Overview
Numerical models are important tools for studying and predicting water quality in aquatic environments. Although many water quality models are available, both freely and commercially, very few have the capability to consider the effects of an ice cover when simulating winter water quality conditions. This paper provides a comprehensive review of water quality models used to study winter water quality in rivers and lakes, focusing on their capabilities to simulate ice and how the ice interacts with the aquatic environment.
Models Reviewed
Seven models are reviewed: CE-QUAL-W2, WASP, EFDC/EFDC+, MIKE HYDRO River, TELEMAC-MASCARET, ELCOM-CAEDYM/AEM3D, and HEC-RAS. The paper also reviews modelling studies on seasonally ice-affected water bodies worldwide based on some of these models, coupled models, and other study-specific models.
Key Findings
The review highlights the challenges associated with water quality modelling in ice-affected rivers and lakes, stemming from both model limitations and a scarcity of winter water quality data. It underscores the need for the collection of winter water quality data — necessary not only for accurate calibration of models during ice-affected periods, but also for developing a better understanding of how ice affects water quality and vice versa, allowing these important interactions to be identified and integrated into models.