Examination of Critical Factors Related to Summer Chlorophyll a Concentration in the Sueo Dam Reservoir, Republic of Korea

Abstract

This study examined critical factors related to the short-term variation of algae growth in reservoirs during the summer. To this end, statistical tests were carried out at a small dam reservoir to determine how chemical factors (e.g., nutrient concentrations) and physical factors (e.g., theoretical and relative residence times, temperature) influenced the chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentration. Statistical tests revealed that, although phosphorus (P) concentration was significant for Chl-a, residence time had much stronger relationship to Chl-a concentration than chemical factors. In addition, the study verified that relative residence time (RRT) best explained the relation of water status to algae growth. RRT was found to be useful in identifying water status related to the summer algae bloom. Finally, this study raised the possibility of inhibiting summer algae growth by operating dam reservoirs moderately. These findings need to be seriously considered when reservoir operators establish effective strategies for water quality management in summer.

Did the COVID-19 Lockdown-Induced Hydrological Residence Time Intensify the Primary Productivity in Lakes? Observational Results Based on Satellite Remote Sensing

“…Dickman, [20] showed that increased water residence time more likely increases the algae bloom, especially for small reservoirs. Several other works showed that Chl-a increases with increasing residence time and decreases with increasing discharge [21,22]. The hydrological residence time in our study area was expected to increase during the lockdown period owing to following reasons: (i) sewage disposal to the lakes has completely stopped, causing reduced discharge via inlets, and (ii) all anthropogenic activities, including boating has stopped during the lockdown period, causing still waters.…”

Influence of hydrology on water quality and trophic state of irrigation reservoirs in Sri Lanka

“…Flushing rate, measured as the water volume stored in the reservoir divided by the volumetric flowrate (Straškraba, Dostálková, Hejzlar, & Vyhnálek, 1995), is a widely used index of nutrient depletion in reservoirs. Many studies have reported the effects of hydraulic retention time (or hydraulic residence time) on the phytoplankton biomass and eutrophication (Kawara, Yura, Fujii, & Matsumoto, 1998;Lee et al, 2012). Groeger and Kimmel (1984) reported that the allochthonous nutrient inputs in lakes and reservoirs were negative logarithmically related to the hydraulic residence time.…”

Water quality in four reservoirs of the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil

“…Moreover, such complex systems must be operated considering not only water quantity, but residence time as a factor that can improve water quality, minimizing primary production and possibly cyanobacterial blooms. Lee's study (Lee et al, 2012) of a Korean reservoir raised the possibility of inhibiting algae growth establishing strategies for water quality management, such as diminishing the residence time in summer. …”