A new report supports the idea that underground mines can be transformed into energy storage facilities, adding the possibility of on-demand, carbon-free power to energy grids.
dams & reservoirs
Fiber Optics Open New Frontier for Landslide Monitoring
To study a landslide along China’s Three Gorges Reservoir, researchers deployed underground fiber-optic sensors to monitor temperature, moisture, and strain.
Satellites Show Magnitude of Human Influence on River Sediment Flux
Dam-building has decreased the amount of sediment transported by rivers, while land use changes have increased the amount.
The Domino Effect of Freshwater Suffocation
As lakes and reservoirs become anoxic, they can promote poor water quality downstream.
Algorithm Detects Thousands of Missing Levees from U.S. Database
An existing levee database accounts for just one fifth of the country’s actual total levee count, limiting the study of how these embankments affect riparian ecosystem health in the United States.
Good or Bad Jam? Modeling Boulders’ Fate at Constrictions
A new modeling framework to assess the likelihood of jamming at constrictions can be used to support the design of effective mitigation measures and reduce risk in debris flow prone areas.
A New Index to Quantify River Fragmentation
Researchers have developed a new analysis based on a river’s catchment area as opposed its length.
Endangered Rivers Plagued by Pollution, Climate Change, and Outdated Management
The annual list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers includes practical calls to action to turn the tide on threatened U.S. waterways.
A New Index to Assess Multiple-Reservoir Effects on Peak Floods
A simple, yet quantitative, index is demonstrated to quantify reductions in the peak flood resulting from multiple reservoirs, arranged in series along the same river reach.