WWRC 84-08
Design Characteristics For Evaporation Ponds In Wyoming
Abstract
Information for the design of evaporation ponds in Wyoming has been
developed. The suitability of various models for estimating evaporation and
Its variability was investigated while the spatial and temporal variabilities
of net evaporation at seven locations were described. A routing procedure was
developed to analyze the effects of uncertainty in net evaporation estimates
on the probability of pond failure.
Comparison of equations which estimate evaporation using climatological
data showed that the equations vary greatly In their ability to define the
variability of evaporation. The Kohler-Nordenson-Fox equation provided
monthly and annual evaporation estimates having statistics resembling those of
measured pan data closer than any of seven other equations tested. The
equation requires temperature, radiation, wind, and humidity data as inputs.
The Kohler-Nordenson-Fox equation using climatic data extrapolated from nearby
stations provided better definition of the variability of evaporation than did
equations requiring only on-site temperature data. However, results Indicate
that extreme care must be taken in selecting the stations from which data will
be extrapolated.
Monthly and annual means, standard deviations, and highest and lowest
evaporation and net evaporation values have been calculated for seven Wyoming
stations. The year-to-year and spatial variation of evaporation and/or net
evaporation in Wyoming was shown to be great enough to cause serious problems
in defining rates for evaporation pond designs. Several factors were shown to
exist which might produce uncertainties in any estimate of evaporation. The
routing procedure was applied to analyze the effects of these uncertainties
and variations. Results indicate that the liquid depth of an evaporation pond
depends greatly on evaporation rates and maintenance of minimum liquid depths
without pond overflow is very difficult.
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