Articles tagged with Surface Runoff
Climate change is projected to increase frequency and intensity of hydroclimatic whiplash events, with regions experiencing both floods and droughts. This may lead to increased flash flooding, water quality deterioration, and soil erosion, as well as challenges for flood and drought planning.
Research by University of Missouri scientists found that road salt is deadly to freshwater snails when paired with the presence of predators, causing nearly 60% higher mortality rates. The study suggests practical solutions to reduce salt pollution in waterways, such as cutting road salt use by up to 50%.
Researchers found 'roof drainage' to be the main cause of radioactive cesium flow, with baseflow varying by air temperature. The study provides insights for improving monitoring systems and environmental management.
A team of researchers at MIT has developed a system that makes pesticides stick to plant leaves, reducing waste and costs for farmers. The new technology, which involves coating droplets with an oily material, improves the 'stickiness' of the droplets by up to a hundredfold.
Researchers analyzed tropical storm-related precipitation to understand its impact on local water resources and provide insights into climate predictions. The study aims to help communities prepare for extreme storms and manage water resources before and after the storms.
A study published in Science of the Total Environment found that stormwater detention basins in Northern Virginia face significant salt stress due to road salts. Native plant species, such as cattails, showed promise in tolerating high salt concentrations, but their impact on overall salt removal was limited.
Researchers have developed AI-enabled detection software that can accurately detect natural debris, litter, or waste blocking culverts. The system can be integrated to existing CCTV systems to provide proactive flood defense, improving safety for response teams.
Snowmelt rates vary by slope orientation and receive varying amounts of solar radiation. The study found that burned south-facing slopes accumulate less snow and melt earlier than other aspects due to increased solar radiation absorption. This understanding will improve models and tools for water managers.
A new study led by the University of Michigan found that traditional stormwater infrastructure design can exacerbate flooding during severe weather events. The problem lies in the failure to recognize flood connectivity, leading to unanticipated interactions between different stormwater systems.
Researchers found that oil palm plantations in Indonesia's Kais River Watershed are causing significant increases in precipitation, runoff, and soil moisture, leading to dramatically worse water quality. The transition from tropical rainforest to oil-palm plantation has resulted in a 16.9% increase in sedimentation, 78.1% increase in n...
Restoring field-margin wetlands in the US is insufficient to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Gulf of Mexico. Existing conservation programs have failed to meet targets for nutrient reduction, necessitating additional strategies to address the issue.
Researchers analyzed over 3,500 river basins worldwide, finding that precipitation was the sole determining factor in only 25% of flood events. Soil moisture and air temperature were decisive factors in around 10% and 3% of cases, respectively. The study suggests that more extreme floods are caused by multiple factors interacting.
Scientists at UMass Amherst used satellite data, field observations, and numerical modeling to predict the Arctic's future ecosystem changes due to thawing permafrost. The study reveals up to 30% more subsurface runoff and altered river flows, impacting ecosystems and potentially slowing climate change.
Researchers found that permeable pavements can capture tire-associated chemicals, resulting in a 68% average reduction of the toxic contaminant 6PPD-quinone. The technology has vast potential to protect salmon populations and human health.
A new study from the University of Illinois finds that extreme rainfall leads to significant spikes in nutrient concentrations, particularly after ½ inch, 1 inch, and 2 inches of precipitation. However, agricultural management practices such as cover crops can lower nutrient levels in water and persist until the end of the growing season.
A Griffith-led study found urban stormwater particles from tyre wear are the most prevalent microplastic, with up to 59 particles per litre of water. Researchers developed strategies to capture and remove these contaminants, including a bag made of 0.2 millimetre mesh that reduced microplastics in treated water by up to 88%.
A study published in Science of the Total Environment found that biofiltration increased coho salmon hatchling survival by up to 87%, reducing mortality from stormwater runoff exposure. The method effectively removes contaminants, but implementation faces hurdles due to land requirements.
New research suggests that rising temperatures may offset the impact of increased precipitation on nitrogen runoff, which could lead to reduced aquatic pollution. The study found that warmer temperatures reduce evaporation, allowing more nitrogen to enter waterways, while also affecting microbial life in soil and sediment.
The Colorado River Basin has lost approximately 40 trillion liters of water between 2000 and 2021 due to climate change, equivalent to the entire storage capacity of Lake Mead. The rapid reduction in runoff is largely responsible for this water loss, with warming temperatures leading to a 10.3% decrease in flow rates.
A specially designed garden, rain garden, can capture toxic tire chemicals associated with tires entering waterways by more than 90%. Researchers tested a Vancouver rain garden and found that it captured about 75% of the chemical, preventing it from entering salmon-bearing streams.
A new Dartmouth study projects a 52% increase in extreme precipitation events in the Northeast by the end of the century. The region is expected to experience more frequent heavy rainfall events, with winter and spring contributing most to this projected increase.
Scientists from Hokkaido University propose a cheap and effective alternative for monitoring glacial runoff by analyzing audible sounds generated at the proglacial run-off site. The method has shown promising results in detecting changes in glacier discharge with high accuracy.
A UMass Amherst study found that changing patterns of land use lead to increased runoff and decreased forested areas, resulting in higher stream flow and increased phosphorous and nitrogen concentrations. The research warns of impending water quality issues if urban planning does not implement sustainable land-use measures.
Researchers at UMass Amherst characterized two types of surface water in hyperarid salars, which are crucial habitats for animals like flamingoes and vicuñas. The study helps manage these ecosystems by treating terminal and transitional pools differently.
A new Dartmouth study examines how changes in precipitation and temperature due to global warming affect streamflow and flooding in the Northeast. The research finds that a warmer climate will lead to increased streamflow and higher flood risk, particularly if soils become wetter and more prone to heavy rainfall events.
A recent study has identified a rare strain of Toxoplasma gondii, COUG, in sea otters that caused fatal steatitis and toxoplasmosis. The strain is virulent and can rapidly kill healthy adult otters, posing a health threat to other marine wildlife and humans.
A model predicting oxygen levels in freshwater streams, developed by WVU researcher Omar Abdul-Aziz, helps determine stream pollution and health. The tool allows citizen scientists to take action on stream pollution, with potential applications for implementing the Clean Water Act.
The study found that the lack of capacity in wastewater treatment works is a fundamental cause behind increased frequency and duration of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs). This refutes suggestions that blame unpredictable weather for the issue. CSO use has been increasing, with most of it attributed to WWTWs' inadequate capacity.
A team of researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and other institutions has identified a flexible and user-friendly model for predicting flood frequency in a changing environment. The fractional polynomial-based regression method is more effective than existing models, which often fail to account for factors like climate ...
Researchers warn of impending 35-60 year droughts in western US unless greenhouse gas emissions are curbed to limit warming to 2.5 degrees Celsius. Mountain snowpack is shrinking due to global warming, threatening agriculture, ecosystem support, and urban water supplies.
A novel genetic analysis by University of Ottawa researchers reveals that climate change could lead to an increased risk of viral spillover in the High Arctic. This increased risk may result in new viruses infecting previously uninfected hosts, potentially leading to emerging pandemics.
As winters warm, nutrient pollution is putting water quality at risk in over 40 US states. The first-of-its-kind national study finds that previously frozen winter nutrient pollution is affecting 53% of the contiguous US and putting 50% of nitrogen and phosphorus pools at risk.
A new study reconstructs streamflow data for the Colorado River up to 800 years into the past, revealing an unmatched second-century drought. Compared to current drought levels, this 22-year period had only 68% of average water flow.
A new study proposes designing permeable pavements to reduce flood impacts in Australia, with the potential to store up to 50% of rainfall and reduce urban flooding by up to 50%. The proposed system takes into account local soil types and rainfall intensity, and has been tested on 107 towns and cities across Australia.
Research reveals Arctic rivers are discharging much more water than previously thought, with acceleration up to three times higher than estimated. The RADR project assimilates satellite information into hydrologic models for the entire pan-Arctic region.
A new meta-analysis by Indiana University researchers found that no-till farming is not enough to prevent nitrate water pollution, which can lead to harm to aquatic ecosystems. The study suggests that no-till needs to be complemented with other techniques like cover cropping and intercropping to improve nitrate retention.
A new study by Penn State researchers finds that injecting manure into crop fields instead of spreading it on the surface significantly reduces estrogen loads in surface runoff. The method also showed reduced transport rates of total dissolved phosphorus and dissolved organic carbon.
Researchers discovered herbicide volatilization consistently results in losses exceeding those from surface runoff, with a significant impact on groundwater contamination. The study highlights the importance of considering soil moisture levels and air temperatures in models of pesticide volatilization.
Agricultural copper transport and toxicity in runoff from tomato fields to estuaries remains a significant concern, with sedimentation basins offering only partial solutions. Researchers found that even with reduced copper concentrations, bioavailable forms still pose harm to aquatic life.
The new land cover maps will provide more precise assessments of land use types, including residential development, wetlands, forests, and crop lands. The maps will help improve estimates of polluted water runoff into the Chesapeake Bay by identifying pasture land and different crops.
Researchers studied Atlanta, Salt Lake City, and other cities using Landsat data, finding that adding trees and light-colored roofs can cool city temperatures. Computer models also simulated land use changes to predict stormwater runoff patterns and urban growth in abandoned strip mines.