Simulation of a Severe Sand and Dust Storm Event in March 2021 in Northern China: Dust Emission Schemes Comparison and the Role of Gusty Wind

Northern China experienced a severe sand and dust storm (SDS) on 14/15 March 2021. It was difficult to simulate this severe SDS event accurately. This study compared the performances of three dust-emission schemes on simulating PM10 concentration during this SDS event by implementing three vertical dust flux parameterizations in the Comprehensive Air-Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx) model. Additionally, a statistical gusty-wind model was implemented in the dust-emission scheme, and it was used to quantify the gusty-wind contribution to dust emissions and peak PM10 concentration. As a result, the LS scheme (Lu and Shao 1999) produced the minimum errors for peak PM10 concentrations, the MB scheme (Marticorena and Bergametti 1995) underestimated the PM10 concentrations by 70–90%, and the KOK scheme (Kok et al. 2014) overestimated PM10 concentrations by 10–50% in most areas. The gusty-wind model could reasonably reproduce the probability density function of 2-min wind speeds. There were 5–40% more dust-emission flux and 5–40% more peak PM10 concentrations generated by the gusty wind than the hourly wind in the dust-source regions. The increase of peak PM10 concentration caused by gusty wind in the non-dust-source regions was higher than in the dust-source regions, with 10–50%. Implementing the gusty-wind model could help improve the LS scheme’s performance in simulating PM10 concentrations of this severe SDS event. More work is still needed to investigate the reliability of the gusty-wind model and LS scheme on various SDS events.

Preliminary Model-Based Evaluation of Water Conservation Strategies in a Semi-Arid Urban Zone

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stormwater management model was applied to a semi-arid urban micro watershed. The sub-catchment’s current features were modeled as scenario A, while the insertion of a set of LID technologies (rain barrels, bioretention cells, permeable pavement, and infiltration trenches) was represented as scenario B. A third scenario (C), considering only the most feasible LID technologies, was also modeled. All the scenarios were evaluated under two representative storm events (30 and 9 mm in two consecutive days, and 39 mm of rainfall in one day) occurred during the sampling performed in this study. Water quality was also simulated for a 30-mm storm event and compared against field assessment results after a real 30-mm storm event. Through the model, the inefficiency of current evacuation methods after 30- and 39-mm storm events was demonstrated. Simulation of scenario B showed that LID technologies could satisfactorily diminish peak flows generated by the selected storm events as well as runoff-conveyed pollution, while the realistic scenario allowed a lower but satisfactory hydrological performance and almost the same runoff quality than scenario B. This preliminary study could contribute to spread awareness about the benefits of LID technologies in semi-arid urban areas of the developing world.

Predicting the Effects of Solar Storms on the Ionosphere Based on a Comparison of Real-Time Solar Wind Data with the Best-Fitting Historical Storm Event

This study presents a new modeling approach that aims for long time predictions (more than 12 h) of ionospheric disturbances driven by solar storm events. The proposed model shall run in an operational framework to deliver fast and precise localized warnings for these disturbances in the future. The solar wind data driven approach uses a data base of historical solar storm impacts covering two solar cycles to reconstruct future events and resulting ionospheric disturbances. The basic components of the model are presented and discussed in this study, and the strengths of the reconstruction based on historical events are presented by showing the good correlations for predicted and observed geomagnetic activity. Initial results on the ionospheric response are discussed for all historical events using global total electron content (GTEC) and in more detail using total electron content (TEC) maps for two specific case studies (including the St. Patrick’s Day geomagnetic storm during the 17 March 2015). Average root mean square error (RMSE) values of 3.90 and 5.21 TECU are calculated for these cases confirming good results for the current configuration of the model. Possible future improvements of the individual model parts, as well as the planned extensions and applications are discussed in detail.

The Societal Echo of Severe Weather Events: Ambient Geospatial Information (AGI) on a Storm Event

The given article focuses on the benefit of harvested Ambient Geographic Information (AGI) as complementary data sources for severe weather events and provides methodical approaches for the spatio-temporal analysis of such data. The perceptions and awareness of Twitter users posting about severe weather patterns were explored as there were aspects not documented by official damage reports or derived from official weather data. We analysed Tweets regarding the severe storm event Friederike to map their spatio-temporal patterns. More than 50% of the retrieved >23.000 tweets were geocoded by applying supervised information retrievals, text mining, and geospatial analysis methods. Complementary, central topics were clustered and linked to official weather data for cross-evaluation. The data confirmed (1) a scale-dependent relationship between the wind speed and the societal echo. In addition, the study proved that (2) reporting activity is moderated by population distribution. An in-depth analysis of the crowds’ central topic clusters in response to the storm Friederike (3) revealed a plausible sequence of dominant communication contents during the severe weather event. In particular, the merge of the studied AGI and other environmental datasets at different spatio-temporal scales shows how such user-generated content can be a useful complementary data source to study severe weather events and the ensuing societal echo.

The Application of Low Impact Development Facility Chain on Storm Rainfall Control: A Case Study in Shenzhen, China

In recent decades, low impact development (LID) has become an increasingly important concern as a state-of-the-art stormwater management mode to treat urban flood, preferable to conventional urban drainage systems. However, the effects of the combined use of different LID facilities on urban flooding have not been fully investigated under different rainfall characteristics. In this study, a residential, neighborhood-scale catchment in Shenzhen City, southern China was selected as a case study, where the effects of four LID techniques (bio-retention, bio-swale, rain garden and pervious pavement) with different connection patterns (cascaded, semi-cascaded and paralleled) on runoff reduction efficiency were analyzed by the storm water management model (SWMM), promoted by the U.S. EPA. Three kinds of designed storm events with different return periods, durations and time-to-peak ratios were forced to simulate the flood for holistic assessment of the LID connection patterns. The effects were measured by the runoff coefficient of the whole storm–runoff process and the peak runoff volume. The results obtained indicate that the cascaded connect LID chain can more effectively reduce the runoff than that in the paralleled connect LID chain under different storms. The performances of the LID chains in modeling flood process in SWMM indicate that the runoff coefficient and the peak runoff volume increase with the increase in the rain return periods and the decrease in rain duration. Additionally, the move backward of the peak rain intensity to the end of the storm event slightly affects the peak runoff volume obviously while gives slight influence on the total runoff volume. This study provides an insight into the performance of LID chain designs under different rainfall characteristics, which is essential for effective urban flood management.

Groundwater and Surface Water Interaction, Wairarapa Valley, New Zealand

<p>Physical and chemical interactions between surface and groundwater are complex and display significant spatial and temporal variability. However, relatively little is known about the chemical interaction between surface and groundwater; in particular the temporal scales at which this interaction occurs. The aim of this research was to determine if existing and/or potential water chemistry measurements could be used to investigate the interaction between surface and groundwater bodies in the Wairarapa valley, New Zealand and identify specific locations and timescales at which this interaction occurs. Analyses were undertaken at both regional and local scales. The regional scale investigation utilised Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) to categorise 268 historic surface and groundwater sites from the 3000 km² Wairarapa valley into similar hydrochemical clusters in order to infer potential interaction. Six main clusters were identified, primarily differentiated by their total dissolved solids (TDS), redox potential and major ion ratios. Shallow aquifers, located in close proximity to losing reaches of the upper Ruamahanga, Waiopoua and Waiohine Rivers, were grouped with similar Ca²⁺-HCO₃⁻ type surface waters, indicating (potential) recharge from these river systems. Likewise, rainfall-recharged groundwater sites that displayed higher Na⁺ relative to Ca²⁺ and Cl⁻ relative to HCO₃⁻ were grouped with similar surface waters such as the Mangatarere and lower Waingawa streams. This suggests the provision of this rainfall-recharged signature to river base flow. Deep anoxic aquifers, high in TDS, were grouped together, but showed no statistical link to surface water sites. Results from the regional scale investigation highlight the potential use of HCA as a rapid and cost-effective method of identifying areas of surface and groundwater interaction using existing datasets. A local scale investigation utilised existing quarterly and monthly hydrochemical data from the Mangatarere and Waiohine Rivers and nearby groundwater wells in an attempt to gain insight into temporal variability in surface and groundwater interactions. Time series analysis and HCA were employed, however, the coarse time scales at which data was available made it difficult to make reliable inferences regarding this interaction. To overcome this issue, upstream and downstream surface and groundwater gauging stations were established in the Mangatarere Stream catchment for a 92 day period. Continuous electrical conductivity, water temperature and stage measurements were obtained at three of the four stations, along with one week of hydrochemical grab sampling. The fourth gauging station provided a more limited dataset due to technical issues. The downstream Mangatarere Stream received 30-60% of base flow from neighbouring groundwaters which provided cool Na⁺-Cl⁻ type waters, high in TDS and NO₃‾ concentrations. This reach also lost water to underlying groundwaters during an extended dry period when precipitation and regional groundwater stage was low. The upstream groundwater station received recharge primarily from precipitation as indicated by a Na⁺-Cl⁻-NO₃‾ signature, the result of precipitation passage through the soil-water zone. However, it appeared 2-4 m³/s of river recharge was also provided to the upstream groundwater station by the Mangatarere stream during an extended storm event on JD021-028. Mangatarere surface waters transferred a diurnal water temperature pattern and dilute Na⁺-Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO₃⁻-Cl⁻ signature to the upstream groundwater station on JD026-028. Results obtained from the Mangatarere catchment confirm the temporal complexities of ground and surface water interaction and highlight the importance of meteorological processes in influencing this interaction.</p>

Contemporary Sediment Delivery Ratios for Small Catchments Subject to Shallow Rainfall Triggered Earthflows in the Waipaoa Catchment, North Island, New Zealand

<p>The Waipaoa catchment is generally considered to have high hill slope channel coupling due to the large volumes of sediment output at the river mouth. Yet the percentage of sediment that is transported within the fluvial system is low when considered in terms of the total volume of sediment mobilised during episodic failure events. Clearly, there is a discrepancy between generation of sediment and its delivery to the fluvial network. Previous research has suggested there is a strong decrease in catchment connectivity as catchment size increases. However, little research has been undertaken to understand the changes in hillslope-channel coupling over time. This study focuses on the connectivity of shallow rainfall triggered earthflows located in small catchments located within three different land systems in the Waipaoa Catchment. A multiple regression model was developed to predict the sediment delivery ratio for individual earthflows based on an empirical dataset of earthflows which occurred during a storm event in 2002. The results from this modelling were applied to five larger sub-catchments where sequential aerial photograph analysis (1940s to 2004) was used to determine connectivity. From this, spatial and temporal patterns in the catchment sediment delivery ratios were identified. The expected decrease in sediment delivery ratios was observed as catchment size increased. However, the temporal pattern to sediment delivery is not so clear. It appears that catchment evolution, referring specially to the Terrain Event Resistance Model developed by Crozier and Preston (1999), does not have a significant influence on sediment delivery ratios within the six decades examined in this thesis. Furthermore, while earthflows are considered the ultimate source of sediment during storm events, they are not always the mechanism by which this sediment enters the fluvial network. It is also vital to consider rates of gullying, sheet erosion and riparian erosion.</p>

Contemporary Sediment Delivery Ratios for Small Catchments Subject to Shallow Rainfall Triggered Earthflows in the Waipaoa Catchment, North Island, New Zealand

<p>The Waipaoa catchment is generally considered to have high hill slope channel coupling due to the large volumes of sediment output at the river mouth. Yet the percentage of sediment that is transported within the fluvial system is low when considered in terms of the total volume of sediment mobilised during episodic failure events. Clearly, there is a discrepancy between generation of sediment and its delivery to the fluvial network. Previous research has suggested there is a strong decrease in catchment connectivity as catchment size increases. However, little research has been undertaken to understand the changes in hillslope-channel coupling over time. This study focuses on the connectivity of shallow rainfall triggered earthflows located in small catchments located within three different land systems in the Waipaoa Catchment. A multiple regression model was developed to predict the sediment delivery ratio for individual earthflows based on an empirical dataset of earthflows which occurred during a storm event in 2002. The results from this modelling were applied to five larger sub-catchments where sequential aerial photograph analysis (1940s to 2004) was used to determine connectivity. From this, spatial and temporal patterns in the catchment sediment delivery ratios were identified. The expected decrease in sediment delivery ratios was observed as catchment size increased. However, the temporal pattern to sediment delivery is not so clear. It appears that catchment evolution, referring specially to the Terrain Event Resistance Model developed by Crozier and Preston (1999), does not have a significant influence on sediment delivery ratios within the six decades examined in this thesis. Furthermore, while earthflows are considered the ultimate source of sediment during storm events, they are not always the mechanism by which this sediment enters the fluvial network. It is also vital to consider rates of gullying, sheet erosion and riparian erosion.</p>

Groundwater and Surface Water Interaction, Wairarapa Valley, New Zealand

<p>Physical and chemical interactions between surface and groundwater are complex and display significant spatial and temporal variability. However, relatively little is known about the chemical interaction between surface and groundwater; in particular the temporal scales at which this interaction occurs. The aim of this research was to determine if existing and/or potential water chemistry measurements could be used to investigate the interaction between surface and groundwater bodies in the Wairarapa valley, New Zealand and identify specific locations and timescales at which this interaction occurs. Analyses were undertaken at both regional and local scales. The regional scale investigation utilised Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) to categorise 268 historic surface and groundwater sites from the 3000 km² Wairarapa valley into similar hydrochemical clusters in order to infer potential interaction. Six main clusters were identified, primarily differentiated by their total dissolved solids (TDS), redox potential and major ion ratios. Shallow aquifers, located in close proximity to losing reaches of the upper Ruamahanga, Waiopoua and Waiohine Rivers, were grouped with similar Ca²⁺-HCO₃⁻ type surface waters, indicating (potential) recharge from these river systems. Likewise, rainfall-recharged groundwater sites that displayed higher Na⁺ relative to Ca²⁺ and Cl⁻ relative to HCO₃⁻ were grouped with similar surface waters such as the Mangatarere and lower Waingawa streams. This suggests the provision of this rainfall-recharged signature to river base flow. Deep anoxic aquifers, high in TDS, were grouped together, but showed no statistical link to surface water sites. Results from the regional scale investigation highlight the potential use of HCA as a rapid and cost-effective method of identifying areas of surface and groundwater interaction using existing datasets. A local scale investigation utilised existing quarterly and monthly hydrochemical data from the Mangatarere and Waiohine Rivers and nearby groundwater wells in an attempt to gain insight into temporal variability in surface and groundwater interactions. Time series analysis and HCA were employed, however, the coarse time scales at which data was available made it difficult to make reliable inferences regarding this interaction. To overcome this issue, upstream and downstream surface and groundwater gauging stations were established in the Mangatarere Stream catchment for a 92 day period. Continuous electrical conductivity, water temperature and stage measurements were obtained at three of the four stations, along with one week of hydrochemical grab sampling. The fourth gauging station provided a more limited dataset due to technical issues. The downstream Mangatarere Stream received 30-60% of base flow from neighbouring groundwaters which provided cool Na⁺-Cl⁻ type waters, high in TDS and NO₃‾ concentrations. This reach also lost water to underlying groundwaters during an extended dry period when precipitation and regional groundwater stage was low. The upstream groundwater station received recharge primarily from precipitation as indicated by a Na⁺-Cl⁻-NO₃‾ signature, the result of precipitation passage through the soil-water zone. However, it appeared 2-4 m³/s of river recharge was also provided to the upstream groundwater station by the Mangatarere stream during an extended storm event on JD021-028. Mangatarere surface waters transferred a diurnal water temperature pattern and dilute Na⁺-Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO₃⁻-Cl⁻ signature to the upstream groundwater station on JD026-028. Results obtained from the Mangatarere catchment confirm the temporal complexities of ground and surface water interaction and highlight the importance of meteorological processes in influencing this interaction.</p>