Mean Hypolimnetic Depth
Used in predicting
hypolimnetic and metalimnetic oxygen depletion rates
in
stratified reservoirs.
= hypolimnetic volume (hm3) /
hypolimnetic surface area (km2)
If the Mean Hypolimnetic
Depth = 0., segment is assumed to be unstratified and oxygen depletion
rates are not calculated. Mean hypolimnetic depth should correspond to late
spring or early summer, after onset of stratification.
The PROFILE program (Walker, 1999; Chapter 2 ) can be used to examine thermal profiles and calculate mean hypolimnetic depth.
Since the empirical models for predicting oxygen depletion rate have been developed using data from near-dam stations, hypolimnetic depths should be specified only for near-dam segments.
Predictions of depletion rates
in upper pool segments are not reliable without calibration to site-specific data.