Modeling the effects of cold front passages on the heat fluxes and thermal structure of a tropical hydroelectric reservoir

Abstract

We study the influence of cold fronts on the heat fluxes and thermal structure of a tropical reservoir located in Brazil. The period chosen for this study consisted of 49 days between 28 April 2010 and 15 July 2010 and was defined based on information from the Brazilian Centre for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies (CPTEC), data collected in situ and the interpretation of remotely sensed images. During the selected time period, five cold front passages were identified, allowing us to analyze the cumulative effect of cold fronts and the reservoir's resilience on the days that elapsed between the passages. To better understand the physical processes that drive changes in heat fluxes and thermal structure, a simulation was performed that utilized a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model. The results showed that during the cold front days, the sensible and latent heat fluxes were enhanced by approximately 24% and 19 %, respectively. The daily average heat loss was up to 167% higher on the cold front days than on the non-cold front days. The high heat loss and the increased wind intensity that occurred during the cold front passages destabilized the water column and provided partial or complete mixing. The colder waters of the Paranaíba River contributed to reestablish the thermal stratification following the passages of the cold fronts. These results suggest that cold front passages play an important role in the stratification and mixing regimes of Brazilian reservoirs located in southern and southeastern regions.