Author(s): Xiaobo Chao; Yafei Jia; F. Douglas Shields Jr.
Linked Author(s): Yafei Jia, Xiaobo Chao
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Presented is development and application of a three-dimensional numerical model to study wind-driven flow and associated pollutant transport in a shallow oxbow lake. A parabolic distribution of vertical eddy viscosity was specified to analyze the wind-driven flow. The model was verified against an analytical solution of wind-driven flow. The model was then used to simulate the wind-driven flow and pollutant transport in a shallow natural lake in the Mississippi River alluvial plain. Flow within the lake was primarily wind-induced. The flow velocities in the lake were measured using an acoustic Doppler current profiler. A slug of tracer dye was injected into an artificial runoff event into the lake, and the concentration distributions within the lake at selected times over two days were obtained. The simulated flow currents and dye concentration distributions in the lake were compared with field measurements, and good agreements were obtained.
Year: 2009