Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources in the Upper Blue Nile River Basin,Ethiopia1

Kim, Ungtae and Jagath J. Kaluarachchi, 2009. Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources in the Upper Blue Nile River Basin, Ethiopia. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 45(6):1361‐1378. Abstract: Climate change affects water resources availability of international river basins that are vulnerable to runoff variability of upstream countries especially with increasing water demands. The upper Blue Nile River Basin is a good example because its downstream countries, Sudan and Egypt, depend solely on Nile waters for their economic development. In this study, the impacts of climate change on both hydrology and water resources operations were analyzed using the outcomes of six different general circulation models (GCMs) for the 2050s. The outcomes of these six GCMs were weighted to provide average future changes. Hydrologic sensitivity, flow statistics, a drought index, and water resources assessment indices (reliability, resiliency, and vulnerability) were used as quantitative indicators. The changes in outflows from the two proposed dams (Karadobi and Border) to downstream countries were also assessed. Given the uncertainty of different GCMs, the simulation results of the weighted scenario suggested mild increases in hydrologic variables (precipitation, temperature, potential evapotranspiration, and runoff) across the study area. The weighted scenario also showed that low‐flow statistics and the reliability of streamflows are increased and severe drought events are decreased mainly due to increased precipitation. Joint dam operation performed better than single dam operation in terms of both hydropower generation and mean annual storage without affecting the runoff volume to downstream countries, but enhancing flow characteristics and the robustness of streamflows. This study provides useful information to decision makers for the planning and management of future water resources of the study area and downstream countries.     

Water quality parameters controlling the photodegradation of two herbicides in surface waters of the Columbia Basin,Washington

The water quality parameters nitrate-nitrogen, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended solids were correlated with photodegradation rates of the herbicides atrazine and 2,4-D in samples collected from four sites in the Columbia River Basin, Washington, USA. Surface water samples were collected in May, July, and October 2010 and analyzed for the water quality parameters. Photolysis rates for the two herbicides in the surface water samples were then evaluated under a xenon arc lamp. Photolysis rates of atrazine and 2,4-D were similar with rate constants averaging 0.025 h⁻¹ for atrazine and 0.039 h⁻¹ for 2,4-D. Based on multiple regression analysis, nitrate-nitrogen was the primary predictor of photolysis for both atrazine and 2,4-D, with dissolved organic carbon also a predictor for some sites. However, at sites where suspended solids concentrations were elevated, photolysis rates of the two herbicides were controlled by the suspended solids concentration. The results of this research provide a basis for evaluating and predicting herbicide photolysis rates in shallow surface waters.     

Relations of Habitat-Specific Algal Assemblages to Land Use and Water Chemistry in the Willamette Basin, Oregon

Benthic algal assemblages, water chemistry, and habitat were characterized at 25 stream sites in the Willamette Basin, Oregon, during low flow in 1994. Seventy-three algal samples yielded 420 taxa — mostly diatoms, blue-green algae, and green algae. Algal assemblages from depositional samples were strongly dominated by diatoms (76% mean relative abundance), whereas erosional samples were dominated by blue-green algae (68% mean relative abundance).Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of semiquantitative and qualitative (presence/absence) data sets identified four environmental variables (maximum specific conductance, % open canopy, pH, and drainage area) that were significant in describing patterns of algal taxa among sites. Based on CCA, four groups of sites were identified: streams in forested basins that supported oligotrophic taxa, such as Diatoma mesodon;small streams in agricultural and urban basins that contained a variety of eutrophic and nitrogen-heterotrophic algal taxa; larger rivers draining areas of mixed land use that supported planktonic, eutrophic, and nitrogen-heterotrophic algal taxa; and streams with severely degraded or absent riparian vegetation (> 75% open canopy) that were dominated by other planktonic, eutrophic, and nitrogen-heterotrophic algal taxa. Patterns in water chemistry were consistent with the algal autecological interpretations and clearly demonstrated relationships between land use, water quality, and algal distribution patterns.     

太湖流域上游河流污染空间分布特征研究

为把握太湖流域上游西北部河网区域水体的N、P污染特征及其空间分布,2010年8月在该区域内的武进港 直湖港水系、洮滆水系、丹扁孟河（丹金溧漕运河、扁担河及孟津河）以及宜溧河水系的河网,监测了39个河流断面的水质。研究表明,4水系TN平均浓度分别为388、283、291及193 mg/L,DTN占TN比重分别为9180%、7843%、7001%及8444%,河网氮输出均以DTN为主。在DTN中NO-3 N浓度所占比重分别为6747%、5275%、7748%及4281%,NH+4 N浓度所占比重分别为1633%、3316%、1127%及4351%。TP平均浓度分别为059、030、026及015 mg/L,DTP所占比重分别为6213%、4019%、4673%及3197%,而PO3-4 P浓度占DTP比重分别为2073%、5461%、4327%及7772%。武进港 直湖港水系N平均浓度显著（〖WTBX〗p〖WTBZ〗<001）高于宜溧河水系,与其它两水系无显著差异,P平均浓度显著（〖WTBX〗p〖WTBZ〗<005）高于宜溧河水系和丹扁孟河,与洮滆水系无显著差异。影响太湖流域上游西北部区域河流水网水质的主导因素为氮污染,而其中以DTN污染最为严重。太湖西北部是蓝藻水华暴发的重灾区,上游区域DTN的大量输入,将成为引发太湖水体生态系统灾变的潜在风险     

Future Nutrient Load Scenarios for the Baltic Sea Due to Climate and Lifestyle Changes

Dynamic model simulations of the future climate and projections of future lifestyles within the Baltic Sea Drainage Basin (BSDB) were considered in this study to estimate potential trends in future nutrient loads to the Baltic Sea. Total nitrogen and total phosphorus loads were estimated using a simple proxy based only on human population (to account for nutrient sources) and stream discharges (to account for nutrient transport). This population-discharge proxy provided a good estimate for nutrient loads across the seven sub-basins of the BSDB considered. All climate scenarios considered here produced increased nutrient loads to the Baltic Sea over the next 100 years. There was variation between the climate scenarios such that sub-basin and regional differences were seen in future nutrient runoff depending on the climate model and scenario considered. Regardless, the results of this study indicate that changes in lifestyle brought about through shifts in consumption and population potentially overshadow the climate effects on future nutrient runoff for the entire BSDB. Regionally, however, lifestyle changes appear relatively more important in the southern regions of the BSDB while climatic changes appear more important in the northern regions with regards to future increases in nutrient loads. From a whole-ecosystem management perspective of the BSDB, this implies that implementation of improved and targeted management practices can still bring about improved conditions in the Baltic Sea in the face of a warmer and wetter future climate.     

基于RS/GIS技术的“十一五”期间塔里木河流域生态环境质量综合评价分析

"十一五"是新疆经济飞速发展的五年,同时也是重大生态保护工程十五实施期。本文采用国家环境保护部制定的《生态环境状况评价技术规范》(HJ/T192-2006)分别对新疆"十五"末与"十一五"末生态环境质量进行综合评价分析。结果显示:塔里木河流域生态环境质量总体处于较差水平,各县(市)生态环境质量以较差和差为主,二者面积总和在全区总面积60%以上;与"十五"末相比,全区生态环境质量保持稳定,无明显变化。呈现总体趋于稳定,局部区域有所改善的特征。     

Evaluation of the Temporal Transferability of a Model Describing Dissolved Solids in Streams of the Upper Colorado River Basin1

Kenney, Terry A. and Susan G. Buto, 2012. Evaluation of the Temporal Transferability of a Model Describing Dissolved Solids in Streams of the Upper Colorado River Basin. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(5): 1041‐1053. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2012.00667.x Abstract: The application of a nonlinear least‐squares regression model describing the sources and transport of dissolved solids in streams of the Upper Colorado River Basin, and that was calibrated using data from water year 1991, was evaluated for use in predicting annual dissolved‐solids loads for the years 1974 through 1998. Simulations for each water year were run using annual climate data. To evaluate how well the model captures the observed annual variability across the basin, differences in predicted annual dissolved‐solids loads for each simulated year and 1991 were compared with differences in monitored annual loads. The temporal trend of the differences between predicted annual loads for the simulated years and the load for 1991 generally followed the trend of the monitored loads. The model appears to underpredict the largest annual loads and overpredict some of the smaller annual loads. An underprediction bias for wetter years was evident in the residuals as was an overprediction bias, to a lesser degree, for drier years. A regression analysis on the residuals suggests that the underprediction bias is associated with precipitation differences from 1991 and with previously defined downward trends in dissolved‐solids concentrations in the basin. In general, given the representative climatic conditions, the model adequately performs throughout the period examined. However, the model is most transferable to years with climatic conditions similar to 1991.     

Spatiotemporal dynamics of spring and stream water chemistry in a high-mountain area

The present study deals with the application of the self-organizing map (SOM) technique in the exploration of spatiotemporal dynamics of spring and stream water samples collected in the Chocho?owski Stream Basin located in the Tatra Mountains (Poland). The SOM-based classification helped to uncover relationships between physical and chemical parameters of water samples and factors determining the quality of water in the studied high-mountain area. In the upper part of the Chocho?owski Stream Basin, located on the top of the crystalline core of the Tatras, concentrations of the majority of ionic substances were the lowest due to limited leaching. Significantly higher concentration of ionic substances was detected in spring and stream samples draining sedimentary rocks. The influence of karst-type springs on the quality of stream water was also demonstrated.     

太湖流域土地利用变化特征与机制分析

太湖流域土地总面积36 895 km²,包括了上海、江苏、浙江两省一市的部分区域,其中,江苏占53%,浙江占33%,上海占14%。太湖流域土地利用按下垫面可以分为耕地、建设用地、水域和其他用地4种类型。采用2005年土地详查数据与上次防洪规划数据进行比较。研究发现：耕地是太湖流域最重要的下垫面,占土地总面积的36.6%,建设用地占土地占面积的23%,与耕地的矛盾十分尖锐,水域面积较大,占土地总面积的14.5%。1996~2005年,土地利用变化的总体趋势是,耕地面积减少,减少幅度最大的地区在太湖流域江苏部分,两省一市建设用地均有30%左右的增长幅度,土地围垦得到有效控制,水域面积略有下降。人口增长和城市化快速发展、经济发展、效益驱动与土地管制差异是造成土地利用变化的主要原因     

Histopathological and biochemical alterations of the earthworm (Lumbricus Terrestris) as biomarker of soil pollution along Porsuk River Basin (Turkey)

This study investigated biomarker responses of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris in order to evaluate the soil pollution along Porsuk River Basin. Samples consisted of animals from six sites that are agricultural regions and a forested control. Histopathological and biochemical alterations were examined. Significant histopathological alterations were observed in animals from three of the sampling sites. There was an enlargement of epithelial cell lining, mucus cell hyperplasia and increase in mucus secretion. Circular and longitudinal muscles lost their structural integrity. Chloragogenous tissue was dilated and vocuolized. Necrosis was observed in the cells and tissues of some affected worms. A load of heavy metals in tissues of animals was determined. Heavy metals were found to be accumulated particularly in longitudinal muscles of animals. CAT activity was found to be increased in animals from three of the experimental sites. GST activity was also increased in five sites while it was stable in one site. The results have shown that animals from locations particularly that are close to urbanized and industrialized regions were seriously affected from the soil pollution around the basin. These results are reflecting the biological effects of soil pollution around Porsuk River Basin on the indicator organism L. terrestris and constitute an early warning of ecological change in relation to human health.