Curvature distribution within hillslopes and catchments and its effect on the hydrological response

Topographic convergence and divergence are first order controls on the hillslope and catchment hydrological response, as evidenced by similarity parameter analyses. Hydrological models often do not take convergence as measured by contour curvature directly into account; instead they use comparable measures like the topographic index, or the hillslope width function. This paper focuses on the question how hillslope width functions and contour curvature are related within the Plynlimon catchments, Wales. It is shown that the total width function of all hillslopes combined suggest that the catchments are divergent in overall shape, which is in contrast to the perception that catchments should be overall convergent. This so-called convergence paradox is explained by the effect of skewed curvature distributions and extreme curvatures near the channel network. The hillslope-storage Bossiness (hsB) model is used to asses the effect of within-hillslope convergence variability on the hydrological response. It is concluded that this effect is small, even when the soil saturation threshold is exceeded. Also described in this paper is a novel algorithm to compute flow path lengths on hillslopes towards the drainage network, using the multidirectional flow redistribution method

Numeriek modelleren van interactie tussen golven en havendammen = Numerical modelling of wave interaction with coastal structures

The classic approach of studying the wave interaction with coastal structures is performing physical model testing on a scaled model of the structure in a wave flume in the laboratory. During the last decade, numerical modelling has become a powerful and efficient research tool in the field of coastal engineering. In this paper the numerical model VOFbreak2, based on the Navier-Stokes equations and the Volume-Of-Fluid (VOF) technique for treating free surfaces, is presented which is capable of simulating the wave propagation and interaction with a variety of coastal structures. Two practical test cases illustrate features, advantages and limitations of the numerical model. In the first test case, wave propagation into a porous rubble mound breakwater and attenuation of the induced pore pressures is investigated. The second test case presents simulations of wave run-up and overtopping at an impermeable sea dike

Mapping basin scale variable source areas from multitemporal remotely sensed observations of soil moisture behavior

Soil moisture is an important and highly variable component of the hydrologic cycle. Active microwave remote sensing offers the potential for frequent observation of soil moisture at basin and regional scales. Notwithstanding recent advances, the goal of obtaining accurate and reliable measurements or maps of soil moisture from these instruments remains elusive. The main difficulties for active sensors such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR) are the combined effects of soil moisture, surface roughness, and vegetation on the backscattered signal. We show that it is possible to separate soil moisture information from the other physical factors that dominate the radar backscattering, such as topography and land cover, through a principal component analysis of a time series of eight European Remote Sensing (ERS) SAR images. The soil moisture patterns observed in one of the principal components are consistent with the rainfall-runoff dynamics of a catchment and reflect the variable source areas occuring in the vicinity of the river network.3235–3244Pubblicat

A general overview of OpenFOAM as an open source numerical wave tank

status: publishe

What makes Darwinian hydrology "Darwinian"? Asking a different kind of question about landscapes

There have been repeated calls for a Darwinian approach to hydrologic science, or for a synthesis of Darwinian and Newtonian approaches, to deepen understanding of the hydrologic system in the larger landscape context, and so develop a better basis for predictions now and in an uncertain future. But what exactly makes a Darwinian approach to hydrology "Darwinian"? While there have now been a number of discussions of Darwinian approaches, many referencing Harte (2002), the term is potentially a source of confusion because its connections to Darwin remain allusive rather than explicit. <br><br> Here we suggest that the Darwinian approach to hydrology follows the example of Charles Darwin by focusing attention on the patterns of variation in populations and seeking hypotheses that explain these patterns in terms of the mechanisms and conditions that determine their historical development. These hypotheses do not simply catalog patterns or predict them statistically – they connect the present structure with processes operating in the past. Nor are they explanations presented without independent evidence or critical analysis – Darwin's hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying present-day variation could be independently tested and validated. With a Darwinian framework in mind, it is easy to see that a great deal of hydrologic research has already been done that contributes to a Darwinian hydrology – whether deliberately or not. <br><br> We discuss some practical and philosophical issues with this approach to hydrologic science: how are explanatory hypotheses generated? What constitutes a good hypothesis? How are hypotheses tested? "Historical" sciences – including paleohydrology – have long grappled with these questions, as must a Darwinian hydrologic science. We can draw on Darwin's own example for some answers, though there are ongoing debates about the philosophical nature of his methods and reasoning. Darwin used a range of methods of historical reasoning to develop explanatory hypotheses: extrapolating mechanisms, space for time substitution, and looking for signatures of history. Some of these are already in use, while others are not and could be used to develop new insights. He sought explanatory hypotheses that intelligibly unified disparate facts, were testable against evidence, and had fertile implications for further research. He provided evidence to support his hypotheses by deducing corollary conditions ("if explanation A is true, then B will also be true") and comparing these to observations. <br><br> While a synthesis of the Darwinian and Newtonian approaches remains a goal, the Darwinian approach to hydrologic science has significant value of its own. The Darwinian hydrology that has been conducted already has not been coordinated or linked into a general body of theory and knowledge, but the time is coming when this will be possible

Comparative study on breaking wave forces on vertical walls with cantilever surfaces

Physical experiments (at a scale of 1/20) are carried out using two different models: a vertical wall with cantilevering slab and a simple vertical wall. Tests are conducted for a range of values of water depth, wave period and wave height. The largest peak pressures were recorded at the SWL (82 pghs) on the vertical part and at the fixed corner of the cantilever slab (90 pghs). Pressure measurements and derived force calculations on the simple vertical wall were used to evaluate the existing prediction formulas. A significant effect of the cantilevering part is observed on the total horizontal force and overturning moment of a simple vertical wall. This is due to secondary impact occurring on the overhanging part by a jet climbing on the vertical part

On the effects of geometry control on the performance of overtopping wave energy converters

Overtopping wave energy converters (OWECs) are designed to extract energy from ocean waves based on wave overtopping into a reservoir, which is emptied into the ocean through a set of low-head turbines, and typically feature a low crest freeboard and a smooth impermeable steep slope. In the process of optimizing the performance of OWECs, the question arises whether adapting the slope geometry to the variable wave characteristics at the deployment site (i.e., geometry control) can increase the overall hydraulic efficiency and overall hydraulic power compared to a fixed slope geometry. The effect of five different geometry control scenarios on the overall hydraulic efficiency and overall hydraulic power of OWECs has been simulated for three possible deployment sites using empirical prediction formulae. The results show that the effect of an adaptive slope angle is relatively small. On the other hand, adapting the crest freeboard of the OWECs to the wave characteristics increases the overall hydraulic efficiency and power. Based on the simulations, gains in overall hydraulic power of at least 30% are achievable when applying an adaptive crest freeboard compared to a fixed crest freeboard