The physical limnology of Base Mine Lake

由加拿大Syncrude有限公司（SCL）承担的Base Mine Lake项目是油砂行业中第一个将油砂流体细尾矿放置在采出坑中并用水覆盖这些尾矿以形成底坑湖的商业规模示范。随着尾矿的沉淀和沉降，湖泊的深度将从最初的8米左右逐渐增加。我们提出了一个联合研究项目与SCL了解底坑湖的水的物理动力学。我们将研究过程，如冰的形成和融化，分层，内波，秋季营业额。 我们的目标是了解这些因素如何影响湖底细尾矿的沉降和重新悬浮、浊度和光对湖泊的渗透以及溶解氧的运输。我们还将研究如何湖是受温暖的盐水孔隙水从流体细尾矿（泥），因为它解决释放。我们建议使用基地矿湖，半分析和数值模型，实验室实验，以表征物理过程，如循环，运输和再悬浮的现场观测。我们将与SCL和其他研究人员合作，研究湖水和流体细尾矿的泥泞湖底的化学和生物演变。我们建议的工作将有利于加拿大油砂行业提供的重要信息，成功地将这些湖泊纳入回收封闭景观。这项工作不仅有助于更好地了解和管理底坑湖，而且有助于更好地了解和管理其他人造和天然水体，从而为加拿大带来社会经济效益。

The Base Mine Lake program undertaken by Syncrude Canada Ltd. (SCL) is the first commercial-scale demonstration in the oil sands industry of the placement of oil sand fluid fine tailings in a mined out pit, and the capping of these tailings with water to form an end pit lake. As the tailings dewater and settle, the depth of the lake will gradually increase from an initial depth of about 8 meters.****We propose a joint research project with SCL to understand the physical dynamics of the water in end pit lakes. We will examine processes such as ice formation and thawing, stratification, internal waves, and fall turnover. Our goal is to understand how these impact the settling and re-suspension of fine tailings at the bottom of the lake, the turbidity and penetration of light into the lake, and the transport of dissolved oxygen. We will also examine how the lake is affected by warm saline pore water released from the fluid fine tailings (mud) as it settles. We propose using field observations from Base Mine Lake, semi-analytical and numerical models, and laboratory experiments to characterize physical processes such as circulation, transport and re-suspension. We will collaborate with SCL and other researchers examining the chemical and biological evolution of both the lake water and the muddy lake bottom of fluid fine tailings.****Our proposed work will benefit the Canadian oil sands industry by providing important information required for successful incorporation of such lakes into the reclaimed closure landscape. This work will be of socio-economic benefit to Canada by contributing to better understanding and management of not only end pit lakes, but also other man-made and natural water bodies.********************