Micro-computed tomography scanning approaches to quantify,parameterize and visualize bioturbation activity in clogged streambeds: A proof of concept

Fine particle clogging and faunal bioturbation are two key processes co-occurring in the hyporheic zone that potentially affect hyporheic exchange through modifications in the sediment structure of streambeds. Clogging results from excessive fine sediment infiltration and deposition in rivers, and it is known to decrease matrix porosity and potentially reduce permeability. Faunal bioturbation activity may compensate for the negative effect of clogging by reworking the sediment, increasing porosity, and preventing further infiltration of fines. Although both processes of clogging and bioturbation have received significant attention in the literature separately, their combined effects on streambed sediment structure are not well understood, mostly due to the lack of a standard methodology for their assessment. Here, we illustrate a novel methodology using X-ray computed tomography (CT), as proof of concept, to investigate how, together, clogging and bioturbation affect streambed porosity in a controlled flow-through flume. By visualising gallery formations of an upward conveyor macroinvertebrate; Lumbriculus variegatus as a model species, we quantified bioturbation activity in a clogged streambed, focusing on orientation, depth, and volume at downwelling and upwelling areas of the flume. Gallery creation increased the porosity of the streambed sediment, suggesting a potential improvement in permeability and a possible offset of clogging effects. We illustrate the promising use of X-ray CT as a tool to assess bioturbation in clogged streambeds, and the potential role of bioturbation activity supporting hyporheic exchange processes in streambeds, warranting further studies to understand the extent of bioturbation impacts in natural systems.     

北京城市副中心防洪风险研究

北京城市副中心规划防洪标准为100a一遇,其流域上游规划2座中型水库、50余处蓄滞洪区尚未建成,副中心周边防洪工程距离规划标准差距较大,导致副中心防洪安全难以保障。针对副中心来自上游的外来洪水压力大、区内防洪工程不达标等问题,采用一维、二维数学模型,分别对区域洪水风险、穿越副中心的北运河漫溢造成的淹没风险,以及副中心周边三条干流河道堤防不达标造成的防洪风险进行模拟计算和具体分析。结果表明:流域上游洪水不经有效拦蓄下泄后,将导致北运河干流100a一遇洪峰流量增加33%;同时,副中心周边三条河道均存在堤防安全风险。其中北运河发生100a一遇洪水时,即使区内宋庄蓄滞洪区建成启用,仍将有2 590万m~3洪水从3 km无堤段漫溢,并淹没副中心核心区0.2～2 m深。风险研究结果还表明,一旦近期通州境内宋庄蓄滞洪区、温潮减河分洪道等规划工程建成后,将有效降低城市副中心的部分防洪风险。研究成果对保障副中心防洪安全的规划工程实施安排及防汛抢险安排具有重要指导意义。     

基于水流与地质双因素的险工险段成因调查研究

在河势水流对险工险段成因研究成果的基础上,重点分析了堤基地质条件的影响。对广东省省管河道范围内的历史险工险段进行调研,梳理出了不同成因险段占比。以此为基础,选取江新联围进行水流与地质双因素的险工险段成因调查研究,通过水文测试、河床质取样以及室内试验,分析了各历史险段的成因。结果表明除水流条件较差外,各险段堤基也多以软土为主。基于此,增选了3个河势条件较差的非险段作为参照对比组,结果显示若地质条件较好,即使水流条件较差也不会形成险段。调查分析表明,河道险工险段的成因与河势水流和地质因素均密切相关,尤其是分布于软土地基区域的堤段,地质因素更是不可忽视。     

河湖淤泥絮凝沉降特性试验研究

絮凝沉降性能是河湖疏浚淤泥资源化处理中重要且未完善的研究课题。以武汉沙湖、官桥湖及南湖3种淤泥为研究对象,通过沉降筒试验,利用清浑交界面沉降速度和上清液浊度研究了粒径分布、初始含沙量及高分子聚合物对河湖淤泥絮凝沉降特性的影响规律,并探讨了沉降筒尺寸对试验结果的影响。试验结果表明:河湖淤泥粒径越小,淤泥絮凝沉降越慢,上清液浊度越小;随初始含沙量的增加,河湖淤泥整体沉降速度变小,但当初始含沙量增加到一定值后,初始含沙量的影响作用开始变弱;高分子聚合物会促进河湖淤泥絮凝沉降;沉降筒尺寸虽然对试验结果略有影响,但对于分析河湖淤泥絮凝沉降特性无较大影响。研究河湖淤泥絮凝沉降特性对于河湖通航、蓄洪、水质修复、疏浚淤泥的处理均有重要意义。     

我国流域立法的困境分析及对策研究

水资源的时空整体性决定了对水资源的管理必须以流域为单元。学术界和各国政府对流域管理的共识以及当前我国水资源所面临的严峻形势,客观上要求我国必须加强流域管理立法。流域管理立法是改善流域水环境的重要途径,其具有深刻的理论基础和实践基础。鉴于我国流域立法存在管理体制受限、立法层次约束和立法体系不完善等现实问题,实现真正的流域管理需要理顺管理体制、提高立法层次和完善立法体系。     

桥梁对河流阻水影响的一个综合判别指标

针对桥梁对河流的阻水影响问题,基于河流能量观点提出了考虑河流能量与桥梁阻水比双因素的综合判别指标η,应用其讨论了山区河流和平原区河流修建桥梁对河流的阻水影响。结果表明:综合判别指标η可以有效地区分相同桥墩布置形式桥梁对不同类型河流的阻水影响;综合判别指标η可以指导桥墩在河流中的合理布置,有效减小桥梁对河流的阻水影响,与桥梁阻水比、单宽流量等指标在指导桥墩合理布置方面起到相同效果。该研究成果在一定程度上弥补了一般桥梁阻水比指标的不足。     

山区河流浅水条件下漂石对河床响应与泥沙补给影响的试验研究

受暴雨洪水与滑坡、泥石流灾害的影响,山区河流床沙多为宽级配卵砾石泥沙,甚至出现较多的漂石,从而影响近底水流结构与推移质输移特性。基于野外漂石河流的调查,通过概化试验,探讨了漂石颗粒对河床冲淤的影响;对比分析了不同水沙条件下漂石对推移质输沙率过程的影响;根据床面粗化程度与漂石状态相异的两种类型对比试验,探讨了漂石对不同水沙条件下推移质输沙率的影响程度。初步表明：随着漂石颗粒相对暴露度（D/h,漂石等效粒径与平均水深之比）的减少,漂石对其尾部区域水流的混掺越加突出,从而对河床的冲刷能力变大;根据本试验采用的水沙参数,漂石对推移质输沙率的扩大效应为几倍至十几倍。     

时间尺度对平原感潮河网水动力水质模拟精度的影响

为探究不同时间尺度边界入流条件对平原感潮河网水动力水质模型模拟精度的影响,以典型平原感潮河网地区的张家港市中部为研究区域,结合野外同步监测数据、自动高频监测数据、常规监测资料等构建了水动力水质模型进行模拟分析。结果表明:时间尺度、开始取值时刻以及调度情况均会影响模拟精度;研究区域边界入流条件、水动力模拟结果和水质模拟结果可信的最大时间尺度为1 h,水质模拟精度优于水动力模拟精度。     

甬江感潮河流上下游码头群对河道行洪的联合影响

为分析甬江上下游码头群对河道行洪的联合影响,基于Delft3D数学模型开展了典型潮洪条件下甬江上下游不同码头群对河道水流特性的影响研究,结果表明:单段码头群位置距河口越远,或码头分布越密集,引起的水位壅高程度越大;在不同码头群共同产生壅水影响的区域,全河段码头群引起的河道洪水位变化比各码头群单独影响时增大,在不同码头群产生水位壅高和降低影响的河段,全河段码头群作用下水位影响部分相抵,但由于降低幅度小于壅高幅度,河道洪水位变化仍呈增大状态;码头群工程局部流速减少区域和外侧河道流速增加区域均呈带状分布,全河段码头群联合作用加剧了单段码头群引起的河道流速的变化且流速减小程度较流速增加程度大。     

Biomic river restoration: A new focus for river management

River management based solely on physical science has proven to be unsustainable and unsuccessful, evidenced by the fact that the problems this approach intended to solve (e.g., flood hazards, water scarcity, and channel instability) have not been solved and long‐term deterioration in river environments has reduced the capacity of rivers to continue meeting the needs of society. In response, there has been a paradigm shift in management over the past few decades, towards river restoration. But the ecological, morphological, and societal benefits of river restoration have, on the whole, been disappointing. We believe that this stems from the fact that restoration overrelies on the same physical analyses and approaches, with flowing water still regarded as the universally predominant driver of channel form and structural intervention seen as essential to influencing fluvial processes. We argue that if river restoration is to reverse long‐standing declines in river functions, it is necessary to recognize the influence of biology on river forms and processes and re‐envisage what it means to restore a river. This entails shifting the focus of river restoration from designing and constructing stable channels that mimic natural forms to reconnecting streams within balanced and healthy biomes, and so levering the power of biology to influence river processes. We define this new approach as biomic river restoration.