The contribution of aeolian processes to fluvial sediment yield from a desert watershed in the Ordos Plateau,China

In arid zones, many active aeolian dunes terminate at ephemeral and perennial desert rivers. The desert rivers show very high rates of sediment transport that cause deleterious downstream effects on the river system and ecology. High sediment loading has been attributed to severe water erosion of sparsely covered watersheds during infrequent but heavy rainfall. Although aeolian erosion is known to lead to high rates of wind‐blown sand transport, direct confirmation of whether the aeolian processes accelerate or inhibit fluvial sediment loss is lacking. Here, we show that an aeolian‐fluvial cycling process is responsible for the high rate of suspended sediment transport in a Sudalaer ephemeral desert channel in the Ordos Plateau of China. Frequent aeolian processes, but low frequency (once every 3 years on average) flooding, occur in this region. Wind‐blown saltating grains appeared to be unable to cross the desert channel because of interruption of channel‐induced recirculating air flow, and therefore tended to settle in the channel during the windy seasons, leading to channel narrowing. During flooding, this narrowed channel was found to yield a threefold increase in suspended sediment loading and a 3.4‐fold increase in the weight percentage of the 0.08–0.2 mm sediment fraction on 18 July 2012. Loss of stored aeolian sand due to channel erosion accounted for about half of the total sediment yield in this watershed. These findings show that aeolian processes play an essential role in accelerating the sediment yield from a watershed characterized by aeolian‐fluvial interplay and also suggest that the drier the region and the greater the aeolian process, the more the aeolian process contributes to fluvial sediment yield. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of model development,calibration and validation decisions on hydrological simulations in West Lake Erie Basin

Watershed simulation models are used extensively to investigate hydrologic processes, landuse and climate change impacts, pollutant load assessments and best management practices (BMPs). Developing, calibrating and validating these models require a number of critical decisions that will influence the ability of the model to represent real world conditions. Understanding how these decisions influence model performance is crucial, especially when making science‐based policy decisions. This study used the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in West Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) to examine the influence of several of these decisions on hydrological processes and streamflow simulations. Specifically, this study addressed the following objectives (1) demonstrate the importance of considering intra‐watershed processes during model development, (2) compare and evaluated spatial calibration versus calibration at outlet and (3) evaluate parameter transfers across temporal and spatial scales. A coarser resolution (HUC‐12) model and a finer resolution model (NHDPlus model) were used to support the objectives. Results showed that knowledge of watershed characteristics and intra‐watershed processes are critical to produced accurate and realistic hydrologic simulations. The spatial calibration strategy produced better results compared to outlet calibration strategy and provided more confidence. Transferring parameter values across spatial scales (i.e. from coarser resolution model to finer resolution model) needs additional fine tuning to produce realistic results. Transferring parameters across temporal scales (i.e. from monthly to yearly and daily time‐steps) performed well with a similar spatial resolution model. Furthermore, this study shows that relying solely on quantitative statistics without considering additional information can produce good but unrealistic simulations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The impact of agriculture on solute and suspended sediment load on a Mediterranean watershed after intense rainstorms

The solute and suspended‐sediment load following five rainstorms (2005–2007) with varied intensities were studied at the Vernegà experimental watershed, north‐western Spain. Two land‐use areas are located within this watershed, the upstream one (forest) with 160 ha a 100% forested area, and the downstream one (agricultural) with 97 ha being 9 ha conventional agricultural field and 88 ha forest. This study investigates the capacity of each land‐use to yield water, suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and dissolved solid concentration (DSC). The hypothesis is that DSC and SSC from the agricultural area are greater than DSC and SSC of the forest area. Results showed that the agriculture area produced significantly greater mean DSC than in the forest area, the main contribution was the Ca²⁺ (24·68 ± 46·52 mg l^?1) ion at the agricultural area. A long‐term sediment production rate at the agricultural outlet was calculated (69·1 tonnes per 100 years) based on the total sediment discharge (TSD) and the recurrence interval of the largest event of the five rainstorms (October 2005). Geographic information system (GIS) spatial data layers of the watershed were produced to determine the relation of tracks, landforms, slopes and forest management to SSC yield in the forest outlet (133·89 ± 308·14 mg l^?1) during the five rainstorms. Agriculture practices are the main cause of soil erosion at the study area. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

利津县城区地热资源状况及开发前景分析

利津县城区的地热资源主要赋存于新生代新近纪和古近纪碎屑沉积岩中,热储类型为层状孔隙-裂隙型热储,地热资源类型属热传导型。新近纪馆陶组热储层组与古近纪东营组热储层组是主要的热储层。该文在论述利津县地热地质条件的基础上,对地热开发的经济、社会、环境效益及开发利用前景进行了分析,对地热开发中的尾水排放和回灌问题进行了探讨,最后提出了地热资源开发与管理方面的建议。     

内陆河小流域综合治理对景观格局的影响——以童子坝河流域为例

以1987年、2000年、2008年3期Landsat TM影像为信息源,在GIS 技术和景观分析软件Fragstats3.3支持下,获得了民乐县童子坝河流域研究区不同时期的景观类型信息和描述景观格局特征的8个景观指数数据,利用这些数据分析了实施综合治理前后流域景观格局的变化。结果表明:①在类型水平上,各种草地景观类型的斑块呈现边缘整齐、形状规则的特点,斑块的破碎化程度减小,聚合度增加;特别是高覆盖度草地的斑块数目、平均斑块面积都呈增加趋势,斑块边界形状变得连续、规则,显现出人为干扰的痕迹;河床、河漫滩景观的斑块数目减少,斑块边界形状趋于规整,贯穿连通性增强\.②在景观水平上,景观空间格局规整有序,景观多样性提高,异质性增加,破碎化程度减小,空间连接性增强,以高覆盖度草地为主的景观优势显著体现出来。③综合治理措施实施对童子坝河流域景观格局的影响是积极有效的,这可为内陆河小流域继续开展生态环境建设提供科学依据。     

The contribution of physical geography to environmental public policy development in Mexico

In recent years, physical geography in Mexico has contributed to the enterprise of geographical science by integrating with fields of study closely related to topics of sustainable development. This paper outlines the contribution of the discipline to environmental public policy development, particularly ecological land use planning and integrated watershed management. In terms of applications, physical geography appears to have reached a stage of maturity in Mexico. However, it must offer a stronger leadership in areas such as ecoregional analysis (in an integrated fashion, and not only from the biological‐ecological perspective) and regional vulnerability to global change processes. An excellent opportunity exists for scientists and decision makers to develop a common agenda.     

融合多源数字信息的流域水系提取方法研究

由于DEM数据不包括河流、湖泊(水库)及流域边界和堤坝等信息,因此常规仅依靠DEM提取水系的方法不能反映平坦区域及受人类影响强烈区域水系的真实特征。该文建立了融合DEM、河流、湖泊水库、流域边界和堤坝等多源数字信息的流域水系提取方法,对多源信息进行栅格化,采用所提出的高程-距离函数对DEM进行校正,使得提取的数字水系与实际水系精确拟合。将该方法应用于山区太湖西苕溪流域老石坎水库及其上游集水区和平原丘陵分布区的淮河史灌河蒋家集站、梅山、鲇鱼山水库区间流域,提取的河网结构与地图信息拟合较好。     

基于GIS的白龙江流域甘肃段滑坡易发性评价

在甘肃省白龙江流域地质灾害资料收集及现场调查的基础上, 统计分析了该区滑坡发育与地层岩性、坡度、坡向、高程、断裂、植被等因素之间的关系, 建立了白龙江流域滑坡易发性评价指标体系。采用基于GIS的层次分析法评价模型, 完成了滑坡易发性分区评价, 将研究区滑坡按易发程度划分为高易发区、中易发区、低易发区和极低易发区, 其中, 高易发区占研究区总面积的13.59%, 主要分布在断裂带、白龙江两侧以及软弱岩土体分布的区域; 中易发区占27.85%;主要分布在白龙江支流以及主要道路两侧的一定范围内; 低易发区占33.09%, 主要分布在海拔相对较高、植被覆盖度较高、基本上无断裂带通过的区域; 其余区域为极低易发区, 占25.46%。对比分析显示评价结果与实际滑坡发育情况吻合, 可以较好地反映区内滑坡灾害发育的总体特征。      

Sediment fingerprinting in fluvial systems： review of tracers,sediment sources and mixing models

Suspended sediments in fluvial systems originate from a myriad of diffuse and point sources, with the relative contribution from each source varying over time and space. The process of sediment fingerprinting focuses on developing methods that enable discrete sediment sources to be identified from a composite sample of suspended material. This review identifies existing methodological steps for sediment fingerprinting including fluvial and source sampling, and critically compares biogeochemical and physical tracers used in fingerprinting studies. Implications of applying different mixing models to the same source data are explored using data from 41 catchments across Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia, and North and South America. The application of seven commonly used mixing models to two case studies from the US （North Fork Broad River watershed） and France （Bldone watershed） with local and global （genetic algorithm） optimization methods identified all outputs remained in the acceptable range of error defined by the original authors. We propose future sediment fingerprinting studies use models that combine the best explanatory parameters provided by the modified Collins （using correction factors） and Hughes （relying on iterations involving all data, and not only their mean values） models with optimization using genetic algorithms to best predict the relative contribution of sediment sources to fluvial systems.