Enhancing the understanding and assessment of soil erosion and sedimentation through improvements to tracer techniques

通过改进示踪剂技术加强对土壤侵蚀和沉积的了解和评估

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-05493
• 负责人: Lobb, David
• 金额: $ 3.42万
• 依托单位: University of Manitoba
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=689468
• 关键词: Enhancing; understanding; assessment; soil; erosion

Soil erosion and sedimentation (SES) continue to be major environmental concerns in Canada and around the world. Soil erosion degrades soil quality, and the resulting sediment degrades water quality and air quality. Tracers have proven to be valuable tools in measuring SES, enhancing the understanding of these processes, and developing models for their assessment and prediction. Of these tracers, the fallout radionuclides (FRNs) 137Cs and 210Pb have been very effective in monitoring the redistribution of soil and sediment within agricultural fields, and in tracking and sourcing sediments within agricultural watersheds, a technique known as sediment fingerprinting. The general objective of the proposed research is to improve techniques used to assess SES using tracers. A coordinated and complementary group of research projects will examine the nature of spatial and temporal properties of soil and sediment in agricultural landscapes and watersheds, focusing on tracers used in the assessment of SES. The variability of sediment properties in waterways and water bodies will be studied in two watersheds, one in Manitoba and the other in New Brunswick. The variability of soil properties in landscapes will be studied in two cultivated fields associated with each of these watersheds. Innovative technologies and techniques, such as the use of portable gamma spectrometers to measure FRNs in the field and the use of new and new combinations of FRNs, will be evaluated for their ability to provide more effective soil and sediment sampling strategies and to provide a more effective means of interpolating SES results across landscapes and watersheds. Sampling strategies that employ a greater awareness of spatial and temporal variability and their causes (inherent/natural and induced/anthropogenic causes) are expected to lead to substantial decreases in the uncertainties associated with SES measurements. It is realistic to expect that the errors associated with SES measurements could be cut in half. The insights gained by examining the spatial and temporal variability of soils and sediments will enhance the understanding of soil erosion (soil loss and accumulation) and sedimentation (production, transport, behaviour and fate). More informed and more reliable measurements will increase confidence in SES assessments. Greater confidence is expected to lead to the development of more effective policies and programs, and to more widespread use of effective soil and water conservation practices, and, in doing so, enhance the sustainability of our land and water resources. In no small part, this impact will be achieved by training professionals at all levels in land and water resources research and management. The proposed research will provide training for two PhD students, two MSc students and eight undergraduate students.

土壤侵蚀和沉积（SES）仍然是加拿大和世界各地的主要环境问题。土壤侵蚀使土壤质量下降，由此产生的沉积物使水质和空气质量下降。示踪剂已被证明是测量社会经济地位、加强对这些过程的理解以及开发评估和预测模型的宝贵工具。在这些示踪剂中，沉降物放射性核素137 Cs和210 Pb在监测农田内土壤和沉积物的重新分布以及农业流域内沉积物的追踪和来源方面非常有效，这是一种称为沉积物指纹的技术。拟议的研究的总体目标是改善技术用于评估SES使用示踪剂。一组协调和互补的研究项目将研究农业景观和流域土壤和沉积物的时空性质，重点是SES评估中使用的示踪剂。将在两个流域研究水道和水体中沉积物特性的变化，一个在马尼托巴，另一个在新玩法。将在与这些流域中的每一个相关的两个耕地中研究景观中土壤特性的变异性。将评价创新技术和方法，如使用便携式伽马能谱仪在实地测量森林资源网络和使用森林资源网络的新组合，以确定其提供更有效的土壤和沉积物取样战略的能力，并提供更有效的方法对不同地貌和流域的SES结果进行插值。采用更好地认识空间和时间变异及其原因（固有/自然和诱导/人为原因）的采样策略，预计将导致与SES测量相关的不确定性大幅减少。预计与SES测量相关的误差可以减半是现实的。通过研究土壤和沉积物的空间和时间变异性所获得的见解将增进对土壤侵蚀（土壤流失和积累）和沉积（生产、迁移、行为和归宿）的了解。更知情和更可靠的测量将增加对SES评估的信心。更大的信心预计将导致制定更有效的政策和方案，更广泛地使用有效的水土保持做法，并在这样做的过程中，提高我们的土地和水资源的可持续性。在很大程度上，这一影响将通过培训土地和水资源研究和管理方面的各级专业人员来实现。拟议的研究将为两名博士生，两名硕士生和八名本科生提供培训。