A general framework for indicator design and use with application to the assessment of coastal water quality and marine protected area management     

Benoît Beliaeff  Dominique Pelletier 《Ocean & Coastal Management》2011,54(1):84-92

Environmental management decisions based upon indicators are the end point of a process involving stakeholders and scientists. These steps should be explicit and follow a chronology. This paper presents a general framework for the design and use of management-oriented indicators, integrating management questions and performance criteria. We first examined the desirable characteristics of indicators aimed at providing decision-support for marine environmental management. Ideally, one should select the indicator that guarantees a safe and unambiguous decision leading to the appropriate measures in terms of regulation, remediation or control. In the present study, indicators are assessed according to two criteria: relevance and effectiveness. Relevance encompasses sensitivity and the existence of quantitative reference values, thereby allowing the selection of potential indicators. Effectiveness is the ability of the indicator to reach its predefined targets based on optimal (or at least improved) data collection protocols. The framework is illustrated by applying it to the European Water Framework Directive and to the Marine Protected Area management contexts.  相似文献   

The 2012/2014 swarmquakes of Jaen,Spain: a working hypothesis involving hydroseismicity associated with the hydrologic cycle and anthropogenic activity     

Miguel Doblas  Nasrrddine Youbi  Julia De Las Doblas  Antonio Jesús Galindo 《Natural Hazards》2014,74(2):1223-1261

A total of 2,300 swarmquake-type seisms have been striking the Torreperogil–Sabiote Hill (TSH) in southern Spain (Jaen) from October 2012 to the present, involving a major seismic crisis with six subseries until May 2013 (TSH seismic series, TSHS), followed by seven final series (FS). Two mild premonitory events occurred nearby in 2010–2011. Several evidences suggest cause–effect relationships between water and seismicity at the TSH: (1) The characteristics of seisms with a vast majority of ill-defined shallow/small events, spatial/temporal variations of the better constrained diffuse swarmquakes, increasing seismic velocities preceding stronger events, marked periodicities, abundant hydro-tremors, etc. (2) A series of spatial/temporal relationships between water and seismicity: Time lags between rainfall/reservoir peaks and seismic peaks; spatial links between swarmquakes and several factors (underground hydrogeology, reservoirs, etc.); etc. (3) From May 2013 to January 2014 evolution of rainfall and FS seismicity declined drastically at the same time. We suggest a hydroseismic hypothesis for TSH swarmquakes resulting from a complex series of cumulative factors: (1) A million-years natural setting involving geological, hydrogeological, geomorphological and tectonic elements. (2) A decades-long series of natural and anthropogenic factors are as follows: the 2012/2013 meteorological change, the massive overexploitation of the confined aquifers and alternating impoundment/emptying of the Giribaile reservoir.  相似文献   

Do Spartina maritima Plantations Enhance the Macroinvertebrate Community in European Salt Marshes?     

Guillermo Curado  Juan E. Sánchez-Moyano  Enrique Figueroa  Jesús M. Castillo 《Estuaries and Coasts》2014,37(3):589-601

Ecological restoration of salt marshes using plantations may enhance the macroinvertebrate community, but little is known about the development of benthic macroinvertebrates after ecological engineering projects in European salt marshes. This study analyzed the environment and the macroinvertebrate community in European salt marshes 3 years after restoration using Spartina maritima plantations in comparison with non-restored and preserved marshes in Odiel Marshes (Southwest Iberian Peninsula). We hypothesized that planting Spartina maritima on intertidal mudflats would increase species richness and diversity (Shannon–Weaver index) of the benthic macroinvertebrate community by increasing environmental heterogeneity, providing feeding resources and improving sediments characteristics. Benthic macrofauna samples (composed mainly of annelids, crustaceans, and mollusks) were sampled in plots of 20 cm?×?25 cm to 5 cm depth between +1.8 and +3.0 m above Spanish Hydrographic Zero. Sediment organic matter content, bulk density, pH, and redox potential were the variables that best explained macroinvertebrate distribution. Restored marshes achieved similar diversity and even higher specific richness than preserved marshes, although with differences in species composition. Non-restored marshes showed the lowest diversity. Restored and preserved marshes did not differ in total abundance or biomass of macroinvertebrates, both being higher than in non-restored marshes. The macroinvertebrate communities in preserved and non-restored marshes showed the largest difference in taxa composition, with restored marshes occupying an intermediate position. Salt marsh restoration using S. maritima increased the complexity (ecological diversity and species richness) and abundance of the benthic macroinvertebrate community. Our study offers new information about the role of salt marsh plants in mediating faunal communities via ecological engineering projects.  相似文献   

Multi-method assessment of connectivity between surface water and shallow groundwater: the case of Limarí River basin,north-central Chile   总被引：2，自引：1，他引：1  

Ricardo Oyarzún  Felisa Barrera  Pamela Salazar  Hugo Maturana  Jorge Oyarzún  Evelyn Aguirre  Pablo Alvarez  Hervé Jourde  Nicole Kretschmer 《Hydrogeology Journal》2014,22(8):1857-1873

A study that tests the applicability and consistency of independent but complementary approaches in the assessment of interactions between surface water and shallow groundwater within a water-stressed basin is described. The mostly agricultural Limarí basin in arid north-central Chile was chosen as a suitable case study. The analyses involved: (1) a connectivity index method, (2) hydrochemistry, and (3) water isotopic geochemistry. Chemical and isotopic data were obtained from two sampling campaigns conducted in April (fall) and December (summer) of 2011 in 22 sampling locations, which included surface water and groundwater. The results obtained by each of the methodologies were mutually consistent and indicate high connectivity conditions. Additionally, the relative contribution by different sources was assessed through end-member mixing analysis, and for reaches of the river that showed gaining conditions, the contribution of groundwater inflow to stream discharge was estimated. It is suggested that this multi-method approach is useful for the characterization of surface-water–groundwater interactions, since it at least represents a suitable starting point for obtaining basic information on these relationships. Thus, it may become the base for further studies in arid and semi-arid basins facing water management challenges.  相似文献   

TP or not TP,that is the question     

R. Eymard  T. Gallouët  C. Guichard  R. Herbin  R. Masson 《Computational Geosciences》2014,18(3-4):285-296

We give here a comparative study on the mathematical analysis of two (classes of) discretization schemes for the computation of approximate solutions to incompressible two-phase flow problems in homogeneous porous media. The first scheme is the well-known finite volume scheme with a two-point flux approximation, classically used in industry. The second class contains the so-called approximate gradient schemes, which include finite elements with mass lumping, mixed finite elements, and mimetic finite differences. Both (classes of) schemes are nonconforming and can be expressed using discrete function and gradient reconstructions within a variational formulation. Each class has its specific advantages and drawbacks: monotony properties are natural with the two-point finite volume scheme, but meshes are restricted due to consistency issues; on the contrary, gradient schemes can be used on general meshes, but monotony properties are difficult to obtain.  相似文献   

The DRASTIC-Sg model: an extension to the DRASTIC approach for mapping groundwater vulnerability in aquifers subject to differential land subsidence,with application to Mexico City   总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0  

Antonio Hernández-Espriú  J. Antonio Reyna-Gutiérrez  Emilio Sánchez-León  Enrique Cabral-Cano  Jaime Carrera-Hernández  Pedro Martínez-Santos  Sergio Macías-Medrano  Giacomo Falorni  Davide Colombo 《Hydrogeology Journal》2014,22(6):1469-1485

Mexico City relies on groundwater for most of its domestic supply. Over the years, intensive pumping has led to significant drawdowns and, subsequently, to severe land subsidence. Tensile cracks have also developed or reactivated as a result. All such processes cause damage to urban infrastructure, increasing the risk of spills and favoring contaminant propagation into the aquifer. The effects of ground deformation are frequently ignored in groundwater vulnerability studies, but can be relevant in subsiding cities. This report presents an extension to the DRASTIC methodology, named DRASTIC-Sg, which focuses on evaluating groundwater vulnerability in urban aquifers affected by differential subsidence. A subsidence parameter is developed to represent the ground deformation gradient (Sg), and then used to depict areas where damage risk to urban infrastructure is higher due to fracture propagation. Space-geodetic SqueeSAR data and global positioning system (GPS) validation were used to evaluate subsidence rates and gradients, integrating hydrogeological and geomechanical variables into a GIS environment. Results show that classic DRASTIC approaches may underestimate groundwater vulnerability in settings such as the one at hand. Hence, it is concluded that the Sg parameter is a welcome contribution to develop reliable vulnerability assessments in subsiding basins.  相似文献   

Delineation of recharge patterns and contaminant transport using 3H–3He in a shallow aquifer contaminated by chlorinated solvents in South Korea     

Dugin Kaown  Dong-Chan Koh  D. Kip Solomon  Yoon-Yeol Yoon  Jaeha Yang  Kang-Kun Lee 《Hydrogeology Journal》2014,22(5):1041-1054

Stable isotopes of water and ³H–³He were used to delineate recharge patterns and contaminant transport for a granitic regolith aquifer in an industrial complex in Wonju, South Korea, that has historically been contaminated with chlorinated solvents including trichloroethene (TCE) and carbon tetrachloride (CT). Groundwater recharge mainly occurred in upgradient forested areas while little recharge occurred in the downgradient industrial areas covered with extensive sections of impermeable pavement and paddy fields. δ¹⁸O and δD data indicated that groundwater was mainly derived from summer precipitation. The apparent groundwater ages using ³H–³He ranged from 1 to 4 yrs in the upgradient area and from 9 to 10 yrs in the downgradient area. Comparison of groundwater flow velocities based on Darcy’s law and those calculated with simple mass balance models and groundwater age supported the presence of preferential pathways for TCE movement in the study area. Measureable TCE was observed in groundwater irrespective of groundwater age. Considering the 3-yr duration of the TCE spill, 14 yrs before sampling, this indicates that TCE plumes were continuously fed from sources in the unsaturated zone after the spill ended and moved downgradient without significant degradation in the aquifer.  相似文献   

Assessing sustainability of groundwater resources on Jeju Island,South Korea,under climate change,drought, and increased usage   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

Aly I. El-Kadi  Suzanne Tillery  Robert B. Whittier  Benjamin Hagedorn  Alan Mair  Kyoochul Ha  Gi-Won Koh 《Hydrogeology Journal》2014,22(3):625-642

Numerical groundwater models were used to assess groundwater sustainability on Jeju Island, South Korea, for various climate and groundwater withdrawal scenarios. Sustainability criteria included groundwater-level elevation, spring flows, and salinity. The latter was studied for the eastern sector of the island where saltwater intrusion is significant. Model results suggest that there is a need to revise the current estimate of sustainable yield of 1.77?×?10⁶ m³/day. At the maximum extraction of 84  % of the sustainable yield, a 10-year drought scenario would decrease spring flows by 28 %, dry up 27 % of springs, and decrease hydraulic head by an island-wide average of 7 m. Head values are particularly sensitive to changes in recharge in the western parts of the island, due to the relatively low hydraulic conductivity of fractured volcanic aquifers and increased groundwater extraction for irrigation. Increases in salinity are highest under drought conditions around the current 2-m head contour line, with an estimated increase of up to 9 g/L under 100 % sustainable-yield use. The study lists recommendations towards improving the island’s management of potable groundwater resources. However, results should be treated with caution given the available data limitations and the simplifying assumptions of the numerical modeling approaches.  相似文献   

Sensitivity analysis of main variables present in flash flood processes. Application in two Spanish catchments: Arás and Aguilón   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Jesús Mateo Lázaro  José Ángel Sánchez Navarro  Alejandro García Gil  Vanesa Edo Romero 《Environmental Earth Sciences》2014,71(6):2925-2939

The program Simulation of Hydrological Extreme Events provides a set of functionalities that combined together allows constructing, manipulating, analyzing and comparing the hydrological processes involved in flash flood generation. The program makes use of existing databases of interest in hydrology and available in Spain, such as digital terrain models, coverage of rainfall or curve number. Two pilot watersheds from Spain were selected, Arás and Aguilón, where flash flood episodes have taken place. A sensitivity analysis of the flash flood episodes in response to changes in the main hydrological processes involved has been made, such as spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall, soil moisture status and water flow through channel network. In this work, we found that the antecedent moisture condition is the most influential factor in the magnitude of flash floods produced by the same amount of rain. The temporal distribution of the storm represents the second characteristic in order of relevance. In addition, terrain morphology (specially the slope) is found to be decisive in the results differences obtained.  相似文献   

Climate-Caused Abrupt Shifts in a European Macrotidal Estuary     

Aurélie Chaalali  Grégory Beaugrand  Philippe Boët  Benoît Sautour 《Estuaries and Coasts》2013,36(6):1193-1205

Although many consequences of climate change on marine and terrestrial ecosystems are well documented, the characterisation of estuarine ecosystems specific responses and the drivers of the changes are less understood. In this study, we considered the biggest Southwestern European estuary, the Gironde, as a model of a macrotidal estuary to assess the effects of both large- (i.e., North Atlantic basin-scale) and regional-scale climate changes. Using a unique set of data on climatic, physical, chemical and biological parameters for the period 1978–2009, we examined relations between changes in both the physical and chemical environments and pelagic communities (plankton and fish) via an end-to-end approach. Our results show that the estuary experienced two abrupt shifts (～1987 and ～2000) over the last three decades, which altered the whole system. The timing of these abrupt shifts are in accordance with abrupt shifts reported in both marine (e.g., in the North Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and along the Atlantic) and terrestrial (e.g., in European lakes) realms. Although this work does not allow a full understanding of the dynamical processes through which climate effects propagate along the different compartments of the ecosystem, it provides evidence that the dynamics of the largest estuary of Southwest Europe is strongly modulated by climate change at both regional and global scales.  相似文献