Investigation of thermal stratification structure and dissolved oxygen profiles in Borabey pond and modeling with CE-QUAL-W2

Thermal stratification is one of the most important topics on which lots of research carried out because of its significant effects on water bodies. Especially dissolved oxygen which is the source of life for aquatic organisms, and other water quality parameters are affected adversely by thermal stratification. In this study, thermal stratification structure and dissolved oxygen profiles of Borabey Pond are examined, volumes of thermal stratification zones determined by using RTRM index, and temperature and dissolved oxygen modeled by using CE-QUAL-W2 during the years 2013-2014. In addition, various scenarios were created till 2020 to investigate the changes in the amount of water in the pond. As a result of the study, thermal stratification in the Borabey Pond was observed to begin by the end of April and to continue until the end of August. The stratification pattern of the pond was found to be as monomictic. As a result of thermal stratification the hypolimnion comprises about 20%, the metalimnion about 20% and epilimnion 60% of the total volume of the pond. The temperature and dissolved oxygen were modeled with CE-QUAL-W2 and absolute mean errors between observed and modeled results were found to be 0.77°C and 1.09 mg O2/L respectively.