CLIMATE CHHANGE SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT ON UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN STREAMFLOWS USING SWAT1

ABSTRACT: The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to assess the effects of potential future climate change on the hydrology of the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB). Calibration and validation of SWAT were performed using monthly stream flows for 1968–1987 and 1988–1997, respectively. The R² and Nash‐Sutcliffe simulation efficiency values computed for the monthly comparisons were 0.74 and 0.69 for the calibration period and 0.82 and 0.81 for the validation period. The effects of nine 30‐year (1968 to 1997) sensitivity runs and six climate change scenarios were then analyzed, relative to a scenario baseline. A doubling of atmospheric CO₂ to 660 ppmv (while holding other climate variables constant) resulted in a 36 percent increase in average annual streamflow while average annual flow changes of ?49, ?26, 28, and 58 percent were predicted for precipitation change scenarios of ?20, ?10, 10, and 20 percent, respectively. Mean annual streamflow changes of 51,10, 2, ?6, 38, and 27 percent were predicted by SWAT in response to climate change projections generated from the CISRO‐RegCM2, CCC, CCSR, CISRO‐Mk2, GFDL, and HadCMS general circulation model scenarios. High seasonal variability was also predicted within individual climate change scenarios and large variability was indicated between scenarios within specific months. Overall, the climate change scenarios reveal a large degree of uncertainty in current climate change forecasts for the region. The results also indicate that the simulated UMRB hydrology is very sensitive to current forecasted future climate changes.     

Analysis of Flax and Cotton Fiber Fabric Blends and Recycled Polyethylene Composites

Manufacturing composites with polymers and natural fibers has traditionally been performed using chopped fibers or a non-woven mat for reinforcement. Fibers from flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) are stiff and strong and can be processed into a yarn and then manufactured into a fabric for composite formation. Fabric directly impacts the composite because it contains various fiber types via fiber or yarn blending, fiber length is often longer due to requirements in yarn formation, and it controls the fiber alignment via weaving. Composites created with cotton and flax-containing commercial fabrics and recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were evaluated for physical and mechanical properties. Flax fiber/recycled HDPE composites were easily prepared through compression molding using a textile preform. This method takes advantage of maintaining cotton and flax fiber lengths that are formed into a yarn (a continuous package of short fibers) and oriented in a bidirectional woven fabric. Fabrics were treated with maleic anhydride, silane, enzyme, or adding maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAA-PE; MDEX 102-1, Exxelor^® VA 1840) to promote interactions between polymer and fibers. Straight and strong flax fibers present problems because they are not bound as tightly within yarns producing weaker and less elastic yarns that contain larger diameter variations. As the blend percentage and mass of flax fibers increases the fabric strength, and elongation generally decrease in value. Compared to recycled HDPE, mechanical properties of composite materials (containing biodegradable and renewable resources) demonstrated significant increases in tensile strength (1.4–3.2 times stronger) and modulus of elasticity (1.4–2.3 times larger). Additional research is needed to improve composite binding characteristics by allowing the stronger flax fibers in fabric to carry the composites load.     

A chemox treatment for urea‐ and ammonium‐contaminated groundwater

In a pilot project performed at a fertilizer manufacturing facility, a one‐step chemical oxidation technique successfully treated urea‐ and ammonium‐contaminated groundwater. The oxidation reaction occurred in an 1,100‐gallon batch reactor. The contaminated inflow was buffered by the metered addition of sodium bicarbonate solution and subsequently treated with sodium hypochlorite in an 8:1 weight ratio of Cl₂:N. In an instantaneous reaction, the urea and ammo‐nium‐N were completely oxidized to nitrogen gas that was vented to the atmosphere during mixing. The pH of the reactor discharge was ?6.5. Sodium sulfite was used to reduce residual hypochlorite in the reactor effluent to chloride to provide process water with characteristics suitable for discharge. Oxidation rates were similar with different strengths of hypochlorite; however, a 5 to 6 percent sodium hypochlorite (as Cl₂) solution was the most stable. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

INTERREGIONAL COMPARISON OF ALLUVIAL STREAM CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY: GREAT PLAINS VERSUS CENTRAL LOWLANDS1

ABSTRACT: Stream channel development is a complicated process involving many factors. A major goal of research in fluvial geomorphology is to develop an understanding of the relations between channel form, water discharge, and sediment discharge characteristics. The concept of thresholds has been introduced as an element in fluvial processes, with the implication that the factors involved in a process might change in some way as threshold boundaries are passed. This study is focused on the extent to which a particular regional boundary represents a threshold in the process of stream channel development. Twenty-four alluvial stream channels from the Great Plains region and 24 from the Central Lowlands region are compared with regard to the distributional form, central tendency and dispersion characteristics, and correlation structure of ten variables, including indicators of discharge, channel sediment, and channel morphology. The results suggest that these aspects of the data are very similar between the regions, except for certain differences in central tendency characteristics, which are assumed to reflect underlying differences between the regions in geology and climate. In general, the results support the idea that this regional boundary is not an effective threshold with respect to the stream channel development process, and that, therefore, stream channels develop in these environmentally distinct regions by way of a similar process.     

AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING ECOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO DAM REMOVAL: THE MANATAWNY CREEK STUDY1

ABSTRACT: Dam removal has been proposed as an effective method of river restoration, but few integrative studies have examined ecological responses to the removal of dams. In 1999, we initiated an interdisciplinary study to determine ecological responses to the removal of a 2 m high dam on lower Manatawny Creek in southeastern Pennsylvania. We used an integrative monitoring program to assess the physical, chemical, and biological responses to dam removal. Following removal in 2000, increased sediment transport has led to major changes in channel form in the former impoundment and downstream reaches. Water quality did not change markedly following removal, probably because of the impoundment's short hydraulic residence time (less than two hours at base flow) and infrequent temperature stratification. When the impoundment was converted to a free flowing reach, the composition of the benthic macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages in this portion of Manatawny Creek shifted dramatically from lentic to lotic taxa. Some fish species inhabiting the free flowing reach downstream from the dam were negatively affected by large scale sediment transport and habitat alteration following dam removal, but this appears to be a short term response. Based on our observations and experiences in this study, we provide a list of issues to evaluate when considering future dam removals.     

The cross‐level effects of culture and climate in human service teams

This two‐level study of child welfare and juvenile justice case management teams addresses construct, measurement, and composition issues that plague multilevel research on organizational culture and climate. Very few empirical studies have examined both culture and climate simultaneously, and none have provided evidence that culture and climate are distinct or similar constructs. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), within‐group consistency analysis (r_wg), between‐group differences (ICC and eta‐squared), and hierarchical linear models (HLM) analysis provide evidence that climate and culture are separate constructs that vary by organizational unit, and are related to work attitudes, perceptions, and behavior. Findings link team‐level culture and climate to individual‐level job satisfaction and commitment, perceptions of service quality, and turnover. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pericentric inversion of the Y chromosome and prenatal diagnosis

Pericentric inversion of the human Y chromosome has been estimated to occur with a frequency of 1–2 per thousand in various populations, and the results of this study, derived from over 12 000 prenatal diagnosis cases, is 1.15 per 1000. In these cases, it was concluded that there was no clinical significance because the fathers and male fetuses had the same pericentric inversion. Chromosome analysis of the father is advisable to determine whether or not the inversion is familial in order to be able to provide genetic counselling.