Characteristics of Low-Slope Streams that Affect O₂ Transfer Rates

by Gene W. Parker, U.S. Geological Survey, Marlborough, United States,
Leslie A. DeSimone, U.S. Geological Survey, Marlborough, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Water Quality Issues at Fossil Fuel Plants

Abstract:

Multiple-regression techniques were used to derive the reaeration coefficients estimating equation for low sloped streams: K₂ = 3.83 MBAS^-0.41 SL^0.20 H^-0.76, where K₂ is the reaeration coefficient in base e units per day; MBAS is the methylene blue active substances concentration in milligrams per liter; SL is the water-surface slope in foot per foot; and H is the mean-flow depth in feet. Fourteen hydraulic, physical, and water-quality characteristics were regressed against 29 measured-reaeration coefficients for low-sloped (water surface slopes less than 0.002 foot per foot) streams in Massachusetts and New York. Reaeration coefficients measured from May 1985 to October 1988 ranged from 0.2 to 11.0 base e units per day for 29 low-sloped tracer studies. Concentration of methylene blue active substances is significant because it is thought to be an indicator of concentration of surfactants which could change the surface tension at the air-water interface.

Subject Headings: Slopes | Rivers and streams | Aeration | Water quality | Water resources | Regression analysis | Water surface | United States | Massachusetts | New York

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