Hydrological impacts of climate change on rice cultivated riparian wetlands in the Upper Meghna River Basin (Bangladesh and India)

ABSTRACT

Riparian depressional wetlands (haors) in the Upper Meghna River Basin of Bangladesh are invaluable agricultural resources. They are completely flooded between June and November and planted with Boro rice when floodwater recedes in December. However, early harvest period (April/May) floods frequently damage ripening rice. A calibrated/validated Soil and Water Assessment Tool for riparian wetland (SWATrw) model is perturbed with bias free (using an improved quantile mapping approach) climate projections from 17 general circulation models (GCMs) for the period 2031–2050. Projected mean annual rainfall increases (200–500 mm or 7–10%). However, during the harvest period lower rainfall (21–75%) and higher evapotranspiration (1–8%) reduces river discharge (5–18%) and wetland inundation (inundation fraction declines of 0.005–0.14). Flooding risk for Boro rice consequently declines (rationalized flood risk reductions of 0.02–0.12). However, the loss of cultivable land (15.3%) to increases in permanent haor inundation represents a major threat to regional food security.     

1976年以来江苏盐城滨海湿地景观变化及驱动力分析

基于1976年的地形测绘数据和1987,1992,1997,2002,2007年的遥感数据提取土地利用和景观的时空变化,进而分析近40 a来江苏盐城滨海湿地的景观变化和驱动力。研究表明:自1976年以来盐城滨海湿地中的自然湿地总面积呈逐渐减少的趋势;景观的主要变化特征表现为以獐茅、碱蓬群落为代表的自然湿地的大面积减少,和以鱼塘、农业用地为代表的人工湿地的大面积增加。景观指标分析表明盐城滨海湿地景观总体上有破碎化程度加剧的趋势。结果分析认为,这种变化既受到政策导向型的各类滩涂开发等人为干扰活动的影响,也受到滨海湿地自然演化和潮滩蚀淤等自然因素的影响。尽快改变盐城滨海湿地现有的开发利用模式,使各种人类活动对整个生态系统的压力减到最小,以获得经济、社会、生态效益的统一。     

不同补水条件下黄河三角洲湿地恢复情景模拟

针对黄河三角洲湿地退化现状,设计了三种湿地修复水量预案。利用水文模型SOBEK和地下水模型Visual Modflow对不同补水预案下湿地水文过程进行模拟,将水文模拟结果与湿地立地条件、植被条件在景观决策支持模型LEDESS框架下进行集成,对三种补水预案下湿地修复情景进行模拟和评价。研究表明,对黄河三角洲湿地的恢复,根据区域湿地条件差异,其恢复目标及所需要的适宜水量也有所不同。一千二管理区宜采用最大引水预案,提高涉禽鸟类的生境适宜性;黄河口管理区宜采用最小水量预案,同时应降低生境干扰以改善栖息地质量;对于大汶流管理区,中等水量对于涉禽类和游禽类的生境都有较大改善。本研究将水文过程与景观过程进行集成,利用情景模拟方法,为湿地恢复决策提供一种新的尝试。     

Effects of micro-topography on surface–subsurface exchange and runoff generation in a virtual riparian wetland — A modeling study

In humid upland catchments wetlands are often a prominent feature in the vicinity of streams and have potential implications for runoff generation and nutrient export. Wetland surfaces are often characterized by distinct micro-topography (hollows and hummocks). The effects of such micro-topography on surface–subsurface exchange and runoff generation for a 10 by 20 m synthetic section of a riparian wetland were investigated in a virtual modeling experiment. A reference model with a planar surface was run for comparison. The geostatistically simulated structure of the micro-topography replicates the topography of a peat-forming riparian wetland in a small mountainous catchment in South-East Germany (Lehstenbach). Flow was modeled with the fully-integrated surface–subsurface code HydroGeoSphere. Simulation results showed that the specific structure of the wetland surface resulted in distinct shifts between surface and subsurface flow dominance. Surface depressions filled and started to drain via connected channel networks in a threshold controlled process, when groundwater levels intersected the land surface. These networks expanded and shrunk in a spill and fill mechanism when the shallow water table fluctuated around the mean surface elevation under variable rainfall inputs. The micro-topography efficiently buffered rainfall inputs and produced a hydrograph that was characterized by subsurface flow during most of the year and only temporarily shifted to surface flow dominance (> 80% of total discharge) during intense rainstorms. In contrast the hydrograph in the planar reference model was much “flashier” and more controlled by surface runoff. A non-linear, hysteretic relationship between groundwater level and discharge observed at the study site was reproduced with the micro-topography model. Hysteresis was also observed in the relationship between surface water storage and discharge, but over a relatively narrow range of surface water storage values. Therefore it was concluded that surface water storage was a better predictor for the occurrence of surface runoff than groundwater levels.     

The performance of constructed wetlands for,wastewater treatment: a case study of Splash wetland in Nairobi Kenya

The performance of a constructed wetland for wastewater treatment was examined for four months (December 1995 to March 1996). The study area, hereby referred to as the Splash wetland, is approximately 0·5 ha, and is located in the southern part of Nairobi city. Splash wetland continuously receives domestic sewage from two busy restaurants. Treated wastewater is recycled for re‐use for various purposes in the restaurants. Both wet and dry season data were analysed with a view of determining the impact of seasonal variation on the system performance. The physical and chemical properties of water were measured at a common intake and at series of seven other points established along the wetland gradient and at the outlet where the water is collected and pumped for re‐use at the restaurants. The physico‐chemical characteristics of the wastewater changed significantly as the wastewater flowed through the respective wetland cells. A comparison of wastewater influent versus the effluent from the wetland revealed the system's apparent success in water treatment, especially in pH modification, removal of suspended solids, organic load and nutrients mean influent pH = 5·7 ± 0·5, mean effluent pH 7·7 ± 0·3; mean influent BOD₅ = 1603·0 ± 397·6 mg/l, mean effluent BOD₅ = 15·1 ± 2·5 mg/l; mean influent COD = 3749·8 ± 206·8 mg/l, mean effluent COD = 95·6 ± 7·2 mg/l; mean influent TSS = 195·4 ± 58·7 mg/l, mean effluent TSS = 4·7 ± 1·9 mg/l. As the wastewater flowed through the wetland system dissolved free and saline ammonia, NH₄⁺, decreased from 14·6 ± 4·1 mg/l to undetectable levels at the outlet. Dissolved oxygen increased progressively through the wetland system. Analysis of the data available did not reveal temporal variation in the system's performance. However, significant spatial variation was evident as the wetland removed most of the common pollutants and considerably improved the quality of the water, making it safe for re‐use at the restaurants. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of vegetation on turbulence and flow velocities in European salt-marshes

Flow hindrance by salt‐marsh vegetation is manifested in the structure of the tidal current; it has a significant impact on sediment transport and it has been related to increased sediment accretion. The flow characteristics in three different vegetation types (Spartina maritima, Sp. anglica and Salicornia sp./Suaeda maritima) were measured on three salt‐marshes in Portugal and England. These in situ measurements differ from laboratory flume experiments with ‘clean’ vegetation by the complexity of natural canopies. Skimming flow develops above the Spartina canopy when the vegetation is fully submerged. In this situation, a low turbulence zone with nearly constant velocity in the denser canopy is separated from the skimming flow above by an interface characterized by high Reynolds stresses. In the low turbulence zone, a positive relationship exists between turbulence intensity and shoot density, which is due to wake turbulence generated locally in the canopy. The rate of particle settling should be increased in that zone. The lower limit of skimming flow is best predicted by the height within the canopy that includes 85% of the biomass. For emergent Spartina canopies and the short Salicornia/Suaeda marsh, the maximal velocity‐gradient is shifted upwards compared to a standard boundary layer over bare sediment and the turbulence is attenuated near the bed, but to a lesser extent than for fully submerged Spartina canopies. A turbulence reduction near the bed was observed in all measured profiles; that should enhance sediment deposition and protects the bed against subsequent erosion.     

基于遥感和GIS的上海市滩涂湿地资源近期变化分析

利用多期Landsat-5 TM影像,结合植被分带信息、地物波谱特征和实地调查数据,提取上海地区滩涂湿地分布及其覆盖信息;在ArcGIS软件支持下,综合多期遥感影像解译结果和相应时段的水下地形信息,对上海市滩涂湿地空间分布及其变化进行分析。结果表明,近15年来上海市滩涂围垦量在不断增加;尽管滩涂湿地仍在继续淤涨,但淤涨速度明显减缓,且慢于围垦速度,这导致中高潮滩涂面积不断减少。     

Free advanced modeling and remote-sensing techniques for wetland watershed delineation and monitoring

Watershed scale studies focusing on hydrological pressures influencing freshwater ecosystem dynamics are necessary for the establishment of suitable wetland ecological indicators. Enhanced and reproducible methods for watershed modeling and land-cover assessment are thus essential tools for wetland monitoring and management. However, few integrated studies propose advanced open source methodologies for watershed modeling and assessment. In this study, a set of GIS methodological tools was applied and further developed in order to delineate wetland watersheds and map their land-cover changes over time. Watersheds draining to 11 semiarid Mediterranean saline wetlands were delimited and map algebra operations were applied on the digital elevation model in the Campo de Cartagena coastal plain to enhance watershed delimitation. land-use/land-cover maps of wetland watersheds were obtained for years 1987 and 2008 by means of supervised classification of Landsat images. A set of four spectral indices was included in the classification analysis using a combination of bands in order to improve the discrimination of vegetation, water bodies, infrastructure, and bare soil. An iterative classification procedure based on maximum likelihood and random selection of training areas was applied. Contextual information based on automatic image segmentation of Landsat scenes was also included as ancillary layers. Watershed areas obtained ranged from 70 to 17,000 ha and delineation was improved in the Campo de Cartagena coastal plain. The proposed image classification methodology showed high accuracies and improved standard classification techniques. The proposed methodology is based on free and open source tools, which makes it broadly applicable.     

基于天宫一号高光谱数据与Landsat TM数据的湿地利用变化监测

本文利用2013年4月18日获取的天宫一号高光谱成像仪数据和1985年5月1日获取的Landsat TM数据,对黄河入海口地区湿地的土地利用状况进行了监测研究.通过对比分类结果发现,该地区近30年来人类活动对湿地的影响强烈,滩涂开垦、水产养殖业占用自然水面现象严重.同时由于天宫一号高光谱成像仪数据具有更高的光谱和空间分辨率,其分类精度优于Landsat TM,更适合于湿地的监测.     

Modeling soil parameters using hyperspectral image reflectance in subtropical coastal wetlands

Developing spectral models of soil properties is an important frontier in remote sensing and soil science. Several studies have focused on modeling soil properties such as total pools of soil organic matter and carbon in bare soils. We extended this effort to model soil parameters in areas densely covered with coastal vegetation. Moreover, we investigated soil properties indicative of soil functions such as nutrient and organic matter turnover and storage. These properties include the partitioning of mineral and organic soil between particulate (>53 μm) and fine size classes, and the partitioning of soil carbon and nitrogen pools between stable and labile fractions. Soil samples were obtained from Avicennia germinans mangrove forest and Juncus roemerianus salt marsh plots on the west coast of central Florida. Spectra corresponding to field plot locations from Hyperion hyperspectral image were extracted and analyzed. The spectral information was regressed against the soil variables to determine the best single bands and optimal band combinations for the simple ratio (SR) and normalized difference index (NDI) indices. The regression analysis yielded levels of correlation for soil variables with R² values ranging from 0.21 to 0.47 for best individual bands, 0.28 to 0.81 for two-band indices, and 0.53 to 0.96 for partial least-squares (PLS) regressions for the Hyperion image data. Spectral models using Hyperion data adequately (RPD > 1.4) predicted particulate organic matter (POM), silt + clay, labile carbon (C), and labile nitrogen (N) (where RPD = ratio of standard deviation to root mean square error of cross-validation [RMSECV]). The SR (0.53 μm, 2.11 μm) model of labile N with R² = 0.81, RMSECV= 0.28, and RPD = 1.94 produced the best results in this study. Our results provide optimism that remote-sensing spectral models can successfully predict soil properties indicative of ecosystem nutrient and organic matter turnover and storage, and do so in areas with dense canopy cover.