Two-Dimensional Modelling of the Mixing Patterns in a Tropical Semiarid Reservoir

Sofia Midauar Gondim Rocha, João Victor Barros da Silva, Wictor Edney Dajtenko Lemos, Francisco de Assis de Souza Filho and Iran Eduardo Lima Neto ()
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Sofia Midauar Gondim Rocha: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YF, UK
João Victor Barros da Silva: Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará—UFC, Campus do Pici, bl. 713, Fortaleza 60451-970, Ceará, Brazil
Wictor Edney Dajtenko Lemos: Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará—UFC, Campus do Pici, bl. 713, Fortaleza 60451-970, Ceará, Brazil
Francisco de Assis de Souza Filho: Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará—UFC, Campus do Pici, bl. 713, Fortaleza 60451-970, Ceará, Brazil
Iran Eduardo Lima Neto: Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará—UFC, Campus do Pici, bl. 713, Fortaleza 60451-970, Ceará, Brazil

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: Tropical semi-arid regions suffer with recurrent droughts and uncertain water availability, but a few research studies have been conducted to further understand those complexities and their relationships with reservoir hydrodynamics. This study assessed the hydrodynamic processes of a multiple-use reservoir located in the Brazilian semiarid region. The aim was to apply the CE-QUAL-W2 model to understand the lake’s thermal structure and its variabilities in time and space by using the Richardson’s number ( Ri ) as a reference. Meteorological patterns were also investigated. Results show that: (1) no significant changes were found by analysing the spatial variabilities of stratification; (2) seasonal changes were relevant as more robust stratification stability was observed in the wet period when water availability may be impacted by poor water quality; (3) from meteorological evaluations, rainfall showed a strong coefficient of determination with Ri (r² of 0.77); and (4) a threshold value of 60 mm in monthly precipitation was found as an indication of a stable stratification in the water column. Wind speed and water level partly influenced Ri’s variabilities, while low impact was noted for air temperature and inflow. These results can promote an improvement in water-resources management by linking rainfall regime and reservoir hydrodynamics.

Keywords: CE-QUAL-W2; hydrodynamics; Richardson’s number; stratification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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