A discussion on models of thermals

For a thermal starting from rest, the scales of motion consistent with the initial conditions are given. An alternative time scale based on the motion of the thermal is derived. The anticipated similarity solutions for thermals are summarised and possible qualitative differences between solutions are given. Within this consistent framework previously published laboratory and numerical models of thermals are discussed. Reasons why numerical models have not rigorously demonstrated the existence of a self-similarity solution are considered. Comparisons of all available results show that a single similarity solution valid for all thermals does not exist.     

Conceptual examination of climate–soil controls upon rainfall partitioning in an open-fractured soil II: Response to a population of storms

A simple two-domain bucket model of fractured soil was coupled with a stochastic model of rainfall variability, in order to investigate the climate and soil controls upon the stochastic properties of the triggering of fracture flow and surface runoff, and the partitioning of rainfall between the matrix and fracture domains and surface runoff. Conventionally, soils are regarded as time domain filters between rainfall and hydrological response. This investigation highlights an additional type of threshold filtering especially important in understanding the infiltration behaviour of fractured soils, for which an event-based characterisation of rainfall in modelling is crucial. A priori-definable indices were derived which are capable of describing elements of this threshold filtering, by allowing the statistical properties of fracture flow- and surface runoff-triggering storms (i.e., mean and variance of storm duration, intensity and effective inter-storm period, as well as cumulative partitioning of rainfall), to be inferred directly from average storm and soil properties. Using these indices, the long-term response of fractured soils, including the long-term hydrological importance of fractures, can be estimated without simulation.     

滆湖磷迁移过程的研究(一)——磷迁移模型的建立

通过滆湖磷的来源途径(入湖河道、湖区径流、湖面沉降、养殖技饵、底泥释放)和湖体各要素(水体、浮游植物、大型水生植物、鱼类等)中磷迁移过程调查资料的分析,建立了描述磷在上述各要素中迁移过程的数学模型.经实测资料验证,模型的计算值与实测值的平均相对误差在9.9%-18.6%.基本反映了磷的迁移过程及动态变化规律,对该湖磷浓度预测及磷资源合理利用具有重要的意义.     

SEDIMENT PROPERTIES AND DYNAMICS IN THE TAIHU LAKE, CHINA

1 INTRODUCTION Large amounts of nutrients and contaminants such as trace metals are transported into large lakes frominflow rivers and then absorbed onto or associated with fine-grained sediment particles (Sheng and Lick,1979). The nutrients and contamina…     

Field Measurements and Numerical Simulations of the 2004 Tsunami Impact on the East Coast of Sri Lanka

This paper employs a numerical model of tsunami propagation together with documented observations and field measurements of the evidence left behind by the tsunami in December 2004, to identify and interpret the factors that have contributed to the significant spatial variability of the level of tsunami impact along the coastal belt of the eastern province of Sri Lanka. The model results considered in the present analysis include the distribution of the amplitude of the tsunami and the pattern of wave propagation over the continental shelf off the east coast, while the field data examined comprise the maximum water levels measured at or near the shoreline, the horizontal inundation distances and the number of housing and other buildings damaged. The computed maximum amplitude of the tsunami at water points nearest the shoreline along the east coast shows considerable variation ranging from 2.2 m to 11.4 m with a mean value of 5.7 m; moreover, the computed amplitudes agree well with the available field measurements. We also show that the shelf bathymetry off the east coast, particularly the submarine canyons at several locations, significantly influences the near-shore transformation of tsunami waves, and consequently, the spatial variation of the maximum water levels along the coastline. The measured values of inundation also show significant variation along the east coast and range from 70 m to 4560 m with a median value of 700 m. Our analyses of field data also show the dominant influence of the coastal topography and geomorphology on the extent of tsunami inundation. Furthermore, the measured inundation distances indicate no apparent correlation with the computed tsunami heights at the respective locations. We also show that both the computed tsunami heights and the measured inundation distances for the east coast closely follow the log-normal statistical distribution.     

Modelling blue and green water resources availability in Iran

Knowledge of the internal renewable water resources of a country is strategic information which is needed for long‐term planning of a nation's water and food security, among many other needs. New modelling tools allow this quantification with high spatial and temporal resolution. In this study we used the program Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in combination with the Sequential Uncertainty Fitting program (SUFI‐2) to calibrate and validate a hydrologic model of Iran based on river discharges and wheat yield, taking into consideration dam operations and irrigation practices. Uncertainty analyses were also performed to assess the model performance. The results were quite satisfactory for most of the rivers across the country. We quantified all components of the water balance including blue water flow (water yield plus deep aquifer recharge), green water flow (actual and potential evapotranspiration) and green water storage (soil moisture) at sub‐basin level with monthly time‐steps. The spatially aggregated water resources and simulated yield compared well with the existing data. The study period was 1990–2002 for calibration and 1980–1989 for validation. The results show that irrigation practices have a significant impact on the water balances of the provinces with irrigated agriculture. Concerning the staple food crop in the country, 55% of irrigated wheat and 57% of rain‐fed wheat are produced every year in water‐scarce regions. The vulnerable situation of water resources availability has serious implications for the country's food security, and the looming impact of climate change could only worsen the situation. This study provides a strong basis for further studies concerning the water and food security and the water resources management strategies in the country and a unified approach for the analysis of blue and green water in other arid and semi‐arid countries. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation of the direct runoff hydrograph at basin outlet

A simple model describing the transformation of effective rainfall to direct runoff through the overland flow mechanism is presented. The model is based on the classical representation of a watershed by a combination of planes and channels. The dynamics of overland flow in each plane is simulated by the non-linear kinematic wave, but the outflow from a given plane is concentrated in the middle of the corresponding drainage channel. The water routing in the channels is carried out by a piece-wise linearized formulation in space of the kinematic wave approximation. Using synthetic events on 10 watersheds, the model was tested by comparing it with results obtained by applying the non-linear kinematic wave to all the elements of the watershed. The model was found to be adequate, even in a form that simplifies the geometric features of the planes through an averaging procedure based on the Horton–Strahler ordering scheme of the watershed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sediment deposition from flow at low gradients into a buffer strip—a critical test of re-entrainment theory

The spatial and size distribution of sediment deposited from short periods of overland flow due to the effect of a simulated grass buffer strip was measured for low slopes of 1.6, 3.4 and 5.1%. These data were analysed so as to critically evaluate two alternative models of the process of re-entrainment of recently deposited sediment. A model of re-entrainment, previously thought to be appropriate only for a steady-state or equilibrium situation, was found to give better agreement with experiments than did a model previously used in the literature on this subject.