@article{AlMashaikhiOswaldAttingeretal.2012, author = {Al-Mashaikhi, K. and Oswald, Sascha and Attinger, Sabine and B{\"u}chel, G. and Kn{\"o}ller, K. and Strauch, G.}, title = {Evaluation of groundwater dynamics and quality in the Najd aquifers located in the Sultanate of Oman}, series = {Environmental earth sciences}, volume = {66}, journal = {Environmental earth sciences}, number = {4}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1866-6280}, doi = {10.1007/s12665-011-1331-2}, pages = {1195 -- 1211}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The Najd, Oman, is located in one of the most arid environments in the world. The groundwater in this region is occurring in four different aquifers A to D of the Hadhramaut Group consisting mainly of different types of limestone and dolomite. The quality of the groundwater is dominated by the major ions sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulphate, and chloride, but the hydrochemical character is varying among the four aquifers. Mineralization within the separate aquifers increases along the groundwater flow direction from south to north-northeast up to high saline sodium-chloride water in aquifer D in the northeast area of the Najd. Environmental isotope analyses of hydrogen and oxygen were conducted to monitor the groundwater dynamics and to evaluate the recharge conditions of groundwater into the Najd aquifers. Results suggest an earlier recharge into these aquifers as well as ongoing recharge takes place in the region down to present day. Mixing of modern and submodern waters was detected by water isotopes in aquifer D in the mountain chain (Jabal) area and along the northern side of the mountain range. In addition, delta H-2 and delta O-18 variations suggest that aquifers A, B, and C are assumed to be connected by faults and fractures, and interaction between the aquifers may occur. Low tritium concentrations support the mixing assumption in the recharge area. The knowledge about the groundwater development is an important factor for the sustainable use of water resources in the Dhofar region.}, language = {en} } @article{AlHalbouniHolohanTaherietal.2019, author = {Al-Halbouni, Djamil and Holohan, Eoghan P. and Taheri, Abbas and Watson, Robert A. and Polom, Ulrich and Schoepfer, Martin P. J. and Emam, Sacha and Dahm, Torsten}, title = {Distinct element geomechanical modelling of the formation of sinkhole clusters within large-scale karstic depressions}, series = {Solid earth}, volume = {10}, journal = {Solid earth}, number = {4}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1869-9510}, doi = {10.5194/se-10-1219-2019}, pages = {1219 -- 1241}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The 2-D distinct element method (DEM) code (PFC2D_V5) is used here to simulate the evolution of subsidence-related karst landforms, such as single and clustered sinkholes, and associated larger-scale depressions. Subsurface material in the DEM model is removed progressively to produce an array of cavities; this simulates a network of subsurface groundwater conduits growing by chemical/mechanical erosion. The growth of the cavity array is coupled mechanically to the gravitationally loaded surroundings, such that cavities can grow also in part by material failure at their margins, which in the limit can produce individual collapse sinkholes. Two end-member growth scenarios of the cavity array and their impact on surface subsidence were examined in the models: (1) cavity growth at the same depth level and growth rate; (2) cavity growth at progressively deepening levels with varying growth rates. These growth scenarios are characterised by differing stress patterns across the cavity array and its overburden, which are in turn an important factor for the formation of sinkholes and uvalalike depressions. For growth scenario (1), a stable compression arch is established around the entire cavity array, hindering sinkhole collapse into individual cavities and favouring block-wise, relatively even subsidence across the whole cavity array. In contrast, for growth scenario (2), the stress system is more heterogeneous, such that local stress concentrations exist around individual cavities, leading to stress interactions and local wall/overburden fractures. Consequently, sinkhole collapses occur in individual cavities, which results in uneven, differential subsidence within a larger-scale depression. Depending on material properties of the cavity-hosting material and the overburden, the larger-scale depression forms either by sinkhole coalescence or by widespread subsidence linked geometrically to the entire cavity array. The results from models with growth scenario (2) are in close agreement with surface morphological and subsurface geophysical observations from an evaporite karst area on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea.}, language = {en} } @article{AlHalbouniHolohanTaherietal.2018, author = {Al-Halbouni, Djamil and Holohan, Eoghan P. and Taheri, Abbas and Sch{\"o}pfer, Martin P. J. and Emam, Sacha and Dahm, Torsten}, title = {Geomechanical modelling of sinkhole development using distinct elements}, series = {Solid earth}, volume = {9}, journal = {Solid earth}, number = {6}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1869-9510}, doi = {10.5194/se-9-1341-2018}, pages = {1341 -- 1373}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Mechanical and/or chemical removal of material from the subsurface may generate large subsurface cavities, the destabilisation of which can lead to ground collapse and the formation of sinkholes. Numerical simulation of the interaction of cavity growth, host material deformation and overburden collapse is desirable to better understand the sinkhole hazard but is a challenging task due to the involved high strains and material discontinuities. Here, we present 2-D distinct element method numerical simulations of cavity growth and sinkhole development. Firstly, we simulate cavity formation by quasi-static, stepwise removal of material in a single growing zone of an arbitrary geometry and depth. We benchmark this approach against analytical and boundary element method models of a deep void space in a linear elastic material. Secondly, we explore the effects of properties of different uniform materials on cavity stability and sinkhole development. We perform simulated biaxial tests to calibrate macroscopic geotechnical parameters of three model materials representative of those in which sinkholes develop at the Dead Sea shoreline: mud, alluvium and salt. We show that weak materials do not support large cavities, leading to gradual sagging or suffusion-style subsidence. Strong materials support quasi-stable to stable cavities, the overburdens of which may fail suddenly in a caprock or bedrock collapse style. Thirdly, we examine the consequences of layered arrangements of weak and strong materials. We find that these are more susceptible to sinkhole collapse than uniform materials not only due to a lower integrated strength of the overburden but also due to an inhibition of stabilising stress arching. Finally, we compare our model sinkhole geometries to observations at the Ghor Al-Haditha sinkhole site in Jordan. Sinkhole depth / diameter ratios of 0.15 in mud, 0.37 in alluvium and 0.33 in salt are reproduced successfully in the calibrated model materials. The model results suggest that the observed distribution of sinkhole depth / diameter values in each material type may partly reflect sinkhole growth trends.}, language = {en} } @article{AlAtikAbrahamsonBommeretal.2010, author = {Al Atik, Linda and Abrahamson, Norman A. and Bommer, Julian J. and Scherbaum, Frank and Cotton, Fabrice and Kuehn, Nicolas}, title = {The variability of ground-motion prediction models and its components}, issn = {0895-0695}, doi = {10.1785/gssrl.81.5.794}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @article{AkalCandanKoralayetal.2012, author = {Akal, C{\"u}neyt and Candan, Osman and Koralay, O. Ersin and Oberh{\"a}nsli, Roland and Chen, Fukun and Prelevic, Dejan}, title = {Early Triassic potassic volcanism in the Afyon Zone of the Anatolides/Turkey - implications for the rifting of the Neo-Tethys}, series = {International journal of earth sciences}, volume = {101}, journal = {International journal of earth sciences}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1437-3254}, doi = {10.1007/s00531-011-0654-2}, pages = {177 -- 194}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Afyon Zone, which was derived from the Anatolide-Tauride platform during closure of the Neo-Tethys, is made up of pre-Mesozoic basement and unconformably overlying Triassic-Early Tertiary cover series. The Afyon Zone contains widespread metavolcanic rocks, which are dominated by rhyolite, dacite, and trachyandesite. They form a distinct volcanic succession, which is separated from the underlying Silurian-Lower Carboniferous metacarbonates and meta-siliciclastics by a regional unconformity. Trachyandesitic metavolcanics are made up of massive lava flows, pyroclastics and epiclastics, less frequently, domes and dikes, which were developed on a deeply eroded subaerial landmass. U/Pb and Pb/Pb zircon geochronology yielded Lower Triassic (similar to 250 Ma) ages, which are interpreted as extrusion age of trachyandesitic volcanics. Based on the stratigraphic, geochronological, and geochemical data, we suggest that these Lower Triassic magmatic rocks represent an extensional tectonic setting on the northern active margin of the Gondwana, which led to the development of the northern branch of the Neo-Tethys.}, language = {en} } @article{AkalKoralayCandanetal.2011, author = {Akal, Cuneyt and Koralay, O. Ersin and Candan, Osman and Oberh{\"a}nsli, Roland and Chen, Fukun}, title = {Geodynamic significance of the early triassic karaburun granitoid (Western Turkey) for the opening history of Neo-Tethys}, series = {Turkish journal of earth sciences = T{\"u}rk yerbilimleri dergisi}, volume = {20}, journal = {Turkish journal of earth sciences = T{\"u}rk yerbilimleri dergisi}, number = {3}, publisher = {T{\"u}bitak}, address = {Ankara}, issn = {1300-0985}, doi = {10.3906/yer-1008-1}, pages = {255 -- 271}, year = {2011}, abstract = {The Karaburun Peninsula, which is considered part of the Anatolide-Tauride Block of Turkey, contains clastic and carbonate sequences deposited on the northern margin of Gondwana. The Palaeozoic clastic sequence, which is intruded by the Early Triassic granitoid and tectonically overlies a Mesozoic melange sequence, can be divided into three subunits: a lower clastic subunit consisting of a sandstone-shale alternation, an upper clastic subunit consisting of black chert-bearing shales, sandstone and conglomerate, and a Permo-Carboniferous carbonate subunit. The lower Triassic Karaburun I-type granitoid has a high initial Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio (0.709021-0.709168), and low Nd-143/Nd-144 ratio (0.512004-0.512023) and epsilon Nd (-5.34 to -5.70) isotopic values. Geochronological data indicate a crystallization (intrusion) age of 247.1 +/- 2.0 Ma (Scythian). Geochemically, the acidic magmatism reflects a subduction-related continental-arc basin tectonic setting, which can be linked to the opening of the northern branch of Neo-Tethys as a continental back-arc rifting basin on the northern margin of Gondwana. This can be related to the closure through southward subduction of the Palaeotethys Ocean beneath Gondwana.}, language = {en} } @article{AikenAikenCotton2018, author = {Aiken, John M. and Aiken, Chastity and Cotton, Fabrice}, title = {A python library for teaching computation to seismology students}, series = {Seismological research letters}, volume = {89}, journal = {Seismological research letters}, number = {3}, publisher = {Seismological Society of America}, address = {Albany}, issn = {0895-0695}, doi = {10.1785/0220170246}, pages = {1165 -- 1171}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Python is at the forefront of scientific computation for seismologists and therefore should be introduced to students interested in becoming seismologists. On its own, Python is open source and well designed with extensive libraries. However, Python code can also be executed, visualized, and communicated to others with "Jupyter Notebooks". Thus, Jupyter Notebooks are ideal for teaching students Python and scientific computation. In this article, we designed an openly available Python library and collection of Jupyter Notebooks based on defined scientific computation learning goals for seismology students. The Notebooks cover topics from an introduction to Python to organizing data, earthquake catalog statistics, linear regression, and making maps. Our Python library and collection of Jupyter Notebooks are meant to be used as course materials for an upper-division data analysis course in an Earth Science Department, and the materials were tested in a Probabilistic Seismic Hazard course. However, seismologists or anyone else who is interested in Python for data analysis and map making can use these materials.}, language = {en} } @article{AichnerMakhmudovRajabovetal.2019, author = {Aichner, Bernhard and Makhmudov, Zafar and Rajabov, Iljomjon and Zhang, Qiong and Pausata, Francesco Salvatore R. and Werner, Martin and Heinecke, Liv and Kuessner, Marie L. and Feakins, Sarah J. and Sachse, Dirk and Mischke, Steffen}, title = {Hydroclimate in the Pamirs Was Driven by Changes in Precipitation-Evaporation Seasonality Since theLast Glacial Period}, series = {Geophysical research letters}, volume = {46}, journal = {Geophysical research letters}, number = {23}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0094-8276}, doi = {10.1029/2019GL085202}, pages = {13972 -- 13983}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The Central Asian Pamir Mountains (Pamirs) are a high-altitude region sensitive to climatic change, with only few paleoclimatic records available. To examine the glacial-interglacial hydrological changes in the region, we analyzed the geochemical parameters of a 31-kyr record from Lake Karakul and performed a set of experiments with climate models to interpret the results. delta D values of terrestrial biomarkers showed insolation-driven trends reflecting major shifts of water vapor sources. For aquatic biomarkers, positive delta D shifts driven by changes in precipitation seasonality were observed at ca. 31-30, 28-26, and 17-14 kyr BP. Multiproxy paleoecological data and modelling results suggest that increased water availability, induced by decreased summer evaporation, triggered higher lake levels during those episodes, possibly synchronous to northern hemispheric rapid climate events. We conclude that seasonal changes in precipitation-evaporation balance significantly influenced the hydrological state of a large waterbody such as Lake Karakul, while annual precipitation amount and inflows remained fairly constant.}, language = {en} } @article{AichnerHiltPerillonetal.2017, author = {Aichner, Bernhard and Hilt, Sabine and Perillon, Cecile and Gillefalk, Mikael and Sachse, Dirk}, title = {Biosynthetic hydrogen isotopic fractionation factors during lipid synthesis in submerged aquatic macrophytes: Effect of groundwater discharge and salinity}, series = {Organic geochemistry : the international journal for rapid publication of current research in organic geochemistry and biochemistry}, volume = {113}, journal = {Organic geochemistry : the international journal for rapid publication of current research in organic geochemistry and biochemistry}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0146-6380}, doi = {10.1016/j.orggeochem.2017.07.021}, pages = {10 -- 16}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Sedimentary lipid biomarkers have become widely used tools for reconstructing past climatic and ecological changes due to their ubiquitous occurrence in lake sediments. In particular, the hydrogen isotopic composition (expressed as delta D values) of leaf wax lipids derived from terrestrial plants has been a focus of research during the last two decades and the understanding of competing environmental and plant physiological factors influencing the delta D values has greatly improved. Comparatively less attention has been paid to lipid biomarkers derived from aquatic plants, although these compounds are abundant in many lacustrine sediments. We therefore conducted a field and laboratory experiment to study the effect of salinity and groundwater discharge on the isotopic composition of aquatic plant biomarkers. We analyzed samples of the common submerged plant species, Potamogeton pectinatus (sago pondweed), which has a wide geographic distribution and can tolerate high salinity. We tested the effect of groundwater discharge (characterized by more negative delta D values relative to lake water) and salinity on the delta D values of n-alkanes from P. pectinatus by comparing plants (i) collected from the oligotrophic freshwater Lake Stechlin (Germany) at shallow littoral depth from locations with and without groundwater discharge, and (ii) plants grown from tubers collected from the eutrophic Lake Muggelsee in nutrient solution at four salinity levels. Isotopically depleted groundwater did not have a significant influence on the delta D values of n-alkanes in Lake Stechlin P. pectinatus and calculated isotopic fractionation factors epsilon(l/w) between lake water and n-alkanes averaged -137 +/- 9\%(n-C-23), -136 +/- 7\%(n-C-25) and -131 +/- 6\%(n-C-27), respectively. Similar epsilon values were calculated for plants from Lake Muggelsee grown in freshwater nutrient solution (-134 +/- 11\% for n-C-23), while greater fractionation was observed at increased salinity values of 10 (163 +/- 12\%) and 15(-172 +/- 15\%). We therefore suggest an average e value of -136 +/- 9\% between source water and the major n-alkanes in P. pectinatus grown under freshwater conditions. Our results demonstrate that isotopic fractionation can increase by 30-40\% at salinity values 10 and 15. These results could be explained either by inhibited plant growth at higher salinity, or by metabolic adaptation to salt stress that remain to be elucidated. A potential salinity effect on dD values of aquatic lipids requires further examination, since this would impact on the interpretation of downcore isotopic data in paleohydrologic studies. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{AichnerHerzschuhWilkesetal.2012, author = {Aichner, Bernhard and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Wilkes, Heinz and Schulz, Hans-Martin and Wang, Yongbo and Plessen, Birgit and Mischke, Steffen and Diekmann, Bernhard and Zhang, Chengjun}, title = {Ecological development of Lake Donggi Cona, north-eastern Tibetan Plateau, since the late glacial on basis of organic geochemical proxies and non-pollen palynomorphs}, series = {Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology : an international journal for the geo-sciences}, volume = {313}, journal = {Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology : an international journal for the geo-sciences}, number = {2}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0031-0182}, doi = {10.1016/j.palaeo.2011.10.015}, pages = {140 -- 149}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Organic geochemical proxy data from surface sediment samples and a sediment core from Lake Donggi Cona were used to infer environmental changes on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau spanning the last 18.4 kyr. Long-chain n-alkanes dominate the aliphatic hydrocarbon fraction of the sediment extract from most surface sediment samples and the sediment core. Unsaturated mid-chain n-alkanes (nC(23:1) and nC(25:1)) have high abundances in some samples, especially in core samples from the late glacial and early Holocene. TOC contents, organic biomarker and non-pollen-palynomorph concentrations and results from organic petrologic analysis on selected samples suggest three major episodes in the history of Lake Donggi Cona. Before ca. 12.6 cal ka BP samples contain low amounts of organic matter due to cold and arid conditions during the late glacial. After 12.6 cal ka BP, relatively high contents of TOC and concentrations of Botryococcus fossils, as well as enhanced concentrations of mid-chain n-alkanes and n-alkenes suggest a higher primary and macrophyte productivity than at present This is supported by high contents of palynomorphs derived from higher plants and algae and was possibly triggered by a decrease of salinity and amelioration of climate during the early Holocene. Since 6.8 cal ka BP Lake Donggi Cona has been an oligotrophic freshwater lake. Proxy data suggest that variations in insolation drive ecological changes in the lake, with increased aquatic productivity during the early Holocene summer insolation maximum. Short-term drops of TOC contents or biomarker concentrations (at 9.9 cal ka BP, after 8.0 and between 3.5 and 1.7 cal ka BP) can possibly be related to relatively cool and dry episodes reported from other sites on the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau, which are hypothesized to occur in phase with Northern Hemisphere cooling events.}, language = {en} } @article{AichnerFeakinsLeeetal.2015, author = {Aichner, Bernhard and Feakins, Sarah J. and Lee, J. E. and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Liu, X.}, title = {High-resolution leaf wax carbon and hydrogen isotopic record of the late Holocene paleoclimate in arid Central Asia}, series = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, volume = {11}, journal = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, number = {4}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1814-9324}, doi = {10.5194/cp-11-619-2015}, pages = {619 -- 633}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Central Asia is located at the confluence of large-scale atmospheric circulation systems. It is thus likely to be highly susceptible to changes in the dynamics of those systems; however, little is still known about the regional paleoclimate history. Here we present carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions of n-alkanoic acids from a late Holocene sediment core from Lake Karakuli (eastern Pamir, Xinjiang Province, China). Instrumental evidence and isotopeenabled climate model experiments with the Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique Zoom model version 4 (LMDZ4) demonstrate that delta D values of precipitation in the region are influenced by both temperature and precipitation amount. We find that these parameters are inversely correlated on an annual scale, i.e., the climate has varied between relatively cool and wet and more warm and dry over the last 50 years. Since the isotopic signals of these changes are in the same direction and therefore additive, isotopes in precipitation are sensitive recorders of climatic changes in the region. Additionally, we infer that plants use year-round precipitation (including snowmelt), and thus leaf wax delta D values must also respond to shifts in the proportion of moisture derived from westerly storms during late winter and early spring. Downcore results give evidence for a gradual shift to cooler and wetter climates between 3.5 and 2.5 cal kyr BP, interrupted by a warm and dry episode between 3.0 and 2.7 kyr BP. Further cool and wet episodes occur between 1.9 and 1.5 and between 0.6 and 0.1 kyr BP, the latter coeval with the Little Ice Age. Warm and dry episodes from 2.5 to 1.9 and 1.5 to 0.6 kyr BP coincide with the Roman Warm Period and Medieval Climate Anomaly, respectively. Finally, we find a drying tend in recent decades. Regional comparisons lead us to infer that the strength and position of the westerlies, and wider northern hemispheric climate dynamics, control climatic shifts in arid Central Asia, leading to complex local responses. Our new archive from Lake Karakuli provides a detailed record of the local signatures of these climate transitions in the eastern Pamir.}, language = {en} } @article{AichnerBussianLehnikHabrinketal.2015, author = {Aichner, Bernhard and Bussian, Bernd M. and Lehnik-Habrink, Petra and Hein, Sebastian}, title = {Regionalized concentrations and fingerprints of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in German forest soils}, series = {Environmental pollution}, volume = {203}, journal = {Environmental pollution}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0269-7491}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2015.03.026}, pages = {31 -- 39}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Samples of 474 forest stands in Germany were analysed for concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in three sampling depths. Enhanced concentrations were mainly found at spots relatively close to densely industrialized and urbanized regions and at some topographically elevated areas. Average enrichment factors between mineral soil and humic layer depend on humus type i.e. decrease from mull via moder to more Based on their compound-patterns, the observed samples could be assigned to three main clusters. For some parts of our study area a uniform assignment of samples to clusters over larger regions could be identified. For instance, samples taken at vicinity to brown-coal strip-mining districts are characterized by high relative abundances of low-molecular-weight PAHs. These results suggest that PAHs are more likely originated from local and regional emitters rather than from long-range transport and that specific source-regions can be identified based on PAH fingerprints. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{AichZimmermannElsenbeer2014, author = {Aich, Valentin and Zimmermann, Alexander and Elsenbeer, Helmut}, title = {Quantification and interpretation of suspended-sediment discharge hysteresis patterns: How much data do we need?}, series = {Catena : an interdisciplinary journal of soil science, hydrology, geomorphology focusing on geoecology and landscape evolution}, volume = {122}, journal = {Catena : an interdisciplinary journal of soil science, hydrology, geomorphology focusing on geoecology and landscape evolution}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0341-8162}, doi = {10.1016/j.catena.2014.06.020}, pages = {120 -- 129}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Sediment-discharge hysteresis loops are frequently analyzed to facilitate the understanding of sediment transport processes. Hysteresis patterns, however, are often complex and their interpretation can be complicated. Particularly, quantifying hysteresis patterns remains a problematic issue. Moreover, it is currently unknown how much data is required for analyzing sediment-discharge hysteresis loops in a given area. These open questions and challenges motivated us to develop a new method for quantifying suspended-sediment hysteresis. Subsequently, we applied the new hysteresis index to three suspended-sediment and discharge datasets from a small tropical rainforest catchment. The datasets comprised a different number of events and sampling sites. Our analyses show three main findings: (1) datasets restricted to only few events, which is typical for rapid assessment surveys, were always sufficient to identify the dominating hysteresis pattern in our research area. Furthermore, some of these small datasets contained multiple-peak events that allowed identifying intra-event exhaustion effects and hence, limitations in sediment supply. (2) Datasets comprising complete hydrological years were particularly useful for analyzing seasonal dynamics of hysteresis. These analyses revealed an exhaustion of hysteresis on the inter-event scale which also points to a limited sediment supply. (3) Datasets comprising measurements from two consecutive gauges installed at the catchment outlet and on a slope within that catchment allowed analyzing the change of hysteresis patterns along the flowpath. On the slope, multiple-peak events showed a stronger intra-event exhaustion of hysteresis than at the catchment outlet. Furthermore, exhaustion of hysteresis on the inter-event scale was not evident on the slope but occurred at the catchment outlet. Our results indicate that even small sediment datasets can provide valuable insights into sediment transport processes of small catchments. Furthermore, our results may serve as a first guideline on what to expect from an analysis of hysteresis patterns for datasets of varying quality and quantity. (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{AichLierschVetteretal.2015, author = {Aich, Valentin and Liersch, Stefan and Vetter, Tobias and Andersson, Jafet C. M. and M{\"u}ller, Eva Nora and Hattermann, Fred}, title = {Climate or Land Use?}, series = {Water}, volume = {7}, journal = {Water}, number = {6}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2073-4441}, doi = {10.3390/w7062796}, pages = {2796 -- 2820}, year = {2015}, abstract = {This study intends to contribute to the ongoing discussion on whether land use and land cover changes (LULC) or climate trends have the major influence on the observed increase of flood magnitudes in the Sahel. A simulation-based approach is used for attributing the observed trends to the postulated drivers. For this purpose, the ecohydrological model SWIM (Soil and Water Integrated Model) with a new, dynamic LULC module was set up for the Sahelian part of the Niger River until Niamey, including the main tributaries Sirba and Goroul. The model was driven with observed, reanalyzed climate and LULC data for the years 1950-2009. In order to quantify the shares of influence, one simulation was carried out with constant land cover as of 1950, and one including LULC. As quantitative measure, the gradients of the simulated trends were compared to the observed trend. The modeling studies showed that for the Sirba River only the simulation which included LULC was able to reproduce the observed trend. The simulation without LULC showed a positive trend for flood magnitudes, but underestimated the trend significantly. For the Goroul River and the local flood of the Niger River at Niamey, the simulations were only partly able to reproduce the observed trend. In conclusion, the new LULC module enabled some first quantitative insights into the relative influence of LULC and climatic changes. For the Sirba catchment, the results imply that LULC and climatic changes contribute in roughly equal shares to the observed increase in flooding. For the other parts of the subcatchment, the results are less clear but show, that climatic changes and LULC are drivers for the flood increase; however their shares cannot be quantified. Based on these modeling results, we argue for a two-pillar adaptation strategy to reduce current and future flood risk: Flood mitigation for reducing LULC-induced flood increase, and flood adaptation for a general reduction of flood vulnerability.}, language = {en} } @article{AichLierschVetteretal.2014, author = {Aich, Valentin and Liersch, Stefan and Vetter, T. and Huang, S. and Tecklenburg, J. and Hoffmann, P. and Koch, H. and Fournet, S. and Krysanova, Valentina and Mueller, N. and Hattermann, Fred}, title = {Comparing impacts of climate change on streamflow in four large African river basins}, series = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, volume = {18}, journal = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS}, number = {4}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1027-5606}, doi = {10.5194/hess-18-1305-2014}, pages = {1305 -- 1321}, year = {2014}, abstract = {This study aims to compare impacts of climate change on streamflow in four large representative African river basins: the Niger, the Upper Blue Nile, the Oubangui and the Limpopo. We set up the eco-hydrological model SWIM (Soil and Water Integrated Model) for all four basins individually. The validation of the models for four basins shows results from adequate to very good, depending on the quality and availability of input and calibration data. For the climate impact assessment, we drive the model with outputs of five bias corrected Earth system models of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) for the representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 2.6 and 8.5. This climate input is put into the context of climate trends of the whole African continent and compared to a CMIP5 ensemble of 19 models in order to test their representativeness. Subsequently, we compare the trends in mean discharges, seasonality and hydrological extremes in the 21st century. The uncertainty of results for all basins is high. Still, climate change impact is clearly visible for mean discharges but also for extremes in high and low flows. The uncertainty of the projections is the lowest in the Upper Blue Nile, where an increase in streamflow is most likely. In the Niger and the Limpopo basins, the magnitude of trends in both directions is high and has a wide range of uncertainty. In the Oubangui, impacts are the least significant. Our results confirm partly the findings of previous continental impact analyses for Africa. However, contradictory to these studies we find a tendency for increased streamflows in three of the four basins (not for the Oubangui). Guided by these results, we argue for attention to the possible risks of increasing high flows in the face of the dominant water scarcity in Africa. In conclusion, the study shows that impact intercomparisons have added value to the adaptation discussion and may be used for setting up adaptation plans in the context of a holistic approach.}, language = {en} } @article{AgarwalMarwanMaheswaranetal.2020, author = {Agarwal, Ankit and Marwan, Norbert and Maheswaran, Rathinasamy and {\"O}zt{\"u}rk, Ugur and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen and Merz, Bruno}, title = {Optimal design of hydrometric station networks based on complex network analysis}, series = {Hydrology and Earth System Sciences}, volume = {24}, journal = {Hydrology and Earth System Sciences}, number = {5}, publisher = {Copernicus Publ.}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1027-5606}, doi = {10.5194/hess-24-2235-2020}, pages = {2235 -- 2251}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Hydrometric networks play a vital role in providing information for decision-making in water resource management. They should be set up optimally to provide as much information as possible that is as accurate as possible and, at the same time, be cost-effective. Although the design of hydrometric networks is a well-identified problem in hydrometeorology and has received considerable attention, there is still scope for further advancement. In this study, we use complex network analysis, defined as a collection of nodes interconnected by links, to propose a new measure that identifies critical nodes of station networks. The approach can support the design and redesign of hydrometric station networks. The science of complex networks is a relatively young field and has gained significant momentum over the last few years in different areas such as brain networks, social networks, technological networks, or climate networks. The identification of influential nodes in complex networks is an important field of research. We propose a new node-ranking measure - the weighted degree-betweenness (WDB) measure - to evaluate the importance of nodes in a network. It is compared to previously proposed measures used on synthetic sample networks and then applied to a real-world rain gauge network comprising 1229 stations across Germany to demonstrate its applicability. The proposed measure is evaluated using the decline rate of the network efficiency and the kriging error. The results suggest that WDB effectively quantifies the importance of rain gauges, although the benefits of the method need to be investigated in more detail.}, language = {en} } @article{AgarwalMarwanMaheswaranetal.2017, author = {Agarwal, Ankit and Marwan, Norbert and Maheswaran, Rathinasamy and Merz, Bruno and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Multi-scale event synchronization analysis for unravelling climate processes: a wavelet-based approach}, series = {Nonlinear processes in geophysics}, volume = {24}, journal = {Nonlinear processes in geophysics}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1023-5809}, doi = {10.5194/npg-24-599-2017}, pages = {599 -- 611}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The temporal dynamics of climate processes are spread across different timescales and, as such, the study of these processes at only one selected timescale might not reveal the complete mechanisms and interactions within and between the (sub-) processes. To capture the non-linear interactions between climatic events, the method of event synchronization has found increasing attention recently. The main drawback with the present estimation of event synchronization is its restriction to analysing the time series at one reference timescale only. The study of event synchronization at multiple scales would be of great interest to comprehend the dynamics of the investigated climate processes. In this paper, the wavelet-based multi-scale event synchronization (MSES) method is proposed by combining the wavelet transform and event synchronization. Wavelets are used extensively to comprehend multi-scale processes and the dynamics of processes across various timescales. The proposed method allows the study of spatio-temporal patterns across different timescales. The method is tested on synthetic and real-world time series in order to check its replicability and applicability. The results indicate that MSES is able to capture relationships that exist between processes at different timescales.}, language = {en} } @article{AgarwalMarwanMaheswaranetal.2018, author = {Agarwal, Ankit and Marwan, Norbert and Maheswaran, Rathinasamy and Merz, Bruno and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Quantifying the roles of single stations within homogeneous regions using complex network analysis}, series = {Journal of hydrology}, volume = {563}, journal = {Journal of hydrology}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0022-1694}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.06.050}, pages = {802 -- 810}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Regionalization and pooling stations to form homogeneous regions or communities are essential for reliable parameter transfer, prediction in ungauged basins, and estimation of missing information. Over the years, several clustering methods have been proposed for regional analysis. Most of these methods are able to quantify the study region in terms of homogeneity but fail to provide microscopic information about the interaction between communities, as well as about each station within the communities. We propose a complex network-based approach to extract this valuable information and demonstrate the potential of our approach using a rainfall network constructed from the Indian gridded daily precipitation data. The communities were identified using the network-theoretical community detection algorithm for maximizing the modularity. Further, the grid points (nodes) were classified into universal roles according to their pattern of within- and between-community connections. The method thus yields zoomed-in details of individual rainfall grids within each community.}, language = {en} } @article{AgarwalMaheswaranKurthsetal.2016, author = {Agarwal, Ankit and Maheswaran, Rathinasamy and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen and Khosa, R.}, title = {Wavelet Spectrum and Self-Organizing Maps-Based Approach for Hydrologic Regionalization -a Case Study in the Western United States}, series = {Water Resources Management}, volume = {30}, journal = {Water Resources Management}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0920-4741}, doi = {10.1007/s11269-016-1428-1}, pages = {4399 -- 4413}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Hydrologic regionalization deals with the investigation of homogeneity in watersheds and provides a classification of watersheds for regional analysis. The classification thus obtained can be used as a basis for mapping data from gauged to ungauged sites and can improve extreme event prediction. This paper proposes a wavelet power spectrum (WPS) coupled with the self-organizing map method for clustering hydrologic catchments. The application of this technique is implemented for gauged catchments. As a test case study, monthly streamflow records observed at 117 selected catchments throughout the western United States from 1951 through 2002. Further, based on WPS of each station, catchments are classified into homogeneous clusters, which provides a representative WPS pattern for the streamflow stations in each cluster.}, language = {en} } @article{AgarwalGuntuBanerjeeetal.2022, author = {Agarwal, Ankit and Guntu, Ravikumar and Banerjee, Abhirup and Gadhawe, Mayuri Ashokrao and Marwan, Norbert}, title = {A complex network approach to study the extreme precipitation patterns in a river basin}, series = {Chaos : an interdisciplinary journal of nonlinear science}, volume = {32}, journal = {Chaos : an interdisciplinary journal of nonlinear science}, number = {1}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Woodbury, NY}, issn = {1054-1500}, doi = {10.1063/5.0072520}, pages = {12}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The quantification of spatial propagation of extreme precipitation events is vital in water resources planning and disaster mitigation. However, quantifying these extreme events has always been challenging as many traditional methods are insufficient to capture the nonlinear interrelationships between extreme event time series. Therefore, it is crucial to develop suitable methods for analyzing the dynamics of extreme events over a river basin with a diverse climate and complicated topography. Over the last decade, complex network analysis emerged as a powerful tool to study the intricate spatiotemporal relationship between many variables in a compact way. In this study, we employ two nonlinear concepts of event synchronization and edit distance to investigate the extreme precipitation pattern in the Ganga river basin. We use the network degree to understand the spatial synchronization pattern of extreme rainfall and identify essential sites in the river basin with respect to potential prediction skills. The study also attempts to quantify the influence of precipitation seasonality and topography on extreme events. The findings of the study reveal that (1) the network degree is decreased in the southwest to northwest direction, (2) the timing of 50th percentile precipitation within a year influences the spatial distribution of degree, (3) the timing is inversely related to elevation, and (4) the lower elevation greatly influences connectivity of the sites. The study highlights that edit distance could be a promising alternative to analyze event-like data by incorporating event time and amplitude and constructing complex networks of climate extremes.}, language = {en} }