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.
Highlights
Sustainable use of reservoirs is threatened by reservoir sedimentation
Experience from the past shows that the decline of global net reservoir storage is due to inadequate consideration of reservoir sedimentation [4]
Impacts of climate change on continuous seasonal and large-scale periglacial reservoir sedimentation have been identified by the use of a numerical 1D model
Summary
Sustainable use of reservoirs is threatened by reservoir sedimentation. Global reservoir capacity has peaked in 2006 and is declining since [1], because sedimentation increases faster than the installation of new reservoir capacity [2]. 0.8% of annual storage capacity are lost each year worldwide, and 0.2% are lost each year in Switzerland on average [3]. Experience from the past shows that the decline of global net reservoir storage is due to inadequate consideration of reservoir sedimentation [4]. Observed infill times (time until the reservoir is completely filled with sediments) of periglacial reservoirs in Switzerland cover several orders of magnitude, indicating that reservoir. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3265 Sustainability 2018, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW. Iitllisafcfuecrrtepnetrlyignlaoctiaklnroewsenrvhooiwr sceldimimateenctahtainogne. wAisllmafafneyctSpwerisigslarecsiaelrvreosiersrvaorier lsoecdaitmedenitnattihoen.pAersigmlaacniyalSewnivsisrorensmerevnoti,rist aisreimlopcaotretdanint ttohequpaenritgiflyactihaleseenveifrfoecntms eanntd, ittoisimimppleomrteanntt etoffiqcuieannttcifoyutnhteesre-mefefaescutsreasnidf ntoecimespsalerym. ent efficient counter-measures if necessary
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