Effects of temperature-control curtain on algae biomass and dissolved oxygen in a large stratified reservoir: Sanbanxi Reservoir case study

Abstract

A temperature-control curtain (TCC) is a new technique of selective withdrawal for controlling the outflow temperature of a reservoir. A TCC can significantly affect the reservoir hydrodynamic and thermal structure, but its effects on water quality and ecology remain unknown. In this study, we developed and calibrated a hydro-thermal-water quality model to numerically analyze how a TCC located 1 km from a dam affected algal biomass and water quality in a reservoir. According to our results, when a TCC was used, the mean annual chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations in the reservoir decreased. Chl-a concentrations remained constant during the heating period until normal water levels were reached, and increased during the cooling period and decreased until year-end drawdown levels were reached. The dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations decreased and the anoxic proportions increased throughout the year. The yearly mean Chl-a and DO concentrations in the reservoir declined continuously as the water-retaining proportion (Pr) of the TCC increased from 0 to 87.5%, while the anoxic proportion (DO < 2 mg/L) first increased and then decreased, peaking at a Pr of 62.5%. The change patterns of the anoxic proportion were consistent with those of thermal stability, demonstrating the applicability of thermal stability in predicting reservoir hypoxia. Moreover, the environmental impact of TCCs will increase under global warming, and TCCs can mitigate the increased algal biomass and further decrease DO in warmer climate conditions. Under a medium-high climate scenario, Representative Concentration Pathway 6.0, and a TCC having 75% Pr, the yearly mean Chl-a, DO concentrations, and anoxic proportions of Sanbanxi Reservoir are predicted to reach 10.7 μg/L, 4.2 mg/L, and 39.6%, respectively, by 2046–2065. Thus, changes in the water environment and ecology (particularly the likely deterioration of water quality because of selective withdrawal under global warming) should be considered as a component of water management practices.