| In the development of a water quality model for Back Bay of Biloxi, the Water Quality Analysis Simulation-5 (WASP5) was used. The model is calibrated to a set of field data acquired on Back Bay of Biloxi, during June 14-16, 1977 and is verified with another set of field data taken in the Bay, during July 28-August 2, 1972. The water quality constituents simulated by the model are carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, organic nitrogen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a. The kinetics of major physical, chemical, and biological processes which link these water quality constituents are modeled in each of the 376 segments of two-dimensional vertically mixed system. Comparisons of the predicted and observed data are made qualitatively by using spatial and temporal comparisons and quantitatively by statistical comparisons. The response of model prediction calculations is consistent with trends of the observed data ranges, but not with absolute values in all cases. The results indicate that the model can accurately predict the concentration of water quality constituents in the range of observed data taken at low and high tide conditions. |
