Papers Published in the International Journal of Sediment Research

Volume 39, No.3, 2024

Pages 305-494 (June 2024)

1.        Hybrid neuro fuzzy inference systems for simulating catchment sediment yield
Mahdi Sedighkia, Manizheh Jahanshahloo, Bithin Datta
Pages 305-316

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627924000179
Abstract: Increasing sediment yield is one of the important environmental challenges in river basins resulting from changing land use. The current study develops an adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) hybridized with evolutionary algorithms to predict annual sediment yield at the catchment scale considering some key factors affecting the alteration of the sediment yield. The key factors consist of the area of the sub-catchments, average slope of the sub-catchments, rainfall, and forest index, and the output of the model is sediment yield. Several indices such as the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), root mean square error and vulnerability index (VI) were applied to evaluate the performance of the models. Moreover, hybrid models were compared in terms of complexities to select the best approach. Based on the results in Talar River basin in Iran, several hybrid models in which particle swarm optimization (PSO), genetic algorithm, invasive weed optimization, biogeography-based optimization, and shuffled complex evolution used to train the neuro fuzzy network are able to generate reliable sediment yield models. The NSE of all previously listed models is more than 0.8 which means they are robust for assessing sediment yield resulting from land use change with a focus on deforestation. The proposed models are fairly similar in terms of computational complexities which implies no priority for selecting the best model. However, PSO-ANFIS performed slightly better than the other models especially in terms of accuracy of the outputs due to a high NSE (0.92) and a low VI (1.9 Mg/ha). Using the proposed models is recommended due to the lower required time and data compared to a physically based models such as the The Soil and Water Assessment Tool. However, some drawbacks restrict the application of the proposed model. For example, the proposed models cannot be used for small temporal scales. 

2.        Estimates of longshore sediment transport rates along Macumba and Recreio-Barra da Tijuca sandy beaches (Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil)
Breylla Campos Carvalho, Josefa Varela Guerra
Pages 317-326
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627924000301
Abstract: Due to the complex nature of coastal dynamics, several models were developed to estimate longshore sediment transport (LST) rates. The Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC), Kamphuis, and Bayram models are among the most used and were applied to three east–west oriented sandy urban beaches from Rio de Janeiro (southeastern Brazil): Macumba, Recreio, and Barra da Tijuca. The wave record from oceanographic buoys and the WaveWatch III (WW3) model were used to identify fairweather periods and increased storminess between 2016 and 2018. Eastwards, median sediment grain-size grades from coarse to medium sand, and is associated with decreasing beach slopes in the same direction. The magnitude of the estimated LST rates varied significantly between the models (Δ ≈ 1,000 m³/day, p < 0.001), although the time-averaged LST rates obtained from the four models indicate eastward transport. The four models identified areas of convergence and divergence of sediment transport with increasing rates to the east. The modeling results may support effective coastal management initiatives when integrated with topographic profiles, numerical modeling, satellite imagery, and historical information.

3.        Experimental study of reservoir flushing through a bottom tunnel initially covered by cohesive sediment
Huan Xu, Zhixian Cao
Pages 327-339
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627924000295
Abstract: Reservoir sediment flushing, one of the most effective strategies for alleviating reservoir sedimentation, involves discharging sediment-laden flows downstream through bottom tunnels. However, whether flushing can be accomplished if the intake of a bottom tunnel is initially covered by cohesive sediment remains poorly understood. Here, flume experiments were done to investigate cohesive sediment flushing in a reservoir. It is demonstrated that cohesive sediment in a reservoir is harder to flush than non-cohesive sediment. A higher water level in the reservoir, initially smaller cover layer thickness, and lower dry density of the sediment favor the occurrence of sediment flushing. The flushing process of cohesive sediment is significantly affected by seepage. Under the combined action of gravity erosion and water erosion, the scour hole upstream of the dam is characterized by angular and broken edges. The threshold conditions for flushing of non-cohesive and cohesive sediments are evaluated. Empirical formulas applicable to both non-cohesive and cohesive sediment are proposed to estimate the equilibrium scour depth immediately upstream of the bottom tunnel intake. Also, empirical models are proposed for the time variation of sediment position in the bottom tunnel. The current findings are significant for informing the design and operation of reservoirs on rivers carrying fine-grained cohesive sediment in support of reservoir benefits and capacity preservation.

4.        Improved estimation of critical bed shear stress downstream of low-head weirs in streams with coarse bed material
Anbin Li, Bruce W. Melville, Yifan Yang, Liyao Gao, Asaad Y. Shamseldin, Genguang Zhang  
Pages 340-354
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627924000349
Abstract: Existing methods for estimating critical bed shear stress are limited and usually do not consider local scour processes; therefore, the accuracy of numerical modeling is usually compromised. This paper presents the results of physical experiments on scour downstream of low-head weirs and proposes new equations for estimating the critical bed shear stress in scour holes. The experiments were done using a camel hump weir and coarse-bed materials which are applicable to steep streams with coarse-bed materials (gravel, rocks, etc.). The critical shear stress was regarded as the bed shear stress within the scour holes, which was determined using the three-dimensional (3D) flow field and bed morphology measured at the equilibrium scour state. The influence of the sediment size also was investigated. The experimental results showed that a scour hole can be divided into three zones: Zone-I for the upstream scour slope, Zone-II for the downstream scour slope, and Zone-III for the downstream slope of the sediment deposit downstream of the hole. The relation between the critical shear stress of the bed surface in Zone-I, the flow rate, and bed position was established, and the new equations yielded better accuracy than existing methods. In addition, the relation between the critical shear stress and the slope of the bed and the ratio of the local water depth to the particle size in Zone-II and Zone-III were established. After verification, the calculation results of the newly proposed equations were in good agreement with the standard values of the dimensionless critical Shields parameter obtained through processing the experimental results in the current study. Further discussion is provided regarding the integration of the parameters calculated applying the new parameters in the numerical models.

5.        Sand sheets—the major dust source in the western Lake Urmia playa—A comprehensive study of the soil-dust properties and stabilization
Nikou Hamzehpour, Gholam Reza Mahdavinia, Mehdi Rahmati
Pages 355-374
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627924000386
Abstract: Climate change accelerated by anthropogenic activities has led to the shrinkage and eventually disappearance of salt lakes all over the world. Gradual desiccation of Lake Urmia (LU) in northwestern Iran, as one example of desiccating lakes, has led to the exposure of the lakebed sediment with enormous dust emission potential in some parts. Sand sheets of western LU are identified as one of the major contributors to aerosols in this region. Yet, dust blown from this area is not well characterized. The aims of the current study were, therefore, to comprehensively investigate the origin of dust from sand sheets; the characteristics of dust and temporal variability of the aerosol and to test the effectiveness of the application of sodium alginate (SA) on soil crusting and stabilization. Soil samples were collected from the two prevailing soil types from sand sheets in August 2020. Dust samples were also collected during four time periods: July and August (the beginning of the dry season); October and November (the beginning of the wet season). Using SA with varying concentrations and different methods of application, the effectiveness of the induced crusts was investigated. Authigenic aragonite minerals with elongated needle shapes were found to be the major constituent of the soil and dust samples. Temporal variability of the dust characteristics and their elemental correlation to dust sources revealed that while dust source 1 (DS₁) with higher clay, salt, and silt contents contribute more to the dust composition from July to August (R² > 0.75 for DS₁ versus R² > 0.58 for DS₂), dust source 2 (DS₂) with less salinity and higher sand content becomes the major contributor to dust composition from October to November (R² > 0.91 for DS₂ versus R² > 0.75 for DS₁). Results of stabilizing both DS₁ and DS₂ showed that SA-induced crusts on DS₁ are more stable than DS₂ due to the presence of higher clay, silt, salt, organic matter, and lower aragonite minerals. SA-induced crusts by a compaction method significantly performed better than a spray of SA on either dry (DSp) or soil at its optimum water content (WSp) at all concentrations. Nevertheless, spray methods are more feasible at the field scale and in both DSp and WSp methods, SA_0.5 improved the crust thickness. Scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) along with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed the remaining SA on the soil surface three months after its application indicating the effective performance of the SA solution in sand sheets stabilization. Hence, its application at the field scale could possibly reduce aerosol release and transport to surrounding areas.

6.        Evaluating nutrient distribution and eutrophication pattern in a shallow impounded lake: Exploring the influence of floods
Fuxin Zhang, Hongwu Tang, Guangqiu Jin, Yantao Zhu, Hong Zhang, Rodney Anthony Stewart, Edoardo Bertone, Saiyu Yuan
Pages 375-385
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627924000428
Abstract: Water quality management in shallow impounded lakes is challenging due to nutrient's enrichment and algal blooms. Lake Hongze is a reservoir for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project's Eastern Route and an essential water source for Jiangsu Province, China, and its water quality closely relates to the local aquatic ecosystem and affects the water supply security of the surrounding areas. The spatial and seasonal patterns of total nitrogen, total phosphorus (TP), and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in the lake were investigated and the effects of floods on these patterns were assessed. Hydrological data and trophic state parameters were analyzed using 7 years of monitoring data from 16 water sampling sites throughout the lake. The statistical analysis revealed the seasonal variation characteristics affected by floods and the differences in material transport continuity between inflow and outflow boundaries. Eutrophication assessment using the trophic level index and Chl-a concentrations also indicated eutrophication was concentrated at the southeast side of the lake. Spatial interpolation of Chl-a using the ordinary kriging method clarified that existence and movement of the localized eutrophication area in Lake Hongze. The mass balance calculations of TP indicated that a substantial amount of phosphorus entered the lake during the flood season, however, most severe algal blooms occurring after the flood season. The onset of algal blooms exhibits a significant time lag in response to phosphorus input, primarily due to the influence of hydrodynamic processes within the lake during the flood season.

7.        Changes in runoff and sediment discharge along with their driving factors in the Pearl River basin from 1961 to 2018
Jie Tang, Wenting Wang, Hanquan Cheng, Hua Jin, Tian Zhao, Yun Xie
Pages 386-400
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627924000167
Abstract: The Pearl River is the second-largest river in China in terms of discharge and has experienced significant changes due to human activities and climate change. The aim of the current study was to detect spatiotemporal variations in runoff and sediment discharge in the Pearl River basin (PRB) over the past 60 years and to reveal the driving factors based on the collection of hydrological and meteorological data and land use data. The results showed that the average sediment load in the PRB was 64.7 Mt/y, with a significant decreasing rate of -7.6 Mt/10 y. The increase in vegetation coverage (by 0.4%/10 y) and the presence of large reservoirs were the main factors leading to the decreasing trend in the sediment load. However, in some subbasins with limited reservoir construction, increased rainfall erosivity during the dry season, along with land use conversion leading to a rapid increase in bare land and construction sites, contributed to an upward trend in the sediment load. The runoff discharge in the PRB remained relatively stable, with a change rate of -2.3 km³/10 y, and its variations were closely related to annual and seasonal rainfall changes. Human water consumption resulted in a lower measured runoff than natural runoff levels. A significant linear relation between the two confirmed the impact of human activities. The current study emphasizes the importance of considering both natural and anthropogenic factors in understanding runoff and sediment dynamics in the PRB and contributes to the knowledge of basin hydrology for guiding the formulation of effective water management strategies for sustainable regional development.

8.        Towards an understanding of southern peri-Pannonian lacustrine depositional cycles: Interplay of sediment delivery and shifting intrabasinal height, a case study of drilled Neogene sediments from northwest Toplica Basin (Central Serbia)
Marija Radisavljevic, Nikola Burazer, Aleksandra Sajnovic, Darko Spahic, Gordana Gajica , Sabina Kovac , Violeta Gajic , Branimir Jovancicevic
Pages 401-420
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627924000313
Abstract: A multidisciplinary approach allowed the reconstruction of the shallow, highly complex Neogene lacustrine-type sedimentological interplay between the peri-Pannonian (sub)basin subsidence and its seafloor topography. The current study further discusses the mechanism of localized uplift and subsidence by analyzing depositional cycles of middle Miocene sediments drilled in a northwestern or shallower Toplica Basin depocenter (borehole BL4, depth up to 630 m; Central Serbia). Supported by recent constraints on a deeper basinal section of eastern and western subbasin depocenters, the composite study of the segmented Toplica Basin involved geological, sedimentological, mineralogical, inorganic, and organic geochemical analysis, as well as constraints on interchanging geodynamic drivers. The data were extracted from thirty-one selected samples from four sedimentary lithomembers: A, B, C, and D. The architecture of these deposits reflects an intricate pattern influenced by complex lake bottom and subsurface geology (dis)connecting the two depocenters. The investigated Neogene deposition, as a whole, was dominantly controlled by a lithospheric-scale extensional graben system (involving the Jastrebac core complex-type tectonic exhumation) developed on top of the underlying Serbo-Macedonian basement unit. The crustal extension allowed rapid material inflow from other exposed sequences of the juvenile basin, including the abutting surface exposures. During the initial stretching and basin subsidence stage, sediment inflow towards the eastern Toplica depocenter was hindered. The influx of surface-eroded material was interrupted by a natural “obstacle”. In turn, such a configuration facilitated voluminous material transport into the western depocenter of the basin, thereby controlling the deposition of lithomembers A and B. After the deposition of lithomember B ceased, the “barrier”, or likely intrabasinal structural high, contributed to a reversal of the former westward-directed transport. In that manner, the vertical movements of the structural high enabled material transfer typical for the eastern basin segment, consequently prompting a sedimentary development of the lithomembers C and D.
In this context, mineralogical and geochemical differences between the sequences are used as tracers of depositional changes affected by tectonic events. Sequences of sand and gravel layers of upper lithomembers C and D pointed out that alluvial processes strongly influenced their depositional cycle. On the other hand, a more pronounced presence of sulfide minerals (pyrite concretions) in lithomembers A and B correlated with a calm and anoxic paleoenvironment. The elevated trend of mixed terrigenous and/or microbiologically reworked organic matter (higher carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio and terrigenous/aquatic (TAR) ratio, the lower sum of steroids/sum of hopanoids (S/H)) ratio, deposited under anoxic–dysoxic freshwater lacustrine conditions (higher pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) ratio, absence of squalane (i-C₃₀) and β-carotane), is observed towards a shallower section of the borehole (lithomembers C and D).

9.        Unraveling the sources of organic matter in suspended particulates and sediment in a closed inland lake using stable isotope fingerprinting
Xiaohui Ren, Ruihong Yu, Jianfang Kang, Rui Wang, Xiangwei Li, Dalun Wang, Pengxuan Zhang
Pages 421-434
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627924000404
Abstract: Suspended particulates and sediment are significant reservoirs of organic matter (OM) in lakes, and tracking the formation of suspended particulate organic matters (SPOMs) and sediment organic matters (SOMs) is the key to understanding the environmental behavior of OM and the carbon cycling of lake ecosystems. However, few studies have simultaneously focused on the sources of SPOM and SOM in closed inland lakes to reveal their differences and implications for water quality. The current study investigated the sources of SPOM and SOM in Daihai Lake, a typical closed inland lake in northern China, based on stable carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotopic compositions, during spring, summer, and autumn. The results showed that δ¹³C_POC and δ¹⁵N_PN (where POC and PN denote particulate organic carbon and nitrogen, respectively) of SPOM varied from ?30.99‰ to ?21.71‰ and 1.43‰–9.47‰, respectively. SPOM mainly originated from sewage, soil, and phytoplankton, with average contributions of 29.5%, 27.7%, and 19%, respectively, and each source of SPOM showed low spatial variation. However, the contribution of phytoplankton showed a decreasing trend from spring to summer, while the contribution of soil showed the opposite change. δ¹³C_TOC and δ¹⁵N_TN (where TOC and TN denote total organic carbon and nitrogen, respectively) of SOM varied from ?26.41‰ to ?23.99‰ and 3.3‰–7.66‰, respectively. Soil and sewage were the major sources of SOM, with average contributions of 43.3% and 27.8%, respectively, and each source showed small temporal and spatial variations. The differences between sources of SPOM and SOM revealed that phytoplankton-derived SPOM was easily degraded, whereas sewage- and soil-derived SPOM tended to deposit in the lake sediment. Additionally, the impact of SPOM on water quality significantly exceeded that of SOM. The source characteristics of SPOM were correlated with eutrophication and salinity indicators in the water, which have important implications for water quality. This isotopic evidence revealed that exogenous inputs were the main sources of OM in closed inland lakes, but there were some differences in the source characteristics between SPOM and SOM.

10.    Near-wall flow characteristics in pipe bend dense slurries: Optimizing the maximum sliding frictional power
Pankaj Kumar Gupta, Niranjan Kumar, Ram Krishna
Pages 435-463
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627924000362
Abstract: In conveying concentrated liquid–solid mixtures in pipelines oriented horizontally, gravitational settling promotes a concentration-rich layer of solids at the pipe invert that degrades the wall due to sliding (abrading) action against the wall. The current study investigates near-wall flow field characteristics and then obtains flow and geometry conditions using a response surface methodology (RSM) that minimizes the maximum sliding frictional power developed in the vicinity of a 90° horizontal bend for transporting a dense solid–liquid mixture. The liquid–solid flow field is mathematically modeled with a Eulerian–Eulerian approach using the realizable k- model with standard wall functions for turbulence modeling. The effect of several operating parameters such as solid concentration, mixture velocity, particle sizes, pipe diameters, and bend ratios on the near-wall flow field in the bend reveals useful insight relevant to the bend wall degradation by solid particles. A reduction of 28% in the maximum sliding frictional power is achieved with the optimized flow conditions within the operating range considered. The novel approach could be utilized in an apriori estimation of the erosion in bends for any particle-pipe wall material combination in the hydro transport of dense solids.

11.    Post-fire erosion and sediment yield in a Mediterranean forest catchment in Italy
Giovanni Mastrolonardo, Giulio Castelli, Giacomo Certini, Melanie Maxwald, Paolo Trucchi, Cristiano Foderi, Alessandro Errico, Elena Marra, Federico Preti
Pages 464-477
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627924000337
Abstract: Wildfires are an increasingly alarming phenomenon that affects forests and agroecosystems, generating several cascade effects among which soil erosion is one of the most deleterious. A robust body of data-based evidence on post-fire soil erosion and sediment yield at the watershed scale is, thus, required, especially when dealing with areas where wildfires are particularly frequent, such as the Mediterranean basin. This study analyzes the impact of the first rains after a large wildfire in terms of soil erosion and sediment yield at the watershed scale in a Mediterranean area, the Pisan Mountains, central Italy. Here about 1,000 ha of olive groves, maquis, maritime pine, and chestnut forests, all on steep slopes, burned in 2018. Fire (or burn) severity was mapped by remote sensing and checked by a field survey. Sediment yield was assessed by sampling earthy materials deposited upstream of a check dam at the outlet of the studied watershed. Finally, a hydrological model was developed in the hydrologic engineering center–hydrological modelling system (HEC–HMS) environment to explore the relationship between the erosion–deposition events observed in the watershed and the rainfall-induced hydrological processes. The first two post-fire rainy events relocated a high mass of sediment, mostly non-organic and characterized by light color, perhaps already in the stream before fire, while the subsequent four rain showers deposited materials rich in pyrogenic organic matter. Overall, the soil erosion caused by these six major rainfall events–the larger of which had a return time of one year–was estimated to amount to 7.85 t/ha (0.26 mm in the watershed), corresponding to 42% of the watershed average annual potential erosion rate in unburned conditions. This value is lower than expected, and, overall, moderate if compared to other Mediterranean case studies, possibly because of the nature of soils in the watershed, i.e., shallow and stony, thus, poor in fines prone to erosion.

12.    Physical and chemical techniques for a comprehensive characterization of river sediment: A case of study, the Moquegua River, Peru
Luis De Los Santos Valladares, Arquimedes Vargas-Luque, Luis Borja-Castro, Renato Valencia-Bedregal, José de Jesús Velazquez-Garcia, Eustace Peregrine Barnes, Angel Bustamante Dominguez, Patrick Byrne, Pratap Kollu, Marco Rodriguez Martínez, Jose Antonio Coaquira, Crispin Henry William Barnes
Pages 478-494
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627924000283
Abstract: River sediment is comprised of complex mineral systems composed by different kinds of organic and inorganic matter, and thus, is difficult to characterize. Besides, some standard techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), optical and scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, inductively couple plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and simultaneous Thermogravimetric Analysis – Differential Thermal Analysis (TGA-DTA), M?ssbauer spectroscopy and magnetometry can provide substancial information about the compositional, physical, and chemical characteristics. In the current study, the versality of these methods is tested and the information provided by these methods for eight sediment samples, collected from the Moquegua River, Peru is compared. Qualitative analysis indicates that the samples consist of sand grains with different shapes, sizes, and colors coexisting with the presence of some diatoms. The chemical and mineralogical analysis reveal that the samples are composed mainly of silicon (Si), aluminium (Al), sodium (Na), potassium (K), aluminon–silicates, and carbonates, typical for river sediment. More detailed information obtained by these techniques include the discovery of adsorbed oxygen–hydrogen (O–H), carbon–H (C–H) and C, from organic matter, the thermal reactions and decomposition of the components, and the identification of the minor iron–oxides components. Further, other properties such as magnetic interaction are also analyzed in detail.

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