Physically-based model for studying the salinization of Bosten Lake in China

Salinization of lakes in and areas is a common phenomenon with harmful consequences and must be controlled for the better use of lake freshwater and for the conservation of the environment around lakes. Bosten Lake, located in Xinjiang (western China) and the largest inland freshwater lake in China, now experiences salinization. The salinization of Bosten Lake is studied herein by using a physically-based model. After qualitative analysis of lake salinization, the quantitative model is presented that describes the systems of water quantity-water quality-ecology (WQQE) in an integrated way and that simulates the changing processes of lake salinization in the past. On the basis of the WQQE model, an optimal model was also developed to investigate the best strategy for controlling salinization of the lake in the future. The results demonstrated that the developed models can be used to depict the physical process of salinization of Bosten Lake and to provide meaningful information on how to control this salinization.