Implications of Conceptual Channel Representation on SWAT Streamflow and Sediment Modeling

Hydrologic modeling outputs are influenced by how a watershed system is represented. Channel routing is a typical example of the mathematical conceptualization of watershed landscape and processes in hydrologic modeling. We investigated the sensitivity of accuracy, equifinality, and uncertainty of Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) modeling to channel dimensions to demonstrate how a conceptual representation of a watershed system affects streamflow and sediment modeling. Results showed the amount of uncertainty and equifinality strongly responded to channel dimensions. On the other hand, the model performance did not significantly vary with the changes in the channel representation due to the degree of freedom allowed by the conceptual nature of hydrologic modeling in the parameter calibration. Such findings demonstrated good modeling performance statistics do not necessarily mean small output uncertainty, and partial improvements in the watershed representation may neither increase modeling accuracy nor reduce uncertainty. We also showed the equifinality and uncertainty of hydrologic modeling are case‐dependent rather than specific to models or regions, suggesting great caution should be used when attempting to transfer uncertainty analysis results to other modeling studies, especially for ungauged watersheds. Editor's note: This paper is part of the featured series on SWAT Applications for Emerging Hydrologic and Water Quality Challenges. See the February 2017 issue for the introduction and background to the series.     

不锈钢-气氮板式热沉仿真研究

目的研究不锈钢-气氮板式热沉中,氮气压力、氮气入口流速以及热沉自身流道深度对热沉传热性能的影响。方法利用AnsysFluent软件,对板式热沉壁面温度分布情况以及进出口压力损失进行模拟仿真。结果提高氮气压力和氮气入口速度可以提升热沉的温度均匀性,但热沉进出口压力损失也会增大。对于气氮-板式热沉而言,流道深度的改变对热沉温度均匀性的影响不大,但流道深度较小时,进出口压力损失较大。结论建议在设计气氮-板式热沉时,流道深度选择在8~10 mm,外流程中氮气压力控制在0.3~0.4 MPa,氮气流速控制在20 m/s为宜。     

合肥城郊典型源头溪流不同渠道形态的氮磷滞留特征

为揭示源头溪流中深潭和曲折沟渠两种典型渠道形态的氮磷养分滞留特征,在合肥城郊二十埠河的某一级支流上,以NH4Cl和KH2PO4为添加营养盐,以NaCl为保守型示踪剂,开展现场示踪实验.在此基础上,利用OTIS模型软件、暂态存储参数和养分螺旋原理,解析深潭和曲折沟渠氮磷滞留特征.结果表明:1深潭的As值较曲折沟渠大,但其α值则较弯曲沟渠小1个数量级,而且As和α值随水文条件变化均不显著;2深潭中主渠道流动水体的NH+4-λ较其暂态存储区的NH+4-λs高2~3个数量级,曲折沟渠的NH+4-λ与NH+4-λs数值较为接近;3深潭中NH+4-Vf较SRP-Vf高1~2个数量级,而在曲折沟渠中,不仅NH+4-Vf与SRP-Vf数值较为相近,NH+4-Sw与SRP-Sw也基本相当;4深潭的NH+4-U较SRP-U高出2~3个数量级,曲折沟渠NH+4-U则较SRP-U高出1~2个数量级;5总的来说,在对NH+4和SRP滞留影响方面,深潭和曲折沟渠存在较大的差异性,且在深潭中NH+4的滞留效应显著超过SRP.     

人工湿地构筑根孔作用下土壤物质分布状况

嘉兴市石臼漾湿地应用人工构筑根孔技术,以玉米秸秆和油菜秸秆按比例混合埋植于土壤亚表层,作为湿地的基质/填料。在湿地运行一年半后,按照正交设计表,以埋植秸秆的种类(S)、填埋的土壤层次(L)、距离秸秆外环的远近(D)和秸秆周围土壤的表观颜色(C)作为实验因素,对秸秆周围养分物质浓度、土壤酶活性以及铁含量进行采样分析。实验结果显示:玉米秸秆和油菜秸秆腐烂较充分,分别形成较发达的粗根孔和细根孔;根孔周围土壤呈中度还原状态;粗根孔具有较强的优先流效应,其周围土壤具有较高的养分物质含量和较低的Fe2+/Fe3+比。粗根孔周围土壤具有较高的磷酸酶活性,而细根孔周围具有较高的β-葡糖苷酶活性和脲酶活性。综合比较,人工湿地构建初期,径级较大秸秆腐烂后形成的粗根孔发挥着更高的水分传导效率和更强的物质截留效应。     

河道沉积物中磷的分布、吸附及释放规律研究

为科学评价磷在河道沉积物中的环境行为,在模拟条件下研究了上海市进木港和苏州河沉积物中磷的分布形态、吸附特征及释放规律.结果表明:(1)2种沉积物中碎屑钙磷(De-P)浓度最高,闭蓄态磷(Oc-P)次之,其他形态磷浓度相对较低,而活性磷中以铁磷(Fe-P)为主；(2)2种沉积物对磷的吸附均符合线性方程,在4.0h时基本达...     

STREAM-CHANNEL INCISION FOLLOWING DRAINAGE-BASIN URBANIZATION1

ABSTRACT: Urbanization of a drainage basin results in pervasive hydrologic changes that in turn initiate long-term changes in stream channels. Increases in peak discharges and in durations of high flows result in either quasi-equilibrium channel expansion, where cross-section area increases in near-proportion to the discharge increase, or catastrophic channel incision, where changes occur far out of proportion to the discharge increases that initiated them. Field data and hydrologic modeling of rapidly urbanizing basins in King County, Washington, define conditions of flow, topography, geology, and channel roughness that identify streams susceptible to incision. Channel slope and geologic material are particularly critical; thus simple map overlays, nearly irrespective of contributing drainage area, provide a valuable planning tool for identification of susceptible terrain. Where such conditions exist, basal shear stress provides a quantifiable parameter for predicting likely problems, although knickpoints are typical in such settings and confound simple calculation of sediment-transport rates. Where urbanization proceeds in such areas, effective mitigation of the incision hazards requires a degree of stormwater control far in excess of standards typically applied to present development activity.     

DOWNSTREAM CHANNEL GEOMETRY FOR USE IN PLANNING-LEVEL MODELS1

ABSTRACT: There is considerable potential for use of channel dimension data in planning-level models for resource and impact assessment. The channel dimension data is used to route flows and sediment through the basin. The cost of obtaining actual surveyed data for large watersheds is typically prohibitive. Predictive equations have been developed based on 674 stations from watersheds across the United States which encompass a wide variety of channel types and sizes. These equations were tested against an independent data set and found to be adequate for use in planning-level models. Future research is advocated which would include data from regions and stream types not included in this study.     

COMPUTATION OF UNSTEADY FLOWS IN THE ALABAMA RIVER1

ABSTRACT: An application is described of the branch-network flow model, BRANCH, to the upper Alabama River system in central Alabama. The model is used to simulate one-dimensional unsteady flows and water surface elevations in approximately 60 river miles of the Alabama River system. Preliminary calibration was made using 72 hours of observed data. Simulated discharges are about 10 percent lower than observed discharges at higher discharge rates and computed flows lag observed flows by about 30 minutes.     

COLD-SHOCK RESISTANCE TO LARGEMOUTH BASS,BLUEGILL, AND CHANNEL CATFISH1

ABSTRACT: Juvenile specimens of largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish were tested to determine their ability to withstand abrupt temperature decreases simulating the environmental impact from a sudden shutdown of a nuclear reactor during the winter. Temperature reductions were administered over 2-hour and 24-hour periods to assess the importance of the rate of temperature change and hence the mitigative value of having a holding pond with a one-day retention time between the proposed cooling tower discharge and the receiving stream. Temperature decreases administered over a 2-hour period resulted in much greater mortality than decreases of the same magnitude administered over a 24-hour period. Thus, the value of a pond for mitigation from cold shock was substantiated. Results also indicated that adherence to the U.S. EPA temperature criteria for freshwater fish should provide adequate protection from cold shock.     

DIFFERENTIAL ACCUMULATION OF SELENIUM AMONG AXIAL MUSCLE,REPRODUCTIVE AND LIVER TISSUES OF FOUR WARMWATER FISH SPECIES1

Bluegill (Lepotmis macrochirus), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), white catfish (Ictalurus catus), and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), collected from an electric power plant cooling reservoir and a municipal water supply reservoir near Roxboro, North Carolina, were analyzed for selenium concentrations in axial muscle, reproductive and liver tissues. Fishes from the municipal water reservoir had lower selenium concentrations (≤0.2-2.1 μg/g - wet weight) than found in the cooling reservoir fishes (1.6-70.0 μg/g - wet weight) but similar distributions of concentrations among the tissues was evident. Selenium was differentially accumulated, with higher concentrations in liver tissues (0.7-70.0 μg/g - wet weight), followed by female reproductive tissues (0.7-25.0 μg/g - wet weight), axial muscle tissues (≤0.2-23.0 μg/g - wet weight) and male reproductive tissues (0.2-7.2 μg/g - wet weight).