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Evaluating the hydrological effects of the Three Gorges Reservoir based on a large-scale coupled hydrological-hydrodynamic-dam operation model

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Abstract

Understanding the hydrological effects of the Three Gorges Dam operation in the entire reservoir area is significant to achieving optimal dam regulation. In this paper, a large-scale coupled hydrological-hydrodynamic-dam operation model is developed to comprehensively evaluate the hydrological effects of the river-type Three Gorges Reservoir. The results show that the coupled model is effective for hydrological, hydrodynamic regime and hydropower simulations in the reservoir area. Dam operation could have a notable positive effect on flood control and could reduce the maximum daily flood peak by up to 26.2%. It also contributes a large amount of hydropower, approximately 94.27 TWh/year, and a water supply increase for the downstream area of up to 22% during the dry season. In the flood season, the water level at Cuntan would increase under the condition that the water level of the dam is higher than approximately 158 m due to dam operation. In the dry season, attention should be paid to the low flow velocity near the dam in the reservoir area.

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Funding

Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.XDA23040500; Youth Innovation Promotion Association, CAS, No.2021385; Central Guidance on Local Science and Technology Development Fund of Chongqing City, No.2021000069

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, CAS, Chongqing, 400714, China

    Sidong Zeng, Xin Liu, Jun Xia & Minghao Chen

  2. Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China

    Sidong Zeng, Xin Liu, Jun Xia & Minghao Chen

  3. State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China

    Jun Xia

  4. College of Resources and Environmental Science, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Hong Du

  5. Yangtze River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan, 430010, China

    Renyong Huang

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  1. Sidong Zeng
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  2. Xin Liu
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  3. Jun Xia
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  4. Hong Du
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  5. Minghao Chen
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Correspondence to Hong Du.

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Author

Zeng Sidong (1987–), Associate Professor

Corresponding author

Du Hong (1988–), Lecturer

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Zeng, S., Liu, X., Xia, J. et al. Evaluating the hydrological effects of the Three Gorges Reservoir based on a large-scale coupled hydrological-hydrodynamic-dam operation model. J. Geogr. Sci. 33, 999–1022 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-023-2117-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-023-2117-7

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