bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Soil Index Development and Integration with Econometric Theory
Authors: Mizuta Katsutoshi , Grunwald Sabine , Phillips Michelle A.
Published: October 2018

Core Ideas

There is a need for quantitative soil quality, health, and security assessment.

Pros and cons of indication systems used in soil and ecological studies.

Axiomatic criteria advance soil quality, health, and security indices.

There are profound shortcomings of widely used soil indicators and indices.

Linking soil science and econometrics improves soil indicators/indices.

Soil scientists have worked on the conceptualization and contextualization of soil‐related notions, such as soil quality, soil health, and soil security, over the past few decades. We reviewed the massive amount of literature regarding those major concepts, and summarized definitions, visions, and constraints. Indicators (In) and indices (Ix) are well suited to aggregate soil and environmental data to assess soil quality, health, and security quantitatively. Our literature review showed that (i) more sophisticated quantification methods are necessary; (ii) often only a single soil property and/or class is modeled rather than more complex soil functions, risks, or services; (iii) there is a lack of harmonization, standardization, and reference frameworks that allow soil comparisons across regions and time; and (iv) methods frequently used to calculate soil In/Ix, such as ordination and factor analysis, do not consider rigorous axiomatic criteria of scientific sound indication systems. In summary, the complex soil concepts stand in sharp contrast to the applied indication methods in the soil science discipline. We investigated the potential to apply econometrical methods to assess soil quality, health, and security that serve as alternatives to more traditional In/Ix in soil science. A case study demonstrated the profound transformative potential of linking econometrics–soil–environmental sciences.
Three Residual Benefits of Applying Phosphate Fertilizer
Authors: Barrow N. J. , Barman Prashanta , Debnath Abhijit
Published: October 2018

Core Ideas

Phosphate continues to react with soil thereby decreasing its effectiveness.

However, the continuing reaction conveys negative charge to the reacting particles.

This reaction decreases both the buffering capacity and the rate of further reactions.

Both of these changes increase the effectiveness of subsequent applications.

Fertilizer P provides three benefits to subsequent crops. The first is that P not lost in produce or leachate remains in soil. However, its effectiveness usually decreases with time because the P slowly diffuses into the adsorbing particle. The second benefit stems from the resulting increased negative charge and decreased buffering capacity. We test whether this decreases the P required for a given yield. The third benefit occurs because, given enough P, the penetration reaction stops. We test whether it is then sufficient to only supply P needed by the plants. We incubated for 35 d at 60°C samples of a P–deficient soil to which we had added five levels of P. At the end of this incubation period, we measured P sorption and desorption on one set of samples of the soil. On another set, we added several different levels of P and measured plant response. On a third set, we similarly added several different levels of P but incubated soil plus the extra P for a further 3 d at 60°C before measuring plant response. Incubating the soil with P decreased the P buffering capacity and increased the effectiveness of P applications. The effects were nonlinear with greatest effect occurring at low levels of application. The incubation with P also virtually eliminated sorption–desorption hysteresis. With increasing levels of incubated P, the difference in plant response between the once–incubated and the twice–incubated treatments decreased linearly. All of the observations are consistent with slow penetration of the adsorbed P.
A fuzzy hybrid clustering method for identifying hydrologic homogeneous regions
Authors: Nadoushani S. Saeid Mousavi , Dehghanian Naser , Saghafian Bahram
Published: October 2018

Identification of hydrologic homogeneous regions (HHR) facilitates prioritization of watershed management measures. In this study, a new methodology involving a combination of self-organizing features maps (SOFM) method and fuzzy C-means algorithm (FCM), designated as SOMFCM, is presented to identify HHRs. The case study region is Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed (WGEW) located in Arizona. The input data consisted of a number of factors that influence runoff generation processes, including ten surface features as well as various rainfall values corresponding to 25, 50, and 100 years return periods. Factor analysis (FA) was applied for the selection of effective surface features along with rainfall value, used in the clustering algorithm. Validation procedure indicated that the best clustering scenario was achieved through merging three layers including TPI (topographic position index), CN (curve number), and P50 (50-year rainfall). The optimum number of clusters turned out to be six while the fuzzification parameter became 1.6. The presented methodology may be proposed as a simple approach for identifying HHRs.
Prediction of the optimal dose of coagulant for various potable water treatment processes through artificial neural network
Authors: Baouab M. Hassen , Cherif Semia
Published: October 2018

To overcome classical jar test limits of water treatment plants and offer substantial savings of time and money for operators, artificial neural network technique is applied in this study to large databases of three treatment plants with different processes in order to build models to predict the optimal dose of coagulant. Pre-modeling techniques, like data scaling and training database choice, are used to guarantee models with the lowest errors. Two models are then selected, with turbidity, conductivity, and pH as inputs for both raw and treated water. The first model, L45-MOD, is specific to raw water with less than 45.5 NTU turbidity, or else the second model ATP-MOD would be adopted. Compared to truly injected coagulant doses and to previous models, the selected models have good performances when tested on various databases: a correlation coefficient higher than 0.8, a mean absolute error of 5.47 g/m3 for the first model and 5.69 g/m3 for the second model. The strength of this study is the ability of the models to be extrapolated and easily adopted by other treatment plants whatever the process used.
Decomposition of 2D polygons and its effect in hydrological models
Authors: Sanzana P. , Gironás J. , Braud I. , Hitschfeld N. , Branger F. , Rodriguez F. , Fuamba M. , Romero J. , Vargas X. , Muñoz J. F. , Vicuña S. , Mejía A.
Published: October 2018

2D non-uniform polygonal meshes allow representation of the impact of landscape elements and small infrastructures on water flows. The initial vectorial mesh, derived from the intersection of several geographical information systems' layers, can have highly non-convex or sliver polygons. These bad-shaped elements compromise accurate numerical flow computation. We propose a flexible divide-and-conquer strategy to decompose polygons into physiographical meaningful parts using shape descriptors to better represent the surface terrain and hydrologic connectivity. We use the convexity index (CI) and the form factor (FF) to consider convex and square like optimum shapes. The strategy was applied to two peri-urban areas whose hydrologic response was simulated using distributed modeling. Good-quality meshes were generated with threshold values of CI≈0.8 and FF≈0.2, and CI≈0.95 and FF≈0.4 for undeveloped and highly urbanized zones, respectively. We concluded that the mesh segmentation facilitates the representation of the spatially distributed processes controlling not only the lumped response of the catchment, but also the spatial variability of water quantity and fluxes within it at medium and small scales.
Estimating reference crop evapotranspiration with elevation based on an improved HS model
Authors: Tang Pengcheng , Xu Bing , Gao Zhanyi , Li Heping , Gao Xiaoyu , Wang Chaozi
Published: October 2018

Estimation of ET0 in high-elevation (above sea level, ASL) areas of Tibet presents unique challenges: scarcity of monitoring stations, short-time coverage of meteorological data, low-oxygen and low-pressure environment, and strong solar radiation. In this study, altitude factors and modified temperature constants are utilized to improve the Hargreaves (HS) model based on 30-year daily meteorological data from 20 typical sites in Tibet. The improved model, Hargreaves-Elevation (HS-E) improved model, could provide better results at different time scales. Negative ET0 values were unavoidable in the HS model when applied to high-elevation areas. However, the HS-E model solved this problem and improved the accuracy of estimated ET0. In particular, the HS-E model performs better when the time scale becomes larger. Therefore, the HS-E model is highly recommended to estimate ET0 in high-elevation areas where the meteorological data are scarce, for example, in Tibet above 2,000 m.
Wavelet-based multi station disaggregation of rainfall time series in mountainous regions
Authors: Farboudfam Nima , Nourani Vahid , Aminnejad Babak
Published: October 2018

Hybrid models development by combining the data-driven method of artificial neural network (ANN) and wavelet decomposition for disaggregation of rainfall time series is the purpose of this paper. In this study, for disaggregating the Tabriz and Sahand rain-gauges time series, according to nonlinear characteristics of observed time scales, a wavelet-artificial neural network (WANN) hybrid model was suggested. For this purpose, 17 years of daily data of four rain-gauges and monthly data of six rain-gauges from the mountainous basin of Urmia Lake were decomposed with wavelet transform and then using mutual information and correlation coefficient criteria, the sub-series were ranked and superior sub-series were used as input data of ANN model for disaggregating the monthly rainfall time series to the daily time series. Results obtained by the WANN disaggregation model were compared with the results of ANN and classic multiple linear regression (MLR) models. The efficiency of the WANN model compared with the ANN and MLR models at validation stage in the optimized case for Tabriz rain-gauge showed up to a 22 and 41.2% increase and in the optimized case for Sahand rain-gauge it showed up to a 21.1 and 40.8% increase, respectively.
Estimating daily reference evapotranspiration using hybrid gamma test-least square support vector machine, gamma test-ANN, and gamma test-ANFIS models in an arid area of Iran
Authors: Seifi Akram , Riahi Hossien
Published: October 2018

In this study, a hybrid model of least square support vector machine-gamma test (LSSVM-GT) is proposed for estimating daily ETo under arid conditions of Zahedan station, Iran. Gamma test was used for selecting the best input vectors for models. The estimated ETo by LSSVM-GT model with different kernels of RBF, linear and polynomial, were compared with other hybrid approaches including ANN-GT, ANFIS-GT, and empirical equations. The gamma test revealed that climate variables of minimum and maximum air temperature and wind speed are the most important parameters. The LSSVM model performed better than the ANFIS and ANN models when similar meteorological input variables are used. Also, the performance of the three models of LSSVM, ANFIS, and ANN were better than the empirical equations such as Blaney–Criddle and Hargreaves–Samani. The RMSE, MAE, and R2 for the best input vector by LSSVM were 0.1 mm day−1, 0.13 mm day−1, and 0.99, respectively. The threshold of relative absolute error of 95% predicted values by LSSVM, ANN, and ANFIS models were about 8.4%, 9.4%, and 24%, respectively. Based on the comparison of the overall performances, the developed LSSVM-GT approach is greatly capable of providing favorable predictions with high precision in arid regions of Iran.
Recent groundwater and lake-stage trends in Cape Cod National Seashore: relationships with sea level rise, precipitation, and air temperature
Authors: Smith Stephen M. , Medeiros Kelly C.
Published: October 2018

Hydrological features on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, include groundwater, freshwater lakes, permanent and seasonal ponds, streams, and estuaries. Rainfall and evaporation/evapotranspiration have long been considered the dominant factors influencing both lake and groundwater levels in this sole-source, unconfined aquifer. However, increases in sea level may also have an effect, especially on this narrow peninsula with a sandy substrate of high permeability. In this study, we analyzed trends between 2000 and 2017 in eleven groundwater wells and nine kettle ponds situated with Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS). We further explored relationships of these hydrologic variables with local precipitation, temperature and sea level during this period. The results suggest that while precipitation patterns influence seasonal and inter-annual variability, it appears that sea level rise (SLR) may be partially responsible for driving the longer-term trend of rising groundwater levels in several wells. Pond stages did not exhibit any statistically significant trends, and responded more to precipitation during this period of time. Notwithstanding, further acceleration of SLR, along with potential changes in precipitation patterns, can alter the freshwater hydrology of CCNS that may subsequently have biological, chemical, and physical effects throughout these systems.
The responses of precipitation and streamflow to recent climate variations in the frigid and subtropical zones
Authors: Wang Bo-Tsen , Grigorev Vadim Yu , Tseng Hung-Wei , Dzhamalov Roald G. , Frolova Natalia L. , Yu Pao-Shan , Hsu Kuo-Chin
Published: October 2018

Extreme hydrological events have occurred in many climate zones in recent decades. Most importantly, the water distribution in hydrological components has changed with apparent variations in climate. The associated impact on water resources is of concern because an understanding of the hydrological response mechanism is necessary for human survival. In this study, we compare precipitation and streamflow responses to climate variations in two different climate zones. Continental-scale frigid zone (CSFZ) data were collected from Russia, while island-scale subtropical zone (ISSZ) data were collected from Taiwan. The results show that the teleconnection of the precipitation between the ISSZ and CSFZ is subtle and is linked to global atmospheric conditions. The daily maximum precipitation and the duration without precipitation increased in both the CSFZ and the ISSZ. The streamflow response became more extreme in the ISSZ and was associated with pronounced dry and wet seasons. In contrast, a rise in winter temperatures has led to more uniform streamflow and extreme hydrological situations have become less frequent. The responses of streamflow to recent climate variations in the CSFZ and ISSZ are different. Precipitation and temperature are driving forces for the change in streamflow in the CSFZ while precipitation is for the ISSZ.
Impacts of climate change on hydrology in the Yellow River source region, China
Authors: Jin Junliang , Wang Guoqing , Zhang Jianyun , Yang Qinli , Liu Cuishan , Liu Yanli , Bao Zhenxin , He Ruimin
Published: October 2018

Variations of precipitation, temperature, and runoff in the Yellow River source region were analyzed with the Mann–Kendall and Spearman rank correlation tests over the past 60 years. Based on the seven climate scenarios from CMIP5 climate models under RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5, responses of hydrological process to climate change were simulated using the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model. Variation analysis results indicated that recorded temperature presented significant increasing trend. Daily minimum temperature presented higher increasing trend than daily maximum temperature. Annual gross precipitation presented minor increasing and annual runoff presented minor decreasing. The VIC model performed well on simulating monthly discharge at Tangnaihai station, with NSE of 0.91 and 0.93 in calibration and validation periods, respectively. The projected annual mean temperature would rise (with 25th and 75th percentiles) 1.07–1.32 °C, 1.76–2.33 °C, 3.45–4.29 °C, annual precipitation is expected to increase 3.43%–11.77%, 8.05%–17.27%, 12.84%–27.89%, and runoff would moderately increase with high variability of 0.82%–14.26%, −3.41%–19.14%, 1.43%–38.26% relative to the baseline of 1961–1990 under each RCP in the 2080s, respectively. The inhomogeneity of runoff may increase in the future. Many more droughts and floods under climate change may threaten social development in this region in the future.
Catastrophe progression method based on M-K test and correlation analysis for assessing water resources carrying capacity in Hubei province
Authors: Song Fan , Yang Xiaohua , Wu Feifei
Published: October 2018

In order to assess the water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) of Hubei province, an improved catastrophe progression method based on M-K test and correlation analysis was established. This model includes evaluation, abrupt change test and correlation analysis. It can make a comprehensive assessment of water resource carrying capacity in a certain area. The evaluation results of this model are clear and can effectively avoid the effects of subjective weight and, in addition, it can also streamline the index system. We applied the model to study the WRCC of Hubei province from 2005 to 2016, considering the supply and demand of water resources, ecological environment, economy and society. The results showed that the WRCC of Hubei province is at the ‘weak’ level, presenting a certain development and utilization potential, but it must be strictly controlled and moderately developed. The WRCC of Hubei province is improving, but must be adjusted by water conservation facilities and long-term management policies to prevent the foreseeable deterioration. Water supply and demand systems and ecological environment systems were found to be the driving factors of WRCC through correlation analysis. This approach gives the decision-makers suggestions about water resource sustainable utilization.
Research on the periodic regularity of annual runoff in the Lower Yellow River
Authors: Zhang Xianqi , Song Chao , Hu Dengkui
Published: October 2018

Research on the periodic characteristics of the runoff evolution in the Lower Yellow River is of great importance for flood control, beach regulation and water resources utilization in the Lower Yellow River. By using wavelets to conduct scale analysis of runoff series, the periodic change rule of runoff series on different scales can be obtained. By using the maximum entropy spectrum to analyze the spectrum of runoff, the main period of runoff sequence can be obtained. In this paper, these two methods are applied to the annual runoff of the Lower Yellow River. The results show that: the annual runoff in the Lower Yellow River has multi-scale change law; the four stations have the same main period; there are differences in periodicity between stations, as the catchment area increases, the quasi-periodic value decreases, and the periodic fluctuation becomes more obvious; after 2018, the annual runoff of the Lower Yellow River will be in the dry season. Furthermore, the study can reveal the change law of runoff sequence in the Lower Yellow River to a certain extent, and provide a theoretical basis for river management.
Drought stress and soil management practices in grapevines in Cyprus under the threat of climate change
Authors: Chrysargyris Antonios , Xylia Panayiota , Litskas Vassilis , Mandoulaki Athanasia , Antoniou Demetris , Boyias Timos , Stavrinides Menelaos , Tzortzakis Nikos
Published: October 2018

The Middle East, the cradle of viticulture and wine production, is gradually but steadily becoming hotter and drier because of climate change (CC). In the current study, we evaluated the effect of tillage and irrigation on yield and quality characteristics of the heat-resistant, indigenous red-grape variety Maratheftiko for one year. Yield increased (two-fold) in vines with irrigation and tillage compared to tillage with no irrigation. The absence of tillage buffered the negative effect of the lack of irrigation on yield. At the veraison stage, leaf stomatal conductance decreased in non-irrigated vines, independently of the application of tillage or not. At veraison, tillage increased (up to 27.5%) phenolics when compared to no tillage in non-irrigated vines. Vines accumulated more N, P, and K and less Mg during the flowering stage compared to veraison. At veraison, irrigation decreased K content in vines subjected to tillage and decreased Mg content in vines subjected to no tillage. Total soluble solids and anthocyanins of berries increased with the absence of irrigation and tillage. Total phenolics increased with tillage in both irrigated and non-irrigated plants. Our results indicate that no tillage systems may be viable as an adaptation strategy in the context of CC.
Building an indicator-based assessment framework for adaptive capacity of drainage systems in Beijing
Authors: Chen Bonan , Ma Wenlin , Xu Ruoshui , Zhang Junzhi
Published: October 2018

In urban areas, the increasing frequency of heavy precipitation caused by climate change has generated huge pressure on drainage systems, which could result in severe environmental or social issues if not adapted to. A critical step to enhance the adaptive capacity of drainage systems is to build an authoritative indicator-based framework for assessing the adaptive capacity. An assessment framework with three levels, including an index (Adaptive Capacity Index), five parameters (Economic resource, Information and skills, Technology, Infrastructure, and Institutions) and several indicators, was established after literature review and expert consultation. The Delphi method was applied to optimize indicators in order to form the applicable indicator-based assessment framework. Through two rounds of Delphi process, a consensus among experts was reached and was checked for consistency by statistical analysis. Eventually, eight indicators of adaptive capacity were determined with high consistency and an inherent linkage was revealed from the five dimensions (parameters) that contribute to the adaptive capacity of drainage systems. Overall, the construction of adaptive capacity of drainage systems is a systematic engineering, and the Delphi method proved to be an appropriate technique for framework building.
Feasibility study for the production of multi-oxidants from the desalination of seawater brine
Authors: Wu Chiung-Ta , Chang Chen-Yu , Li Yi-Ying , Lin Po-Hsiung
Published: October 2018

The primary goals of this study are to compare the efficiency of multiple oxidants that are produced using different commercially available anodes and separators and to optimize the reaction conditions for the recovery of multiple oxidants from brine. The brine produced in the desalination plants in Taiwan is the concentrated seawater that is recovered after the reverse osmosis process. The main component in the solution is NaCl. On average, chlorine concentration is approximately 3–5% by weight, which is slightly higher than the concentration for normal seawater. This concentrated brine can be used as raw material for the electrolyte to extract mixed disinfectant solutions. This study uses different catalytic electrolyzers to compare the efficiency with which multiple oxidants are produced using anodes that are coated in precious metal. A ruthenium-coated titanium anode generates the largest amount of active chlorine (chlorine dioxide). In terms of the diaphragms that are tested, the DuPont Nafion NE-2030 ion film produces active chlorine most efficiently. If no other chemicals are added to the brine (salinity 11.3%), Cl2 (302–376 mg L−1) is the primary oxidant generated from the original brine, and ClO2 (3.7–7.2 mg L−1) is the minor product in batch electrolysis.

This article has been made Open Access thanks to the kind support of CAWQ/ACQE (https://www.cawq.ca).
Scenario analysis of low-carbon development of energy industry with restriction of water resource in Xinjiang
Authors: Li Aijun , Liu Yuhao , Chen Guoshi , Hu Mingming
Published: October 2018

This study empirically analyzes the prospects of the energy industry with the limited water resource in Xinjiang by extending an energy economic model. First, the past trends of water use in Xinjiang are analyzed. Energy utilization and industrial added value by sector are also investigated. Then, several important parameters such as economic growth rate, water saving rate, and energy saving rate are set exogenously. Especially, coal exploitation and utilization are selected as a typical case for studying energy development plan and technology choice. By keeping within the water requirement ‘red line’ and water security strategy, the acceptable speed and the future scale of the energy industry in Xinjiang are selected among several scenarios. Moreover, the interactions of economic growth, energy development, energy consumption, water requirement, and carbon dioxide emissions in Xinjiang are also analyzed. Finally, the technology choice of coal exploitation and utilization in Xinjiang with restriction of limited water resource is also suggested.
Groundwater flow simulation and its application in GaoSong ore field, China
Authors: Chen Gang , Xu Shiguang , Liu Chunxue , Lu Lei , Guo Liang
Published: October 2018

Mine water inrush is one of the important factors threatening safe production in mines. The accurate understanding of the mine groundwater flow field can effectively reduce the hazards of mine water inrush. Numerical simulation is an important method to study the groundwater flow field. This paper numerically simulates the groundwater seepage field in the GaoSong ore field. In order to ensure the accuracy of the numerical model, the research team completed 3,724 field fissure measurements in the study area. The fracture measurement results were analyzed using the GEOFRAC method and the whole-area fracture network data were generated. On this basis, the rock mass permeability coefficient tensor of the aquifer in the study area was calculated. The tensor calculation results are used in the numerical model of groundwater flow. After calculation, the obtained numerical model can better represent the groundwater seepage field in the study area. In addition, we designed three different numerical models for calculation, mainly to explore the influence of the tensor assignment of permeability coefficient on the calculation results of water yield of the mine. The results showed that irrational fathom tensor assignment would cause a significant deviation in calculation results.
Wavelet based relevance vector machine model for monthly runoff prediction
Authors: Ruiming Fang
Published: October 2018

In this study, wavelet transform (WT) and a relevance vector machine (RVM) are integrated to predict monthly runoff. First, the WT method is adopted to decompose the monthly runoff time series into subsequences of different scales, and the variation characteristics, especially the periodicity of the runoff, are analyzed. Then, the regression model of RVM is established in each subsequence. Finally, the prediction results of each subsequence are integrated to obtain the final predicted values of monthly runoff through wavelet inverse transform. The proposed model was tested using the historical data of Minjiang River; the results show that compared with the RVM model, the WT-RVM model has better precision and can be applied in the prediction of monthly runoff.
An integrated urban stormwater model system supporting the whole life cycle of sponge city construction programs in China
Authors: Deng Shihu , Zhang Xiaoyuan , Shao Zhiyu , Yan Wentao , Chai Hongxiang , He Qiang
Published: October 2018

The nationwide Sponge City Construction (SCC) program was launched by the Chinese government in 2014. There is a lack of an integrated model system to assist the efforts throughout all the SCC phases, including planning, design, construction, evaluation and maintenance stages. In this study, an integrated stormwater system named Uwater was developed based on a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform, in which a comprehensive open-source urban stormwater runoff model called Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) was embedded. The platform utilized the spatial data management tools in GIS to extract the discrete spatial information such as land use and vegetation cover condition to obtain the composite hydrologic parameters required in the SWMM simulations. The system also fully uses the visualization capabilities of GIS to assist visual design of the Low Impact Development (LID) facilities and Capital Improvement Projects frequently used in the SCC programs. Furthermore, it could be used to assess the drainage capacity of the stormwater system and the corresponding inundation limits for further optimization of the design plans. Finally, a study case using the platform was conducted to test and verify the reliability and applicability of the Uwater system. Results show that the Uwater platform has great strengths and potential to assist the whole life cycle in the SCC program.
Soil water content and olive tree yield responses to soil management, irrigation, and precipitation in a hilly Mediterranean area
Authors: Arampatzis G. , Hatzigiannakis E. , Pisinaras V. , Kourgialas N. , Psarras G. , Kinigopoulou V. , Panagopoulos A. , Koubouris G.
Published: October 2018

Olive trees constitute one of the most dynamic cultivations for Mediterranean countries, while their economic importance is high. As water constitutes a fundamental factor affecting olive tree production, soil water content is a most critical parameter that must be monitored to improve olive trees’ cultivation management. Effects of precipitation, irrigation, and soil management on water content in four soil depths (10, 20, 30, 40 cm), four periods of the year (February–March, April–May, June–July, August–September) and three successive years were determined in 12 Mediterranean olive groves (Trifilia, southern Greece) as well as their respective fruit and olive oil yields. Significantly higher soil water content was recorded in the first (+16.8%) and third (+27.4%) year compared to the second year. Higher (+6.8%) water content was observed in irrigated olive groves compared to rainfed fields. Higher (+5.6%) water content was observed in sustainable olive groves compared to intensively managed fields. Significantly, higher soil moisture was recorded at 40 and 30 cm depth compared to 10 cm depth while intermediate values were observed at 20 cm. Marked increase in fruit yield was achieved through sustainable management (+39%) compared to intensive olive groves. The potential to improve irrigation practices in the area was also indicated by results of the present study.
Modeling the impacts of climate extremes and multiple water uses to support water management in the Icó-Mandantes Bay, Northeast Brazil
Authors: Matta Elena , Koch Hagen , Selge Florian , Simshäuser Max Nino , Rossiter Karina , da Silva Gérsica Moraes Nogueira , Gunkel Günter , Hinkelmann Reinhard
Published: October 2018

The hydropower production, water supply and aquaculture services of the Itaparica Reservoir are of immense importance for the Brazilian Northeast. Uncontrolled water resources consumption (e.g. irrigation, water supply), climate and land use change effects deteriorated the water quantity and quality in the reservoir, leading to socio-economic and environmental problems. In this work, a depth-averaged shallow water model was set up for the Icó-Mandantes Bay, one major branch of the reservoir, using the open TELEMAC-MASCARET system. The aim was to assess the impacts of the newly built water diversion channel, as well as the effects of a flood and tracer transport from an intermittent tributary, both located in the bay. An alternative approach to estimate the water retention times was additionally implemented. The simulations showed that though the diversion channel did not significantly influence the hydrodynamics of the bay, it is necessary to continuously monitor water quality parameters in the withdrawal, especially during rainy periods after droughts, because of the nutrient inputs from the tributary and the overflows of the nearby drainage systems. Management measures adapting to the continuously changing natural conditions and anthropogenic impacts are thus indispensable and the model presented can be a valuable supporting tool for this purpose.
Numerical estimation of fracture network permeability based on GEOFRAC model for groundwater modeling in a tin mine
Authors: Lu Lei , Liu Chunxue , Chen Gang , Guo Liang
Published: October 2018

Numerous geological research studies and mining operations have proved that fracture is one of the important factors controlling groundwater flow, mineralization, and ore distribution in metallic deposits. Most current approaches to groundwater flow simulation of naturally fractured media rely on the calculation of equivalent permeability tensors from a discrete fracture network (DFN). This study is aimed at developing a rational two-dimensional DFN by GEOFRAC, a geostatistical method of fracture direction and locations of sample data from a tin mine in the Gaosong area, Gejiu city, southwest China, and utilizing 3,724 outcrop fractures sampled on the ground of mountain Gaosong. Principal inputs of the DFN are density, direction, and continuity of disks that constitute a fracture plane. Fractures simulated by GEOFRAC were validated in that their directions corresponded well with those of the sample fractures. The permeability tensor of each modeling grid was then calculated based on the fracture network constructed. The results showed that GEOFRAC is valuable for two-dimensional DFN modeling in mines and other fracture-controlled geological phenomena, such as groundwater flow and slope failure.
Estimating infiltration increase and runoff reduction due to green infrastructure
Authors: Zhang Jing , Peralta Richard C.
Published: October 2018

To aid urban entities desiring to reduce runoff from precipitation while increasing aquifer recharge, we present an approach for simultaneously quantifying runoff and infiltration. Developing the approach involved using: (1) the Windows version of the Source Loading and Management Model (WINSLAMM) to estimate runoff from precipitation in areas with green infrastructure (GI); and (2) the SCS runoff curve method to estimate infiltration. Computed infiltration and runoff values enable the estimation of the runoff reduction and infiltration increase due to alternative GI construction modes. We relate infiltration ratios to land use for a range of event rainfall depths in southwestern USA. These ratios can aid estimation of aquifer recharge while improving storm water management. We apply the approach to a Salt Lake City residential area for current land use and three assumed runoff control practices. Although currently applicable for a wide range of precipitation and urban land use situations in southwestern USA, the approach is extensible to guide urban development elsewhere.
Carbon sequestration by grass, crucifer and legume groundcovers in olive orchards
Authors: Repullo-Ruibérriz de Torres Miguel A. , Ordóñez-Fernández Rafaela , Moreno-García Manuel , Márquez-García Javier , Carbonell-Bojollo Rosa M.
Published: October 2018

Establishment of groundcovers (GC) is an efficient practice to reduce soil and nutrient losses in olive orchards, so they can act as a sink of atmospheric carbon and improve soil fertility. The aim of this study was to assess the carbon sequestration potential of several species used as groundcovers in two olive orchards. The experiment was conducted during three growing seasons in two olive orchards in Andalusia (Spain). In an experimental field, a grass (Brachypodium distachyon) and two crucifers (Eruca vesicaria and Sinapis alba) were used; in the other experimental field, three legumes were sown: common vetch (Vicia sativa), bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa). In both fields the species were sown and compared with the spontaneous vegetation of the area. The carbon release from groundcovers was studied and soil organic carbon (SOC) analysed during the decomposition period to assess the atmospheric carbon fixation. The increments of SOC in the first 20 cm of soil reached higher values with crucifers and grass than legumes. Sinapis alba obtained the best result with 2.56 Mg SOC ha−1 yr−1. Establishment of groundcovers are an efficient tool for atmospheric carbon sequestration and to protect the soil from erosion.
Preparation, adsorptive properties and chemical regeneration studies of high-porous activated carbon derived from Platanus orientalis leaves for Cr(VI) removal
Authors: Liu Xiaowei , Huang Lihui , Wang Lisha , Wang Chuang , Wu Xueyuan , Dong Guihua , Liu Yangyang
Published: October 2018

Activated carbon (AC) was prepared from Platanus orientalis leaves by H3PO4 activation using a microwave heating method and characterized by SEM (scanning electron microscopy), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis and FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) techniques. AC exhibited a surface area of 1089.67 m2/g and a relatively high pore volume of 1.468 cm3/g. Utilization of AC for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution was researched. The adsorption efficiency was highly pH dependent and adsorption capacity of AC for Cr(VI) could reach up to 135.24 mg/g. Adsorption equilibrium could be quickly reached within 2 h. A kinetic study indicated that the adsorption of Cr(VI) conformed to the pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.99). An intraparticle diffusion model was applied to describe the adsorption kinetics, and the results showed that there are other factors that affect the rate. Chemical regeneration for AC saturated with Cr(VI) was performed and HNO3 displayed the best regeneration performance among the four chemical regeneration agents (HNO3, H2SO4, NaOH, NaCl). The regeneration performance increased at first and then decreased with the rise of HNO3 concentration, and regeneration reaction could reach equilibrium within 4 h in the first cycle. The FTIR spectra revealed that HNO3 successfully introduced N-H bonds onto the AC surface in the regeneration process.
Degradation of rhodamine B with manganese dioxide nanorods
Authors: Sabna V. , Thampi Santosh G. , Chandrakaran S.
Published: October 2018

This is an investigation on oxidative degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) by manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanorods synthesized by redox co-precipitation method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy of MnO2 nanorods at an electron voltage of 10 kV revealed a rod-like morphology for the synthesized nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectra exhibited characteristic peaks of MnO2. Surface area of MnO2 nanorods was 277 m2/g. Effect of various parameters like initial concentration and pH of RhB solution, time of contact between MnO2 nanorods and RhB, dosage of MnO2, and stirring speed on decolouration of RhB was evaluated in batch experiments. Rapid decolouration in the initial period of the reaction was observed due to the adsorption of RhB molecules onto the surface of MnO2 nanorods followed by oxidative degradation. Percentage decolouration decreased with increase in initial concentration and increased with increase in dosage, speed of stirring the mixture and with increase in pH up to pH 7. Near complete decolouration was achieved at a dose of 0.5 g/L of MnO2 nanorods from 20 mg/L RhB solution within 3 min. Observations fitted best to the pseudo second order kinetic model. This study could pave the way for development of cost-effective, nontoxic nanostructures for treatment of wastewaters containing RhB.
Snow angels – the microbiology of freshly fallen snow: implications for immunocompromised patients
Authors: Moore John E. , McCaughan John , Stirling Jonathan , Bell Jane , Millar B. Cherie
Published: October 2018

The frequency of seasonal snowfall results in the transient covering of gardens/amenity sites/open public spaces, which encourages recreational interaction mainly with children. No data is available demonstrating the microbiological composition of such fallen snow and therefore a study was undertaken to examine the microbiology of snow from 37 sites, estimating (i) total viable count (TVC), (ii) identification of bacteria, and (iii) the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mean TVC count of 8.3 colony-forming units (cfu)/ml snow melt water, 51.7 cfu/ml, 865 cfu/ml and 2,197 cfu/ml, was obtained for public amenity sites, domestic gardens, public open spaces and melting snow from public footpaths, respectively. No bacterial organisms (<10 cfu/ml) were detected in 5/14 (35.7%) open public spaces, 2/5 (40%) amenity sites and in 1/10 (10%) domestic gardens. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not detected from any snow sample examined. Bacterial diversity consisted of 15 bacterial species (11 Gram-positive/four Gram-negative). The six Gram-positive genera identified from snow were Actinomyces, Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. The four Gram-negative genera identified were Enterobacter, Pantoea, Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas. Bacillus licheniformis was the most commonly isolated organism from snow; it was isolated from every snow type. Snow may contain a diverse range of bacteria, many of which are capable of causing human infections.
Revisiting the distributional impacts of water subsidy policy in Chile: a historical analysis from 1998–2015
Authors: Contreras Dante , Gómez-Lobo Andrés , Palma Isidora
Published: October 2018

The distributional incidence of the Chilean water subsidy scheme is revisited by analyzing its evolution from 1998 to 2015. This is one of the only means-tested water subsidies in a developing country and is frequently used as an example in policy discussions and recommendations. Many changes have been introduced in the program since its inception and at least three different targeting instruments have been used to identify needy households in the last 20 years. We find that the incidence of the subsidy is progressive but moderate, with a Gini coefficient of close to 0.3. It has also remained stable between 1998 and 2015. The errors of inclusion and exclusion have also remained stubbornly high. These incidence results are surprising given the efforts made in the Chilean welfare system to target social benefits. Possible explanations for these results are given and compared to other developing country experiences.
Equity impacts of informal private water markets: case of Kathmandu Valley
Authors: Raina Aditi , Gurung Yogendra , Suwal Bhim
Published: October 2018

South Asia is a hotspot for populations and economies adversely impacted by poor water security. This is evident in the case of Nepal where it has been estimated that 20% of households have no access to a domestic water source and two-thirds of the urban households live with inadequate water supply. Therefore, many depend on private solutions, such as private wells and purchasing water from informal water markets, to meet household water needs. Within this context, this paper examines whether private water vendors provide equitable access to both poor and wealthy households, whether they practice discriminatory pricing and whether poor households face a greater financial burden in meeting their household water needs. The analysis uses primary data collected from a 1,500-household survey conducted in 2014 and uses regression analyses to derive the results. The results reveal patterns of inequity in the private water market, but seemingly not purely due to an inherent bias against poorer households. Regardless, the market does not serve the poor adequately and given the lack of alternatives that poor households have, it points to an urgent need for the government to step in to counterbalance the deficiencies of the market.
Alternative pathways to food security and nutrition – water predicaments and human behavior
Authors: Lundqvist Jan , Unver Olcay
Published: October 2018

Remarkable successes and new challenges to cope with requirements for food and water are analyzed. Trends in demography, food preferences and consumer habits are scrutinized together with their implications for human well-being and natural resources. Making best use of variable and limited water resources presumes proper management and efficient technologies, but also a worthwhile use of goods and services produced, for example, food. Reduction of food losses and waste, and reversing trends in overweight and obesity promise significant water savings. Transformations of food systems in this direction provide opportunities to meet human nutrient and food requirements in a resource-effective manner. In line with the principle of the Sustainable Development Goals, ‘no-one should be left behind’, governments, producers and consumers must be involved in efforts to ensure food security and nutrition. Naturally, farmers are major actors in food systems. The business community is showing a commitment to contribute to food security and nutrition and to reduce water risks. Consumers are dynamic drivers as well as beneficiaries, victims and culprits in water and food systems and need to internalize resource-use efficiency in their behavior, for example, by reducing food waste and aiming for better nutrition and sustainable diets.
Comparing urban wastewater systems in India and Brazil: options for energy efficiency and wastewater reuse
Authors: Never Babette , Stepping Katharina
Published: October 2018

This paper compares the drivers and barriers to urban wastewater treatment in India and Brazil. The analysis of various different cities focuses on energy efficiency and reuse of treated wastewater. Drawing on 60 semi-structured interviews in Brazil and 20 semi-structured interviews in India, the paper finds that the wastewater systems in both countries are still largely in a situation of lock-in, although innovative initiatives that focus on more resource-footprint, lifecycle-oriented approaches exist in some niche sectors. A combination of specific institutional changes and external triggers has the potential to break the lock-in. Pricing, mandatory regulations and standard setting present helpful instruments to advance institutional change, while a high number of stakeholders, vested interests and economic benefits of the status quo block it. Urbanization and land and water scarcity have been identified as external triggers for shifts in the dominant mindsets towards more sustainable solutions in both countries. For governance of the water–energy–food nexus, this paper finds that using less abstract concepts and language will increase the acceptance of the idea among local stakeholders. Additionally, cross-sectoral integration needs to be tailor-made and well-timed; immediate, full integration is not always the best option.