Rafting Research Articles

A River Runs through It: Disaster Mobilities of an Elbe Island

A River Runs through It: Disaster Mobilities of an Elbe Island

Forecasting solar irradiance for the strategic integration of hybrid hydro and solar photovoltaic systems in rural Indian regions

ABSTRACT Conversion of the conventional electrical grid into a smart and sustainable grid involves several considerations. The primary factors, however, are renewable energy penetration, associated storage systems, and energy generation costs. This research endeavors to conduct a thorough survey and analysis of the solar irradiance on various hydropower locations in India, including Run-of-River (RoR), Run-of-River with Pondage (RoRP), Reservoir Storage (S), Multi-Purpose Storage (MP) and Pumped Storage Systems (PSS). The hydroelectric projects in rural Indian regions have been the subject of the proposed case study. As a preliminary study, the probabilistic variables like minimum, maximum, and mean solar irradiance are calculated for 252 High-Scale Hydropower Plant locations (HSHPs) using the past 40 years day ahead solar radiation data to identify the high-irradiance hydropower plant location in each state of India. This study concludes that the maximum mean solar irradiance location in each state as these sites are well suited for hybrid PV-hydro systems. The identified high-irradiance locations 40 years day ahead data sets are analyzed employing 8 machine learning models and 2 deep learning models. This analysis aims to forecast solar irradiance, serving as a crucial foundation for the initial phase of the implementation of hybrid PV-hydro.

An assessment of run of river hydropower potential in Great Britain

In the UK, hydropower produces 1.65 GW of energy, only 2% of the national capacity. With most large-scale storage-based hydropower potential sites already utilised in the UK, further development is minimal due to financial, environmental and construction time concerns. However, run of river (RoR) is a type of hydropower that has the potential for further development. While there are studies that estimate different ranges of RoR hydropower potential, the last UK-wide study was undertaken in 1989, meaning it is outdated. In this study, a methodological framework was created to assess the potential of RoR hydropower in Great Britain (GB) (Northern Ireland was omitted from this study due to a lack of river flow data). The hydrological, technical, financial and realisable potentials for pico, micro, mini and small RoR hydropower were determined. The results show that the total hydrological potential is 20 GW, the technical potential is 11 GW, the financially viable potential is 320–420 MW and the realisable potential is 290–320 MW. Most realisable schemes are either mini or small, situated in the west and north-west parts of GB. This study adds to the understanding of the RoR potential in GB and offers a reliable estimate of RoR hydropower that can be produced alongside suitable RoR scheme locations.

Impact of run-of-river damming on increasing phytoplankton biomass and species shift in a large Amazonian river

Run-of-river (ROR) dams, often perceived as having minimal environmental impact, can induce significant hydrodynamic changes that alter aquatic ecosystems. We investigated the impacts of an ROR dam on the Madeira River, the largest Amazon tributary, focusing on phytoplankton communities, their ecological implications, and related environmental factors. Our study examined changes in biomass and environmental factors (using General Linear Mixed Models - GLMM), species composition (using PERMANOVA) before and after damming, in both the main channel and tributaries (N = 549 samples). We also identified indicator species associated with different damming phases and regions through an indicator value analysis. The results showed that, following dam construction, the phytoplankton community changed in both the main channel and tributaries, with a shift from lotic diatoms to lentic phytoflagellates. This transition was likely facilitated by altered hydrodynamics and possibly influenced by the decomposition of flooded vegetation in the dam's influence zone. The decomposition of this vegetation could explain both the observed increase in oxygen consumption and the subsequent rise in phytoflagellate biomass after damming. However, despite the overall increase in phytoplankton biomass, the values remained within oligotrophic to mesotrophic conditions, consistent with the low nutrient concentrations recorded. However, we caution that the dam-created hydrodynamic conditions are optimal for phytoplankton growth, potentially exacerbating nutrient-related issues in the future. We recommend proactive management strategies to prevent nutrient enrichment from activities such as agriculture and livestock in isolated Amazon areas affected by dams, thereby mitigating potential degradation of water quality linked to increased phytoplankton biomass.

Impact of Adventure Sports Participation on Personal Resilience in Tanzania

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of adventure sports participation on personal resilience in Tanzania. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Engaging in activities such as rock climbing, white-water rafting, and mountain biking can enhance physical fitness, improve mental health, and boost self-confidence. The physical challenges associated with adventure sports often lead to improved cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and overall physical endurance. Mentally, these activities are known to reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression, primarily due to the release of endorphins and the meditative nature of focusing on a single task. Moreover, adventure sports often require quick decision-making, problem-solving, and risk management, which can lead to improved cognitive functions and better coping mechanisms in everyday life. Participants frequently report a heightened sense of self-efficacy and resilience, as overcoming the physical and mental challenges of adventure sports can translate to increased confidence in their ability to tackle other life challenges. Additionally, the social aspects of participating in adventure sports cannot be overlooked. These activities often foster a sense of community and teamwork, which can enhance social skills and create lasting bonds among participants. This sense of camaraderie and shared experience contributes to a feeling of belonging and support, which is essential for overall well-being. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Resilience theory, self-determination theory and experiential learning theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing impact of adventure sports participation on personal resilience in Tanzania. Incorporating adventure sports into therapeutic practices offers a dynamic and engaging way to build resilience among individuals dealing with psychological issues. Allocating government funding and support to adventure sports programs can significantly enhance public health and resilience at the community level.

Future impacts of river flow on hydropower generation in Great Britain

ABSTRACT Climate change is likely to alter Great Britain's water resource availability for hydropower generation. This affects hydropower production due to uncertainty around the timing and magnitude of water availability, particularly run of river (RoR) schemes that lack the storage capacity to buffer seasonal flow variability. This study examines the likely future changes on RoR potential at locations across GB using the enhanced future flows (eFLaG) dataset. Results show that annual river flows are projected to increase in winter and spring but reduce in summer and autumn. This has an impact on RoR potential with a projected decrease in the near (2030–2059) and far future (2050–2079) for both summer (−19%, −32%) and autumn (−11%, −19%) throughout GB. Therefore, results indicate a decrease in the annual RoR potential in GB. This study underscores the importance of incorporating climate change considerations in the planning and operation of RoR schemes to ensure sustainable energy generation. This could be achieved by upgrading existing turbines to handle higher flows or designing new turbines capable of accommodating larger discharges to fully utilise the increased flows during winter. However, this should be done with consideration of the technical limitations and the opportunities for optimisations for system generation.

Possibilities of Ecotourism Development in Rani Mahal Area, Palpa, Western Nepal

Nepal has significant potential for tourism due to its diverse flora and fauna, rich culture, and abundance of mountains, historical sites, and religious places. This study assesses the potential for ecotourism development in the Rani Mahal area of Palpa district. The research was based on Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and field observations. In total, FGDs were conducted in five locations, and 38 KIIs were carried out. The study found that ecotourism activities such as white-water rafting, beach volleyball, homestays, and hiking are feasible in the Rani Mahal area. White-water rafting in the Kali Gandaki River (from Ridi to Ramdi) and beach volleyball in the Rani Mahal area were identified as highly promising for ecotourism. Similarly, homestays in Bote village (Dailathun) and Satuka (Syangja) were also found to have high potential. Additionally, hiking routes from Rani Mahal to Magar homestay (Baugha Gumha), Alamdevi temple (Syangja), Argali, and Ridi offer great potential for ecotourism activities. The results of this study provide valuable insights into tourism planning, infrastructure development, and the sustainable development of ecotourism in the Rani Mahal area.

Enhanced Frequency Containment Reserve provision from battery hybridized hydropower plants: Theory and experimental validation

This paper presents a solution to address wear and tear of Run-of-River (RoR) Hydropower Plants (HPPs) providing enhanced Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR). In this respect, the study proposes the integration of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with RoR HPPs controlled by a double-layer Model Predictive Control (MPC). The upper layer MPC acts as a state of energy manager for the BESS, employing a forecast of the required regulating energy for the next hour. The lower-layer MPC optimally allocates the power set-point between the turbine and the BESS. Reduced-scale experiments are performed on a one-of-a-kind testing platform to validate the proposed MPC-based control considering a comparison with different control strategies and different BESS sizes. The results demonstrate superior performance of the proposed framework, compared to simpler techniques like dead-band control or to the standalone RoR scenario, leading to improved FCR provision, reduced servomechanism stress, and extended hydropower asset lifespan.

ChatGPT and the Territory of Contemporary Narratology; or, A Rhetorical River Runs through It

ChatGPT and the Territory of Contemporary Narratology; or, A Rhetorical River Runs through It

Methylmercury in northern pike (Esox lucius) liver and hepatic mitochondria is linked to lipid peroxidation

Methylmercury (MeHg) readily bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in aquatic food webs leading to elevated concentrations in fish and may thus induce toxicity. Oxidative stress is a suggested effect of MeHg bioaccumulation in fish. However, studies on how MeHg triggers oxidative stress in wild fish are scarce. The purpose of this study was to link the subcellular distribution of MeHg in the liver of northern pike from the St. Maurice River (Québec, Canada), affected by two run-of-river (RoR) dams, artificial wetlands, forest fires, and logging activity, to lipid peroxidation as an indicator of oxidative stress. We also evaluated the protective effects of the glutathione (GSH) system and selenium (Se), as they are known to alleviate MeHg toxicity. A customized subcellular partitioning protocol was used to separate the liver into metal-sensitive (mitochondria, microsome/lysosome and HDP – heat-denatured proteins) and metal-detoxified fractions (metal-rich granules and HSP – heat-stable proteins). We examined the relation among THg, MeHg, and Se concentration in livers and subcellular fractions, and the hepatic ratio of total GSH (GSHt) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) on lipid peroxidation levels, using the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation. Results showed that hepatic MDA concentration was positively correlated with the combined MeHg and Se concentrations in northern pike liver (r2 = 0.88, p < 0.001) and that MDA concentrations were best predicted by MeHg associated with the mitochondria (r2 = 0.71, p < 0.001). This highlights the need for additional research on the MeHg influence on fish health and the interactions between Hg and Se in northern pike.

Analysis of the feasibility of the Sei Bah Bolon rafting ecotourism object, Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatra Province

Ecotourism is an embodiment of tourism activities that are focused on nature conservation, development and social, cultural and economic empowerment of the local community in the Sei Bah Bolon Rafting Ecotourism area. In order to optimally develop ecotourism in the region, a strategy for planning, utilization, control, institutional strengthening and community empowerment is needed by taking into account social, economic, ecological principles and involving stakeholders. This study aims to identify potential tourism objects and assess the level of feasibility of developing ecotourism objects for Sei Bah Bolon River Rafting Ecotourism, Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatra Province. Data collection during the research was carried out by collecting data by direct observation and interviews. The variables analyzed in this study refer to the ADO-ODTWA Director General PHKA 2003 Guidelines for Analysis of Operational Areas of Natural Tourism Objects and Attractions and the Potential Development Strategy with the SWOT Matrix. The potential objects and attractions of the Sei Bah Bolon Rafting Ecotourism get a feasibility level with an index of 88.17% feasible to be developed into ecotourism.

Stochastic Flow Analysis for Optimization of the Operationality in Run-of-River Hydroelectric Plants in Mountain Areas

The highly temporal variability of the hydrological response in Mediterranean areas affects the operation of hydropower systems, especially in run-of-river (RoR) plants located in mountainous areas. Here, the water flow regime strongly determines failure, defined as no operating days due to inflows below the minimum operating flow. A Bayesian dynamics stochastic model was developed with statistical modeling of both rainfall as the forcing agent and water inflows to the plants as the dependent variable using two approaches—parametric adjustments and non-parametric methods. Failure frequency analysis and its related operationality, along with their uncertainty associated with different time scales, were performed through 250 Monte Carlo stochastic replications of a 20-year period of daily rainfall. Finally, a scenario analysis was performed, including the effects of 3 and 30 days of water storage in a plant loading chamber to minimize the plant’s dependence on the river’s flow. The approach was applied to a mini-hydropower RoR plant in Poqueira (Southern Spain), located in a semi-arid Mediterranean alpine area. The results reveal that the influence of snow had greater operationality in the spring months when snowmelt was outstanding, with a 25% probability of having fewer than 2 days of failure in May and April, as opposed to 12 days in the winter months. Moreover, the effect of water storage was greater between June and November, when rainfall events are scarce, and snowmelt has almost finished with operationality levels of 0.04–0.74 for 15 days of failure without storage, which increased to 0.1–0.87 with 3 days of storage. The methodology proposed constitutes a simple and useful tool to assess uncertainty in the operationality of RoR plants in Mediterranean mountainous areas where rainfall constitutes the main source of uncertainty in river flows.

Not Just Rapids: Navigating Gendered Performance in the Whitewater Rafting Industry

Summary Ideal archetypes of outdoor guides often conjure images of strong men with beards and flannel. While guiding industries are, in fact, man-dominated, many women have been successful in gaining and maintaining employment in outdoor professions. Feminist scholars have outlined concepts of gender performances. Within guiding industries, many women have been adapted by performing masculinity. This case study stems from a larger project examining gender dynamics and issues of harassment within the whitewater raft guiding community. We outline the specific ways in which a dominant masculinity is described by interviewees and the subsequent practices they adopt. Specifically, we discuss how women have enacted masculinity through toughness, assertive communication, and sexual humor. We highlight how these expectations are exclusionary and can be opposed. Through these examples and related literature, we re-envision work cultures that no longer require the additional labor of navigating masculinist environments in order to be accepted and successful. Information © CAB International 2024

Analyzing land use land cover (LULC) changes induced by the run-of river project and respondent survey: a case of Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project on Indus River, Pakistan

Land use land cover (LULC) change determination caused by development projects is always mandatory as land is the major source of local livelihoods and regional economy. Worldwide, very limited studies have been conducted to determine LULC changes caused by run-of-the-river projects, which are generally considered safe due to their design. Present study used Google Earth Engine (GEE) to examine the LULC changes caused by Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project (GBHP), which is a run-of-the-river project, built in 2002 on Indus River in Pakistan. The project diverts river water from Ghazi barrage, for a 6,600 GWh annual power production, through an open concrete power channel of 100 m width and 9 m depth. Field surveys were carried out to assess respondents’ opinions about LULC changes and their major causes. LULC determination was carried out from 1990–2020 through processing Landsat images in GEE, and Random Forest (RF) machine learning technique was used for supervised classification of the study area. 384 respondents were consulted during the field survey and their responses were collected using semi-structured self-administered proformas. Results showed that after functioning, GBHP caused major LULC changes in project downstream areas from 2002–2010, as there was a significant decrease in area under agriculture by 29.10% and 47%, during summer and winter seasons respectively. The trend was concurrent with a decrease in area under water and was also followed by a marked increase in area under vegetation and baresoil. However, from 2010–2020, agriculture area again increased by 75.61% and 84.53% in summer and winter seasons respectively, as compared to 2002–2010. Respondents during the field survey revealed that agriculture reduction from 2002–2010 was due to water scarcity caused by GBHP; also leading to vegetation and baresoil increase. Recovery of agriculture from 2010–2020 was attributed to groundwater development intervention, better seeds, and farmers’ capacity building.

Quantitative analysis of hydropower potential in the upper Beas basin using geographical information system and MIKE 11 Nedbor Afrstromnings Model (NAM)

AbstractThe present study aims to identify potential locations for small‐scale hydroelectric power (HEP) stations in hilly regions for the purpose of generating renewable energy. A rainfall‐runoff (R‐R) model of the Beas River catchment was established using the MIKE 11 NAM to estimate the available discharge. The model was calibrated and validated over the period of June‐2015–May‐2018 and June‐2018–May‐2020, respectively, using daily observed discharge data at the Pandoh Dam site. The model exhibited good performance with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.82 during calibration and 0.70 during validation and a water balance of −0.01% and −18%, respectively. However, Lmax, CK1, CK2 and CQOF are found most sensitive parameters during the calibration. Further, thirteen major streams of order five or higher were selected for the assessment of hydropower potential, resulting in the identification of 131 potential run‐of‐river (ROR) hydropower sites. The hydropower potential at two proposed sites, Bhang SHEP (9 MW) and Raison SHEP (18 MW), was estimated to be 11 and 15 MW, respectively, using 90% dependable flow. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of using Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques for determining hydropower potential in ungauged basins in the Himalayas.

A River Runs Through It: Reading the Text and Context of a River

This article is framed and inspired by Jacklyn Cock’s Writing the Ancestral River (Johannesburg: Wits University Press, 2018), which traces the history of the Kowie river in the Eastern Cape and its significance both in her own life and in shaping a specific geographical area. We set out to “read” the Kromme river through the lens of Cock’s “biography-of-a-river” approach, which is both an evocative personal account and a social and environmental history of a river. Like the Kowie, the story of the Kromme river raises issues of competing interests; environmental, economic, and social justice concerns; and the tension between a river viewed in instrumentalist terms or as a complex, precious wetland and estuary. We consider questions such as whether the natural world in itself has inalienable rights, and whether rivers—even minor ones such as the Kromme—should have the right to be protected.

Employment Adjustment During the Initial Outbreak of COVID-19: Empirical Evidence from Tourism Workers in Bhutan

Even though quantifying the impacts of COVID-19 on jobs and employment has been studied in recent literature worldwide, not much research has attempted to investigate the impacts in terms of employment adjustment, especially during the initial outbreak of the pandemic. Using secondary survey data of 1,320 employees working in the tourism sector in Bhutan as a case study, our multinomial logit model estimations show that female workers were among the most vulnerable group to be asked to reduce some benefits from work, to receive only a partial salary or to leave without pay during the initial outbreak. However, when the situation became more severe (resulting in the laying off of employees), the tourism sector in Bhutan laid off male workers also. Negative impacts on their employment were likely to be found among workers with higher education, the relatively young and married workers. In addition, employment adjustments were also found to vary by tourism sub-sector during initial outbreaks. Workers in the entertainment sector seemed to experience the smallest hit from the initial outbreak since they still received some partial payments or were asked to only temporarily leave their jobs without receiving payment. Some sectors, especially tour guides, tour operations, river rafting and land transport, however, had to lay off their workers during the initial outbreak as those businesses rely mostly on international tourists. This study also discusses the policy recommendations to ensure employment stability during such a crisis in the future. JEL Codes: J23, M51, Z39

Optimal generation expansion planning model for solar PV generation on Run of River-based hydro-based power system using binary genetic algorithm

Abstract This paper presents a binary genetic algorithm approach developed to solve the optimal generation expansion planning problem for solar photo-voltaic (PV) based Run of River (ROR) hydro generation systems. The results show that the methodology effectively solves mixed-integer, constrained nonlinear generation expansion problems. The model is then used to optimize the generation expansion problem for the electricity grid in the eastern region of Nepal, considering the under construction and planned solar PV and ROR-based hydropower plants. The optimal problem is formulated to determine the optimal number, location and type of power plant to fulfill the demand for the electricity grid of the eastern zone grid of Nepal. Results show that the total generation from the optimal sites combining hydro and solar sites is found to be about 26% of that of total energy in the Nepalese grid. However, the total demand in the system under consideration for the year is about 1352 GWh. With eliminating line losses, a surplus generation of about 1377 GWh has been found. This surplus can be used as power pooling with neighboring countries. The system has a surplus during the wet season but needs to be improved during the dry season. Hence, appropriate policies can be formulated for power banking and pooling to balance the demand–supply in the system.

White-water Rafting Tourism Potential at Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park Based on The Tourism Suitability Index

Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park (BBBRNP) is a national park that functions as a conservation area for flora and fauna of mountainous tropical rain forests as well as a water catchment area for two large rivers, namely the Melawi River (West Kalimantan) and the Katingan River (Central Kalimantan). This natural condition produces potential for BBBRNP as a tourism area, especially for white water rafting. One of the BBBRNP resorts that have the potential to become a tourism area is Belaban Resort, a white-water rafting spot. However, the existing possibility of white-water rafting has not been analyzed measurably. This research aims to determine the Tourism Sustainability Index (TSI) of white-water Rafting at Belaban Resort, BBBRNP. The study was conducted in March 2022. The method for determining the observation location used a purposive sampling technique. Data was analyzed using the Tourism Suitability Index (TSI) analysis. This research consists of ten observation points. The research results show that the suitability index for rafting tourism is included in the v(S1) with a suitability index value of 88.56%.

Innovative Design and Performance Analysis of Gravitational Water Vortex Turbines

Abstract: Due to limited availability and risk of extraction of non-renewable natural resources for energy extraction and production of electricity in future we will be relying on various renewable energy resources. Therefore we intent to aid THE GRAVITATIONAL VORTEX TURBINE SYSTEM in the field of hydro electricity generation. The turbine is capable of generating clean energy from streams without interfering with the environment. It will be capable if converting energy of moving fluid to kinetic energy which can be further utilized to convert it into electrical energy using a low hydraulic head. Electrical power is essential in commercial and social investments like lighting, heating, communications, Computers, industrial equipment, transport etc. Therefore hydropower energy is one of the most suitable and efficient source of renewable energy which depends on more than century of experience for this issue. The power capacity and facility are two criteria required for the classification of hydropower plant. The first one consists of five technologies: dammed reservoir, run of river, pumped storage, in stream technology and new technology gravitational vortex. The other one is classified according to power scale is Large, Small, Micro and Pico Hydropower. This project is focusing on micro hydropower especially gravitational vortex power which increases the sustainability and health of the water as a whole. It presents an overview from both flow and power points of view by discussing the free surface vortex (FSV) and the suitable turbine systems which are used in micro hydropower. The use of subjects like Fluid mechanics, Theory of machines and Engineering Mechanics will provide a backbone of this project. From this Project we will illustrate the micro hydro power generation technique.