NORMALIZED UNIT HYDROGRAPH AGGREGATION1

ABSTRACT: The unit hydrograph is a common tool in hydraulic design. Used correctly, it allows a design engineer to estimate a runoff hydrograph from a drainage basin given a rainfall event. The typical method for estimating a unit hydrograph for a gaged watershed is by deconvolution. However, distinct storms produce different unit hydrographs for a single watershed. Consequently, a design engineer usually develops a composite, or average, unit hydrograph based on several recorded storm events. Common methods for estimating this composite unit hydrograph include curve fitting, simple aggregation, and multistorm optimization techniques. This paper introduces a new method to perform aggregation of unit hydrographs. The method is an extension to the simple averaging technique, in which prior to averaging, the individual unit hydrograph time ordinates are normalized with respect to the average time to peak. The normalization method is compared to a simple averaging technique and two multistorm aggregation techniques at six rural watersheds in Alabama. The results indicate that on average the normalization method predicts runoff nearly as accurately as the multistorm techniques, and displays improvement for 60 percent of the storms tested when compared with the simple averaging technique.     

COMPLIANCE WITH STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION REGULATIONS BY THE METAL FINISHING INDUSTRY1

ABSTRACT: Federal and state storm water pollutant control regulations for industry require facilities to identify themselves and to implement appropriate controls specifically developed for each facility by its operators. Compliance is not directly observable from publicly reported information, and is believed to be low. Compliance requirements are divided into three stages: determination and notification of duty to comply; preparation of public reports and site-specific planning documents; and implementation of pollution prevention activities. Aggregate data show about 25 percent to 35 percent of metal plating facilities in California, and about 35 percent to 40 percent of facilities in the Los Angeles region, have recognized the need for first-stage compliance; the number required but failing to do so is not known. For second-stage compliance, between 77 percent and 88 percent of facilities submitted required annual reports from 1993 to 1995, while on-site water quality monitoring reports were submitted by about 60 percent of required facilities. Site investigations of ten Los Angeles area facilities showed variation in compliance with site-specific documentation and implementation requirements. Most facilities inadequately evaluated activities for potential storm water pollutants, and most prepared incomplete plans for storm water sampling and inspection procedures. Evaluation of third-stage compliance by evaluating quantitative effects of facility actions, beyond the scope of this research, is recommended.     

EFFECTS OF IMPROVED PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES ON AUTOMATED RUNOFF MAPPING: EASTERN UNITED STATES1

ABSTRACT: We evaluated maps of runoff created by means of two automated procedures. We implemented each procedure using precipitation estimates of both 5-km and 10-km resolution from PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model). Our goal was to determine if using the 5-km PRISM estimates would improve map accuracy. Visual inspection showed good general agreement among our runoff maps, as well as between our maps and one produced using a manual method. A quantitative uncertainty analysis comparing runoff interpolated from our maps with gage data that had been withheld showed slightly smaller actual and percentage interpolation errors for the 5-km PRISM-based maps. Our analyses suggest a modest region-wide improvement in runoff map accuracy with the use of PRISM-based precipitation estimates of 5-km (compared to 10-km) resolution.     

三峡水库1956—2017年坝下径流特征分析

采用三峡水库坝下宜昌水文站1956—2017年日径流监测数据和长江上游80个国家气象站年均降水量长系列资料,利用一元线性分析法、滑动平均法、线性趋势回归法、非参数统计检验法、Mann-Kendall秩次相关、累积距平法和滑动T检验法分析三峡工程运行前后坝下径流的变化特征,其成果可为三峡工程调度提供参考。结果表明:三峡水库坝下宜昌水文站径流量变化趋势具有显著阶段性。三峡水库蓄水运行前宜昌水文站径流量和上游降水量相关性超过90%,该时期径流量主要受上游天然来水影响。三峡水库运行后,径流量主要受人类活动影响。宜昌水文站径流年际变化减少趋势不显著,长江上游降水量呈显著减少趋势。坝下径流量和上游降水量在2002年发生了突变且变化趋势相同,但径流量减少趋势不显著。径流年内分布发生了一定变化,其中汛期径流量占年径流总量百分比从72%下降到66%,枯期径流量占年径流量总量百分比从11%增加到15%。三峡工程调蓄是人类活动的直接表现,枯期宜昌水文站径流量增大是三峡工程生态效益的具体体现。     

Pollution survey of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface water of Hangzhou, China

The concentrations of 10 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were simultaneously measured for five times (July and November 1999–2002) in four water bodies of Hangzhou, China. To investigate possible sources of PAH contamination, sediments, soils, runoff water and atmospheric particles of the region were also analyzed for their PAH contents. The maximum levels of PAHs in the water bodies (34.4–67.7 μg/l) were found in July, while significantly lower PAH concentrations (4.7–15.3 μg/l) were measured in November. The contamination is substantial and it may have resulted in acute toxic effects on aquatic organisms. The measured PAH concentrations in sediments and soils (224–4222 ng/g), runoff water (8.3 μg/l) and air particles (2.3 μg/m³) are discussed in relation to concentrations and patterns found in the surface water bodies. Comparison of PAH levels in sediments and soils led to the conclusion that the erosion of soil material does not contribute significantly to the contamination of sediments. The atmospheric PAH deposition to water bodies in the city area of Hangzhou was estimated to be 530 tons/a, while the contribution of surface runoff water was estimated to be 30.7 tons/a. The ratios of selected PAH were then used to illuminate the possible origin of PAHs in the examined samples (petrogenic, pyrogenic).     

滇池宝象河流域全面产流与降雨关系初步研究

在进行滇池宝象河流域入湖污染负荷总量核算时,涉及流域的水量平衡计算,地表径流和地下径流是两个重要的环节,两者联系密切,并且在水循环过程中相互转化。不是所有的降水都能补给地下水,进而产生地表径流,只有当降雨量大于某一临界值时,才有可能产生地表径流。全流域地表径流产生与降雨关系的试验研究,有助于分析当地气象因素以及降雨时段之初的包气带含水率和地下水埋藏深度,为污染负荷总量核算提供参考和借鉴。     

蒙古栎林生态系统的水分循环与养分循环关系

本文从群体水平上研究了蒙古栎林生态系统中的水分循环与养分循环的关系。结果表明,降雨是系统养分的重要输入。降雨对林冠的淋洗淋溶作用有助于养分的归还及缩短养分循环的途径。蒙古栎树干茎流量大,且其中含有的养分元素较多,从而使蒙古栎的根系能获得更多的水分与养分,有助于适应干旱、瘠薄的立地环境。径流是系统的水分输出,也是养分输出。蒙古栎林的下渗流约占整个径流的90％,且养分元素含量较低,从而有助于养分的积累。降雨在蒙古栎林内的分配格局不一,导致系统养分积累的明显差异。本文还探讨了干扰对养分循环与水分循环的影响。结果表明,采伐森林导致水分分配的变化,也使系统的养分发生亏损。只有把养分循环与水分循环结合起来,才能较完整地评价森林的生态功能。     

Losses of nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural and forest areas in Finland during the 1980s and 1990s

The temporal changes and spatial variability of phosphorus andnitrogen losses and concentrations in Finland during the period1981–1997 were studied in 15 small agricultural and forestedcatchments. In addition, four coastal river basins with highagricultural land use located in southern Finland were includedin the study in order to assess the representativeness ofagricultural loss estimates from small agricultural catchments.The mean annual loss specific for agricultural land was estimatedto be on average 110 kg km^-2 a^-1 for total phosphorusand 1500 kg km^-2 a^-1 for total nitrogen. The resultsfrom small agricultural catchments were in agreement with thecorresponding loss estimates from rivers, with an average of137 kg km^-2 a^-1 for total phosphorus and 1800 kg km^-2a^-1 for total nitrogen. The results from the studiedagricultural catchments and rivers during the period 1981–1997suggest that weather-driven fluctuation in discharge was usuallythe main reason for changes in nutrient losses, and little or noimpact of changes in agricultural production or managementpractises can be observed. In forested areas the total phosphorusloss (average 9 kg km^-2 a^-1) and total nitrogen loss(average 250 kg km^-2 a^-1) were lower than inagricultural areas. In forested catchments the impact of forestryoperations, such as clear-cutting and fertilization, and theimpact of atmospheric nitrogen deposition can be seen in changesin nutrient losses.     

Phosphate run-off in the Nevezis River (Lithuania)

The long-term (40 yr) observation results of phosphates–phosphorus concentration and its runoff in the Lithuanian fourth largest river Nevezis are analysed. Amounts and peculiarities of background runoff, agricultural runoff, andpoint source pollution from towns were studied for various periods. It has been determined that phosphates enter into the river Nevezis mainly from towns (76.5%), from agricultureonly up to 16%, and the background runoff for 7.5%.Considerable agricultural influence was observed in 1979–1991,when the phosphate runoff increased to 22 kg P km^-2 a^-1 and formed in 1984 33% of the entire runoff. A relation of the phosphates runoff from agriculture, for the entire study period, was obtained with the number of animals in the river's basin. Since 1990, when the number of animals started to decrease, the runoff of phosphates decreased too. Now the phosphatesrunoff from agriculture formed only 2% of the entire runoff. Water in the river Nevezis is heavily polluted with phosphate,according to the EU general classification of the water quality of rivers, although the Lithuanian pollution norms for effluentsdischarging to surface water are not exceeded. Norms for effluents discharging in the rivers from point-sources pollution should be made stricter and the highest permitted ratiobetween the phosphorus load in the river and its waterdischarge should be established.     

Nutrient transfer by runoff from sewage sludge amended soil under simulated rainfall

Wastewater sludges are used in agriculture as soil amendment and fertilizer, with regard to their organic matter and nutrient content. However, availability of nitrogen and phosphorus from sludge-amended soils and their transfer in runoff may lead to eutrophication of downstream surface water. The aim of this study is to establish and compare the effect of two different sludges on these transfers: an anaerobically digested and thermically stabilised sludge (Seine-Aval treatment plant, sludge no. 1), and a limed sludge (Saint-Quentin treatment plant, sludge no. 2). Experiments were performed on 12 sloping micro-plots (1 m × 1 m) submitted to sludge spreading and controlled rainfall simulation. Runoff water was sampled and analysed for concentrations in nitrogen species and phosphorus. Results show that spreading of sludge no. 1 increased both ammonium nitrogen (mean of 1.1 mg L^–1 N-NH₄ vs. 0.2 mg L^–1 N-NH₄ for control micro-plots) and particulate phosphorus concentrations (mean of 2 mg L^–1 P vs. 1.1 mg L^–1 P for control micro-plots) in runoff water. On the other hand, sludge no. 2 did not induce any significant effect on nutrient concentrations in runoff. These results are related to chemical composition and physical treatment of sludges. This study underlines the existence of a short-term risk of nutrient mobilisation by runoff after sludge spreading on soil, and the need to check precisely the impact of this practice on water quality.