Roughness effect on the correction factor of surface velocity for rill flows

Flow velocity is one of the most important hydrodynamic variables for both channelized (rill and gullies) and interrill erosive phenomena. The dye tracer technique to measure surface flow velocity V_s is based on the measurement of the travel time of a tracer needed to cover a known distance. The measured V_s must be corrected to obtain the mean flow velocity V using a factor α_v = V/V_s which is generally empirically deduced. The V_s measurement can be influenced by the method applied to time the travel of the dye-tracer and α_v can vary in different flow conditions. Experiments were performed by a fixed bed small flume simulating a rill channel for two roughness conditions (sieved soil, gravel). The comparison between a chronometer-based (CB) and video-based (VB) technique to measure V_s was carried out. For each slope-discharge combination, 20 measurements of V_s, characterized by a sample mean V_m, were carried out. For both techniques, the frequency distributions of V_s/V_m resulted independent of slope and discharge. For a given technique, all measurements resulted normally distributed, with a mean equal to one, and featured by a low variability. Therefore, V_m was considered representative of surface flow velocity. Regardless of roughness, the V_m values obtained by the two techniques were very close and characterized by a good measurement precision. The developed analysis on α_v highlighted that it is not correlated with Reynolds number for turbulent flow regime. Moreover, α_v is correlated neither with the Froude number nor with channel slope. However, the analysis of the empirical frequency distributions of the correction factor demonstrated a slope effect. For each technique (CB, VB)-roughness (soil, gravel) combination, a constant correction factor was statistically representative even if resulted in less accurate V estimations compared to those yielded by the slope-specific correction factor.     

A new portable in situ flume for measuring critical shear stress on river beds

A new portable in situ flume(PISF)for measuring critical bed shear stress(CBSS)was developed in this study.The PISF consists of an open bottom sediment erosion chamber and an electrically-driven pump.Unlike most existing in situ flumes with similar designs,the new PISF does not rely on monitoring the flow conditions or particle density in the sediment erosion chamber;instead,it is a pre-calibrated flume.The calibration was performed by first determining CBSS of various selected sediment samples of known particle size and density(using the law of the wall),based on flow velocity-depth profiles measured in a 6 m straight open-channel flume using a Particle Image Velocimetry(PIV)system.These same particles of known CBSS were then used in the new in-situ flume under controlled lab conditions to obtain a series of calibration curves of CBSS vs.pump electrical power.A wide variety of particle types and sizes(simulated sediments)were used in this two-step calibration procedure to widen CBSS measurement range and simulate cohesive force effects.The size of the PISF is much smaller and more practical than other similar devices as lamellar flow conditions are not required and it can be applied to a wide range of sediment types including cohesive sediments.     

Vortical mechanism for generation of astrophysical jets

A vortical mechanism for generation of astrophysical jets is proposed based on exact solutions of the hydrodynamic equations with a generalized Rankine vortex. It is shown that the development of a Rankine vortex in the polar layer of a rotating gravitating body creates longitudinal fluxes of matter that converge toward the vortex trunk, providing an exponential growth in the angular rotation velocity of the trunk and a pressure drop on its axis. The increased rotational velocity of the vortex trunk and the on-axis pressure drop cease when the discontinuity in the azimuthal velocity at the surface of the trunk reaches the sound speed. During this time, ever deeper layers of the gravitating body are brought into the vortical motion, while the longitudinal velocity of the flow along the vortex trunk builds up, producing jet outflows of mass from its surface. The resulting vortices are essentially dissipationless. Dedicated to the 100-th birthday of Academician V. A. Ambartsumyan __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 201–218 (May 2008).     

Spatially distributed modelling of soil erosion and sediment yield at regional scales in Spain

Initiated by the need to quantify erosion rates and the impacts of global changes on erosion, several attempts have been made to apply erosion models at regional scales. However, these models have often been directed towards on-site soil erosion estimates, emphasising sheet and rill erosion processes, and disregarding gully erosion, channel erosion and sediment transport. These models are therefore of limited use for the assessment of sediment yield, off-site impacts of erosion, and for the development of environmental management to control these impacts at regional scale. This study analyses and compares three spatially distributed models for the prediction of soil erosion and/or sediment yield at regional scales: the WATEM-SEDEM model that is based on the empirical Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in combination with a sediment transport equation, the physics-based Pan European Soil Erosion Risk Assessment model (PESERA), and a newly developed Spatially Distributed Scoring model (SPADS). The three models were applied to 61 Spanish drainage basins and model predictions were evaluated against data on measured reservoir sedimentation rates. Global data sets on land use, climate, elevation and soil characteristics were used as model input for WATEM-SEDEM and SPADS, whereas published soil erosion estimates of PESERA at 1 km² resolution were used directly. SPADS and WATEM-SEDEM provided best results after separate calibration for basins with a Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) higher than 5% and those with an SDR lower than 5%. In this way, SPADS explained 67% of variation in sediment yield, while WATEM-SEDEM explained 48% of the variation. PESERA represents a promising alternative to the use of empirical models at the regional scale as it can be applied to very diverse environments with little calibration. However, PESERA provides soil erosion rates and not sediment yield estimates. For most basins PESERA soil erosion rates vary between fifty and close to zero percent of total sediment yield. Two major factors may explain this discrepancy between modelled soil erosion rates and measured sediment yield. First, it may be that PESERA underestimates soil erosion under Mediterranean conditions, although PESERA soil erosion rates are of the same order of magnitude as erosion rates measured in erosion plot studies. Second, gully-, river channel erosion and sediment transport processes may be much more important than sheet- and rill erosion for regional scale sediment yield in these environments. These issues therefore require further attention in future model development. Although spatially lumped models provide better predictions of sediment yield at the basin scale, and while validation of the predicted spatial patterns of sources and sinks of sediment requires further research, spatially distributed models are expected to be of value to support management decisions regarding the assessment of on-site and off-site impacts of erosion at the regional scale.     

祁连山东段剥蚀面与青藏高原隆升

祁连山北麓广泛分布着一级剥蚀面, 它是山地阶段性隆升的产物. 通过对剥蚀面之上砾石层中细砂物质的ESR测年以及黄土地层的古地磁测定, 认为祁连山东段的剥蚀面最终解体于1.4 Ma BP. 这与邻近区域陇西盆地的剥蚀面解体时代(1.8 Ma BP)有所差异, 这或许是第四纪期间青藏高原阶段性隆升在区域间存在着差异特征的重要表现.     

中国北方农牧交错区交通用地风蚀个例分析-以河北丰宁县坝上大滩镇东沟村为例

对中国北方农牧交错区风蚀变化最为明显的地区进行定点研究,并选取一个小流域作为研究对象。测量了农村交通用地的土壤风蚀状况,计算结果表明：交通工具对十壤作用加速了土壤风蚀过程．扣除车轮挤压地面下降外,交通工具引起的土壤风蚀速率在2．9～3．8cm／a之间。由此可见。在减缓农牧交错区土壤风蚀方面。农村交通道路风蚀问题必须予以考虑。根据社会经济的发展．对交通道路进行固化可减缓这类用地的风蚀状况。     

有限空间中三维壁面紊动射流流动特性试验研究

为了研究三维壁面紊动射流前方布置的垂直挡板对时均流动特性的影响,采用粒子图像测速技术对不同雷诺数和淹没水深条件下的流速场进行了测量,统计分析了U速度剖面分布、速度半宽值变化和最大速度衰减规律。结果表明:沿射流方向具有3个明显不同的衰减区,依次划分为自由边界下的三维壁面射流区（Ⅰ区）、垂直挡板影响区（Ⅱ区）和近壁区（Ⅲ区）。在重点分析的Ⅱ区内,3个特征物理量的分布规律均与雷诺数无关;在垂直挡板影响下,速度半宽值扩展率明显加快,发展更为充分;在水深H~1.75H范围内,射孔中垂面内速度半宽值扩展率为0.043,同时0.5H的递增对射孔中心水平面内速度半宽值的分布较为敏感,其扩展率由0.205增至0.270;最大速度衰减对水深的改变并不敏感,且在Ⅱ区加速衰减,衰减指数为1.095。通过与半无限空间中三维壁面射流径向型衰减区的流动特征比较,Ⅱ区与之相似,将Ⅱ区视为提前进入径向型衰减区。     

基于人工降雨试验的淮北地区产流产沙差异性研究

针对淮北地区水土流失问题,利用野外人工模拟降雨试验,分析了不同雨强(40mm/h、60mm/h和80mm/h)和坡度(5°、10°和15°)条件下砂姜黑土和黄潮土产流产沙差异。结果表明:砂姜黑土初始产流时间长,产流总量小。坡面出现细沟时,砂姜黑土初始含沙量随时间变化有减小趋势,最终趋于稳定,而黄潮土含沙量呈波动变化;60mm/h、80mm/h雨强10°坡砂姜黑土产沙总量大于黄潮土,其他情况黄潮土产沙总量大于砂姜黑土,黄潮土土壤侵蚀严重。砂姜黑土表面细沟发育密度大,主要在坡面中下部,为相互连通的树枝状结构,而黄潮土表面细沟发育密度小,形成沟壑。两种土壤产流总量、产沙总量与坡度、雨强分别呈多元线性函数、多元幂函数关系,雨强对坡面产流产沙总量的影响大于坡度。     

一个适用于我国北方的沙尘暴天气数值预测系统及其应用试验

将澳大利亚新南威尔士大学(UNSW)邵亚平发展的具有清晰风蚀物理学概念的起沙数值模式、输送模式与PSU/NCAR的中尺度气象预报模式MM5进行耦合,以高精度中国区域的GIS(Geographic Information System)数据为基础,建立了一个较完整的沙尘暴起沙和输送过程的预测系统.该预测系统可以预测地面起沙率和大气中沙尘浓度.在此基础上,采用该系统对2002年3～4月3次影响我国北方大部分地区的沙尘(暴)天气的起沙和输送过程进行了模拟试验.试验结果表明模拟的沙尘浓度与地面天气现象及卫星云图的沙尘天气范围比较一致,预测系统对沙尘天气的起沙和输送过程有较好的模拟能力.北方上述大范围沙尘天气的沙尘源地为蒙古国的南戈壁省、东戈壁省,内蒙古中西部,河北省北部,山西省东北部,甘肃和青海北部等地区.起沙中贡献最大的粒子粒径为2～11μm和11～22 μm,能够长时间、长距离输送的沙尘也是上述大小的粒子,沙尘粒子的垂直输送高度一般在500 hPa以下.     

Short-Term Morphological and Shoreline Changes at Trinkat Island,Andaman and Nicobar,India, After the 2004 Tsunami

The tsunami waves generated during the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake of 26 December 2004 devastated the coastal area along Trinkat Island, causing sudden changes to the morphology of the landforms. This study uses a series of satellite images to record the short-term morphological response and shoreline changes as well as the recovery of coastal land after its destruction. Results indicate that the island experienced substantial erosion and a significant reduction in land area. Shoreline erosion is more prevalent than accretion at an average linear regression rate of ～?9 m per year between 2004 and 2013. The major morphological changes at Trinkat Island were observed in coastal inlets, beaches, and bay head-lands. Straight beaches had almost recovered eight years after the tsunami; however, erosion is continually observed in other areas. Our study will help understanding the response and recovery of shorelines in Indian Ocean regions after the 2004 tsunami.