represents an imbricated thrust system that comprises orthogranulites with a wide compositional range formed in an intra-oceanic setting during the Siderian to the Orosirian and later accreted to the southeastern margin of the SFP. Here we report new petrological, geochemical, whole-rock Nd and Sr data, as well as zircon U–Pb ages from felsic and mafic orthogranulites from the JFC. The new data is combined with a regional compilation that enables an evaluation of the interaction between magmatism and orogenetic episodes in the context of the consolidation of São Francisco Paleocontinent during the Rhyacian–Orosirian. Pre collisional Island Arc tholeiites (IAT), Tonalites-Trondhjemites-Granodiorites (TTGs) and sanukitoid magmatism occurred from 2200 Ma to 2085 Ma. This was followed by post-collisional magmatism, which is represented by hybrid granitoids coeval with the emplacement of E-MORB basic rocks. Crustal signatures for the Rhyacian to Orosirian evolution are highlighted by the dominance of negative ε_Nd(t) associated with Meso- to Neoarchean Nd T_DM model ages as well as inherited zircon grains from the hybrid granitoids. The JFC is extensively highlighted in the literature as a primitive intra-oceanic arc, but here we propose the reworking or recycling of ancient crustal segments within the mature arc stage of the JFC, suggesting a Mesoarchean crustal source involved in the JFC evolution.     

West versus East Mediterranean Sea: origin and genetic differentiation of the sea cucumber Holothuria polii

We studied the genetic structure of the sea cucumber Holothuria (Roweothuria) polii (Delle Chiaje 1823) by analysing the mitochondrial DNA variation in two fragments of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and 16S genes. Individuals were collected in seven locations along the Mediterranean Sea, which cover a wide range of the species distribution. We found high haplotype diversity for COI and moderate diversity for 16S, and low nucleotide diversity for both genes. Our results for the COI gene showed many recent and exclusive haplotypes with few mutational changes, suggesting recent or ongoing population expansion. The Western and Eastern Mediterranean populations exhibited slight but significant genetic differentiation (COI gene) with higher genetic diversity in the East. The most ancient haplotype was not present in the westernmost sampling location (SE Spain). The oldest expansion time was observed in Turkey, corresponding to mid‐Pleistocene. Turkey had also the highest genetic diversity (number of total and exclusive haplotypes, polymorphisms, haplotype and nucleotide diversity). This suggests that this region could be the origin of the subsequent colonizations through the Mediterranean Sea, a hypothesis that should be assessed with nuclear markers in future research.     

Gas-charged sediments in the Ría de Arousa: Short- to long-term fluctuations?

Repeated surveys at control sites in the gas accumulation fields from the Ría de Arousa (Galicia, NW Spain) have shown that the top of the acoustic turbidity fluctuates vertically. The vertical movement of gas fronts is more apparent in the gas fields located in the outer ría, where fluctuations of up to 1.5 ms (1.1 m) have been detected. At the inner ría, the depth to the top of the gas horizons varied between 0.5 and 1 ms (40 to 80 cm). Short-term (diurnal) fluctuations associated with the hydrostatic pressure variations of the water column during a tidal cycle have been identified as the most likely factors to explain fluctuations of gas fields in the outer ría. At the inner ría, gas fields are affected by these short-term pressure changes superimposed on long-term temperature and salinity variations of bottom water masses. This combination produces a different pattern of variation in gas fields from the inner and the outer ría. Prominent pockmarks and acoustic plumes have also been monitored throughout the three seismic surveys. Many of these pockmarks exhibit active characteristics, including the observance of plumes of escaping fluids and sediment.     

Determination of Fluorine and Chlorine by Pyrohydrolysis and Ion Chromatography: Comparison with Alkaline Fusion Digestion and Ion Chromatography

A method to determine F and Cl in silicate materials by employing pyrohydrolysis and ion chromatography (IC) is described. Pyrohydrolysis involved mixing a pulverised sample (∼ 40 mg) with V₂O₅ (∼ 160 mg) and heating to 1100 °C under a wet oxygen flow in a quartz tube. Recovery yields of F and Cl were ∼ 97% using a NaF + NaCl standard solution. Detection limits of the pyrohydrolysis-IC method for silicate samples were 0.36 and 0.69 μg g^-1 for F and Cl, respectively. Fluorine and Cl concentrations were determined in the reference materials JB-2, JB-3 and JA-1 from the GSJ; BCR-2, BHVO-1, BHVO-2, AGV-1 and AGV-2 from the USGS; and NIST SRM 610, 612 and 614 glasses. Precisions (RSD) for determinations of F were 1–13% (except NIST SRM 614) and 2–19% for Cl, and were dependent on the concentration and blank correction. Most results obtained in this study were in good agreement with those of previous studies. In comparison, the Na₂CO₃ + ZnO fusion method at 900 °C showed that the yields of F and Cl by alkaline fusion systematically decreased with fusion duration time. The yields were 84% and 83% for JB-3, inferring that F and Cl were lost in this alkaline fusion.