Sensitivity of protective barrier performance to changes in rainfall rate

Single- or multi-layered surface barriers are used for protecting the underlying hazardous or radioactive waste storage facility and for reducing the risk of dispersion of contaminants to the ground water. To assess the effect of variations in net rainfall rate (total rainfall minus evapotranspiration) on the hydraulic response of a multi-layered barrier, a series of flow simulations were performed. Water fluxes in different layers of the barrier were numerically calculated for three net rainfall rates, i.e. 0.0255, 0.0742, and 0.141 cm/day. These rates correspond to dry, average, and wet climatological conditions in Belgium. Results show that for dry conditions, almost 45% of the water infiltrating the top of the barrier is laterally evacuated. When the net rainfall rate increases from 0.0255 to 0.0742 cm/day, more water is being laterally diverted, and only 22% of the applied rainfall percolates through the barrier. If the rainfall rate is increased from 0.0255 to 0.141 cm/day, the percolation becomes 14% of the applied rainfall. This indicates that fluxes leaving the bottom of the repository increase only slightly, although the rainfall rate for wet conditions is approximately 5 times larger than for dry conditions. Under dry conditions a slightly negative pressure develops in the bottom of the low-permeability clay layer. However, this desaturation does not affect the integrity of the clay.     

RUNOFF AND EROSION RESPONSE OF SIMULATED WASTE BURIAL COVERS IN A SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENT1

ABSTRACT: Control of runoff (reducing infiltration) and erosion at shallow land burials is necessary in order to assure environmentally safe disposal of low-level radioactive-waste and other waste products. This study evaluated the runoff and erosion response of two perennial grass species on simulated waste burial covers at Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). Rainfall simulations were applied to three plots covered by crested wheatgrass [Agropyron desertorum(Fischer ex Link) Shultes], three plots covered by streambank wheatgrass [Elymus lanceolatus(Scribner and Smith) Gould spp. lanceolaus], and one bare plot. Average total runoff for rainfall simulations in 1987, 1989, and 1990 was 42 percent greater on streambank wheatgrass plots than on crested wheatgrass plots. Average total soil loss for rainfall simulations in 1987 and 1990 was 105 percent greater on streambank wheatgrass plots than on crested wheatgrass plots. Total runoff and soil loss from natural rainfall and snowmelt events during 1987 were 25 and 105 percent greater, respectively, on streambank wheatgrass plots than on crested wheatgrass plots. Thus, crested wheatgrass appears to be better suited in revegetation of waste burial covers at INEEL than streambank wheatgrass due to its much lower erosion rate and only slightly higher infiltration rate (lower runoff rate).     

从潮白河年径流频率分布变化看北京市水资源安全问题

密云水库是北京市生活供水的唯一地表水源,而潮白河流域又是密云水库的径流形成区,因此,潮白河流域年径流量的变化直接关系到北京市的水资源安全。根据变化环境下非一致性年径流序列的水文频率计算原理,对潮白河水资源分区年径流序列的确定性成分和随机性成分进行分解,并分别对确定性成分进行拟合计算,对随机性成分进行频率计算;将确定性的预测值和随机性的设计值进行合成,得到潮白河水资源分区在过去、现在和未来年径流量的频率分布;从年径流量的频率分布变化上,分析了北京市所面临的水资源安全问题。分析结果表明潮白河流域年径流量变化的总体趋势是逐年减小,密云水库在平水年和枯水年的入库径流量也将随之减小,因此密云水库不能成为北京21世纪可持续发展的水资源保障。     

贵州典型岩溶流域水循环驱动的岩溶碳汇通量及其主控因素分析

利用高分辨率水文水化学自动记录仪,对地处湿润亚热带季风气候条件下的贵州省黔南峰丛洼地区的板寨和黄后,以及位于黔中高原面上丘原区的后寨3个岩溶流域进行了为期6年半(2007年5月至2013年10月)的连续监测。结合流域出口水中主要化学组分的野外滴定与室内分析实验,建立了水中碳酸氢根、钙和镁等主要离子与电导率之间的线性相关关系,进而获得了高时间分辨率的水中CO_2分压、方解石饱和指数和岩溶碳汇通量等指标。数据统计分析发现:(1)板寨、黄后和后寨岩溶流域的多年平均岩溶碳汇通量分别为29、33和39 t-CO_2km~(-2)·a~(-1);(2)岩溶流域出口水中碳酸氢根离子具有化学稳定性行为,流量是流域岩溶碳汇通量的主控因子。     

Transport of oxytetracycline,chlortetracycline, and ivermectin in surface runoff from irrigated pasture

The transport of oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and ivermectin from manure was assessed via surface runoff on irrigated pasture. Surface runoff plots in the Sierra Foothills of Northern California were used to evaluate the effects of irrigation water application rates, pharmaceutical application conditions, vegetative cover, and vegetative filter strip length on the pharmaceutical discharge in surface runoff. Experiments were designed to permit the maximum potential transport of pharmaceuticals to surface runoff water, which included pre-irrigation to saturate soil, trimming grass where manure was applied, and laying a continuous manure strip perpendicular to the flow of water. However, due to high sorption of the pharmaceuticals to manure and soil, less than 0.1% of applied pharmaceuticals were detected in runoff water. Results demonstrated an increase of pharmaceutical transport in surface runoff with increased pharmaceutical concentration in manure, the concentration of pharmaceuticals in runoff water remained constant with increased irrigation flow rate, and no appreciable decrease in pharmaceutical runoff was produced with the vegetative filter strip length increased from 30.5 to 91.5 cm. Most of the applied pharmaceuticals were retained in the manure or within the upper 5 cm of soil directly beneath the manure application sites. As this study evaluated conditions for high transport potential, the data suggest that the risk for significant chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, and ivermectin transport to surface water from cattle manure on irrigated pasture is low.     

Weighting Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pixel Pollutant Loads to Represent Runoff and Buffering Likelihoods

Watershed models often estimate annual nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) pollutant loads in rural areas with export coefficient (EC) (kg/ha/yr) values based on land cover, and in urban areas as the product of spatially uniform event mean concentration (EMC) (mg/L) values and runoff volume. Actual N and P nonpoint source (NPS) pollutant loading has more spatial complexity due to watershed variation in runoff likelihood and buffering likelihood along surface and subsurface pathways, which can be represented in a contributing area dispersal area (CADA) NPS model. This research develops a CADA NPS model to simulate how watershed properties of elevation, land cover, and soils upslope and downslope of each watershed pixel influence nutrient loading. The model uses both surface and subsurface runoff indices (RI), and surface and subsurface buffer indices (BI), to quantify the runoff and buffering likelihood for each watershed pixel, and generate maps of weighted EC and EMC values that identify NPS pollutant loading hotspots. The research illustrates how CADA NPS model maps and pixel loading values are sensitive to the spatial resolution and accuracy of elevation and land cover data, and model predictions can represent the lower and upper bounds of NPS loading. The model provides managers with a tool to rapidly visualize, rank, and investigate likely areas of high nutrient export.     

Geospatial Method to Map Potential Risk of Stormwater Thermal Pollution

Thermal pollution is a growing concern as communities strive to protect and improve the nation's waters. The purpose of this study was to develop and analyze a geospatial model that predicts the relative risk of contribution of thermal energy to surface runoff throughout an urban watershed. A geospatial‐based solution could serve as a screening method or planning element, prior to or instead of the development of a more complex simulation of mass‐load transport of thermal energy. The study's theoretical methodology integrated the thermal potential of land cover and thermal decay due to overland travel to inlets. The resulting thermal pollution potential (TPP) index value was then assigned to individual model grid cells for comparison. Analysis of results from application to a case study watershed in Blacksburg, Virginia, indicated the computational methodology is not very sensitive to changes in spatial resolution. The thermal decay constant used in the analysis was varied, and results indicated a low sensitivity to selection of this parameter. A comparison between methods of watershed delineation also indicated use of infrastructure‐corrected watershed delineation yields better results than derivation from automated techniques. The geospatial method presented may be used to reproduce a TPP risk map to prioritize thermal pollution mitigation efforts.     

武汉典型下垫面降雨径流PAHs污染特征研究

以武汉城区7类典型下垫面降雨径流中16种多环芳烃(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs)为主要研究对象,对径流中常规污染物、PAHs浓度、种类差异与来源等进行研究。结果表明,武汉市7类下垫面降雨径流中,在常规污染物方面,沥青路面和水泥路面的污染程度最高,瓦屋面污染程度最低;而在PAHs方面,沥青路面径流∑16PAHs初始浓度最高,2类油毡屋面(工业园和教工宿舍)次之,其他4类下垫面较低。油毡屋面径流PAHs主要由蒽(ANT)和菲(PHE)组成,而沥青路面、水泥路面等其他5类下垫面径流中主要含有PHE、芘(PYR)和荧蒽(FLA)等。油毡屋面(工业园和教工宿舍)、水泥屋面和瓦屋面等4类屋面径流中主要污染物是2～3环PAHs,而沥青路面和水泥路面径流中则以4～6环PAHs为主。     

城市绿化屋顶的微气候调节与径流削减效应研究

快速城市化与气候变化双重作用下,热岛效应与城市内涝成为最为突出的城市环境问题。绿化屋顶因能有效利用闲置屋面添緑、帮助城市缓解热岛和暴雨径流而受到关注。以往研究较多探讨单种气象条件下、单个小面积实验型绿化屋面的气候水文调节功能,本研究基于夏秋两季的微气候水文观测数据,定量分析不同气象条件下5种典型绿化屋顶的降温和径流削减效应。首先选择晴朗、多云、降雨3种典型夏日天气条件,分析草坪、裸土、菜地、小面积花园、大面积花园5种类型绿化屋顶与对照光屋顶之间的温度差日变化规律,探讨绿化屋顶热效应强度及时空特征;其次,选择暴雨、大雨、中雨及小雨4次典型降雨,分析大面积草坪与花园型绿化屋顶上的降雨-滞蓄过程及径流削减率。研究结果表明:绿化屋顶降温与升温效应并存,晴朗无风天气条件下,距离屋面10 cm和150 cm两个高度上,绿化屋顶最高可降低气温5.3℃和2.5℃,多云及降雨天气条件下降温强度下降,升温时段延长;白天草坪与裸土上的大气温度高于对照光屋顶,其它绿化屋顶的温度低于对照屋顶;夜间5个绿化屋顶的大气温度均低于对照屋顶,且降温效应按照大面积花园、草坪、小面积花园、裸土、菜地的顺序递减。绿化屋顶径流削减效益与绿化类型及降雨强度密切相关,花园型绿化对一次典型暴雨、大雨、中雨、小雨的径流削减率分别为50.8%、78%、100%、100%,简易型绿化的4次径流削减率分别为24.3%,58.6%,98.2%和100%。研究结果可为同气候区其他城市绿化屋顶环境设计及管理提供一定参考价值。     

山地城市典型区域地表径流污染迁移空间特征

选取包括山体和城市活动区域等下垫面在内的典型区域,对山地城市地表径流污染迁移特征、降雨等级和降雨强度对污染迁移的影响进行了研究,并分析了从小雨到暴雨等5场典型降雨条件下污染物赋存形态的变化。结果表明,受迁移段人为活动区域的影响,污染物呈现先升高再降低的趋势,入湖前化学需氧量(COD)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)和氨氮(NH3-N)的浓度分别在26.6~87.1、0.87~6.96、0.08~0.28和0.52~1.48 mg/L之间。溶解性COD(DCOD)、溶解性TN(DTN)、溶解性TP(DTP)和溶解性NH3-N(DNH3-N)分别占总污染物的55%~79%、83%~98%、18%~61%和55%~79%。除DTN外,其他3种污染物溶解态浓度占总浓度的百分比随降雨等级和雨强的增大而增大。NH3-N、COD、TP浓度与TSS浓度呈正相关,DCOD、DTN、DTP浓度与总悬浮物(TSS)浓度无相关性。TSS与场降雨的最大雨强呈现正相关。