Impact of Initial Soil Conditions on Soil Hydrothermal and Surface Energy Fluxes in the Permafrost Region of the Tibetan Plateau

Accurate initial soil conditions play a crucial role in simulating soil hydrothermal and surface energy fluxes in land surface process modeling.This study emphasized the influence of the initial soil temperature(ST)and soil moisture(SM)conditions on a land surface energy and water simulation in the permafrost region in the Tibetan Plateau(TP)using the Community Land Model version 5.0(CLM5.0).The results indicate that the default initial schemes for ST and SM in CLM5.0 were simplistic,and inaccurately represented the soil characteristics of permafrost in the TP which led to underestimating ST during the freezing period while overestimating ST and underestimating SLW during the thawing period at the XDT site.Applying the long-term spin-up method to obtain initial soil conditions has only led to limited improvement in simulating soil hydrothermal and surface energy fluxes.The modified initial soil schemes proposed in this study comprehensively incorporate the characteristics of permafrost,which coexists with soil liquid water(SLW),and soil ice(SI)when the ST is below freezing temperature,effectively enhancing the accuracy of the simulated soil hydrothermal and surface energy fluxes.Consequently,the modified initial soil schemes greatly improved upon the results achieved through the long-term spin-up method.Three modified initial soil schemes experiments resulted in a 64%,88%,and 77%reduction in the average mean bias error(MBE)of ST,and a 13%,21%,and 19%reduction in the average root-mean-square error(RMSE)of SLW compared to the default simulation results.Also,the average MBE of net radiation was reduced by 7%,22%,and 21%.

Characteristics of In-Situ Soil Water Hysteresis Observed through Multiple-Years Monitoring

A soil water retention curve (SWRC) is an essential soil physical property for analyzing transport and retention of water in a soil layer. A SWRC is often described as a single-valued function that relates the soil water potential ψ to volumetric water content θ of the soil. However, an in-situ ψ − θ relation should show soil water hysteresis, though this fact is often neglected in analyses of field soil water regimes while long-term in-situ soil water hysteresis is not well characterized. This study aimed at probing and characterizing in-situ ψ − θ relations. The developments of large hysteresis in the in-situ ψ − θ relations were observed only a few times during the study period of 82 months. Any of the large hysteretic behaviors in the ψ − θ relations began with an unusually strong continual reduction in ψ. The completion of a hysteresis loop required a recorded maximum rainfall. Because the study field had very small chances to meet such strong rainfall events, it took multiple years to restore the fraction of soil water depleted by the unusually strong continual reduction in ψ. While wetting-drying cycles had occurred within a certain domain of ψ, hysteretic behaviors tended to be so small that the in-situ ψ − θ relation can be approximated as a single-valued function of θ(ψ). These observed patterns of the in-situ ψ − θ relations were characterized by kinds of difference in dθ/dψ between a drying process and a wetting process at a given ψ. Thus, more amounts of experimental facts about wetting SWRCs in parallel with drying SWRCs should be needed for correct modelling, analyzing, and predicting soil water regimes in fields. It is also necessary to increase our understandings about the long-term trends of occurrences of extreme weather conditions associated with possible change in climate.

Soil conditioning tests of clay for EPB tunnelling

Tunnelling with earth pressure balance-tunnel boring machine(EPB-TBM)in clayey soil requires a careful conditioning to reduce the effect of clogging and stickiness.In the last decade,many researches have been carried out to understand how to reduce these negative behaviors using conditioning agents,and different laboratory test procedures have been proposed using both powdered clay and clay chips to quantify and assess the effect of conditioning in terms of reduction of clogging and stickiness.In this paper a review of the various proposed tests is presented.Unfortunately,it can be seen that no unified assessment method on the soil conditioning is available and therefore the designers do not have consistent data on which their choices are based.The present research proposes a laboratory test methodology to study clay conditioning taking both the behavior of chips and powdered clay into account.The proposed procedure has been applied on two different clays,and the test results are presented and discussed to show how the proposed methodology could be applied.

Feasibility study of tar sands conditioning for earth pressure balance tunnelling

This paper presents the results of laboratory test on the feasibility of soil conditioning for earth pressurebalance （EPB） excavation in a tar sand, which is a natural material never studied in this respect. Thelaboratory test performed is based on a procedure and methods used in previous studies with differenttypes of soils, but for this special complex material, additional tests are also conducted to verify particularproperties of the tar sands, such as the tilt test and vane shear test usually used in cohesive materials, anda direct shear test. The laboratory test proves that the test procedure is applicable also to this type of soiland the conditioned material can be considered suitable for EPB excavations, although it is necessary touse a certain percentage of fine elements （filler） to create a material suitable to be mixed with foam. Thetest results show that the conditioned material fulfils the required standard for an EPB application.

Seismic fragility of structures isolated by single concave sliding devices for different soil conditions

This study deals with the seismic fragility of elastic structural systems equipped with single concave sliding（friction pendulum system（FPS）） isolators considering different soil conditions. The behavior of these systems is analyzed by employing a two-degree-of-freedom model, whereas the FPS response is described by means of a velocity-dependent model. The uncertainty in the seismic inputs is taken into account by considering artificial seismic excitations modelled as timemodulated filtered Gaussian white noise random processes of different intensity within the power spectral density method. In particular, the filter parameters, which control the frequency content of the random excitations, are calibrated to describe stiff, medium and soft soil conditions. The sliding friction coefficient at large velocity is also considered as a random variable modelled through a uniform probability density function. Incremental dynamic analyses are developed in order to evaluate the probabilities of exceeding different limit states related to both the reinforced concrete（RC） superstructure and isolation level, defining the seismic fragility curves within an extensive parametric study carried out for different structural system properties and soil conditions. The abovementioned seismic fragility curves are useful to evaluate the seismic reliability of base-isolated elastic systems equipped with FPS and located in any site for any soil condition.

The effect of soil moisture on the response by fungi and bacteria to nitrogen additions for N_(2)O production

In addition to bacteria,the contribution of fungi to nitrous oxide(N_(2)O)production has been recognized but the responses of these two broad and unrelated groups of microorganisms to global environmental changes,atmospheric nitrogen(N)deposition,and precipitation in terms of N_(2)O production are unclear.We studied how these two microbial-mediated N_(2)O production pathways responded to soil moisture conditions and to N addition in an N-limited temperate forest.Soils from a long-term N addition experiment in Changbai Mountain,northeastern China were incubated.Varied concentrations of cycloheximide and streptomycin,both inhibitors of fungal and bacterial activity,were used to determine the contributions of both to N_(2)O production in 66%,98%and 130%water-filled pore spaces(WFPS).The results showed that N_(2)O production decreased significantly with increasing cycloheximide concentration whereas streptomycin was only inhibiting N_(2)O emissions at 98%and 130%WFPS.The bacterial pathway of N_(2)O production in N-addition(Nadd)soil was significantly more dominant than that in untreated(Namb)soil.The difference in the fungal pathway of N_(2)O production between the soil with nitrogen addition and the untreated soil was not significant.Net N_(2)O emissions increased with increasing soil moisture,especially at 130%WFPS,a completely flooded condition.Bacteria dominated carbon dioxide(CO_(2))and N_(2)O emissions in Nadd soil and at 130%WFPS regardless of N status,while fungi dominated CO_(2)and N_(2)O emissions in soil without N addition at 66%and 98%WFPS.The results suggest that flooded soil is an important source of N_(2)O emissions and that bacteria might be better adapted to compete in fertile soils under anoxic conditions.

Spatial variability of leaf wetness under different soil water conditions in rainfed jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) in the loess hilly region, China

Leaf wetness provides a wide range of benefits not only to leaves,but also to ecosystems and communities.It regulates canopy eco-hydrological processes and drives spatial differences in hydrological flux.In spite of these functions,little remains known about the spatial distribution of leaf wetness under different soil water conditions.Leaf wetness measurements at the top(180 cm),middle(135 cm),and bottom(85 cm)of the canopy positions of rainfed jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)in the Chinese loess hilly region were obtained along with meteorological and soil water conditions during the growing seasons in 2019 and 2020.Under soil water non-deficit condition,the frequency of occurrence of leaf wetness was 5.45%higher at the top than at the middle and bottom of the canopy positions.The frequency of occurrence of leaf wetness at the top,middle and bottom of the canopy positions was over 80%at 17:00‒18:00(LST).However,the occurrence of leaf wetness at the top was earlier than those at the middle and bottom of the canopy positions.Correspondingly,leaf drying at the top was also latter than those at the middle and bottom of the canopy positions.Leaf wetness duration at the middle was similar to that at the bottom of the canopy position,but about 1.46-3.01 h less than that at the top.Under soil water deficit condition,the frequency of occurrence of leaf wetness(4.92%-45.45%)followed the order of top>middle>bottom of the canopy position.As the onset of leaf wetness was delayed,the onset of wet leaf drying was advanced and the leaf wetness duration was shortened.Leaf wetness duration at the top was linearly related(R^(2)>0.70)to those at the middle and bottom of the canopy positions under different soil water conditions.In conclusion,the hydrological processes at canopy surfaces of rainfed jujube depended on the position of leaves,thus adjusting canopy structure to redistribute hydrological process is a way to meet the water need of jujube.

Biochemical Characteristics of Saint Mary’s Thistle Varieties (<i>Silybum marianum</i>L. <i>Gaertn.</i>) under Soil-Climate Conditions of the Khorezm Region

This article deals with the biochemical characteristics of varieties of Saint Mary’s Thistle such as Panacea, Debut and Samaryanka. Based on the studies, it was found that the highest oil content was found in the species Debut (26%). The lowest oil content was observed in the variety Samaryanka (19%). The highest protein content and the sum of total amino acids in the seeds of St. Mary’s Thistle varieties were found in the variety Debut (131.1), and the lowest indication was observed in the species Samaryanka (79.2). By the number of replaceable amino acids existing in the seeds of the species of St. Mary’s Thistle, it was found in the Varieties Debut (126.3), and the lowest indication was observed in the variety Samaryanka (112). Based on the results of studies and the noted biochemical characteristics and varietal differences of the St. Mary’s Thistle, the possibility and expediency of expanding the crops of this species in the soil and climatic conditions of the Khorezm region are suggested. The research was conducted 2017-2019 y.

A neural network based methodology to predict site-specific spectral acceleration values

A general neural network based methodology that has the potential to replace the computationally-intensive site-specific seismic analysis of structures is proposed in this paper. The basic framework of the methodology consists of a feed forward back propagation neural network algorithm with one hidden layer to represent the seismic potential of a region and soil amplification effects. The methodology is implemented and verified with parameters corresponding to Delhi city in India. For this purpose, strong ground motions are generated at bedrock level for a chosen site in Delhi due to earthquakes considered to originate from the central seismic gap of the Himalayan belt using necessary geological as well as geotechnical data. Surface level ground motions and corresponding site-specific response spectra are obtained by using a one-dimensional equivalent linear wave propagation model. Spectral acceleration values are considered as a target parameter to verify the performance of the methodology. Numerical studies carried out to validate the proposed methodology show that the errors in predicted spectral acceleration values are within acceptable limits for design purposes. The methodology is general in the sense that it can be applied to other seismically vulnerable regions and also can be updated by including more parameters depending on the state-of-the-art in the subject.

Investigation on regional attenuation of Vrancea (Romania) intermediate-depth earthquakes

This paper aims at investigating possible regional attenuation patterns in the case of Vrancea（Romania） intermediate-depth earthquakes.Almost 500 pairs of horizontal components recorded during 13 intermediate-depth Vrancea earthquakes are employed in order to evaluate the regional attenuation patterns.The recordings are grouped according to the azimuth with regard to the Vrancea seismic source and subsequently,Q models are computed for each azimuthal zone assuming similar geometrical spreading.Moreover,the local soil amplification which was disregarded in a previous analysis performed for Vrancea intermediate-depth earthquakes is now clearly evaluated.The results show minor differences between the four regions situated in front of the Carpathian Mountains and considerable differences in attenuation of seismic waves between the forearc and backarc regions（with regard to the Carpathian Mountains）.Consequently,an average Q model of the type Q（f） = 115×f^1.25 is obtained for the four forearc regions,while a separate Q model of the type Q（f） = 70×f^0.90 is computed for the backarc region.These results highlight the need to evaluate the seismic hazard of Romania by using ground motion models which take into account the different attenuation between the forearc/backarc regions.

Effects of monoculture-conditioned soils on common tallgrass prairie species productivity

Aims Within biodiversity-ecosystem function experiments,it is widely understood that yields of some species rapidly decline when planted in monoculture.This effect may arise due to decreased access to soil nutrients or an increase in detrimental soil patho-gens within monoculture plantings.To determine whether or not soil conditioning affects tall grass prairie species biomass produc-tion,we conducted a field experiment to assess species growth in conspecifically and heterospecifically conditioned soils and a greenhouse experiment to elucidate how conspecific soil biota affected species growth.Methods To test for species-specific soil effects,seedlings of the legume Astragulus canadensis,the cool-season grass Elymus canaden-sis,the forb Helianthus maximiliani and the warm-season grass Panicum virgatum were grown in field plots that had either been conspecifically or heterospecifically conditioned over 2 years.Plant growth was recorded over a single growing season,and soils were assessed for differences in their nematode(mesofauna)communities.Seedlings of these species were additionally grown over a 6-week period in conspecifically conditioned soil that was either untreated,heated to 60°C,sterilized(autoclaved at 120°C)or heated to 60°C and reinoculated with conspecific soil biota.The two heating treatments were used to compare growth responses between a low-and high-temperature soil treatment.The reinoculation treatment was used to assess the effect of soil biota in light of any nutrient changes that may have occurred with soil heating.Important Findings Elymus canadensis,H.maximiliani and P.virgatum growth was improved in field plots conditioned by the legume A.canadensis com-pared with their growth in conspecifically conditioned(home)soils.Despite variation(grass versus nongrass)in their soil nematode com-munities,there was no evidence to suggest that these three species were inhibited by conspecific or functionally conspecific soil condi-tioning in the field.Astragulus canadensis was the only species whose growth was reduced in conspecifically conditioned field soil.In the greenhouse,E.canadensis growth increased in all of the heat-treated soils,likely a response to a fertilization effect associated with soil heat-ing.Panicum virgatum growth also increased among the heated soils.However,its growth decreased in heated soils where conspecific soil mesofauna were reintroduced,indicating that this grass may be inhib-ited by soil mesofauna.Finally,A.canadensis growth decreased in soils treated to fully remove soil biota and was not affected by rein-troduction of soil mesofauna,suggesting that this species negatively responds to soil changes that occur with extreme heating.At least for the suite of tallgrass prairie species evaluated within this experiment,it appears that changes in soil chemistry and generalist soil biota,as opposed to increasing species-specific soil pathogens,more strongly contribute to temporal disparities in their performance.

Soil effect on the bearing capacity of a double-lining structure under internal water pressure

Water conveyance tunnels usually experience high internal water pressures and complex soil conditions.Therefore,shield tunnels with double-lining structure have been adopted because of their high bearing capacity.The effect of the interface between the segmental and inner linings on the bearing capacity has been widely investigated;however,the effect of soil on the internal water pressure bearing capacity has not been emphasized enough.Therefore,in this study,model tests and an analytical solution are presented to elucidate the effect of soil on the internal water pressure bearing capacity.First,model tests are conducted on double-lining models under sandy soil and highly weathered argillaceous siltstone conditions.The internal force and earth pressure under these different soil conditions are then compared to reveal the contribution of soil to the internal water pressure bearing capacity.Following this,an analytical solution,considering the soil–double-lining interaction,is proposed to further investigate the contribution of the soil.The analytical solution is verified with model tests.The analytical solution is in good agreement with the model test results and can be used to evaluate the mechanical behavior of the double-lining and soil contribution.The effect of soil on the bearing capacity is found to be related with the elastic modulus of the soil and the deformation state of the double-lining.Before the double-lining cracks,the sandy soil contributes 3.7%of the internal water pressure but the contribution of the soil rises to 10.4%when it is the highly weathered argillaceous siltstone.After the double-lining cracks,the soil plays an important role in bearing internal water pressure.The soil contributions of sandy soil and highly weathered argillaceous siltstones are 10.5%and 27.8%,respectively.The effect of soil should be considered in tunnel design with the internal water pressure.

Red soil for sediment capping to control the internal nutrient release under flow conditions

Nitrogen （N） and phosphorus （P） released from the sediment to the surface water is a major source of water quality impairment. Therefore, inhibiting sediment nutrient release seems necessary. In this study, red soil （RS） was employed to control the nutrients released from a black-odorous river sediment under flow conditions. The N and P that were released were effectively controlled by RS capping. Continuous-flow incubations showed that the reduction efficiencies of total N （TN）, ammonium （NH4＋-N）, total P （TP） and soluble reactive P （SRP） of the overlying water by RS capping were 77%, 63%, 77% and 92%, respectively, and nitrification and denitrification occurred concurrently in the RS system. An increase in the water velocity coincided with a decrease in the nutrient release rate as a result of intensive water aeration.

Soil depth- and root diameter- related variations affect root decomposition in temperate pine and oak forests

Aims Assessment of factors regulating root decomposition is needed to understand carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems.the ob-jective of this study is to examine the effects of soil depth and root diameter on root decomposition and to analyze the relationship of root decomposition with factors such as soil environmental conditions and initial litter quality.Methods two decomposition experiments were conducted in natural pine(Pinus densiflora)and oak(Quercus serrata)forests over a 2-year period using the litterbag technique.For the soil depth experiment,216 litterbags containing fine roots(∅=0-2 mm)were buried at 0-10-,10-20-and 20-30-cm soil depths.Soil properties and soil enzyme activities and microbial biomass at each soil depth were analyzed.For the root diameter experiment,216 litterbags containing roots 0-1-,1-2-and 2-3-mm in diameter were buried at 10-cm soil depth.the initial litter qualities(carbon(c),nitrogen(N),calcium(ca)and phosphorus(P)concentrations)for each of the root diameter classes were analyzed.Litterbags were retrieved after 3,6,12 and 24 months in each forest type.Important Findingsthe root decomposition rate was significantly altered by soil depth and root diameter.After 2 years,the root decay constant at 0-10-cm depth(pine:0.35 and oak:0.41)was significantly higher than that at 10-20-cm(0.31 and 0.37)and 20-30-cm(0.32 and 0.33)depths in the P.densiflora and Q.serrata forests.Enzyme activities and microbial biomass declined with soil depth,which may be associated with decreasing soil moisture and organic matter.the decay constant for the 0-1-mm roots(pine:0.32 and oak:0.37)was higher than that of 1-2-mm(0.29 and 0.33)and 2-3-mm roots(0.26 and 0.33)for the P.densiflora and Q.serrata forests.Difference in initial P concentration and c/N ratio among the different diameter roots were linearly related with root decomposition.In particular,the increasing c/N ratio with root diameter resulted in decreases in the decomposition rate.these results indicate the surface soil microbial activities and initial c/N ratio of root litter as important drivers of c dynamics in temperate pine and oak forests.

Experimental study on the stratum applicability and mechanisms of bubble-slurry for earth pressure balance shields

Soil conditioning is essential for addressing the stratum applicability problem of earth pressure balance(EPB)shields.Under high water pressures,EPB shields spew water and soil when excavating coarse-grained strata.Typically,foam combined with polymers and slurry is used to solve spewing.However,in current techniques,slurry,foam,and the other agents are mixed with soil separately,their synergistic effect is seldom realized.In this study,an anionic surfactant was used to foam in bentonite slurry to form bubble-slurry to maximize the synergy between bubbles and slurry.The slump,volume stability,and permeability test of bubble-slurry-conditioned sand was conducted to examine the conditioning effect,and the stratum applicability of bubble-slurry was determined from the perspective of permeability.It was found that the conditioning effect of bubble-slurry in coarse gravel soil was excellent and could expand the applicability of EPB shields.The main stabilization mechanism of bubble-slurry is that bentonite particles provide a space barrier for bubbles.And three seepage modes of bubble-slurry-conditioned sand were innovatively defined,and the occurrence conditions of the three seepage modes were analyzed according to the permeability coefficient of sand,initial dynamic shear force of bubble-slurry,and hydraulic gradient.