Geomorphic process from topographic form: automating the interpretation of repeat survey data in river valleys

The ability to quantify the processes driving geomorphic change in river valley margins is vital to geomorphologists seeking to understand the relative role of transport mechanisms (e.g. fluvial, aeolian, and hillslope processes) in landscape dynamics. High‐resolution, repeat topographic data are becoming readily available to geomorphologists. By contrasting digital elevation models derived from repeat surveys, the transport processes driving topographic changes can be inferred, a method termed ‘mechanistic segregation.’ Unfortunately, mechanistic segregation largely relies on subjective and time consuming manual classification, which has implications both for its reproducibility and the practical scale of its application. Here we present a novel computational workflow for the mechanistic segregation of geomorphic transport processes in geospatial datasets. We apply the workflow to seven sites along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, where geomorphic transport is driven by a diverse suite of mechanisms. The workflow performs well when compared to field observations, with an overall predictive accuracy of 84% across 113 validation points. The approach most accurately predicts changes due to fluvial processes (100% accuracy) and aeolian processes (96%), with reduced accuracy in predictions of alluvial and colluvial processes (64% and 73%, respectively). Our workflow is designed to be applicable to a diversity of river systems and will likely provide a rapid and objective understanding of the processes driving geomorphic change at the reach and network scales. We anticipate that such an understanding will allow insight into the response of geomorphic transport processes to external forcings, such as shifts in climate, land use, or river regulation, with implications for process‐based river management and restoration. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geomorphic effectiveness: a linear concept in a non‐linear world

Geomorphic effectiveness has been an influential concept in geomorphology since its introduction by Reds Wolman and John Miller in 1960. It provided a much needed framework to assess the significance of an event by comparing event magnitude to the resultant geomorphic effects. Initially, this concept was applied primarily in river channels, under the linear assumption that geomorphic responses to similarly sized flood events will be consistent. Numerous authors have since attempted to quantify a direct, proportional relationship between event magnitude and different forms of geomorphic response in a variety of geomorphic settings. In doing so, these investigations applied an array of metrics that were difficult to compare across different spatiotemporal scales, and physiographic and geomorphic environments. Critically, the emergence of other geomorphic concepts such as sensitivity, connectivity, thresholds, and recovery has shown that relationships between causes (events) and geomorphic effects (responses) are often complex and non‐linear. This paper disentangles the complex historical development of the geomorphic effectiveness concept and reviews the utility of various metrics for quantifying effectiveness. We propose that total energy (joules) is the most appropriate metric to use for quantifying the magnitude of disturbance events (cause) and volumetric sediment flux associated with landform modification is the most appropriate metric for quantifying geomorphic effects. While both metrics are difficult to quantify, they are the only ones which facilitate comparison across a range of spatiotemporal scales (comparability) in a variety of geomorphic environments (flexibility). The geomorphic effectiveness concept can continue to be useful provided that geomorphologists use flexible and comparable metrics. Today, geomorphologists are better prepared to consider the influence of non‐linear processes on determinations of geomorphic effectiveness, allowing investigators to not only determine if a disturbance event was effective but also to explain why or why not. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Measuring hydrological connectivity inside a soil by low field nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry

Hydrological connectivity inside the soil is related to the spatial patterns inside the soil (i.e., the structural connectivity). This, in turn, is directly associated with the physical and the chemical processes at a molecular level (i.e., the functional connectivity). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry can be successfully applied to reveal both structural and functional components of soil hydrological connectivity. In the present study, the low field NMR relaxometry was applied on water suspended soils sampled at the upstream‐ and downstream‐end of three different length plots. Also the sediments collected from the storage tanks at the end of each plot were water suspended and monitored by NMR relaxometry. The results from the NMR investigations were elaborated by using a mathematical approach in order to quantify both the functional and structural connectivity components. In particular, following integration of the T₁ distribution curve, an S‐shaped curve was obtained. It revealed two plateaus corresponding to the shortest (low component) and the longest (high component) intervals of relaxation times, respectively. According to relaxometry theory, the two T₁ intervals, associated to the different plateaus, were attributed to micro and macro soil pores, respectively. The two T₁ intervals were used to define a functional connectivity index, while the central part of the S‐shaped distribution was used to define a structural connectivity index. Here we provide the physical meaning of the our mathematical approach, thereby revealing that functional connectivity index increases with plot length, as a result of a selective eroded particle transport. Moreover, the relationship structural connectivity index versus plot length resulted quasi‐independent of grainsize distribution, whereas the values of the structural connectivity index for the sediment samples resulted lower than those obtained for the corresponding soils.     

城市街道景观三维可视化的快速实现

提出了融合车载序列影像和二维矢量地图、快速实现城市街道景观三维可视化的方法。实验证明了该方法的有效性。     

西南某岩溶区地下水系统示踪试验与解析

以西南某典型岩溶区为例,解析示踪试验在岩溶管道连通性以及获取水文地质参数中的应用。选择落水洞为投放点,分别从落水洞西侧和东侧寻找地下水出露点作为接收点,判别落水洞地下径流的实际去向以及落水洞与接收点之间的水力联系。结合Qtracer2软件对示踪试验成果进行定量解析,确定示踪剂回收率、地下水平均流速、最快流速,估算出岩溶管道结构特征和水文地质参数。结果表明:落水洞与接收点JS01、JS03之间不存在直接水力联系;落水洞与接收点JS02存在水力联系且岩溶管道极为发育,含水介质不均匀,地下水运移路径较为通畅,为典型的紊流流态;落水洞地下径流的主要方向是由西向东,但在丰水期雨量较大期间,接收点JS04能够接收到荧光素钠,说明丰水期水位上涨后两者间会有水力联系,导致部分水量向落水洞西侧排泄。     

Lagged rejuvenation of groundwater indicates internal flow structures and hydrological connectivity

Large proportions of rainwater and snowmelt infiltrate into the subsurface before contributing to stream flow and stream water quality. Subsurface flow dynamics steer the transport and transformation of contaminants, carbon, weathering products and other biogeochemistry. The distribution of groundwater ages with depth is a key feature of these flow dynamics. Predicting these ages are a strong test of hypotheses about subsurface structures and time-varying processes. Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-based groundwater ages revealed an unexpected groundwater age stratification in a 0.47 km² forested catchment called Svartberget in northern Sweden. An overall groundwater age stratification, representative for the Svartberget site, was derived by measuring CFCs from nine different wells with depths of 2–18 m close to the stream network. Immediately below the water table, CFC-based groundwater ages of already 30 years that increased with depth were found. Using complementary groundwater flow models, we could reproduce the observed groundwater age stratification and show that the 30 year lag in rejuvenation comes from return flow of groundwater at a subsurface discharge zone that evolves along the interface between two soil types. By comparing the observed groundwater age stratification with a simple analytical approximation, we show that the observed lag in rejuvenation can be a powerful indicator of the extent and structure of the subsurface discharge zone, while the vertical gradient of the age-depth-relationship can still be used as a proxy of the overall aquifer recharge even when sampled in the discharge zone. The single age stratification profile measured in the discharge zone, close to the aquifer outlet, can reveal the main structure of the groundwater flow pattern from recharge to discharge. This groundwater flow pattern provides information on the participation of groundwater in the hydrological cycle and indicates the lower boundary of hydrological connectivity.     

2022年极端干旱下洞庭湖区水体营养状态变化及改善对策

2022年夏季长江流域遭受极端干旱,在此背景下,围绕长江荆江河段(松滋-城陵矶),东、西、南洞庭湖,松滋河、虎渡河、藕池河三口水系,湘江、资水、沅江、澧水四水尾间河段,以及环洞庭湖主要垸区,开展了原位监测和采样工作,测定了湖泊、河道、沟渠、池塘等各类水体中氮、磷、碳等生源要素和叶绿素a浓度,以及浮游植物种类和丰度。结果显示,东、西、南洞庭湖中,总氮、总磷、溶解态有机碳和叶绿素a浓度均值分别为0.57 mg/L、0.45 mg/L、38 mg/L和5.38μg/L,氮、磷分别以溶解态和颗粒态为主;浮游植物共检出6门37种,以硅藻和绿藻为主,藻类生物量约1.337 mg/L。就综合营养状态指数而言,洞庭湖处于中营养状态,并不显著高于长江和三口四水。极端干旱导致荆江-洞庭湖的水文连通削弱,洞庭湖来自三口的生源要素通量减少,来自四水和湖内自源生产的比重增加;洞庭湖垸区与外部自然河湖的阻隔限制垸内水体自由流动,导致生源要素累积,造成富营养化。2022年极端干旱气象条件下,洞庭湖总磷、叶绿素a、浮游植物数量相比历史阶段数据处于高位,但总氮浓度低于历史水平。恢复水文连通,改善江湖关系,削减内源污染释...     

Source and supply of sediment to a shoreline salient in a fringing reef environment

Reef-associated landforms are coupled to the health of the reef ecosystem which produces the sediment that forms and maintains these landforms. However, this connection can make reef-fronted coastlines sensitive to the impacts of climate change, given that any decline in ecosystem health (e.g. decreasing sediment supply) or changes to physical processes (e.g. sea level rise, increasing wave energy) could drive the sediment budgets of these systems into a net erosive state. Therefore, knowledge of both the sediment sources and transport mechanisms is required to predict the sensitivity of reef-associated landforms to future climate change. Here, we examine the benthic habitat composition, sediment characteristics (composition, texture, and age), and transport mechanisms and pathways to understand the interconnections between coastal morphology and the reef system at Tantabiddi, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Benthic surveys and sediment composition analysis revealed that although live coral accounts for less than 5% of the benthic cover, coral is the dominant sediment constituent (34% on average). Sediment ages (²³⁸U/²³⁰Th) were mostly found to be thousands of years old, suggesting that the primary sediment source is relic reef material (e.g. Holocene reef framework). Sediment transport across the lagoon was quantified through measurements of ripple migration rates, which were found to be shoreward migrating and responsible for feeding the large shoreline salient in the lee of the reef. The derived sediment fluxes were comparable with previously measured rates of sediment production by bioerosion. These results suggest that sediment budgets of systems dependent on old (>10³ years) source materials may be more resilient to climate change as present-day reef health and community composition (i.e. sources of ‘new’ carbonate production) have limited influence on sediment supply. Therefore, the vulnerability of reef-associated landforms in these systems will be dictated by future changes to mechanisms of sediment generation (e.g. bioerosion) and/or physical processes. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黄东海间遗传连通性多物种案例分析与启示

黄东海是太平洋重要的边缘海,拥有丰富的海洋生物多样性资源,但在气候变化及人类活动的双重胁迫下,黄东海面临生物多样性衰退等问题,亟需加强保护。保护区网络被认为可有效防止或减缓人类活动和气候变化对生物多样性的负面影响,但连通性作为保护区网络的重要参数却很难直接测量。因此,本研究希望通过梳理已发表的黄东海间遗传连通性文献来揭示黄东海区域内的保护区是否形成网络。通过搜集已发表的137篇文献,共获得175个研究案例。超过半数的案例(65.71%)认为黄东海之间具有显著的遗传分化,这也意味着跨生态区群体间具有较低的遗传连通性。在总结影响因素时发现长江冲淡水、生境异质性、空间距离、进化过程、生活史(较短的浮游幼体期)、洋流等6个因素阻碍了黄东海群体间的遗传连通性,而洋流、生活史(较长的浮游幼体期)等2个因素促进了遗传连通性。进一步分析发现黄东海群体间的遗传连通性与空间距离呈显著的负相关,而与浮游幼体期呈正相关。因此,根据本研究结果,建议未来保护区网络建设应针对黄、东海生态区分别构建网络,在网络设计时应考虑保护对象的扩散能力及保护区间的空间距离。本研究不仅为构建涵盖黄东海的海洋保护区网络提供理论基础,...