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Issue Information

  •  30 March 2021

Upscaling Reactive Transport and Clogging in Shale Microcracks by Deep Learning

  •  26 March 2021

Key Points

  • We propose a hybrid framework for modeling reactive transport and clogging in multiscale fracture networks

  • Microcracks are upscaled by deep learning while main fractures are described by theory‐based modeling, ensuring a two‐way coupling

  • The framework provides a reliable and efficient upscaling method without relying on the existence of macroscopic equations

Forecasting Abrupt Depletion of Dissolved Oxygen in Urban Streams Using Discontinuously Measured Hourly Time‐Series Data

  •  23 March 2021

Key Points

  • Identifying dissolved oxygen depletion events that pose a threat to aquatic life in urban streams is important for water quality managers

  • Long short‐term memory neural network model was used for 24‐h forecasting of DO concentrations in three urban streams

  • The developed models successfully forecast hourly DO concentrations and can predict hypoxic events in urban streams

Is the Combination of Linearized Theoretical Analysis and Sand Column Experiment Always Suitable for Estimating the Complex Effective Porosity?

  •  21 March 2021

Key Points

  • Sand column experiments were conducted to quantify the effects of high order components in groundwater table dynamics

  • High order analytical solution of the groundwater table under simple harmonic oscillation was presented based on a perturbation approach

  • The linear estimation approach is not suitable for estimating the complex effective porosity in the wave‐dominant swash zone

Effect of Grain Shape on Quasi‐Static Fluid‐Fluid Displacement in Porous Media

  •  20 March 2021

Key Points

  • A novel pore‐network model algorithm is developed to probe the effect of grain shape on multiphase displacement in porous media

  • Systematic simulations are conducted using the proposed algorithm across a wide range of wetting conditions and particle shapes

  • Through analyzing various metrics during displacement, the results highlight the profound influence of particle shape on multiphase flow

Sediment Management for Reservoir Sustainability and Cost Implications Under Land Use/Land Cover Change Uncertainty

  •  19 March 2021

Key Points

  • Costs of sediment management options are linked to the economic value of the loss in hydropower production and the avoided cost of dredging

  • The sediment management strategy best at increasing the life span of a reservoir may not be the most cost‐effective option to implement

  • Integration of suitable sediment management options can reduce the amount and variability in reservoir storage loss and associated cost

Changing River Network Synchrony Modulates Projected Increases in High Flows

  •  19 March 2021

Key Points

  • Projected changes in extreme high flows at river confluences are due partly to changes in mainstem‐tributary hydrograph synchrony

  • Decreasing synchrony between snowmelt‐dominated basins dampens anthropogenically forced increases in high flows

  • Under large forcing, increased synchrony between a historically snowmelt‐dominated and rainfall‐dominated basin increases high flows

Riverbed Temperature and Heat Transport in a Hydropeaked River

  •  19 March 2021

Key Points

  • This study combines high‐resolution observations with modeling to evaluate controls on riverbed temperature dynamics

  • Daily stage fluctuations in large rivers can cause sizable temperature changes near banks but not the entire channel

  • High hydraulic conductivities and gaining groundwater conditions favor dynamic temperature zones near banks

Open access

A New Approach to Three‐Dimensional Flow in a Pumped Confined Aquifer Connected to a Shallow Stream: Near‐Stream and Far‐From‐Stream Groundwater Extractions

  •  18 March 2021

Key Points

  • A new approach is proposed for three‐dimensional (3D) flow in a pumped confined aquifer connected to a shallow stream with clogged streambed in between

  • A modified source term is derived to reflect small‐scale streambed storage effect for the case of near‐stream groundwater extraction

  • A new semi‐analytical solution is built to describe 3D confined flow and stream filtration rate due to pumping far from a shallow stream

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Dynamics of Hyporheic Exchange Flux and Fine Particle Deposition Under Moving Bedforms

  •  8 April 2021

Key Points

  • Coupled sand‐clay transport produced a low‐conductivity layer beneath the zone of bedform scour.

  • Hyporheic exchange flux decreased linearly with kaolinite concentration in the bed.

  • Volume of porewater participating in hyporheic exchange decreased linearly at varying rates based on kaolinite pulse size.

Reduction of Water Evaporation from Dam Reservoirs using Hydrophobic Silver‐doped Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Coating

  •  8 April 2021

Key Points

  • We show that hydrophobic silver‐doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles can lead to high efficiency in reduction of water surface evaporation.

  • Hydrophobic silver‐doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles have antibacterial and photocatalytic activities.

  • Appropriate stability of hydrophobic silver‐doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles leads to their long time use in the water surface.

Primary and net ecosystem production in a large lake diagnosed from high‐resolution oxygen measurements

  •  8 April 2021

Key Points

  • Metabolic rates diagnosed with high‐resolution free‐water oxygen measurements in Lake Geneva

  • Two new methods proposed to filter the imprint of vertical dislocations that interferes with the diel oxygen signal

  • The summer metabolism of Lake Geneva is net autotrophic and shows both rich vertical structures and temporal dynamics

Exploration and Visualization of Patterns underlying Multi‐Stakeholder Preferences in Watershed Conservation Decisions Generated by an Interactive Genetic Algorithm

  •  7 April 2021

Key Points

  • Watershed stakeholders may have additional reasons for preferring watershed conservation decisions beyond quantified costs and benefits.

  • Design of watershed plans using interactive optimization necessitate post‐analysis of spatial patterns in stakeholder‐preferred decisions.

  • Information Visualization techniques can help provide insights on agreements and disagreements among stakeholders on local decisions.

Open access

Analyzing the Impact of Streamflow Drought on Hydroelectricity Production: A Global‐Scale Study

  •  7 April 2021

Key Points

  • A new global hydropower database and a hydroelectricity production model were developed and validated

  • The model simulates the impact of streamflow drought on monthly hydroelectricity production worldwide

  • The 1‐in‐10 year risk of hydroelectricity production reduction due to drought is assessed at both 0.5° grid cell and country levels

An Atmospheric Water Balance Perspective on Extreme Rainfall Potential for the Contiguous US

  •  7 April 2021

Key points

  • The “upper tails” of atmospheric water balance variables are examined through Extreme Value analyses of NARR fields.

  • Clusters of thick‐tailed distributions exist for precipitable water and vertically‐integrated water vapor flux.

  • Monotonic trends in atmospheric water balance variables are found over the US.

Bare‐earth DEM Generation in Urban Areas for Flood Inundation Simulation using Global Digital Elevation Models

  •  7 April 2021

Key Points

  • Popular global DEMs have substantial vertical errors in urban areas, with RMSE found to be 2.32–5.98 m in European and Asian cities.

  • The proposed method can reduce the vertical errors of the MERIT DEM in urban areas by 15%‐67%.

  • A flood simulation of the UK city of Carlisle showed that the MERIT‐Urban Corrected DEM reduced the RMSE for predicted inundation by 18%.

Open access

Improvements to Flood Frequency Analysis on Alluvial Rivers using Paleoflood Data

  •  7 April 2021

Key Points

  • We run a series of computational experiments to evaluate the influence of paleoflood data on flood frequency analysis for alluvial rivers.

  • Incorporating more than one paleoflood event into flood frequency analyses improves extreme flood probability estimates.

  • Large uncertainties in paleoflood discharge estimates can reduce the accuracy of flood frequency analyses.

On the Reliability of Parameter Inferences in a Multiscale Model for Transport in Stream Corridors

  •  7 April 2021

Key Points

  • Uncertainty‐aware interpretation of non‐reacting stream tracer data using a recently developed multiscale model was demonstrated

  • Short reach length, brief measurement duration and time‐dispersed source may impede parameter identifiability

  • Joint fitting of data at multiple locations with uniform hyporheic zone and non‐uniform channel parameters improve parameter identifiability

Connecting Hydrometeorological Processes to Low‐Probability Floods in the Mountainous Colorado Front Range

  •  7 April 2021

Key Points

  • Seasonally‐varying hydrometeorological drivers lead to "mixture distributions" of floods in mountainous watersheds.

  • Distributions of flood peaks and volumes up to the 10,000‐year recurrence interval were created using a process‐based simulation approach.

  • Rare peak discharges have different physical drivers than more common ones; drivers of flood volumes differ from those of peaks.

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Accuracy of scaled GRACE terrestrial water storage estimates

Key Points

  • We present gridded gain factors and error maps for GRACE
  • Measurement and leakage errors are taken into account
  • The new method does not require the use of spherical harmonics by the users

free access

The WFDEI meteorological forcing data set: WATCH Forcing Data methodology applied to ERA‐Interim reanalysis data

Key Points

  • Global three hourly meteorological forcing data at half‐degree spatial resolution
  • Covers 1979–2012
  • Improvements compared to the WATCH forcing data

more >
Open access

The Millennium Drought in southeast Australia (2001–2009): Natural and human causes and implications for water resources, ecosystems, economy, and society

Key Points

  • Drivers and impacts of Australia's record drought were analyzed
  • Impacts accumulated and propagated through the water cycle at different rates
  • Future droughts may not be managed better than past ones.

Open access

Quantifying renewable groundwater stress with GRACE

Key Points:

  • Renewable groundwater stress is quantified in the world's largest aquifers
  • Characteristic stress regimes are defined to determine the severity of stress
  • Overstressed aquifers are mainly in rangeland biomes with some croplands

free access

The science and practice of river restoration

Key Points

  • River restoration is a prominent area of applied water‐resources science
  • restoration includes connectivity, physical‐biotic interactions, and history
  • effective restoration requires collaboration among scientists and practitioners

Open access

Satellite Remote Sensing for Water Resources Management: Potential for Supporting Sustainable Development in Data‐Poor Regions

Key Points

  • Satellite remote sensing is being incorporated into water resources management but is generally underutilized
  • New and proposed missions have the potential to transform water resources management for sustainable development, especially in data‐poor regions
  • Ongoing challenges of accuracy, sampling, and continuity and capacity development need to be addressed, as well as new challenges of information volume and diversity

Open access

A Transdisciplinary Review of Deep Learning Research and Its Relevance for Water Resources Scientists

Key Points

  • Deep learning (DL) is transforming many scientific disciplines, but its adoption in hydrology is gradual
  • DL can help tackle interdisciplinarity, data deluge, unrecognized linkages, and long‐standing challenges such as scaling and equifinality
  • The new field of AI neuroscience opens up many opportunities for scientists to use DL as an exploratory tool for scientific advancement

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