Numerical Simulations of the Transparency of Waterfront Bodies

Measured field data was used to analyze the factors which influence the transparency of the Nei River and to develop a multi-factor correlation for the transparency. A 2-D unsteady model which coupled analyses of the water flow, water quality, suspended sediments, and Chl-a was developed to simulate the changes in the transparency for various conditions. The model was then used to forecast the transparency of the Nei River. The suspended sediment concentration (SSC) was found to be the most important factor influencing the transparency, with high concentrations of CODMn and Chl-a also reducing the transparency to some extent. The transparency model is stable and precise, with relative errors between measured and calculated values of less than 15%. With the environmental scheduling schemes, the Nei River transparency can be significantly improved with a mean transparency in high-water years of 69.3 cm, normal-water years of 70.8 cm, and low-water years of 69.8 cm.