First Advisor

Scott Wells

Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Civil & Environmental Engineering

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Language

English

Subjects

Algae -- Physiology, Photosynthesis -- Environmental aspects, Water quality

DOI

10.15760/CEEMP.21

Abstract

Several studies provide evidence that algal photosynthetic rates depend on various changing factors such as light attenuation, temperature, and nutrient limitation (Chapra, 1997). However, recent papers show that turbulence and photosynthetic rate dynamics is also important (Ross, 2006). In this study, the photosynthetic rate model used is the one proposed by Chapra (1997), where it depends directly on temperature, nutrient and light limitation factors. At the same time, the effect of turbulence or random-walk of algae particles in the water column was also introduced in this model. To account for this factor, the model added was that proposed by Ross (2006), in which the random movement of an algae particle depends on an initial position, a sinking or swimming velocity, an advective term and a random term related to probability. An example test is proposed to evaluate the model and all the parameters and variables are pre-established to show a natural example commonly found in nature. The values of photosynthetic rate were obtained on average and point by point, the photosynthetic rate evolution with time was evaluated. Simulations results are consistent with literature, specifically the photosynthetic rate dynamic behavior, and were compared with the results obtained by Harris (1977), Marra (1978), and Ross (2006). Some aspects of the dynamic effect of light attenuation and turbulence on photosynthetic rate are investigated through the model.

Rights

©2015

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Comments

A research project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/17169

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