Author(s): Saeed Moghimi; Mehdi Shafieefar; Ali Khosronejad
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Lake Circulation; Hydrodynamics modelling; Salinity concentration
Abstract: Many large engineering projects have been started and even completed without taking care of minimum requirements for environmental aspects and harmonizing with nature. Construction of the causeway in the narrowest part of Urmia Lake located in the North West of Iran is an example for such projects. The idea came to reality after beginning the construction of the causeway from west coast of the lake. After construction, the pattern of currents and water circulation in the lake has been disturbed considerably. The southern part of the lake receives almost 90% of the freshwater from rivers, while the evaporation is dominated in the northern part. In this research numerical simulations of hydraulics and hydrodynamics of the lake with and without the causeway also in different geometrical improvements have been performed in four main subjects including waves, currents, salinity exchange and sediment transport. Mathematical simulations of related phenomena have been carried out in different conditions including lake different water levels; wind with different return periods, and rivers in flood and normal discharge in different geometrical conditions of the causeway. Results showed that in terms of salinity concentration there is 9% average change of the lake in present compare to the natural condition. Regarding Salinity distribution analysis and economy adding a minimum 500 m opening in the western part of the causeway has been proposed.
Year: 2007