Systems hydrology models for the Upper Catchments of the Jordan River and Lake Kinneret, Israel

Abstract

Rimmer, A. Systems hydrology models for the Upper Catchments of the Jordan River and Lake Kinneret, Israel. Isr. J. Earth Sci. 56: 1–17. In this paper we investigate three hydrological systems in the Upper Catchments of the Jordan River (UCJR) and Lake Kinneret (LK), Israel, for the explicit purpose of establishing an input–output relationship that can be used for reconstructing past events or predicting future events. By application of the system modeling approach to each problem we ascertained the nature of each system and the major physical laws that govern its operation. The studies focused on: (1) Identification of the hydrological system (precipitation–stream flow relations) of the Jordan River sources that originate from the karstic region of Mt. Hermon; (2) Detection of three unknown components—evaporation, saline springs discharge, and salinity—of the monthly water–solute–heat balances of Lake Kinneret; and (3) Long-term predictions of Lake Kinneret salinity, in response to operational changes such as reduced water and solute inflows. Each of the three hydrological problems that we show here will exemplify one of these three categories, applied for practical purposes to the water system of the UCJR and LK. Each system is presented from the description of the problem, through the mathematical justifications and equations, to the results and the attributed conclusions.