Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T02:59:44.793Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Longitudinal dispersion of a buoyant contaminant in a shallow channel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2006

Ronald Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge

Abstract

A nonlinear diffusion equation is derived for the longitudinal dispersion of a buoyant pollutant in a slowly varying current. The essential simplifying feature is that the (non-uniform) water depth is assumed to be much less than the channel width. It is found that for small concentration gradients there is a transverse circulation which leads to a marked reduction in the longitudinal dispersion. For large concentration gradients the longitudinal circulation predominates and the longitudinal dispersion increases.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1976 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barton, N. G. 1976a The dispersion of a buoyant solute in laminar flow in a straight horizontal pipe. Part 1. Predictions from Erdogan & Chatwin's (1967) paper. J. Fluid Mech. 74, 8189.
Barton, N. G. 1976b The dispersion of a buoyant solute in laminar flow in a straight horizontal pipe. Part 2. The approach to the asymptotic state J. Fluid Mech. 74, 91112.Google Scholar
Brocard, D. N. & Harleman, D. F. R. 1976 One-dimensional temperature predictions in unsteady flows J. Hydraul. Div. A.S.C.E. 102, 227240.Google Scholar
Chatwin, P. C. 1976 Some remarks on the maintenance of the salinity distribution in estuaries Estuarine Coastal Mar. Sci. 4, 555566.Google Scholar
Erdogan, M. E. & Chatwin, P. C. 1967 The effects of curvature and buoyancy on the laminar dispersion of solute in a horizontal tube J. Fluid Mech. 29, 465484.Google Scholar
Fischer, H. B. 1967 The mechanics of dispersion in natural streams J. Hydraul. Div. A.S.C.E. 93, 187216.Google Scholar
Fischer, H. B. 1972 Mass transport mechanisms in partially stratified estuaries J. Fluid Mech. 53, 671687.Google Scholar
Harleman, D. R. F. & Thatcher, M. L. 1974 Longitudinal dispersion and unsteady salinity intrusion in estuaries Houille Blanche, 29, 2533.Google Scholar
Ippen, A. T. & Harleman, D. R. F. 1961 One-dimensional analysis of salinity intrusion in estuaries. Corps. Engrs., U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss. Tech. Bull. no. 5.
Prych, E. A. 1970 Effects of density differences on lateral mixing in open channel flows. Keck Lab. Hydraul. Water Resources, Calif. Inst. Tech. Rep. KH-R-21.Google Scholar
Taylor, G. I. 1953 Dispersion of soluble matter in solvent flowing slowly through a tube.Proc. Roy. Soc A 219, 186203.
Turner, J. S. 1973 Buoyancy Effects in Fluids. Cambridge University Press.