Application of CE-QUAL-W2 [v3.2] to Andong Reservoir: Part I: Simulations of Hydro-thermal Dynamics, Dissolved Oxygen and Density Current

A two-dimensional (2D) reservoir hydrodynamics and water quality model, CE-QUAL-W2, is employed to simulate the hydrothermal behavior and density current regime in Andong Reservoir. Observed data used for model forcing and calibration includes: surface water level, water temperature, dissolved oxygen and suspended solids concentration. The model was calibrated to the year of 2003 and verified with continuous run from 2000 till 2004. Without major adjustments, the model accurately simulated surface water levels including the events of large storm. Deep-water reservoirs, like Andong Reservoir, located in the Asian Monsoon region begin to stratify in summer and overturn in fall. This mixing pattern as well as the descending thermocline, onset and duration of stratification and timing of turnover phenomenon were well reproduced by the Andong Model. The temperature field and distinct thermocline are simulated to within $2^{\circ}C$ of observed data. The model performed well in simulating not only the dissolved oxygen profiles but also the metalimnetic dissolved minima phenomenon, a common1y occurring phenomenon in deep reservoirs of temperate regions. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values of model calibration for surface water elevation, temperature and dissolved oxygen were 0.0095 m, $1.82^{\circ}C$, and $1.13\;mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The turbid storm runoff, during the summer monsoon, formed an intermediate layer of about 15 m thickness, moved along the metalimnion until being finally discharged from the dam. This mode of transport of density current, a common characteristic of various other large reservoirs in the Asian summer monsoon region, was well tracked by the model.