Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2026
06:29
Simulation of Early Earth Hydrothermal Chimneys in a Thermal Gradient Environment
Published on: February 27, 2021
Hydrothermal dynamics evolution of dry-hot valleys under multiple impacts.
Yuankun Wang1, Weiguo Ma1, Yang You1
1School of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, PR China.
Journal of Environmental Management
|June 29, 2026
Summary
River warming is accelerated by climate change and reservoir regulation. This study reveals significant thermal regime alterations, including reduced amplitude and increased phase lags, impacting river ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Hydrology
- Remote Sensing
Background:
- River thermal regimes are critical indicators of ecological health.
- Understanding thermal evolution under climate change and reservoir regulation is essential.
- The Jinsha River's dry-hot valley presents a unique case for studying these impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the thermal impacts of climate change and reservoir regulation on the Jinsha River.
- To reconstruct and analyze daily river surface water temperature (RSWT) changes.
- To develop and apply an integrated framework for evaluating river thermal regimes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a daily RSWT dataset (2001-2024) derived from Landsat imagery.
- Employed an integrated framework combining heat flux analysis with XGBoost-SHAP machine learning.
- Validated the model against in-situ observations, achieving high accuracy (R²: 0.718-0.848).
Main Results:
- Reconstructed RSWT shows a significant long-term warming trend (0.07°C yr⁻¹).
- River thermal amplitude decreased by 17-23%, and seasonal phase lags increased by 17-47 days.
- Reservoir impoundment reduced net heat (Qnet) by enhancing latent heat loss (Qe) via evaporation.
Conclusions:
- The study quantifies the combined effects of climate change and cascade reservoirs on river thermal dynamics.
- Evaporation emerged as a dominant energy dissipation pathway due to reservoir regulation.
- The developed framework offers a transferable method for assessing river thermal changes in data-scarce regions.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Isothermal Processes
A thermodynamic process that occurs at constant temperature is called an isothermal process. Heat slowly flows into the system or out of the system to maintain thermal equilibrium. Processes involving phase changes like water evaporation into steam or freezing water into ice at a constant temperature are examples of Isothermal Processes.
An ideal gas can also undergo isothermal expansion or compression.
For example, consider 1 mole of an ideal gas inside an isolated cylinder at initial volume V...
An ideal gas can also undergo isothermal expansion or compression.
For example, consider 1 mole of an ideal gas inside an isolated cylinder at initial volume V...
01:27Thermal expansion and Thermal stress: Problem Solving
San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is exposed to temperatures ranging from -15 °C to 40 °C. At its coldest, the main span of the bridge is 1275 m long. Assuming that the bridge is made entirely of steel, what is the change in its length between these temperatures?
To solve the problem, first, identify the known and unknown quantities. The initial length (L) of the bridge is 1275 m, the coefficient of linear expansion (α) for steel is 12 x 10-6/°C, and the change in temperature (ΔT) is 55 °C.
To solve the problem, first, identify the known and unknown quantities. The initial length (L) of the bridge is 1275 m, the coefficient of linear expansion (α) for steel is 12 x 10-6/°C, and the change in temperature (ΔT) is 55 °C.
01:20Mechanisms of Heat Transfer II
In convection, thermal energy is carried by the large-scale flow of matter. Ocean currents and large-scale atmospheric circulation, which result from the buoyancy of warm air and water, transfer hot air from the tropics toward the poles and cold air from the poles toward the tropics. The Earth’s rotation interacts with those flows, causing the observed eastward flow of air in the temperate zones. Convection dominates heat transfer by air, and the amount of available space for the airflow...
01:27Diversity of Archaea III
Crenarchaeota, a prominent phylum of Archaea, is remarkable for its ability to thrive in extreme environments characterized by high temperatures and acidity. These microorganisms inhabit sulfuric hot springs, volcanic systems, and submarine hydrothermal vents, where temperatures often exceed 100°C. The unique adaptations of Crenarchaeota not only allow survival under such extreme conditions but also provide insights into the mechanisms of life in primordial Earth-like environments.Morphological...
01:14Mechanisms of Heat Transfer
Heat transfer between the human body and its environment occurs through four main mechanisms: conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation.
Conduction, accounting for approximately 3% of body heat loss at rest, is the process of exchanging heat between molecules of two materials in direct contact. This can result in both heat loss and gain. For instance, when the body is submerged in water, which conducts heat 20 times more effectively than air, it can either lose or gain significant heat.
Conduction, accounting for approximately 3% of body heat loss at rest, is the process of exchanging heat between molecules of two materials in direct contact. This can result in both heat loss and gain. For instance, when the body is submerged in water, which conducts heat 20 times more effectively than air, it can either lose or gain significant heat.
01:14Mechanisms of Heat Transfer I
Just as interesting as the effects of heat transfer on a system are the methods by which the heat transfer occur. Whenever there is a temperature difference, heat transfer occurs. It may occur rapidly, such as through a cooking pan, or slowly, such as through the walls of a picnic ice box. So many processes involve heat transfer that it is hard to imagine a situation where no heat transfer occurs. Yet, every heat transfer takes place by only three methods: conduction, convection, and radiation.