Abstract
The biochemical processes and associated water quality in many lakes mainly depend on their transport behaviors. Most existing methodologies for investigating transport behaviors are based on physically based numerical models. The pollutant transport trajectory and residence time of Poyang Lake are thought to have important implications for the steadily deteriorating water quality and the associated rapid environmental changes during the flood period. This study used a hydrodynamic model (MIKE 21) in conjunction with transport and particle-tracking sub-models to provide comprehensive investigation of transport behaviors in Poyang Lake. Model simulations reveal that the lake’s prevailing water flow patterns cause a unique transport trajectory that primarily develops from the catchment river mouths to the downstream area along the lake’s main flow channels, similar to a river-transport behavior. Particle tracking results show that the mean residence time of the lake is 89 days during July–September. The effect of the Yangtze River (the effluent of the lake) on the residence time is stronger than that of the catchment river inflows. The current study represents a first attempt to use a combined model approach to provide insights into the transport behaviors for a large river–lake system, given proposals to manage the pollutant inputs both directly to the lake and catchment rivers.
Highlights
Lakes are vitally important components of the hydrosphere that serve multiple purposes
This paper extends previous studies by combining the hydrodynamic model with a pollutant transport model and a particle-tracking model to explore the transport behaviors in a large river–lake system
The combination of a 2D hydrodynamic model, an advection-dispersion transport model and a Lagrangian particle-tracking model was successfully applied to the large river–lake system (Poyang Lake), performed for the flood period of the lake
Summary
Lakes are vitally important components of the hydrosphere that serve multiple purposes. Extensive human activities in lake catchments are responsible for increased pollutant loads in lakes around the world, e.g., Lake. The discharge from the catchment rivers and tributaries, including sediment, nutrient and pollutant loads, generate substantial adverse effects on the drinking water supply and water resource regulation of large river–lake systems [4,5]. The physical transport processes and associated transport time scales in many lakes strongly influence the fate of various pollutants, and may affect the spatiotemporal variations in the general water quality of the lake [6]. Lakes often serve as important nursery regions and feeding grounds for a large number of species
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
