Assessing the Performance of Reaeration Prediction Equations
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 3
Abstract
The overall performance of 18 commonly used reaeration rate coefficient prediction equations was evaluated using statistical metrics of prediction accuracy and bias by comparing predicted reaeration coefficients to a database of values measured using gas tracer techniques. Adapting a commonly applied concept, predictive equations were evaluated in discrete regions of the velocity-depth space. Results indicate that rarely is there a single best prediction equation in a given velocity-depth region, rather there usually is a group of statistically indistinguishable top-performing equations. Also, no single reaeration equation performed well over all hydraulic conditions. Prediction equations, which include slope as a variable are more accurate and have lower bias than those that do not. However, even the top-performing equations exhibited large prediction errors of at least 40–50% and exceeded 100% in some regions. This level of error in predicting reaeration rate coefficients will continue to have a major impact on the uncertainty of dissolved oxygen forecasts from receiving water quality models.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 3 • March 2014
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 21, 2013
Accepted: Oct 11, 2013
Published online: Dec 12, 2013
Published in print: Mar 1, 2014
Discussion open until: May 12, 2014
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