Prediction of Water Temperature as Affected by a Pre‐Constructed Reservoir Project Based on MIKE11

Reservoir construction can lead to much more water stored in front of the dam and significantly increase heat storage capacity of the reservoir waters, thus resulting in different distribution pattern of water temperature in reservoir area compared to river. Especially for large reservoir, the obvious stratification of water temperature will appear in the reservoir with deeper water levels. Meanwhile, the low water temperature will be observed in the downstream river due to the operation of the reservoir. The vertical numerical simulation model for reservoir from MIKE 11 was used to predict the changes of water temperature of Wuxikou Reservoir to check the effects of the reservoir construction on water temperature. The water temperature prediction model was developed to simulate the water temperature of the reservoir and the discharged outflow water. The predicted results can contribute to assessing the feasibility of the pre‐constructed project based on the environmental influence of water temperature.