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Vol 45, No 4 (2018)

Water Resources and the Regime of Water Bodies

Incorporating Natural Changes in Global Climate in Very-Long-Range Forecasting of River Runoff

Dobrovol’skii S.G.

Abstract

A method is proposed for incorporating possible global changes in the state of the atmosphere, basing on K. Hasselmann’s theory of stochastic climate models, for assessing the significance of forecasts of variations of annual river runoff depth in the XXI century. The data used includes the results of river runoff simulation at warming, obtained using 21 IPCC climate models along with six IPCC scenarios of greenhouse gas emission, and MEI scenario. The significance index of forecasted runoff variations, i.e., the values of runoff depth increments divided by the standard error of forecasts was mapped. To demonstrate the role of the maps of significance index, which have been constructed taking into account forecast uncertainty because of the natural changes in global climate, those maps were compared with the maps of significance index calculated basing on other sources of errors. At large time scales, the uncertainty of runoff forecasts owing to natural changes in global climate plays the main role in assessing the reliability of forecasts in areas where greenhouse effect is strongest. Estimates of the significance index show that statistically significant changes in the annual runoff depth in the extreme northeast of Eurasia can be expected to occur not earlier than the late XXI century. In other RF regions, as well as in the majority of world areas, the forecasted changes in the annual runoff depth are comparable with the standard errors of the respective estimates or are less than they are.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):437-446
pages 437-446 views

Effect of Present-Day Climate Changes and Agricultural Activities on Spring Overland Runoff in Forest-Steppe and Steppe Regions of the Russian Plain

Barabanov A.T., Dolgov S.V., Koronkevich N.I.

Abstract

Space and time analysis of the formation of spring overland runoff in forest-steppe and steppe regions of the Russian Plain has been carried out. It has been shown that, in addition to zonal climate conditions, its distribution over the area is largely determined by the agricultural load on river catchment areas, primarily, the structure of agricultural lands—the proportions of areas under winter tillage and consolidated tillage. The character of overland runoff response to present-day climate changes and agricultural activity has been identified, and quantitative estimates have been given to the manifold hydrological role of these factors.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):447-454
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Effect of Permafrost Rocks on Water Resources Formation in Eastern Siberia: Case Study of Some Rivers in Eastern Siberia

Dzhamalov R.G., Safronova T.I.

Abstract

The study is focused on the specific features of water resources formation in Eastern Siberia under variable climate and regional occurrence of permafrost rocks. Expert estimates are given to the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on climate evolution in this large region. Under present-day climate conditions, featuring temperature rise and some increase in precipitation as resource-forming factors, the most significant changes are shown to have taken place in the formation of water resources and regime of dry-season runoff in individual rivers of Eastern Siberia, including the Lena, Indigirka, Kolyma, etc. Present-day resources of surface water and groundwater resources in the region are mapped and the dynamics of the annual and dryseason runoff of the rivers are plotted.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):455-465
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Variations of Trends in Delta Development under the Effect of External Natural and Anthropogenic Factors: Case Study of the Modern Huang He Mouth

Mikhailov V.N., Kravtsova V.I., Inyushin A.N., Mikhailova M.V.

Abstract

The paper considers the major geographic features of the modern Huang He delta, which ranks among the most rapidly varying in the world. The structure of the hydrographic network and the combination of the natural and anthropogenic geosystems of the delta are characterized. The major external riverine and marine, as well as local anthropogenic factors that have affected the development of the Huang He delta in the recent half century are identified. The regularities of the jump-like development of the Huang He delta in the XIX–early XXI centuries are considered. Special attention is paid to the development of the delta after the artificial redistribution of flow in its boundaries in 1996. Satellite images and methods of their interpretation improved by the authors were used. The trends in Huang He delta development are shown to have changed since the last quarter of the XX century under the effect of an abrupt decrease in river sediment load and the growing impact of marine factors. The active progradation of the delta into the sea slowed down significantly, accompanied by erosion and retreat in many segments of its coastline. Huang He delta was used to establish the conditions of changes in the development trends of other deltas under the effect of changes in the climate and economic activity.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):466-478
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Sediment Yield of Kamchatka Krai Rivers into the Pacific Ocean and the Seas of Bering and Okhotsk

Kuksina L.V., Alekseevskii N.I.

Abstract

Sediment yield of Kamchatka Krai rivers into the Pacific Ocean and the seas of Bering and Okhotsk, is evaluated, including that from the drainage basins that are not covered by regular observations. Regression dependences of specific suspended sediment yield (SSSY) on factors determining it were constructed for erosion regions identified in Kamchatka Krai. The total average many-year yield of suspended sediments of Kamchatka Krai rivers into the Pacific is 11.4 × 106 t/year, 73.9% of which is transported by rivers of the eastern coast and 26.1%, by those of the western coast. Among other factors, such distribution is attributed to the location of the majority of volcanoes on Kamchatka eastern coast. About one third of all sediments transported from Kamchatka Krai territory is discharged by the two largest rivers in the region, i.e., the Penzhina and Kamchatka.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):479-489
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Current Problems in Organizing Water Protection Zones at Water Bodies: Case Study of the Uglich Reservoir

Yasinskii S.V., Vishnevskaya I.A., Shaporenko S.I., Bibikova T.S.

Abstract

A retrospective review of the current scientific publications on the problems of water protection zones at water bodies is given. The content of regulations on water protection zone in the RF Water Code 2006 now in force is interpreted. The legislations regarding the establishment of water protection zones and riparian buffer strips at water bodies in Russia and other countries are compared and analyzed. The technologies and specifics of the development of geoinformation system “Water Protection Zone and Riparian Buffer Strip of a Water Body” are demonstrated as applied to determining the boundary of the water protection zone and riparian buffer strip for the Uglich Reservoir. Assessment of the anthropogenic load onto a drainage basin within the water protection zone of the Uglich Reservoir and a method for geoecological zoning of its territory are considered as an example.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):490-502
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Power Distributions of Flooded Areas in Hydrology

Golitsyn G.S.

Abstract

An explanation is given to the fact that the cumulative number of damage cases is a decreasing function of the form Y−2/3. This is because the inundated area S depends on precipitation volume V as S ~ V2/3. Such dependence is confirmed by the data on the area of mushroom-shaped plumes at river mouths in the sites of river influx into the ocean.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):503-507
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Effects of the Land Use and Check Dams on Flood in Upper Catchment of Fuping Hydrological Station by Hydrological Modeling

Chen F., Zheng J., Li S., Long A.

Abstract

Flood peaks and volumes had been detected a downward trend in Fuping hydrological station. To quantify the effects of check dams on flood peaks and volumes, a hydrological model integrating land use was established. The model performed well in flood processes simulation, and the Nash efficiency of the model was 0.72. Then the model was used to identify the comprehensive effects of land use and land cover change on flood processes by comparing the simulation results of the selected flood events under 1980 and 2000 land use and land cover conditions. 24.5, 37.7 and 51.3% decrease in flood peaks for flood events of greater than 10 years, 5~10 years and less than 5 years return periods, respectively, and 16.3, 27.9 and 28.5% decrease in flood volumes for the three groups flood events of different return periods. Contributions of land use change and check dams to decrease in flood peak and volume were simulated, and it was found that peak discharge and volume for each flood event responded differently to the two factors. The results in this study can provide valuable information on design flood calculation in the basin under land use and land cover change.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):508-522
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Flow Estimation in a Basin by Using a Hydrological Model: Application to the Basin of Wadi Djendjen (Jijel, North-East Algeria)

Boufekane A., Saighi O.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to transform the rain into flow in the basin of Wadi Djendjen by using a simulation model in absence of the continuous measurements of the flow. The obtained results indicated and confirmed the strong adaptability of this model with varied hydroclimatic situations. The validation process showed an interesting result, which lead to conclude that the model is well calibrated and has a good performance to be used for the basins with Mediterranean climate. The obtained results for the simulation by the GR2M model over the studied period (1973–1986) showed that there no significant difference between the obtained value for the yearly average flow (197.70 hm3) and that measured at Missa hydrometric station (200.80 hm3), which allow us to estimate quantitatively the flow in Missa hydrometric station. While, for the period of 2000–2012, the results showed that the yearly average flow value (171.90 hm3), is significantly different (reduction of 15% for 12 years), in comparison with that measured at Missa hydrometric station (200.80 hm3). This can be due to the dryness which struck the region since 2000, and the local degradation of the forest ecosystem, which has considerably affected the runoff surface.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):523-531
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Hydrophysical Processes

Methods of the Theory of Water Flow in Porous Media in Problems Arising in Bog Watering

Belyaev A.Y., Krichevets G.N., Akhmet’eva N.P.

Abstract

The analysis of hydrogeological problems arising in bog watering by methods enabling the depth to groundwater table to be controlled was used to develop a method for estimating the efficiency of such control when data for directly solving groundwater flow problems are lacking. The effect of nonmonotone dependence of the rate of groundwater level rise on the hydraulic conductivity of peat underlain by high-permeability sand rocks is described. This effect is shown to be significant in assessing the potentialities of the operational control of groundwater level in bog massifs with this type of geological structure.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):532-541
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Effect of Bank Deformations on Pollutant Transport in Rivers in Cryolithozone: Laboratory and Mathematical Modeling

Debol’skaya E.I., Gritsuk I.I., Debol’skii V.K., Ionov D.N., Maslikova O.Y.

Abstract

The study is focused on pollution transport in rivers flowing in cryolithozone and takes into account possible channel deformations caused by thawing of permafrost rocks in which the channel runs. The methods used are laboratory and mathematical modeling. The mathematical model consists of four blocks: hydrodynamic, thermal, deformation, and pollutant transport. The model was validated and tested against the data of a laboratory experiment. Numerical experiments suggested conclusions regarding the propagation of pollutants entering the flow from sources in thawing bank slopes and on river floodplain.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):542-552
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Groundwater Table Formation in the Coastal Zone over a Bed with Arbitrary Shape

Zhmur V.V., Fomin Y.V., Marchenko A.V.

Abstract

The impact of tidal wave on a permeable shore consisting of porous material results in groundwater table lying above the average sea level. This effect, stemming from the nonlinearity of the process of seawater flow in the soil, is referred to as pumping effect.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):553-559
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Studying the Process of Pollutant Transport by Water Flowing under a Dam with a Rabbet

Shamsiev M.N., Zinnatullina A.N., Ibyatov R.I.

Abstract

The process of pollutant transport by water flowing under a hydraulic structure is examined. The study is focused on the effect of the number of rabbet under the dam and their positions relative to its subsurface contour on the process of pollutant transport.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):560-564
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Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Flow Hydraulic in Gradual Transition Open Channels

Asnaashari A., Dehghani A.A., Akhtari A.A., Bonakdari H.

Abstract

Channel expansions are common in both natural and artificial open channels. With increasing cross-sectional dimensions in an expansion, the flow decelerates. Due to separation of flow and subsequent eddy formation, a significant head loss is occurred along the transition. This study presents the results of experimental investigations on subcritical flow along the expansive transition of rectangular to trapezoidal channels. Also, a numerical simulation was developed using the finite volume method with Reynolds Stress turbulent model. Water surface profiles and velocity distributions of flow through the transition were measured experimentally and compared with the numerical results. Also, hydraulic efficiency of the transition and coefficient of energy head loss were calculated. The results show that with increasing the upstream Froude number, hydraulic efficiency of the transition and coefficient of energy head loss are decreased and increased, respectively. The results also showed the ability of numerical simulation for simulating the flow separation zones and bed shear stress along the transition for different inlet discharges and inflow Froude numbers.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):565-577
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Hydrochemistry, Hydrobiology: Environmental Aspects

Anthropogenic Processes in Continental Waters of Arctic Regions and Criteria for Their Assessment

Moiseenko T.I.

Abstract

Development features of anthropogenic processes in continental waters in the Arctic Basin, including eutrophication, acidification, and toxic pollution, are characterized. The major changes in the ecosystems and the formation periods of hazardous situations are demonstrated. Criteria are suggested for the diagnostics of unfavorable processes and the need of more stringent water quality standards is substantiated.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):578-588
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Radiocesium in Ponds in the Near Zone of Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP

Konoplev A.V., Wakiyama Y., Wada T., Golosov V.N., Nanba K., Takase T.

Abstract

The article presents the results of studying radiocesium concentration and distribution between dissolved and particulate forms in ponds in the near zone of Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP NPP after the 2011 accident. The total concentration of 137Cs in pond water and its variations are shown to be largely governed by the concentration of particulate matter being as high as 68 Bq/L, compared with 5 Bq/L in solution. The values of the distribution coefficient Kd in the ponds are similar to those in rivers and in large flow-through lakes in the accidentally polluted zone at Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP. The contributions of the main competing ions K+ and NH4+ to radiocesium desorption from solid particles into solution were similar for the ponds; however, their relative effect on dissolved radiocesium concentration varied over time because of variations in ammonium concentration.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):589-597
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Diatoms from Bottom Sediments of Karakel’ Lake (Central Caucasus) and a Reconstruction of Regional Climate Events in the Late Holocene

Razumovskii L.V., Razumovskii V.L., Chudaev D.A., Gololobova M.A.

Abstract

Data on diatom complexes from bottom deposits of Lake Karakel’ (the Karachayevo-Cherkessian Republic) have been analyzed. The principle of unification of bioindication methods has been applied. The hydrological parameters of lake water (temperature, pH, and saprobithy) have been reconstructed over a period of 2000 years. The results of isotopic dating of bottom sediments have been used. For the first time for the Central Caucasus, the current and Late Holocene diatom alga complexes have been described. Photographs of the most abundant and significant lower taxa of diatom algae are given.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):598-602
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Status of Water Quality in King Talal Reservoir Dam, Jordan

Al-Taani A.A., El-Radaideh N.M., Al Khateeb W.M.

Abstract

This work intends to monitor and assess the current water quality conditions at King Talal Dam (KTD), Jordan, based on vertical profiles and longitudinal surveys. While the surface distribution of water quality parameters in KTD varied spatially, their variations showed no distinct trends. Lateral and horizontal variations in water quality in KTD are probably linked with photosynthesis, sampling period, closeness to Zarqa River and Wadi Rmemeen, and water depths, among other factors. The vast majority of water quality parameters in KTD dammed reservoir showed vertical profiles that either decrease slightly with increasing depth from the surface (temperature and dissolved oxygen) or remain relatively unchanged (major ions, trace elements). These results suggest that water has probably been vertically mixed. Data also demonstrated rock weathering as a dominant process governing the water chemistry of KTD reservoir water. Based on chlorophyll- a classification of Forsberg and Ryding [19], KTD reservoir is in a mesotrophic-eutrophic condition. Evaluation of water quality for irrigation use revealed that KTD reservoir water is suitable for irrigation purposes, except for Na% and total hardness.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):603-614
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Effect of Catchment Land Use on Trophic State Variables of Small Water Bodies (Northern Poland)

Jarosiewicz A., Radawiec B., Hetmański T.

Abstract

We examined the land use impact on the water quality of small water bodies located in northern Poland. Twenty nine ponds, located in the urban area or a typical agricultural land were analyzed based on physical-chemical parameters: water temperature, conductivity, oxygen concentration, content of particulate suspended matter and chlorophyll “a”, and nutrients concentration. Additionally, to describe and compare the trophic condition of investigated small water bodies, we used the Carlson type trophic state. Performed measurements showed that nutrient concentrations significantly differentiated the agricultural ponds from urban water bodies. Mean total phosphorus and nitrogen concentration in midfield ponds were about 5 and 3 times higher, respectively, than in urban ponds. Moreover the phytoplankton chlorophyll “a” mean values were on average fivefold higher in agricultural ponds. Furthermore, urban ponds were characterized by lower values of TSI, thus lower trophy level: generally on the border of meso- and eutrophy. The agricultural ponds trophy changed from meso- to hypertrophy.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):615-623
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Water Resources Development: Economic and Legal Aspects

Economic Impact of Regulation on Sustainable Irrigation Schemes: a Case Study on a Plant Nursery

Marone E., Boncinelli F., Casini L.

Abstract

In agriculture, water is a fundamental but increasingly scarce resource that requires careful use. The goal of fostering water-savings could be achieved with a regulation that imposes more efficient irrigation systems. This might represent the only policy option when water withdrawals cannot be controlled and when the operational context does not allow filling the information asymmetry between policy makers and farmers with metering systems, quotas, or market rights. The regulation could involve higher costs for farmers. However, it could represent an opportunity to increase farm revenues if consumers are willing to pay a higher price for goods produced according to an ecological standard. Knowledge of the costs and possible benefits is relevant because it would enable us to understand the potential cost allocation among stakeholders according to how the policy is designed. The results of this study indicate that the management cost of a sustainable irrigation system could be at most 48% greater than that of a wasteful, traditional system. However, the higher costs of the regulation could be compensated for because consumers are willing to pay 6.8% more for less intensive water-use agricultural products. Therefore, a regulation associated with the promotion of hypothetical water-saving label can be the best strategy to irrigation efficiency in agriculture.

Water Resources. 2018;45(4):624-632
pages 624-632 views