Estimation of Far‐Field Dilution in Ocean Waste Discharges
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 119, Issue 1
Abstract
Realistic simulation of far‐field effluent concentrations depends on proper representation of the spatial and temporal variability of the flow field in the vicinity of the outfall. In this paper, a numerical procedure is presented that uses recorded current data to develop a flow field spanning the wider area of discharge. Information is extracted from recorded current meter data by means of the statistical method of principal components; a finite element hydrodynamic model is used to generate continuous flow fields. The advection and dispersion of the effluent is simulated as a series of puffs emitted at regular intervals at the point of discharge. The puffs are tracked as they move under the influence of currents, and the effluent concentration at a given location at any time is calculated by adding up the contributions from all puffs. The effect of reentrainment of previously discharged effluent in reducing near‐field dilution is accounted for. An example application of the proposed model to an outfall in San Pedro Bay is reported.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 119 • Issue 1 • January 1993
Pages: 15 - 29
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 1, 1991
Published online: Jan 1, 1993
Published in print: Jan 1993
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