Author(s): J. Blackburn; Y. She; W. Zhang
Linked Author(s): Wenming Zhang, Yuntong She
Keywords: River1D; Water quality; Ice effects
Abstract:
The current landscape of water quality models offers a limited lens through which to view the complex interactions of water quality, hydrodynamics, and ice within ice-affected rivers. While existing models may account for ice as a static barrier to heat, light, and gas exchange, they often fall short in representing the resistive and displacement effects of ice on river hydrodynamics, which in turn may influence water quality. This simplification may hold for low velocity environments, like lakes or reservoirs, but it overlooks the complex dynamics within flowing rivers during winter conditions. This paper introduces enhancements to the University of Alberta's river ice processes model, River1D, by integrating a specialized module for simulating dissolved oxygen and nutrients. A multi-year field-scale simulation demonstrates the enhanced River1D model's ability to simulate water quality under varying conditions, including both open water and ice-covered periods. Model performance is assessed by comparing simulated values of dissolved oxygen, nutrients (ammonia and nitrate), water temperature, and water levels against observational data from the river. The paper discusses model enhancements and findings from the field-scale application, illustrating the facilitated simulation of water quality in ice-affected rivers. This extension of River1D's modelling capabilities supports future integrated studies on cold-region river systems, providing a research tool for examining interactions between water quality and river ice processes, with potential applicability in environmental assessments and management.
Year: 2024