Calibration of CAEDYM Using a Genetic Algorithm — The Lake Kinneret Case Study

This paper presents a general mathematical calibration model for the parameterization of CAEDYM, and its implementation to Lake Kinneret as a case study. CAEDYM along with DYRESM form a 1D aquatic ecosystem model that can simulate the physical, biological and chemical processes of lakes and reservoirs. CAEDYM is the biological-chemical model and describes primary production, secondary production, nutrient and metal cycling, oxygen dynamics, and the movement of sediments. Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) is the most important surface water resource in Israel providing approximately 35% of its annual drinking water, a proportion that is constantly increasing. The lake surface is approximately 212 m below the level of the Mediterranean Sea, its maximum volume is 4.3 Billion Cubic Meters (covering an area of about 167 km²), its maximum length (north to south), width (east to west), and depth, are 24 km, 16 km, and 44 m, respectively. The calibration model, entitled CalKin, couples a genetic algorithm with CAEDYM. The model performance has been shown to be robust and reliable achieving significant improvements over manual calibration.