COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DROUGHT PREDICTION TECHNIQUES FOR RESERVOIR OPERATION1

ABSTRACT: Predicting the likelihood of a drought markedly enhances the efficiency of reservoir operations. This study applies the kriging method and time series analysis to predict inflows to Shihmen Reservoir in northern Taiwan. A subsequent reservoir operation simulation is employed to determine the drought lead time (DLT), the time before the onset of a drought. A more efficient reservoir operational strategy can be established with the aid of DLT and the probability of successful drought prediction (P s). Simulation results of reservoir operation over a period of three decades demonstrate that, at one month DLT, the kriging approach achieves 0.86 of P s for moderate droughts and 0.94 of P s for severe droughts. The kriging approach generally outperformed the time series approach in terms of DLT, P s of drought prediction, and the number of correctly predicted drought events.     

ACCEPTING THE STANDARDIZED PRECIPITATION INDEX: A CALCULATION ALGORITHM1

ABSTRACT: The Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) has been calculated for about 30 years as a means of providing a single measure of meteorological drought severity. It was intended to retrospectively look at wet and dry conditions using water balance techniques. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is a probability index that was developed to give a better representation of abnormal wetness and dryness than the Palmer indices. Before the user community will accept the SPI as an alternative to the Palmer indices, a standard method must be developed for computing the index. Standardization is necessary so that all users of the index will have a common basis for both spatial and temporal comparison of index values. If different probability distributions and models are used to describe an observed series of precipitation, then different SPI values may be obtained. This article describes the effect on the SPI values computed from different probability models as well as the effects on dry event characteristics. It is concluded that the Pearson Type III distribution is the “best” universal model, and that the reliability of the SPI is sample size dependent. It is also concluded that because of data limitations, SPIs with time scales longer than 24 months may be unreliable. An internet link is provided that will allow users to access Fortran 77 source code for calculating the SPI.     

The need for constructing endangered fish habitats that conform to climate-driven flow changes in a western U.S. river

Warmwater fish habitat in the San Juan River of the southwestern United States has been reduced by over 30% as a result of water depletion, reservoir inundation, and cold-water dam releases combined with drought-related changes in hydrology. This reduction and a suite of other factors have contributed to declines in native fish populations including the federally endangered Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) and Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus). Conservation efforts for these species include determining flow needs; protecting, managing, and augmenting habitats; and stocking hatchery fish. But the young of stocked fish have low survival due largely to a paucity of nursery habitat not being reformed and maintained under current conditions. Flow recommendations for Navajo Dam releases designed to mimic the river's natural hydrograph have not been met due to water shortages, and the desired outcomes of increased channel complexity and enhanced fish habitat have not been observed. Forecasted hydrology that includes ongoing drought shows that achieving the flow targets through further dam reoperations is unlikely. Mechanical construction of early life-stage habitats is a highly recommended complement to flow management for offsetting the effects of flow reduction and habitat loss. Habitats with features that are effective and resilient under a range of flows are important in counterbalancing the effects of climate change.     

湖北省旱涝灾害的基本特征与成因分析

湖北省是我国自然灾害多发省份之一，其中旱涝灾害尤为严重，是社会经济发展的一大制约因素。首先研究了湖北省旱涝灾害的基本特征，认为按出现时段，洪涝可分为梅涝、盛夏涝、春涝和秋涝，干旱可分为伏秋干旱、春夏干旱、秋季干旱和冬季干旱，因而具有季节性；各区灾害严重程度不同，干旱可分为鄂东北干旱严重区、鄂东中部伏秋旱严重区、鄂西北春夏旱严重区和鄂西南干旱不严重区，洪涝可分为鄂东中部和江汉平原梅涝区、鄂东北和鄂东南春梅涝严重区、鄂西南夏秋涝区和鄂西北和三峡河谷少涝区，因而具有区域性；此外，还具有延续性、阶段性、周期性和连发性等特征。分析了湖北省旱涝灾害形成的主要因素，认为旱涝灾害是在天气气候因素、地貌因素、环境资源因素、抗灾能力因素、社会经济因素等自然因素和人为因素的共同作用下产生和发展的；旱涝灾害的形成，自然条件固然很重要，但形成严重灾害，则与人为因素有密切关系，这在20世纪表现得尤为明显。     

干旱指标及其在新疆阿勒泰地区干旱监测分析中的应用

干旱是限制新疆阿勒泰地区农牧业生产可持续发展最主要的自然灾害之一,研究适合该区的干旱指标,是进行有效干旱监测的基础。采用新疆阿勒泰地区7个气象站1961-2008年4-10月月平均气温、降水量资料,首先通过Thomthwaite方法计算潜在蒸发量确定K干旱指数,然后对R指数、Z指数、K指数3种干旱指标进行了分析,结果表明,在监测诊断干旱轻重程度上,K指数能较客观地反映出干旱程度,R指数和Z指数监测干旱程度较轻。在此基础上,基于K指数建立的阿勒泰地区干旱监测评价的强度指数和面积指数,对该地区近48年来干旱的变化进行了分析,表明该地区干旱灾害主要集中在春夏季节,春夏连旱几率较高,强度较大;该地区干旱灾害具有阶段性特征,近年来干旱发生的频次有增多的趋势,其中秋季干旱相对较为明显。     

东北地区近50年农作物生长季干旱趋势研究

采用Penman-Monteith模型计算了东北三省72个台站1960-2008年生长季的潜在蒸散量,进而计算了潜在蒸散量与降水量的比值,得到各站生长季干燥度。东北三省1960-2008年生长季干燥度总体上表现出从西南向东北方向逐渐减小的变化特征,大值区位于辽西地区,小值区位于黑龙江省北部。东北区生长季降水量与潜在蒸散量相当;东北南部生长季略干,东北北部较为湿润。东北地区生长季干燥度近50年增加趋势通过显著性检验;东北地区干燥度序列在1996年发生了突变。东北三省1973年以来干旱绝收面积、成灾面积占旱作农作物播种面积比例的增加趋势均通过了显著性检验。以1996年为分界点,1997-2007年成灾面积、绝收面积占旱作农作物播种面积比例分别是1973-1996年均值的1.99倍和5.58倍,上升幅度非常明显。从而证明了采用Penman-Monteith模型得到的干燥度公式来评价东北地区生长季干旱是符合实际的。     

辽西北地区农业干旱灾害风险评价与风险区划研究

以辽西北29个农业县(市、区)为研究区域,选取辽西北最主要的玉米作物作为研究对象,从造成农业干旱灾害的致灾因子危险性、承灾体暴露性、脆弱性和抗旱减灾能力4个方面着手,利用自然灾害风险指数法、加权综合评价法和层次分析法,建立了农业干旱灾害风险指数(ADRI),用以表征农业干旱灾害风险程度;借助GIS技术,绘制辽西北农业干旱灾害风险评价区划图,将风险评价区划图与2006年辽西北受干旱影响粮食减产系数区划图对比,发现两者可以较好的匹配。研究结果可为当地农业干旱灾害预警、保险,以及有关部门的旱灾管理、减灾决策制定提供理论依据和指导。     

近500年我国特大旱灾的研究

基于我国近500年历史旱灾资料,对其中持续特大干旱及旱灾个案进行了分析,并对其规律进行了探讨。指出干旱虽是常见的气候现象,但若是大范围、全流域乃至多个流域的持续干旱,则会酿成大灾。如明崇祯年间的持续数年的特大旱灾造成了水源和粮食的极度消耗,自然灾害导致了经济的全面崩溃,最终导致了朝代的更迭。本文以史为鉴,对我国现代面临的严峻的干旱缺水的形势进行了分析和预测,进而提出应将防范的重点集中在对社会影响极大的特大旱灾上,并且应当针对重旱、极旱的减灾对策及早研究和部署,行动越早就越主动。