Estimation of snow density using full-polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data

In this paper, a new snow density estimation methodology is proposed for full-polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. The generalized four component polarimetric decomposition with unitary transformation (G4U) based generalized volume parameter is utilized to invert snowpack dielectric constant using the Fresnel transmission coefficients. The snow density is then estimated using an empirical relationship. Six Radarsat-2 fine resolution full-polarimetric C-band datasets were acquired over Himachal Pradesh, India. The near-real time in-situ measurements were collected with the satellite pass to validate the proposed method. The mean absolute error (MAE) of the proposed method is 0.027 g cm⁻³ and the root mean square error (RMSE) is 0.032 g cm⁻³. The snow density variation within a season were also analyzed using multi-temporal Radarsat-2 data.     

A quantitative assessment of snow shielding effects on surface exposure dating from a western North American 10Be data compilation

To better assess the spatiotemporal variations of the snow shielding effect on surface exposure dating, we compiled a dataset of 1341 ¹⁰Be ages from alpine moraines and glacially eroded valleys across western North America, and conducted a sensitivity test with both modern and time-integrated snow data covering the same region. Our analyses reveal significant differences in snow shielding both across our geographic domain and through time. In our time-integrated experiments we find snow-based exposure age corrections as low as 3.5% in the Great Basin region and high as 28.4% in the Pacific Northwest for samples dating to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) when no wind-sweeping is assumed. As demonstrated with our time-varying snow conditions with a global climate model and a positive degree day model, modern snow conditions across western North America cannot account for the varying snow patterns under large scale climate shifts since the LGM. The snow-based exposure age corrections from the modern data differ from those calculated by our time-varying model by up to 17% across our model domain. In addition, we find that the ¹⁰Be ages calculated under two end-member scenarios regarding wind-sweeping effects, specifically whether boulders were shielded only when the total snow accumulation exceeded boulder heights or were always shielded when the snow was present, can differ by ∼7.6% on average for LGM aged samples. Our analyses provide a model-based estimates of the spatiotemporal variability and complexity of snow shielding effects on surface exposure dates across western North America and highlight the need to consider snow depth variations both spatially and temporally when conducting surface exposure dating in terrains where snowfall accumulation is significant.     

MANAGEMENT AND SUBSURFACE EFFECTS ON RUNOFF AND SEDIMENT YIELD FROM SMALL WATERSHEDS

lINTR0DUCTIONSoiler0si0ncanbeaseriousproblemonsl0pinguplands0fthes0uthemUnitedStatesthatareintensivelycr0pped.Conservati0nprovisionsofthel985U.S.FarmBillmandateddevelopmentofaconservati0nplanonhighlyer0diblelands.Researchwasinitiatedinl9870na28-haareaattheA-E.Nels0nFarrninn0rthernMississippit0determineiftheconservati0nprovisionscouldbeachievedwhileprofitablygr0wingrowcropsincludingcott0n(GosSyPiumhirsutumL.),soybean(GlyciDemax(L.)Merr.),sorghum(SOrghumbicolor(L.)Moench),c0rn(Zeam…     

RUNOFF GENERATION CHARACTERISTICS IN TYPICAL EROSION REGIONS ON THE LOESS PLATEAU

1 mTRODUCT1ONThe Loess Plateau in the central and westem China with an area of 430,(X)0 lQn2 is well known for itsancient cultUre and serious soil and water loss. About 287,(X)0 km2 of area in this region has an annualerosion be greatC than 1(XX) tlkIn2. The eroded soil totally amounts to more than 2.2 X l0' tons, amongwhich about l.6X 10' tons, on average, is delivered into the Yellow kiver mdeng the river one of thehighest sediment-laden rivers in the word. The serious soil erosion …     

辽河流域径流对气候变化的响应特征研究

近百年来,全球气候发生了以气温升高为主要特征的显著变化。东北是中国的重要粮食主产区,气候变化将可能加剧东北地区水资源短缺情势,进一步影响到国家的粮食安全。以辽河流域为对象,分析了近60年来降水径流变化特性,采用水文模拟方法,揭示了河川径流变化成因,基于假定气候情景,研究了河川径流量及土壤含水量对气候变化的响应。结果表明:铁岭站实测径流量自20世纪60年代中期以来,总体呈明显的阶段性减少趋势,人类活动是河川径流减少的主要原因。降水增加比减少对河川径流量的影响明显,土壤含水量对降水减少的响应更加敏感,气候暖干化趋势将非常不利于东北地区的水资源利用和农业生产。     

Evolution of the freeze-thaw cycles in the source region of the Yellow River under the influence of climate change and its hydrological effects

As an important water source and ecological barrier in the Yellow River Basin, the source region of the Yellow River (above the Huangheyan Hydrologic Station) presents a remarkable permafrost degradation trend due to climate change. Therefore, scientific understanding the effects of permafrost degradation on runoff variations is of great significance for the water resource and ecological protection in the Yellow River Basin. In this paper, we studied the mechanism and extent of the effect of degrading permafrost on surface flow in the source region of the Yellow River based on the monitoring data of temperature and moisture content of permafrost in 2013–2019 and the runoff data in 1960–2019. The following results have been found. From 2013 to 2019, the geotemperature of the monitoring sections at depths of 0–2.4 m increased by 0.16°C/a on average. With an increase in the thawing depth of the permafrost, the underground water storage space also increased, and the depth of water level above the frozen layer at the monitoring points decreased from above 1.2 m to 1.2–2 m. 64.7% of the average multiyear groundwater was recharged by runoff, in which meltwater from the permafrost accounted for 10.3%. Compared to 1960-1965, the runoff depth in the surface thawing period (from May to October) and the freezing period (from November to April) decreased by 1.5 mm and 1.2 mm, respectively during 1992–1997, accounting for 4.2% and 3.4% of the average annual runoff depth, respectively. Most specifically, the decrease in the runoff depth was primarily reflected in the decreased runoff from August to December. The permafrost degradation affects the runoff within a year by changing the runoff generation, concentration characteristics and the melt water quantity from permafrost, decreasing the runoff at the later stage of the permafrost thawing. However, the permafrost degradation has limited impacts on annual runoff and does not dominate the runoff changes in the source region of the Yellow River in the longterm.     

Partition-coordinated control of soil and water loss for chestnut forests in the Yanshan Mountain Region,China

Soil erosion from chestnut forests is one of the most important factors causing land degradation in the Yanshan Mountain Region. A 2-year field study was done to compare the effects on erosion of a control plot(CP), a repaired and maintained horizontal ditch built with an engineering baffle every 6 m(MP 1),and a repaired and maintained horizontal ditch built with an engineering baffle every 8 m(MP 2). The results showed that the slope runoff of chestnut forests was influenced by rainfall characteristic factors.No single rainfall characteristic factor showed dominance for hill slope runoff. The runoff reduction effect of the partition-coordinated erosion control measures(MP 1 and MP 2) was substantial for chestnut forests under high rainfall intensity conditions. However, the runoff reduction efficiency was higher under the conditions of heavy rainfall and low average rainfall intensity than for storms with higher intensity and lower total rainfall. The reduction effect of the partition-coordinated erosion control measures on the runoff and sediment yield of chestnut forest slopes was MP 2 > MP 1 > CP. The runoff reduction rate and erosion reduction rate of MP 2 reached 61.70% and 97.41%, respectively, and that for MP 1 was 54.15% and 85.31%, respectively. Therefore, after a comprehensive comparison, MP 2 was determined to be more effective for soil erosion control for a sloping chestnut forest.     

Land use and topography as predictors of nutrient levels in a tropical catchment

The influence of landscape on nutrient concentration and yield was analyzed in a tropical catchment, the Guare River in northern Venezuela. Spatial and temporal variation in nitrate, SRP and total P were determined in 15 sites located along the river mainstem and tributaries. Higher nitrate concentrations and yields were reported from upper sites and both decreased in the downstream direction along the river mainstem. These trends appear to be related to more pronounced slopes and larger proportions of agricultural and forest lands in subcatchments located in the upper part of the basin, and dense algal mats in the lower reaches. Nitrate values were higher during periods of high discharge, suggesting that nitrate is primarily transported by shallow subsurface flow. SRP represented between 60 and 80% of total P. Phosphorus concentrations were homogeneous along the river mainstem and showed little seasonal variation, while yields were higher in the upper basin. Multiple regression identified slope, runoff and agriculture as primary predictors of nitrate and phosphorus across the watershed, which suggests that both natural and anthropogenic landscape characteristics have a strong influence on nutrient levels in the Guare catchment.     

中长期径流预报的一种灰关联模式识别与预测方法

基于时间序列多重信息利用的扩维原理和灰色系统理论的关联分析思想,提出一种应用于水文中长期预报的方法.它的特点是直接从径流序列的扩维相型关联分析中,寻求径流情势变化规律,较适合于缺乏输入因子资料或选择影响因子有困难条件下的水文中长期预报.利用海河、黄河和长江流域若干水文站的实测资料序列对该方法做了初步验证.     

积雪在El Niño影响东亚夏季气候异常中的作用

本文利用1948-2010年Global Land Data Assimilation System（GLDAS）NOAH陆面模式资料、GPCC月平均降水资料和NCAR/NCEP全球月平均再分析资料,采用滤波、距平合成和线性相关等方法,分析了El Niño成熟位相冬季欧亚大陆积雪异常的分布特征,研究了关键区积雪融化对后期春、夏季土壤湿度、土壤温度以及大气环流与降水的影响,揭示了El Niño事件通过关键区积雪储存其强迫信号并影响东亚夏季气候异常的机制和过程.主要结论如下：El Niño成熟阶段冬季伊朗高原、巴尔喀什湖东北部和青藏高原南麓区域是雪深异常的三个关键区,这些区域的雪深、雪融和土壤湿度有明显的正相关;这三个关键区雪深异常通过春季融雪将冬季El Niño信号传递给春、夏季局地土壤湿度,通过减少感热通量和增加潜热通量对大气环流产生影响;春末夏初伊朗高原土壤湿度异常对东亚夏季气候异常的影响最大,其引起的降水异常与El Niño次年夏季降水异常分布基本一致,春夏季青藏高原南麓和巴尔喀什湖附近土壤湿度也都明显增加,均会对中国华北降水增加有显著正贡献.总之,在利用El Niño事件研究和预测东亚夏季气候异常时,还应考虑关键区雪深异常对El Niño信号的存储和调制作用.