Possible impact of dam reservoirs and river diversions on material fluxes to the Gulf of Thailand

Thai people have always been agricultural-based, although rainwater is not enough to sustain year-round agricultural practice. The first earth-filled dam was built across a valley near Sukhothai over 700 years ago. Now, there are six major multipurposed dam reservoirs, among which the largest is the Sri Nakarind (SN) built across the Kwae Yai River, the main branch of the Mae Klong River in the western part of Thailand. The first multipurposed dam reservoir built on the Chao Phraya (largest) River System is the Bhumibhol Dam on the Ping River. In this paper, the two Mae Klong River Dam Reservoirs and their biology and chemistry are discussed. Also investigated are the historical records of material fluxes to the Gulf of Thailand in down-core sediment profiles and in 40-year bands of coral, Porites lutea, taken from the Upper Gulf of Thailand near Si Chang Island. Sediment cores studied did not show clear decreases in the biogenic silica concentration in the Upper Gulf area after the building of dams. Part of the reasons might be the higher rate of dissolution of silica in tropical waters bioturbation of surface layers or the constant disturbance of the bottom sediment by fishermen using bottom trawls. The record in the coral bands seems to be more promising in reflecting the material flux change due to dam construction. An attempt to detect changes in diatom population with time due to the expected decrease in siliceous material discharge was not possible because there was a change from the use of 70 μm mesh size to 20 μm mesh size resulting in the increase of species and biomass, although the diatom percentage remained above 80% in all estuarine samples.     

Reynolds stress and TKE production in an estuary with a tidal bore

We report new measurements of the turbulent properties of the flow in a tidally energetic estuarine channel of almost uniform cross-section. A high-frequency (1.2 MHz), bottom-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) has been used to observe the velocity field at a sampling rate of 10 Hz in parallel with measurements of the surface elevation by tide gauges. Our data have been analysed using the Variance Method to determine turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), shear stress and TKE production over the tidal cycle with a time resolution of 60 s. During the highly energetic but brief flood period, when the surface axial velocity reaches 2 m s⁻¹, we observed large values of stress (>2 Pa) and shear production (5 W m⁻³). TKE is also input through the release of energy in the bore itself which results in a brief but intense injection of energy at the bore front with large transient TKE levels (100 J m⁻³). Subsequent input by shear production maintains TKE levels which are generally lower (20 J m⁻³) than the strong peak associated with the bore for the rest of the flood. On the ebb, the flow is relatively tranquil with maximum speeds 0.5 m s⁻¹ and peak TKE production rates of 0.1 W m⁻³.The flow and elevation data have also been used to estimate the energy fluxes into and out of the estuary. Short (1 h), intense energy inputs (8 MW at springs) on the flood flow are largely balanced by longer, less intense seaward energy flow on the ebb. The net energy input is found to be 0.1 MW at springs which is consistent with estimates of upstream dissipation. Peak dissipation in the bore itself may exceed the mean energy input but it is active only for a small fraction of the tidal cycle and its average contribution does not exceed 12% of total dissipation.     

基于地学信息图谱的河道、海岸线演变对黄河三角洲景观格局影响研究

本文利用1988、1998、2009和2016年四期遥感影像,运用GIS技术,将地学信息图谱的图形思维与景观生态学的定量思维相结合,以距今不同时期的亚三角洲和滨海湿地为研究区,从景观结构和景观演替两个方面探究黄河三角洲河道、海岸线演变对景观格局的影响。结果表明:(1)距今不同时间的河道对黄河三角洲景观结构的影响程度不同,距今时间越长的亚三角洲研究区内耕地占总面积的比例越大且耕地是亚三角洲研究区中的第一优势景观类型。在1855—1889亚三角洲研究区内,除耕地和建筑用地外,其他各类景观占总面积的比例都较小且随时间变化不明显;在1929—1934亚三角洲研究区内,盐田、养殖池占总面积的比例从2009年到2016年增加了近40%,涨幅明显;在1964—1976亚三角洲研究区内,各类景观占总面积的比例趋于平均;在2017至今的亚三角洲研究区内,耕地和光滩占总面积的比例较高,达到24%左右。(2)距今不同时间的海岸线对黄河三角洲景观结构的影响程度也不同,在1855滨海湿地研究区内,耕地占总面积比例为60%左右,而海域占总面积比例接近于0,极差较大;在1934和1974滨海湿地研究区内,光滩、柽柳、碱蓬群落、芦苇、白茅群落占总面积比例随时间变化几乎呈逐渐下降趋势,而建筑用地和盐田、养殖池则呈逐渐上升趋势;2009滨海湿地研究区,河流、人工水域占总面积比例在2009年和2016年均达到32%以上。(3)根据景观类型重心变化特征,分析河道、海岸线演变对景观演替的影响程度,将不同时期亚三角洲和滨海湿地研究区景观演替分为如下几类:亚三角洲人类活动主导型、废弃河道主导型、行水河道主导型、滨海湿地人类活动主导型、废弃海岸主导型、新海岸主导型。     

The effects of wastewater discharges on the functioning of a small temporarily open/closed estuary

Wastewater discharges affect the functioning of small temporarily open/closed estuaries (TOCEs) through two main mechanisms: (1) they can significantly change the water balance by altering the quantity of water inflows, and (2) they can significantly change the nutrient balance and hence the water quality. This study investigated the bio-physical responses of a typical, small TOCE on the east coast of South Africa, the Mhlanga Estuary. This estuary receives significant inflows of treated effluent from upstream wastewater treatment works. Water and nutrient budgets were used together with biological sampling to investigate changes in the functioning of the system. The increase in inflows due to the effluent discharges has significantly increased the mouth breaching frequency. Furthermore, when the mouth closes, the accumulation of nutrients leads to eutrophication and algal blooms. A grey water index, namely the proportion of effluent in the estuary and an indicator of the additional nutrient inputs into the estuary, reached high values (?50%) during low flow regimes and when the mouth was closed. In these hyper-eutrophic conditions (DIN and DIP concentrations up to 457 μM and 100 μM respectively), field measurements showed that algal blooms occurred within about 14 days following closure of the mouth (chlorophyll-a concentrations up to 375 mg chl-a m⁻³). Water and nutrient balance simulations for alternative scenarios suggest that further increases in wastewater discharges would result in more frequent breaching events and longer open mouth conditions, but the occurrence of hyper-eutrophic conditions would initially intensify despite more frequent openings. The study indicates how water and nutrient balance simulations can be used in the planning and impact assessment of wastewater treatment facilities.     

长江中下游第四纪沉积物发育土壤磁性增强的环境磁学机制

对长江中下游第四纪沉积物 (Q₃ 黄土,Q₂ 红土和Q₃ 红土 )发育土壤的磁性增强现象及其物理机制进行了讨论。结果表明 :(1)铁磁性矿物是土壤磁性的主要载体,它们是成土过程中形成的稳定单畴 (SSD)和超顺磁性 (SP)态的次生磁性矿物,没有显示重要的反铁磁性矿物的贡献;(2 )土壤磁化率 (χ)的高低与成土过程产生的稳定单畴和超顺磁性颗粒呈极显著正相关,指示了风化成土作用的强度,磁化率可作为反映成土环境变化的代用指标;(3)频率磁化率 (χfd) 5 %可作为土壤中的超顺磁性颗粒存在与否的临界值,土壤 χfd值的高低同样反映了风化成土作用的强度,可用作研究第四纪环境变化的有用工具之一。     

The Effect of Geologic Structures on the Control of Floods in the Middle Yangtze River Valley

This paper discusses the role of geologic structures in the occurrence of floods and how to prevent flood in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and gives the author's suggestion that the Luoshan Qiakou be expanded and the land reclaimed from Dongting Lake be returned to the lake in compliance with the law of geology. .     

海勃湾水库用于黄河内蒙古河段防凌作用的研究

黄河内蒙古河段冰期一般在冬季封河期和春季开河期０容易出现严重凌情,造成灾害。故良好的封河形势和开河形势是避免凌灾发生的重要条件,自１９６８年刘家峡水库运用以来,黄河内下河段凌情已大有缓解。但是,由于有峡水库距黄河内下河段较远。对河道凌情变化反应不够灵敏。因此,一些年份仍有较为严重的凌灾发生。在分析黄河内蒙古河段封、开河形势特点的基础上,深入研究了海勃湾水库用于该段春季防凌调度的作用和能力,为黄河内     

Risk Assessment,Emergency Preparedness and Response to Hazards: The Case of the 1997 Red River Valley Flood,Canada

The prevention and/or mitigation offlood disasters requires continual research, numerouscapital investment decisions, and high-qualitymaintenance and modifications of flood-controlstructures. In addition, institutional and privatepreparedness is needed. The experience offlood-control in North America has shown mixedoutcomes: while flood frequency has declined duringthe last few decades, the economic losses havecontinued to rise. Recent catastrophic floods havealso been linked to major structural interventions inthe region. The flood diversions may cause harmfuleffects upon the floodplain inhabitants by influencingflood levels in areas which are not normallyflood-prone. The increasing vulnerability of thefloodplain inhabitants poses new challenges and raisesquestions concerning the existing risk assessmentmethods, institutional preparedness and responses todisaster-related public emergencies, and local-levelpublic involvement in flood mitigation efforts.In the context of the catastrophic 1997 floods of theRed River Valley, Manitoba, Canada, this researchfocuses on two aspects of flood-related emergencygovernance and management: (i) the functions andeffectiveness of control structures, and (ii) theroles, responsibilities and effectiveness oflegislative and other operational measures. The studyconcludes that the flood-loss mitigation measures,both in terms of effects of control structures andinstitutional interventions for emergency evacuation,were not fully effective for ensuring the well-beingand satisfaction of floodplain inhabitants. Althoughorganizational preparedness and mobilization to copewith the 1997 flood emergency was considerable, theirsuccess during the onset of the flood event waslimited. Lack of communication and understandingbetween institutions, a reluctance to implementup-to-date regulations, and minimal publicparticipation in the emergency decision-making processall contributed to the difficulties experienced byfloodplain inhabitants.     

长江上游国土资源,生态环境与灾害防治

长江上游干流流经青、藏、川、滇、鄂、渝6省市,支流涉及甘肃、陕西、贵州3省,流域面积为105.4×10⁴km²,人口1.55亿,占全国国土面积的11.1%。
长江上游地区经济发展相对落后,人均国民收入低,少数民族众多,与中下游经济发达地区差距很大。但上游地区蕴藏着巨大的经济开发潜能,丰富的水力和矿产等自然资源,以及农、林、牧等物产,对中下游地区经济发展有着巨大的支援作用。同时,由于自然地理上的相关性,又使上游地区的开发治理,对中下游地区的生态环境和可持续发展有着至关重要的作用。
目前,长江上游森林植被大量减少,水源涵养能力下降,水土流失加剧:泥石流、滑坡、崩塌等地质灾害严重,旱、洪灾害频发;沿江大量排放废气、废水、污水,使大气和水体严重污染。随着上游地区生态环境的日益恶化,给中下游地区带来严重危害,河道、湖泊、水库淤积加速,洪涝灾害频繁发生,造成中下游地区经济建设和人民生命财产的重大损失。因此,必须尽快对长江上游地区进行全面综合治理,尽快开展新一轮国土资源大调查,制定各种自然资源的合理开发利用和保护方案;控制沿江污染源的排放,建立大气和水体污染监测系统;运用高新技术,建立上游重点地带地壳形变的动态监测和预警系统,防治地质灾害;充分利用上游地区丰富的水力资源,兴建多级水利设施,对地表水实施人工的时空控制,消除旱、洪灾害。     

Holocene Foraminifera as Indicators of Relative Estuarine–Lagoonal and Oceanic Influences in Estuarine Sediments of the River Murray, South Australia: Volume 53, Number 3 (2000), pages 378–391

In southeastern South Australia, the River Murray debouches through a coastal barrier separating euryhaline estuarine-lagoonal waters from the Southern Ocean. Depending upon the relative freshwater outflow of the river and ingress of the ocean, water salinity varies greatly within the lower estuary. Ammonia beccarii and Elphidium articulatum are euryhaline species of foraminifera that characterize the estuary and back-barrier Coorong Lagoon. The inner-shelf marine environment hosts an assemblage in which Discorbis dimidiatus, E. crispum, E. macelliforme, and various cibicidid species predominate. In cored sediments recovered from the shallow lower estuary, the relative abundance of A. beccarii + E. articulatum was compared with that of D. dimidiatus + E. crispum + E. macelliforme + other species. These data, and AMS radiocarbon ages determined for foraminifera and ostracods, provide evidence of a change from maximum oceanic influence (5255 ± 60 yr B.P.) to maximum estuarine influence (3605 ± 70 yr B.P.). Over this same time interval, sea level fell relatively by about 2 m. However, the event was also contemporaneous with falling water levels in several Victorian lakes, and it is thus attributed to onset of climatic aridity. Reduced precipitation in the River Murray catchment and reduced freshwater outflow enhanced development of the flood-tide delta and constriction of the mouth.