A TWO DIMENSIONAL HYDRODYNAMIC MODEL FOR THE STUDY OF INSTREAM FLOWS IN RIVERS

摘要

The definition of instream flows conditions the ecological protection of rivers during low flows when the impacts caused by the use of water might produce negative effects on the ecosystems. These effects depend on the specific behaviour and response of organisms to the hydraulic changes caused by the reduction of depth and velocities in the river channel. The computation of these complex changes has to be done using two-dimensional models. In this paper the hydrodynamic model developed by the University of Cantabria is presented as well as its application to the study of a river in the north of Spain.