scholarly journals Bending of the concentration discharge relationship can inform about in-stream nitrate removal

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joni Dehaspe ◽  
Fanny Sarrazin ◽  
Rohini Kumar ◽  
Jan H. Fleckenstein ◽  
Andreas Musolff

Abstract. Nitrate (NO3−) excess in rivers harms aquatic ecosystems and can induce detrimental algae growths in coastal areas. Riverine NO3− uptake is a crucial element of the catchment scale nitrogen balance and can be measured at small spatiotemporal scales while at the scale of entire river networks, uptake measurements are rarely available. Concurrent, low frequency NO3− concentration and stream flow (Q) observations at a basin outlet, however, are commonly monitored and can be analyzed in terms of concentration discharge (C-Q) relationships. Previous studies suggest that more positive log(C)-log(Q) slopes under low flow conditions (than under high flows) are linked to biological NO3− uptake, creating a bent rather than linear log(C)-log(Q) relationship. Here we explore if network scale NO3− uptake creates bent log(C)-log(Q) relationships and when in turn uptake can be quantified from observed low frequency C-Q data. To this end we apply a parsimonious mass balance based river network uptake model in 13 mesoscale German catchments (21–1450 km2) and explore the linkages between log(C)-log(Q) bending and different model-parameter combinations. The modelling results show that uptake and transport in the river network can create bent log(C)-log(Q) relationships at the basin outlet from log-log linear C-Q relationships describing the NO3− land to stream transfer. We find that the bending is mainly shaped by geomorphological parameters that control the channel reactive surface area rather than by the biological uptake velocity itself. Further we show that in this exploratory modelling environment, bending is positively correlated to percentage NO3− load removed in the network (Lr.perc) but that network wide flow velocities should be taken into account when interpreting log(C)-log(Q) bending. Classification trees, finally, can successfully predict classes of low (~ 4 %), intermediate (~ 32 %) and high (~ 68 %) Lr.perc using information on water velocity and log(C)-log(Q) bending. These results can help to identify stream networks that efficiently attenuate NO3− loads based on low frequency NO3− and Q observations and generally show the importance of the channel geomorphology on the emerging log(C)-log(Q) bending at network scales.

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 6437-6463
Author(s):  
Joni Dehaspe ◽  
Fanny Sarrazin ◽  
Rohini Kumar ◽  
Jan H. Fleckenstein ◽  
Andreas Musolff

Abstract. Nitrate (NO3-) excess in rivers harms aquatic ecosystems and can induce detrimental algae growths in coastal areas. Riverine NO3- uptake is a crucial element of the catchment-scale nitrogen balance and can be measured at small spatiotemporal scales, while at the scale of entire river networks, uptake measurements are rarely available. Concurrent, low-frequency NO3- concentration and streamflow (Q) observations at a basin outlet, however, are commonly monitored and can be analyzed in terms of concentration discharge (C–Q) relationships. Previous studies suggest that steeper positive log (C)–log (Q) slopes under low flow conditions (than under high flows) are linked to biological NO3- uptake, creating a bent rather than linear log (C)–log (Q) relationship. Here we explore if network-scale NO3- uptake creates bent log (C)–log (Q) relationships and when in turn uptake can be quantified from observed low-frequency C–Q data. To this end we apply a parsimonious mass-balance-based river network uptake model in 13 mesoscale German catchments (21–1450 km2) and explore the linkages between log (C)–log (Q) bending and different model parameter combinations. The modeling results show that uptake and transport in the river network can create bent log (C)–log (Q) relationships at the basin outlet from log–log linear C–Q relationships describing the NO3- land-to-stream transfer. We find that within the chosen parameter range the bending is mainly shaped by geomorphological parameters that control the channel reactive surface area rather than by the biological uptake velocity itself. Further we show that in this exploratory modeling environment, bending is positively correlated to percentage of NO3- load removed in the network (Lr.perc) but that network-wide flow velocities should be taken into account when interpreting log (C)–log (Q) bending. Classification trees, finally, can successfully predict classes of low (∼4 %), intermediate (∼32 %) and high (∼68 %) Lr.perc using information on water velocity and log (C)–log (Q) bending. These results can help to identify stream networks that efficiently attenuate NO3- loads based on low-frequency NO3- and Q observations and generally show the importance of the channel geomorphology on the emerging log (C)–log (Q) bending at network scales.


2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 003685042199886
Author(s):  
Wenzhe Kang ◽  
Lingjiu Zhou ◽  
Dianhai Liu ◽  
Zhengwei Wang

Previous researches has shown that inlet backflow may occur in a centrifugal pump when running at low-flow-rate conditions and have nonnegligible effects on cavitation behaviors (e.g. mass flow gain factor) and cavitation stability (e.g. cavitation surge). To analyze the influences of backflow in impeller inlet, comparative studies of cavitating flows are carried out for two typical centrifugal pumps. A series of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were carried out for the cavitating flows in two pumps, based on the RANS (Reynolds-Averaged Naiver-Stokes) solver with the turbulence model of k- ω shear stress transport and homogeneous multiphase model. The cavity volume in Pump A (with less reversed flow in impeller inlet) decreases with the decreasing of flow rate, while the cavity volume in Pump B (with obvious inlet backflow) reach the minimum values at δ = 0.1285 and then increase as the flow rate decreases. For Pump A, the mass flow gain factors are negative and the absolute values increase with the decrease of cavitation number for all calculation conditions. For Pump B, the mass flow gain factors are negative for most conditions but positive for some conditions with low flow rate coefficients and low cavitation numbers, reaching the minimum value at condition of σ = 0.151 for most cases. The development of backflow in impeller inlet is found to be the essential reason for the great differences. For Pump B, the strong shearing between backflow and main flow lead to the cavitation in inlet tube. The cavity volume in the impeller decreases while that in the inlet tube increases with the decreasing of flow rate, which make the total cavity volume reaches the minimum value at δ = 0.1285 and then the mass flow gain factor become positive. Through the transient calculations for cavitating flows in two pumps, low-frequency fluctuations of pressure and flow rate are found in Pump B at some off-designed conditions (e.g. δ = 0.107, σ = 0.195). The relations among inlet pressure, inlet flow rate, cavity volume, and backflow are analyzed in detail to understand the periodic evolution of low-frequency fluctuations. Backflow is found to be the main reason which cause the positive value of mass flow gain factor at low-flow-rate conditions. Through the transient simulations of cavitating flow, backflow is considered as an important aspect closely related to the hydraulic stability of cavitating pumping system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 2725-2738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Benettin ◽  
Ophélie Fovet ◽  
Li Li

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 8175-8220 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fonley ◽  
R. Mantilla ◽  
S. J. Small ◽  
R. Curtu

Abstract. Two hypotheses have been put forth to explain the magnitude and timing of diel streamflow oscillations during low flow conditions. The first suggests that delays between the peaks and troughs of streamflow and daily evapotranspiration are due to processes occurring in the soil as water moves toward the channels in the river network. The second posits that they are due to the propagation of the signal through the channels as water makes its way to the outlet of the basin. In this paper, we design and implement a theoretical experiment to test these hypotheses. We impose a baseflow signal entering the river network and use a linear transport equation to represent flow along the network. We develop analytic streamflow solutions for two cases: uniform and nonuniform velocities in space over all river links. We then use our analytic solutions to simulate streamflows along a self-similar river network for different flow velocities. Our results show that the amplitude and time delay of the streamflow solution are heavily influenced by transport in the river network. Moreover, our equations show that the geomorphology and topology of the river network play important roles in determining how amplitude and signal delay are reflected in streamflow signals. Finally, our results are consistent with empirical observations that delays are more significant as low flow decreases.


2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 3895-3911 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Orth ◽  
S. I. Seneviratne

Abstract. As a key variable of the land-climate system soil moisture is a main driver of streamflow and evapotranspiration under certain conditions. Soil moisture furthermore exhibits outstanding memory (persistence) characteristics. Many studies also report distinct low frequency variations for streamflow, which are likely related to soil moisture memory. Using data from over 100 near-natural catchments located across Europe, we investigate in this study the connection between soil moisture memory and the respective memory of streamflow and evapotranspiration on different time scales. For this purpose we use a simple water balance model in which dependencies of runoff (normalised by precipitation) and evapotranspiration (normalised by radiation) on soil moisture are fitted using streamflow observations. The model therefore allows us to compute the memory characteristics of soil moisture, streamflow and evapotranspiration on the catchment scale. We find considerable memory in soil moisture and streamflow in many parts of the continent, and evapotranspiration also displays some memory at monthly time scale in some catchments. We show that the memory of streamflow and evapotranspiration jointly depend on soil moisture memory and on the strength of the coupling of streamflow and evapotranspiration to soil moisture. Furthermore, we find that the coupling strengths of streamflow and evapotranspiration to soil moisture depend on the shape of the fitted dependencies and on the variance of the meteorological forcing. To better interpret the magnitude of the respective memories across Europe, we finally provide a new perspective on hydrological memory by relating it to the mean duration required to recover from anomalies exceeding a certain threshold.


Author(s):  
Z. C. Zheng ◽  
Ying Xu

In this study, effects of windscreen material property on wind noise reduction are investigated at different frequencies of incoming wind turbulence. The properties of porous materials used for the windscreen are represented by flow resistivity. Computational techniques are developed to study the detailed flow around the windscreen as well as flow inside the windscreen that uses a porous material as the medium. The coupled simulation shows that for low-frequency turbulence, the windscreens with low flow resistivity are more effective in noise reduction. Contrarily, for high-frequency turbulence, the windscreens with high flow resistivity are more effective.


Author(s):  
Yuki Tokuyama ◽  
Ken-ichi Funazaki ◽  
Hiromasa Kato ◽  
Noriyuki Shimiya ◽  
Mitsuru Shimagaki ◽  
...  

Turbines used in upper stage engine for a rocket are sometimes designed as a supersonic turbine with partial admission. This study deals with numerical investigation of supersonic partial admission turbine in order to understand influences on the unsteady flow pattern, turbine losses and aerodynamic forces on rotor blades due to partial admission configuration. Two-dimensional CFD analysis is conducted using “Numerical Turbine” code. Its governing equation is URANS (Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes Simulation) and fourth-order MUSCL TVD scheme is used for advection scheme. The unsteady simulation indicates that strongly non-uniform circumferential flow field is created due to the partial admission configuration and it especially becomes complex at 1st stage because of shock waves. Some very high or low flow velocity regions are created around the blockage sector. Nozzle exit flow is rapidly accelerated at the inlet of blockage sector and strong rotor LE shock waves are created. In contrast, at rotor blade passages and Stator2 blade passages existing behind the blockage sector, working gas almost stagnates. Large flow separations and flow mixings occur because of the partial admission configuration. As a result, additional strong dissipations are caused and the magnitude of entropy at the turbine exit is approximately 1.5 times higher than that of the full admission. Rotor1 blades experience strong unsteady aerodynamic force variations. The aerodynamic forces greatly vary when the Rotor1 blade passes through the blockage inlet region. The unsteady force in frequency domain indicates that many unsteady force components exist in wide frequency region and the blockage passing frequency component becomes pronounced in the circumferential direction force. Unsteady forces on Rotor2 blades are characterized by a low frequency fluctuation due to the blockage passing.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galen Gorski ◽  
Margaret A. Zimmer

Abstract. Agricultural watersheds are significant contributors to downstream nutrient excess issues. The timing and magnitude of nutrient mobilization in these watersheds are driven by a combination of anthropogenic, hydrologic, and biogeochemical factors that operate across a range of spatial and temporal scales. However, how, when, and where these complex factors drive nutrient mobilization has previously been difficult to capture with low-frequency or spatially limited datasets. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed daily nitrate concentration (c) and discharge (Q) data for a four-year period (2016–2019) from five nested, agricultural watersheds in the midwestern United States that contribute nutrient loads to the Gulf of Mexico. The watersheds span two distinct landforms shaped by differences in glacial history resulting in natural soil properties that necessitated different drainage infrastructure across the study area. To investigate nutrient export patterns under different hydrologic conditions, we partitioned the hydrograph into stormflow and baseflow periods and examined those periods separately through the analysis of their concentration-discharge (c-Q) relationships on annual, seasonal, and event time scales. Stormflow showed consistent chemostatic patterns across all seasons, while baseflow showed seasonally dynamic c-Q patterns. Baseflow exhibited chemodyanmic conditions in the summer and fall and more chemostatic conditions in the winter and spring, suggesting that water source contributions during baseflow were nonstationary. Baseflow chemodynamic behavior was driven by low-flow, low-NO3− conditions during which in-stream and near-stream biological processing likely moderated in-stream NO3− concentrations. Additionally, inputs from deeper groundwater with longer residence times and lower NO3− concentration likely contributed to low-NO3− conditions in-stream, particularly in the larger watersheds. Stormflow c-Q behavior was consistent across watersheds, but baseflow c-Q behavior was linked to intensity of agriculture and density of built drainage infrastructure, with more drainage infrastructure associated with higher loads and more chemostatic export patterns across the watersheds. This suggests that how humans replumb the subsurface in response to geologic conditions has implications for hydrologic connectivity, homogenization of source areas, and subsequently nutrient export during both baseflow and stormflow. Our analysis also showed that anomalous flow periods greatly influenced overall c-Q patterns, suggesting that the analysis of high-resolution records at multiple scales is critical when interpreting seasonal or annual patterns.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joni Dehaspe ◽  
Andreas Musolff

<p>Nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>) and phosphate (PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3-</sup>) inputs to rivers are high in Germany and Europe following energy and food production demands, which can cause harm to aquatic ecosystems and jeopardize drinking water supplies. It is known that permanent and non-permanent nutrient uptake can retain significant amounts of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> and PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3-</sup> in river networks, however, there is little knowledge about the mechanistic processes involved and their controlling factors on catchment scales. In this work we apply a data driven analysis using the shape of stable, multi-annual, low frequency concentration-discharge (C-Q) relationships in about 500 German monitoring stations. More specifically, the bending of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> C-Q relationship was shown to encode uptake efficiency. We systematically address the effects of light and shading, stream ecological status, land-use, hydrological conditions, stream network configurations and chlorophyll a patterns as potential in-stream processing predictors. This assessment allows us to conclude on dominant controls of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> uptake efficiency across a wide range of landscape types.</p>


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