Gully boundary extraction based on multidirectional hill‐shading from high‐resolution DEMs

The gully boundary, which distinguishes gully from non‐gully areas, is a significant geomorphologic feature for research on gully development and gully erosion. This study presents a new method based on multidirectional hill‐shading maps, which identify the gully (i.e., shadow area) from inter‐gully (i.e., non‐shadow area). These shadows obtained from various illumination azimuths are merged; consequently, the border of the shadows, which is the gully boundary line, can be achieved. In this process, two key parameters, namely, altitude and azimuth of light, affect the accuracy of gully boundary extraction. The experiments in Yaojiawan area of China show that the method of average median slope of all sampling profiles across the gully boundary is effective and practical for light altitude selection. Moreover, the six azimuths are sufficient for gully boundary extraction in a loess hilly area. The application in the Madigou area indicates the replicability and rationality of this method. A comparison with the positive‐negative terrain and slope variation method confirms a higher accuracy of gully boundary extraction by the proposed method in terms of visual interpretation, length, and contour‐matching difference with reference to manually digitalized results. Accuracy assessment indicates that the proposed method is applicable for gully boundary extraction based on high‐resolution DEMs.     

闪电初始阶段和尺度判别方法及其特征

基于LMA三维闪电定位数据,对2004年10月5日发生于美国新墨西哥州的一次超级单体过程的闪电初始及其尺度特征进行研究,提出闪电初始阶段自动判别及其特征参量提取方法,并给出参量分布特征。结果显示:闪电初始阶段上行负先导（下行负先导）的持续时间中值为13.5 ms（7.5 ms）,三维位移中值为1.4 km（1.0 km）,三维平均位移速度中值为9.2×104 m·s-1（1.2×105 m·s-1）,上行负先导速度随时间递减,下行反之,二者与垂直方向夹角的中值分别为40°和54°。表征闪电尺度的闪电凸壳面积和闪电总长度的概率密度呈负幂函数分布,在小值方向分布更为集中。闪电水平延展距离中值为6.1 km,垂直延展距离中值为4.3 km,约83%的闪电其水平延展距离大于垂直延展距离;闪电的持续时间中值为271.0 ms。分析发现,以水平延展为主的闪电起始高度分布峰值位于8.5 km,以垂直延展为主的闪电起始高度分布峰值位于11 km。闪电初始阶段位移方向越接近水平,对应闪电垂直延展越小,说明闪电初始段的传播方向对于闪电垂直延展具有重要影响。     

The application of an expert knowledge‐driven approach for assessing gully erosion susceptibility in the subtropical Nigerian savannah

This study assessed gully erosion susceptibility in Southern Gombe State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to: (1) prepare gully inventory of Southern Gombe State, (2) apply the Analytical Hierarchy Process to assess the contribution of gully erosion predisposing factors, and (3) produce a gully erosion susceptibility map of Southern Gombe State. Based on geomorphological study involving interpretation of Google Earth images and field surveys, 127 gullies were identified and 13 gully erosion predisposing factors assumed to influence gully erosion susceptibility were selected. Identified gullies were randomly split into training (89 or 70 per cent) and validation (38 or 30 per cent) datasets. The contribution of each gully erosion predisposing factor was obtained using the Analytical Hierarchy Process. The results indicated that slope (0.130), stream density (0.121), and distance from stream (0.121) play crucial roles in gully erosion susceptibility. By overlaying the gully erosion susceptibility factor maps, a gully erosion susceptibility map was created. A natural break method was then used to classify gully erosion areas into relatively safe (6.04 km²), less susceptible (3332.46 km²), moderately susceptible (1811.49 km²), highly susceptible (1146.35 km²), and extremely susceptible (1726.77 km²) categories. Field verification confirmed that the map accurately classified 92.11 per cent of the validation datasets, signifying the Analytical Hierarchy Process as a reliable method for gully erosion susceptibility assessment. The created gully erosion susceptibility map can assist land planners to identify critical gully erosion areas where prevention and mitigation actions should be implemented.     

The use of SfM-photogrammetry to quantify and understand gully degradation at the temporal scale of rainfall events: an example from the Ethiopian drylands

Abstract

With the recent technological advances offered by SfM-photogrammetry, we now have the possibility to study gully erosion at very high spatial and temporal scales from multi-temporal DEMs, and thus to enhance our understanding of both gully erosion processes and controls. Here, we examine gully degradation and aggradation at a gully headcut and at four re-incisions along a gully reach in Northern Ethiopia. Environmental controls recorded are topography rainfall, runoff, land use and cover, land management, and soil characteristics. The overall vulnerability of the catchment to erosion is low as calculated from the RUSLE (average 11.83 t ha^?1 y^?1). This reflects the successful land management of the past years. The runoff coefficient was on average 7.3% (maximum 18.2%). Runoff events caused most geomorphic change in the gully, but slumping of the gully bank also occurred on dry days. Most geomorphic change was caused by one major rainfall event of 54.8 mm d^?1, and smaller runoff events caused both degradation and aggradation, often asynchronous between studied sites. Although most research focuses on gully heads alone, re-incisions at lower locations can still cause important gully degradation, which ultimately will reach the gully head and cause instability.     

Influence of crack surface friction on crack initiation and propagation: A numerical investigation based on extended finite element method

Rock strengths are directly influenced by the open or closed flaws widely distributed in rock masses. Extensive studies have been conducted on the propagations of open flaws in rocks. However, few concerns are paid on the propagation of closed flaws, the influence of the surface friction on the initiation and propagation of closed flaws should be investigated systematically. In present article, the crack initiation and propagation in rock like material subjected to compressive loads have been investigated. The effects of crack surface friction on crack initiation and propagation have been quantified with the help from extended finite element method which is efficient and accurate. Based on the analysis on stress distribution and propagation patterns, following results are obtained: Firstly, minor effects are exerted by crack surface friction on the stress distribution around the flaws when the flaws inclination angle is 30° and 45°. However, as the inclination angle increases to 60°, the effects are much more significant. Secondly, as the inclination angle ranges from 30° to 60°, the most favorable angle for crack propagation is 45°. Thirdly, the initiation location and angle of the wing cracks will not be influenced by the frictions. However, the propagation length will be greatly influenced by the friction and the inclination angle.     

印度洋地区MJO对流生成动力学机制的研究进展

Madden-Julian Oscillation （MJO）是热带大气在季节内时间尺度上的主要变化特征,MJO对流的活动对全球很多地区的天气和气候系统都有重要的影响,因此MJO是大气科学重要的前沿课题之一.MJO对流的生成过程是MJO研究中公认的最薄弱的环节,文中从MJO的研究背景出发,对MJO对流生成的有关研究工作及其进展进行了回顾与总结,主要包括MJO对流生成的前期信号、MJO对流的数值模拟、MJO对流生成的动力学机制.最后对MJO对流生成研究中还有待解决的问题进行了分析与讨论.     

NBE和IBP始发的闪电初始特征

基于闪电低频电场探测阵列（LFEDA）所获得的全闪三维定位数据,研究了2015年8月15日14:30—16:10广州一次雷暴过程中具有明显始发脉冲的闪电初始放电特征及放电规律。结果表明:212例近距离云闪和地闪中,32例闪电由窄偶极性放电事件（NBE）始发,占15%;180例闪电由初始击穿脉冲（定义初始击穿脉冲簇的首个脉冲为FIBP）始发,占85%。作为始发的窄偶极性放电事件（INBE）,其相对孤立且具有较大的相对幅度,INBE与后续闪电的第1个脉冲的时间间隔为7 ms,幅度比为3.5,远大于FIBP相对应的时间间隔0.6 ms和幅度比0.8,INBE后多跟随传统的IBP脉冲。多数正极性INBE与FIBP对应初始向上发展的闪电,而负极性对应初始向下发展的闪电。INBE始发闪电前15 ms的平均发展速度随始发高度的增大而减小,快于FIBP,这与INBE具有更快的速度相关。估计的INBE速度为4.7×107 m·s-1,FIBP速度为1.5×107 m·s-1,两者速度差异也体现在脉冲上升时间方面,INBE具有更快的上升沿。     

环境场条件对雷暴传播运动影响实例分析

通过对一个明显后向传播雷暴和一个无明显传播特征雷暴的环境场进行对比,分析环境场条件对雷暴传播运动的影响。结果表明：二者高空均受冷涡后部西北气流控制,有中空急流,低层受暖温度脊影响,气温较高,傍晚前后受短波槽影响,在鲁西北地区产生对流天气;后向传播雷暴的环境场水汽条件较好,大气斜压特征明显,近地面层高温高湿,θse锋区位于对流层中层,中层干空气与低层冷空气入侵,二者共同作用是雷暴的产生机制;无明显传播特征雷暴的环境场水汽条件较差,θse锋区位于850 hPa以下,对流层低层干冷空气与暖湿空气交绥是雷暴的产生机制;雷暴易发生在水汽通量散度中心北侧梯度较大的区域,主回波后部大气为不稳定层结且具有辐合中心、相对湿度较大的特征,这是产生新对流单体的关键;若雷暴区有湿平流,雷暴的下游方向有水汽辐合中心,且辐合中心具有斜压特征,有利于雷暴新生,反之,则不利于雷暴新生。     

INITIATION MECHANISMS FOR A SUCCESSIVE MJO EVENT AND A PRIMARY MJO EVENT DURING BOREAL WINTER OF 2000-2001

Observed outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and ERA-Interim reanalysis data were analyzed to reveal the initiation processes associated with a successive and a primary MJO event during 2000-2001. It was found that the initiation of the successive event was caused by anomalous ascending motion induced by low-level horizontal temperature advection. The anomalous ascending motion, together with horizontal moisture advection, moistened lower troposphere and led to an unstable stratification and triggered convection. The initiation of the primary MJO event, on the other hand, was caused by the accumulation of anomalous moisture associated with three low-frequency modes, a convectively coupled Kelvin wave (CCKW), an westward-propagating equatorial Rossby wave (ER) and a weak planetary-scale MJO mode. It is the merging of the low-level specific humidity anomalies of the three modes that led to the rapid setup of large-scale convectively unstable stratification and favored the development of the eastward-propagating planetary-scale MJO mode.     

Influences of vegetation disturbance on hydrogeomorphic response following wildfire

Quantifying the linkages between vegetation disturbance by fire and the changes in hydrologic processes leading to post‐fire erosional response remains a challenge. We measured the influence of fire severity, defined as vegetation disturbance (using a satellite‐derived vegetation disturbance index, VDI), landscape features that organize hydrologic flow pathways (relief and elongation ratios), and pre‐fire vegetation type on the probability of the occurrence of post‐fire gully rejuvenation (GR). We combined field surveys across 270 burned low‐order catchments (112 occurrences of GR) and geospatial analysis to generate a probabilistic model through logistic regression. VDI alone discriminated well between catchments where GR did and did not occur (area under the curve = 0.78, model accuracy = 0.72). The strong effect of vegetation disturbance on GR suggests that vegetation exerts a primary influence on the occurrence of infiltration excess run‐off and post‐fire erosion and that major gully erosion will not occur until fire consumes aboveground biomass. Other topographic and local factors also influenced GR response, including catchment elongation, per cent pre‐fire shrub, mid‐slope riparian vegetation, armoured headwaters, firehose effects, and concentration of severe burn in source areas. These factors highlight the need to consider vegetation effects in concert with local topography and site conditions to understand the propensity for flow accumulation leading to GR. We present a process‐based conceptual hydrologic model where vegetation loss from fire decreases rainfall attenuation and surface roughness, leading to accelerated flow accumulation and erosion; these effects are also influenced by interactions between fire severity and landscape structure. The VDI metric provides a continuous measure of vegetation disturbance and, when placed in a hydrologic context, may improve quantitative analysis of burned‐area susceptibility to erosive rainfall, hazard prediction, ecological effects of fire, landform evolution, and sensitivity to climate change. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.