Energy budget study lower Colorado River, Arizona.

Abstract

A temperature stratification model devised by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers' Hydrologic Engineering Center was used to describe the energy distribution within Lake Havasu, Arizona, for the calendar years 1970-1971-1972. Using inputs of total monthly precipitation, evaporation, inflows at Topock on the Colorado River main stem and the Bill Williams River, and outflows at Parker Dam and the California Aqueduct, a balanced water budget was established. In addition to the balanced water budget, average monthly air temperature, solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere, average monthly inflow water temperatures, and reservoir characteristics were used as inputs into the program. Coefficients derived from observed temperature profiles were used to calibrate the model. The model provides average monthly temperatures at three-foot intervals from the water surface to the bottom of the test site.