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D. Markel and U. Shamir
uplands on saline waterbodies in the layers below the lake (Goldshmidt et al.
1967; Gvirtzrnan et al. 1997).
Monitoring the salinization process in Lake Kinneret is carried out by
calculation of a salt mass balance. The contribution of the unmonitored saline
springs is an unknown component in this mass balance, hence it is calculated by
closing the balance equation of the other measured components (Assouline 1993).
A major advance in the methodology is simultaneous solution of the water
volume, heat content, and salt mass equations in the lake (Assouline 1993).
Another problematic component in the salt mass balance is the salt content in the
lake. Calculation of this component requires mapping of the spatial distribution of
salinity throughout the lake, which is one of the tasks of the monitoring system.
7 Modeling and Databases
Many models have been developed and used over the years, to aid in
understanding the processes in the lake and its watershed, to guide the monitoring
system design and operation, and to form the basis for water management
decision-making. The models range from simple statistical analysis of individual
water-quality parameters, through correlations in time and space among different
parameters, to compartment and numerical models of processes in the lake. The
interested reader is referred to the database http://wri.technion.ac.il/cgibinlabstract.html.
A major modeling effort for the lake has been under way in recent years to
produce a scientifically based, operational decision-support system for
management of Lake Kinneret. This proj ect is financed by the Water Commission
and is carrying out by a collaboration between the Alon Laboratory of the IOLR
(KLL) and the Center for Water Research at the University of Western Australia
(CWR). The system is based on a combination oflong-term (years) and short-term
(days) hydrodynamic simulation models, DYRESM (one-dimensional) and
ELCOM (three-dimensional). An ecological model, CAEDYM, will be used to
simulate the biogeochemical processes in the lake. This project is expected to
simulate the entire physical-ecological structure of the lake and to provide a basis
for evaluation of changing conditions and proposed decisions. The main scenarios
to be examined are lowering the water level below -214 m, diverting Jordan River
water north of the lake directly to the National Water Carrier (thus bypassing the
lake), introducing large amounts ofYarmouk River water to the lake and changes
in nutrients load from the watershed. The model project is expected to help in
improving the monitoring system, determine which are the parameters that need to
be monitored, where and how frequently, as well as to focus further research on
the physical, chemical, and biological processes in the watershed and the lake.
The first phase of the project was completed successfully in summer 2000,
when calibration runs passed the acceptance tests
(http://www.cwr.uwa.edu.aui-contract/Current projects/kinneret.html,
D. Markel and U. Shamir
uplands on saline waterbodies in the layers below the lake (Goldshmidt et al.
1967; Gvirtzrnan et al. 1997).
Monitoring the salinization process in Lake Kinneret is carried out by
calculation of a salt mass balance. The contribution of the unmonitored saline
springs is an unknown component in this mass balance, hence it is calculated by
closing the balance equation of the other measured components (Assouline 1993).
A major advance in the methodology is simultaneous solution of the water
volume, heat content, and salt mass equations in the lake (Assouline 1993).
Another problematic component in the salt mass balance is the salt content in the
lake. Calculation of this component requires mapping of the spatial distribution of
salinity throughout the lake, which is one of the tasks of the monitoring system.
7 Modeling and Databases
Many models have been developed and used over the years, to aid in
understanding the processes in the lake and its watershed, to guide the monitoring
system design and operation, and to form the basis for water management
decision-making. The models range from simple statistical analysis of individual
water-quality parameters, through correlations in time and space among different
parameters, to compartment and numerical models of processes in the lake. The
interested reader is referred to the database http://wri.technion.ac.il/cgibinlabstract.html.
A major modeling effort for the lake has been under way in recent years to
produce a scientifically based, operational decision-support system for
management of Lake Kinneret. This proj ect is financed by the Water Commission
and is carrying out by a collaboration between the Alon Laboratory of the IOLR
(KLL) and the Center for Water Research at the University of Western Australia
(CWR). The system is based on a combination oflong-term (years) and short-term
(days) hydrodynamic simulation models, DYRESM (one-dimensional) and
ELCOM (three-dimensional). An ecological model, CAEDYM, will be used to
simulate the biogeochemical processes in the lake. This project is expected to
simulate the entire physical-ecological structure of the lake and to provide a basis
for evaluation of changing conditions and proposed decisions. The main scenarios
to be examined are lowering the water level below -214 m, diverting Jordan River
water north of the lake directly to the National Water Carrier (thus bypassing the
lake), introducing large amounts ofYarmouk River water to the lake and changes
in nutrients load from the watershed. The model project is expected to help in
improving the monitoring system, determine which are the parameters that need to
be monitored, where and how frequently, as well as to focus further research on
the physical, chemical, and biological processes in the watershed and the lake.
The first phase of the project was completed successfully in summer 2000,
when calibration runs passed the acceptance tests
(http://www.cwr.uwa.edu.aui-contract/Current projects/kinneret.html,