Three-Dimensional Numerical Modeling Study of Thermal Pollution and its effect on dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll

Abstract

There are large volume of industrial activities in Bushehr coast (Iran).To study thermal pollution and its effects on dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll in this area, the COHERENS has been employed based on a vertical sigma coordinate. The model has been applied 120×40 grid and 5 sigma level from the surface to the bottom. The Cartesian lateral grid spaces are Δx = 1 km (east-west direction) and Δy = 1 km. We included an ecological part of the model to calculate oxygen and chlorophyll variations in the domain. The model is forced by tidal data extracted from Persian Gulf tide table and climatological monthly mean atmospheric forces (wind speed, air temperature, humidity, cloud cover, and precipitation) derived from 54 years (1952-2006) of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) data. Findings of the model suggest that temperature, oxygen and chlorophyll concentration change with the discharging of heated water in the study area. In order to prevent this pollution and its destructive impacts, similar studies can be performed before construction of industrial units and power plants.