Development and Application of a Phosphorus Model for a Shallow Oxbow Lake

Abstract

A three-dimensional numerical model was developed for simulating the phosphorus concentration in shallow lakes. In this model, the computational domain was divided into two parts: the water column and the bed sediment layer. The processes of mineralization, settling, adsorption, desorption, bed release (diffusion), growth, and death of phytoplankton were taken into account, and the concentration of organic phosphorus, phosphate, and related water quality constituents was simulated. The concentrations of adsorbed (particulate) and dissolved phosphate due to adsorption-desorption were calculated using two formulas derived based on the Langmuir equation. The release rate of phosphorus from the bed sediment layer was calculated by considering the effects of the concentration gradient across the water-sediment interface, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, and flow conditions. The adsorption and desorption of phosphate from sediment particles, as well as its release from bed sediment, were verified using laboratory experimental data. The model was calibrated and applied to Deep Hollow Lake in the Mississippi alluvial plain. The simulated trends and magnitudes of phosphorus concentration were compared with field observations. The simulation results show that there are strong interactions between sediment-related processes and phosphorus concentration.