Large shallow lakes plays a significant role in the rapid urbanization process. A series of problems have occurred due to urbanization including water quality degradation, flood intensity increase, ecological and environmental issues etc. One of the most important threat comes from eutrophication, as it deteriorates water quality, introduces harmful algal blooms, harms lake ecosystems, affecting human health and hinders social economic development.

This thesis presents a series of studies focusing on wind induced hydrodynamic circulation in large shallow lake, with the implication of Taihu Lake from lake scale hydrodynamic study, to lake scale water quality implication, and to basin scale implication. The proposed modelling approach could serve as a basis and provide information on lake scale wind effects on hydrodynamic circulation and catchment scale urbanization implication on water environment for management and planning of Taihu Lake and Taihu Basin.