Improving sustainability of urban drainage systems for climate change adaptation using best management practices: a case study of Tehran,Iran

Although the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) in reducing urban flooding is widely recognized, the improved sustainability achieved by implementing BMPs in upstream suburban areas, reducing downstream urban floods, is still debated. This study introduces a new definition of urban drainage system (UDS) sustainability, focusing on BMP usage to enhance system performance after adaptation to climate change. Three types of hydraulic reliability index (HRI) plus robustness and improvability indices were used to quantify the potential enhanced sustainability of the system in a changing climate, together with a climate change adaptability index (CCAI). The sustainability of UDS for the safe conveyance of storm-water runoff was investigated under different land-use scenarios: No BMP, BMP in urban areas, and BMP inside and upstream of urban areas, considering climate change impacts. Rainfall–runoff simulation alongside drainage network modelling was conducted using a storm-water management model (US EPA SWMM) to determine the inundation areas for both base-line and future climatic conditions. A new method for disaggregating daily rainfall to hourly, proposed to provide a finer resolution of input rainfall to SWMM, was applied to a semi-urbanized catchment whose upstream runoff from mountainous areas may contribute to the storm-water runoff in downstream urban parts. Our findings confirm an increase in the number of inundation points and reduction in sustainability indices of UDS due to climate change. The results present an increase in UDS reliability from 4% to 16% and improvements in other sustainability indicators using BMPs in upstream suburban areas compared to implementing them in urban areas.     

Evaluating suspended sediment and turbidity reduction projects in a glacially conditioned catchment through dynamic regression and fluvial process-based modelling

Elevated turbidity (T_n) and suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) during and following flood events can degrade water supply quality and aquatic ecosystem integrity. Streams draining glacially conditioned mountainous terrain, such as those in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, are particularly susceptible to high levels of T_n and SSC sourced from erosional contact with glacial-related sediment. This study forwards a novel approach to evaluate the effectiveness of stream restoration best management practices (BMPs) meant to reduce stream T_n and SSC, and demonstrates the approach within the Stony Clove sub-basin of the Catskills, a water supply source for New York City. The proposed approach is designed to isolate BMP effects from natural trends in T_n and SSC caused by trends in discharge and shifts in average T_n or SSC per unit discharge (Q) following large flood events. We develop Dynamic Linear Models (DLMs) to quantify how T_n-Q and SSC-Q relationships change over time at monitoring stations upstream and downstream of BMPs within the Stony Clove and in three other sub-basins without BMPs, providing observational evidence of BMP effectiveness. A process-based model, the River Erosion Model, is then developed to simulate natural, hydrology-driven SSC-Q dynamics in the Stony Clove sub-basin (absent of BMP effects). We use DLMs to compare the modelled and observed SSC-Q dynamics and isolate the influence of the BMPs. Results suggest that observed reductions in SSC and T_n in the Stony Clove sub-basin have been driven by a combination of declining streamflow and the installed BMPs, confirming the utility of the BMPs for the monitored hydrologic conditions.     

Evaluation of distributed BMPs in an urban watershed—High resolution modeling for stormwater management

The urban environment modifies the hydrologic cycle resulting in increased runoff rates, volumes, and peak flows. Green infrastructure, which uses best management practices (BMPs), is a natural system approach used to mitigate the impacts of urbanization onto stormwater runoff. Patterns of stormwater runoff from urban environments are complex, and it is unclear how efficiently green infrastructure will improve the urban water cycle. These challenges arise from issues of scale, the merits of BMPs depend on changes to small‐scale hydrologic processes aggregated up from the neighborhood to the urban watershed. Here, we use a hyper‐resolution (1 m), physically based hydrologic model of the urban hydrologic cycle with explicit inclusion of the built environment. This model represents the changes to hydrology at the BMP scale (~1 m) and represents each individual BMP explicitly to represent response over the urban watershed. Our study varies both the percentage of BMP emplacement and their spatial location for storm events of increasing intensity in an urban watershed. We develop a metric of effectiveness that indicates a nonlinear relationship that is seen between percent BMP emplacement and storm intensity. Results indicate that BMP effectiveness varies with spatial location and that type and emplacement within the urban watershed may be more important than overall percent.     

Possible Generation of Quasi-Periodic Magnetic Precursors of Earthquakes

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - A mechanism for the generation of quasi-periodic magnetic precursors of earthquakes is proposed on the basis of air heating above an impending earthquake, the rise of...     

动物的行为异常是一种临震前兆

本文论述了地震前动物行为异常出现时间的分布特点及其与孕震过程和其他地震前兆的某些短临异常之间的关系.这些分析结果如下:1.地震后所搜集到的一般性资料的分析表明, 大多数的动物行为异常出现在震前一天内.2.201例动物行为异常出现时间的分析表明, 大多数的行为异常出现在震前11小时内, 并在震前2—3小时急剧地增加.异常的平均出现时间和标准偏差分别为2.7小时和2.5小时.由此可见, 动物的行为异常确是一种在临震前出现的宏观前兆现象.3.对异常时间与地区分布特点的分析表明, 大多数的动物行为异常出现在孕震过程的临震突变阶段, 并与该阶段中急剧出现的其他地震前兆的临震异常有关.      

Assessing uncertainty in best management practice effectiveness under future climate scenarios

Uncertainty of best management practice (BMP) performance in future climates is an important consideration for water resources managers. The objective of this study was to quantify the level of uncertainty in performance of seven agricultural BMPs due to climate change in reducing sediment, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus loads. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool coupled with mid‐21^st century climate data from the Community Climate System Model were used to develop climate change scenarios for the Tuttle Creek Lake Watershed of Kansas and Nebraska. Uncertainty level of each BMP was determined using Latin Hypercube Sampling, a constrained Monte Carlo sampling technique. Samples were taken from distributions of several variables (monthly precipitation, temperature, CO₂, and BMP implementation parameters). Cumulative distribution functions were constructed for each BMP, pollutant, and climate scenario combination. Results demonstrated that BMP performance uncertainty is amplified in the extreme climate scenario. Among BMPs, native grass replacement generally had higher uncertainty level but also had the greatest reductions. This study highlights the importance of incorporating uncertainty analysis into mitigation strategies aiming to reduce negative impacts of climate change on water resources. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

地下流体中强震源兆、场兆和强震远兆特征及其物理成因

初步分析了乌鲁木齐9、10号泉地下流体中强震源兆、场兆及强震远兆特征。结果表明,中强震源兆具体表现为震前1~ 2年观测点的绝大多数主测项出现同步性高值异常,临震前可能出现转折或反向,震后恢复正常;绝大多数中强震场兆则表现为观测点仅有部分测项出现短期异常变化;而强震场兆则表现为观测点少数映震性能较好的几个测项出现同步性较好的中期前兆异常;强震(群)远兆则主要表现为个别映震较好的测项出现前兆异常。并对震兆形成的原因进行了初步探讨。     

成组地震的应力场变化与前兆关系

综述了成组地震以及地震静应力触发方面的研究现状，并在此基础上讨论了：如何应用震后静应力变化研究成组地震前兆；如何区分地震组的前兆和组中单个地震的前兆。     

Load-Unload Response Ratio (LURR), Accelerating Moment/Energy Release (AM/ER) and State Vector Saltation as Precursors to Failure of Rock Specimens

— In order to verify some precursors such as LURR (Load/Unload Response Ratio) and AER (Accelerating Energy Release) before large earthquakes or macro-fracture in heterogeneous brittle media, four acoustic emission experiments involving large rock specimens under tri-axial stress, have been conducted. The specimens were loaded in two ways: monotonous or cycling. The experimental results confirm that LURR and AER are precursors of macro-fracture in brittle media. A new measure called the state vector has been proposed to describe the damage evolution of loaded rock specimens.     

Impacts of urban headwater disturbances on downstream sediment loading where streamside management zones for forest harvesting activities are present downstream

Watershed disturbances caused by land use/land cover(LU/LC) change, intensive forestry practices, and other forms of watershed disturbance are known to negatively affect water quality, if best management practices(BMPs) are not present. Disturbances near or around headwaters where BMPs are absent or are inadequate may impact downstream water quality and stream ecology regardless of the presence of downstream BMPs. In this study, the recovery of two small forest-dominated watersheds(Ww and Ew) in Auburn, Alabama, USA, was monitored 6-years after a partial clearcut was done. The streamside management zone(SMZ) in Ww was also partially harvested shortly after the partial clearcut to improve its sediment trapping effectiveness over the long-term. The hydrology and sediment transport in these watersheds were expected to stabilize over this period, however, new disturbances in the headwaters of both watersheds changed the watershed dynamics. Streamflow and sediment load were examined over a15-month period from February 2014 to May 2015. The clearcut in Ww and Ew, and the partially harvested SMZ in Ww seemed to have recovered; however, substantial amount of sediment load were measured across all monitoring sites in both watersheds as a result of upstream disturbances. This study emphasizes the necessity of watershed management as a whole, and the importance of BMP applications within the entire watershed. It also highlights the fact that watershed management and BMP implementation is a dynamic process, thus, strategies and techniques need to be continuously adapted in response to environmental changes.     

川滇地区地震活动与地球自转速率变化之间的关系

利用川滇地区1962—2016年间发生的M_S≥6.0地震资料, 在去除余震的情况下, 分析了其发生与地球自转速率变化极值点之间的关系。 得到以下结果: 川滇地区M_S≥6.0地震的发生与地球自转速率变化极值点具有显著关系, 对于不同震级范围的地震, 其与不同周期的地球自转速率变化有关。 对于M_S≥7.0的地震, 有90%发生在地球自转速率季节性变化极值点前14天至后37天时间段内; 对于6.0≤M_S≤6.4的地震, 有80%发生在地球自转速率短周期变化极值点前68小时至后30小时的时间段内; 对于6.5≤M_S≤6.9的地震, 有87.5%发生在地球自转速率短周期变化极值点前36小时至后64小时的时间段内。 地震发生在特定时间段的显著性检验结果表明, 川滇地区M_S≥6.0地震与地球自转速率变化极值点的关系都可以在α=0.05的显著性水平下通过显著性检验。 这个结果表明, 在地球自转速率发生转折的期间容易触发地震, 对川滇地区地震发生时间预测具有参考意义。     

1950年以来帕米尔东北缘—西昆仑地区7级左右地震后新疆地区中强地震活动状态分析

本文类比分析了1950年以来帕米尔东北缘—西昆仑地区7级左右地震发生后3年内新疆地区中强以上地震的活动状态, 并进一步讨论了2008年于田7.3级和乌恰6.8级地震后新疆地区的地震活动特点。 结果表明, 1950年以来帕米尔东北缘—西昆仑地区7级左右地震发生后, 新疆地区应变能释放相对较为充分, 震后3年通常无6.5级以上强震发生; 7级左右地震后3年新疆地区5级以上地震频度总体呈下降趋势, 2008年于田7.3级地震后5级以上地震出现的活跃—平静的显著差异性活动特征与1974年乌兹别里山口7.3级地震和1996年喀喇昆仑山口7.1级地震后较为相似。 此外, 结合新疆地区强震活动的动力学环境作用和帕米尔东北缘—西昆仑地区7级左右地震的震源机制特征, 初步探讨分析了该区 7级左右地震后3年内新疆地区中强以上地震空间活动特征的可能成因。     

Earthquake prediction in northeast India—A review

A multidimensional geophysical approach is made to study earthquake precursors in northeast India. Resistivity, gravity and seismological precursor anomalies for the two recent damaging earthquakes, one on December 30, 1984, magnitude 5.8, and the other on August 6, 1988, magnitude 7.5, are very encouraging to intensify these studies in the region. Improved methods of magnetic and geohydrological precursor studies are suggested.     

地震与磁暴主相最低点时刻的相关性

利用磁暴研究地震,特别是预测大地震的报道经常见诸公共媒体,引发诸多质疑。本研究以地震和磁暴(主相最低点)时刻的先后关系为研究对象,在不同时间窗、不同磁暴大小条件下,统计不同震级的地震与磁暴发生之间的时差及对应的地震比例,发现该比例随震前时间窗的增加或磁暴强度的减弱而不断增大,与起始震级基本无关。讨论磁暴对后续地震的"预兆"意义,发现对于中等强度以下的磁暴,在磁暴前后发生的地震比例基本相同,而在强磁暴及更高强度的磁暴后,地震发生概率显著增大,表明强磁暴对地震发生具有一定指示作用。     

A kind of information on short-term and imminent earthquake precursors—research on atmospheric electric field anomalies before earthquakes

The long-time practice of observational research on earthquake prediction has shown that the information on short-term and imminent earthquake precursors can hardly be detected, but it is very important for practical and effective earthquake prediction. The result of analysis and study in this paper has shown that the anomaly of quasi-static atmospheric electric field may be a kind of reliable information on short-term and imminent earthquake precursors. On such a basis, the 20 years’ continuous and reliable data of atmospheric electric field observed at the Baijiatuan seismic station are used to study the correlation between the anomalies in seismic activity and relative quiet periods bear on the occurrence of near earthquakes within 200 km range around Beijing after the Tangshan earthquake. The observational results recently reported before hand in written form and earthquakes that actually occurred in near field in corresponding time periods are compared and analyzed. The efficacy of these written prediction opinions about near earthquakes in the recent 10 years is tested. From the test results, the brilliant prospect that the anomaly of quasi-static atmospheric electric field may really become a reliable mark for making short-term and imminent earthquake predictions is discussed. Besides, as a preliminary step, some judgment indexes for predicting earthquakes by use of the observational data of atmospheric electric field before earthquakes are put forward. In the last part, it is pointed out that it would be possible to obtain more believable judgment indexes for determining the three elements of near earthquakes before greater earthquakes (M _S≥5) only if a relatively reasonable station network (2–4 stations every 10 000 km²) is deployed and further investigation is made. Contribution No. 97A0040, Institute of Geophysics, State Seismological Bureau, China. This subject is sponsored by Program No. 95-04-05-01-04, State Seismological Bureau, China.     

磁暴活动与云南新一轮地震活跃期分析

对通海地磁台记录的磁暴(K指数≥5)年频次分析发现,磁暴活动的周期有强弱之分,与云南省地震活跃期和平静期对比分析看到,磁暴活动较强的周期时段与云南地震的活跃期相对应,磁暴活动较弱的周期时段与云南地震活动平静期相对应.目前,云南地震平静期已持续15年,即将进入第Ⅴ活跃期,大震发生的危险逐日增强.磁暴发生的数目和太阳活动有...     

Study on the Criterion of the Correlation between Deformation Precursors and Earthquakes

The relationship between pre-seismic anomalous changes and earthquakes is one of the most basic information to comprehend the process of earthquake preparation and conduct earthquake prediction research. However, few researchers have carried out relevant investigations for a long time. In this paper, the distribution characteristics of deformation anomalies before the Wenchuan earthquake are analyzed, and the widespread distribution area is discussed. Based on previous studies, we improve the relationship between anomaly duration t and magnitude M by introducing distance D. The new model is characterized by lower magnitude fitting error, making it possible to establish the correlation between deformation precursors and earthquakes. The correlation standard between precursors and earthquakes here is defined as Niu''s criterion, which is applied to analyze and interpret the relationship between the short-term anomalies of Hongliuxia fault leveling and the Wenchuan and Jiuzhaigou earthquakes.     

地震期间电离层扰动现象研究

介绍了大量的关于地震电离层扰动现象研究的最新进展，研究表明地震发生前的几天或者几个小时电离层扰动被观测到，电离层前兆是确实存在.但要将震前的电离层扰动作为地震短临预报的工具，还有许多值得我们去深入研究和解决的问题.应用空间技术开展大区域范围内电离层参数的实时观测，如用地震电磁卫星、GPS台网、并和地面电离层垂测仪观测相结合，建立“电离层地震前兆监测系统”，无疑会加速这项研究的进程.     

前兆逆向追踪法与台湾地震前兆

用前兆逆向追踪法研究台湾东部地区大地震前兆, 讨论适合该地区地震链和中期图象的参数,确定地震链的中期图象阈值. 将线性判别方法应用于地震链的中期图象,给出一种探索大地震前兆的途径. 数据分析结果表明,这种途径可降低对该地区大地震的虚报率; 前兆逆向追踪法在台湾地区是适用的.      

强震前后空间电磁场时空演化特征

本文利用DEMETER卫星观测到的电磁场数据, 统计分析了2005—2009年全球M_S≥7.0强震前后空间电磁场的时空演化特征． 在震中上空±10°范围内, 使用震前90天至震后30天的5年同期观测到的电磁场极低频/甚低频(370—897 Hz)功率谱密度数据构建了稳定的背景场观测模型, 提取了震中上空的空间电磁场相对于背景场的扰度幅度, 并统计分析了强震前后空间电磁场的时空演化特征． 统计结果显示: 45次M_S≥7.0强震中, 35次强震在地震发生前后磁场最大扰动幅度超过2.2倍标准差, 39次强震的电场最大扰动幅度超过2倍标准差; 最大的电磁扰动主要出现在震中±4°—±10°范围内． 另外, 震中上空的电磁场扰动幅度时序变化表现为3种不同类型的扰动特征, 且震前出现电磁异常的强震震中位置的分布特征与纬度存在一定关系; 而随机选择的非震区上空空间电磁场的扰动幅度则比较小, 未呈现出明显的特征．