Constraints on Pleistocene glaciofluvial terrace age and related soil chronosequence features from vertical 10Be profiles in the Ariège River catchment (Pyrenees, France)

Land degradation is a global negative environmental process that causes the decline in the productivity of land resources’ capacity to perform their functions. Though soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies have been adopted in Geshy subcatchment, their effects on soil quality were limitedly studied. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects SWC measures on soil quality indicators in Geshy subcatchment, Gojeb River Catchment, Ethiopia. A total of 54 soil samples (two treatments–farmlands with and without SWC measures ∗ three slope classes ∗ three terrace positions ∗ three replications) were collected at a depth of 20 cm. Statistical differences in soil quality indicators were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) following the general linear model procedure of SPSS Version 20.0 for Windows. Means that exhibited significant differences were compared using Tukey’s honest significance difference at 5% probability level. The studied soils are characterized by low bulk density, slightly acidic with clay and clay loam texture. The results revealed that farmlands with SWC measures had significantly improved soil physical (silt and clay fractions, and volumetric soil water content (VSWC)) and chemical (pH, SOC, TN, C : N ratio, and Av. phosphorus) quality indicators as compared with farmlands without SWC measures. The significantly higher VSWC, clay, SOC, TN, C : N ratio, and Av. P at the bottom slope classes and terrace positions could be attributed to the erosion reduction and deposition effects of SWC measures. Generally, the status of the studied soils is low in SOC contents, TN, C : N ratio, and Av. P (deficient). Thus, integral use of both physical and biological SWC options and agronomic interventions would have paramount importance in improving soil quality for better agricultural production and productivity.

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Spatial Variation of Water Chemistry in Aries River Catchment Western Romania

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11146592 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (14) ◽

pp. 6592

Author(s):

Ana Moldovan ◽

Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia ◽

Anamaria Iulia Török ◽

Marius Roman ◽

Ionut Cornel Mirea ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Water Quality ◽

Water Chemistry ◽

Water Samples ◽

Mine Drainage ◽

Pollution Indices ◽

Mining Activities ◽

River Catchment ◽

High Concentrations ◽

The Impact

This study aims to investigate the quality and vulnerability of surface water (Aries River catchment) in order to identify the impact of past mining activities. For this purpose, the pollution and water quality indices, Piper and Durov plots, as well vulnerability modeling maps were used. The obtained results indicate that the water samples were contaminated with As, Fe, Mn, Pb and have relatively high concentrations of SO42−, HCO3−, TDS, Ca, K, Mg and high values for the electrical conductivity. Possible sources of the high content of chemicals could be the natural processes or the inputs of the mine drainage. Generally, according to the pollution indices, which were correlated to high concentrations of heavy metals, especially with Pb, Fe and Mn, the water samples were characterized by heavy metals pollution. The water quality index classified the studied water samples into five different classes of quality, namely: unsuitable for drinking, poor, medium, good and excellent quality. Similarly, medium, high and very high vulnerability classes were observed. The Durov and Piper plots classified the waters into Mg-HCO3− and Ca-Cl− types. The past and present mining activities clearly change the water chemistry and alter the quality of the Aries River, with the water requiring specific treatments before use.

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Rainfall-Runoff Modeling Using the HEC-HMS Model for the Al-Adhaim River Catchment, Northern Iraq

Hydrology ◽

10.3390/hydrology8020058 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 58

Author(s):

Ahmed Naseh Ahmed Hamdan ◽

Suhad Almuktar ◽

Miklas Scholz

Keyword(s):

Geographical Information Systems ◽

Hydrological Model ◽

Daily Rainfall ◽

Curve Number ◽

Geographical Information ◽

Coefficient Of Determination ◽

Rainfall Runoff ◽

Time Step ◽

River Catchment ◽

Northern Iraq

It has become necessary to estimate the quantities of runoff by knowing the amount of rainfall to calculate the required quantities of water storage in reservoirs and to determine the likelihood of flooding. The present study deals with the development of a hydrological model named Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC-HMS), which uses Digital Elevation Models (DEM). This hydrological model was used by means of the Geospatial Hydrologic Modeling Extension (HEC-GeoHMS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to identify the discharge of the Al-Adhaim River catchment and embankment dam in Iraq by simulated rainfall-runoff processes. The meteorological models were developed within the HEC-HMS from the recorded daily rainfall data for the hydrological years 2015 to 2018. The control specifications were defined for the specified period and one day time step. The Soil Conservation Service-Curve number (SCS-CN), SCS Unit Hydrograph and Muskingum methods were used for loss, transformation and routing calculations, respectively. The model was simulated for two years for calibration and one year for verification of the daily rainfall values. The results showed that both observed and simulated hydrographs were highly correlated. The model’s performance was evaluated by using a coefficient of determination of 90% for calibration and verification. The dam’s discharge for the considered period was successfully simulated but slightly overestimated. The results indicated that the model is suitable for hydrological simulations in the Al-Adhaim river catchment.

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Estimating Soil Water Susceptibility to Salinization in the Mekong River Delta Using a Modified DRASTIC Model

Water ◽

10.3390/w13121636 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 1636

Author(s):

Thanh N. Le ◽

Duy X. Tran ◽

Thuong V. Tran ◽

Sangay Gyeltshen ◽

Tan V. Lam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Soil Water ◽

Management Practices ◽

Global Climate ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Drastic Model ◽

River Catchment ◽

Modified Drastic

Saltwater intrusion risk assessment is a foundational step for preventing and controlling salinization in coastal regions. The Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD) is highly affected by drought and salinization threats, especially severe under the impacts of global climate change and the rapid development of an upstream hydropower dam system. This study aimed to apply a modified DRASTIC model, which combines the generic DRASTIC model with hydrological and anthropogenic factors (i.e., river catchment and land use), to examine seawater intrusion vulnerability in the soil-water-bearing layer in the Ben Tre province, located in the VMD. One hundred and fifty hand-auger samples for total dissolved solids (TDS) measurements, one of the reflected salinity parameters, were used to validate the results obtained with both the DRASTIC and modified DRASTIC models. The spatial analysis tools in the ArcGIS software (i.e., Kriging and data classification tools) were used to interpolate, classify, and map the input factors and salinization susceptibility in the study area. The results show that the vulnerability index values obtained from the DRASTIC and modified DRASTIC models were 36–128 and 55–163, respectively. The vulnerable indices increased from inland districts to coastal areas. The Ba Tri and Binh Dai districts were recorded as having very high vulnerability to salinization, while the Chau Thanh and Cho Lach districts were at a low vulnerability level. From the comparative analysis of the two models, it is obvious that the modified DRASTIC model with the inclusion of a river or canal network and agricultural practices factors enables better performance than the generic DRASTIC model. This enhancement is explained by the significant impact of anthropogenic activities on the salinization of soil water content. This study’s results can be used as scientific implications for planners and decision-makers in river catchment and land-use management practices.

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An Integrated Approach for the Prioritization of Subwatersheds in the Urmodi River Catchment (India) for Soil Conservation using Morphometric and Land Use Land Cover (LULC) factors

Journal of Sedimentary Environments ◽

10.1007/s43217-020-00041-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wasim Ayub Bagwan ◽

Ravindra Sopan Gavali

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Land Cover ◽

Soil Conservation ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Land Use Land Cover ◽

River Catchment

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Remote Sensing of Snow Cover Variability and Its Influence on the Runoff of Sápmi’s Rivers

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences11030130 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 130

Author(s):

Sebastian Rößler ◽

Marius S. Witt ◽

Jaakko Ikonen ◽

Ian A. Brown ◽

Andreas J. Dietz

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Snow Cover ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Kendall Test ◽

The Arctic ◽

Boreal Winter ◽

Snowmelt Runoff ◽

River Catchment ◽

Catchment Areas ◽

Runoff Model

The boreal winter 2019/2020 was very irregular in Europe. While there was very little snow in Central Europe, the opposite was the case in northern Fenno-Scandia, particularly in the Arctic. The snow cover was more persistent here and its rapid melting led to flooding in many places. Since the last severe spring floods occurred in the region in 2018, this raises the question of whether more frequent occurrences can be expected in the future. To assess the variability of snowmelt related flooding we used snow cover maps (derived from the DLR’s Global SnowPack MODIS snow product) and freely available data on runoff, precipitation, and air temperature in eight unregulated river catchment areas. A trend analysis (Mann-Kendall test) was carried out to assess the development of the parameters, and the interdependencies of the parameters were examined with a correlation analysis. Finally, a simple snowmelt runoff model was tested for its applicability to this region. We noticed an extraordinary variability in the duration of snow cover. If this extends well into spring, rapid air temperature increases leads to enhanced thawing. According to the last flood years 2005, 2010, 2018, and 2020, we were able to differentiate between four synoptic flood types based on their special hydrometeorological and snow situation and simulate them with the snowmelt runoff model (SRM).

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