Eco-environment range in the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers

Based on geographical and hydrological extents delimited, four principles are identified, as the bases for delineating the ranges of the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers in the paper. According to the comprehensive analysis of topographical characteristics, climate conditions, vegetation distribution and hydrological features, the source region ranges for eco-environmental study are defined. The eastern boundary point is Dari hydrological station in the upper reach of the Yellow River. The watershed above Dari hydrological station is the source region of the Yellow River which drains an area of 4.49×104 km2. Natural environment is characterized by the major topographical types of plateau lakes and marshland, gentle landforms, alpine cold semi-arid climate, and steppe and meadow vegetation in the source region of the Yellow River. The eastern boundary point is the convergent site of the Nieqiaqu and the Tongtian River in the upstream of the Yangtze River. The watershed above the convergent site is the source region of the Yangtze River, with a watershed area of 12.24×104 km2. Hills and alpine plain topography, gentle terrain, alpine cold arid and semi-arid climate, and alpine cold grassland and meadow are natural conditions in the source region of the Yangtze River.     

冲积-河流相层序地层模式--以济阳坳陷新近系为例

从层序边界分析人手，对层序类型体系域类型等进行了研究，认为冲积-河流相地层体系域划分具4分性，即发育有低位体系域、扩张体系域、高位体系域，当基准面缓慢下降时，还可发育收缩体系域．同时，根据济阳坳陷新近系沉积特征，指出各体系域对应的沉积体系及相类型，认为低位体系域以侵蚀下切、冲积扇．辫状河沉积为主；扩张体系域由辫状河向曲流河过渡；高位体系域时期以曲流河为主．其次，根据构造演化、古气候变化、古地形等研究认为，尽管新近纪济阳坳陷进入坳陷发育时期，断裂活动明显减弱，但是构造运动对层序发育仍有一定影响；根据古气候分析认为，新近纪经历了北亚热带温湿气候，中亚热带温湿气候，北亚热带干旱气候等阶段．这种气候变化导致了馆陶组沉积早、中期河流纵横交错，辫状河道发育，馆陶组沉积后期逐渐向曲流河过渡；明化镇组沉积期河道相对不发育．由古地形及物源供给分析，认为古地形差异的变化与物源供给对济阳坳陷新近系层序发育、层序样式等有一定程度影响．     

Investigation of spatially distributed braided river flows using a two‐dimensional hydraulic model

This paper reports the application of a two‐dimensional hydraulic model to a braided reach of the Avoca River, New Zealand. Field measurements of water surface elevation, depth and velocity obtained at low flow were used to validate the model and to optimize the parameterization of bed friction. The main systematic trends in the measured flow variables are reproduced by the model. However, field data are characterized by greater spatial variability than model output reflecting differences in the scale of processes measured in the field and represented by the model. Additional model runs were conducted to simulate flow patterns within the study reach at five higher discharges. The purpose of these simulations was to evaluate the potential for using two‐dimensional hydraulic models to quantify the reach‐scale hydraulic characteristics of braided rivers and their dependence on discharge. Changes in flow depth and velocity with increasing discharge exhibit trends that are consistent with the results of previous field investigations, although the tendency for the wetted area of the braidplain within particular depth and velocity categories to remain fixed as discharge rises, as has been noted for several braided rivers in New Zealand, was not observed. Modelled shear stress frequency distributions fit gamma functions that incorporate a distribution shape parameter, the value of which follows clear systematic trends with rising discharge. These results illustrate both the problems of, and potential for, using two‐dimensional hydraulic models in braided river applications. This leads to something of a paradox in that while such models provide a means of generating hydraulic information that would be difficult to obtain in the field at an equivalent spatial resolution, they are, due to the problems inherent to data collection, difficult to validate conclusively. Despite this limitation, the application of spatially distributed models to investigate relationships between discharge and reach‐scale form and process variables appears to have considerable potential. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Runoff Scaling in Large Rivers of the World

Runoff and precipitation scaling with respect to drainage area is analyzed for large river basins of the world, those with mean annual runoff in excess of 10 k³/yr. The usefulness of the specific runoff (runoff per unit drainage area, m/yr) to categorize runoff scaling laws across the complete spectrum of climatic and hydrologic conditions is evaluated. It is found that (1) runoff scales with drainage are in those river basins with specific runoff in excess of 0.15 m/yr (r² = 0.88); (2) runoff scaling with drainage area shows remarkably high statistical correlation (r²= 0.97) in river basins with specific runoff equal to or larger than 1.0 m/yr; (3) runoff does not Inc.rease with Inc.reasing drainage area in river basins with specific runoff below 0.15 m/yr, where no discernible statistical association was found between runoff and drainage area; and (4) precipitation depth (m/yr) is inversely proportional to drainage area raised to a fractional exponent in river basins with specific runoff in excess of 0.15 m/yr.     

中国古大陆及其边缘早古生代层序地层及海平面变化的基本特征

着重总结了我国古大陆及其边缘早古生代大层序（ｍｅｇａｓｅｑｕｅｎｃｅ，一级层序）和中层序（ｍｅｓｏｓｅｑｕｅｎｃｅ，二级层序），以及一级、二级海平面变化的基本特征，并与国外早古生代海平面变化进行对比．我国３大古陆（华北陆块、扬子陆块、塔里木陆块）及其边缘早古生代大层序可划分为两个（ＭＧ－１，ＭＧ－２）．中层序划分为５个（ＭＳ－１，ＭＳ－２，ＭＳ－３，ＭＳ－４，ＭＳ－５）．ＭＧ－１包括ＭＳ－１，ＭＳ－２和ＭＳ－３，时限为９４～１１２Ｍａ（寒武纪和早奥陶世），底以巨大不整合为界，顶以著名巨大沉没不整合为限，沉积了我国显生宙大部分的碳酸盐岩，赋存着丰富的油气和各种金属及非金属矿产．ＭＧ－２包括ＭＳ－４和ＭＳ－５，时限为５８～６８Ｍａ（中、晚奥陶世和志留纪），底界以巨大沉没不整合为界，为硅质碎屑－碳酸盐岩组合．海平面变化的级别划分对应于层序．中国３大古陆及其边缘早古生代海平面变化的总貌：ＭＧＳＣ－１初期普遍发生快速海进，海平面升高，尔后海平面下降，其间有多期次的小幅度海进和海退变化．ＭＧＳＣ－２则普遍海平面升高，上升幅度大于ＭＧＳＣ－１，尔后逐渐下降．     

三江源地区气候变化及其对生态环境的影响

利用EOF等方法通过计算 1 96 2～ 2 0 0 1年 4 0年来三江源地区 1 6个气象台站气温、降水、蒸发资料 ,分析了三江源地区近 4 0年来气候变化的异常特征及其对生态环境的影响 ,结果表明 :三江源地区气候变化表现为气温升高、降水减少和蒸发增大的干旱化气候变化趋势 ,同时 ,在气候干旱化和人为活动的影响下出现了草场退化、湖泊萎缩、河流流量减少、土壤沙化和水土流失等生态环境荒漠化问题。     

A quantitative, three-dimensional depositional model of gravelly braided rivers

A quantitative, three‐dimensional depositional model of gravelly, braided rivers has been developed based largely on the deposits of the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska. These deposits were described using cores, wireline logs, trenches and ground‐penetrating radar profiles. The origin of the deposits was inferred from observations of: (1) channel and bar formation and migration and channel filling, interpreted from aerial photographs; (2) water flow during floods; and (3) the topography and texture of the river bed at low‐flow stage. This depositional model quantitatively represents the geometry of the different scales of strataset, the spatial relationships among them and their sediment texture distribution. Porosity and permeability in the model are related to sediment texture. The geometry of a particular type and scale of strataset is related to the geometry and migration of the bedform type (e.g. ripples, dunes, bedload sheets, bars) associated with deposition of the strataset. In particular, the length‐to‐thickness ratio of stratasets is similar to the wavelength‐to‐height ratio of associated bedforms. Furthermore, the wavelength and height of bedforms such as dunes and bars are related to channel depth and width. Therefore, the thickness of a particular scale of strataset (i.e. medium‐scale cross‐sets and large‐scale sets of inclined strata) will vary with river dimensions. These relationships between the dimensions of stratasets, bedforms and channels mean that this depositional model can be applied to other gravelly fluvial deposits. The depositional model can be used to interpret the origin of ancient gravelly fluvial deposits and to aid in the characterization of gravelly fluvial aquifers and hydrocarbon reservoirs.     

贡嘎山东坡海螺沟的河川径流特征

对贡嘎山高山水文观测试验系统进行了简要介绍，并对海螺沟冰川河以及黄崩溜沟的径流特征进行了初步探讨。由于大气降水同是冰川河及黄崩溜沟径流的重要补给来源，故其径流量的季节变化明显带有大气降水过程的烙印，显得丰、枯分明。在冰川河，冰雪融水和地下水在枯水季节的稳定补给改变了大气降水对冰川河径流的年内分配过程；在黄崩溜沟，由于冰雪融水和地下水对其径流的补给非常有限，大气降水过程对其径流过程的影响便明显大过冰川河。     

Rivers turned to rock: Late Quaternary alluvial induration influencing the behaviour and morphology of an anabranching river in the Australian monsoon tropics

Late Quaternary alluvial induration has greatly influenced contemporary channel morphology on the anabranching Gilbert River in the monsoon tropics of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Gilbert, one of a number of rivers in this region, has contributed to an extensive system of coalescing low-gradient and partly indurated riverine plains. Extensive channel sands were deposited by enhanced flow conditions during marine oxygen isotope (OI) Stage 5. Subsequent flow declined, probably associated with increased aridity, however, enhanced runoff recurred again in OI Stages 4–3 (65–50 ka). Aridity then capped these plains with 4–7 m of mud. A widespread network of sandy distributary channels was incised into this muddy surface from sometime after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the mid Holocene during a fluvial episode more active than the present but less so than those of OI Stages 5 and 3. This network is still partly active but with channel avulsion and abandonment now occurring largely proximal to the main Gilbert flow path.A tropical climate and reactive catchment lithology have enhanced chemical weathering and lithification of alluvium along the river resulting in the formation of small rapids, waterfalls and inset gorges, features characteristic more of bedrock than alluvial systems. Thermoluminescence (TL) and comparative optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages of the sediments are presented along with U/Th ages of pedogenic calcrete and Fe/Mn oxyhydroxide/ oxide accumulations. They show that calcrete precipitated during the Late Quaternary at times similar to those that favoured ferricrete formation, possibly because of an alternating wet–dry climate. Intense chemical alteration of the alluvium leading to induration appears to have prevailed for much of the Late Quaternary but, probably due to exceptional dryness, not during the LGM. The result has been restricted channel migration and a reduced capacity for the channel to adjust and accommodate sudden changes in bedload. Consequent avulsions have caused local stream powers to increase by an order of magnitude, inducing knickpoint erosion, local incision and the sudden influx of additional bedload that has triggered further avulsions. The Gilbert River, while less energetic than its Pleistocene ancestors, is clearly an avulsive system, and emphasizes the importance in some tropical rivers of alluvial induration for reinforcing the banks, generating nickpoints, reworking sediment and thereby developing and maintaining an indurated and anabranching river style.     

Differing controls on river‐ and lake‐water hydrogen and oxygen isotopic values in the western United States

Surface water oxygen and hydrogen isotopic values are commonly used as proxies of precipitation isotopic values to track modern hydrologic processes while proxies of water isotopic values preserved in lake and river sediments are used for paleoclimate and paleoaltimetry studies. Previous work has been able to explain variability in USA river‐water and meteoric‐precipitation oxygen isotope variability with geographic variables. These studies show that in the western United States, river‐water isotopic values are depleted relative to precipitation values. In comparison, the controls on lake‐water isotopic values are not well constrained. It has been documented that western United States lake‐water input values, unlike river water, reflect the monthly weighted mean isotopic value of precipitation. To understand the differing controls on lake‐ and river‐water isotopic values in the western United States, we examine the seasonal distribution of precipitation, evaporation and snowmelt across a range of seasonality regimes. We generate new predictive equations based on easily measured factors for western United States lake‐water, which are able to explain 69–63% of the variability in lake‐water hydrogen and oxygen isotopic values. In addition to the geographic factors that can explain river and precipitation values, lake‐water isotopic values need factors related to local hydrologic and climatic characteristics to explain variability. Study results suggest that the spring snowmelt runs off the landscape via rivers and streams, depleting river and stream‐water isotopic values. By contrast, lakes receive seasonal contributions of precipitation in proportion to the seasonal fraction of total annual precipitation within their watershed. Climate change may alter the ratio of snow to rain fall, affecting water resource partitioning between rivers and lakes and by implication of groundwater. Paleolimnological studies must account for the multiple drivers of water isotopic values; likewise, studies based on the isotopic composition of fossil material need to distinguish between species that are associated with rivers versus lakes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.