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The paper presents a historical overview of the development of hydrological models in the former USSR and Russia since the 1930s. An overwhelming number of hydrological papers were published in Russian, and they are not sufficiently well known to the world hydrological community. The purpose of the review is to fill the gap and present the main achievements, some of which were pioneering for their time. The period under consideration is divided into three sub-periods. Pre-computer, the 1930–1950s were associated, first of all, with the development of models of unsteady water flow in river channels and linear flood-routing models; in the 1960–1980s, many theoretical and practical foundations for modelling the processes of the hydrological cycle and the formation of river runoff were developed; and in the Russian era, following 1991, several notable advancements in the considered field were also made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The riverbed and riparian zone are the hotspots of nitrogen removal in rivers. Denitrification plays an important role in the process of nitrogen removal. In this study, sediments from the straight channel riverbed and point bars were examined using indoor culture and acetylene inhibition techniques. The primary focus was to investigate the differences in denitrification rates between these sediments. The secondary focus was on the effects of temperature and carbon-nitrogen (C/N) ratios on the denitrification process. The results showed that denitrification rates were higher in point bar sediments compared to those in the straight channel bed. Denitrification rates were also higher in the near water area of the point bar than in the near bank area. Denitrification rates at 30 °C were significantly higher than at 10 °C for each sediment group as well as in samples having carbon and nitrogen amendments. Notably, when the C/N ratio was 2.5, the denitrification rate for samples with carbon and nitrogen additions was significantly higher than for samples without them. On average, denitrification rates increased by 2.56 times, 2.73 times and 2.87 times for sediments from the straight channel, inner part of the point bar, and near bank of the point bar, respectively. At the same time, the number of denitrifying bacteria was found to be higher in the point bar than in the straight channel. These findings highlight the beneficial role of point bars in accelerating sediment denitrification rates and emphasize the potential for increasing nitrogen removal capacity in rivers by optimizing temperature and C/N ratios. Changing the diversity of riverbed geomorphology, temperature and C/N can effectively enhance the nitrogen removal capacity of river ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGeological action is one of the main forces in the formation of topography, especially in the southeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Collapse, landslide, mud-rock flow and other geological actions are the main factors affecting the evolution of river valley landforms. However, existing inference methods primarily rely on theoretical calculations and multi-temporal remote sensing image interpretation, lacking direct analysis and validation through geological exploration techniques. In response, this study employed geological engineering and geotechnical exploration techniques to investigate the impact of debris flows, landslides, and collapses on the evolution of topography and geomorphology in a 5.0 km section of the Yigong Zangbo Basin. Through drilling and geophysical exploration, 6 geological profiles were constructed, identifying the distribution range and development characteristics of the geological phenomena within this section of the river valley, revealing the distribution positions of both the new and old river channels, and inferring the evolution of the river bedrock based on the original topography. The study found that when geological phenomena occur, substantial material is transported into the river channel, altering its original shape and influencing the river’s erosion process. Additionally, the occurrence of geological phenomena is closely correlated with the evolution of river valley morphology. When the river valley is wide, material accumulation on one side causes the river to flow along a lower position on the opposite side, primarily resulting in the river’s bending on the plane. In contrast, in narrow river valleys, material accumulation on the sides can fill the entire river channel, leading to a rise in the riverbed. These research findings provide a critical theoretical basis for understanding river valley morphological evolution and informing basin engineering construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River cross-section characteristics are not available for many regions of the world, and they are generally expressed as hydraulic geometry (HG) relationships. These relationships usually represent average characteristics of a region, which can generate biased estimates in smaller basins. Therefore, to improve the representation of river channel geomorphological characteristics, the objective of this study was to use a large database of river cross-section geometries to refine HG relationships for five river basins in Brazil. HG relationships were developed for the entire basins and for hydraulically homogeneous regions, obtained through a geographical convenience method. The relationship between the coefficients of the geometric relationships and morphoclimatic characteristics was assessed, showing a trend between precipitation and slope and the coefficients of the depth relationships. The estimated bankfull width and depth values were also compared to observed data and global datasets, showing an improvement in estimates with the more refined HG relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractChanges in reservoir water level often trigger landslides along the reservoir banks, which are common geological hazards that significantly affect the construction and operation of hydropower projects. In this paper, the stability of the RS reservoir landslide in the southwestern region of China is investigated. A discrete element seepage analysis model is constructed based on the theory of changes in the infiltration surface of the deposit caused by water level drawdown. The model is then embedded into a continuous-discontinuous three-dimensional numerical simulation method to systematically investigate the influence of reservoir water level decrease on the stability of the RS deposit. The results indicate that, under the condition of a sudden drop in reservoir water level decrease, the deposit experiences destabilization failure. Its sliding velocities are mainly influenced by seepage forces and gravity, while sliding displacements are influenced by seepage forces and topographic conditions. The landslide process shows distinct stratification characteristics. The portion of the deposit that slides into the river channel is mainly distributed between an altitude of 2655 m and 2870 m. The research results provide a scientific basis for studying the mechanism of slope failure and landslide disaster chain under the condition of reservoir water level lowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The time of concentration is an important concept in hydrology. It provides a characteristic hydrological response time (CHRT) useful in many applications. Estimation of the time of concentration is challenging because small watersheds (<100 km2) with sub-daily flow and precipitation records are uncommon. Many practitioners therefore use empirical equations developed from watersheds exposed to different climates and with different attributes. The main objective of this study is to develop an approach to estimate the CHRT from physiographic characteristics for small watersheds located in Ontario, Québec and the northeastern USA. Regression trees are used to identify the physiographic characteristics associated with CHRT. The fraction of lakes and wetlands was identified as the most significant attribute related to CHRT, followed by the ratio between the main watercourse length and the square root of the main watercourse slope. Uncertainties on estimated CHRT values based on regression tree are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the degradation of river channels is crucial in the Anthropocene era, particularly in the deltaic areas worldwide. The present study aims to investigate the degradation of the Mathabhanga-Churni River giving emphasis on the temporal change of channel morphology and hydraulic behaviour and comparing the current situation with the historical past based on planform morphology and meander geometry of 118 meander loops, and width, depth, cross-sectional area, and hydraulic behaviour (velocity, discharge, stream power) at 47 cross-sections. The absence of lateral dynamicity, the static character of channel sinuosity during the last century (1913–2018), and the constant meander morphology reflects the static meander geometry and degradation of the river. The reduction of average channel width, depth, and cross-sectional area supports the falling trend of channel forms. Findings on hydraulic behaviour indicate declining discharge (~50% reduction during 1915–2018) that induces the present-day downscaled velocity and lowered stream power. Neotectonics (eastward tilting of the Bengal delta) and anthropogenic stressors such as stream crossings, agriculture on river beds, brickfields, and urbanisation have a severe impact on the hydromorphology of the channel, turning the active river into a stagnant and polluted channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work was carried out on River Yamuna passing through Delhi-National Capital Region (Delhi-NCR) of India for a stretch of about 125 km to assess the fluvial characteristics in the highly human-dominated region for a period of 200 years with the help of historical maps, topographical maps and satellite data with integration of geographic information system (GIS) environment. Erosion, deposition and channel stability data were analyzed for 1977–1986, 1986–1996, 1996–2006, 2006–2016, and 2016–2022 period. Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) application was utilized to quantify river channel movement with average channel migration of 22.8 m/year. Westward migration is 4149.2 m maximum in length and eastward migration is about 4083.8 m. The river has migrated a total of 32.26 km2 of area during 1955-2022. The findings indicate that various human activities, such as engineering structures, sand mining, embankments, urbanization, land use/land cover changes, and canal networks, have significantly impacted the river. The DSAS application was also used to predict the position of river channel centerline in future for 2032 and 2042 with channel length of 132.5 and 141.6 km respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization has an accelerated impact on catchment hydrology and geomorphology due to land use and land cover changes as a result of anthropogenic development activities in river catchment areas that cause increased surface runoff and higher sediment yield. The present study investigates the channel changes and sediment transport phenomena, including bed material movement from the upstream to the estuaries of the Pahang River Basin, Peninsula Malaysia. The river geometry survey associated with the spatial variation in sediment transport has confirmed that changes in river bed profile occur due to the erosion and sediment deposition along the Pahang River. The sediment size distribution for the Pahang River was very coarse sand and gravel after the December 2014 flood. The river geometry survey showed a gentle slope that can induce lower discharge typical of alluvial rivers relating to flood events. Quantitative assessment of sediment load is, therefore, of critical importance for future river basin management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riverbank and in-stream protection are crucial in numerous river stretches, where erosion of banks and bed material instigates river course alterations, consequently leading to land and property damage. In large Indian braided rivers like Brahmaputra, implementing tetrahedron frames commonly referred to as 'porcupines' has emerged as a cost-effective strategy for river training, yielding commendable outcomes in near bank sedimentation. Using flexible river training structures, such as porcupine, presents an appealing option for managing braided river channel networks in areas where permanent control structures like groynes or dams prove excessively costly or potentially ineffective, particularly in systems exhibiting highly dynamic flow regimes and morphology. This work aims to develop a hydrodynamic model that integrates the porcupine systems within its framework. The model's effectiveness was assessed through a field test near Nematighat, Brahmaputra River, in collaboration with Assam's Water Resources Department. The mathematical modelling provided some valuable insights regarding the flow characteristics surrounding the porcupine structure, shedding light on its hydrodynamic behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of international watercourses requires both scientific input and transnational cooperation. This paper examines the role of science in the field of international water law and how scientific data, techniques, and methods may be used to bestow the legal framework with greater clarity and precision. In this regard, this paper demonstrates how the two primary obligations of international water law – the no-harm principle and the doctrine of equitable and reasonable utilization – are capable of conceptualization and application in a scientific manner. Examples of interdisciplinary approaches and expert commissions are utilized to demonstrate the role of science in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eastern North Carolina (ENC), a predominantly rural region, experiences the intersection of fluvial, pluvial, and tidal flooding, which leads to complex and impactful outcomes. Managing these, often compounding, hazards is challenging, especially as climate change drivers, such as sea-level rise and more intense storms will likely lead to a greater incidence of compound coastal water events (CCWE). Using data from focus group interviews conducted with 41 planners and emergency managers, we examine the mitigation approaches pursued by rural counties in ENC located along the coast and those adjacent to it that share estuarine environments or linked riverine systems. Findings show that communities seek funding to clear streams and channels, to implement buyouts and elevation projects and for infrastructure maintenance. Communities also undertake floodplain management to minimize flood exposure while facing several barriers to adequate mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present review paper offers the learning of steep boulder beds, and other dynamic topographic conditions, for deep understanding of scour catastrophes and recognizing absolute measures to link this key research gap. Though many models exist for silt, sand, and small size coarser bed materials, but no certain model is available universally for scour estimation in bed material above this size. This review paper claims for amplified research into boulder beds, steep bed slopes and dynamic river and stream conditions. Also, the present work highlights the requirement for evolving absolute criteria for such geographical weaknesses. The importance of taking into account complex and dynamic environments in the study of scour failures is also emphasized. Besides, the instant review paper discusses the scientific advancement for more precise and safe predictive models for scour, to discover a guiding tool to a strategy that augments well for the health of hydraulic structures to synchronize with the fundamental philosophies of long-term safety, economy, and functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transitions are needed in hydraulic structures which are flumed. In expanding transitions, flow separates from the boundary if the angle of divergence exceeds about 5 degrees. The present paper gives an insight into the turbulence effect and energy loss in expanding transition with small angle of divergence. In wide angle expansion, flow separates from the boundary resulting in highly non-uniform velocity distribution at the exit of expansion resulting in erosion of down stream channel. Author performed experiments to control separation of flow in wide angle expansion. The paper discusses about the devices used by the author to control separation in wide angle expanding transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphometry is the process that deals with mathematical analysis and calculations of the various land surface dimensions. In this study, morphometry analysis and changes in riverbeds due to anthropogenic activities have been studied using geospatial techniques for a stretch of the Yamuna river in Delhi. The parametric values related to morphometry, such as low permeability and high surface run-off were determined through Remote Sensing, which is helpful to understand the characteristics of the area. The study reveals that morphometric parameters and land surface properties are closely interrelated and are dependent on each other. Analysis has lightened up that over the year river span has been reduced from 5.15 to 4.23 sq. km and there is a trend of reduction and alteration of the channel in upcoming days. The morphometric conditions also indicate a concern of flood during monsoon. This study also focuses on the adverse effects of anthropogenic activities on the Yamuna riverbed morphology. There is a need for restriction on haphazard human activities, effective planning and management for sustainable development of the Yamuna riverbed in Delhi. The study suggests further research on aquatic ecology, water quality, and life expectancy of the river due to immense anthropogenic pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne des Ressources Hydriques is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Terrestrial gamma radiation is one of the major outdoor radiation exposures to the general public that varies substantially based on the type and geological properties of the soil. The objective of this study is to evaluate the naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) distribution and assess the hazard parameters in the riverbank soil within various industrial zones in the densely populated Dhaka and Chattogram cities of Bangladesh. The mean activities of 226Ra (37 ± 3), 232Th (58 ± 4), and 40K (1129 ± 18) Bqkg−1 in the assessed soil samples were found to be slightly higher than the world average values 32, 35, and 420 Bqkg−1, respectively. The mean radium equivalent activity (207.49 Bqkg−1) and the external and internal hazard indices were within the recommended limits of 370 Bqkg−1 and <1, respectively. The mean absorbed dose rate (99.47 nGyhr−1), annual effective dose (0.12 mSva−1), ELCR (4.27 × 10−4), and gamma level index (1.58) exceeded the world average values 59 nGyhr−1, 0.07 mSva−1, 2.9 × 10−4, and 1 respectively. However, the studied areas are safe from a radiological viewpoint with no radiation health hazard to the people. The results of this study can be utilized to produce factual baseline data for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the presence of microplastics in the Pasig River, the highest plastic-emitting river in the Philippines and one of the ocean's leading contributors of these materials, is highly relevant. In this study, surficial sediments in eight stations along the main channel of the Pasig River were analyzed for microplastic content, heavy metals, and soil texture. The microplastics were categorized according to shape, color, and size. The polymer type was determined using infrared spectroscopy. The number of microplastics was correlated with heavy metals, soil texture, and flow velocity. The results show that the dominant shape, color, size, and polymer type were fragment, color white, size range from 0 to 500 μm, and polyvinyl alcohol, respectively. Downstream stations 5 and 8 had the highest microplastic concentration. The number of microplastics showed a positive moderate correlation with percent sand (r = 0.40) and clay (r = 0.42), and a negative high correlation with percent silt (r=-0.80). For microplastics and heavy metals, a positive moderate correlation was observed for iron (r = 0.52) and zinc (r = 0.58), while a negative weak correlation was present for lead (r=-0.06). Microplastics and flow velocity showed weak correlations demonstrating that the accumulation in the bottom river sediment may be based on the proximity of the plastic source rather than on the flowing water with plastic sources. Results reflect the diverse influences on the Pasig River which is surrounded by informal settlements, manufacturing industries, urban offices, and residential areas. More plastic management initiatives and better implementation of existing laws should be done by the government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A block ramp is a grade-control structure commonly used to stabilize the river bed with a high efficiency of energy dissipation. This study investigates the effects of using macro roughness and a downstream apron as scour countermeasures on the maximum scour depth downstream of block ramps in straight rivers. All the experiments have been carried out in a horizontal channel and in clear water conditions (no sediment transport). A wide range of hydraulic conditions including densimetric Froude numbers, water drop heights, and tailwater depths for three different rough ramp slopes (1 V:3 H, 1 V:5 H, and 1 V:7 H) was tested. The results have been compared with the results from a smooth ramp (no roughness), which has been considered as a reference. Results show that both macro roughness on the ramp and downstream aprons work well as scour countermeasures while as a comparison, using macro roughness (big-size stones) on the ramp is more effective than downstream aprons to reduce the scour depth. The other finding of this study shows that increasing the downstream apron decreases the length of the scour hole, consequently decreasing the volume of eroded material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field measurement of the bed roughness of tropical tidal rivers is a long and expensive process. In this study, we quantified the roughness coefficient from the acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements considering flow characteristics along a 240 km length of the Vu Gia Thu Bon River system, in central Vietnam. Our approach entailed the application of the logarithmic velocity distribution trend of turbulent flows to determine the bottom roughness height. Then, we applied the equation suggested by Strickler (1923) to calculate the Manning roughness coefficient. The TELEMAC-2D hydraulic model was then used to simulate the effect of the roughness coefficient on the estimated water level. Despite its uncertainty, the estimated bed roughness was sufficient for the accurate calculation of the hydraulic variables. Compared to those in previous research, the statistical indicators showed good performance in the first simulation process during both the calibration and validation periods along the river system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bed degradation of a compound channel induced by a base level fall can significantly impact the flood conveyance capability and stability of riverine structures. This study found that severe compound channel degradation is due to the coupled effects of flood discharge and base level fall. Laboratory experiments examined the impact of base level fall on the grain size distribution at the bed surface, flow discharge in the main channel and floodplains, and longitudinal profile of the bed elevation. Two riverbed degradation patterns of a compound channel after base level fall were clarified. Relative to the original bed slope, degradation pattern (I) had a higher bed slope, but degradation pattern (II) had a lower one. A calculation method was proposed to determine the critical conditions for identifying these two riverbed degradation types. Both experimental and published data confirmed that the proposed method is valid for identifying these two compound channel degradation patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass beds play a vital ecological role by regulating climate, maintaining biodiversity, and sequestering carbon. Achieving accurate classification of seagrass beds across both time and space is of significant importance for efficient monitoring. This paper addresses the challenges of seagrass bed classification in remote sensing imagery and the difficulty of achieving temporal and spatial transferability of classification model. Leveraging a long-term Landsat satellite image time series spanning from 1976 to 2022 in the Yellow River Delta, we enhance the DeepLab V3+ network and propose a cross-temporal-spatial domain seagrass bed transfer learning classification approach. We utilize selectively chosen images from a few years in partial regions for training, introduce freeze-training and-unfreeze-training during the model training phase, and then transfer the model to achieve cross-temporal and cross-temporal-spatial domain classification on images from other years and regions. Additionally, we discuss the factors influencing the classification results. The research results indicate that: (1)The method we proposed has shown good results, achieving classification accuracy of 83.17% and 80.99% for seagrass beds in both cross-temporal and cross-temporal-spatial domains. (2) The classification results indicate that this method achieves an average classification accuracy higher by 16.18% compared to networks such as UNet, PSPNet, HRNet, UNet++, SegFormer, etc. under cross-temporal conditions and higher by 17.56% under cross-spatiotemporal conditions for seagrass bed classification. (3) Based on the classification results, it is observed that from 1973 to 1986, the overall area of seagrass beds in the Yellow River Delta had an initial growth trend, with the largest seagrass bed area recorded in 1986, reaching 4281.289 hectares. Subsequently, the seagrass beds showed an overall decreasing trend, and by 2019 they had almost completely disappeared. The cross-temporal-spatial domain seagrass bed transfer learning classification method proposed in this paper can provide valuable support for the monitoring, restoration, management, and utilization of seagrass ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable food systems involve the recycling of biowaste and water. This study characterizes thirty-one top soil improvers of anthropogenic, animal, and green waste origin, along with eleven irrigation waters from rivers, channels, and civil wastewater treatment plants (cWWTPs) for the presence of antimicrobials. Liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) was employed to identify forty-eight drugs belonging to the classes of sulfonamides (11), tetracyclines (7), fluoroquinolones (10), macrolides (12), amphenicols (3), pleuromutilins (2), diaminopyrimidines (1), rifamycins (1) and licosamides (1). Sludge from cWWTPs, animal manure, slurry, and poultry litter exhibited the highest loads for sulfonamides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones and macrolides (80, 470, 885, and 4,487 ng g−1 wet weight, respectively) with nor- and ciprofloxacin serving as markers for anthropogenic sources. In compost and digestate, antimicrobials were found to be almost always below the limits of quantification. Reused water from cWWTPs for irrigation in open-field lettuce production were contaminated in the range of 12-221 ng L−1 with sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and fluoroquinolones, compared to very few detected in channels and surface waters. The Antimicrobials Hazard Index (HI), based on the Predicted No Effect Concentration for Antimicrobial Resistance (PNECAMR), was significantly >100 in contaminated topsoil improvers from urban and animal sources. Accounting for worst-case inputs from topsoil improvers and irrigation water, as well as dilution factors in amended soil, fluoroquinolones only exhibited an HI around 1 in open fields for lettuce production. The origin of topsoil improvers plays a pivotal role in ensuring safe and sustainable leafy vegetable production, thereby mitigating the risk of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) onset in food-borne diseases and the transfer of AMR elements to the human gut flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presented a method of characterizing landform dynamics that integrates a divide stability metric and hypsometric analysis. Chi (χ) - a proxy for steady-state river channel elevation - indicated a drainage divide stability. Simultaneously, the hypsometric analysis provided information on a basin's geologic development stage and erosion proneness. The study used a 30 m SRTM digital elevation data, the DivideTool/TopoToolbox of MATLAB, and the SWAT model. The tool computed χ values following the stream network, enabled the selection of divide sections, extracted channel head's χ values, determined divide stability by predicting migration direction for unstable divides, and produced histograms of χ values for each divide section. Equal χ values at the channel heads of opposing river networks indicated a stable divide. In contrast, a difference in χ values suggested an unstable divide and a potential to migrate from low χ values towards the divide's high χ values side. The study proposed the mean χ difference (χmd) metric to indicate the degree of divide mobility. Meanwhile, the SWAT model defined the basins and subbasins and set the hypsometric analysis parameters. Each subbasin's hypsometric integral (HI) was used to create a continuous surface of HI values. The combination of χmd and HI analysis revealed nine subbasins with highly mobile divides and high erosional areas, identifying them as high-priority conservation zones. River basin characterization can utilize the new approach to target areas for location-specific land and water conservation measures and other developmental goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne des Ressources Hydriques is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

X-band radar observations with a transmitting frequency of 9.4 GHz were conducted for over 10 h at the mouth of Tenryu River, Japan, to estimate surface velocity distributions during floods in 2010 and 2020 and analyse changes in the flow field caused by dredging in 2014. X-band radar is an imaging radar that can collect backscatter of floating objects flowing downstream with the flood flow every 2 s. The observation area extends approximately 1000 m × 1000 m. Particle image velocimetry is applied to the image sequences to guess the surface flow pattern. Flow direction in the main river channel changed smoothly, while surface flow speeds ranged from 1 to 3 m s–1 depending on the discharge. Water levels were computed using the estimated surface flow velocities, river cross-section from survey data, and observed discharge for indirect validation: it agreed within an error of 0.3 m with the observed water level. This paper highlights radar's potential for estimating surface velocity distribution during floods and harsh weather conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ski jumps are commonly used to discharge flow away from release structures into downstream rivers for energy dissipation. However, due to large intersection angles of jet and river flow or the jet impacting position unreasonable, the serious sour of riverbed or bank may occur, threatening the security of hydraulic structure. Hence, the impacting position and direction of jet from ski jump are pressing for research. For obtaining a controllable and desired outflow condition, adding rectangular tetrahedral deflector is a common and effective measure to change the flow direction. In this study, physical experiments and numerical simulation were conducted and the effect of the deflector contraction ratio on the flow deflection angle was revealed. The results indicate that the contraction ratio is a key parameter of the deflector, and a larger contraction ratio contributes to a larger jet deflection angle. Based on the data in the present and previous studies, a new empirical expression for estimating the deflection angle is proposed for rectangular tetrahedral deflector. By contrast with previous research, the calculated result from the expression presents a better agreement with the test data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial from the International Journal of Environmental Studies titled "Editorial: Monograph: Rebuilding, Infrastructure & Cultural Heritage of Ukraine." It discusses the devastating impact of the war between Ukraine and Russia on the country's population, culture, infrastructure, and environment. The editorial highlights the destruction of cultural heritage, the loss of lives of Ukrainian writers and cultural leaders, and the need for psychological support to prevent the transmission of trauma to future generations. It also explores the challenges of rebuilding Ukraine's cities, the potential for renewable energy sources, the environmental consequences of the war, and the importance of regenerative agriculture in combating global heating and preserving the water cycle. The document emphasizes the urgent need for international support and investment in Ukraine's recovery efforts. The given text discusses various environmental issues in Ukraine, particularly those related to war and conflict. It highlights the impact of war on nitrogen and sulfur deposition in the Dniester catchment, as well as the destruction of the Kakhovka dam and its effects on water resources. The text also addresses the loss of fisheries and the decrease in soil fertility due to human activities. Additionally, it explores the potential solutions for these issues, such as conservation agriculture and the use of sewage sludge for crop growth. The text concludes by emphasizing the need to address the environmental consequences of war and protect Ukraine's flora and fauna. [Extracted from the article]

Destruction of the Kakhovka dam in June 2023 was a catastrophe for aquatic life and 42 species of fish, including 20 of commercial value. The catch and sale of fish from the Kakhovka reservoir provided 22% of the freshwater fish in the Ukrainian market; more than 11 000tonnes of fish were lost in a few days and the loss of commercial catch is estimated at 2 585tonnes, worth up to $5.4 million per year. Almost all spawning sites and feeding areas have been destroyed; damage to infrastructure amounting to about $270 million needs to be repaired to restore fisheries ecosystem services. Two months after the collapse of the dam, the area of the disinterred Dnipro River bed is about 120 km2 (5.5% of the total volume of the reservoir); isolated shallow water bodies occupy some 307 km2 but continue to shrink by evaporation and drainage so preservation of any aquatic bioresources there is unlikely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innumerable small steppe rivers have been degraded and lost through the construction of dikes and dams, as well as changing regional hydrology. A failed restoration project involving mechanical clearance of the channel of the small river Chaplynka is investigated. Field and laboratory studies included sampling and analysis of water and silt deposits. Muller's Іgeo class, categorising the technogenic load on the water ecosystem, and a bottom accumulation coefficient illustrate the degradation of the catchment and the absence of hydraulic connection along the erstwhile river channel. The river flow has not returned. The most obvious shortcoming of the riverbed clearing operations was the dumping of the dredged material on the riverbank, from where it was washed back into the channel. Moreover, excavation of the channel drained shallow aquifers that are no longer replenished by depleted precipitation and infiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban subsidence poses significant challenges for rapidly developing cities. Published InSAR data reveal Kathmandu as a prime example, demonstrating an alarming rate of subsidence during rapid urban expansion. To monitor the spatiotemporal evolution of recent subsidence, we use Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data and the LiCSBAS open-source processing package. Vertical surface motion maps from 2015 to present reveal many localized zones with high subsidence rates (>100 mm year−1), while the mountains that surround the valley have experienced slight surface uplift of ~5 mm year−1. The highest subsidence rate is ~200 mm year−1 and occurs in the centre of the Kathmandu metropolitan area. The distribution of subsidence in the valley matches with areas of the Pliocene to recent sediment up to 500 m thick. The deep aquifer compaction is likely to be the main driver of subsidence in the Kathmandu Valley. Time-series data show a dominant linear subsidence signal with weak sinusoidal signal peaks associated with groundwater recharge of shallow aquifers during the monsoon season. Subsidence rates decrease in proximity to the main river channels, likely driven by the seasonal recharge into the distal floodplain. The distribution of subsidence in the Kathmandu Valley has significant implications for future flood risk and infrastructure in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Karnaphuli and Halda rivers play a significant role in the ecological and commercial arena of Bangladesh, but no detailed study on radioactivity in these two rivers sediments is reported elsewhere. The present study measures the concentrations of terrestrial radionuclides in the sediment samples collected from these two rivers by using high-purity germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometry. The concentrations (Bqkg−1) of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K show in the range of 17.63 ± 1.47–38.90 ± 2.50, 27.86 ± 1.76–48.80 ± 2.70 and 324.28 ± 26.83–640.70 ± 42.70, respectively, which is similar to the literature data and world mean value except for four sampling locations (Kalamiabazar, Natun bridge, Rajakhali and Chaktai khal) that shows higher concentrations of primordial radionuclides. These four sampling points are located adjacent to the industrial wastes discharge channels into the Karnaphuli river. In fact, among the thousands of industries located on the bank of the Karnaphuli river, about 200 units were identified as the sources of environmental pollution. To assess human health hazards due to natural radiation, several indicators such as radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex) and outdoor annual effective dose equivalent were calculated and compared with the recommended limits. The present results serve as an input to prepare the baseline radioactivity in commercially important river sediments prior to the operation of the first nuclear power plant in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the impact of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) construction on riverbed morphology in the middle Yangtze River (YR). We analyse data collected on sand wave morphology, shallow surface topography, and section morphology after the completion of the dam. Specifically, we examine the spatial distribution characteristics of sand wave morphology and the riverbed evolution process in the Yicheng reach. Results reveal significant changes in the morphology of sand waves in the middle reach of the YR, with wavelengths ranging from 5.2124.15 to 5.0915.33 m in the upper and lower Jingjiang River, respectively. Additionally, sediment incipient velocity was found to be smaller than that of the sand wave, making it difficult for the sand wave to start as the bedload continued to coarsen. After impoundment, the riverbed is strongly scoured, the undercutting is serious, and the bed morphology changes dramatically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stone moroko (Pseudorasbora parva) is an invasive species which spreads rapidly in European water bodies and occupies free ecological niches. In the years 2019-2020, monthly analyses of its population structure were carried out in the Wardynka River (western Poland), determining the age, size (TL and SL), body weight, growth, Fulton's condition factor, and the parameters of the length-weight relationship. In addition, quantitative descriptions of the parasite communities were made. End-point PCR was used to verify the presence of Sphaerothecum destruens in the fish. The age structure of the population was dominated by fish at the age of 1+ to 3+, and the maximum age was 5 +. The TL of the fish ranged from 2.50 to 10.60 cm (average 6.24 cm), SL from 2.10 to 9.50 cm (average 5.20 cm), and body weight from 0.15 to 11.43 g (average 2.74 g). The average body weight and length of males were higher than in females. The average Fulton's condition factor for the whole sample was 1.44 ± 0.24 and was similar for both sexes. The slope of the regression line (b > 3) indicates an allometric relationship between the length and weight of fish of both sexes. Back-calculated estimates of standard length fitted the von Bertalanffy growth function, although Taylor's criterion showed that the asymptotic length (Linf) was overestimated. Comparison of the von Bertalanffy growth function parameters revealed differences between sexes. The presence of parasites not previously recorded in stone moroko in Poland was confirmed: Dactylogyrus squameus, Phyllodistomum elongatum, P. folium, Posthodiplostomum cuticola (metacercaria), and Bivalvia gen. sp. (glochidia). Electrophoresis of the end-point PCR product did not reveal any signs of amplification for either of the primer sets used. S. destruens was not detected in any of the analysed samples of stone moroko. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lampetra zanandreai (Vladykov, 1955) is a non-parasitic, freshwater lamprey endemic to the ancient Po basin. A few, mostly very dated studies have investigated some aspect of the biology of this lamprey, but surprisingly, despite it being considered a threatened species, information on its ecology is practically absent. Specifically, information about habitat preferences is generic and qualitative. Since most of the life cycle is spent in the fossorial larval stage, which is also the only one in which organisms feed, information about ecological requirements of ammocoetes is essential for any conservation strategy. In this study we provide the first data about physical habitat preferences for lamprey ammocoetes by analyzing their presence within sampled hydromorphological units (HMUs), following the approach of habitat attribute description of the MesoHABSIM (MesoHABitat SImulation Model) methodology. To explore the relationship between lamprey presence and HMU characteristics, a random forest (RF) model was developed and tested using data collected in five stream reaches of the Po basin (NW Italy). The final parsimonious RF model performed well in terms of accuracy (95.2%) and true skill statistic (90.4%), allowing us to identify the most significant mesohabitat attributes for the considered species. Furthermore, in the Ghiandone River, where the highest density and number of individuals were found, a granulometric analysis of the riverbed material was carried out. Results showed that selected strains of sand and fine gravel, with low organic content, are preferred by ammocoetes. To our knowledge, this is the first study exploring the habitat preference of this endangered species, listed in Annex II of the European Habitats Directive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Source bordering sand sheets form downwind of sandy stream beds on the Ceja Mesa escarpment in north-central New Mexico. Archaic archaeological sites are often buried in this type of deposit. A stratigraphic sequence from one site was examined using soil morphology, radiocarbon and optical dating, soil characterization, and stable isotope analyses of soil organic matter and carbonate. This geoarchaeological reconstruction documented a combination of rapid alluvial, eolian, and local hillslope sedimentation events that occurred between 4100 and 3200 years ago. These events coincided with changes in δ13C values that, in turn, reflect changes in local vegetation. Human occupation of the sand sheet occurred as early as 3700 years ago, and a sheetwash flooding event that altered the stratigraphic context of the site occurred sometime between 3700 and 3200 years ago. The effects of these rapid depositional and erosional processes on artifact stratigraphy and archaeological interpretations could be significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Reservoirs and barrages , built across alluvial rivers throughout the world, are losing their storage capacity at an estimated rate of about 1% annually. The pond area of Durgapur Barrage on River Damodar, India, controlled by barrage-gates is no exception. In spite of its service for more than 60 years through judicious gate-operation schedule, it is found that 52% of initial storage capacity Pond has been lost since its inception in 1956. A morphodynamic study of the alluvial Damodar River, extending from Maithon and Panchet dams at upstream to Durgapur Barrage in the downstream, has been done using a numerical model of MIKE-11. Hydrometeorological data of Damodar-Barakar River basin were used to simulate hydrodynamic and sediment transport models for ascertaining annual rate of erosion and deposition during the period 1956–2016. Study shows that about 6 million M3 sediment were transported from catchment through Dam-discharge, a part of which got deposited in the river bed while the remaining 4.9 million M3 washed away downstream through Barrage gates. Although the rate of deposition in the pond area was initially higher during the period 1956–1985, which has subsequently reduced. However, daily deposition increased more or less linearly with the increase in discharge of the river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the scour depth of coarser beds constituting boulders up to 100 mm in size. The independent parameters viz. particle size (dm), bed slope (S), and unit discharge (q) were determined experimentally at five bridge sites of Erin Nallah, J&K over a 7 Km stretch, along with a dependent parameter scour depth (D). The relationship between the dependent parameter, scour depth, and independent parameters, namely, particle size, bed slope, and unit discharge were established in the form of an exponential equation through logarithm and matrix method. The established equation was validated using an experimental data set of another site, along with the different models available in the literature. The insignificant variance was observed in reference to available models of estimation of scour depth. A sensitivity analysis is done. Lastly, multiple non-linear regression was also done. The relationship obtained was in corroboration with the relationship derived using the logarithm and matrix method. The coefficient of determination, R2, was found to be 0.99, which signifies relationship is strong. The established empirical equation may be used to estimate scour depth of coarser beds, however further study is needed to make it a common practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scour is the number one cause of bridge failure in many parts of the world. Considering the lack of reliability in existing empirical equations for scour depth estimation and the complexity and uncertainty of scour as a physical phenomenon, it is essential to develop more reliable solutions for scour risk assessment. This study introduces a novel AI approach for early forecast of scour based on real-time monitoring data obtained from sonar and stage sensors installed at bridge piers. Long-short Term Memory networks (LSTMs), a prominent Deep Learning algorithm successfully used for time-series forecasting in other fields, were developed and trained using river stage and bed elevation readings for more than 11 years, obtained from Alaska scour monitoring programme. The capability of the AI models in scour prediction is shown for three case-study bridges. Results show that LSTMs can capture the temporal and seasonal patterns of both flow and river bed variations around bridge piers, through cycles of scour and filling and can provide reasonable predictions of upcoming scour depth as early as seven days in advance. It is expected that the proposed solution can be implemented by transportation authorities for development of emerging AI-based early warning systems, enabling superior bridge scour management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In their work La Merda (2012) – celebrating more than ten years of life on stages all over the world – Cristian Ceresoli and Silvia Gallerano engage in a harsh criticism of contemporary societal prospect, channeled through a stream of consciousness of a woman in a desperate need for ephemeral success and recognition. Ready to do whatever it takes to guarantee herself a place next to the important ones, at the table of the most resistant, the protagonist of this performance recounts her struggle with the demands of the world she inhabits, of the world of spectacle she aspires to belong to; her monologue pauses on a profound dissatisfaction with oneself, with one's body, ruthlessly canceled in a sparagmos of many overbearing, opposing forces. In this desperate fight against an imposing, threatening image of hunger (depicted in the act of swallowing its prey), the women's Pantagruelian mouth is marked with the bright red lipstick: filled with salt, but also simultaneously inebriated, it refuses the food, to stuff it later inside compulsively, it is ready to release whatever, to receive whatever, even the excrement. Through a series of interviews with Ceresoli and Gallerano, elaborating on both artisanal and aesthetical aspects of their work, this article examines the premises which gave impulse to the creative process, the historical and personal context the artists had to confront with during their poetical reasoning, the audiences' feedback. Moreover, the article addresses dramaturgical choices and actorial specificities of La Merda. In a dialog with Rabelais' fantastical imagery, it offers a theoretical reading of the piece in question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of morphological changes occurring along river channels is essential to support river process understanding, assess sediment budgets and evaluate the effectiveness of river management. Among available remote sensing techniques, space-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) could potentially provide a powerful complement to optical imagery for this task. However, very few studies have been carried out on the use of SAR datasets to study erosion and deposition processes in river channels. In this work, we investigate the potential of change detection analysis based on Sentinel-1 data, by comparing variations of radar backscattering to river morphology changes identified through high-resolution drone acquisitions. We considered a time series of two years of Sentinel-1 data relative to a period where, despite a moderate fluvial event occurred, morphological changes have been significantly detected in multitemporal drone point clouds. Satellite optical imagery (planet.com) and hydro-meteorological data were used to support the analysis and interpret results. The results show that the spatial and temporal resolution of Sentinel-1 is currently not suitable for accurate discrimination of morphological changes related to river dynamics at local scale. Other spaceborne sensors with sub-metric ground sampling distance and/or daily revisit time would be probably suitable; however, so far, this option would need the use of commercial solutions with a consistent increase of the costs of the investigation. First attempt to evaluate whether Sentinel-1 data can provide quantitative estimates of fluvial morphological changes; Multitemporal comparison of Sentinel-1 backscattering and coherence data against UAV-SfM 3D point clouds difference; Sentinel-1 data found to be not suitable to track relatively small morphological changes (<2 m in the vertical direction) and the consequent changes in the surface characteristics which are typical of river dynamics; SAR-based detection of fluvial changes in rivers are intrinsically affected by severe limitations due to varying soil water content and vegetation cover; Higher resolution and/or different spectral sensor may lead to different results but, so far, would require important acquisition costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited access to observe in-situ sediment changes requires viable means for quantifying sediment transport in large rivers for effective management of changes in river channels. This study developed a remote sensing-based framework to identify erosion hotspots by magnifying sediment concentration from Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8/9 multispectral images of the Brahmaputra River and the Indus River. First, uncorrelated independent bands were produced to boost the spectral information using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The optimal band composite was then identified by applying the Optimum Index Factor (OIF) on the Principal Components (PCs). This approach determined a 3-PCs composite having the highest variance with the least correlation to highlight active morphological changes during flood times. The results of the study reaffirm the significance of the minor PCs (PC4, PC5 and PC6) to characterize the small variation in the data, whereas the main PCs depict the majority of the brightness values around means. The approach was applied to Sentinel-2 imagery acquired on September 2018 in the Brahmaputra River, and Landsat-8/9 images of 2015 and 2022 in the Indus River during flood time to enhance and identify active riverbank erosion hotspots. Precise and timely monitoring of erosion-prone areas can support the control of riverbank erosion and improve soil conservation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiDAR and camera are pivotal sensors of 3D (three-dimensional) object detection. As a result of their different characteristics, increasingly multimodal-based object detection methods have been proposed. Now, popular methods are to hardly associate camera features with LiDAR features, but the features are frequently enhanced and aggregated, so there is a major challenge in how to align two features effectively. Therefore, we propose CAF-RCNN. On the basis of PointRCNN, using Feature Pyramid Network (FPN) to extract advanced semantic features at different scales, then fusing these features with the LiDAR features of the Set Abstraction (SA) module output in PointRCNN and subsequent steps. Regarding the features fusion module, we design a module based on the cross-attention mechanism, CAFM (Cross-Attention Fusion Module). It combines two channel attention streams in a cross-over fashion to utilize rich details about significant objects in the Image Stream and Geometric Stream. We did a lot of experiments on the KITTI dataset, and the result shows that our method is 6.43% higher than PointRCNN in 3D accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of water and sediment with pyrethroids and triazoles residues can affect fungal diversity, and hence the aquatic system functioning. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of water and sediment contamination with pyrethroids and triazoles on fungal diversity. Water and sediment samples were seasonally collected along 2019 from water bodies representing Gharbeya and Qualubeya governorates. Concentrations of pyrethroids and triazoles were determined, and fungal species in water and sediment samples were molecularly identified. The results indicated that temperature and pH varied according to the season. Permethrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and esfenvalerate showed the highest pyrethroids concentrations, whereas tetraconazole, tebuconazole and difenconazole were of the highest triazoles concentrations. Aspergillus niger was one of the most frequent species, in addition to Trichoderma capillare, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium commune and Penicillium polonicum. Principal component analysis indicated a positive correlation between temperature and different Aspergillus spp., and between pH and each of pyrethroids and triazoles. Moreover, a negative correlation was observed between triazoles and Trichoderma asperellum, Penicillium griseofulvum and Aspergillus fumigatus. In conclusion, contamination of water with pesticides affected fungal diversity. This disturbance in fungal assemblages might result in a reduction of some key organisms, or an increase and emergence of new pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory experiments were conducted on the breaching of homogeneous non-cohesive sandy fluvial dikes induced by flow overtopping. Tests were conducted using a main channel, an erodible lateral dike and a floodplain. The main channel width and Froude number prior to overtopping were systematically varied. Breach discharge was deduced from water level measurements and mass conservation. High-resolution 3D reconstructions of the evolving breach geometry were obtained using a non-intrusive laser profilometry technique. The main channel width and Froude number show significant influence on the breach expansion and hydrograph. Breach hydrographs are divided into three types, depending on the Froude number and a non-dimensional main channel width. An adapted fluvial dike breaching model based on the concept of "effective breach width" is proposed. Using the laboratory data, the computed breach discharge is found extremely satisfactory, although the breach downstream expansion is not accurately reproduced by the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic vegetation and morphology are integral components of fluvial systems, study of which is important due to ecological and engineering projects. Often, studies in fluvial systems are carried out in the laboratory as collecting data in the field is expensive and difficult, and even risky. A field study was carried out to measure the hydraulic and geometric parameters of the bed and the banks of a gravel bed river with instream emergent vegetation in northern Iran. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the effect of bed forms and vegetation patches on flow resistance and distribution of velocity and bed shear stress. The boundary layer characteristics method was employed to calculate the shear velocity and friction factor, the resulted friction values are compared with that of Manning's equation. The friction of bed forms was estimated using a linear superposition of friction. Results showed that the boundary layer characteristics method was suitable for calculating the shear velocity under various conditions, moreover, the distribution of velocity and bed shear stress were discussed. The findings of this study will be useful in river management and restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) were deployed to investigate the backscattering (BS) signal in three navigable rivers, in different bedload transport conditions. This study aims to demonstrate that the BS strength, as an additional variable to the apparent bedload velocity, improves the characterization of the bedload transport using ADCPs. The M9 –3 MHz and the vertical beam M9 – 0.5 MHz showed decline of the BS strength as the bedload intensity increased, whereas the RDI –1.2 MHz was relatively insensitive. The correlation between the median grain size and the BS strength for the 0.5 MHz was linear, for the 3 MHz the BS strength was attenuated in the active layer, and for 1.2 MHz, it revealed a parabolic distribution. Moreover, the analyses of the ADCP measured variables, using wavelet transformations and unsupervised machine learning, highlighted the importance of the spatial and temporal variance and transient nature of the bedload transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Purgatoire Valley dinosaur tracksite ('Dinosaur Lake') is North America's largest assemblage of Late Jurassic dinosaur tracks. Roughly 1,300 tracks representing ~100 trackways were reported from a 5,600 m2 area in 1986. Extensive new excavations have revealed more than 800 additional tracks in a 2,600 m2 area. Less abraded tracks farther from the river channel, excavated below bed rock not alluvium, provide high-quality-of-preservation morphometric data. Sauropod (Parabrontopodus) trackways up to 88 m long, some with over 100 successive pes prints, comprise nearly 500 manus and pes tracks. Parallel sauropod trackways confirm previous interpretations of gregarious behaviour, now including a mixed herd of subadult and adult individuals. A preferred westward trackway progression trend likely suggests a single or short-lived episode of gregarious movement along a lake shoreline. Nearly 300 newly recorded tridactyl (theropod) tracks range from 25 to 40 cm in length, with several trackways exceeding 25 or more successive steps. Theropod tracks are assigned to ichnogenus Megalosauripus, also known from the Late Jurassic of Utah, Europe, Central Asia and North Africa. Other theropodan ichnogenera (Hispanosauropus and Therangospodus) from this epoch and region have not been identified. Cross-cutting (over-printing) trackway relationships help constrain the sequence of track registration events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is scarce in the Mediterranean area and is concentrated in certain periods of the year (spring and autumn). Most of the crops were rain-fed, growing with the rains of each season. In this environment, orchards emerged, small plots of land located in areas where there were small springs or watercourses and where intensive agriculture was practiced in order to produce part of the food necessary for the subsistence of peasant families. This article describes this model of vegetable gardens, which were fundamental for the reproduction of peasant families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]