Pollution sources

Collaboration

MARINA-Lakes runs at smaller sub-basins compared to the other versions of MARINA. As a result, nutrient loads can be calculated at the lake level. This creates the opportunity to link the model with PCLake+, a model that calculates the impact of nutrient loads to lake water quality in terms of nutrient concentrations, algae, water plants, zooplankton and fish. As such, the link between MARINA-Lakes and PCLake+ enables research from driver to impact.

Model characteristics

  • Model name: MARINA-Lakes
  • Application: lakes in China and Africa
  • Scales: sub-basins, basins, annual and seasonal
  • Period: past, present and future
  • Pollutants: dissolved inorganic (DIN, DIP) and organic (DON, DOP) nitrogen and phosphorus
  • Sources: point (sewage) and diffuse (agriculture, natural areas)
  • Main inputs: agricultural activities, sewage systems, land use, hydrology

  • Main outputs:

    • river export of DIN, DIP, DON and DOP by source and sub-basin to lakes
    • loadings of the nutrients from lake basins to lakes

Modelling approach

Figure 1: Conceptual framework of calculating nutrient loadings to individual lakes from sub-basins and basins (modified from Yang et al., 2019; Wang et al., 2019; Li et al., 2019; Goshu et al., 2020).
Figure 1: Conceptual framework of calculating nutrient loadings to individual lakes from sub-basins and basins (modified from Yang et al., 2019; Wang et al., 2019; Li et al., 2019; Goshu et al., 2020).

Model outputs (example)

Figure 2: Example for loadings of dissolved inorganic (DIN) and organic (DON) nitrogen to Lake Taihu from basins and sources (kton/year, Wang et al., 2019).
Figure 2: Example for loadings of dissolved inorganic (DIN) and organic (DON) nitrogen to Lake Taihu from basins and sources (kton/year, Wang et al., 2019).