Uncertainty in watershed response predictions induced by spatial variability of precipitation

Negligence to consider the spatial variability of rainfall could result in serious errors in model outputs. The objective of this study was to examine the uncertainty of both runoff and pollutant transport predictions due to the input errors of rainfall. This study used synthetic data to represent the “true” rainfall pattern, instead of interpolated precipitation. It was conducted on a synthetic case area having a total area of 20 km² with ten subbasins. Each subbasin has one rainfall gauge with synthetic precipitation records. Six rainfall storms with varied spatial distribution were generated. The average rainfall was obtained from all of the ten gauges by the arithmetic average method. The input errors of rainfall were induced by the difference between the actual rainfall pattern and estimated average rainfall. The results show that spatial variability of rainfall can cause uncertainty in modeling outputs of hydrologic, which would be transport to pollutant export predictions, when uniformity of rainfall is assumed. Since rainfall is essential information for predicting watershed responses, it is important to consider the properties of rainfall, particularly spatial rainfall variability, in the application of hydrologic and water quality models.     

Phytocapping: An alternative technique to reduce leachate and methane generation from municipal landfills

Avoiding percolation of water into refuse is the key function of landfill covers. ‘Phytocapping’ has been considered as an effective, economical and environment-friendly technique for landfill remediation. In this technique, trees are established on a layer of soil cap placed over the refuse. Soil cover acts as a ‘storage’ and trees act as ‘bio-pump and filters’. For effective functioning of this technique, it is critical that an ‘optimum’ depth of soil is placed over the refuse, and ‘suitable’ plant species are used as plant cover. Preliminary results of a phytocapping trial (using 21 tree species and two depths of soil layers) show that the established trees can remove more water than that received via rainfall and rainfall interception can reduce up to 20% of the rain reaching the soil in a 1.5 year old plantation. The study is also trialling an US numeric model ‘STOMP’ (Subsurface Transport over Multiple Phases), to calculate daily water balance, to identify suitable plant species and to optimise thickness of the soil cover to be used in phytocapping.     

长江中下游地区连阴雨变化特征分析

利用长江中下游地区86站1961~2011年逐日降水量资料,采用线性倾向估计法和M-K突变检验法,分析该地区年连阴雨日数、过程次数、总降水量及降水强度的时空变化特征。结果显示:长江中下游地区大部连阴雨日数有70~130 d/a、连阴雨过程次数有7~12次/a、连阴雨总雨量为500~1 300 mm/a、年均连阴雨强度为8~10 mm/d,连阴雨过程持续时间多在8~11 d/次左右。其中连阴雨日数和频次总体呈现出南多北少、连阴雨总雨量呈东南多西北少、雨强呈东强西弱的分布态势;近50 a来,长江中下游地区平均年连阴雨日数、连阴雨过程频次、连阴雨总雨量均呈减少趋势,减少速率分别为3.8 d/10 a、0.3次/10 a、18.5 mm/10 a,其中连阴雨日数、频次减少趋势显著;降水强度呈显著增加趋势,增加速率为0.2 mm/(d·10 a)。空间上,西部连阴雨日数、过程次数均呈显著减少趋势,东部呈微弱的减少趋势;大部地区连阴雨总量均呈显著减少趋势,其中西部尤为突出。突变分析发现,长江中下游连阴雨存在突变年份,各统计因子突变主要集中在1991~2011年,连阴雨日数减少突变发生在2003年,2006年起减少趋势超过显著性水平;连阴雨频次突变发生在2004年,2010年起减少趋势超过显著性水平;连阴雨总雨量突变发生在2006年,但这种突变不显著;连阴雨降水强度于1992~1994年发生突变,2010年起增加趋势超过显著性水平。     

Effect of spatial variability of storm on the optimal placement of best management practices (BMPs)

It is significant to design best management practices (BMPs) and determine the proper BMPs placement for the purpose that can not only satisfy the water quantity and water quality standard, but also lower the total cost of BMPs. The spatial rainfall variability can have much effect on its relative runoff and non-point source pollution (NPSP). Meantime, the optimal design and placement of BMPs would be different as well. The objective of this study was to discuss the relationship between the spatial variability of rainfall and the optimal BMPs placements. Three synthetic rainfall storms with varied spatial distributions, including uniform rainfall, downstream rainfall and upstream rainfall, were designed. WinVAST model was applied to predict runoff and NPSP. Additionally, detention pond and swale were selected for being structural BMPs. Scatter search was applied to find the optimal BMPs placement. The results show that mostly the total cost of BMPs is higher in downstream rainfall than in upstream rainfall or uniform rainfall. Moreover, the cost of detention pond is much higher than swale. Thus, even though detention pond has larger efficiency for lowering peak flow and pollutant exports, it is not always the determined set in each subbasin.     

Climate Variability and Environmental Stress in the Sudan-Sahel Zone of West Africa

Environmental change in the Sudan-Sahel region of West Africa (SSWA) has been much debated since the droughts of the 1970s. In this article we assess climate variability and environmental stress in the region. Households in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria were asked about climatic changes and their perceptions were compared across north–south and west–east rainfall gradients. More than 80% of all households found that rainfall had decreased, especially in the wettest areas. Increases in wind speeds and temperature were perceived by an overall 60–80% of households. Contrary to household perceptions, observed rainfall patterns showed an increasing trend over the past 20 years. However, August rainfall declined, and could therefore potentially explain the contrasting negative household perceptions of rainfall trends. Most households reported degradation of soils, water resources, vegetation, and fauna, but more so in the 500–900 mm zones. Adaptation measures to counter environmental degradation included use of manure, reforestation, soil and water conservation, and protection of fauna and vegetation. The results raise concerns for future environmental management in the region, especially in the 500–900 mm zones and the western part of SSWA.     

Characteristics of N2O emission from Medicago sativa stands and its response to nitrogen fertilizers in the Longdong dryland Plateau北大核心CSCD

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of the potent greenhouse gases (GHG) that depletes the stratospheric ozone. Nitrogen fertilizers are considered to be a major source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from arable soils. To investigate the characteristics of N2O emission, its influencing factors, and its response to nitrogen application in dry grassland in the Loess Plateau, one of the most intensively used agricultural regions in China, we conducted a field trial with two treatments including N0 (0 kg hm-2) and N150 (150 kg hm-2) at the Qingyang Loess Plateau grassland agricultural research station of Lanzhou University. An LGR-N2O/CO gas analyzer was used to monitor the emissions. The results showed that the N2O fluxes of the N0 and N150 treatments during the monitoring period were -0.0036 and 0.0118 mg m-2 h-1, respectively; the flux in case of the N150 treatment was significantly higher than that for the N0 treatment. The N2O emission flux has a distinct diurnal variation characteristic, which first showed the trend of decreasing and then increasing. Regression analysis indicated a significant positive correlation between the N2O flux and the surface soil water content at a depth of 10 cm. The N2O emission flux increased by 131.3%, compared with that during the non-precipitation days. At the same time, the N2O emission flux showed a trend of decreasing with the increase of the surface soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm. The daily emission characteristics indicated that there may be a significant underestimation of the N2O flux at the daily or longer time-scale, based on the N2O flux value measured at 9:00-11:00. In summary, the N2O emissions from the sown alfalfa grassland of the eastern Gansu are strongly affected by precipitation and nitrogen application and have obvious daily dynamic characteristics. It is recommended that the accuracy and representativeness of N2O emission flux data be enhanced by continuous dynamic measurement using the instrument. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Effects of Stonewalled Terracing Techniques on Soil-Water Conservation and Wheat Production Under Mediterranean Conditions

A field plot experiment was conducted in the Palestinian Autonomous Areas to study the effect of stonewalled terracing on soil and water conservation as compared to the nonterraced areas. Effects of the wheat canopy were considered as a second treatment. The experiment was undertaken over a period of two seasons (2000 and 2001). The results of the experiment found that the mean soil erosion was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the terraced plots than in those that were nonterraced (182 kg/ha and 3525 kg/ha during the first season, 1769 kg/ha and 5057 kg/ha during the second season for terraced and nonterraced plots, respectively). A similar trend was observed with respect to runoff in areas under the same treatments. The wheat canopy showed lower, but not significant runoff and erosion in most of the cases for both seasons. Due to better soil and water conservation, the terraced plots obtained significantly higher total plant dry matter than nonterraced plots (1570 and 630 kg/ha in 2000, 2545 and 889 kg/ha in 2001 for terraced and nonterraced treatment, respectively). The runoff coefficient was 20% and 4% for the nonterraced and terraced plots, respectively. Rainstorms with intensity ≥4 mm/hand rainfall ≥10 mm are more likely to cause runoff and erosion.     

百年一遇大旱后城区降雨径流中重金属与悬浮物相关性分析

为了探讨2009年入秋至2010年春,西南百年一遇大旱后城市降雨径流中重金属污染特性,对昆明市交通干道路面及路旁一处混凝土屋面的3次降雨径流进行了监测,研究了城区降雨径流中Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb、Fe、Mn、Cr的变化过程,分析了不同重金属之间、重金属与悬浮物(SS)之间的相关性。3次降雨径流中重金属质量浓度随降雨呈不同程度下降。大旱后的首次降雨径流重金属污染最严重,次日的降雨径流重金属污染最轻。降雨径流中各重金属均与SS在含量上明显相关,径流中的重金属主要以吸附在SS上的不溶态存在。屋面与路面径流中的大多数重金属具有良好的同源性。     

Effect of vegetative filter strips on herbicide runoff under various types of rainfall

Narrow vegetative filter strips proved to effectively reduce herbicide runoff from cultivated fields mainly due to the ability of vegetation to delay surface runoff, promote infiltration and adsorb herbicides. A field trial was conducted from 2007 to 2009 in north-east Italy in order to evaluate the effectiveness of various types of vegetative filter strips to reduce spring-summer runoff of the herbicides mesotrione, metolachlor and terbuthylazine, widely used in maize, and to evaluate the effect of the rainfall characteristics on the runoff volume and concentration. Results show that without vegetative filter strip the herbicide load that reaches the surface water is about 5-6 g ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for metolachlor and terbuthylazine (i.e. 0.5-0.9% of the applied rate), confirming that runoff from flat fields as in the Po Valley can have a minor effect on the water quality, and that most of the risk is posed by a few, or even just one extreme rainfall event with a return period of about 25-27 years, causing runoff with a maximum concentration of 64-77 μg L⁻¹. Mesotrione instead showed rapid soil disappearance and was observed at a concentration of 1.0-3.8 μg L⁻¹ only after one extreme (artificial) rainfall. Vegetative filter strips of any type are generally effective and can reduce herbicide runoff by 80-88%. Their effectiveness is steady even under severe rainfall conditions, and this supports their implementation in an environmental regulatory scheme at a catchment or regional scale.     

Assessing options for the development of surface water flood warning in England and Wales

This paper explores the technical options for warning of surface water flooding in England and Wales and presents the results of an Environment Agency funded project. Following the extensive surface water flooding experienced in summer 2007 a rainfall threshold-based Extreme Rainfall Alert (ERA) was piloted by the Met Office and Environment Agency providing initial steps towards the establishment of a warning for some types of surface water flooding. The findings of this paper are based primarily on feedback on technical options from a range of professionals involved in flood forecasting and warning and flood risk management, about the current alerts and about the potential options for developing a more targeted surface water flood warning service. Providing surface water flooding warnings presents a set of technical, forecasting and warning challenges related to the rapid onset of flooding, the localised nature of the flooding, and the linking of rainfall and flood forecasts to flood likelihood and impact on the ground. Some examples of rainfall alerting and surface water flood warning services from other countries are evaluated, as well as a small number of recently implemented local services in England and Wales. Various potential options for implementation of a service are then explored and assessed. The paper concludes that development of a surface water flood warning service for England and Wales is feasible and is likely to be useful to emergency responders and operational agencies, although developing such a service for the pluvial components of this type of flooding is likely to be feasible sooner than for other components of surface water flooding such as that caused by sewers. A targeted surface water flood warning service could be developed for professional emergency responders in the first instance rather than for the public for whom such a service without further operational testing and piloting would be premature.