Predicting average annual groundwater levels from climatic variables: an empirical model

On the basis of one-dimensional theoretical water flow model, we demonstrate that the groundwater level variation follows a pattern similar to recharge fluctuation, with a time delay that depends on the characteristics of aquifer, recharge pattern as well as the distance between the recharge and observation locations. On the basis of a water budget model and the groundwater flow model, we propose an empirical model that links climatic variables to groundwater level. The empirical model is tested using a partial data set from historical records of water levels from more than 80 wells in a monitoring network for the carbonate rock aquifer, southern Manitoba, Canada. The testing results show that the predicted groundwater levels are very close to the observed ones in most cases. The overall average correlation coefficient between the predicted and observed water levels is 0.92. This proposed empirical statistical model could be used to predict variations in groundwater level in response to different climate scenarios in a climate change impact assessment.     

深圳市高影响天气的风廓线雷达特征

利用深圳多年风廓线雷达观测资料,分析了灰霾、大雾、高温、雷暴、台风、冷空气等高影响天气过程中的风廓线特征。结果表明风廓线雷达作为一种新型的探测工具,能够在垂直方向获取较高时间、空间分辨率的实时资料,为分析、预报预警高影响天气提供了新的资料和观测事实。不同的高影响天气风廓线特征各不相同。灰霾和高温以上空出现东北风为特征:大雾的水平、垂直方向分布与信噪比有关;雷暴等强对流天气具有明显的风垂直切变;热带气旋、西风槽和锋面等移动性天气系统,其风向、风速的垂直分布随时间有明显变化。     

Runoff reduction due to environmental changes in the Sanchuanhe river basin

Recently, runoff in many river basins in China has been decreasing. Therefore, the role that climate change and human activities are playing in this decrease is currently of interest. In this study, we evaluated an assessment method that was designed to quantitatively separate the effects of climate change and human activities on runoff in river basins. Specifically, we calibrated the SIMHYD rainfall runoff model using naturally recorded hydro-meteorologic data pertaining to the Sanchuanhe River basin and then determined the effects of climate change and human activities on runoff by comparing the estimated natural runoff that occurred during the period in which humans disturbed the basin to the runoff that occurred during the period prior to disturbance by humans. The results of this study revealed that the S1MHYD rainfall runoff model performs well for estimating monthly discharge. In addition, we found that absolute runoff reductions have increased in response to human activities and climate change, with average reductions of 70.1% and 29.9% in total runoff being caused by human activities and climate change, respectively. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that human activities are the primary cause of runoff reduction in the Sanchuanhe River basin.     

川藏联网输变电线路工程地质灾害发育规律与特征研究

西藏昌都电网与四川电网联网输变电工程是迄今为止世界上最具建设挑战性的输变电工程之一,工程沿线地形地质条件极为复杂,地质灾害频发,地质灾害风险高。本文通过对川藏联网输变电工程沿线的地质灾害调查,分析研究了沿线地质灾害发育的规律及特征,评价了地质灾害对线路工程的影响,主要结论如下：川藏联网输变电工程沿线主要地质灾害类型有崩塌、滑坡、泥石流及不稳定斜坡等,其发育规律及特征主要与地形地貌、地层岩性有关;地质灾害对输变电线路工程的影响主要体现为对塔位及临时施工营地的影响,对危险性小的地质灾害点可采取跨越或加强巡视的措施,对危险性大的地质灾害宜避让,无法避让的应进行适当防护,并加强监测及巡视。通过对沿线地质灾害发育规律及特征研究,可以为输变电工程的选线、地灾防治等提供科学依据,具有重要的应用价值。     

西藏某水电站安置点危岩工程影响研究

西藏某水电站安置点边坡危岩发育,稳定性差-极差,危险性大,存在失稳的可能,极大威胁安置点人员和财产安全以及省道通行安全。本文对安置点边坡危岩的稳定性进行了评价,对危岩的危险性进行了分级,并利用日本道路公团法和RCOKFALL软件对危岩的冲击力、落距、弹挑高度、总动能、水平运动距离进行了分析,得出了危岩的运动距离与安置点的关系,最后提出了合理的防治措施建议,为危岩治理提供了科学的依据。     

Socio-economic and environmental implications of the hydroelectric projects in Uttarakhand Himalaya, India

This paper deals with detailed analysis of the fiasco created by the Tehri High Dam in Uttarakhand, India, particularly in terms of resettlement and rehabilitation of the local inhabitants. Aspects pertaining to the environmental issues are also discussed. Currently, the river valleys in Uttarakhand state of India are the targets of increasing hydroelectric projects. Virtually all rivers are being exploited for generating environmental friendly power. Having being learned the hard lesson from Tehri Dam, it has been decided to opt for such schemes in which comparatively little submergence and tempering with the fragile eco-systems is involved.However, our observations suggest that even in such schemes if due care is not taken they may turn out to be a failure.     

Methods of social assessment in Marine Protected Area planning: Is public participation enough?

Addressing social and economic considerations is crucial to the success of Marine Protected Area (MPA) planning and management. Ineffective social assessment can alienate local communities and undermine the success of existing and future MPAs. It is rare to critique the success of methods used currently to incorporate social and economic considerations into MPA planning. Three Australian MPA planning processes covering three states and incorporating federal and state jurisdictions are reviewed in order to determine how potential social impacts were assessed and considered. These case studies indicate that Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is under-developed in Australian MPA planning. Assessments rely heavily on public participation and economic modelling as surrogates for dedicated SIA and are followed commonly by attitudinal surveys to gauge public opinion on the MPA after its establishment. The emergence of issues around public perception of the value of MPAs indicates the failure of some of these proposals to adequately consider social factors in planning and management. This perception may have potential implications for the long term success of individual MPAs. It may also compromise Australia's ability to meet international commitments for MPA targets to gazette at least 10% of all its marine habitats as MPAs. Indeed, this is demonstrated in two of the three case studies where social and economic arguments against MPAs have been used to delay or block the future expansion of the MPA network.     

Ejecta fragmentation in impacts into gypsum and water ice

Using the light gas gun at the Open University’s Hypervelocity Impact facility, a series of impact experiments exploring impacts into water ice and gypsum have been performed. Fragmentation of solid ejecta was recorded using two different methods, analysed and compared with the total ejecta. Preliminary results show that the size distribution of the ejecta fragments from water ice is very similar to those from gypsum. These results also represent a step towards a better understanding of ejecta fragmentation in geological materials, including icy surfaces in the Solar System.     

Volatile retention from cometary impacts on the Moon

Impacts of comets and asteroids play an important role in volatile delivery on the Moon. We use a novel method for tracking vapor masses that reach escape velocity in hydrocode simulations of cometary impacts to explore the effects of volatile retention. We model impacts on the Moon to find the mass of vapor plume gravitationally trapped on the Moon as a function of impact velocity. We apply this result to the impactor velocity distribution and find that the total impactor mass retained on the Moon is approximately 6.5% of the impactor mass flux. Making reasonable assumptions about water content of comets and the comet size-frequency distribution, we derive a water flux for the Moon. After accounting for migration and stability of water ice at the poles, we estimate a total 1.3×10⁸-4.3×10⁹ metric tons of water is delivered to the Moon and remains stable at the poles over 1 Ga. A factor of 30 uncertainty in the estimated cometary impact flux is primarily responsible for this large range of values. The calculated mass of water is sufficient to account for the neutron fluxes poleward of 75° observed by Lunar Prospector. A similar analysis for water delivery to the Moon via asteroid impacts shows that asteroids provide six times more water mass via impacts than comets.     

Potential martian mineral resources: Mechanisms and terrestrial analogues

The future exploration of Mars is likely to utilize resources that can be extracted in situ. An overview of the geology of Mars has been presented and several mechanisms that could result in the formation of ore deposits have been identified. These include deposits caused by hydrothermal fluids resulting from volcanic activity, large igneous province formation and impact craters. Surface enrichment of mineral sand deposits is also discussed. Where appropriate, terrestrial analogues of these mechanisms have been discussed and supporting evidence from observations of Mars undertaken to date presented. Types of deposits that are unlikely to be found on Mars are also listed.