Global sensitivity analysis of a shallow-water 3D eutrophication model

The dynamic of a shallow water system has been studied using a 3D transport -water-quality model. This model was originally designed to study the eutro phication in the central part of the Venice lagoon. Four model outputs and six input factors are considered in this paper. Sensitivity analysis is per formed using the Sobol' method:and linear regression based methods. Results of this study suggest that nitrogen load, the main controllable factor, pl ays a major role in governing the primary production of the whole system. H owever, the "history" of the system, represented by the initial density of benthic algae, is even more important in determining the occurrence of dram atic events, such as anoxic crisis, which may happen in particular areas. ( C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.