Continuous Seasonal and Large-Scale Periglacial Reservoir Sedimentation

Daniel Ehrbar, Lukas Schmocker, Michael Doering, Marco Cortesi, Gérald Bourban, Robert M. Boes and David F. Vetsch
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Daniel Ehrbar: Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
Lukas Schmocker: Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research (SCCER–SoE), ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
Michael Doering: ZHAW Life Sciences and Facility Management, Institute of Natural Resource Sciences, 8820 Waedenswil, Switzerland
Marco Cortesi: Repower, 7240 Kueblis, Switzerland
Gérald Bourban: HYDRO Exploitation, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
Robert M. Boes: Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
David F. Vetsch: Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Sustainable reservoir use is globally threatened by sedimentation. It has been generally recognized that inadequate consideration of reservoir sedimentation has caused the worldwide decline of net storage. Numerical models are useful tools to simulate sedimentation processes and can be used to derive efficient counter-measures and sediment management strategies. They can be applied to both existing and potential future reservoirs to predict long-term sedimentation. In this study, an application of a simple, robust, and stable numerical 1D model to Gebidem reservoir in Switzerland accompanied by field measurements is presented. It focusses on seasonal and large-scale reservoir sedimentation processes that occur continuously throughout the whole deposition season, while episodic events like turbidity currents are not taken into account. The model simulates both the delta formation of coarse sediments and the lake-wide sedimentation from homopycnal flows. The model is used to assess the effects and significance of varying boundary conditions like inflow, suspended sediment concentration, particle size distribution (PSD), or reservoir operation. It will be demonstrated that future reservoir operation and PSD are as important as future runoff evolution. Based on these findings, implications on future reservoir operation, also considering climate change, are discussed. Finally, an outlook on pending research topics is given.

Keywords: reservoir sedimentation; climate change; numerical 1D model; periglacial environment; delta formation; sedimentation from homopycnal flows (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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