A Review of Public Domain Water Quality Models for Simulating Dissolved Oxygen in Rivers and Streams

摘要

The review discusses six major public domain water quality models currently available for rivers and streams. These major models, which differ greatly in terms of processes they represent, data inputs requirements, assumptions, modeling capability, their strengths and weaknesses, could yield useful results if appropriately selected for the desired purposes. The public domain models, which are most suitable for simulating dissolved oxygen along rivers and streams, chosen in this review are simulation catchment (SIMCAT), temporal overall model for catchments (TOMCAT), QUAL2Kw, QUAL2EU, water quality analysis simulation program (WASP7), and quality simulation along rivers (QUASAR). Each of these models is described based on a consistent set of criteria-conceptualization, processes, input data, model capability, limitations, model strengths, and it: application. The results revealed that SIMCAT and TOMCA1 are over-simplistic but useful to quickly assess impact of poin sources. The QUAL2Kw has provision for conversion of alga death to carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD and thus more appropriate than QUAL2EU, where macro phytes play an important interaction. The extensive require ment of data in WASP7 and QUASAR is difficult to justify tht time and costs required to set up these complex models. Thus a single model could not serve all wide range of functionalities required. The choice of a model depends upon availability o: time, financial cost and a specific application. This review may help to choose appropriate model for a particular watei quality problem.