Narrow Results

Prediction of river discharge is important for water resources management. Engineers have developed many physical and mathematical models for prediction of river discharge. The fact that physical hydrological models are site specific and include many parameters, has led researchers to work on mathematical black-box models. In this study, the fuzzy time series (FTS) method was used in the prediction of river discharge. The proposed method, which is employed for the first time in hydrology, allows to fast decision-making mechanism. The proposed algorithm, FTS, is used along with continuous wavelet transform (CWT) method to improve prediction performance. CWT, can be used as pre-treatment technique, is able decompose concerned time series into several bands at different scales which allows to predict much more homogeneous series rather than complex flow discharge series. By considering various statistical success criteria, the wavelet transformed time series (WFTS) method performed quite high accurate predictions compared to the classical fuzzy time series method. Combining FTS with wavelet transform opens a new window in the fuzzy time series method applications that has ability to improve the prediction performance.

This review explores the complex relationship between climate change and hydrology in Pakistan, which is leading to significant weather extremes such as rainfall, temperature, floods, droughts and variable runoff patterns. It highlights the significant challenges posed by these water-related issues and the adaptive strategies needed for sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change and human activities. This study observes the major hydrological challenges in Pakistan focusing on repetitive floods and droughts that have deep impacts on the country’s economy, agriculture and environment. According to the Global Climate Risk Index, Pakistan is ranked as the fifth most vulnerable country as it experiences extreme weather events since the last few decades. Pakistan has faced many worst floods due to the changes in climate and hydrological extremes. The recurring occurrence of extreme rainfall events can be challenging to alleviate the flood hazards. This study will be helpful for our understanding on water management strategies to safeguard water resources and diminish the impacts of climate change on the country.

The ability to model the suspended sediment flux (SSflux) and associated water flow from terrain affected by selective logging is important to the establishment of credible measures to improve the ecological sustainability of forestry practices. Recent appreciation of the impact of parameter uncertainty on the statistical credibility of complex models with little internal state validation supports the use of more parsimonious approaches such as data-based mechanistic (DBM) modelling. The DBM approach combines physically based understanding with model structure identification based on transfer functions and objective statistical inference. Within this study, these approaches have been newly applied to rainfall–SSflux response. The dynamics of the sediment system, together with the rainfall–river flow system, were monitored at five nested contributory areas within a 44 ha headwater region in Malaysian Borneo. The data series analysed covered a whole year at a 5 min resolution, and were collected during a period some five to six years after selective timber harvesting had ceased. Physically based and statistical interpretation of these data was possible given the wealth of contemporary and past hydrogeomorphic data collected within the same region.

The results indicated that parsimonious, three-parameter models of rainfall–river flow and rainfall-SSflux for the whole catchment describe 80 and 90% of the variance, respectively, and that parameter changes between scales could be explained in physically meaningful terms. Indeed, the modelling indicated some new conceptual descriptions of the river flow and sediment-generation systems. An extreme rainstorm having a 10–20 year return period was present within the data series and was shown to generate new mass movements along the forestry roads that had a differential impact on the monitored contributory areas. Critically, this spatially discrete behaviour was captured by the modelling and may indicate the potential use of DBM approaches for (i) predicting the differential effect of alternative forestry practices, (ii) estimating uncertainty in the behaviour of ungauged areas and (iii) forecasting river flow and SSflux in terrain with temporal changes in rainfall regime and forestry impacts.

The visual uniformity of tropical peat swamp forest masks the considerable variation in forest structure that has evolved in response to differences and changes in peat characteristics over many millennia. Details are presented of forest structure and tree composition of the principal peat swamp forest types in the upper catchment of Sungai Sebangau, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, in relation to thickness and hydrology of the peat. Consideration is given to data on peat geochemistry and age of peat that provide evidence of the ombrotrophic nature of this vast peatland and its mode of formation. The future sustainability of this ecosystem is predicted from information available on climate change and human impact in this region.

The article on the Climate Science Special Report: 4th U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA4), Volume I, summarizes the basis and the requirements for developing U.S. national climate assessments. The reader is referred to that material, as it is not repeated here. Instead, the focus in this chapter is on NCA4, Volume II, which is an assessment of climate-related impacts, risks, and adaptation in the United States. NCA4, Volume II (USGCRP, 2018), was published on November 23, 2018, and the entire assessment report is available at NCA2018.globalchange.gov…

Geology is the application of physics, chemistry and biology to the study of the Earth. This report is a survey of approximately 70 recent papers in major geological science journals where fuzzy logic has been used to tackle Earth Science problems. These papers are briefly reviewed and grouped into nine categories: 1) geotechnical engineering; 2) surface hydrology; 3) subsurface hydrology; 4) hydrocarbon exploration; 5) ground-water risk assessment; 6) seismology; 7) soil science and landscape development; 8) deposition of sediments; and 9) a miscellaneous group. Papers cited in each category are intended to give an interested worker access to recent refereed papers in major geologically oriented journals that should be available in even modest university libraries. These papers should serve as an introduction into the literature of applications of fuzzy logic in the geological sciences by Earth Scientists.

This paper inquiry into Youshui hydrology under intersect influence of periodical weather variety and earthquakes, seek regularity of weather and earthquake and get efficient prevention and do good for their estimation, give substantial and national minority literature research by solid example usage as regional evidence and certification combine with wavelet analysis and earthquake theory, geology and dynamics, benefit to social national minority humanities making, all these have innovation.

Wetlands are vital to the economic development process. They are important sources for food, fresh water, provide habitat for plants and animals, and valuable services such as water treatment and erosion control. This chapter includes wetland, its processes, and issues of degradation. It also covers first the waste and its classification and treatment technologies with emphasis on constructed wetland including its limitations and consideration, then a brief study on Bhoj Wetland and its environmental problems, conservation measures, and benefits of wetland.