Temperature analysis for lake Yojoa, Honduras

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2006.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Chokshi, Mira (Mira K.)
Other Authors: E. Eric Adams and Peter Shanahan.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35495
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author Chokshi, Mira (Mira K.)
author2 E. Eric Adams and Peter Shanahan.
author_facet E. Eric Adams and Peter Shanahan.
Chokshi, Mira (Mira K.)
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description Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2006.
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spelling mit-1721.1/354952019-04-10T10:27:17Z Temperature analysis for lake Yojoa, Honduras Chokshi, Mira (Mira K.) E. Eric Adams and Peter Shanahan. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Civil and Environmental Engineering. Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2006. Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-90). Lake Yojoa is the largest freshwater lake in Honduras, located in the central west region of the country (1405' N, 88° W). The lake has a surface area of 82 km2, a maximum depth of 26 m. and an average depth of 16 m. The locals believe that the anthropogenic activities around the lake for the past 25 years have impacted the water quality of the lake. Temperature analysis of the lake helps to understand the seasonal changes in the thermal structure of the lake, and it also indicates the seasonal changes in the water quality of the lake. The lake is marginally stratified most of the year, with a maximum difference of 4°C between the water surface and the lake bottom. The temporal changes in the thermal structure of the lake are studied using the lake stability analysis and a temperature model CE-THERM. The two analyses confirm that the lake overturns once a year. However, they differ on the onset of the overturn event and the seasonal changes in the stratification depth. The stability analysis indicates an overturn in November and for some years less stable lake conditions in June. The CE-THERM model was run for year 2005 and it indicates a possible overturn in June, and the lake remaining mixed until December. (cont.) Further analysis using additional data is recommended to improve the temperature model predictions. Higher wind speeds, and lower air temperature were observed during the October and November time period, their combined effect appears to be mixing the lake. The inflow water is about 3 °C colder than the lake surface for most of the year, and it tends to sink in the bottom of the lake water column. Poor quality of inflow water settling in the bottom of the lake during a sudden overturn event can cause negative consequences on the dissolved oxygen of the lake, and thus the aquatic processes depending on it. Further studies are recommended to study the transport of the inflowing waters and their circulation in the lake water column, especially during the periods of low stability. Additionally, the thermal analysis can be extended to analyze other water quality constituents, and ultimately leading to the study of eutrophication. by Mira Chokshi. M.Eng. 2007-01-10T16:23:04Z 2007-01-10T16:23:04Z 2006 2006 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35495 71677190 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 115 p. 21424512 bytes 21424051 bytes application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf ncho--- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Chokshi, Mira (Mira K.)
Temperature analysis for lake Yojoa, Honduras
title Temperature analysis for lake Yojoa, Honduras
title_full Temperature analysis for lake Yojoa, Honduras
title_fullStr Temperature analysis for lake Yojoa, Honduras
title_full_unstemmed Temperature analysis for lake Yojoa, Honduras
title_short Temperature analysis for lake Yojoa, Honduras
title_sort temperature analysis for lake yojoa honduras
topic Civil and Environmental Engineering.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35495
work_keys_str_mv AT chokshimiramirak temperatureanalysisforlakeyojoahonduras