Wind-driven hydrodynamic characteristics of Lake Taihu, a large shallow lake in China

In this study, a 3D model of Lake Taihu, calibrated and validated based on field observations, was used to simulate and compare three scenarios: windless, steady wind, and realistic wind. The hydrodynamic characteristics of Lake Taihu were analyzed as close to the actual conditions as possible. The results showed that wind-driven currents dominated the flow field in Lake Taihu, and the horizontal velocity driven by wind was more than 6 times that without wind. Observing a stable flow field in Lake Taihu was difficult because of the variability of realistic wind. The hydrodynamic characteristics of Lake Taihu were defined as "strongly affected by wind," "higher on the surface and smaller at the bottom," and "difference between the surface and the bottom." Vertical turbulent kinetic energy can be used to characterize the variable flow field of a wind-driven lake and has a positive correlation with wind speed. Therefore, it could be used as a key component to predict water blooms with practical implications.PMID:38492146 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-024-32930-w
Source: Environmental Science and Pollution Research International - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: research