DEBRIS FLOWS THROUGH DIFFERENT FOREST AGE CLASSES IN THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST RANGE1

ABSTRACT: Debris flows in the Pacific Northwest can play a major role in routing sediment and wood stored on hillslopes and in first‐through third‐order channels and delivering it to higher‐order channels. Field surveys following a large regional storm event investigated 53 debris flows in the central Oregon Coast Range to determine relationships among debris flow characteristics and the age class of the surrounding forest. The volume of sediment and wood delivered by debris flows was strongly correlated with runout length. Debris flows that initiated at roads were significantly longer than nonroad related failures, and road related landslides were an order of magnitude larger than nonroad related landslides. Clearcuts and roads tended to have more numerous contributing landslides relative to second growth and mature forests. No statistically significant difference in the average debris flow runout length was detected among the forest age classes, although debris flows initiating in clearcuts and mixed forest and at roads occasionally supported extremely long runout lengths that were outside the range of variability observed in completely forested basins. The size of wood in deposits was not correlated with the size of trees on the adjacent slopes, suggesting that the majority of wood in debris flow deposits was from remobilization of wood previously stored in low order channels.     

Fossil carbon emissions associated with carbon flowsof wood products

Specific fossil carbon (C) emissions and primary energy useassociated with the manufacture of different wood product groups inFinland are estimated and expressed as emissions or energy use per amountof wood-based C in raw material and per amount in end product. Thecalculation includes both emissions from supplied fuels within the forestindustries, and from electricity and district heat purchased from externalsources. The results are compared to fossil C emissions from the wholelifecycle of harvested wood products. The results of the study show, forinstance, that the emission of fossil C per wood-based C in end products(MgC/MgC) is of the order of 0.07 for sawn wood and 0.3–0.6 for paperin the manufacturing stage. The primary energy use per wood-based C inend product is of the order of 2 MWh/MgC for sawn wood, whereas forvirgin paper grades the figure is between 17 and 19 MWh/MgC. Theprimary energy content is highest in papers based on chemical pulping, butaround 60% of the energy used is produced in this case from by-productwood wastes (black liquor, bark etc.). The specific fossil C emission andprimary energy divided by the estimated service life of the wood productare measures for the relative burden of maintaining the corresponding woodproduct pool. These figures should be kept in mind when considering woodproducts as a potential C sink option.     

Advanced post-processing and correlation analyses in high-velocity air–water flows

The interest in air–water flows has not diminished in recent years, but it is accompanied by frequent citations of early, sometimes outdated articles. A basic issue is the inadequate, incomplete interpretation of air–water flow instrumentation by hydraulic engineers and researchers. This article comments on high-velocity air–water flow measurements by means of intrusive phase detection probes. This article focus on the bubbly flow structure of high-velocity air–water flow based upon measurements by means of intrusive phase detection probes. It is shown that some advanced post-processing techniques may yield expanded information on the air–water turbulent flow properties and bubbly flow structures. The outcomes demonstrate simple techniques in high-velocity air–water flow analysis.     

Circuit riding for managing small community sewage systems

Providing wastewater treatment services for small communities can be expensive, so many communities have chosen part-time or inadequately trained operators. This can result in neglect and poor plant performance. Indiana County, Pennsylvania, in the USA, has established an authority to provide operation and maintenance through a circuit riding arrangement. Two operators travel to eight plants five days a week. This has resulted in more consistent operation and maintenance at affordable rates. Homeowners pay $12.60–$18.00 and commercial customers pay $25–$150 a month. Even with regular attention, these small plants are not able to meet their effluent requirements at all times.     

CHANGING WATER BALANCE OVER TIME IN RUSH CREEK,EASTERN CALIFORNIA, 1860–19921

ABSTRACT: Rush Creek, the principal tributary to Mono Lake, has undergone profound hydrologic modifications as a result of flow regulation for hydroelectric generation and irrigation, diversions for irrigated agriculture, and diversions for water export to the City of Los Angeles. Lower Rush Creek (the lowermost 13 km downstream of Grant Lake Reservoir) was dry by 1970, but now receives flow as a result of court-ordered efforts to restore former ecological conditions. Using available historic data and recent field measurements, we constructed the water balance for Lower Rush Creek, identifying six distinct historical periods characterized by very different patterns of gain and loss. The hydrologic patterns must be understood as a basis for modeling ecosystem response to stream-flow alteration. A gradually gaining stream under natural conditions, the advent of irrigation diversions caused the middle reaches of Lower Rush Creek to be often completely dry, while irrigation-recharged springs still maintained a baseflow in the downstream “Meadows” ranch. Increased water exports from the basin subsequently reduced irrigation and dried up the springs.     

DETERMINATION OF UNGAGED TRIBUTARY FLOWS AND INTERSEGMENTAL RESERVOIR FLOWS USING SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE1

ABSTRACT: Spreadsheet software was utilized on two related large scale trial and error problems. Gaged streamflow data and known reservoir volumes were used to construct a daily continuity balance in order to estimate the daily mean flows from ungaged portions of a study watershed over one year. Watershed yield coefficients were determined for two diverse types of watersheds with and without significant ground water contribution. Subsequently, a spreadsheet template was devised to ensure than an EPA supported water quality model, WASP, would successfully model the actual segmental volumes of a flood control reservoir. Inlet, outlet, and intersegmental advective flows were determined on a two week average basis using a continuity balance, segmental routing, and known segmental volumes. The protocols described relate the use of microcomputers to the resolution of hydraulic and hydrologic problems requiring iterative solutions.     

Numerical Simulation of Interaction of the Heavy Gas Cloud with the Atmospheric Surface Layer

The numerical time-dependent three-dimensional model [Kovalets, I.V. and Maderich, V.S.: 2001, Int. J. Fluid Mech. Res. 30, 410–429] of the heavy gas dispersion in the atmospheric boundary layer has been improved by parameterizing momentum and heat fluxes on the surface of Earth using Monin–Obukhov similarity theory. Three parameterizations of heat exchange with the surface of Earth were considered: (A) formula of Yaglom A.M. and Kader B.A. [1974, J. Fluid Mech. 62, 601–623] for forced convection, (B) interpolation formula for mixed convection and (C) similarity relationship for mixed convection [Kader, B.A. and Yaglom, A.M.: 1990, J. Fluid Mech. 212, 637–662]. Two case studies were considered. In the first study based on experiment of Zhu et al., J. Hazard Mater 62, 161–186], the interaction of an isothermal heavy gas plume with an atmospheric surface layer was simulated. It was found that stable stratification in the cloud essentially suppresses the turbulence in the plume, reducing the turbulent momentum flux by a factor of down to 1/5 in comparison with the undisturbed value. This reduction essentially influences velocities in the atmospheric boundary layer above the cloud, increasing the mean velocity by a factor of up to 1.3 in comparison with the undisturbed value. A simulation of cold heavy gas dispersion was carried out in the second case based on field experiment BURRO 8. It was shown that both forced and free convections under moderate wind speeds significantly influence the plume. The relative rms and bias errors of prediction the plume’s height were σ_H ≈ 30% and ɛ_H = − 10%, respectively, for parameterization B, while for A and C the errors were σ_H ≈ 80% and ɛ_H ≈ − 65%. It is therefore advised to use the simple parameterization B in dense gas dispersion models.     

ON AN ECONOMIC VALUATION OF THE COLUMBIA-SNAKE RIVER COMPLEX1

This paper is an effort to establish a lower bound on the economic value of the Columbia and Snake Rivers to the State of Washington, so as to assess the economic consequences of diversion of waters of these rivers to other geographic regions. The uses recognized in this paper are for power generation and irrigation, although the dynamic-programming model constructed is capable of incorporating, with minor changes, returns from other uses of the rivers when the economic data can be obtained.     

REFORESTATION WITH CONIFERS - ITS EFFECT ON STREAMFLOW IN CENTRAL NEW YORK1

During the early 1930's, more than 340,000 acres of abandoned farmland in New York State were purchased by the State Conservation Department for the planting, growing, and harvesting of trees. Since then, this land has developed from a heavy cover of weeds and brush into dense coniferous woodlands with trees averaging well over 30 feet high. Hydrologic data have been collected since 1932 in Central New York to determine the effect of the reforestation on streamflow. Data are available for three small partly reforested areas and for one non-reforested control area. Intensive statistical analyses of the data from the four study areas were made in 1958. It was determined at that time that significant reductions in total runoff had occurred which were attributed to increases in interception and transpiration. Reductions in peak discharges during the dormant season also were indicated which were attributed to increased interception and sublimation of snowfall, and gradual desynchronization of snowmelt runoff from the wooded and open areas of partly reforested watersheds. Updating of the studies relating to peak discharges was completed in 1967 and indicated that no further changes in relative peaks had taken place since 1958. From this it is concluded that the influence exerted by the forest had become maximum by 1958 and has remained stable since then.     

Controlling substance flows: The case of chlorine

The contribution of chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs) to environmental problems in the Netherlands is discussed in an economic context. The economic interactions within the chlorine market, including the link to caustic soda production, are described, and PVC is taken as a case study. Key policy options are evaluated in terms of their potential for environmental improvement. It appears that 95% of CHC emissions causing environmental problems are due to dissipative applications. With respect to the specific problems of ozone depletion and global warming, only a small group of compounds is responsible for most of the impact. Moreover, economic interactions within the group of CHCs can strongly influence the net effect of environmental policy measures. Policies aimed at a reducing volume output of certain specific groups of CHCs will inevitably lead to trade-offs between environmental problems. The environmental impact of a hypothetical ban on CHCs is discussed in relation to the use of PVC as a sink for chlorine. Both these options appear to have drawbacks. Moreover, no absolute conclusion can be drawn until the environmental impact of CHC substitutes is known.