Bathymetry Development and Flow Analyses Using Two-Dimensional Numerical Modeling Approach for Lake Victoria
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Fluids
Abstract
This study explored two-dimensional (2D) numerical hydrodynamic model simulations
of Lake Victoria. Several methods were developed in Matlab to build the lake topography. Old
depth soundings taken in smaller parts of the lake were combined with more recent extensive data
to produce a smooth topographical model. The lake free surface numerical model in the COMSOL
Multiphysics (CM) software was implemented using bathymetry and vertically integrated 2D shallow
water equations. Validated by measurements of mean lake water level, the model predicted very
low mean flow speeds and was thus close to being linear and time invariant, allowing long-time
simulations with low-pass filtered inflow data. An outflow boundary condition allowed an accurate
simulation to achieve the lake’s steady state level. The numerical accuracy of the linear measurement
of lake water level was excellent.
Description
Keywords
Methods of lake bathymetry, Shallow water equations, Lake hydrodynamics, Numerical accuracy, Steady-state analysis, Water-level validation
Citation
Paul, S., Oppelstrup, J., Thunvik, R., Magero, J. M., Ddumba Walakira, D., & Cvetkovic, V. (2019). Bathymetry development and flow analyses using two-dimensional numerical modeling approach for Lake Victoria. Fluids, 4(4), 182. doi:10.3390/fluids4040182