Author(s): Zijun Hu; Lingling Wang; Hongwu Tang; Yun Lang

Linked Author(s): Hongwu Tang, Lingling Wang

Keywords: Xiangxi Bay; Three Gorges Reservoir; Density currents; Temperature stratification; Numerical simulation

Abstract: In recent years, a series of water environment problems induced by temperature stratification in huge reservoirs have got wide attention. A 3 dimensional (3D) temperature mathematical model under Z coordinate is established for the Xiangxi Bay (XXB) of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) to simulate the temperature stratification and density currents of the TGR respectively. The main results of the present work are as follows: The XXB is a seasonal temperature stratified reservoir. Stratification is beginning to occur from spring, most significant in summer, beginning to weaken from September. In the horizontal direction, the temperature gradient along the flow direction is significant in summer and winter, and the lateral temperature gradient is almost zero all year round. Non-ignorable water density difference induced by the temperature stratification between the main stream of the TGR and the XXB, which makes the main stream of the TGR flow into the XXB at the middle level during stratified periods. The thickness, depth and distance of the density currents at the estuary of the XXB are different with the water level of the TGR and water level range per day. Also, the upstream flow of the Xiangxi River often dives at the bottom of XXB.

DOI:

Year: 2015