Quantification of peatland water storage capacity using the water table fluctuation method

Peat specific yield (S_Y) is an important parameter involved in many peatland hydrological functions such as flood attenuation, baseflow contribution to rivers, and maintaining groundwater levels in surficial aquifers. However, general knowledge on peatland water storage capacity is still very limited, due in part to the technical difficulties related to in situ measurements. The objectives of this study were to quantify vertical S_Y variations of water tables in peatlands using the water table fluctuation (WTF) method and to better understand the factors controlling peatland water storage capacity. The method was tested in five ombrotrophic peatlands located in the St. Lawrence Lowlands (southern Québec, Canada). In each peatland, water table wells were installed at three locations (up‐gradient, mid‐gradient, and down‐gradient). Near each well, a 1‐m long peat core (8 cm × 8 cm) was sampled, and subsamples were used to determine S_Y with standard gravitational drainage method. A larger peat sample (25 cm × 60 cm × 40 cm) was also collected in one peatland to estimate S_Y using a laboratory drainage method. In all sites, the mean water table depth ranged from 9 to 49 cm below the peat surface, with annual fluctuations varying between 15 and 29 cm for all locations. The WTF method produced similar results to the gravitational drainage experiments, with values ranging between 0.13 and 0.99 for the WTF method and between 0.01 and 0.95 for the gravitational drainage experiments. S_Y was found to rapidly decrease with depth within 20 cm, independently of the within‐site location and the mean annual water table depth. Dominant factors explaining S_Y variations were identified using analysis of variance. The most important factor was peatland site, followed by peat depth and seasonality. Variations in storage capacity considering site and seasonality followed regional effective growing degree days and evapotranspiration patterns. This work provides new data on spatial variations of peatland water storage capacity using an easily implemented method that requires only water table measurements and precipitation data.     

Laboratory examination of linearity in rainfall–runoff relationships

ABSTRACT

Certain rainfall–runoff models, e.g. the unit hydrograph, assume linear relationships between the variables. These are proportionality of runoff discharges to (net) rainfall depth and linear summations of discharges resulting from (net) rainfalls during different time intervals or over different sectors of a watershed. This study examines the validity of these assumptions by use of an extensive two-dimensional laboratory experimentation. The results indicate that proportionality would be found under high rainfall intensity through a long duration. Spatial summations would more likely yield correct discharges in cases where rainfall duration is equal to, or is longer than, the time of concentration. Temporal summations may yield correct discharges when rainfall duration is longer than one half of the time of concentration. Here, the time of concentration is determined at the beginning of gradual approach of the discharge towards the equilibrium state.     

Some Problems Concerning Geologic Structure with Double Layers in Urban Underground Lifeline Engineering

Underground lifeline engineering(ULE for short)in modern city demands the ap-preciation of an active fault in buried bedrock.Generally speaking,a large numberof urban geological textures of a basement may all be simplified into a dual geologicaltexture model,i.e.,the upper part of the basement consists of loose covering layerand the lower part consists of bedrock.The study of an active fault should includethree parts of contents,i.e.,to determine the lower time limit of activity of thefault,and the time limit must be recognized by both of designing engineers and geolo-gists;on the basis of the studies of repetition periods of earthquake occurrence to deter-mine whether the fault moves or not during the allowed time of efficacy of buildingsand constructions;for the sake of engineering practice,the active rate of the faultmust be given.The fault with different active mechanism has different effects on theULE.The authors studied the effect of lateral non-uniform overburden site on theULE by means of the su     

列车振动荷载作用下南京细砂动强度变化规律研究

以南京细砂为研究对象,采用空心圆柱扭剪仪模拟列车振动荷载作用对应的土体单元所受应力路径,考虑试样围压、加载幅值和排水条件,研究列车振动荷载作用下土体动强度的变化规律。试验结果分析表明:在模拟列车振动荷载作用对土体竖向应变的影响时,采用椭圆应力路径来代替心形应力路径是切实可行的,能克服试验仪器高频加载时无法有效模拟心形应力路径的缺点;其次,当围压和加载幅值都较小时南京细砂主要表现为在振动初期强度强化特征,当振动次数达到一定数量后强度也达到一个稳定阶段;当试验围压较大时,随振动次数增加,南京细砂的强度变化主要以强度弱化阶段为主;同时,排水条件对其强度变化的主要影响表现为对其振动前期强度强化阶段的影响,对其强度弱化阶段的影响并不明显。     

Natural and experimental constraints on formation of the continental crust based on niobium–tantalum fractionation

Fractionation between Nb and Ta, elements generally regarded as geochemical ‘identical twins’, is a key to deciphering the formation of the continental crust (CC). Here we show that Nb/Ta of rutile grains in eclogitic rocks from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) project are remarkably heterogeneous but overall subchondritic at core depths of 100–700 m, and are less variable and mainly suprachondritic at core depths of 700–3025 m, indicating clear Nb/Ta fractionation across a subducted slab. To understand the potential mechanism of Nb/Ta fractionation within the subducted plate, we analysed by laser ablation ICPMS a thermal migration experiment in which a wet andesite was placed in a large thermal gradient (300°C/cm with ends ranging from 950–350°C) at 0.5Gpa. Results show that Nb, Ta and Ti, driven by the thermal gradient, preferentially migrate by diffusion through supercritical fluids into the cooler end of the experiment (at 650–350°C). Due to contrasting Nb and Ta thermal migration patterns, dramatic fractionation between Nb, Ta, and Ti took place in the cooler end. Experimental results are consistent with the measured Nb, Ta in rutile from CCSD drillhole samples. We consider that major fractionation between Nb, Ta must occur before rutile appears, most likely during the prograde blueschist to amphibole–eclogite transformation, when Ti is also mobile. Before rutile appears, partitioning between Ti‐rich dominant minerals such as amphiboles and fluids in the hotter region where dehydration preferentially occurs, produces Nb–Ta–Ti‐rich fluids with subchondritic Nb/Ta, and dehydration residues with suprachondritic Nb/Ta. Meanwhile, owing to evolution of the thermal gradient within the subducting slab, thermal migration of Nb, Ta, and Ti in aqueous fluids result in Nb, Ta, and Ti enrichment in the cooler region and depletion in the hotter region. As a result of high‐pressure metamorphism, hydrous rutile‐rich eclogites with overall subchondritic Nb/Ta form in the cooler region, whereas relatively anhydrous rutile‐poor eclogites with suprachondritic Nb/Ta form in the hotter region. Subsequently, partial melting of hydrous rutile‐rich eclogites with initial subchondritic Nb/Ta at deeper levels transfers overall subchondritic Nb/Ta coupled with Nb, Ta, and Ti depletion characteristics to the CC, leaving dry rutile‐poor eclogites with suprachondritic Nb/Ta and rutile‐rich residual eclogites with overall, heterogeneous subchondritic Nb/Ta as a complementary reservoir to the CC.     

Ecomorphodynamics of rivers with converging boundaries

Many rivers worldwide show converging sections where a characteristic limiting front for vegetation establishment on gravel bars is observed. An important conceptual model was advanced in 2006 by Gurnell and Petts, who demonstrated that for the convergent section of the Tagliamento River the downstream front of vegetation establishment can be explained by unit stream power. We introduce a theoretical framework based on 1D ecomorphodynamic equations modified to account for the biological dynamics of vegetation. We obtain the first analytical result explaining the position and river width where vegetation density is expected to vanish in relation to a characteristic streamflow magnitude and both hydraulic and biological parameters. We apply our model to a controlled experiment within a convergent flume channel with growing seedlings perturbed by periodic floods. For a range of timescales where hydrological and biological processes interact, we observe the formation of a front in the convergent section beyond which vegetation cannot survive, the location of which is explained by flow magnitude. This experiment confirms that the timescales of the involved processes and the unit stream power determine the existence and the position of the front within convergent river reaches, respectively. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electron-Positron Plasmas Created by Ultra-Intense Laser Pulses Interacting with Solid Targets

We discuss the necessary requirements to create dense electron-positron plasmas in the laboratory and the possibility of using them to investigate certain aspects of various astrophysical phenomena, such as gamma ray burst engines. Earth-based electron-positron plasmas are created during the interaction of ultra-intense laser pulses impinging on a solid density target. The fact that positrons can be generated during this interaction has already been demonstrated by Cowan et al. (2000). However, several questions concerning the number, energy, and dynamics of these positrons have yet to be answered. Through insight gathered from PIC simulations, we postulate that the e⁺e⁻ plasma leaves the creation region in dense jets, with relativistic energies. In order to estimate the number density of the positrons created, we begin by first experimentally measuring the hot electron temperatures and densities of such interactions using a compact electron spectrometer. Once the electron distribution is known, the positron creation rate, Γ, can be estimated. This same experimental diagnostic can also, with minor modification, measure the energy distribution of positrons. Initial estimates are that, with proper target and laser configurations, we could potentially create one of the densest arraignments of positrons ever assembled on earth. This experimental configuration would only last for a few femtoseconds, but would eventually evolve into astrophysically relevant pure electron-positron jets, possibly relevant to e⁺e⁻ outflow from black holes.     

羌塘盆地戈木错地区天然气水合物地震探测

戈木错测区位于羌塘盆地中央隆起带北缘,在该区开展的天然气水合物区域地质调查成果表明该区具有较好生成天然气水合物的外部气源条件,输导构造条件、冻土条件、藏保条件,并圈定了天然气水合物有利区块.为研究适合于探测冻土区天然气水合物的地震方法技术和更好地勘探有利于天然气水合物分布区,在该区开展了浅层和中深层反射地震对比试验及勘查工作.试验结果表明:除浅层地震方法获得的地震剖面的分辨率较高和探测深度较浅外,在浅层和中深层反射地震剖面上反映的地质构造和地层分布特征类似.根据地震探测结果制作了测区地质构造图,依据测区地质资料和其他物化探资料,参考木里地区已知天然气水合物储层反射波的属性预测了测区天然气水合物有利分布区,并提出了验证孔位建议.     

Phytoremediation of heavy metal‐contaminated water and sediment by Eleocharis acicularis

Phytoremediation is an environmental remediation technique that takes advantage of plant physiology and metabolism. The unique property of heavy metal hyperaccumulation by the macrophyte Eleocharis acicularis is of great significance in the phytoremediation of water and sediments contaminated by heavy metals at mine sites. In this study, a field cultivation experiment was performed to examine the applicability of E. acicularis to the remediation of water contaminated by heavy metals. The highest concentrations of heavy metals in the shoots of E. acicularis were 20 200 mg Cu/kg, 14 200 mg Zn/kg, 1740 mg As/kg, 894 mg Pb/kg, and 239 mg Cd/kg. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb in the shoots correlate with their concentrations in the soil in a log‐linear fashion. The bioconcentration factor for these elements decreases log‐linearly with increasing concentration in the soil. The results indicate the ability of E. acicularis to hyperaccumulate Cu, Zn, As, and Cd under natural conditions, making it a good candidate species for the phytoremediation of water contaminated by heavy metals.     

Wind Tunnel Experiment of Anti-erosion Efficiency on the Sand Beds Coverd by Different Shapes of Roughness-Elementes

In order to study the relationship between the shapes of roughness-elements on sand beds and the surface sand activity inhibition, we chose six shapes of elements including spherical, triangular pyramid shape, cylindrical, square shape, pie and hemispherical shape by hand with equal quality kept. We carried out the experiment with the 10% coverage on the wind tunnel. The results revealed that ① the erosion and anti-erosion rate of spherical, triangular pyramid shape, cylindrical and square roughness-elements were better than the pie and hemispherical on the non-sand wind; ② On the sand-driving wind conditions, spherical, triangular, cylindrical covered beds became erosion to erosion-deposition with the increase of wind speed, and the erosion rate was increased with the wind speed. When the wind speed was more than 10 m/s, the sand-beds showed a strong erosion, and the pie and hemispherical elements’ resistance function were weakest; ③ No matter the non-sand wind or sand wind, the erosion rate was affected by the elements’ aspect ratio, height and spacing. The slender elements with a prominent upper edge were clearly superior to broad rounded elements.