Author(s): A. R. Horner-Devine; Y. Yuan; M. E. Avener

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: No Keywords

Abstract: Geophysical gravity currents such as river plumes are responsible for transport of key nutrients, pollutants and sediments in environmental flows. Laboratory experiments have proven to be an effective means of understanding such transport mechanisms. However, direct measurements of transport typically involve PIV and PLIF, which are complicated and expensive. Here we apply the Optical Thickness Method (OTM) to study buoyant, rotating gravity currents in the laboratory. In OTM, which has been in use for more than a decade, the experiment is lit with a uniform light source from below and the inflowing buoyant fluid is dyed. The resulting normalized intensity field is calibrated to determine the effective depth corresponding to the quantity of buoyant fluid at each point. This method is appropriate for calculating the volume of buoyant fluid and the transport rate in many stratified flows. We use this method to understand the role of tides on transport in river plumes and the interaction of two adjacent plumes.

DOI:

Year: 2009