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.     

水库异重流的三维数值模拟及影响因素分析

不同水沙条件下异重流的潜入位置以及潜入后流速和含沙量的垂向分布规律是研究异重流运动规律的关键要素,对优化水库异重流的排沙调度、提高水库运用效益等至关重要。本文利用SCHISM三维水沙数学模型对水库异重流水槽试验进行了数值模拟,结果表明模型能够得到符合实际情况的垂线流速和含沙量分布,且异重流潜入后的平均厚度、平均流速和平均含沙量均与实测值吻合较好。对异重流模拟结果的分析发现,入口流量和含沙量的增加造成异重流运动速度越快,而入口含沙量的减小和流量的增加会造成异重流厚度增加。异重流垂向流速和含沙量的无量纲化分布受到入口水沙条件的影响,表现在其与断面Froude数的相关性,Froude数越大,则最大流速点与河床的距离越小,最大流速越大;含沙量致密层的厚度越小,对应的含沙量也越大。此外,潜入点位置也受入口水沙条件的影响,表现在潜入水深与入口水深之比随入口Froude数增加而增加的定量关系,由此可以利用入口水沙条件预报异重流潜入的位置。研究结果不仅验证了SCHISM模型用于模拟水库异重流运动的优势,而且丰富和完善了关于异重流潜入点位置及流速和含沙量垂向分布受入口水沙条件影响的变化规律。     

黄河水滴灌系统灌水器结构-泥沙淤积-堵塞行为的相关关系研究

传统的黄河水沉淀-过滤系统存在沉沙池建设成本高、过滤器频繁反冲洗能耗高等问题,让更多的细颗粒泥沙随水流排出灌水器体外是解决黄河水滴灌系统灌水器堵塞的新思路,而摸清泥沙在黄河水滴灌系统内部的淤积特性以及灌水器结构-淤积泥沙特性-堵塞特性参数间的相关关系是探索其排沙能力的前提和基础。为此,本文在河套灌区开展了黄河水滴灌系统灌水器堵塞原位试验,系统分析了6种内镶贴片式灌水器内部细颗粒泥沙含量及粒径分布动态变化特征,探索了三者间的级联关系。结果表明：进入灌水器内部的泥沙99%以上可以排出体外,淤积在灌水器内部的泥沙以粉粒为主、砂粒次之、黏粒最少。随着灌水器堵塞加剧,内部淤积泥沙的黏粒、粉粒比例相对降低,而砂粒比例相对增加,泥沙进入灌水器后存在聚集等行为,使得灌水器内部淤积泥沙粒径明显高于毛管入口。泥沙比表面积淤积量、粉粒比例、砂粒比例、D₅₀、D₉₅对黄河水滴灌系统Dra、克里斯琴森均匀系数CU影响显著（p<0.05）,不同灌水器淤积泥沙粒径明显不同,D₅₀与灌水器结构无量纲参数（流道宽深比W/D、面积长度比A^1/2/L）及断面平均流速v显著（p<0.05）相关。本研究对引黄滴灌灌水器设计及灌溉系统过滤配置具有指导意义。     

有压输沙管道脉动压强特性试验研究

壁面脉动压强是工程上重要的研究对象,脉动强度直接影响泄洪排沙洞、输水隧洞(管道)等建筑物的稳定性和运行安全。为研究不同含沙浓度对壁面脉动压强特性的影响,以黄河细沙(d50=107μm)为研究对象,在直径80 mm的水平管道中进行模型试验,测量出每种工况下的流量、含沙浓度和脉动压强。采用统计方法对测量数据进行多方面分析,并结合快速傅里叶变换(FFT)方法研究了脉动压强的功率谱密度。试验结果表明,时均压强的沿程幅值和瞬时峰值压强均随含沙浓度增加而增大,相对脉动强度随着含沙浓度增大总趋势是减小的;脉动压强概率密度为脉动压强均值接近于零的正太分布,随着含沙浓度增加分布形态从瘦高型发展成矮胖型,压强振幅变大;脉动压强功率谱密度中低频分量随着含沙浓度变大有明显的增加。     

荆江门弯道近期滩槽演变特点及影响因素分析

三峡水库运用改变了下泄水沙条件,坝下游弯曲河型均呈现“凸冲凹淤”演变规律,以致碍航问题日益突出。为研究弯曲河型滩槽演变特点及其成因,以下荆江河段荆江门弯道为例,利用三峡蓄水后近15 a实测地形资料,采用逻辑推理及统计分析方法分析其影响因素并预测了航道变化趋势。结果表明:三峡工程运用后,凸岸边滩年际间呈持续冲刷趋势,冲刷位置不断下移导致河段展宽引起航道条件恶化;在平滩流量(20 000~25 000 m³/s)持续时间＞15 d的年份,凸岸边滩冲刷后退,反之淤长;冲淤幅度与年均来沙量,尤其细沙(d≤0.125 mm)含量密切相关,基本呈同步变化趋势;荆江一期工程实施后,在当前水沙条件下凸岸边滩会继续受冲,形成枯水双槽,航道条件将恶化。水沙过程的改变是弯曲河型滩槽演变的主要原因,遇大水且来沙量较少的年份,荆江门河段很可能出浅碍航,这可为下荆江弯曲河段航道治理提供一定的参考价值。     

三峡水库汛期“蓄清排浑”动态运用方式计算研究

在入库沙量大幅减少的背景下,三峡水库持续开展汛期中小洪水调度,增大了汛期库区泥沙淤积和防洪风险,减少了水库下泄大流量的机会。在三峡水库汛期,开展“蓄清排浑”泥沙调度方式动态运用研究有助于进一步优化三峡水库汛期调度方式。利用三峡水库干支流河道一维非恒定流数学模型,探索开展了三峡水库汛期 “蓄清排浑”动态运用方式计算研究,并提出了汛期“蓄清排浑”动态运用方案。计算结果表明:三峡水库汛期“蓄清排浑”动态运用方式可以同时兼顾排沙、发电和防洪,“蓄清”水位150 m要优于155 m,“蓄清”运行期间库水位可选择在145~150 m之间浮动运行;建议将寸滩含沙量达到2.0 kg/m³且当日寸滩站入库流量≥25 000 m³/s的时间作为水库增泄“排浑”的起始时间,将出库含沙量降至约0.1 kg/m³作为“排浑”调度结束重新进入“蓄清”调度的泥沙参考因素。研究成果可为三峡水库汛期优化调度提供参考。     

外秦淮河武定门闸上游减淤物理模型试验

针对南京市外秦淮河武定门闸上游近年来发生泥沙淤积严重的问题,建立了武定门闸河段物理模型,设定两种方案进行悬沙冲淤试验,分析偏转角为15°的导流墙工程对闸上游的减淤作用。结果表明:方案1(将闸门至上游60 m开挖至设计断面),设置导流墙后,经过2年8个月的水沙过程,整治段淤积量减少30.4%;方案2(将闸门至上游240 m开挖至设计断面),设置导流墙后,经过1个典型水文年,整治段淤积量减少50.8%,经过2个典型水文年,淤积量减少44.0%,减淤幅度下降,河床趋于形成新的冲淤平衡,断面地形也趋向于均匀分布;设置偏转角为15°的导流墙对武定门闸上游河道有显著的减淤作用,有助于提高河道的过流能力。