Does Including Soil Moisture Observations Improve Operational Streamflow Forecasts in Snow‐Dominated Watersheds?

Changing climate and growing water demand are increasing the need for robust streamflow forecasts. Historically, operational streamflow forecasts made by the Natural Resources Conservation Service have relied on precipitation and snow water equivalent observations from Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) sites. We investigate whether also including SNOTEL soil moisture observations improve April‐July streamflow volume forecast accuracy at 0, 1, 2, and 3‐month lead times at 12 watersheds in Utah and California. We found statistically significant improvement in 0 and 3‐month lead time accuracy in 8 of 12 watersheds and 10 of 12 watersheds for 1 and 2‐month lead times. Surprisingly, these improvements were insensitive to soil moisture metrics derived from soil physical properties. Forecasts were made with volumetric water content (VWC) averaged from October 1 to the forecast date. By including VWC at the 0‐month lead time the forecasts explained 7.3% more variability and increased the streamflow volume accuracy by 8.4% on average compared to standard forecasts that already explained an average 77% of the variability. At 1 to 3‐month lead times, the inclusion of soil moisture explained 12.3‐26.3% more variability than the standard forecast on average. Our findings indicate including soil moisture observations increased statistical streamflow forecast accuracy and thus, could potentially improve water supply reliability in regions affected by changing snowpacks.     

Does the Temporal Resolution of Precipitation Input Influence the Simulated Hydrological Components Employing the SWAT Model?

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of sub‐daily precipitation time steps on model performance and hydrological components by applying the Green and Ampt infiltration method using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Precipitation was measured at a resolution of 0.1 mm and aggregated to 5‐, 15‐, 30‐, and 60‐min time steps. Daily discharge data over a 10‐year period were used to calibrate and validate the model. Following a global sensitivity analysis, relevant parameters were optimized through an automatic calibration procedure using SWAT‐CUP for each time step. Daily performance statistics were almost equal among all four time steps (NSE ≈ 0.47). Discharge mainly consisted of groundwater flow (55%) and tile flow (42%), in reasonable proportions for the investigated catchment. In conclusion, model outputs were almost identical, showing simulations responded nearly independently of the chosen precipitation time step. This held true for (1) the selection of sensitive parameters, (2) performance statistics, (3) the shape of the hydrographs, and (4) flow components. However, a scenario analysis revealed that the precipitation time step becomes important when saturated hydraulic conductivities are low and curve numbers are high. The study suggests that there is no need in using precipitation time steps <1 h for lowland catchments dominated by soils with a low surface runoff potential if daily flow values are being considered. 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.     

重金属元素在冻土与融土中迁移的对比试验

随着寒区经济的发展,冻土地区的矿山开采活动不断加剧,随之产生的重金属污染问题也越来越严重.冻土地区生态环境脆弱,一旦受到破坏就很难恢复.针对此问题,室内模拟了尾矿矿渣在冻土与融土中的填埋及其对填埋场周边土体的影响,通过检测填埋场各处土壤的温度、含水量以及重金属元素的含量,发现温度和水分对重金属元素的迁移影响很大.土壤温度越低,重金属元素的迁移越慢;在温度梯度的作用下,重金属元素均随着水分从土体的暖端向冷端迁徙并聚集于冻结锋面.重金属元素在冻土中的迁移比融土中慢,表明冻土环境不利于重金属元素的迁移.在土壤质地、温度和含水量等相同的情况下,Zn的迁移性较强,Pb和Cu的迁移性相对较弱.     

Correlation of foliar MT2b expression with Cd and Zn concentrations in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × tremuloides) grown in contaminated soil

Metal uptake and its effect on foliar metallothionein 2b (MT2b) mRNA levels were studied in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × tremuloides) in field conditions. The trees were planted on a site contaminated with several metals, including cadmium (mean 5.1 mg kg⁻¹), chromium (80 mg kg⁻¹), copper (180 mg kg⁻¹), nickel (81 mg kg⁻¹), vanadium (240 mg kg⁻¹) and zinc (520 mg kg⁻¹). Of the ten trace elements analyzed, only Cd and Zn accumulated in the leaves with maximal foliar concentrations of 35 and 2400 mg kg⁻¹ (dry weight), respectively. There was a strong correlation between Cd and Zn concentrations and bioaccumulation factors (concentration in plant/soil) in the leaves, branches and roots, suggesting similar transport mechanisms for these two metals. The levels of MT2b correlated with Cd and Zn concentrations in the leaves, demonstrating that increased MT2b expression is one of the responses of hybrid aspen to chronic metal exposure.     

Cr(Ⅵ)污染土壤的热解还原无害化处理

提出了用热解还原法对含铬土壤进行无害化处理的新技术,研究了热解温度、热解时间及土壤有机质对铬无害化处理的影响,分析了热解前后土壤中铬的元素形态的变化.同时还探讨了热解还原过程中Cr(Ⅵ)的无害化机制.结果表明,土壤中的有机质在热解还原过程中产生的挥发分对Cr(Ⅵ)的无害化起核心作用;在200～600℃范围内,Cr(Ⅵ)的还原量随着热解温度升高而增大,500.0℃最适合于经济有效地实现Cr(Ⅵ)的热解还原处理;Cr(Ⅵ)的热解还原过程较快.铬的形态分析结果表明,热解后可交换态和碳酸盐结合态铬量大大降低,大部分铬转化成了活性低的残渣态,极大地降低了铬的危害.     

氨水土壤混合物脱除CO2温室气体的实验研究

为了脱除CO2温室气体,提出了利用氨水土壤混合物去除CO2的新方法。分别考察了土壤颗粒粒径、CO2初始流量、氨水浓度（质量比）和温度对CO2脱除量和脱除率的影响。实验结果表明,该方法去除CO2的量较土壤物理吸附量和氨水化学吸收量的总和提高了大约15%;随着氨水浓度的增大,CO2的脱除率和脱除量都增大;随着土壤颗粒粒径和CO2初始流量的增大,CO2的脱除率和脱除量都减小;当温度由22℃升高到31℃,CO2的脱除率随着温度的升高而增大,但是继续升高温度到40℃,CO2的脱除率反而下降。     

土壤中零价铁还原3-氯硝基苯的作用

利用零价铁在常温常压下对土壤中的3-氯硝基苯的还原,对反应物和产物随时间的变化及反应的各个影响因素进行了研究。实验结果表明,零价铁能够有效地将3-氯硝基苯还原为3-氯苯胺,反应过程中没有检测到脱氯产物。其反应速率随铁粉用量、反应体系含水量的增加以及反应温度的升高而升高,随土壤初始pH值的升高而降低。在土壤中3-氯硝基苯含量约为2.5×10^-6 mol/g,铁粉使用量为25 mg/g,反应体系中含水量为0.75 mL/g,pH值为6.8时,在恒温生化培养箱(25±1)℃反应5 h后,3-氯硝基苯的还原率达到92.75％。     

表面活性剂清洗处理重度石油污染土壤

为了优化表面活性剂清洗处理重度石油污染土壤的方法和具体洗脱条件参数,采集山东省东营市胜利油田污染土壤,研究了阴离子-非离子混合表面活性剂对该土壤中石油类污染物的去除效果。应用化学热洗原理,主要考查了表面活性剂配比、投加量、清洗温度及清洗助剂对去除效果的影响。实验得到的清洗处理最佳条件为：使用LAS与TX-100质量比为8∶2的组合表面活性剂,总表面活性剂浓度为3 g/L,助剂硅酸钠浓度为5 g/L,75℃条件下搅拌1 h。清洗后土壤含油量从20%下降到4.6%,去除率达到76.9%。废水回用实验表明,清洗处理的废水对土壤中石油烃类物质仍有一定的去除效果。废水回用比从30%到100%时,对土壤中石油烃的去除率都可达到55%以上。对废水进行二次回用时仍能去除18.8%的污染物。     

Field Trial Assessment of Biological,Chemical, and Physical Responses of Soil to Tillage Intensity,Fertilization, and Grazing

Soil microbial populations can fluctuate in response to environmental changes and, therefore, are often used as biological indicators of soil quality. Soil chemical and physical parameters can also be used as indicators because they can vary in response to different management strategies. A long-term field trial was conducted to study the effects of different tillage systems (NT: no tillage, DH: disc harrow, and MP: moldboard plough), P fertilization (diammonium phosphate), and cattle grazing (in terms of crop residue consumption) in maize (Zea mays L.), sunflower (Heliantus annuus L.), and soybean (Glycine max L.) on soil biological, chemical, and physical parameters. The field trial was conducted for four crop years (2000/2001, 2001/2002, 2002/2003, and 2003/2004). Soil populations of Actinomycetes, Trichoderma spp., and Gliocladium spp. were 49% higher under conservation tillage systems, in soil amended with diammonium phosphate (DAP) and not previously grazed. Management practices also influenced soil chemical parameters, especially organic matter content and total N, which were 10% and 55% higher under NT than under MP. Aggregate stability was 61% higher in NT than in MP, 15% higher in P-fertilized soil, and also 9% higher in not grazed strips, bulk density being 12% lower in NT systems compared with MP. DAP application and the absence of grazing also reduced bulk density (3%). Using conservation tillage systems, fertilizing crops with DAP, and avoiding grazing contribute to soil health preservation and enhanced crop production.     

Monitoring Environmental Impact in the Upper Sonoran Lifestyle: A New Tool for Rapid Ecological Assessment

Characterized by expensive housing, high socioeconomic status, and topographic relief, Upper Sonoran Lifestyle communities are found primarily along the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. Communities like these sprawl into the wildlands in the United States Southwest, creating a distinct urban fringe. This article, through locational comparison, introduces and evaluates a new field assessment tool for monitoring anthropogenic impact on soil–vegetation interactions along the well-maintained multi-use recreational trails in Upper Sonoran Lifestyle region. Comparing data from randomly selected transects along other multi-use trails with data from a control site revealed three key indicators of anthropogenic disturbances on soil–vegetation interactions: soil disturbance, vegetation disturbance, and vegetation density. Soil and vegetation disturbance displayed an average distance decay exponent factor of −0.60, while vegetation density displayed a reverse decay average of 0.60. Other important indicators of disturbance included vegetation type, biological soil crusts, and soil bulk density. The predictive ability of this new field tool enhances its applicability, offering a powerful rapid ecological assessment method for monitoring long-term anthropogenic impact in the Upper Sonoran Lifestyle, and other sprawling cities along the WUI.