国际泥沙计划案例研究综述

在全球变化等多种因素的影响下,许多流域的泥沙问题严重,泥沙管理的重要性日益突出。通过对联合国教科文组织国际泥沙计划所开展的案例研究进行综述,认识到自然地理特征、社会经济条件、水利工程建设对流域产沙、输沙和水资源利用有重要影响。土壤侵蚀加速、水库淤积、下游输沙量减少和生态平衡破坏是目前全球各大流域面临的主要问题。综合各项案例,研究泥沙管理技术,提出流域综合泥沙管理的策略,包括水库淤积管理、推移质泥沙管理、土地管理和水土保持等技术手段,以及法律、行政和组织措施。     

北江下游推移质输沙研究

采用数值模拟与实测资料相结合的方法研究了北江下游推移质输沙率公式的适用性、洪枯季推移质输沙率及空间分布。结果表明以切应力为主要参量的推移质输沙率公式较适用于北江下游河道,洪季Bijker公式、枯季Van Rijn公式计算误差较小。石角断面洪季推移质输沙率为9.06万t/月,枯季为2.43万t/月,年推移质输沙量为49.54万t。推移质输沙主要集中在大塘以上河段,洪枯季均在山塘上游、廻岐洲、界牌洲等处出现输沙率峰值,大塘下游推移质输沙较弱。水面比降是推移质输沙率沿程变化的主导因素。     

云南蒋家沟黏性泥石流输沙的涨落特征

间歇性阵流是山区小流域发生的黏性泥石流活动的基本形式,其输沙特性表现出一定的间歇性和涨落特性,其涨落可达均值的2~4个数量级。利用Hurst指数分析了蒋家沟近50年的数千阵泥石流观测资料,发现间歇性阵流的流量、径流量、输沙量序列的Hurst指数均大于0.5,说明序列具有一定程度的长程关联性。同时,对比阵流序列与洪峰序列,发现泥石流阵流的长程关联性强于洪峰序列。另一方面,输沙量的累积百分比均满足统一的指数分布形式:P(S)=CS~(-μ)exp(-S/S_c),其中μ越大意味着序列中输沙量较小的阵次越多;S_c表示的是阵流输沙的涨落情况,即S_c越大,阵流输沙的涨落越大。     

高水头混流式水轮机内部固液两相流数值分析

针对泥沙直径对混流式水轮机蜗壳和导水机构内部流场产生影响的问题进行了初步研究,采用固液两相流模型对某电站的高水头混流式水轮机进行了全流道数值模拟,通过单一变量法来研究不同来流泥沙的直径对蜗壳和导水机构内部压力及泥沙分布产生的影响。研究结果表明:与清水相比,含沙水流会不同程度地使蜗壳和导水机构内部的水压力载荷增加,在相同工况下,蜗壳底部、蜗壳鼻端、固定导叶和活动导叶头部的泥沙浓度较大;小直径下泥沙分布均匀,随着泥沙直径的增加,泥沙浓度的梯度变大,泥沙分布更加集中,从而会使磨损加剧。该研究成果可为在含沙水流中运行的水轮机设计提供参考。     

海河流域典型河流沉积物粒度特征及分布规律

为了解海河流域典型河流沉积物粒度参数空间分布规律,对海河典型河流的表层沉积物进行采集并利用Mstersize2000激光粒度仪进行粒度分析。结果表明,海河典型河流沉积物平均粒径差异显著,分选状况总体较差;山区水系与平原水系相比,沉积物平均粒径减小,呈集中分布,水动力减弱;山区自北向南变化明显,水系沉积物平均粒径减小,分布集中化,分选状况变差,由极正偏-正偏,向对称方向变化,峰度向平坦方向趋近,水动力减弱,符合粒径自然变化规律;平原区水系沉积物粒径参数表明南北变化不明显,因受较多支流、河流-湖泊-洼淀湿地等复杂系统和人为干扰强烈的影响,南北无显著变化规律。总的来说,海河流域河流受人为干扰强度较大,河流沉积物源较为复杂,栖息地物理完整性差。     

灞河流域气候因子对水沙变化的影响

利用灞河流域蓝田气象站和马渡王水文站1960—2012年的气象、水文实测资料,分析灞河流域气候及水沙变化规律,同时运用相关性分析、灰色关联分析、多元线性回归模型等多种方法探讨了该流域水沙变化与气候变化的关系。结果表明:灞河流域降雨量、蒸发量、径流量和输沙量皆呈显著下降趋势,而气温呈上升趋势;降雨量与水沙都有重要的相关关系,1960—1990年影响径流量的气候因子敏感度由大至小依次为降雨量、气温、蒸发量,而1991—2012年则为降雨量、蒸发量、气温,当气温和蒸发量不变时,降雨量每增加1 mm,两阶段的年径流量分别增加0.14亿m3和0.08亿m3;1960—2012年影响输沙量的气候因子敏感度由大至小依次为降雨量、气温、蒸发量,当气温和蒸发量不变时,降雨量每增加1 mm,年输沙量增加0.668万t。     

Micro-computed tomography scanning approaches to quantify,parameterize and visualize bioturbation activity in clogged streambeds: A proof of concept

Fine particle clogging and faunal bioturbation are two key processes co-occurring in the hyporheic zone that potentially affect hyporheic exchange through modifications in the sediment structure of streambeds. Clogging results from excessive fine sediment infiltration and deposition in rivers, and it is known to decrease matrix porosity and potentially reduce permeability. Faunal bioturbation activity may compensate for the negative effect of clogging by reworking the sediment, increasing porosity, and preventing further infiltration of fines. Although both processes of clogging and bioturbation have received significant attention in the literature separately, their combined effects on streambed sediment structure are not well understood, mostly due to the lack of a standard methodology for their assessment. Here, we illustrate a novel methodology using X-ray computed tomography (CT), as proof of concept, to investigate how, together, clogging and bioturbation affect streambed porosity in a controlled flow-through flume. By visualising gallery formations of an upward conveyor macroinvertebrate; Lumbriculus variegatus as a model species, we quantified bioturbation activity in a clogged streambed, focusing on orientation, depth, and volume at downwelling and upwelling areas of the flume. Gallery creation increased the porosity of the streambed sediment, suggesting a potential improvement in permeability and a possible offset of clogging effects. We illustrate the promising use of X-ray CT as a tool to assess bioturbation in clogged streambeds, and the potential role of bioturbation activity supporting hyporheic exchange processes in streambeds, warranting further studies to understand the extent of bioturbation impacts in natural systems.     

Effect of the Three Gorges Reservoir on vertical distribution of suspended sediment concentration and estimation accuracy of depth-average concentration in downstream reaches

The sediment regime in the middle Yangtze River has been significantly changed from quasi-equilibrium to nonequilibrium since the impoundment of the Three Georges Reservoir (TGR). To understand the effects of the TGR on vertical distribution of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and estimation accuracy of mean concentration, vertical sediment concentration and flow velocity data at the Shashi and Jianli hydrological stations in the reach before and after the impoundment were collected. Comparisons and analysis of vertical profiles of SSC before and after the TGR impoundment show that after the impoundment of the TGR, due to the coarsening of sediment particle size, the reduction in sediment load, and the significant decrease in sediment saturation, the vertical distribution of SSC in the downstream reaches became more uneven under medium and low water flows, which was reflected in the vertical gradient and the fluctuation degree of SSC significantly increased. In addition, the depth-average sediment concentrations were calculated by the selected-point method and the mean values calculated by the “multi-point method” were regarded as the “true mean” to evaluate the accuracy of the mean value calculated by the “few-point method.” It was found that the relative errors for the selected-point method were mainly positive before impoundment but mainly negative after impoundment. Additionally, the correction factors of one-point, two-point, and three-point methods and the position of the near-bed substituted point for the five-point method were given to reduce the error when the point measurements were used to calculate the depth-average sediment concentration in the downstream reaches.     

Modeling impact of culture facilities on hydrodynamics and solute transport in marine aquaculture waters of North Yellow Sea

An increasing number of marine aquaculture facilities have been placed in shallow bays and open sea, which might significantly affect hydrodynamic and solute transport processes in marine aquaculture waters. In this study, a coupled hydrodynamic and solute transport model was developed with high-resolution schemes in marine aquaculture waters based on depth-averaged shallow water equations. A new expression of drag force was incorporated into the momentum equations to express the resistance of suspended culture cages. The coupled model was used to simulate the effect of suspended structures on tidal currents and the movement of a contaminant cloud in the marine aquaculture of the North Yellow Sea, China. The simulation results showed a low-velocity area appearing inside the aquaculture cage area, with a maximum reduction rate of velocity close to 45% under high-density culture. The results also showed that tidal currents were sensitive to the density of suspended cages, the length of cages, and the drag coefficients of cages. The transport processes of pollutants inside aquaculture facilities were inhibited away from the vicinity of the culture cage area because of the diminished tidal currents. Therefore, the suspended cages significantly affected the transport processes of pollutants in the coastal aquaculture waters. Furthermore, the reduced horizontal velocity significantly decreased the food supply for the aquaculture areas from the surrounding sea.     

Delineating spatial distribution and thickness of unconsolidated sand along the southwest Lake Michigan shoreline using TEM and ERT geophysical methods

Erosion and accretion of various magnitudes occur along the southwest Lake Michigan shoreline. These processes are triggered by natural events and human activities, which affect the distribution and thickness of sand on the nearshore lake bottom. Significant erosion along the Illinois coastline has highlighted the need for a large-scale means of acquiring spatially rich data to build models of sand distribution along the entire shoreline. Thus, we implemented a high-resolution airborne transient electromagnetic (TEM) method, coupled with a ground-based electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) method to determine the sand distribution and thickness along the shore from the beach to ~1 km into the lake. From Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Chicago, Illinois, we acquired 1049 line-km of TEM data, and 13.43 line-km of ERT data. Our results indicated a distinct, uneven distribution and thickness of the unconsolidated sand unit covering the southwestern Lake Michigan shoreline. The unconsolidated sand unit was found to range in thickness from 0 to ~12 m. This unconsolidated sand unit was shown to be thickest (4.5 to ~10 m) in the northern part of the study site. In southern Wisconsin and Chicago, the sand layer beneath the water column was found to be very thin, ≤1 m. We propose, based on our analysis, that lake-bed conditions and wind direction are the main factors that limit southward littoral transport. Our data suggest that the current state of the shoreline is relatively analogous to how it has always behaved; however, anthropogenic disturbance has exacerbated the natural patterns of erosion and accretion.