Spatial distribution of pollution in an urban stormwater infiltration basin

Infiltration basins are frequently used for stormwater drainage. Because stormwater is polluted in highly toxic compounds, assessment of pollution retention by infiltration basins is necessary. Indeed, if basins are not effective in trapping pollution, deep soil and groundwater may be contaminated. This study's objective is to investigate soil pollution in infiltration basins: spatial distribution of soil pollution, optimisation of the number of soil samples and a contamination indicator are presented. It is part of a global project on long-term impact of stormwater infiltration on groundwater. Soil sampling was done on a basin in suburban Lyon (France). Samples were collected at different depths and analysed for nutrients, heavy metals, hydrocarbons and grain size. Pollutant concentrations decrease rapidly with depth while pH, mineralisation and grain size increase. Sustainable metal concentrations are reached at a 30-cm depth, even after 14 years of operation; hydrocarbon pollution is deeper. Principal component analysis shows how pollutants affect each level. The topsoil is different from other levels. Three specifically located points are enough to estimate the mass of pollution trapped by the basin with a 26% error. The proposed contamination indicator is calculated using either average level concentrations or maximum level concentrations. In both cases, the topsoil layer appears polluted but evaluation of lower levels is dependent on the choice of input concentrations.     

Intra- and inter- laboratory variability in paper industry PCDD/PCDF analysis

Studies were conducted to quantify variability for pulp industry wastewater effluent, pulp and sludge analyses. Intralaboratory variability studies indicated that there is a potential for greater between batch variability in results than for within a batch. Intralaboratory relative standard deviations for replicate analyses ranged from 6% to 60%. Interlaboratory studies, using standard reference materials showed relative standard deviations from 4% to 135%. There appeared to be little dependance of variability on concentration, suggesting matrix effects were very important. In general, effluent variability was greater than observed for pulps or sludges. Analysis of reference standards indicated that 13% to 17% variability can be attributed to differences in calibration standards. A limited study of full congener PCDD/PCDF analysis variability showed it to be greater than observed for TCDD/TCDF.     

长三角地区2015年大气重污染特征及其影响因素

基于2015年长三角地区129个环境空气质量监测站的空气质量指数（AQI）及主要大气污染物浓度数据,结合气象资料和HYSPLIT后向轨迹模式,探究长三角地区大气重污染的时间变化和空间集聚特征,并深入分析气象条件和区域传输对重污染过程发生和维持的影响.结果表明,2015年长三角地区各城市平均出现AQI超过200的重污染天气共8 d,重污染频率为2.01%,PM_2.5作为首要污染物出现频次最多.从时间变化看,重污染主要分布在1月和12月;从空间分布看,北部地区重污染相比南部地区更为严重,徐州和常州市出现频率最高.选取典型重污染过程1月9—11日（纬向扩散型）、1月24—26日（经向扩散型）和12月20—26日（两种模式相结合的重污染天气）进行成因分析,发现长三角地区重污染天气主要受到西北风向、低风速、高湿度和逆温层的影响,导致大气污染物积累且不易扩散.基于HYSPLIT的大气传输轨迹及频率分布表明,来自西北方向的气流对江苏北部地区的污染输送特征有着显著影响.     

降雨-径流与非点源污染物浓度及流失量关系分析——以铁岭市柴河水库上游流域为例

以铁岭市柴河水库上游集水区域为研究对象,利用铁岭市柴河堡水文站降雨时节实测的暴雨径流数据、泥沙数据、污染物浓度数据进行分析,侧重研究降雨时节暴雨径流量与主要污染物浓度及污染物瞬时流失量之间的关系,以期为柴河流域农业非点源污染控制提供参考。研究结果表明:暴雨期内,非点源污染物浓度及瞬时流失量与径流峰值几乎同步出现,它们之间存在着非常密切的关系。     

BP神经网络在流溪河水库径流量预测中的应用

流溪河水库是广州市的主要饮用水源地,所属地区降雨量年际变化大,不利于水资源的优化配置。对流溪河水库径流量进行预测研究,可为其水资源的优化配置提供科学依据。目前人工神经网络(ANN)技术在水文序列模拟预测中有较多的应用,本文根据流溪河水库1959~2000年水文数据,利用BP神经网络对径流量进行预测,从模型检验结果看,所建模型有较好的拟合效果和预测精度,说明神经网络在预测径流量方面有良好的实用性。     

南方丘陵山区典型地物景观特征尺度研究

景观的特征尺度反映了人与自然交互作用的空间过程,合理识别景观空间结构及其特征尺度有助于遥感影像景观空间异质性分析。论文以地处南方丘陵山区的福建省福州市为研究区,针对城市、农田、森林与水域4种地物景观,基于SPOT 10 m影像,分别利用半方差分析、小波分析与平均局部方差方法,开展景观特征尺度研究。结果表明:①不同景观类型的空间异质性差异较大,其中森林景观空间异质性最大,其次为城市、农田景观,水域的空间异质性最小;②小波方差分析和半方差分析分别检测到两个不同的特征尺度,而局部方差仅仅检测到较小的空间结构;③森林景观特征尺度比通常偏小,与南方丘陵山区破碎地形有关,城市景观更多体现为人类活动的影响,南方丘陵山区城市景观至少具有两种不同的空间结构,其特征尺度均较小,农田景观特征尺度最大。基于小波分析与半方差各自的特点,总结提炼出综合两种方法合理识别景观特征尺度的基本流程,即:首先开展小波分析,然后在此基础上利用半方差分析多种理论模型组合从而获得更详细的特征尺度信息,模型组合个数与参数初始值依据小波分析的结果而定。     

Runoff and dissolved organic carbon loss from a paired-watershed study of three adjacent agricultural Watersheds

Organic matter plays several important roles in the biogeochemistry of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems including the mobilization and transport of nutrients and pollutants. Cropping, tillage practices and vegetative buffer strip installation affect losses of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). While many studies show reductions in pollutant export from agroecosystems where vegetative buffers have been implemented, buffer strips may be a source of DOC and contribute to surface water pollution. Using a paired-watershed approach, the objectives of this study were to determine the effect of grass and agroforestry buffers on runoff and DOC loss, compare runoff and DOC losses between the growing and fallow seasons, and investigate crop effects on runoff and DOC losses. The study design consisted of three small agricultural Watersheds in a no-till, maize-soybean rotation located in the claypan region of northeast Missouri, USA; one watershed was planted with grass buffer strips, one with agroforestry buffer strips, and one unaltered watershed served as the control. Runoff and DOC loss were measured during a six-year calibration period (1991–1997) prior to buffer installation and for a nine-year treatment period (1997–2006). The grass buffer strips significantly decreased runoff by 8.4% (p = 0.015) during the treatment period while the agroforestry buffer system exhibited no significant change in runoff (p = 0.207). Loss of DOC was not significantly affected by grass or agroforestry buffer installation (p = 0.535 and p = 0.246, respectively). Additionally, no significant difference in runoff or DOC loss was found between crops (maize and soybean) or between seasons (growing and fallow). Overall, this study indicates that grass buffer systems are effective at reducing runoff and that DOC contamination of surface waters is not exacerbated by either type of vegetative buffer strip.     

The Effects of Irrigation and Climate on the High Plains Aquifer: A County‐Level Econometric Analysis

The High Plains Aquifer (HPA) underlies parts of eight states and 208 counties in the central area of the United States (U.S.). This region produces more than 9% of U.S. crops sales and relies on the aquifer for irrigation. However, these withdrawals have diminished the stock of water in the aquifer. In this paper, we investigate the aggregate county‐level effect on the HPA of groundwater withdrawal for irrigation, of climate variables, and of energy price changes. We merge economic theory and hydrological characteristics to jointly estimate equations describing irrigation behavior and a generalized water balance equation for the HPA. Our simple water balance model predicts, at average values for irrigation and precipitation, an HPA‐wide average decrease in the groundwater table of 0.47 feet per year, compared to 0.48 feet per year observed on average across the HPA during this 1985–2005 period. The observed distribution and predicted change across counties is in the (?3.22, 1.59) and (?2.24, 0.60) feet per year range, respectively. The estimated impact of irrigation is to decrease the water table by an average of 1.24 feet per year, whereas rainfall recharges the level by an average of 0.76 feet per year. Relative to the past several decades, if groundwater use is unconstrained, groundwater depletion would increase 50% in a scenario where precipitation falls by 25% and the number of degree days above 36°C doubles. Editor’s note : This paper is part of the featured series on Optimizing Ogallala Aquifer Water Use to Sustain Food Systems. See the February 2019 issue for the introduction and background to the series.     

Changes in Hydrology of the Ganges Delta of Bangladesh and Corresponding Impacts on Water Resources

The Ganges Delta in Bangladesh is an example of water‐related catastrophes in a major rural river basin where limitations in quantity, quality, and timing of available water are producing disastrous conditions. Water availability limitations are modifying the hydrologic characteristics especially when water allocation is controlled from the upstream Farakka Barrage. This study presents the changes and consequences in the hydrologic regime due to climate‐ and human‐induced stresses. Flow duration curves (FDCs), rainfall elasticity, and temperature sensitivity were used to assess the pre‐ and post‐barrage water flow patterns. Hydrologic and climate indices were computed to provide insight on hydro‐climatic variability and trend. Significant increases in temperature, evapotranspiration, hot days, heating, and cooling degree days indicate the region is heading toward a warmer climate. Moreover, increase in high‐intensity rainfall of short duration is making the region prone to extreme floods. FDCs depict a large reduction in river flows between pre‐ and post‐barrage periods, resulting in lower water storage capacity. The reduction in freshwater flow increased the extent and intensity of salinity intrusion. This freshwater scarcity is reducing livelihood options considerably and indirectly forcing population migration from the delta region. Understanding the causes and directions of hydrologic changes is essential to formulate improve water resources management in the region.     

Climate and Land Use Effects on Hydrologic Processes in a Primarily Rain‐Fed,Agricultural Watershed

Anticipating changes in hydrologic variables is essential for making socioeconomic water resource decisions. This study aims to assess the potential impact of land use and climate change on the hydrologic processes of a primarily rain‐fed, agriculturally based watershed in Missouri. A detailed evaluation was performed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool for the near future (2020–2039) and mid‐century (2040–2059). Land use scenarios were mapped using the Conversion of Land Use and its Effects model. Ensemble results, based on 19 climate models, indicated a temperature increase of about 1.0°C in near future and 2.0°C in mid‐century. Combined climate and land use change scenarios showed distinct annual and seasonal hydrologic variations. Annual precipitation was projected to increase from 6% to 7%, which resulted in 14% more spring days with soil water content equal to or exceeding field capacity in mid‐century. However, summer precipitation was projected to decrease, a critical factor for crop growth. Higher temperatures led to increased potential evapotranspiration during the growing season. Combined with changes in precipitation patterns, this resulted in an increased need for irrigation by 38 mm representing a 10% increase in total irrigation water use. Analysis from multiple land use scenarios indicated converting agriculture to forest land can potentially mitigate the effects of climate change on streamflow, thus ensuring future water availability.