WASP8 Multiple Algae -

Model Theory and User's

Guide
Supplement to Water Quality Analysis
Simulation Program (WASP) User
Documentation
Tim A. Wool
U.S. EPA, Region 4
Water Management Division
Atlanta, Georgia

Robert B. Ambrose, Jr., P.E.

U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development
National Exposure Research Laboratory
Ecosystems Research Division
Athens, Georgia

James L. Martin, Ph.D., P.E.

Mississippi State University
Starkville, Mississippi

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Research and Development
Washington, DC 20460

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 NOTICE
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Office of Research and
Development (ORD) funded and managed the research described herein. It has been subjected to
the Agency’s peer and administrative review and has been approved for publication as an EPA
document. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use.

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 Contents

1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 1

2 OVERVIEW OF MPM EUTROPHICATION KINETICS AND MODEL

CONSTANTS ................................................................................................................................ 4

2.1 Biomass Units and Stoichiometry ................................................................................................................4

2.2 Phytoplankton Kinetics .................................................................................................................................5

2.2.1 Phytoplankton Growth ................................................................................................................................ 5
2.2.2 Temperature ................................................................................................................................................6
2.2.3 Light ...........................................................................................................................................................7
2.2.4 Nutrients .....................................................................................................................................................8
2.2.5 Phytoplankton Losses ............................................................................................................................... 10

2.3 The Silica Balance ....................................................................................................................................... 11

2.3.1 Planktonic Silica ....................................................................................................................................... 12
2.3.2 Detrital Silica ............................................................................................................................................ 12
2.3.3 Dissolved Organic Silica .......................................................................................................................... 12
2.3.4 Dissolved and Sorbed Inorganic Silica ..................................................................................................... 13

3 MPM PARAMETERS AND TIME FUNCTIONS.......................................................... 14

4 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................... 17

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

1 Introduction
Planktonic algae are important components of water quality models for several reasons,
including (Bowie et al. 1985):
 Algal dynamics and nutrient dynamics are closely linked together since nutrient
uptake during algal growth is the main process which removes dissolved nutrients
from the water, and algal respiration and decay are major components of nutrient
recycling.
 Algal processes can cause diurnal variations in dissolved oxygen due to
photosynthetic oxygen production during the daylight combined with oxygen
consumption due to algal respiration during the night. Seasonal oxygen dynamics
may also be closely tied to algal dynamics, particularly in highly productive
stratified systems, since the respiration and decomposition of algae which settles
below the photic zone is often a major source of oxygen depletion.
 Algae can affect pH through the uptake of dissolved CO2 during photosynthesis
and the recycling of CO2 during respiration.
 Algae are the dominant component of the primary producers in many systems,
particularly in lakes and estuaries. Since they form the base of the food chain,
they play a major role in the dynamics of all successive trophic levels.
 Suspended algae are often a major component of turbidity.
 Algal blooms can restrict recreational uses of water, sometimes resulting in
fish kills under severe conditions.
 Algae can cause taste and odor problems in water supplies, and filter clogging
problems at water treatment facilities.
Planktonic algae are also commonly referred to as phytoplankton, from the Greek phyton or
"plant" and planktos meaning wanderer or drifter. The term phytoplankton is usually taken to
refer to all planktonic photoautotrophic microorganisms. While the importance of planktonic
algae, or phytoplankton, is well established, it must be recognized that phytoplankton consist of a
diverse assemblage of nearly all major taxonomic groups (Wetzel 2001). That diversity may be
illustrated using the taxonomic classification of major phytoplankton groups (Figure 1) in
comparison to plants and animals. Phytoplankton are not true plants and common groupings of
phytoplankton (diatoms, green algae, etc.) actually represent separate phyla of the Kingdom
Protista, each including a large diversity of organisms. For example, the Phylum Chlorophyta
(green algae) includes approximately 16,000 species, the majority of which occur in fresh water.
Blue-green algae are a common cause of water quality problems. However, blue-green algae are
not an alga but are in a separate Domain and Kingdom (the bacteria) and are also known as
cyanobacteria.

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

Domains: Kingdoms: Phyla:

Bacteria (prokaryotic) Eubacteria Cyanobacteria- blue-green algae

Archaea (prokaryotic) Archebacteria

Chlorophyta- green algae
Eukarya (eukaryotic) Protista
Phaeophyta- brown algae
Rhodophyta- red algae
Diatoms
Dinomastigota – dinoflagellates
Fungi

Plantae Anthophyta – flowering plants

Animalia Craniata – fishes, reptiles,

amphibians, mammals, and birds

Figure 1. Taxonomic classification of major phytoplankton groups in comparison to other groups.

Although phytoplankton represent a very diverse assemblage of organisms, each functional
group shares sufficient characteristics that a lumped approach is often used in water quality
modeling. Two general approaches have been used to simulate algae in water quality models
(Bowie et al. 1985):
1) Aggregating all algae into a single constituent (for example, total algae or chlorophyll a),
or
2) Aggregating the algae into a few dominant functional groups (for example, green algae,
diatoms, blue-greens, dinoflagellates, etc.).
The first approach is that used in previous versions of the WASP model, through Version 7.2. It
is appropriate where the major focus is on short term simulations (days to weeks) where the
primary interest is the effects of planktonic algae on general water quality parameters such as
dissolved oxygen, nutrients, and turbidity. However, models of lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries
focusing on longer-term simulations where seasonal variations are important often need the
capabilities provided by the second approach. It is often important to distinguish differences

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

between algal groups in order to realistically model both nutrient dynamics and phytoplankton
dynamics, and to predict the occurrence of specific problems such as blue-green algal blooms.
This report summarizes approaches used in the modeling multiple algal groups as implemented
in the Water Analysis and Simulation Program (WASP) resulting in the Multi-Class
Phytoplankton Model (MPM). The WASP model was modified to include the capability of
simulating three algal classes (e.g., diatoms, greens and blue greens). Because in particular
diatoms are often limited by the availability of silica, which were not included in the previous
WASP model, the model was also modified to include organic (particulate and dissolved) and
inorganic dissolved silica as state variables. Since the algorithms added for the three algal
groups were generic in structure (not specific to a particular algal group), algorithms for all algal
groups included the impacts of fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, so the selection of which state
variable represents which group is up to the user. The development of the WASP multi-algal
routines was based on the review of five models which have the capability of simulating multiple
algal groups:
 Multi-Class Phytoplankton Model (Bierman et al. 1980)
 FLWASP (AScI 1995)
 LAKE2K (Chapra and Martin 2004)
 CE-QUAL-W2 (Cole and Wells 2006), and
 CE-QUAL-ICM (Tilman et al. 2004)
Based, in part, upon the review of available models, the specific algorithms for the WASP model
were developed and implemented. The modified WASP, or MPM, includes the following state
variables:
Table 1. MPM State Variables
State
Description
Variable
1 Ammonia Nitrogen (mg-N/L)
2 Nitrate Nitrogen (mg-N/L)
3 Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (mg-N/L)
4 Inorganic Phosphate (mg-P/L)
5 Dissolved Organic Phosphorus (mg-P/L)
6 Inorganic Silica (mg-Si/L)
7 Dissolved Organic Silica (mg-Si/L)
8 CBOD1 (ultimate) (mg-O2/L)
9 CBOD2 (ultimate) (mg-O2/L)

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

10 CBOD3 (ultimate) (mg-O2/L)

11 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
12 Detrital Carbon (mg-C/L)
13 Detrital Nitrogen (mg-N/L)
14 Detrital Phosphorus (mg-P/L)
15 Detrital Silica (mg-Si/L)
16 Total Detritus (mg-DW/L)
17 Salinity (ppt)
18 Benthic Algae (g-DW/m2)
19 Periphyton Cell Quota Nitrogen (mg-N/gDW)
20 Periphyton Cell Quota Phosphorous (mg-P/gDW)
21 Inorganic Solids 1 (mg-DW/L)
22 Inorganic Solids 2 (mg-DW/L)
23 Inorganic Solids 3 (mg-DW/L)
24 Phytoplankton 1 (ug-Chla/L)
25 Phytoplankton 2 (ug-Chla/L)
26 Phytoplankton 3 (ug-Chla/L)

However, the model is structured to allow addition of more than the three specified algal groups,
should it be necessary in future model applications.

2 Overview of MPM Eutrophication Kinetics and Model

Constants
In this section, relevant kinetic formulations are presented. The presentation will concentrate on
issues related to the algal and silica kinetics and the relationship between those kinetic processes
and other modeling variables. A presentation of other processes included in the WASP model
and their implementation can be found in the general WASP user’s manual (Wool et al. 2006).

2.1 Biomass Units and Stoichiometry

Assumptions are necessary regarding the units of the algal state variables and the stoichiometric
relationships between algal kinetic processes and those resulting in the production or
consumption of other state variables, such as carbon, nitrogen, silica and phosphorus. As with
previous versions of WASP, the input units for all algal groups are µg-Chla/L which are
converted to internal model units of gC/m3 based upon a C/Chla (C=Carbon, Chla=Chlorophyll-

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

a) stoichiometric ratio input by the user for each algal group. Additional inputs include
stoichiometric ratios for Si/C, N/C, P/C and D/C (Si=Silica, N=Nitrogen, P=Phosphorus, and
D=detritus). As tabulated below, stoichiometric constants may be varied between the algal
groups.
Table 2. MPM Stoichiometric Constants for Phytoplankton Group i (i=1 to 3)
Phytoplankton Detritus to Carbon Ratio for Group i (mg D/mg C)
Phytoplankton Nitrogen to Carbon Ratio for Group i (mg N/mg C)
Phytoplankton Phosphorus to Carbon Ratio for Group i (mg P/mg C)
Phytoplankton Silica to Carbon Ratio for Group i (mg Si/mg C)
Phytoplankton Carbon to Chlorophyll Ratio for Group i (mg C/mg Chl)

2.2 Phytoplankton Kinetics

For all phytoplankton groups, sources and sinks of algae (Sk) are computed by difference
between the growth rate of phytoplankton and their death and settling rates as:
S kj = ( G pj - D pj - k sj ) P j
Equation 1
where:
Skj = reaction term for algal group i, mg carbon/L-day
Pj = phytoplankton population i, mg carbon/L
Gpj = growth rate constant, day-1
Dpj = death plus respiration rate constant, day-1
ksj = settling rate constant, day-1
i = phytoplankton type
Note that the source and sinks will also vary between model segments.

2.2.1 Phytoplankton Growth

The specific growth rate, GPj, for algal group j is related to kci, the maximum 20C growth rate at
optimum light and nutrients, via the following equation.

GPij  kic X RTij X RI ij X RN ij

Equation 2
where:

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

XRTij = the temperature adjustment factor, dimensionless

XRIij = the light limitation factor, dimensionless
XRNij = the nutrient limitation factor as a function of dissolved inorganic
phosphorus, nitrogen (DIP and DIN), and available silica, dimensionless

2.2.2 Temperature
Water temperature directly affects the phytoplankton growth rate. The selected maximum
growth rate is temperature-corrected using temporally- and spatially-variable water column
temperatures. Two alternative temperature correction formulations are included. The first is a
theta model where the temperature correction is computed using:
X RTij  Tic20
Equation 3
where:
Θic = temperature coefficient for algal group i, unitless
T = ambient water temperature, C
and the theta coefficient is allowed to vary among algal groups. The theta method is used in
previous versions of the WASP model for temperature adjusting essentially all kinetic rates. A
limitation of the theta model is that it produces rate values that continually increase with
temperature (“the more the better”), as opposed to other alternative formulations which allow for
predicted rates to decrease both above and below an optimal value. An alternative formulation
provided in the MPM model is (Cerco and Cole 1994),
1 (T Topt )2
X RTi  k gp ,opt e T  Topt
Equation 4

 2 (T Topt )2
X RTi  k gp ,opt e T  Topt
Equation 5

where Topt is the optimal temperature; 1 and 2 are parameters that determine the shape of the
relationship of growth to temperature below and above the optimal temperature, respectively.
CE-QUAL-ICM and Lake2K use the same formulation.
In the MPM model, the default temperature correction is the theta model and is used where the
user inputs a value of theta greater than one. Otherwise, if inputs are provided, the inhibition
model is used or the rate of growth is not modified by temperature. The input constants are
provided below:

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

Table 3. MPM temperature constants for Phytoplankton group i (i=1 to 3)

Phytoplankton Growth Temperature Coefficient for Group i
Optimal Temperature for Growth for Group i (°C)
Shape parameter for below optimal temperatures for Group i
Shape parameter for above optimal temperatures for Group i

2.2.3 Light
The MPM model incorporates the framework developed by Di Toro (1971) and by Smith (1980),
extending upon a light curve analysis by Steele (1962), for formulating the impact of light on
phytoplankton growth. The formulations account for both supersaturating light intensities and
light attenuation through the water column. The instantaneous depth-averaged growth rate
reduction developed by Di Toro is presented below and is obtained by integrating the specific
growth rate over depth:

ef   Ia   I a 
X RI  exp  exp  K e D   exp   
Ke D   I si   I si 
Equation 6
where:
e = 2.718
Ia = the average incident light intensity during daylight hours just
below the surface, assumed to average 0.9 I/f, ly/day
Isi = the saturating light intensity of the ith phytoplankton group, ly/day
Ke = the light extinction coefficient, computed from the non-algal light
attenuation, Ke', and the phytoplankton self-shading attenuation, Keshd,
m-1
I = incident solar radiation, ly/day
f = fraction of day that is daylight, unitless
D = depth of the water column or model segment, m
Ke = total light extinction coefficient, m-1

where the total light extinction is computed from a base value to which the impacts of algal
shading and non-algal light attenuation are added. The formulation may be used in two ways, at
the user’s option. The use may input diel variations in light (f=1) or daily average light
(f=fraction of daylight). The algal self shading coefficient in FLWASP is computed from

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

KESHDExp
KESHD = KE SHDMult TCHLA
Equation 7
where
KESHD = self shading coefficient
KESHDMult = self shading multiplier
KESHDExp = self shading exponent
TCHLA = total chlorophylla concentration (summed over the three groups)
and the light related constants are tabulated below.

Table 4. MPM light constants

Light Option (1 uses input light; 2 uses calculated diel light)
Multiplier for Self Shading (Mult * TCHLA^Exp)
Exponent for Self Shading (Mult * TCHLA^Exp)
Include Algal Self Shading Light Extinction in Steele (0=Yes, 1=No)
Background Light Extinction Coefficient (1/m)
Detritus & Solids Light Extinction Multiplier
DOC Light Extinction Multiplier

2.2.4 Nutrients
For the MPM model, it is assumed that the phytoplankton population in question follows Monod
growth kinetics with respect to the important nutrients, where the rate multiplier for growth is
computed from
 DIN DIP DISi 
X N  min  , , 
 K MN  DIN K MP  DIP K MSi  DISi 
Equation 8
where DIN is dissolved inorganic nitrogen, DIP dissolved inorganic phosphorus, DISi is
dissolved inorganic silica, KMN is a half-saturation concentration for nitrogen, KMP the half-
saturation concentration for phosphorus, and KMSi the half-saturation concentration for silica
(concentration at which the rate multiplier is 0.5).
In this formulation, DIN includes both ammonia and nitrate-nitrogen (the sum of the two
concentrations). Since ammonia is typically taken up by algae preferentially to nitrate, a

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

preference factor is computed to estimate the fraction of uptake from ammonia (PNH3) and from
nitrate (1-PNH3).
 C NO3   K mN 
P NH3 = C NH 3   + C NH 3  
 ( K mN + C NH 3 ) ( K mN + C NO3 )   ( C NH 3 + C NO3 ) ( K mN + C NO3 ) 
Equation 9
For the case where there is N fixation, such as by some blue-green algae, it is assumed that the
DIN nutrient multiplier =1. However, it is important to distinguish between N fixation and N
utilization as it impacts uptake of nitrogen species. Therefore, for N fixation the multiplier is
computed using the following formulations
DIN
X DIN ,1 
K MN  DIN
K MN
X DIN ,2 
K MN  DIN
and X DIN ,1  X DIN ,2  1
Equation 10
where XDIN,1 is the fraction of growth whereby N is utilized (N is consumed) and XDIN,2 is that
growth fraction where N is fixed. The constants used for nutrient limitation are tabulated below.
Table 5. MPM nutrient growth related constants for Phytoplankton group i (i=1 to 3)
Phytoplankton Maximum Growth Rate Constant @20 °C for Group i (1/day)
Phytoplankton Growth Temperature Coefficient for Group i
Optimal Temperature for Growth for Group i (°C)
Shape parameter for below optimal temperatures for Group i
Shape parameter for above optimal temperatures for Group i
Optimal Temperature for Growth for Group i (°C)
Shape parameter for below optimal temperatures for Group i
Shape parameter for above optimal temperatures for Group i
Phytoplankton Half-Saturation Constant for P Uptake for Group i (mg P/L)
Phytoplankton Half-Saturation Constant for Si Uptake for Group i (mg N/L)
Nitrogen fixation option (0 no, 1=yes) for Group i

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

2.2.5 Phytoplankton Losses

Mechanisms included in MPM that contribute to the biomass reduction rate of phytoplankton
include endogenous respiration, non-predatory mortality, grazing by herbivorous zooplankton,
salt water toxicity and settling. The endogenous respiration rate of phytoplankton is the rate at
which the phytoplankton oxidize their organic carbon to carbon dioxide per unit weight of
phytoplankton organic carbon. Respiration is the reverse of the photosynthesis process and, as
such, contributes to the reduction in the biomass of the phytoplankton population. If the
respiration rate of the phytoplankton as a whole is greater than the growth rate, there is a net loss
of phytoplankton carbon or biomass. The endogenous respiration rate is temperature dependent
(Riley, 1949) and is determined via
 
KiR T   KiR 20 C iR
T 20

Equation 11
where:
KiR(20C) = the endogenous respiration rate at 20C for algal species I, day-1
kiR(T) = the temperature corrected rate, day-1
Θi = temperature coefficient, dimensionless

A second loss mechanism included for each group is death. Death in MPM is represented as the
sum of three processes: natural death or mortality, salinity toxicity, and grazing. The natural
death term is represented by a first-order rate constant (ki,D) which is not temperature corrected.
The death of for example fresh water algae introduced to a saline environment is referred to here
as salinity toxicity and the death rate is modeled using:
Sal
STOX (i)=STF(i)
Sal +K sal(i)
Equation 12
where
STF(i) = salinity enhanced death rate for algal group i (day-1),
Sal = salinity (ppt), and
Ksal(i) = half-saturation constant for salinity mortality.

The loss rate due to grazing by zooplankton is modeled as in previous versions of WASP.
However, since multiple algae groups are available, a grazing preference factor was included in

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

MPM. Note that the zooplankton population dynamics in this and previous versions of WASP
are described by the user, not simulated.
A final loss rate is due to settling. Unlike previous versions of WASP, in MPM, a specific
settling rate is specified for each algal group as a model parameter in units of m/day. The total
loss rate (day-1) is then the sum of the individual loss rates:
Di  kiR (T )  kiD  kiGZ (t )Z (t )  STOX (i)  vs ,i / H
Equation 13
The constants associated with algal growth and removal processes are provided below. An
additional series of constants is provided to indicate what fraction of the death is recycled to
organic nutrients (as opposed to dissolved forms)
Table 6. Loss process constants for Phytoplankton group i (i=1 to 3)
Phytoplankton Respiration Rate Constant @20 °C for Group i (1/day)
Phytoplankton Respiration Temperature Coefficient for Group i
Phytoplankton Death Rate Constant (Non-Zoo Predation) for Group i (1/day)
Phytoplankton death rate due to salinity toxicity for Group i (1/day)
Salinity at which algal mortality is half maximum value for Group i (g/L)
Phytoplankton Zooplankton Grazing Rate Constant for Group i (1/day)
Grazability (0 to 1) for Group i
Optimal Temperature for Growth for Group i (°C)
Shape parameter for below optimal temperatures for Group i
Shape parameter for above optimal temperatures for Group i
Fraction of Phytoplankton Death Recycled to Organic Si for Group i

2.3 The Silica Balance

Previous versions of WASP did not include Silica state variables, which ere added to MPM since
silica is an important nutrient for some algae, such as diatorms. Four silica variables are modeled
in the modified model: phytoplankton silica (living particulate silica, as a stoichiometric fraction
of the algal biomass), detrital silica (non-living particulate organic silica), available silica
(dissolved and sorbed inorganic material), and particulate biogenic silica (non-living dissolved
organic material). Available silica is divided into particulate and dissolved concentrations by
spatially variable dissolved fractions, computed from predicted solids concentrations and a
partition coefficient.

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

2.3.1 Planktonic Silica

Planktonic silica is not modeled as a separate state variable. Rather it is computed from the algal
biomass (gC/m3) and the user specified stoichiometric ratio for Si/C.

2.3.2 Detrital Silica

Detrital silica is a model state variable (Table 1). The sources and sinks of detrital silica state
variable 15, Table 1) are
 3 
S15    kiDC p ,i aSiC f Si ,i   kSUACDSi
 i 1 
Equation 14
where
S15 = source sink term for detrital silica (g/m3-day)
ki,D = death rate of phytoplankton group i (day-1)
Cp,i = concentration of phytoplankton group i (gC/m3)
aSi,C = stoichiometric silica/Carbon ratio
fSi,i = fraction of Phytoplankton Death Recycled to Organic Si for Group i
kSUA = dissolution rate of particulate organic (detrital) Si (day-1)
CDSi = concentration of detrital Silica (gSi/m3)
so that the processes represented include a source due to algal death and a sink due to dissolution
of particulate organic Si.

2.3.3 Dissolved Organic Silica

Detrital silica is a model state variable (Table 1). The sources and sinks of detrital silica state
variable 15, Table 1) are
 3 
S7    kiR (T )C p ,i aSiC f Si ,i   kSUACDSi  K m, DiSiCDiSi
 i 1 
Equation 15
where
S7 = source sink term for dissolved organic silica (g/m3-day)
ki,R(T) = respiration rate of phytoplankton group i, temperature corrected (day-1)
Cp,i = concentration of phytoplankton group i (gC/m3)
aSi,C = stoichiometric silica/Carbon ratio

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

fSi,i = fraction of Phytoplankton Death Recycled to Organic Si for Group i

kSUA = dissolution rate of particulate organic (detrital) Si (day-1)
CDSi = concentration of detrital Silica (gSi/m3)
km,DiSi = dissolution rate of dissolved organic Si (day-1)
CDiSi = concentration of dissolved organic Silica (gSi/m3)
so that the processes represented include sources due to algal respiration and dissolution of
detrital silica and a loss to dissolution of dissolved organic Si.

2.3.4 Dissolved and Sorbed Inorganic Silica

Dissolved inorganic silica (SiO2; state variable 6 in Table 1) represents the form, when dissolved,
available for algal growth. The sources and sinks for dissolved and sorbed inorganic silica are
 3  3
Vs, j
S6     kiR (T )(1  f Si ,i )  ki , D (1  f Si ,i )  Gp, i  aSiC C p ,i   K m, DiSi CDiSi   f D , ISi , j CISi
 i 1  j 1 H
Equation 16
S7
where
S6 = source sink term for dissolved inorganic silica (g/m3-day)
ki,R(T) = respiration rate of phytoplankton group i, temperature corrected (day-1)
ki,D = death rate of phytoplankton group i (day-1)
Gp,i = growth rate of phytoplankton group i (day-1)
Cp,i = concentration of phytoplankton group i (gC/m3)
aSi,C = stoichiometric silica/Carbon ratio
fSi,i = fraction of phytoplankton and respiration recycled to organic si for Group i
CISi = concentration of dissolved inorganic Silica (gSi/m3)
km,DiSi = dissolution rate of dissolved organic Si (day-1)
CDiSi = concentration of dissolved organic Silica (gSi/m3)
fP,ISI,j = fraction particulate of inorganic silica sorbed onto solid type j (three solids types and
computed using partitioning relationships)
Vs,j = settling velocity of solid type j (m/day)
H = depth of model segment (m)

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

and the processes included are sources due to algal respiration, algal death and dissolution of
organic silica and sinks due to algal growth and settling of the sorbed fraction (onto one or more
of the three solids types).
Model constants for Silica are tabulated below.
Table 7. MPM Silica Constants
Silica Partition Coefficient to Water Column Solids 1 (L/kg)
Silica Partition Coefficient to Water Column Solids 2 (L/kg)
Silica Partition Coefficient to Water Column Solids 3 (L/kg)
Dissolved Organic Silica Mineralization Rate Constant @20 °C (1/day)
Dissolved Organic Silica Mineralization Temperature Coefficient
Phytoplankton Half-Sat. for Mineralization Rate (mg Phyt C/L)

3 MPM Parameters and Time Functions

The parameters in the MPM model have been modified from previous versions of WASP and are
tabulated below. These parameters are segment specific (may be varied by segment) and, for
some parameters, may also be varied with time using the time functions also tabulated below.
The environmental parameters and time functions allow specification of environmental
properties (such as temperature) that effect the MPM computations but are not predicted by
MPM. The reader is referred to the WASP user’s manual (Wool et al. 2006) for a more detailed
discussion of the role and relationships between model parameters and time functions.
Table 8. MPM model parameters
1 Water Velocity Function for Segment (1 - 4)
2 Temperature of Segment (Degrees C or Multiplier)
3 Temperature Time Function for Segment Temperature (1 -
4)
4 Light Extinction for Segment (per meter or multiplier)
5 Ice Cover Time Function to use for Segment (1 - 3)
6 Benthic Ammonia Flux (mg/m2-day)
7 Benthic Phosphate Flux (mg/m2-day)
8 Sediment Oxygen Demand (g/m2-day)
9 Incoming Solar Radiation Multiplier (dimensionless)
10 Measured Segment Reaeration Rate (per day)
11 Zooplankton Population

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

12 Fraction Light Intercept by Canopy

13 Fraction of Bottom of Segment Covered by Benthic Algae
14 Segment elevation above sea level (m)
15 Dam Elevation (meters)
16 Dam Pool WQ Coefficient
17 Dam Type Coefficient
18 Tsvigolo Escape Coefficient
19 BOD(1) Decay Rate Scale Factor
20 BOD(2) Decay Rate Scale Factor
21 BOD(3) Decay Rate Scale Factor
22 Segment Scale Factor for Wind
23 Wind Speed Time Function to use for Segment (1 or 2)
24 Settling Rate of Segment Solids Type 1 (m/day)
25 Settling Rate of Segment Solids Type 2 (m/day)
26 Settling Rate of Segment Solids Type 3 (m/day)
27 Settling Rate of Segment Phytoplankton Group 1 (m/day)
28 Settling Rate of Segment Phytoplankton Group 2 (m/day)
29 Settling Rate of Segment Phytoplankton Group 3 (m/day)

Table 9. MPM Model Time Functions

1 Water Temperature Function 1 (°C)
2 Water Temperature Function 2 (°C)
3 Water Temperature Function 3 (°C)
4 Water Temperature Function 4 (°C)
5 Solar Radiation (Langleys/day)
6 Fraction Daily Light (fraction)
7 Wind Speed Time Function 1 (m/sec)
8 Wind Speed Time Function 2 (m/sec)
9 Light Extinction Function (per meter)
10 Air Temperature (°C)
11 Velocity Function 1 (m/sec)
12 Velocity Function 2 (m/sec)

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

13 Velocity Function 3 (m/sec)

14 Ammonia Benthic Flux (mg/m2-day)
15 Phosphorus Benthic Flux (mg/m2-day)
16 Ice Cover Function 1 (fraction ice free)
17 Ice Cover Function 2 (fraction ice free)
18 Ice Cover Function 3 (fraction ice free)
19 Shading Function (fraction unshaded)
20 Zooplankton Population (count)
21 Reaeration Function (per day)
22 Settling rate for algal group 1 (m/day)
23 Settling rate for algal group 2 (m/day)
24 Settling rate for algal group 3 (m/day)

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WASP Multiple Algal Group User’s Guide

4 References
AScI. 1995. “Final Project Report, Lake Okeechobee Wasp Enhancement Project South Florida
Water Management District (SFWMD) Contract C-5236 , Project Manager Dr. R. T.
James, AScI Corporation, Athens, Georgia, May 10, 1995
Bierman, V.J., Jr., D.M. Dolan, E.F. Stoermer, J.E. Gannon, and V.E. Smith. 1980. The
Development and Calibration of a Multi-Class Phytoplankton Model for Saginaw Bay,
Lake Huron. Great Lakes Environmental Planning Study. Contribution No. 33. Great
Lakes Basin Commission, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Bowie, G.L., Mills, W.B., Porcella, D.B., Campbell, C.L., Pagenkopf, J.R., Rupp, G.L., Johnson,
K.M., Chan, P.W.H., Gherini, S.A. and Chamberlin, C.E. 1985. Rates, Constants, and
Kinetic Formulations in Surface Water Quality Modeling. U.S. Envir. Prot. Agency,
ORD, Athens, GA, ERL, EPA/600/3-85/040.
Chapra, S.C. and Martin, J.L. 2004. LAKE2K: A Modeling Framework for Simulating Lake
Water Quality (Version 1.2): Documentation and Users Manual. Civil and Environmental
Engineering Dept., Tufts University, Medford, MA., [email protected]
Cole, T.M., and S. A. Wells (2006). "CE-QUAL-W2: A two-dimensional, laterally averaged,
Hydrodynamic and Water Quality Model, Version 3.5," Instruction Report EL-06-1, US
Army Engineering and Research Development Center, Vicksburg, MS.
Tillman, Dottie H. , Carl F. Cerco, Mark R. Noel, James L. Martin, and John Hamrick. 2004.
“Three-Dimensional Eutrophication Model of the Lower St. Johns River, Florida. Final
report” USACE Engineering Research and Development Center, WEaterways
Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS Prepared for St. Johns River Water Management
District, Palatka, FL, ERDC/EL TR-04-13, August 2004
Wetzel, R.G. Limnology: Third Edition. Academic Press, New York.
Wool, Tim A., Robert B. Ambrose, James L. Martin, and Edward A. Comer. 2006. “Water
Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP), Version 6.0 DRAFT: User’s Manual,”
US Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Athens, GA

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