Great River Research Articles

Dynamic analysis of soil erosion in the affected area of the lower Yellow River based on RUSLE model

With the accelerated development of urbanization, the exploration and usage of land resources is becoming more and more frequent, which leads to the decline of soil quality, resulting in a series of soil ecological issues, such as soil nutrient loss, soil quality degradation and destruction. At present, the contradiction between soil erosion and sustainable development of human society has become one of the hot issues studied by scholars. The Yellow River Basin is an important experimental area for high-quality development in China, constructing the Yellow River Ecological Economic Belt play an important role in China’s regional coordinated development. Although most of the affected area of the Lower Yellow River (AALYR) is in the plain, they have a large population density and are in the historical farming area. In latest years, because of the development and transformation of modern society, their ecological environment has become more fragile and soil erosion problems has become increasingly serious. Studying and analyzing soil erosion is of vital meaning for ecological protection and can provide scientific support for soil conservation work. Depending on the data of precipitation, soil properties, land use, population, etc., this paper studies and analyzes the soil erosion in AALYR from 2000 to 2020 through the RUSLE. We found that during the 20 years the proportion of very slight and slight grade area increased, and the distribution of moderate and above erosion grade was less, mainly in Zibo, Jinan, Anyang, Zhengzhou, and Tai 'an. Nearly three quarters of the regional soil erosion grade didn’t change, apart from the increase of slight grade area, the other erosion grades area showed a downward trend. We take the city, county and town zoning analysis find that as the scale decreases, the area of serious erosion grades increases, and the distribution is gradually detailed. Land use is the main influencing factor of erosion except DEM. Forestland and grassland are larger of the soil erosion in various types of land use. Through these conclusions in this paper, it is promising to provide theoretical references for the ecological environment governance and high-quality and sustainable development of great river basins of the world and similar regions.

HOW THE HUMAN NEEDS EVOLVING INTO SDGS – MIRACLE OF THE RIVERS

Abstract. Over 7000 years ago, great civilizations started by settlements around the great rivers of the Near East. One of them is the Area called Mesopotamia. The region is broadly defined to include now eastern Syria, south-eastern Turkey, and Iraq. In the narrow sense, Mesopotamia is between Euphrates and Tigris rivers. The world of mathematics and astronomy owes much to the Babylonians—for instance, the sexagesimal system for the calculation of time and angles, which is still practical because of the multiple divisibility of the number 60; the Greek day of 12 "double-hours"; and the zodiac and its signs. The region was the center of a culture whose influence extended throughout the Middle East and the Indus Valley, Fare East, Egypt, and the Mediterranean.In this paper, we will describe how different cultures ate influenced by the Mesopotamian civilization and their way of Life in harmony with Nature and, later, how we had to take care of our current needs in compliance with Nature.

Modeling the Water Quality of the Middle Section of the Northern Great River (Dissolved Oxygen and Water Temperature) Using WASP8 Model

This study aims at to apply the WASP8 model on the middle section of The Great Northern River for the purpose of predicting the changes of both water temperature and the dissolved oxygen. At first, the model was calibrated depending on the field values that measured throughout the study period. The determination parameters and the index of agreement between the estimated values using the model and the actual measuring values showed the possibility of using the model to predict the tow studied indicators. The values of the determination parameter ranged from 0.76 to 0.86 in terms of the dissolved oxygen and regarding water temperature it was over 0.86 in the different studied sites. The values of index of agreement for all sites and the studied indicators ranged from 0.92 to 0.96. It was observed that the water of The Great Northern River is of a good quality in terms dissolved oxygen where the values ranged from 7 to 14 mg/L.

Striped Bass Movement in a Large Southeastern River System

Abstract Migratory behaviors of coastal Striped Bass Morone saxatilis are diverse and vary by latitude along the U.S. Atlantic Coast. Northern populations (e.g., north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina) are anadromous, with spawning occurring in tidal freshwater/brackish rivers and adults leaving spawning locations during the winter to conduct north–south coastal migrations. The central Atlantic comprises a mixture of potamodromous and anadromous types, completing the natural continuum of behavioral modes along latitudinal ecotones. Southern populations (e.g., south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina) are typically resident and potamodromous, completing full life cycles within river systems, and do not migrate along the Atlantic Coast. There are limited studies that have investigated daily movement of Striped Bass in the Southeast and no studies have documented movement of Striped Bass in the Great Pee Dee River, particularly with reference to spawning migrations. The objective of this study was to describe daily movement patterns and centers of attraction (e.g., spawning and resting stages) of Striped Bass in the Great Pee Dee River, South Carolina. We implanted 10 fish with hydroacoustic transmitters between 2013 and 2016. We describe daily movement and behavior using the state-space model with a two-dimensional spatial coordinate system. We recorded a total of 94,857 data points across all individuals and receivers. We observed two movement patterns. One group completed a seasonal migration (i.e., were recorded swimming upstream or downstream) that coincides with spring spawning season. A second group was present in the lower river section and Winyah Bay during the winter for 3 consecutive years but were never observed migrating up the Great Pee Dee River during the spring. One individual was documented swimming 80 river km north in the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, suggesting there are important overwintering locations outside their natal river. Additionally, there were significant gaps in observations for all individuals, particularly in the summer. It is possible that fish are leaving the main stem in search of thermal refuge within small tributaries. Identifying these overwintering areas and tributaries that serve as summer refuge is needed to determine stressors and fishing pressure of this important species.

Great River Road

Great River Road

Spatial and seasonal variations, ecological and human risks of trace metals in major rivers within the oil producing zone of Nigeria

The concentrations of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in sediments from Great Kwa, Calabar, Cross River, Imo, and Qua Iboe Rivers were investigated during the dry and wet seasons using standard techniques. Results indicated that the mean concentrations of all the metals were within their acceptable limits although; higher concentrations were obtained during the wet season. Cd was the major contaminant in the studied sediments; the ecological risks of all the metals except Cd were in the low class. The potential ecological risks of the metals were in the low and moderate categories during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Sediments from Qua Iboe River exhibited very high human health risks for both seasons. Factor analysis revealed anthropogenic and natural factors as the major sources of these metals in sediments from the rivers investigated for both seasons. The estimated daily intake (EDI) rates of these metals via exposure to the studied sediments were within their recommended oral reference doses however; higher wet season values were recorded. The hazard index (HI) values of the trace metals were less than one (1) but, higher during the wet season. Pb and Cd were the major contributors to the total HI during the dry and wet seasons. The relative risk analysis for both seasons also confirmed Cd as the major human risk in the studied sediments. This research has exposed the levels of trace metals and their associated human risks in sediments from the rivers investigated.

Implications of Accuracy of Global Glacier Inventories in Hydrological Modeling: A Case Study of the Western Himalayan Mountain Range

Alpine glaciers are a fundamental component of the cryosphere and are significantly sensitive to climate change. One such region is the Hindukush Karakoram Himalaya (HKH) and Tibetan Plateau (TP) region, which contains more than 40,000 glaciers. There are more than 12 glacier inventories available covering parts of (or the entire) HKH region, but these show significant uncertainties regarding the extent of glaciers. Researchers have used different glacier inventories without assessing their accuracy. This study, therefore, assessed the implications of the accuracy of global glacier inventories in hydrological modeling and future water resource planning. The accuracy assessment of most commonly used two global glacier inventories (Global Land Ice Monitoring from Space-GLIMS v 2.0 and Randolph Glacier Inventory-RGI v 6.0) has been carried out for three sub-basins of the Upper Indus Basin—the Swat, the Chitral, and the Kabul River basins (combined, this is referred to as the Great Kabul River Basin)—with a total basin area of 94,552.86 km2. Glacier outlines have been compared with various Landsat 7 ETM+, Landsat 8, high-resolution Google Earth images, and manually digitized debris-covered glacier outlines during different years. The total glacier area for the Great Kabul River Basin derived from RGI and GLIMS is estimated to be 2120.35 km2 and 1789.94 km2, respectively, which was a difference of 16.9%. Despite being sub-basins of the Great Kabul River Basin, the Swat, and the Chitral River basins were different by 54.74% and 19.71%, respectively, between the two inventories, with a greater glacierized area provided by RGI, whereas the Kabul River basin was different by 54.72%, with greater glacierized area provided by GLIMS. The results and analysis show that GLIMS underestimates glacier outlines in the Swat and the Chitral basins and overestimates glacier extents in the Kabul River basin. The underestimation is mainly due to the non-representation of debris-covered glaciers. The overestimation in GLIMS data is due to the digitization of seasonal snow as part of the glaciers. The use of underestimated GLIMS outlines may result in 5–10% underestimation of glacier-melt contribution to flows in the Swat River basin, while an underestimation of 7% to 15% is expected in the Chitral River Basin, all compared to RGI v 6.0 outlines. The overestimation of glacier-melt contribution to flows in the Kabul River basin is insignificant (1% to 2%) using GLIMS data. In summary, the use of the GLIMS inventory will lead to underestimated flows and show that the Great Kabul River Basin (particularly the Chitral River Basin) is less sensitive to climate change effects. Thus, the current study recommends the use of RGI v 6.0 (best glacier inventory) to revisit the existing biased hydro-climate studies and to improve future hydro-climate studies with the concomitant rectification of the MODIS snow coverage data. The use of the best glacier inventory will provide the best estimates of flow sensitivity to climate change and will result in well-informed decision-making, precise and accurate policies, and sustainable water resource management in the study area. The methodology adopted in the current study may also be used in nearby areas with similar hydro-climate conditions, as well as for the most recently released RGI v 7.0 data.

Functional diversity does not explain the co-occurrence of non-native species within a flow-modified African river system.

Globally, there is growing concern on the occurrence of multiple non-native species within invaded habitats. Proliferation of multiple non-native species together with anthropogenic-driven habitat modifications raise questions on the mechanisms facilitating the co-occurrence of these species and their potential impact within the recipient systems. Using the Great Fish River system (South Africa) which is anthropogenically-modified by inter-basin water transfer (IBWT), as a case study, this research employed trait-based approaches to explore patterns associated with the co-occurrence of multiple non-native fish species. This was achieved by investigating the role of functional diversity of non-native and native fishes in relation to their composition, distribution and environmental relationships. Nineteen functional traits that defined two broad ecological attributes (habitat use and feeding) were determined for 13 fish species that comprised eight native and five non-native fishes. We used these data to, firstly, evaluate functional diversity patterns and to compare functional traits of native and non-native fishes in the Great Fish River system. Secondly, we employed multivariate ordination analyses (factor analysis, RLQ and fourth-corner analyses) to investigate interspecific trait variations and potential species-trait-environmental relationships. From a functional diversity perspective, there were no significant differences in most functional diversity indices between native and non-native species. Despite interspecific variation in body morphology-related traits, we also found no clear separation between native and non-native species based on the ordination analysis of the functional traits. Furthermore, while RLQ ordination showed broad spatial patterns, the fourth-corner analyses revealed no significant relationships among species distribution, functional traits and environmental variables. The weak species-trait-environment relationship observed in this study suggests that environmental filtering was likely a poor determinant of functional trait structure within the Great Fish River. Modification of the natural flow regime may have weakened the relationship between species traits and the environment as has been shown in other systems.

Philosophical Insights into the ‘great’ of Great River Culture through Chuang-tzu’s ‘Autumn Floods’

The Great River Culture, deeply embedded in the fabric of Chinese history, symbolizes the enduring legacy of the Yellow River and its influence on the cultural and spiritual development of the Chinese nation. Understanding the concept of ‘great’ within this cultural context is vital for appreciating its profound impact. In Chuang-tzu’s ‘Autumn Floods,’ the exploration of the relative nature of ‘small’ and ‘great’ provides an invaluable perspective for this understanding. This paper uses the method of literature analysis to delve into the philosophical content expressed by Chuang-tzu in the seven questions and answers between the Deity of the Yellow River and the Deity of the Northern Sea. Chuang-tzu elucidates that understanding the ‘small’ is necessary to discuss the great, the distinction between ‘small’ and ‘great’ is not constant, and the separation between the Dao and objects, along with the concept of reverting to the true essence. Hence, the ‘small’ and the ‘great’ are interdependent, with no fixed division between them. Discussing the ‘great’ only in the tangible and limited sense of ‘seeing things as objects’ is far from sufficient. The higher level of the intangible and infinite Dao represents the true essence of the concept of ‘great’ in river culture.

A lighthouse to enhance the quality of life in the Nile River basin

AbstractThe future of large rivers is related to regional cooperation programs for the sustainable development of water and related resources in great river basins. The objective of this article is to present how roadmaps can be utilized for both building up sustainable development for the Nile River, and supporting the integration of national and regional development strategies in Egypt and other Nile basin countries. The strategic objective is to highlight a wide range of sustainable freshwater pathways for an inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable future for all. In particular, it focuses on generating innovative water solutions, actions, and practices that enhance water exploitation in large river basins, transboundary shared rivers, and other transboundary shared water resources. The roadmapping approach is adopted and developed widely in the science, technology, and innovation community. The paper concentrates on roadmapping as an important tool that promotes sound planning of sustainability of large rivers, and in particular, transboundary shared rivers. The roadmap analyzes the benefits of planning shared water cooperation that extends to ecological, economic, and political features, and also beyond the river for the benefit of all, and identifies at an early stage the actions needed to manage the associated technology and environmental risk. The roadmap includes the key water resources governance characteristics, geographical scope, climate change (CC), and its impact, member states, organizational structure, decision-making, data information sharing, monitoring, the role of multiple stakeholders, financing, legal basis, dispute resolution, and benefit sharing. Therefore, a roadmap for the Nile River can help raise productivity and support faster growth, if considered as a lighthouse for national development strategies. Roadmap for the Nile River proposes windows of opportunity and is a vital milestone for cooperation, peace, stability, joint investment, and prosperity. With possible benefits exceeding those derived from the river itself, a roadmap for the Nile River can catalyze strengthened cooperation and greater regional ecological, economic, social, and political integration. The paper concludes that the roadmap for the Nile River sustainability (NRS) is a promising model for assuring the sustainability of transboundary shared large rivers.

Dynamics in a tropical meso-tidal river: Great Kwa River, southeastern Nigeria (Gulf of Guinea)

Dynamics in a tropical meso-tidal river: Great Kwa River, southeastern Nigeria (Gulf of Guinea)

The Transmission Effectiveness of the Dissolved Nutrients (N, P, Si) Through a South Mediterranean Estuary (Seybouse, Algeria) Under Large Anthropogenic Forcing

The Seybouse Estuary (SE) is the downstream of the second great river in Algeria draining one of the main country’s watersheds (6471 km2, 1.5 million inhabitants). This study highlights the effect of the estuarine part on the distribution and the flux of dissolved nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and silicon (Si) through the SE. Surface water sampling was taken and analysed in the dry (September 2016) and wet (April 2017) seasons. Physical parameters and water discharge data were jointly recorded in parallel to sampling dates. Very low flows varying between 0.3 and 4.7 m3 s-1 were recorded at the outlet in dry and wet seasons, respectively. The SE outlet waters were 2.6 and 10 folds higher than upstream in dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphates (PO4) levels, respectively. However, the silicates (SiO4) levels decreased by about 1/2 in the outlet waters. In terms of flux, the SE delivered to the coast 84 t·yr-1, 9 t·yr-1 and 56 t·yr-1 of DIN, PO4 and SiO4, respectively. The high DIN:PO4 = 137 and low SiO4:DIN = 0.52 molar ratios classify SE as one of the strong anthropised estuaries. The estuarine part amply modifies cycles and budgets of riverine nutrients introduced to the coast.

Why La Salle Hung French Fortunes on a Western Branch: The Maps of Franquelin and Coronelli

In 1684, La Salle proposed to establish a naval base for France on the doorstep of New Spain by sea. The site he chose was a fork in the Mississippi River 180 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. This was where Bayou Lafourche formed a western branch, a distributary of the great river. When the difficult captain of his frigate escort vanished in a fog and headed south in January 1685, La Salle was forced to pursue him for more than 2 weeks down the Texas coast. Presented with a short calendar to achieve the possible invasion of Mexico, and facing contrary winds back to Galveston Bay, where he imagined the mouths of the main channel to be, La Salle headed into Matagorda Bay, where he hoped to find his western branch.

Seasonal migration cues differ for dual‐spawning Atlantic Sturgeon in the Great Pee Dee River

AbstractObjectiveWe investigated environmental variables associated with spawning migration behavior for a dual‐spawning population of endangered Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus in the Great Pee Dee River, South Carolina.MethodsFrom 2016 to 2021, 147 Atlantic Sturgeon were captured, implanted with acoustic transmitters, and monitored using a stationary array of 40 receivers located every 5–20 km along a 302‐km section of the Great Pee Dee River from the river mouth at Winyah Bay to the first movement barrier at Blewett Falls Dam, North Carolina.ResultWe observed 47 Atlantic Sturgeon attempting 74 spring migrations and 39 Atlantic Sturgeon attempting 76 fall migrations across 4 years of telemetry observations (2018–2021). Mixed‐effects models indicated that discharge interacted with water temperature to affect both migration initiation and upriver movement, and these interactions differed between the spring and fall runs. Spring runs were cued by rising temperatures and high river discharge, whereas fall runs were cued by falling temperatures and low discharge. Within migrations, spring‐run fish migrated further upriver when discharge was falling, and fall‐run fish moved further upriver when discharge was rising. Overall, fall‐run sturgeon migrated significantly further upriver than spring‐run sturgeon.ConclusionDifferences in migratory behavior between the two runs suggest potentially unique adaptations to ambient river conditions during the respective spawning seasons. Identifying the environmental factors that drive—and thereby limit—Atlantic Sturgeon migrations in the Great Pee Dee River informs regional recovery efforts and highlights the importance of studying and managing this species at the population level.

Prediction of Daily Flow to the Great Zab River Using Artificial Neural Network Models

Prediction of Daily Flow to the Great Zab River Using Artificial Neural Network Models

In situ bottom sediment temperatures in the Siberian Arctic seas: Current state of subsea permafrost in the Kara sea vs laptev and East Siberian seas

Features of sediment temperature on the shelf and continental slope areas of the Russian Arctic seas and its physical properties are important for understanding the current state of subsea permafrost and the gas hydrates stability zone. New data are reported for the Kara Sea region where the bottom sediment temperatures are influenced by warming effects from great Siberian rivers and the Atlantic currents. The data collected during marine expeditions in 2019–2022 are combined with results of earlier marine studies, drilling operations, and geophysical surveys in the Laptev and East Siberian seas, in order to identify major trends of in situ temperature and properties distribution of bottom sediments in the Russian Arctic region.Most (85%) of bottom sediments in the Kara Sea shelf, as well as in the Laptev and East Siberian shelves, consist of water-saturated silty clay and silt with rather uniform particle size distribution. The obtained thermal conductivity and heat capacity values for the Kara Sea sediments agree with the values of 1.0 W/(m·K) and 2900 kJ/m3, respectively, obtained previously from other Arctic seas. Thermal conductivity becomes up to 40% higher depthward from 0 to 2 m subbottom depth, possibly, because of lower moisture content and porosity in more lithified sediments.The bottom sediment temperatures in the Arctic seas are distributed unevenly, especially in the Kara Sea shelf (from +5.0 °C in the west to −1.4 °C in the east), where the high sediment temperatures in the western and central parts of the Kara Sea being due to the effect of warm water inputs. The distribution of bottom sediment temperatures correlates well with distribution of relic subsea permafrost. Ice-bearing permafrost in the Siberian Arctic shelf extends from the shoreline till sea depths of 80–100 m, within the respective offshore distances of ∼800–1000 km in some areas, but permafrost remnants may exist locally at sea depths within 120 m. Buried 100–600 m thick continuous subsea permafrost may occur in the Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian shelves under unfrozen (cryotic) saline shallow sediments. However, subsea permafrost is discontinuous and sporadic at sea depths ∼70 m and more. Thus, the bottom sediment temperature features in the Arctic seas can be used as a proxy of subsea permafrost extent contenting intrapermafrost and subpermafrost gas and gas hydrate accumulations.

THE CONCEPT OF THE "VOLGA" IN THE NOVEL"MY CHILDREN" BY GUZEL YAKHINA

The article is devoted to the study of the concept of the "Volga" in Guzel Yakhina's novel "My Children". In Russian culture, the main water topos is the majestic Volga. The image of the Volga is a kind of mega-image. This mighty river is glorified by many Russian poets and writers. The theme of the Volga was peculiarly described by Guzel Yakhina. Her novel is an explanation in the love for the great Russian river, which is a significant character of the work, with which it begins and ends with it. In the novel "My Children", the river is presented in the perception of the Germans who moved from Germany to the Volga region in the time of Catherine. For a century and a half, Russian Germans fell in love with the Volga. For them, she is the main natural entity, the object of worship, the breadwinner, the eternal companion and friend. The novel reflected the feelings for the river, that are embodied the native dwellers of the Volga region. The Volga- as the dominant of the Russian landscape in the novel is the structural element that contributes and helps the writer to express the spiritual searches of the heroes, their hopes, moods. Yakhina's great love for Russian nature is focused on the Volga, its expanses, banks and, of course, on the people living there. The Volga embodies both the philosophy of nature and the socio-ethical ideas of the era. For all the heroes of the novel, the Volga is not only a river, but also nature itself, moreover, life itself. The whole novel is a revival of the sacred perception of the river.

Libya’s Other Strategic Resource: Water Politics, Water Security, and the Great Man-Made River

Libya’s Other Strategic Resource: Water Politics, Water Security, and the Great Man-Made River

Quantification of Discharge‐Specific Effects on Dissolved Organic Matter Export From Major Arctic Rivers From 1982 Through 2019

AbstractLong‐term increases in Arctic river discharge have been well documented, and observations in the six largest Arctic rivers show strong positive correlations between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, river discharge, and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) content. Here, observations of DOC and CDOM collected from 2009 to 2019 by the Arctic Great Rivers Observatory were used to estimate chromophoric DOC (CDOC) concentrations in the Kolyma, Lena, Mackenzie, Ob', Yenisey, and Yukon Rivers. All rivers except the Mackenzie showed significant positive correlations between annual watershed runoff and the proportion of the DOC that is chromophoric. Historical estimates of DOC and CDOC export were calculated for 1982–2019 by extrapolating the DOC and CDOC concentration—discharge relationships from 2009 to 2019 as a hindcast modeled estimate. For the six rivers combined, modeled DOC and CDOC exports increased, but CDOC increased faster than total DOC. The Lena and Ob' Rivers showed significant increases in DOC export individually, with annual trends of 39.1 and 20.4 Gg C yr−1 respectively. November–April (winter) DOC and CDOC exports increased in all rivers but the Yenisey, with the hindcast winter Kolyma export increasing by more than 20% per decade. There were no significant trends in discharge or associated DOC and CDOC fluxes during the observational period from 2009 to 2019; only when hindcasted values driven by changes in river discharge were analyzed did trends in DOC and CDOC emerge. This demonstrates how shifting seasonal distributions and increases in discharge can drive changes in DOC and CDOC concentrations and exports independent of other environmental factors.

The Artistic Form and Language Characteristics of Bai Yuping’s Painting Texture

As a representative of the ‘Northern School’ of Chinese landscape painting, Bai Yuping is adept at using extremely thick and thin texture to record the great rivers and mountains of his country, ultimately creating a strong contrast in the picture, creating a special visual sensation for the viewer and creating an emotional resonance between himself and the viewer. Due to Bai Yuping’s special organisation and use of the language of texture gives his landscapes a special charm. On the one hand, this charm is due to the episodic effect of the writing brushstrokes, which to a certain extent breaks down some of the compositional elements of the original picture and expresses his personal emotions; on the other hand, Bai Yuping uses a combination of paint and brushstrokes to express the texture. These two aspects are important features of his language of texture, and the use of texture in his paintings gives his work a certain aesthetic expression of imagery, which has an important influence on his unique artistic language and individual expression. Through the analysis and study of the use of texture language by Mr. Bai Yuping, one can give new blood to one’s landscape oil paintings, inject new ideas into one’s works, and gain certain insights from them, so that one can better apply them to one’s own landscape oil paintings.