Monitoring nitrogen concentration of oilseed rape from hyperspectral data using radial basis function

Remote sensing technology is the important tool of digital earth, it can facilitate nutrient management in sustainable cropping systems. In the study, two types of radial basis function (RBF) neural network approaches, the standard radial basis function (SRBF) neural networks and the modified type of RBF, generalized regression neural networks (GRNN), were investigated in estimating the nitrogen concentrations of oilseed rape canopy using vegetation indices (VIs) and hyperspectral reflectance. Comparison analyses were performed to the spectral variables and the approaches. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and determination coefficients (R²) were used to assess their predictability of nitrogen concentrations. For all spectral variables (VIs and hyperspectral reflectance), the GRNN method produced more accurate estimates of nitrogen concentrations than did the SRBF method at all ranges of nitrogen concentrations, and the better agreements between the measured and the predicted nitrogen concentration were obtained with the GRNN method. This indicated that the GRNN method is prior to the SRBF method in estimation of nitrogen concentrations. Among the VIs, the Modified Chlorophyll Absorption in Reflectance Index (MCARI), MCARI₁₅₁₀, and Transformed Chlorophyll Absorption in Reflectance Index are better than the others in estimating oilseed rape canopy nitrogen concentrations. Compared to the results from VIs, the hyperspectral reflectance data also gave an acceptable estimation. The study showed that nitrogen concentrations of oilseed rape canopy could be monitored using remotely sensed data and the RBF method, especially the GRNN method, is a useful explorative tool for oilseed rape nitrogen concentration monitoring when applied on hyperspectral data.     

Mass‐balance modeling of mineral weathering rates and CO2 consumption in the forested,metabasaltic Hauver Branch watershed,Catoctin Mountain,Maryland, USA

Mineral weathering rates and a forest macronutrient uptake stoichiometry were determined for the forested, metabasaltic Hauver Branch watershed in north‐central Maryland, USA. Previous studies of Hauver Branch have had an insufficient number of analytes to permit determination of rates of all the minerals involved in chemical weathering, including biomass. More equations in the mass‐balance matrix were added using existing mineralogic information. The stoichiometry of a deciduous biomass term was determined using multi‐year weekly to biweekly stream‐water chemistry for a nearby watershed, which drains relatively unreactive quartzite bedrock. At Hauver Branch, calcite hosts ~38 mol% of the calcium ion (Ca²⁺) contained in weathering minerals, but its weathering provides ~90% of the stream water Ca²⁺. This occurs in a landscape with a regolith residence time of more than several Ka (kiloannum). Previous studies indicate that such old regolith does not typically contain dissolving calcite that affects stream Ca²⁺/Na⁺ ratios. The relatively high calcite dissolution rate likely reflects dissolution of calcite in fractures of the deep critical zone. Of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) consumed by mineral weathering, calcite is responsible for approximately 27%, with the silicate weathering consumption rate far exceeding that of the global average. The chemical weathering of mafic terrains in decaying orogens thus may be capable of influencing global geochemical cycles, and therefore, climate, on geological timescales. Based on carbon‐balance calculations, atmospheric‐derived sulfuric acid is responsible for approximately 22% of the mineral weathering occurring in the watershed. Our results suggest that rising air temperatures, driven by global warming and resulting in higher precipitation, will cause the rate of chemical weathering in the Hauver Branch watershed to increase until a threshold temperature is reached. Beyond the threshold temperature, increased recharge would produce a shallower groundwater table and reduced chemical weathering rates. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sediment production and yield from an alluvial gully in northern Queensland,Australia

Sediment production, transport and yield were quantified over various timescales in response to rainfall and runoff within an alluvial gully (7 · 8 ha), which erodes into dispersible sodic soils of a small floodplain catchment (33 ha) along the Mitchell River, northern Australia. Historical air photographs and recent global positioning system (GPS) surveys and LiDAR data documented linear increases in gully area and volume, indicating that sediment supply has been relatively consistent over the historic period. Daily time lapse photography of scarp retreat rates and internal erosion processes also demonstrated that erosion from rainfall and runoff consistently supplied fine washload (< 63 µm) sediment in addition to coarse lags of sand bed material. Empirical measurements of suspended sediment concentrations (10 000 to >100 000 mg/L) and sediment yields (89 to 363 t/ha/yr) were high for both Australian and world data. Total sediment yield estimated from empirical washload and theoretical bed material load was dominated by fine washload (< 63 µm). A lack of hysteresis in suspended sediment rating curves, scarp retreat and sediment yield correlated to rainfall input, and an equilibrium channel outlet slope supported the hypothesis that partially or fully transport‐limited conditions predominated along the alluvial gully outlet channel. This is in contrast to sediment supply‐limited conditions on uneroded floodplains above gully head scarps. While empirical data presented here can support future modelling efforts to predict suspended sediment concentration and yield under the transport limiting situations, additional field data will also be needed to better quantify sediment erosion and transport rates and processes in alluvial gullies at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Time of concentration: a paradox in modern hydrology

Abstract

The time of concentration is a primary parameter for a variety of modern hydrological models adopted in professional and scientific communities. Nevertheless, a universally accepted working definition of this parameter is currently lacking and several definitions can be found in the technical literature along with related estimation procedures. This study brings to light the inherent variability of these definitions through the empirical analysis of four small basins. These case studies demonstrate that available approaches for the estimation of the time of concentration may yield numerical predictions that differ from each other by up to 500%.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis

Citation Grimaldi, S., Petroselli, A., Tauro, F. and Porfiri, M., 2012. Time of concentration: a paradox in modern hydrology. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (2), 217–228.     

Distinct effects of temperature change on discharge and non-point pollution in subtropical southern China by SWAT simulation

Abstract

Climate change impacts on the availability of water resources. Projection of hydrological response to temperature change is valuable for water management. Such response may be complex and uncertain at the watershed scale and differences may exist between low and high latitudes. A simulation experiment was achieved by using SWAT modelling in the upstream watershed of Dongjiang River, South China. After calibration, the model was found appropriate for hydrological simulation in the study area and was run from 1995 to 2004 under a series of temperature change scenarios to reveal the response of streamflow and loads of sediment and nutrients. For a temperature increase of 3°C, streamflow, sediment and total phosphorus decreased by 5.2, 7.7 and 2.2%, respectively. Linear temperature change seemed to have a linear hydrological response. Nutrient deficiency was still the primary vegetation stress compared with water availability and temperature stress under rising temperatures. Comparison with previous research showed that two southern subtropical watersheds (one upstream and one downstream) gave different hydrological responses. Sediment and inorganic nitrogen loads decreased in the upstream watershed, but increased in the downstream one, when temperature increased. Under the warming scenarios, streamflow and sediment loads decreased throughout the year, especially during the wet season, which is different from results at high latitudes. Nutrient export decreased in April–June, but increased in the remaining months. Simulation results should be applied with caution in water resources management, as simulated climate change had variable hydrological influence in different regions and seasons.

Citation Xu, H. and Peng, S.L., 2013. Distinct effects of temperature change on discharge and non-point pollution in subtropical southern China by SWAT simulation. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (5), 1032–1046.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor C.-Y. Xu     

The nature of rainfall in the main drainage sub-basins of Uganda

Abstract

A study of rainfall trends and temporal variations within seven sub-basins of Uganda spanning from 1940 to 2009 has been made. Rainfall climatologies are constructed from observational data, using 36 station records which reflect hydroclimatic conditions. Long-term changes in rainfall characteristics were determined by non-parametric tests (Mann-Kendall and Sen’s T tests), coefficient of variation (CV), precipitation concentration index and drought severity index. Magnitude of change was estimated by applying Sen’s estimator of slope. Decadal variability of rainfall with marked seasonal cycles is evident. Temporal variability of drought patterns is detected. Variations in annual rainfall are low with no significant trends observed in the main drainage sub-basins. Significant trends occur in October, November, December and January. A noticeable decrease in the annual total rainfall was observed mostly in northwestern and southwestern sub-basins. Rainfall trend in the second normal of June–July–August (JJA) was decreasing in all the main drainage sub-basins.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor S. Yue

Citation Nsubuga, F.W.N., Botai, O.J., Olwoch, J.M., Rautenbach, C.J.deW., Bevis, Y., and Adetunji, A.O., 2014. The nature of rainfall in the main drainage sub-basins of Uganda. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 59 (2), 278–299.     

豫西南矿集区锡石重砂异常及其找矿指示

通过对河南省1∶20万自然重砂数据库的重新处理,在豫西南矿集区圈定了11处锡石自然重砂异常,集中分布于卢氏县官坡—兰草、卢氏县冯家岭和嵩县车村—木植街3个地区。通过锡石异常特征分析,并采用聚类分析方法对这3个异常区带中的自然重砂矿物组合进行分类,探讨了与锡石相关矿物组合的成因,认为它们分别形成于花岗伟晶岩、锡石硫化物脉和锡石—石英脉型矿化。结合异常区地质矿产背景及锡化探异常讨论了3个锡石异常带锡矿的找矿前景和找矿方向,对豫西南矿集区锡矿的找矿勘查具有一定的指导意义。     

双辽市北部地区地方性氟中毒与饮水氟质量浓度关系研究

本文在调查搜集双辽市氟中毒病情基础上,结合对饮用水氟质量浓度的实际检测数值,对其北部氟中毒与饮水氟质量浓度之间的关系进行了分析与探讨,确定了两者之间关系及其规律。     

莱州湾河流表层沉积物中六溴环十二烷的含量水平、分布及组成特征

从莱州湾附近河流采集了36个表层沉积物样品,采用高效液相色谱耦合三重四极杆串联质谱的分析方法对沉积物中的六溴环十二烷（HBCDsl3种异构体进行了测定,目的是表征研究区域内HBCDs的污染水平和组成特征,并探讨其分布、来源及影响因素。结果表明,莱州湾河流沉积物中ZHBCDs的含量范围为0．03～20．17ng／gdw（均值是2．14ng／gdw）：较国内外其他河流,该研究区域HBCDs含量水平较低。HBCDs异构体组成各不相同,除1个站位外,其他站位样品中7-HBCD占主导地位（52．3％～97．3％,均值72．4％）,但是在农业区a-HBCD相对丰度较高。对HBCDs的分布特征及来源分析得出,含量较高的站点多集中在工业区,呈现出明显的点源特征：而远离工业区的采样点,HBCDs可能主要来自大气的传输和沉降,且HBCDs的含量与TOC含量呈现出较好的相关性,表明TOC是非工业区分布的一个控制因素。     

澳大利亚稀土矿床主要类型及其成矿特征

澳大利亚稀土矿资源丰富,类型多样。通过对澳大利亚170余处稀土矿床地质特征的总结,将澳大利亚稀土矿床划分为4个主要类型和13个亚类。主要类型为与岩浆活动有关的稀土矿床、与沉积盆地有关的稀土矿床、与近代河流和滨海砂矿有关的稀土矿床和与表生风化作用有关的稀土矿床,并对每个亚类型矿床的分布特征、成矿时代和地质特征进行了总结。在此基础上,根据澳大利亚稀土矿床的地质背景、成矿特征等因素,初步划分出9个主要的稀土矿床矿集区,并从商业价值和资源潜力角度分别对矿集区的找矿潜力进行分析,综合认为H和E区是下一步进行矿业投资的良好对象。