Modelling approach for characterizing thermal stratification and assessing water quality for a large tropical reservoir

Abstract

The dynamics of water temperature, dissolved oxygen and total dissolved solids concentrations in Aguamilpa Reservoir was analysed by considering horizontal and water column variations. The reservoir model, CE-QUAL-W2, was used to simulate the temporal variations calibrated with data gathered every 2 months from June 2008 to June 2009. Temperature depth profiles indicated a typical asymmetry of reservoirs exhibiting a large stratification in the lower part near the dam. Dissolved oxygen concentration profiles exhibited some degree of anoxia in the bottom water during the rainy season (May through October). This is most likely due to decomposition vegetation and organic matter via soil erosion and runoff from the basin accumulating at the bottom of the reservoir. The reservoir stratification is clearly seasonal, occurring during the rainy season, especially in the lowest reservoir zones. The CE-QUAL-W2 model results provided a comprehensive understanding of the temporal behaviour of the study variables during the modelling study period. Application of this water quality model is directed to water resource managers to help them better understand the dynamics of physicochemical processes, and how they vary temporally and spatially in the reservoir, and to propose the best management practices for preserving or improving the water quality of the system.

Assessment of heavy metals in sediment of Aguamilpa Dam, Mexico

“…According to Gordon et al (2004), the drainage patterns in the Aguamilpa reservoir are mainly dendritic. Water temperature variations and flow rates of the incoming streams are highly related to the rainy and dry seasons of this area (Rangel-Peraza et al 2012).…”

Understanding the Temperature Variations and Thermal Structure of a Subtropical Deep River-Run Reservoir before and after Impoundment

“…Consequently, we conducted the present study by using CE-QUAL-W2 (W2), a two-dimensional laterally averaged hydrodynamic and water quality model [40]. This model works well on the simulation of stratification and density currents and has been widely used in the studies of many reservoirs and river impoundments over the world [41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49].…”

The Holocene environmental changes in southern Indonesia reconstructed from highland caldera lake sediment in Bali Island

“…Discrete laminae formation was further inhibited presumably because planktonic diatoms bloomed in dry season were immediately agitated by subsequent wet season inflow of littoral sediment and possible lake water mixing. Lake water mixing does not likely to occur in warmer and less windy wet seasons (Lewis, 1987;Walker, 1999), but possible downwelling of cold rainfalls into lake bottom (Rangel-Peraza et al, 2012) and storms by the seasonal migration of ITCZ could have promoted lake water circulations and homogeneous lithology. Wetter climate and diminished dry seasons could be indicative of increased frequency of La Niña events according to the present meteorological observation in southern Indonesia (Aldrian and Djamil, 2008).…”