Density Currents in Pollutant Transport and Mixing

by Gerhard H. Jirka, Cornell Univ, Ithaca, United States,
Paul J. Akar, Cornell Univ, Ithaca, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Hydraulic Engineering

Abstract:

A buoyant spreading model for the current-advected plume is formulated including several distinct mechanisms: convective spreading, interfacial friction spreading, entrainment at the density front, shear flow entrainment, wind-induced entrainment, and surface heat exchange. The buoyant spreading model is implemented within the Cornell Mixing Zone Expert System (CORMIX), and comparisons with available laboratory and field data demonstrate the substantial role of density currents in pollutant transport and mixing.

Subject Headings: Density currents | Entrainment | Thermal pollution | Water pollution | Shear flow | Expert systems | Thermal analysis

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