River Bottom Research Articles

Surface water and groundwater interaction at long-term exploited riverbank filtration site based on groundwater flow modelling (Mosina-Krajkowo, Poland)

Study regionPoland, Warta River catchment. Study focusThe study aimed to explain the reasons for spatial variability in chloride concentrations at the Mosina-Krajkowo riverbank filtration (RBF) site located along the river. This variability is attributed to RBF’s different intensity along the river sections, related, among others, to clogging development. The RBF effectiveness was studied using groundwater flow modelling by: examining the water balance in zones established on hydrogeological setting and chloride concentrations; travel time of the bankfiltrate investigation; RBF parametrisation (i.e. infiltration per unit area and specific infiltration per unit of riverbank). New Hydrological Insights for the RegionThe study identifies zones of the most favourable RBF conditions and establishes the variability causes. The overall share bankfiltrate was found at 75.8 %. Its spatial variation ranged widely from 41.1–89.3%, confirming the usefulness of the RBF performance sectional analysis in managing this type of site. The highest proportion of surface water (>80 %) occurred along the straight river section, where the riverbed was built by fine and medium sands (preventing penetration of organic suspension into the aquifer). In contrast, the lowest values (<42 %) occurred in the meander zone (with the most favourable RBF conditions at the beginning of site operation), where deep erosion reached coarse-grained sediments in the river bottom, followed by the development of clogging processes and a decrease in the RBF efficiency with time.

Tatiana Reinoza. Review of "Carolina Caycedo: From the Bottom of the River" by Carla Acevedo-Yates and "Chicago Works: Omar Velázquez" .

Tatiana Reinoza. Review of "Carolina Caycedo: From the Bottom of the River" by Carla Acevedo-Yates and "Chicago Works: Omar Velázquez" .

Polluted lignocellulose-bearing sediments as a resource for marketable goods—a review of potential technologies for biochemical and thermochemical processing and remediation

Lignocellulose-bearing sediments are legacies of the previously unregulated wastewater discharge from the pulp and paper industry, causing large quantities of toxic organic waste on the Baltic Sea floor and on the bottom of rivers and lakes. Several km2 are covered with deposits of lignocellulosic residues, typically heavily contaminated with complex mixtures of organic and inorganic pollutants, posing a serious threat to human and ecological health. The high toxicity and the large volume of the polluted material are challenges for remediation endeavours. The lignocellulosic material is also a considerable bioresource with a high energy density, and due to its quantity, it could appeal to commercialization as feedstock for various marketable goods. This study sets out to explore the potential of using this polluted material as a resource for industrial production at the same time as it is detoxified. Information about modern production methods for lignocellulosic material that can be adapted to a polluted feedstock is reviewed. Biochemical methods such as composting, anaerobic digestion, as well as, thermochemical methods, for instance, HTC, HTL, pyrolysis, gasification and torrefaction have been assessed. Potential products from lignocellulose-bearing sediment material include biochar, liquid and gaseous biofuels, growing substrate. The use of a contaminated feedstock may make the process more expensive, but the suggested methods should be seen as an alternative to remediation methods that only involve costs. Several experiments were highlighted that support the conception that combined remediation and generation of marketable goods may be an appropriate way to address polluted lignocellulose-bearing sediments.Graphic abstract

Mineral and geochemical characteristics of soils and bottom sediments in the area affected by mining dumps (a case study of the Sibay ore deposit)

The article focuses on the chemical composition of hydrosulfates formed in bottom sediments and soils as a consequence of sulfide minerals oxidation in mining waste rock dumps. An alkaline geochemical barrier formed under the dumps reduces pollution of natural-territorial complexes. High concentrations of Zn up to 1.29%, Cu-0.74%, and Cd-27.3 mg/kg are found in the hydrosulfates formed in the river bottom and in the soils. The percentages of exchangeable copper, zinc and cadmium in their total content are 33%, 28% and 22%, respectively. Metals are actively involved in lateral and radial migration, which is regulated by alkaline and evaporation geochemical barriers. The hydrosulfates’ mineralogical composition was studied using microscopy and thermodynamic modeling. Among the secondary minerals, gypsum and iron oxyhydroxides are of primary importance, and to a lesser extent barite, epsomite, and jarosite. Secondary minerals of Cu and Zn in scattering halos are not found, which indicates the leading role of adsorption processes in their phase transitions.

MANIFESTATIONS OF UNFAVORABLE GEOGRAPHICAL PROCESSES WITHIN THE SMOTRICH CANYON OF KAMENETS-PODOLSKY

The research allowed the authors to identify various types of adverse, destructive and erosion processes in the canyon of the Smotrych River. Now the ecological situation within the Smotrytsya canyon is quite difficult. The main factor in the deterioration of the situation is anthropogenic and man-made load: quarrying, garbage accumulation, unauthorized agriculture on the slopes of the canyon.&#x0D; Within the Smotric canyon, natural water and wind erosion are manifested, which in most cases are combined and the processes of destruction as a result of their action are intensified. Studies of erosion processes in the canyon of the Smotrich River have revealed a great variety of their manifestations.&#x0D; Karst processes are a typical manifestation of water erosion in the study area. Among the surface forms of karst, microforms (crates of various types) predominate. Individual karst funnels are less common. We discovered a karst cave located near Bilanivska embankment. Its area is 6 m2. The walls are covered with cracks, dominated by horizontal, less vertical, but they are larger. Turfed, covered type of karst can be found on the section where the river Smotrich encircles the Old Town in the direction of the village. Poodles.&#x0D; Lateral erosion is due to slope processes and erosion of the riverbed. It causes the migration of the riverbed, watercourse, the formation of river meanders, widens the river valley. Within the Smotric canyon, this type of erosion occurs in places where the shoreline is formed of clay soil. Inflows and outflows of water masses during the season also change the structure of the soil.&#x0D; Wind deflation and weathering within the canyon are manifested in those areas where rock remains and leads to the formation of various forms, are evidence of long-term wind erosion. Over the centuries, these forms can change, collapse.&#x0D; Linear erosion includes slope processes under the influence of anthropogenic activity and temporary water flows, which form furrows, ravines, ravines. Bilanivska embankment is characterized by the development of a system of ravines that descend to the river floodplain as a result of temporary water flows, during heavy rainfall, heavy rains, melting snow. They are small, but descend to the river. There are ravines as a result of concentrated storm currents, which are formed during heavy rainfall&#x0D; Transport erosion occurs throughout the study area. The result of such erosion is narrow and wide paths, dirt and hard roads made of limestone and artificially covered and filled with rubble.&#x0D; Zoogenic (pasture) erosion is quite common in Smotrich canyon. Grazing of cattle (cows), horses or small animals (goats, sheep) is carried out everywhere. The lack of special pastures, the inability to keep animals in a tethered way, leads to the fact that animals graze on the slopes of the canyon, in the coastal zone, in parks, and goats graze even on steep terraces.&#x0D; During the last few years, the recreational service in the form of walks along the riverbed on the BRDM-2 vehicle has been causing a destructive impact on the ecosystem of the Smotrich River.&#x0D; Summarizing the results of our research, we should point out other negative impacts from tourism activities using military equipment: gradual destruction of the river bottom, acceleration of erosion processes on rocky and silty slopes, increasing turbidity, changing water circulation in the river, changing gorge, near Novoplan the bridge actually washes its supports, introduces fuel and lubricants into the water and with the wheels of the car feces of large animals, the noise scares away birds that nest in the coastal zone of the river.&#x0D; Key words: unfavorable geographical processes, ecological condition, Smotrich canyon, Smotrich river, erosion, pollution, sewage, landscape complexes, anthropogenization.

Differences in ontogenetic and diurnal microhabitat selection by sympatric live‐bearing fish species with different reproductive modes

Abstract A pregnancy imposes a heavy reproductive burden on females. Some live‐bearing species have evolved reproductive adaptations to reduce this burden, which may influence their ability to use specific microhabitats. We investigate whether two such reproductive adaptations, placentation (embryo provisioning via a placenta) and superfetation (the ability to carry multiple broods at various developmental stages), influence microhabitat selection by five sympatric Costa Rican live‐bearing fish species (family Poeciliidae). Theory predicts that placentation and superfetation should both reduce the reproductive burden of females during pregnancy, improve their body streamlining, and swimming performance, and consequently allow them to use more performance‐demanding microhabitats. Here we apply underwater visual fish surveys to test a key prediction of this hypothesis, which is that the presence of these two reproductive adaptations is correlated with the use of microhabitats in the river that are characterised by a higher‐flow velocity. Consistent with our predictions, we observed significant interspecific differences in daytime microhabitat use: species that had both placentation and superfetation were found in deeper and faster‐flowing parts of the river, species that lacked both adaptations were confined to shallow slow‐flowing areas, and species with one adaptation (i.e. only superfetation) inhabited intermediate areas. This interspecific daytime microhabitat use was strongest in reproductive adults, intermediate in immatures, and absent in juveniles (the latter of which were all found in shallow low‐velocity zones), suggesting that ontogeny influences species‐specific microhabitat use. Finally, at night, all fishes, regardless of the species or age‐class, congregated in shallow slow‐flowing waters to rest (sleep) on the river bottom. Taken together, our results suggest that placentation and superfetation may be hitherto unrecognised reproductive features that help to explain differences in ontogenetic and diurnal microhabitat preferences between sympatric live‐bearing fish species living in environments characterised by large flow variation.

Growth and Yield Performance of Selected Wheat Genotypes at Variable Irrigation Management

Growth and Yield Performance of Selected Wheat Genotypes at Variable Irrigation Management

Spectro-temporal analysis of the Paraopeba River water after the tailings dam burst of the Córrego do Feijão mine, in Brumadinho, Brazil.

Remote sensing is an important tool for environmental assessment, especially in the event of disasters such as the tailings dam burst at the Córrego do Feijão mine, located in the Paraopeba River basin, Brazil. Thus, this study aimed to carry out a spectro-temporal analysis of the Paraopeba River water given the dam burst, using multispectral images from the MSI sensor onboard Sentinel-2 satellites. For this analysis, sections along the river were defined by the creation of buffers, with 10-km intervals each, starting from the origin of the burst. For each section, the average visible to near-infrared (NIR) reflectance values per band and the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) were obtained. We found that the red edge and NIR bands (B5, B6, B7, B8, and B8A) showed higher reflectance values when compared to the visible bands in the months immediately after the disaster, especially in the first 20km. In these months, negative NDWI values were also found for almost all sections downstream, demonstrating the large volume of mining tailings in the Paraopeba River. The seasonal variation of the observed values indicates the resuspension of the material deposited at the river bottom with the beginning of the rainy season. Finally, we highlight the usefulness of the MSI/Sentinel-2 red edge and NIR bands for further studies on the monitoring from space of water bodies subjected to contamination by large amounts of mud with iron ore tailings and contaminants, as occurred in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil.

Research on Deformation Treatment and Control Technology of Tail Shield of Underwater Large Diameter Slurry Shield

The Karnaphuli River underwater tunnel in Bangladesh is located at the estuary of the Karnaphuli River and is constructed with a Φ12.12m air-cushioned slurry pressure balance shield machine. The bottom section of the river mainly passes through a dense silty fine sand stratum, of which the standard penetration value and strength are high. When the shield tunneling got into to the sea area, the tail shield was significantly and unevenly deformed, which caused the shield machine to be trapped in the river bottom. Therefore, the characteristics and causes of the deformation of the shield tail during the tunneling boring process were analyzed on this basis. Studies have shown that the deformation of the tail shield was a gradual development process. If there is a slight lack of rigidity of the outer shell and tail shield on the outside of the shield, it tells that the large resistance of the ground caused by the deviation of shield tunneling is the main reason for the deformation. Besides, given the construction characteristics of the underwater shield and the limited working space in the shield machine, a linear rectification tool was designed. By summing up the rectification methods of the hole making in the tail shield, decompression with sand discharge, and incremental launching with loaded, local deformation of the tail shield was realized, so the trapped shield machine was successfully released. Finally, through the excavation experience after the shield restart, it is concluded that within 5cm of the tail shield steel plate deformation, the experience of deformation rebound can be achieved through measures such as sand discharge through radial holes and bentonite injection, which provides a reference for similar engineering projects in the future.

Organic content and the number of Corbicula fluminea (Muller, 1774) in Lubok Tani Irrigation Canal, Tumpat, Kelantan

Corbicula fluminea can be found living in the bottom of lakes, rivers and irrigation canal in Kelantan. C. fluminea usually receives nutrients and food source that are carried along with the runoff and these nutrients are considered pollutants to the water. Plus, the number of C. fluminea present is believed to be influenced by organic content in the sediment. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the concentration of organic matter in the sediment and the number of C. fluminea at Lubok Tani Irrigation Canal, Tumpat, Kelantan. Samples were collected from two points, with six composites sampling of sediment and six samples of C. fluminea. Thus, organic matter in sediment was measured using Loss on Ignition analysis. The results indicated that an average of 55 clams was collected at the left bank, 57 clams at the middle and right bank. The average organic matter at the left bank was recorded at 1.61%, centre at 1.37%, and right bank at 2.42%. The results showed that area with higher organic matter had higher composition and size of C. fluminae. This study also showed that C.fluminae in the study area started to reproduce in May and believed to be matured in August. However, more data collection is required to obtain a significant statistical correlation. In conclusion, organic matter in substrates can influence the composition and size of C. fluminae and the suitable harvest time can be scheduled to ensure the sustainable harvesting.

EFFECTS OF THE VERTICAL HETEROGENEITY OF WATER MASSES ON THE STABILITY OF INDUSTRIAL WATER SUPPLY IN INDUSTRY-INTENSIVE AREAS

The stability of water supply systems is one of the main factors for reliable operation of large industrial complexes. This problem is considered through the case of the Azot branch of JSC URALCHEM in the city of Berezniki, which derives raw process water from the Kama River (Kama storage reservoir). A characteristic feature of this water body is a highly variable hydrological regime. During the summer low water period, it is characterized by low current velocities. In winter, when the water level in the reservoir declines, a typical river flow regime is observed. In addition, the water body is exposed to heavy human impact. The bulk of the load comes from non-declared non-point (diffuse) sources. Their characteristic feature is high suspended solids content, and, accordingly, the density of the effluents. Their behavior is fundamentally different from the processes of dilution and migration of effluents with neutral buoyancy. Traditional methods of calculating dilution processes cannot be used to describe them. A two-layer flow is formed, where the content of basic ions in the surface horizon is more than an order of magnitude lower than near the bottom. Early in July 2020, a significant increase in the content of chlorine and sodium ions was observed at the water intake facility of the Azot branch, causing a shutdown of the plant. The causes of the phenomenon had to be identified. The putative causes were emergency discharges of concentrated waste from the sludge dump on the shore or contamination by the wastewater entering the Kama River below the intake facility due to backflow. These situations can be modeled taking into account the vertical heterogeneity of water masses based on the coupling of hydrodynamic models in one-, two-, and three-dimensional formulation. As a result, it was shown that the only cause of the emergency could be water intake from the Kama River bottom flow.

Assessment of local outburst flood risk from successive landslides: Case study of Baige landslide-dammed lake, upper Jinsha river, eastern Tibet

Two large landslides in October and November 2018 sequentially dammed the Jinsha river at Baige village, eastern Tibet, China. Subsequently, breaching of each dam induced massive outburst floods that posed a severe threat to downstream cities and infrastructure. Field investigation indicates volumes of the first and second landslide dam are about 24.5 × 106 m3 and 8.53 × 106 m3, respectively. However, the peak discharge of the flood generated from the second landslide (3.1 × 104 m3/s) was significantly larger than that from the first (1.0 × 104 m3/s). The second peak discharge would have been 5.15 × 104 m3/s if the dam breached naturally. In this study, we developed two geometry parameters: effective dam height He (elevation difference between overtopping level and river bottom) and a narrowing number distribution Nr(H) (measures the degree to which a river section is occupied by landslide materials to elevation H) which represents river section narrowing effects of successive landslides. Using numerical simulations, we show that He dominates peak discharge, and it has a linear relationship with peak discharge with slope of 1009.4 m2/s. Furthermore, the dam includes two sub-areas: a higher part (SB-1) and a lower part (SB-2). Two floods only eroded SB-2. However, breaching of SB-1 and breached SB-2 still narrowed the river. The narrowing effects of the first and second breached dam on the river channel are around 0.35 and 0.5, respectively. Spillway and landslide runup deposits increased the local flood risk by narrowing and lifting the local river section; the first landslide promoted the second landslide, which occupied the same area and forms a dam with high He value. Consequently, a more catastrophic flood could be triggered by a small subsequent landslide. Spatial superposition phenomenon of successive landslides increased the local flood risk. This research quantitatively analyzed the influence of the geometry of dam induced by successive landslides on the process of outburst floods and the risk.

Analysis of Spatial Variability of River Bottom Sediment Pollution with Heavy Metals and Assessment of Potential Ecological Hazard for the Warta River, Poland

Pollution of river bottom sediments with heavy metals (HMs) has emerged as a main environmental issue related to intensive anthropopressure on the water environment. In this context, the risk of harmful effects of the HMs presence in the bottom sediments of the Warta River, the third longest river in Poland, has been assessed. The concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in the river bottom sediments collected at 24 sample collection stations along the whole river length have been measured and analyzed. Moreover, in the GIS environment, a method predicting variation of HMs concentrations along the whole river length, not at particular sites, has been proposed. Analysis of the Warta River bottom sediment pollution with heavy metals in terms of the indices: the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Metal Pollution Index (MPI), has proved that, in 2016, the pollution was heavier than in 2017. Assessment of the potential toxic effects of HMs accumulated in bottom sediments, made on the basis of Threshold Effect Concentration (TEC), Midpoint Effect Concentration (MEC), and Probable Effect Concentration (PEC) values, and the Toxic Risk Index (TRI), has shown that the ecological hazard in 2017 was much lower. Cluster analysis revealed two main groups of sample collection stations at which bottom sediments showed similar chemical properties. Changes in classification of particular sample collection stations into the two groups analyzed over a period of two subsequent years indicated that the main impact on the concentrations of HMs could have their point sources in urbanized areas and river fluvial process.

Oil Pollution of River Bottom Sediments

The impact of oil products on river bottom sediments and their wettability is considered on the example of the small Kurcha-Murcha River. The wettability of bottom sediments (pollution up to 18000 mg/kg) was determined by the contact angle of wetting of the solid phase (method of static drop). It is shown that the contact angle of wetting can be used to assess the pollution level of the river bottom sediments.

Force distribution within a barchan dune

Barchan dunes, or simply barchans, are crescent-shaped dunes found in diverse environments such as the bottom of rivers, Earth’s deserts, and the surface of Mars. In our recent paper [“Shape evolution of numerically obtained subaqueous barchan dunes,” Phys. Rev. E 101, 012905 (2020)], we investigated the evolution of subaqueous barchans by using the computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method, and our simulations captured well the evolution of an initial pile toward a barchan dune in both the bedform and grain scales. The numerical method having shown to be adequate, we obtain now the forces acting on each grain, isolate the contact interactions, and investigate how forces are distributed and transmitted in a barchan dune. We present force maps and probability density functions for values in the streamwise and spanwise directions and show that stronger forces are experienced by grains at neither the crest nor the leading edge of the barchan but in positions just upstream the dune centroid on the periphery of the dune. We also show that a large part of grains undergo longitudinal forces of the order of 10−7 N, with negative values around the crest, resulting in decelerations and grain deposition in that region. These data show that the force distribution tends to route a large part of grains toward the crest and horns of subaqueous barchans, being fundamental to comprehend their morphodynamics. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, they are not accessible from the current experiments, making our results an important step toward understanding the behavior of barchan dunes.

ТЕМПЫ ДЕНУДАЦИИ В ПЕРИГЛЯЦИАЛЬНЫХ ОБЛАСТЯХ ВЫСОКОГОРИЙ: МЕТОДЫ И РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ

Periglacial areas in the mountains are characterized by the highest denudation rates, which is due to active physical weathering, significant gradients and low projective vegetation coverage of the slopes of these areas. The accelerated expansion of periglacial areas that has taken place in recent decades is explained by climate changes that contribute to the melting of mountain glaciers. The improved methodology of studying the relief transformation processes, the rates of various exogenous processes, and the features of material redistribution along the pathways of sediment transportation from the slopes to the river valley bottoms contributed to a dramatic increase in quantitative assessment of spatio-temporal changes in the relief of the mountain periglacial zone. The article discusses various traditional and contemporary methods and approaches to studying the periglacial zone relief and its changes. They are divided into two groups: methods of stationary and semi-stationary observations of exogenous processes and methods for studying sediment redistribution in catchments. Various directions are highlighted within each group of methods, special attention is paid to the latest techniques. The results of observations of the rates of various exogenous processes occurring in the periglacial zone are generalized. It is shown that the intensity of rockfall-talus processes depends on lithology and frequency of daily air temperature fluctuation through zero °C and varies from 0.02 to 1.6 mm/year. Avalanche abrasion in avalanche trays reaches 40–70 mm/year. The rate depends on the area of the slope catchment, within which avalanches descend, and corresponds to the rate of denudation for the slope catchment equal to 0.01–0.05 mm/year. Maximum soil erosion rates are typical for young moraine slopes, where it reaches 100 mm/year in the first years after the glacier melts, and after 50 years slows down to 7–10 mm/year. The main flux of sediments is delivered from the slopes to the river bottoms by occasionally formed mudflows.

THE CAPACITY OF THE SANNA RIVER IN CONDITIONS OF THE RELIABLE FLOW AND THE CONTROL DISCHARGES OF THE WEIR IN ZAKLIKÓW

The aim of the study was to determine the capacity of a selected section of the Sanna river, designated below the lower site of the weir in Zaklików. The capacity calculations included the conditions of flood water discharge, i.e. the reliable flow and the control flow, determined in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment on technical conditions that should be ensured for the hydrotechnical structures and their locations. The paper presents the consequences of changes in the regulations regarding the determination of building type, for which reliable flow and control discharges are determined. These modifications in the regulations have an impact on changes in the determination of the probability value for water discharges related to the analysed weir. The calculation of the capacity of the tested section also took into account its technical condition, specifying the variant of calculations for the lack of maintenance works, i.e. for the current state and for the state after maintenance works, consisting in mowing vegetation on slopes and shaping the surface of river bottom, removing pits and shallows. The results of the calculations of capacity of the measured cross-sections showed that the performance of maintenance works will convey the flow of a Q3% reliable flow in the Sanna river, while the Q1% control flow will not fit into the riverbed and will cause inundation of the adjacent areas.

Wetland birds of middle Vistula River during breeding season: the impact of human activities on the distribution, abundance and richness of species

Wetland birds of middle Vistula River during breeding season: the impact of human activities on the distribution, abundance and richness of species

Analytical review of developments and im-provements of the working body of the cable-layer at trenchless laying of cables

The article provides an analytical review of scientific developments to improve the process of cable laying in general and specifically the working body of the cable layer in the trenchless laying of cables in different geological conditions.&#x0D; Using the patent documentation, the search and analysis of materials for the improvement of the working body of the cable layer and the main advantages of trenchless cable laying were carried out.&#x0D; The task of trenchless laying is: laying of water supply networks, sewerage, gas pipeline; laying of power supply cables, telephone and fibre-optic cable communication and alarm lines; laying on the bottom of rivers and reservoirs; laying in mountainous areas; replacement of worn-out communications with new ones.&#x0D; The article analyzes the improvement of the design of cable-laying with active earth-moving working bodies (ZRO), the principle of operation of which is based on the trenchless method, which has limited working speed and relative working speed, design complexity and low operational reliability.

Ekotoxikologické zhodnocení říčních sedimentů na vybraných lokalitách povodí řeky Odry

Příspěvek se zabývá problematikou znečištění říčních (dnových) sedimentů v povodí řeky Odry, které se nachází na jednom z nejvíce antropogenně znečištěném území České republiky. Prezentované výsledky vycházejí ze zhodnocení říčních sedimentů odebraných na osmi vybraných profilech vodních útvarů, náležící do povodí řeky Odry, pomocí baterie pěti ekotoxikologických testů zahrnujících indikátorové organismy různých trofických úrovní.