High-Performance integrated modeling of Lake Michigan: circulation development of a coupled land-air-ocean model

The Great lakes of North America. Lake Michigan is shown in dark blue. Its dimensions are: Max. depth: 281 m, Max. length: 494 km, Max. width : 190 km, Avg. depth  : 85 m (Source: Wikipedia)

Research area and concerns

The Great Lakes of North America provide water for nearly 66 million people. The confluence of competing interests between the industrial, agricultural and energy sectors, which are the main drivers of development in this region, has resulted in water quality deterioration. Based on beneficial use impairments, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and Environment Canada identified 43 areas of concern, out of which 10 lie within the Lake Michigan basin. Some of the impairments include loss of fish and wildlife habitat, beach closures, degradation of benthos, restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption, eutrophication, restrictions on dredging and restrictions on drinking water consumption (http://www.great-lakes.net/envt/pollution/benefuse.html).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fecal bacterial contamination of Lake Michigan beaches is a recurring problem, which poses potential human health risks like gastrointestinal diseases and eye/respiratory infections. Furthermore, the sediment resuspension events that occur in Lake Michigan have been found to suspend Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and Dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) laden sediment into the water column .  Besides resuspension, the sediment has also been found to undergo advection into deeper water, where it further undergoes local resuspension. It has been speculated that these events might be responsible for the exceedence of PCB and DDT levels in Lake Michigan fish. Consumption of these fish has been correlated with learning disabilities and developmental delay in children. Moreover, PCBs and DDT have been known for being immuno-depressants, neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors.

 

Introduction of the fecal bacteria, nutrients and other contaminants occurs through rivers, sewage outfalls and non-point sources. Accumulation and deposition of these nutrients and contaminants is heavily influenced by the physical processes to which they are subjected. Since these are introduced in the coastal boundary layer (CBL), they might be transported either alongshore or cross-shore. The time of the year during which these are introduced also influences the transport.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hydraulics and Hydrology

School of Civil Engineering