Original paper
Temperature characteristics of an impounded river
Palmer, R. W.; O'Keeffe, J. H.
Archiv für Hydrobiologie Volume 116 Number 4 (1989), p. 471 - 485
53 references
published: Oct 16, 1989
DOI: 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/116/1989/471
ArtNo. ESP141011604004, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
Impoundments cause a number of alterations to the temperature characteristics of the receiving river. In the Buffalo River, eastern Cape, South Africa, these alterations depended primarily on the position of the impoundment along the river profile and the depth from which water was released. Greatest effects occurred during the warmer summer months. Downstream recovery was within 15 km during normal flow. Surface-release impoundments in the upper catchment increased maximum temperatures (by as much as 8 °C), particularly in summer. A surface-release impoundment in the middle reaches of the river had a slight dampening effect on river temperatures, while a bottomrelease impoundment in the lower reaches of the river caused reductions in maximum temperatures of up to 16 °C. A review of impoundment studies worldwide revealed a lognormal relationship between river discharge and downstream recovery.
Keywords
Buffalo River • eastern Cape • South Africa