Study of the thermal regime of a reservoir on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

Abstract

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau region has unique meteorological characteristics, with low air temperature, low air pressure, low humidity, little precipitation, and strong diurnal variation. A two-dimensional hydrodynamic CE-QUAL-W2 model was configured for the Pangduo Reservoir to better understand the thermal structure and diurnal variation inside the reservoir under the local climate and hydrological conditions on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Observation data were used to verify the model, and the results showed that the average error of the 6 profile measured monthly from August to December 2016 was 0.1 C, and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was 0.173 C. The water temperature from August 2016 to September 2017 was simulated by inputting measured data as model inputs. The results revealed that the reservoir of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau was a typical dimictic reservoir and the water mixed vertically at the end of March and the end of October. During the heating period, thermal stratification occurred, with strong diurnal variation in the epilimnion. The mean variance of the diurnal water temperature was 0.10 within a 5 m water depth but 0.04 in the whole water column. The mixing mode of inflow changed from undercurrent, horizontal-invaded flow and surface layer flow in one day. In winter, the diurnal variation was weak due to the thermal protection of the ice cover, while the mean variance of diurnal water temperature was 0.00 within both 5 m and the whole water column. Compared to reservoirs in areas with low altitude but the same latitude, significant differences occurred between the temperature structure of the low-altitude reservoir and the Pangduo Reservoir (P<0.01). The Pangduo Reservoir presented a shorter stratification period and weaker stratification stability, and the annual average SI value was 26.4 kg/m2, which was only 7.5% that of the low-altitude reservoir. The seasonal changes in the net heat flux received by the surface layers determined the seasonal cycle of stratification and mixing in reservoirs. This study provided a scientific understanding of the thermal changes in stratified reservoirs under the special geographical and meteorological conditions on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Moreover, this model can serve as a reference for adaptive management of similar dimictic reservoirs in cold and high-altitude areas.