Tree transpiration plays a determining role in the water balance of forest stands and in seepage water yields from forested catchments, especially in arid and semiarid regions where climatic conditions are dry with severe water shortage, forestry development is limited by water availability. To clarify the response of water use to climatic conditions, sap flow was monitored by heat pulse velocity method from May to September, 2014, in a 40–year–old Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. plantation forest stands in the semiarid Loess Plateau region of Northwest China. We extrapolated the measurements of water use by individual plants to determine the area–averaged transpiration of the woodlands. The method used for the extrapolation assumes that the transpiration of a tree was proportional to its sapwood area. Stand transpiration was mainly controlled by photosynthetically active radiation and vapor pressure deficit, whereas soil moisture had more influence on monthly change in stand transpiration. The mean sap flow rates for individual P. tabulaeformis trees ranged from 9 to 54 L d−1. During the study period, the mean daily stand transpiration was 1.9 mm day–1 (maximum 2.9 and minimum 0.8 mm day–1) and total stand transpiration from May to September was 294.1 mm, representing 76% of the incoming precipitation over this period. Similar results were found when comparing transpiration estimated with sap flow measurements to the Penman–Monteith method (relative error: 16%), indicating that the scaling procedure can be used to provide reliable estimates of stand transpiration. These results suggested that P. tabulaeformis is highly effective at utilizing scarce water resources in semiarid environments.
Water scarcity poses a major threat to food security and human health in Central America and is increasingly recognized as a pressing regional issues caused primarily by deforestation and population pressure. Tools that can reliably simulate the major components of the water balance with the limited data available and needed to drive management decision and protect water supplies in this region. Four adjacent forested headwater catchments in La Tigra National Park, Honduras, ranging in size from 70 to 635 ha were instrumented and discharge measured over a one year period. A semi-distributed water balance model was developed to characterize the bio-hydrology of the four catchments, one of which is primarily cloud forest cover. The water balance model simulated daily stream discharges well, with Nash Sutcliffe model efficiency (E) values ranging from 0.67 to 0.90. Analysis of calibrated model parameters showed that despite all watersheds having similar geologic substrata, the bio-hydrological response the cloud forest indicated less plantavailable water in the root zone and greater groundwater recharge than the non cloud forest cover catchments. This resulted in watershed discharge on a per area basis four times greater from the cloud forest than the other watersheds despite only relatively minor differences in annual rainfall. These results highlight the importance of biological factors (cloud forests in this case) for sustained provision of clean, potable water, and the need to protect the cloud forest areas from destruction, particularly in the populated areas of Central America.
Employing evapotranspiration models is a widely used method to estimate reference evapotranspiration (ETREF) based on weather data. Evaluating such models considering site-specific boundary conditions is recommended to interpret ETREF-calculations in a realistic and substantiated manner. Therefore, we evaluated the ASCE standardized ETREF-equations at a subhumid site in northeastern Austria. We calculated ETREF-values for hourly and daily time steps, whereof the former were processed to sum-of-hourly values. The obtained data were compared to each other and to ETvalues measured by a weighing lysimeter under reference conditions. The resulting datasets covered daily data of the years 2004 to 2011. Sum-of-hourly values correlated well (r2 = 0.978) with daily values, but an RMSE of 0.27 mm specified the differences between the calculation procedures. Comparing the calculations to lysimeter measurements revealed overestimation of small ETREF-values and underestimation of large values. The sum-of-hourly values outperformed the daily values, as r2 of the former was slightly larger and RMSE was slightly smaller. Hence, sum-of-hourly computations delivered the best estimation of ETREF for a single day. Seasonal effects were obvious, with computations and measurements being closest to each other in the summer months.
Many soils and other porous media exhibit dual- or multi-porosity type features. In a previous study (Seki et al., 2022) we presented multimodal water retention and closed-form hydraulic conductivity equations for such media. The objective of this study is to show that the proposed equations are practically useful. Specifically, dual-BC (Brooks and Corey)-CH (common head) (DBC), dual-VG (van Genuchten)-CH (DVC), and KO (Kosugi)1BC2-CH (KBC) models were evaluated for a broad range of soil types. The three models showed good agreement with measured water retention and hydraulic conductivity data over a wide range of pressure heads. Results were obtained by first optimizing water retention parameters and then optimizing the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and two parameters (p, q) or (p, r) in the general hydraulic conductivity equation. Although conventionally the tortuosity factor p is optimized and (q, r) fixed, sensitivity analyses showed that optimization of two parameters (p + r, qr) is required for the multimodal models. For 20 soils from the UNSODA database, the average R2 for log (hydraulic conductivity) was highest (0.985) for the KBC model with r = 1 and optimization of (Ks, p, q). This result was almost equivalent (0.973) to the DVC model with q = 1 and optimization of (Ks, p, r); both were higher than R2 for the widely used Peters model (0.956) when optimizing (Ks, p, a, ω). The proposed equations are useful for practical applications while mathematically being simple and consistent.
About 75% of water for irrigation in Bangladesh comes from groundwater. As the crop yield is directly related to quality of water used for irrigation, an assessment of groundwater suitability for irrigation is essential for the growth of food production and poverty eradication. An attempt has been made in this paper to study the suitability of groundwater for irrigation in Bangladesh. Geographic information system (GIS) is used for the processing of groundwater quality data collected from 113 locations sporadically distributed over the country and the preparation of groundwater quality maps. The result shows that groundwater of the southwestern part of Bangladesh, which comprises 22.5% area of the country, is highly affected by salinity and sodium hazards. Groundwater in 10.54% area of the country is also contaminated by Arsenic above the permissible level recommended for irrigation. and Okolo 75 % vody pre závlahy v Bangladeši pochádza z podzemných vôd. Pretože úroda priamo závisí od kvality závlahovej vody, posúdenie vhodnosti vody pre závlahy je podstatné pre produkciu potravín a odstránenie chudoby. V štúdii je prezentovaný pokus o zhodnotenie vhodnosti podzemnej vody pre závlahy v Bangladeši. Na spracovanie údajov o kvalite podzemnej vody zo 113 lokalít rozmiestnených sporadicky po krajine a na prípravu máp kvality podzemnej vody sa použil geografický informačný systém (GIS). Výsledky naznačujú, že podzemná voda v juhozápadnej časti krajiny zaberajúcej 22,5 % jej plochy je silne ohrozená zasolenosťou a obsahom sodíka. Podzemná voda na ploche 10,54 % krajiny je tiež kontaminovaná obsahom arzénu nad prípustnú hranicu pre závlahovú vodu.
This study was carried out to determine the possible use of evapotranspiration estimation (combination) methods under different climatic conditions of Turkey. Reference evapotranspiration values were calculated according to Penman (1963; Original wind function), FAO-24 Corrected Penman, Penman (Daytime wind speed), Kimberly-Penman (1972), Kimberly-Penman (1982), FAO-PPP-17, Penman (Merva-Fernandez), Penman-Monteith and Penman-Monteith (FAO) for selected 20 locations with different climatic conditions. Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) assessments were analyzed according to their annually, 8 monthly (March-October) and 3 monthly (June-August) values. In all periods evaluated, almost the same significant differences (P<0.01) were found between locations and methods. High ET0 values were obtained in the locations with high wind speed and low relative humidity. Low ET0 values were observed in the locations with low daily sunshine duration. In conclusion, FAO-PPP-17, Penman (Merva-Fernandez), Penman-Monteith and Penman-Monteith (FAO) could be more efficiently used. Penman (Daytime wind speed) and FAO-24 Corrected Penman over-predicted ET0 values as compared to other methods. and Referát obsahuje výsledky výpočtu referenčnej evapotranspirácie pomocou kombinovanej metódy, aplikovanej na klimatické podmienky Turecka. Referenčná evapotranspirácia (ET0) - čo je potenciálna evapotranspirácia referenčného porastu - bola vypočítaná podľa Penmana (1963; Originálna ''vetrová'' funkcia), upravenou metódou Penmana, označenou ako FAO-24, modifikovanou metódou Penmana (bola použitá rýchlosť vetra len počas dňa), metódou Kimberly-Penman(1972), Kimberly-Penman (1982), metódou FAO-PPP-17, Penmana (podľa autorov Merva-Fernandez), Penmana-Monteitha a Penmana-Monteitha (podľa FAO). Vybrali sme 20 lokalít s rozdielnymi klimatickými podmienkami na území Turecka, ktorých klimatické charakteristiky boli použité v uvedených metódach výpočtu referenčnej evapotranspirácie. Referenčná evapotranspirácia (ET0) pre ročné, 8-mesačné (marec - október) a trojmesačné (jún - august) obdobia bola podrobená analýze, v závislosti na metóde, ktorou bola určená. Pre všetky analyzované obdobia boli nájdené skoro také isté rozdiely medzi lokalitami a metódami (P < 0,01). Vysoké hodnoty ET0 boli určené pre lokality s výskytom vysokej rýchlosti vetra a nízkej relatívnej vlhkosti vzduchu. Nízke hodnoty ET0 boli určené pre lokality s krátkym trvaním slnečného svitu. Možno zhrnúť, že niektoré metódy dávajú realistické výsledky - FAO-PPP-17, Penmanova metóda (verzia autorov Merva - Fernandez), metóda Penmana-Monteitha a Penmana-Monteitha (FAO). Metóda Penmanova (použitá rýchlosť vetra len počas dňa) a upravená metóda Penmana, označená ako FAO-24, v porovnaní s inými metódami vypočítanú referenčnú evapotranspiráciu výrazne nadhodnocujú.
From 29th March to 09th April 2006, the Morava catchment in the Danube River basin was hit by severe flooding caused by snow melting and rainfall. The floods affected settlements and agricultural lands in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria. In the downstream Morava, 100-year flood and more peak discharges were observed. The European Flood Alert System (EFAS), under development and running in pre-operational mode at the Joint Research Center of the European Commission, in partnership with Member States’ authorities and meteorological data providers, forecasted the event more than five days in advance. This paper investigates the performance of EFAS hydrologic forecasts for this event. Forecasts based on deterministic and probabilistic weather forecasts are presented and verified against observed data. The analysis showed that forecasts based on probabilistic weather ensembles were able to detect an earlier signal of the flood event. The lack of consistence between simulations based on different medium-range weather forecasts was the main reason for a late diffusion of EFAS forecasts to its partner in Slovakia, with an impact on the value of the forecasts as a pre-alert. The potential benefit of ensemble hydrologic forecasts to early flood warning and increased preparedness is highlighted. and V období 29. marca až 9. apríla 2006 zasiahla povodie Moravy, ktoré je súčasťou povodia Dunaja ničivá povodeň, zapríčinená prevažne topením sa snehu v kombinácii s pomerne výdatnou zrážkovou činnosťou. Povodeň spôsobila škody na obydliach a poľnohospodárskej pôde v Českej republike, Rakúsku a aj na Slovensku. V dolnej časti toku Morava bol zaznamenaný kulminačný prietok s dobou opakovania viac ako 100 rokov. Európsky povodňový varovný systém, vyvinutý a prevádzkovaný v tzv. predoperačnom režime JRC EU v spolupráci s členskými štátmi, ktoré sú aj poskytovateľmi hydrometeorologických údajov, prognózoval túto rozsiahlu povodňovú epizódu s predstihom 5 dní. Príspevok sa zameriava na skúmanie realizácie hydrologických predpovedí z EFAS systému pre uvedenú povodňovú udalosť. Predpovede vypočítané na základe deterministických a pravdepodobnostných predpovedí počasia sú verifikované pozorovanými údajmi. Analýza výsledkov ukázala, že predpovede robené na základe pravdepodobnostných ansámblových predpovedí vývoja počasia boli schopné dať signál, že sa povodňová udalosť stane, s väčším intervalom predstihu. V dôsledku nekonzistencie vyhodnocovaných predpovedí bola slovenskému partnerovi EFAS-u odoslaná oneskorene. Príspevok poukázal tiež na skutočnosť, že využitie ansámblov pre hydrologické predpovede a včasné varovanie pred nebezpečenstvom povodní umožňuje v dostatočnom predstihu zlepšiť pripravenosť na tieto udalosti.