Simulations of Dye Releases off the Coast of New Jersey: Development and Validation of an Ocean Outfall Mixing Model
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 2
Abstract
A kinematic mixing model has been developed to predict far field effluent distributions for ocean discharges. The model allows for complex outfall configurations and time varying discharge rates to be simulated. The model can use field observations or the output from a proven near field mixing model as input to this far field mixing model. The model uses observed or simulated horizontal currents at one location to advect the effluent plume and a scale-dependent “diffusion velocity” submodel to account for horizontal diffusive processes. To collect data to calibrate and verify the model, long-term continuous dye release experiments were conducted at two New Jersey ocean outfalls. Based upon the results of the dye release experiments, appropriate values for the diffusion velocity were determined for each outfall. Simulations using these diffusion velocities provided reasonable predictions of plume width and of average dye concentration at each transect for each outfall. This work demonstrates that an Eulerian velocity observed at one location in the coastal ocean off New Jersey may be used to predict Lagrangian transport over a distance of several kilometers.
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Acknowledgments
This publication was supported by the national Sea Grant College Program of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under NOAA Grant No. UNSPECIFIEDR/M-9802. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the view of any of these organizations. UNSPECIFIEDNJSG-02-488. The writers would like to thank the coastal dischargers of New Jersey who provided funding for this project: Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority, Atlantic County Utilities Authority, South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority, the City of Asbury Park, Monmouth County Bayshore Outfall Authority, Middlesex County Utilities Authority, Rahway Valley Regional Sewerage Authority, and Passaic Valley Regional Sewerage Authority. The writers would especially like to thank the staff at South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority’s Seven Mile Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant. Their dedication and attention to detail made the long-term dye release experiments a great success. The writers would also like to thank Dr. Sajan Thomas for his guidance and assistance in developing the kinematic mixing model. His knowledge of the model and programming skills proved invaluable. Dr. Thomas Harrington, Dr. Kelly Rankin, and Mr. Walter McKenna are acknowledged for their diving expertise during the deployment of the current meters and outfall marker buoys. The writers would like to thank Mr. Patrick Porcaro for his assistance on the research vessel during the long-term dye release experiments. Special thanks are given to Mr. Brian Fullerton, who provided boat handling expertise and superb field engineering support.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 2 • February 2007
Pages: 173 - 185
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 7, 2004
Accepted: Jun 20, 2006
Published online: Feb 1, 2007
Published in print: Feb 2007
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