@article{CaoHerzschuhTelfordetal.2014,
  author    = {Cao, Xianyong and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Telford, Richard J. and Ni, Jian},
  title     = {A modern pollen-climate dataset from China and Mongolia: assessing its potential for climate reconstruction},
  series = {Review of palaeobotany and palynology : an international journal},
  volume    = {211},
  journal   = {Review of palaeobotany and palynology : an international journal},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0034-6667},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.revpalbo.2014.08.007},
  pages     = {87 -- 96},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {A modern pollen dataset from China and Mongolia (18-52 degrees N, 74-132 degrees E) is investigated for its potential use in climate reconstructions. The dataset includes 2559 samples, 229 terrestrial pollen taxa and four climatic variables - mean annual precipitation (P-ann): 35-2091 mm, mean annual temperature (T-ann): -12.1-25.8 degrees C, mean temperature in the coldest month (Mt(co).): -33.8-21.7 degrees C, and mean temperature in the warmest month (Mt(wa)): 03-29.8 degrees C. Modern pollen-climate relationships are assessed using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), Huisman-Olff-Fresco (HOF) models, the modern analogue technique (MAT), and weighted averaging partial least squares (WA-PLS). Results indicate that P-ann is the most important climatic determinant of pollen distribution and the most promising climate variable for reconstructions, as assessed by the coefficient of determination between observed and predicted environmental values (r(2)) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP). Mt(co) and Mt(wa) may be reconstructed too, but with caution. Samples from different depositional environments influence the performance of cross-validation differently, with samples from lake sediment-surfaces and moss polsters having the best fit with the lowest RMSEP. The better model performances of MAT are most probably caused by spatial autocorrelation. Accordingly, the WA-PLS models of this dataset are deemed most suitable for reconstructing past climate quantitatively because of their more reliable predictive power. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TianHerzschuhTelfordetal.2014,
  author    = {Tian, Fang and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Telford, Richard J. and Mischke, Steffen and Van der Meeren, Thijs and Krengel, Michael},
  title     = {A modern pollen-climate calibration set from central-western Mongolia and its application to a late glacial-Holocene record},
  series = {Journal of biogeography},
  volume    = {41},
  journal   = {Journal of biogeography},
  number    = {10},
  publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  issn      = {0305-0270},
  doi       = {10.1111/jbi.12338},
  pages     = {1909 -- 1922},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {AimFossil pollen spectra from lake sediments in central and western Mongolia have been used to interpret past climatic variations, but hitherto no suitable modern pollen-climate calibration set has been available to infer past climate changes quantitatively. We established such a modern pollen dataset and used it to develop a transfer function model that we applied to a fossil pollen record in order to investigate: (1) whether there was a significant moisture response to the Younger Dryas event in north-western Mongolia; and (2) whether the early Holocene was characterized by dry or wet climatic conditions. LocationCentral and western Mongolia. MethodsWe analysed pollen data from surface sediments from 90 lakes. A transfer function for mean annual precipitation (P-ann) was developed with weighted averaging partial least squares regression (WA-PLS) and applied to a fossil pollen record from Lake Bayan Nuur (49.98 degrees N, 93.95 degrees E, 932m a.s.l.). Statistical approaches were used to investigate the modern pollen-climate relationships and assess model performance and reconstruction output. ResultsRedundancy analysis shows that the modern pollen spectra are characteristic of their respective vegetation types and local climate. Spatial autocorrelation and significance tests of environmental variables show that the WA-PLS model for P-ann is the most valid function for our dataset, and possesses the lowest root mean squared error of prediction. Main conclusionsPrecipitation is the most important predictor of pollen and vegetation distributions in our study area. Our quantitative climate reconstruction indicates a dry Younger Dryas, a relatively dry early Holocene, a wet mid-Holocene and a dry late Holocene.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TianHerzschuhMischkeetal.2014,
  author    = {Tian, Fang and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Mischke, Steffen and Schluetz, Frank},
  title     = {What drives the recent intensified vegetation degradation in Mongolia - Climate change or human activity?},
  series = {The Holocene : an interdisciplinary journal focusing on recent environmental change},
  volume    = {24},
  journal   = {The Holocene : an interdisciplinary journal focusing on recent environmental change},
  number    = {10},
  publisher = {Sage Publ.},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {0959-6836},
  doi       = {10.1177/0959683614540958},
  pages     = {1206 -- 1215},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {This study examines the course and driving forces of recent vegetation change in the Mongolian steppe. A sediment core covering the last 55years from a small closed-basin lake in central Mongolia was analyzed for its multi-proxy record at annual resolution. Pollen analysis shows that highest abundances of planted Poaceae and highest vegetation diversity occurred during 1977-1992, reflecting agricultural development in the lake area. A decrease in diversity and an increase in Artemisia abundance after 1992 indicate enhanced vegetation degradation in recent times, most probably because of overgrazing and farmland abandonment. Human impact is the main factor for the vegetation degradation within the past decades as revealed by a series of redundancy analyses, while climate change and soil erosion play subordinate roles. High Pediastrum (a green algae) influx, high atomic total organic carbon/total nitrogen (TOC/TN) ratios, abundant coarse detrital grains, and the decrease of C-13(org) and N-15 since about 1977 but particularly after 1992 indicate that abundant terrestrial organic matter and nutrients were transported into the lake and caused lake eutrophication, presumably because of intensified land use. Thus, we infer that the transition to a market economy in Mongolia since the early 1990s not only caused dramatic vegetation degradation but also affected the lake ecosystem through anthropogenic changes in the catchment area.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FrolovaNazarovaPestryakovaetal.2014,
  author    = {Frolova, Larisa and Nazarova, Larisa B. and Pestryakova, Luidmila Agafyevna and Herzschuh, Ulrike},
  title     = {Subfossil Cladocera from surface sediment in thermokarst lakes in northeastern Siberia, Russia, in relation to limnological and climatic variables},
  series = {Journal of paleolimnolog},
  volume    = {52},
  journal   = {Journal of paleolimnolog},
  number    = {1-2},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Dordrecht},
  issn      = {0921-2728},
  doi       = {10.1007/s10933-014-9781-7},
  pages     = {107 -- 119},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Subfossil Cladocera were sampled and examined from the surface sediments of 35 thermokarst lakes along a temperature gradient crossing the tree line in the Anabar-river basin in northwestern Yakutia, northeastern Siberia. The lakes were distributed through three environmental zones: typical tundra, southern tundra and forest tundra. All lakes were situated within the continuous permafrost zone. Our investigation showed that the cladoceran communities in the lakes of the Anabar region are diverse and abundant, as reflected by taxonomic richness, and high diversity and evenness indices (H = 1.89 +/- A 0.51; I = 0.8 +/- A 0.18). CONISS cluster analysis indicated that the cladoceran communities in the three ecological zones (typical tundra, southern tundra and forest-tundra) differed in their taxonomic composition and structure. Differences in the cladoceran assemblages were related to limnological features and geographical position, vegetation type, climate and water chemistry. The constrained redundancy analysis indicated that T-July, water depth and both sulphate (SO4 (2-)) and silica (Si4+) concentrations significantly (p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.05) explained variance in the cladoceran assemblage. T-July featured the highest percentage (17.4 \%) of explained variance in the distribution of subfossil Cladocera. One of the most significant changes in the structure of the cladoceran communities in the investigated transect was the replacement of closely related species along the latitudinal and vegetation gradient. The results demonstrate the potential for a regional cladoceran-based temperature model for the Arctic regions of Russia, and for and Yakutia in particular.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LiuHerzschuhWangetal.2014,
  author    = {Liu, Xingqi and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Wang, Yongbo and Kuhn, Gerhard and Yu, Zhitong},
  title     = {Glacier fluctuations of Muztagh Ata and temperature changes during the late Holocene in westernmost Tibetan Plateau, based on glaciolacustrine sediment records},
  series = {Geophysical research letters},
  volume    = {41},
  journal   = {Geophysical research letters},
  number    = {17},
  publisher = {American Geophysical Union},
  address   = {Washington},
  issn      = {0094-8276},
  doi       = {10.1002/2014GL060444},
  pages     = {6265 -- 6273},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Late Holocene glacier variations in westernmost Tibetan Plateau were studied based on the analysis of grain size, magnetic susceptibility, and elements from an 8.3m long distal glaciolacustrine sediment core of Kalakuli Lake. Our results show that there are four glacier expansion episodes occurring in 4200-3700calibrated years (cal years) B.P., 2950-2300cal years B.P., 1700-1070cal years B.P., and 570-100cal years B.P. and four glacier retreat periods of 3700-2950cal years B.P., 2300-1700cal years B.P., 1070-570cal years B.P., and 50cal years B.P.-present. The four glacier expansion episodes are generally in agreement with the glacier activities indicted by the moraines at Muztagh Ata and Kongur Shan, as well as with the late Holocene ice-rafting events in the North Atlantic. Over the last 2000years, our reconstructed glacier variations are in temporal agreement with reconstructed temperature from China and the Northern Hemisphere, indicating that glacier variations at centennial time scales are very sensitive to temperature in western Tibetan Plateau.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Liebs2014,
  author    = {Liebs, G{\"o}ran},
  title     = {Ground penetration radar wave velocities and their uncertainties},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-43680},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-436807},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {ii, 106},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {We develop three new approaches for ground penetration wave velocity calcultaions. The first is based on linear moveout spectra to find the optimum ground wave velocity including uncertainties from multi-offset data gathers. We used synthetic data to illustrate the principles of the method and to investigate uncertainties in ground wave velocity estimates. To demonstrate the applicability of the approach to real data, we analyzed GPR data sets recorded at field sites in Canada over an annual cycle from Steelman \& Endres [2010]. The results obtained by this efficient and largely automated procedure agree well with the manual achieved results of Steelman \& Endres [2010], derived by a more laborious largely manual analysis strategy. Then we develop a second methodology to global invert reflection traveltimes with a particle swarm optimization approach more precise then conventional spectral NMO-based velocity analysis (e.g., Greaves et al. [1996]). For global optimization, we use particle swarm optimization (PSO; Kennedy \& Eberhart [1995]) in the combination with a fast eikonal solver as forward solver (Sethian [1996]; Fomel [1997a]; Sethian \& Popovici [1999]). This methodology allows us to generate reliability CMP derived models of subsurface velocities and water content including uncertainties. We test this method with synthetic data to study the behavior of the PSO algorithm. Afterward, We use this method to analyze our field data from a well constrained test site in Horstwalde, Germany. The achieved velocity models from field data showed good agreement to borehole logging and direct-push data (Schmelzbach et al. [2011]) at the same site position. For the third method we implement a global optimization approach also based on PSO to invert direct-arrival traveltimes of VRP data to obtain high resolution 1D velocity models including quantitative estimates of uncertainty. Our intensive tests with several traveltime data sets helped to understand the behavior of PSO algorithm for inversion. Integration of the velocity model to VRP reflection imaging and attenuation model improved the potential of VRP surveying. Using field data, we examine this novel analysis strategy for the development of petrophysical models and the linking between GPR borehole and other logging data to surface GPR reflection data.},
  language  = {de}
}
@article{RumpfTronicke2014,
  author    = {Rumpf, Michael and Tronicke, Jens},
  title     = {Predicting 2D geotechnical parameter fields in near-surface sedimentary environments},
  series = {Journal of applied geophysics},
  volume    = {101},
  journal   = {Journal of applied geophysics},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0926-9851},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.jappgeo.2013.12.002},
  pages     = {95 -- 107},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {For a detailed characterization of near-surface environments, geophysical techniques are increasingly used to support more conventional point-based techniques such as borehole and direct-push logging. Because the underlying parameter relations are often complex, site-specific, or even poorly understood, a remaining challenging task is to link the geophysical parameter models to the actual geotechnical target parameters measured only at selected points. We propose a workflow based on nonparametric regression to establish functional relationships between jointly inverted geophysical parameters and selected geotechnical parameters as measured, for example, by different borehole and direct-push tools. To illustrate our workflow, we present field data collected to characterize a near-surface sedimentary environment Our field data base includes crosshole ground penetrating radar (GPR), seismic P-, and S-wave data sets collected between 25 m deep boreholes penetrating sand- and gravel dominated sediments. Furthermore, different typical borehole and direct-push logs are available. We perform a global joint inversion of traveltimes extracted from the crosshole geophysical data using a recently proposed approach based on particle swarm optimization. Our inversion strategy allows for generating consistent models of GPR, P-wave, and S-wave velocities including an appraisal of uncertainties. We analyze the observed complex relationships between geophysical velocities and target parameter logs using the alternating conditional expectation (ACE) algorithm. This nonparametric statistical tool allows us to perform multivariate regression analysis without assuming a specific functional relation between the variables. We are able to explain selected target parameters such as characteristic grain size values or natural gamma activity by our inverted geophysical data and to extrapolate these parameters to the inter-borehole plane covered by our crosshole experiments. We conclude that the ACE algorithm is a powerful tool to analyze a multivariate petrophysical data base and to develop an understanding of how a multi-parameter geophysical model can be linked and translated to selected geotechnical parameters.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HamannTronicke2014,
  author    = {Hamann, G{\"o}ran and Tronicke, Jens},
  title     = {Global inversion of GPR traveltimes to assess uncertainties in CMP velocity models},
  series = {Near surface geophysics},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Near surface geophysics},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {European Association of Geoscientists \& Engineers},
  address   = {Houten},
  issn      = {1569-4445},
  doi       = {10.3997/1873-0604.2014005},
  pages     = {505 -- 514},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Velocity models are essential to process two-and three-dimensional ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data. Furthermore, velocity information aids the interpretation of such data sets because velocity variations reflect important material properties such as water content. In many GPR applications, common midpoint (CMP) surveys are routinely collected to determine one-dimensional velocity models at selected locations. To analyse CMP data gathers, spectral velocity analyses relying on the normal-moveout (NMO) model are commonly employed. Using Dix's formula, the derived NMO velocities can be further converted to interval velocities which are needed for processing and interpretation. Because of the inherent assumptions and limitations of such approaches, we investigate and propose an alternative procedure based on the global inversion of reflection travel-times. We use a finite-difference solver of the Eikonal equation to accurately solve the forward problem in combination with particle swarm optimization (PSO) to find one-dimensional GPR velocity models explaining our data. Because PSO is a robust and efficient global optimization tool, our inversion approach includes generating an ensemble of representative solutions that allows us to analyse uncertainties in the model space. Using synthetic data examples, we test and evaluate our inversion approach to analyse CMP data collected across typical near-surface environments. Application to a field data set recorded at a well-constrained test site including a comparison to independent borehole and direct-push data, further illustrates the potential of the proposed approach, which includes a straightforward and understandable appraisal of non-uniqueness and uncertainty issues, respectively. We conclude that our methodology is a feasible and powerful tool to analyse GPR CMP data and allows practitioners and researchers to evaluate the reliability of CMP derived velocity models.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TronickeHamann2014,
  author    = {Tronicke, Jens and Hamann, G{\"o}ran},
  title     = {Vertical radar profiling: Combined analysis of traveltimes, amplitudes, and reflections},
  series = {Geophysics},
  volume    = {79},
  journal   = {Geophysics},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {Society of Exploration Geophysicists},
  address   = {Tulsa},
  issn      = {0016-8033},
  doi       = {10.1190/GEO2013-0428.1},
  pages     = {H23 -- H35},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Vertical radar profiling (VRP) is a single-borehole geophysical technique, in which the receiver antenna is located within a borehole and the transmitter antenna is placed at one or various offsets from the borehole. Today, VRP surveying is primarily used to derive 1D velocity models by inverting the arrival times of direct waves. Using field data collected at a well-constrained test site in Germany, we evaluated a VRP workflow relying on the analysis of direct-arrival traveltimes and amplitudes as well as on imaging reflection events. To invert our VRP traveltime data, we used a global inversion strategy resulting in an ensemble of acceptable velocity models, and thus, it allowed us to appraise uncertainty issues in the estimated velocities as well as in porosity models derived via petrophysical translations. In addition to traveltime inversion, the analysis of direct-wave amplitudes and reflection events provided further valuable information regarding subsurface properties and architecture. The used VRP amplitude preprocessing and inversion procedures were adapted from raybased crosshole ground-penetrating radar (GPR) attenuation tomography and resulted in an attenuation model, which can be used to estimate variations in electrical resistivity. Our VRP reflection imaging approach relied on corridor stacking, which is a well-established processing sequence in vertical seismic profiling. The resulting reflection image outlines bounding layers and can be directly compared to surface-based GPR reflection profiling. Our results of the combined analysis of VRP, traveltimes, amplitudes, and reflections were consistent with independent core and borehole logs as well as GPR reflection profiles, which enabled us to derive a detailed hydro-stratigraphic model as needed, for example, to understand and model groundwater flow and transport.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{PaascheTronicke2014,
  author    = {Paasche, Hendrik and Tronicke, Jens},
  title     = {Nonlinear joint inversion of tomographic data using swarm intelligence},
  series = {Geophysics},
  volume    = {79},
  journal   = {Geophysics},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {Society of Exploration Geophysicists},
  address   = {Tulsa},
  issn      = {0016-8033},
  doi       = {10.1190/GEO2013-0423.1},
  pages     = {R133 -- R149},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Geophysical techniques offer the potential to tomographically image physical parameter variations in the ground in two or three dimensions. Due to the limited number and accuracy of the recorded data, geophysical model generation by inversion suffers ambiguity. Linking the model generation process of disparate data by jointly inverting two or more data sets allows for improved model reconstruction. Fully nonlinear inversion using optimization techniques searching the solution space of the inverse problem globally enables quantitative assessment of the ambiguity inherent to the model reconstruction. We used two different multiobjective particle swarm optimization approaches to jointly invert synthetic crosshole tomographic data sets comprising radar and P-wave traveltimes, respectively. Beginning with a nonlinear joint inversion founded on the principle of Pareto optimality and game theoretic concepts, we obtained a set of Pareto-optimal solutions comprising commonly structured radar and P-wave velocity models for low computational costs. However, the efficiency of the approach goes along with some risk of achieving a final model ensemble not adequately illustrating the ambiguity inherent to the model reconstruction process. Taking advantage of the results of the first approach, we inverted the database using a different nonlinear joint-inversion approach reducing the multiobjective optimization problem to a single-objective one. Computational costs were significantly higher, but the final models were obtained mutually independently allowing for objective appraisal of model parameter determination. Despite the high computational effort, the approach was found to be an efficient nonlinear joint-inversion formulation compared to what could be extracted from individual nonlinear inversions of both data sets.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ZeheEhretPfisteretal.2014,
  author    = {Zehe, E. and Ehret, U. and Pfister, L. and Blume, Theresa and Schroeder, Boris and Westhoff, M. and Jackisch, C. and Schymanski, Stanislauv J. and Weiler, M. and Schulz, K. and Allroggen, Niklas and Tronicke, Jens and van Schaik, Loes and Dietrich, Peter and Scherer, U. and Eccard, Jana and Wulfmeyer, Volker and Kleidon, Axel},
  title     = {HESS Opinions: From response units to functional units: a thermodynamic reinterpretation of the HRU concept to link spatial organization and functioning of intermediate scale catchments},
  series = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS},
  volume    = {18},
  journal   = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS},
  number    = {11},
  publisher = {Copernicus},
  address   = {G{\"o}ttingen},
  issn      = {1027-5606},
  doi       = {10.5194/hess-18-4635-2014},
  pages     = {4635 -- 4655},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {According to Dooge (1986) intermediate-scale catchments are systems of organized complexity, being too organized and yet too small to be characterized on a statistical/conceptual basis, but too large and too heterogeneous to be characterized in a deterministic manner. A key requirement for building structurally adequate models precisely for this intermediate scale is a better understanding of how different forms of spatial organization affect storage and release of water and energy. Here, we propose that a combination of the concept of hydrological response units (HRUs) and thermodynamics offers several helpful and partly novel perspectives for gaining this improved understanding. Our key idea is to define functional similarity based on similarity of the terrestrial controls of gradients and resistance terms controlling the land surface energy balance, rainfall runoff transformation, and groundwater storage and release. This might imply that functional similarity with respect to these specific forms of water release emerges at different scales, namely the small field scale, the hillslope, and the catchment scale. We thus propose three different types of "functional units" - specialized HRUs, so to speak - which behave similarly with respect to one specific form of water release and with a characteristic extent equal to one of those three scale levels. We furthermore discuss an experimental strategy based on exemplary learning and replicate experiments to identify and delineate these functional units, and as a promising strategy for characterizing the interplay and organization of water and energy fluxes across scales. We believe the thermodynamic perspective to be well suited to unmask equifinality as inherent in the equations governing water, momentum, and energy fluxes: this is because several combinations of gradients and resistance terms yield the same mass or energy flux and the terrestrial controls of gradients and resistance terms are largely independent. We propose that structurally adequate models at this scale should consequently disentangle driving gradients and resistance terms, because this optionally allow sequifinality to be partly reduced by including available observations, e. g., on driving gradients. Most importantly, the thermodynamic perspective yields an energy-centered perspective on rainfall-runoff transformation and evapotranspiration, including fundamental limits for energy fluxes associated with these processes. This might additionally reduce equifinality and opens up opportunities for testing thermodynamic optimality principles within independent predictions of rainfall-runoff or land surface energy exchange. This is pivotal to finding out whether or not spatial organization in catchments is in accordance with a fundamental organizing principle.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LohmannFalkGeissleretal.2014,
  author    = {Lohmann, Dirk and Falk, Thomas and Geissler, Katja and Blaum, Niels and Jeltsch, Florian},
  title     = {Determinants of semi-arid rangeland management in a land reform setting in Namibia},
  series = {Journal of arid environments},
  volume    = {100},
  journal   = {Journal of arid environments},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {0140-1963},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.jaridenv.2013.10.005},
  pages     = {23 -- 30},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {To assess the ecological and economic implications of the redistributive land reform in semi-arid Namibia, we investigated to what extent land reform beneficiaries adjust herd size and herd composition according to environmental (rainfall, vegetation) and economic variables (herd size, financial assets, running costs). We performed model-based role-plays with Namibian land reform beneficiaries, simulating 10 years of rangeland management. Our study revealed that the farmers surveyed mainly manage their herds according to their economic situation (herd size and account balance) but do not take environmental variability (rainfall and vegetation) into account. Further, our results indicate that, due to financial pressure, farmers are not able to apply their desired management strategies, and that owners of small farms face a higher risk of economic failure. However, farmers apply rather conservative and constant stocking rates and will thus, given the current economic limitations, likely not contribute to semi-arid savanna degradation. We conclude that land reform beneficiaries need support to be able to apply straightforward and efficient management strategies. This could be achieved by facilitating cooperation between small farming businesses and by supporting initial investment in productive cattle herds at the time of redistribution of the land.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BronstertdeAraujoBatallaVillanuevaetal.2014,
  author    = {Bronstert, Axel and de Araujo, Jos{\`e} Carlos and Batalla Villanueva, Ramon J. and Costa, Alexandre Cunha and Delgado, Jos{\´e} Miguel Martins and Francke, Till and F{\"o}rster, Saskia and G{\"u}ntner, Andreas and Lopez-Tarazon, Jos{\´e} Andr{\´e}s and Mamede, George Leite and Medeiros, Pedro Henrique Augusto and Mueller, Eva and Vericat, Damia},
  title     = {Process-based modelling of erosion, sediment transport and reservoir siltation in mesoscale semi-arid catchments},
  series = {Journal of soils and sediments : protection, risk assessment and remediation},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Journal of soils and sediments : protection, risk assessment and remediation},
  number    = {12},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Heidelberg},
  issn      = {1439-0108},
  doi       = {10.1007/s11368-014-0994-1},
  pages     = {2001 -- 2018},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {To support scientifically sound water management in dryland environments a modelling system has been developed for the quantitative assessment of water and sediment fluxes in catchments, transport in the river system, and retention in reservoirs. The spatial scale of interest is the mesoscale because this is the scale most relevant for management of water and land resources. This modelling system comprises process-oriented hydrological components tailored for dryland characteristics coupled with components comprising hillslope erosion, sediment transport and reservoir deposition processes. The spatial discretization is hierarchically designed according to a multi-scale concept to account for particular relevant process scales. The non-linear and partly intermittent run-off generation and sediment dynamics are dealt with by accounting for connectivity phenomena at the intersections of landscape compartments. The modelling system has been developed by means of data from nested research catchments in NE-Spain and in NE-Brazil. In the semi-arid NE of Brazil sediment retention along the topography is the main process for sediment retention at all scales, i.e. the sediment delivery is transport limited. This kind of deposition retains roughly 50 to 60 \% of eroded sediment, maintaining a similar deposition proportion in all spatial scales investigated. On the other hand, the sediment retained in reservoirs is clearly related to the scale, increasing with catchment area. With increasing area, there are more reservoirs, increasing the possibility of deposition. Furthermore, the area increase also promotes an increase in flow volume, favouring the construction of larger reservoirs, which generally overflow less frequently and retain higher sediment fractions. The second example comprises a highly dynamic Mediterranean catchment in NE-Spain with nested sub-catchments and reveals the full dynamics of hydrological, erosion and deposition features. The run-off modelling performed well with only some overestimation during low-flow periods due to the neglect of water losses along the river. The simulated peaks in sediment flux are reproduced well, while low-flow sediment transport is less well captured, due to the disregard of sediment remobilization in the riverbed during low flow. This combined observation and modelling study deepened the understanding of hydro-sedimentological systems characterized by flashy run-off generation and by erosion and sediment transport pulses through the different landscape compartments. The connectivity between the different landscape compartments plays a very relevant role, regarding both the total mass of water and sediment transport and the transport time through the catchment.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GhylinGarciaMoyaetal.2014,
  author    = {Ghylin, Trevor W. and Garcia, Sarahi L. and Moya, Francisco and Oyserman, Ben O. and Schwientek, Patrick and Forest, Katrina T. and Mutschler, James and Dwulit-Smith, Jeffrey and Chan, Leong-Keat and Martinez-Garcia, Manuel and Sczyrba, Alexander and Stepanauskas, Ramunas and Grossart, Hans-Peter and Woyke, Tanja and Warnecke, Falk and Malmstrom, Rex and Bertilsson, Stefan and McMahon, Katherine D.},
  title     = {Comparative single-cell genomics reveals potential ecological niches for the freshwater acl Actinobacteria lineage},
  series = {The ISME journal : multidisciplinary journal of microbial ecology},
  volume    = {8},
  journal   = {The ISME journal : multidisciplinary journal of microbial ecology},
  number    = {12},
  publisher = {Nature Publ. Group},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {1751-7362},
  doi       = {10.1038/ismej.2014.135},
  pages     = {2503 -- 2516},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Members of the acI lineage of Actinobacteria are the most abundant microorganisms in most freshwater lakes; however, our understanding of the keys to their success and their role in carbon and nutrient cycling in freshwater systems has been hampered by the lack of pure cultures and genomes. We obtained draft genome assemblies from 11 single cells representing three acI tribes (acI-A1, acI-A7, acI-B1) from four temperate lakes in the United States and Europe. Comparative analysis of acI SAGs and other available freshwater bacterial genomes showed that acI has more gene content directed toward carbohydrate acquisition as compared to Polynucleobacter and LD12 Alphaproteobacteria, which seem to specialize more on carboxylic acids. The acI genomes contain actinorhodopsin as well as some genes involved in anaplerotic carbon fixation indicating the capacity to supplement their known heterotrophic lifestyle. Genome-level differences between the acI-A and acI-B clades suggest specialization at the clade level for carbon substrate acquisition. Overall, the acI genomes appear to be highly streamlined versions of Actinobacteria that include some genes allowing it to take advantage of sunlight and N-rich organic compounds such as polyamines, di-and oligopeptides, branched-chain amino acids and cyanophycin. This work significantly expands the known metabolic potential of the cosmopolitan freshwater acI lineage and its ecological and genetic traits.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TadaGrossart2014,
  author    = {Tada, Yuya and Grossart, Hans-Peter},
  title     = {Community shifts of actively growing lake bacteria after N-acetyl-glucosamine addition: improving the BrdU-FACS method},
  series = {The ISME journal : multidisciplinary journal of microbial ecology},
  volume    = {8},
  journal   = {The ISME journal : multidisciplinary journal of microbial ecology},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Nature Publ. Group},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {1751-7362},
  doi       = {10.1038/ismej.2013.148},
  pages     = {441 -- 454},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {In aquatic environments, community dynamics of bacteria, especially actively growing bacteria (AGB), are tightly linked with dissolved organic matter (DOM) quantity and quality. We analyzed the community dynamics of DNA-synthesizing and accordingly AGB by linking an improved bromodeoxyuridine immunocytochemistry approach with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (BrdU-FACS). FACS-sorted cells of even oligotrophic ecosystems in winter were characterized by 16S rRNA gene analysis. In incubation experiments, we examined community shifts of AGB in response to the addition of N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG), one of the most abundant aminosugars in aquatic systems. Our improved BrdU-FACS analysis revealed that AGB winter communities of oligotrophic Lake Stechlin (northeastern Germany) substantially differ from those of total bacteria and consist of Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma-, Deltaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Candidatus OP10 and Chloroflexi. AGB populations with different BrdU-fluorescence intensities and cell sizes represented different phylotypes suggesting that single-cell growth potential varies at the taxon level. NAG incubation experiments demonstrated that a variety of widespread taxa related to Alpha-, Beta-, Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, Spirochaetes, Verrucomicrobia and Chloroflexi actively grow in the presence of NAG. The BrdU-FACS approach enables detailed phylogenetic studies of AGB and, thus, to identify those phylotypes which are potential key players in aquatic DOM cycling.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TangMcGinnisFrindteetal.2014,
  author    = {Tang, Kam W. and McGinnis, Daniel F. and Frindte, Katharina and Bruchert, Volker and Grossart, Hans-Peter},
  title     = {Paradox reconsidered: Methane oversaturation in well-oxygenated lake waters},
  series = {Limnology and oceanography},
  volume    = {59},
  journal   = {Limnology and oceanography},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Wiley},
  address   = {Waco},
  issn      = {0024-3590},
  doi       = {10.4319/lo.2014.59.1.0275},
  pages     = {275 -- 284},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {The widely reported paradox of methane oversaturation in oxygenated water challenges the prevailing paradigm that microbial methanogenesis only occurs under anoxic conditions. Using a combination of field sampling, incubation experiments, and modeling, we show that the recurring mid-water methane peak in Lake Stechlin, northeast Germany, was not dependent on methane input from the littoral zone or bottom sediment or on the presence of known micro-anoxic zones. The methane peak repeatedly overlapped with oxygen oversaturation in the seasonal thermocline. Incubation experiments and isotope analysis indicated active methane production, which was likely linked to photosynthesis and/or nitrogen fixation within the oxygenated water, whereas lessening of methane oxidation by light allowed accumulation of methane in the oxygen-rich upper layer. Estimated methane efflux from the surface water was up to 5 mmol m(-2) d(-1). Mid-water methane oversaturation was also observed in nine other lakes that collectively showed a strongly negative gradient of methane concentration within 0-20\% dissolved oxygen (DO) in the bottom water, and a positive gradient within >= 20\% DO in the upper water column. Further investigation into the responsible organisms and biochemical pathways will help improve our understanding of the global methane cycle.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LeunertEckertPauletal.2014,
  author    = {Leunert, Franziska and Eckert, Werner and Paul, Andrea and Gerhardt, Volkmar and Grossart, Hans-Peter},
  title     = {Phytoplankton response to UV-generated hydrogen peroxide from natural organic matter},
  series = {Journal of plankton research},
  volume    = {36},
  journal   = {Journal of plankton research},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {0142-7873},
  doi       = {10.1093/plankt/fbt096},
  pages     = {185 -- 197},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {In aquatic systems, natural organic matter (NOM) and in particular humic substances effectively absorb the ultraviolet (UV)/visible light spectrum of solar radiation and act as a photoprotective filter for organisms. Simultaneously, UV contributes to the generation of potentially harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). Dose-response experiments were conducted on cyanobacteria and green algae with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a long-lived representative of ROS. Delayed fluorescence (DF) decay kinetics was used as a non-invasive tool to follow changes of phytoplankton activity in real time. In order to investigate phototoxicity and photoprotection by NOM on phytoplankton, we exposed algae to UV-pre-irradiated NOM and direct UV excitation. Cyanobacteria responded to H2O2 concentrations as low as 10(-7) M, while green algae were 2 orders of magnitude less sensitive. UV irradiation of medium with NOM generated H2O2 concentrations of 1.5 x 10(-7) to 3.6 x 10(-7) M. When exposed to these concentrations, only the DF of cyanobacteria led to a measurable effect while that of green algae did not change. The addition of NOM protected all phytoplankton from direct UV irradiation, but cyanobacteria benefitted less. From this we conclude that UV-irradiated water enriched with NOM can adversely affect the physiology of cyanobacteria, but not of green algae, which might control phytoplankton composition and species-specific activities.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchmidtZimmermannElsenbeer2014,
  author    = {Schmidt, Lena Katharina and Zimmermann, Alexander and Elsenbeer, Helmut},
  title     = {Ant mounds as a source of sediment in a tropical rainforest?},
  series = {Hydrological processes},
  volume    = {28},
  journal   = {Hydrological processes},
  number    = {13},
  publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  issn      = {0885-6087},
  doi       = {10.1002/hyp.10222},
  pages     = {4156 -- 4160},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {In Lutzito catchment on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, extraordinarily high suspended-sediment yields of 1-2Mgha-1year-1 were generated despite the dense forest cover coinciding with erosion-resistant soils. We hypothesized that ant mounding activity is an important zoogeomorphological mechanism in this area, providing relevant quantities of easily transportable material at the soil surface. To test this hypothesis, all ant mound material was collected collected for dry mass determination from thirty 4m2 plots installed in the study area every 1-3days during the 39-day sampling period. Additionally, three ground-nesting ant species responsible for mounds in the study area, Ectatomma ruidum, Trachymyrmex cornetzi and Strumigenys marginiventris, were identified. On the basis of the total of 1.38kg of material collected in the wet season of 2011, the estimate for the whole 8months wet season amounts to 725kgha-1. As this value is in the same order of magnitude as sediment output, it shows that ants may act as important ecosystem engineers and contribute to sediment production here by providing large quantities of fine-grained, readily erodible material at the soil surface for subsequent transport to the streambed. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LichtvanCappelleAbelsetal.2014,
  author    = {Licht, Alexis and van Cappelle, M. and Abels, Hemmo A. and Ladant, Jean-Baptiste and Trabucho-Alexandre, J. and France-Lanord, C. and Donnadieu, Yannick and Vandenberghe, J. and Rigaudier, T. and Lecuyer, C. and Terry, D. and Adriaens, R. and Boura, A. and Guo, Z. and Soe, Aung Naing and Quade, J. and Dupont-Nivet, Guillaume and Jaeger, J. -J.},
  title     = {Asian monsoons in a late Eocene greenhouse world},
  series = {Nature : the international weekly journal of science},
  volume    = {513},
  journal   = {Nature : the international weekly journal of science},
  number    = {7519},
  publisher = {Nature Publ. Group},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {0028-0836},
  doi       = {10.1038/nature13704},
  pages     = {501 -- +},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {The strong present-day Asian monsoons are thought to have originated between 25 and 22 million years (Myr) ago, driven by Tibetan-Himalayan uplift. However, the existence of older Asian monsoons and their response to enhanced greenhouse conditions such as those in the Eocene period (55-34Myrago) are unknown because of the paucity of well-dated records. Here we show late Eocene climate records revealing marked monsoon-like patterns in rainfall and wind south and north of the Tibetan-Himalayan orogen. This is indicated by low oxygen isotope values with strong seasonality in gastropod shells and mammal teeth from Myanmar, and by aeolian dust deposition in northwest China. Our climate simulations support modern-like Eocene monsoonal rainfall and show that a reinforced hydrological cycle responding to enhanced greenhouse conditions counterbalanced the negative effect of lower Tibetan relief on precipitation. These strong monsoons later weakened with the global shift to icehouse conditions 34 Myr ago.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MerzAertsArnbjergNielsenetal.2014,
  author    = {Merz, Bruno and Aerts, Jeroen C. J. H. and Arnbjerg-Nielsen, Karsten and Baldi, M. and Becker, Andrew C. and Bichet, A. and Bloeschl, G. and Bouwer, Laurens M. and Brauer, Achim and Cioffi, F. and Delgado, Jose Miguel Martins and Gocht, M. and Guzzetti, F. and Harrigan, S. and Hirschboeck, K. and Kilsby, C. and Kron, W. and Kwon, H. -H. and Lall, U. and Merz, R. and Nissen, K. and Salvatti, P. and Swierczynski, Tina and Ulbrich, U. and Viglione, A. and Ward, P. J. and Weiler, M. and Wilhelm, B. and Nied, Manuela},
  title     = {Floods and climate: emerging perspectives for flood risk assessment and management},
  series = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences},
  number    = {7},
  publisher = {Copernicus},
  address   = {G{\"o}ttingen},
  issn      = {1561-8633},
  doi       = {10.5194/nhess-14-1921-2014},
  pages     = {1921 -- 1942},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Flood estimation and flood management have traditionally been the domain of hydrologists, water resources engineers and statisticians, and disciplinary approaches abound. Dominant views have been shaped; one example is the catchment perspective: floods are formed and influenced by the interaction of local, catchment-specific characteristics, such as meteorology, topography and geology. These traditional views have been beneficial, but they have a narrow framing. In this paper we contrast traditional views with broader perspectives that are emerging from an improved understanding of the climatic context of floods. We come to the following conclusions: (1) extending the traditional system boundaries (local catchment, recent decades, hydrological/hydraulic processes) opens up exciting possibilities for better understanding and improved tools for flood risk assessment and management. (2) Statistical approaches in flood estimation need to be complemented by the search for the causal mechanisms and dominant processes in the atmosphere, catchment and river system that leave their fingerprints on flood characteristics. (3) Natural climate variability leads to time-varying flood characteristics, and this variation may be partially quantifiable and predictable, with the perspective of dynamic, climate-informed flood risk management. (4) Efforts are needed to fully account for factors that contribute to changes in all three risk components (hazard, exposure, vulnerability) and to better understand the interactions between society and floods. (5) Given the global scale and societal importance, we call for the organization of an international multidisciplinary collaboration and data-sharing initiative to further understand the links between climate and flooding and to advance flood research.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{NguyenNghiaHungDelgadoGuentneretal.2014,
  author    = {Nguyen Nghia Hung, and Delgado, Jos{\´e} Miguel Martins and G{\"u}ntner, Andreas and Merz, Bruno and Bardossy, Andras and Apel, Heiko},
  title     = {Sedimentation in the floodplains of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam Part II: deposition and erosion},
  series = {Hydrological processes},
  volume    = {28},
  journal   = {Hydrological processes},
  number    = {7},
  publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  issn      = {0885-6087},
  doi       = {10.1002/hyp.9855},
  pages     = {3145 -- 3160},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Deposition and erosion play a key role in the determination of the sediment budget of a river basin, as well as for floodplain sedimentation. Floodplain sedimentation, in turn, is a relevant factor for the design of flood protection measures, productivity of agro-ecosystems, and for ecological rehabilitation plans. In the Mekong Delta, erosion and deposition are important factors for geomorphological processes like the compensation of deltaic subsidence as well as for agricultural productivity. Floodplain deposition is also counteracting the increasing climate change induced hazard by sea level rise in the delta. Despite this importance, a sediment database of the Mekong Delta is lacking, and the knowledge about erosion and deposition processes is limited. In the Vietnamese part of the Delta, the annually flooded natural floodplains have been replaced by a dense system of channels, dikes, paddy fields, and aquaculture ponds, resulting in floodplain compartments protected by ring dikes. The agricultural productivity depends on the sediment and associated nutrient input to the floodplains by the annual floods. However, no quantitative information regarding their sediment trapping efficiency has been reported yet. The present study investigates deposition and erosion based on intensive field measurements in three consecutive years (2008, 2009, and 2010). Optical backscatter sensors are used in combination with sediment traps for interpreting deposition and erosion processes in different locations. In our study area, the mean calculated deposition rate is 6.86kg/m(2) (approximate to 6mm/year). The key parameters for calculating erosion and deposition are estimated, i.e. the critical bed shear stress for deposition and erosion and the surface constant erosion rate. The bulk of the floodplain sediment deposition is found to occur during the initial stage of floodplain inundation. This finding has direct implications on the operation of sluice gates in order to optimize sediment input and distribution in the floodplains.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{CreutzfeldtTrochGuentneretal.2014,
  author    = {Creutzfeldt, Benjamin and Troch, Peter A. and G{\"u}ntner, Andreas and Ferre, Ty P. A. and Gr{\"a}ff, Thomas and Merz, Bruno},
  title     = {Storage-discharge relationships at different catchment scales based on local high-precision gravimetry},
  series = {Hydrological processes},
  volume    = {28},
  journal   = {Hydrological processes},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  issn      = {0885-6087},
  doi       = {10.1002/hyp.9689},
  pages     = {1465 -- 1475},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {In hydrology, the storage-discharge relationship is a fundamental catchment property. Understanding what controls this relationship is at the core of catchment science. To date, there are no direct methods to measure water storage at catchment scales (10(1)-10(3)km(2)). In this study, we use direct measurements of terrestrial water storage dynamics by means of superconducting gravimetry in a small headwater catchment of the Regen River, Germany, to derive empirical storage-discharge relationships in nested catchments of increasing scale. Our results show that the local storage measurements are strongly related to streamflow dynamics at larger scales (> 100km(2); correlation coefficient=0.78-0.81), but at small scale, no such relationship exists (similar to 1km(2); correlation coefficients=-0.11). The geologic setting in the region can explain both the disconnection between local water storage and headwater runoff, and the connectivity between headwater storage and streams draining larger catchment areas. More research is required to understand what controls the form of the observed storage-discharge relationships at the catchment scale. This study demonstrates that high-precision gravimetry can provide new insights into the complex relationship between state and response of hydrological systems.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{DelgadoMerzApel2014,
  author    = {Delgado, Jose Miguel Martins and Merz, Bruno and Apel, Heiko},
  title     = {Projecting flood hazard under climate change: an alternative approach to model chains},
  series = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences},
  number    = {6},
  publisher = {Copernicus},
  address   = {G{\"o}ttingen},
  issn      = {1561-8633},
  doi       = {10.5194/nhess-14-1579-2014},
  pages     = {1579 -- 1589},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Flood hazard projections under climate change are typically derived by applying model chains consisting of the following elements: "emission scenario - global climate model - downscaling, possibly including bias correction hydrological model - flood frequency analysis". To date, this approach yields very uncertain results, due to the difficulties of global and regional climate models to represent precipitation. The implementation of such model chains requires major efforts, and their complexity is high. We propose for the Mekong River an alternative approach which is based on a shortened model chain: "emission scenario - global climate model - non-stationary flood frequency model". The underlying idea is to use a link between the Western Pacific monsoon and local flood characteristics: the variance of the monsoon drives a non-stationary flood frequency model, yielding a direct estimate of flood probabilities. This approach bypasses the uncertain precipitation, since the monsoon variance is derived from large-scale wind fields which are better represented by climate models. The simplicity of the monsoon-flood link allows deriving large ensembles of flood projections under climate change. We conclude that this is a worthwhile, complementary approach to the typical model chains in catchments where a substantial link between climate and floods is found.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchroeterKreibichVogeletal.2014,
  author    = {Schroeter, Kai and Kreibich, Heidi and Vogel, Kristin and Riggelsen, Carsten and Scherbaum, Frank and Merz, Bruno},
  title     = {How useful are complex flood damage models?},
  series = {Water resources research},
  volume    = {50},
  journal   = {Water resources research},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {American Geophysical Union},
  address   = {Washington},
  issn      = {0043-1397},
  doi       = {10.1002/2013WR014396},
  pages     = {3378 -- 3395},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {We investigate the usefulness of complex flood damage models for predicting relative damage to residential buildings in a spatial and temporal transfer context. We apply eight different flood damage models to predict relative building damage for five historic flood events in two different regions of Germany. Model complexity is measured in terms of the number of explanatory variables which varies from 1 variable up to 10 variables which are singled out from 28 candidate variables. Model validation is based on empirical damage data, whereas observation uncertainty is taken into consideration. The comparison of model predictive performance shows that additional explanatory variables besides the water depth improve the predictive capability in a spatial and temporal transfer context, i.e., when the models are transferred to different regions and different flood events. Concerning the trade-off between predictive capability and reliability the model structure seem more important than the number of explanatory variables. Among the models considered, the reliability of Bayesian network-based predictions in space-time transfer is larger than for the remaining models, and the uncertainties associated with damage predictions are reflected more completely.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{UhlemannThiekenMerz2014,
  author    = {Uhlemann, Steffi and Thieken, Annegret and Merz, Bruno},
  title     = {A quality assessment framework for natural hazard event documentation: application to trans-basin flood reports in Germany},
  series = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Natural hazards and earth system sciences},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Copernicus},
  address   = {G{\"o}ttingen},
  issn      = {1561-8633},
  doi       = {10.5194/nhess-14-189-2014},
  pages     = {189 -- 208},
  year      = {2014},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{NguyenNghiaHungDelgadoGuentneretal.2014,
  author    = {Nguyen Nghia Hung, and Delgado, Jos{\´e} Miguel Martins and G{\"u}ntner, Andreas and Merz, Bruno and Bardossy, Andras and Apel, Heiko},
  title     = {Sedimentation in the floodplains of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Part I: suspended sediment dynamics},
  series = {Hydrological processes},
  volume    = {28},
  journal   = {Hydrological processes},
  number    = {7},
  publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  issn      = {0885-6087},
  doi       = {10.1002/hyp.9856},
  pages     = {3132 -- 3144},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Suspended sediment is the primary source for a sustainable agro-ecosystem in the Mekong Delta by providing nutrient input for the subsequent cropping season. In addition, the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) plays an important role in the erosion and deposition processes in the Delta; that is, it influences the morphologic development and may counteract the deltaic subsidence and sea level rise. Despite this importance, little is known about the dynamics of suspended sediment in the floodplains of the Mekong Delta. In particular, quantitative analyses are lacking mainly because of data scarcity with respect to the inundation processes in the floodplains. In 2008, therefore, a comprehensive in situ system to monitor the dynamics of suspended sediment in a study area located in the Plain of Reeds was established, aiming at the characterization and quantification of suspended sediment dynamics in the deeply inundated parts of the Vietnamese part of the Mekong Delta. The monitoring system was equipped with seven water quality-monitoring stations. They have a robust design and autonomous power supply suitable for operation on inundated floodplains, enabling the collection of reliable data over a long period of time with a high temporal resolution. The data analysis shows that the general seasonal dynamics of suspended sediment transport in the Delta is controlled by two main mechanisms: the flood wave of the Mekong River and the tidal backwater influences from the coast. In the channel network, SSC decreases exponentially with distance from the Mekong River. The anthropogenic influence on SSC could also be identified for two periods: at the start of the floodplain inundation and at the end of the flood period, when subsequent paddy rice crops are prepared. Based on the results, we recommend an operation scheme for the sluice gates, which intends to distribute the sediment and thus the nutrients equally over the floodplain.},
  language  = {en}
}