LE of shallow mixing interfaces: A review

Eddy-resolving techniques have become a powerful tool to investigate shallow flows at both laboratory and field scale. In this paper several examples are given where high-resolution 3D numerical simulation are used to investigate the spatial development of mixing interfaces (MIs) forming in shallow environments like open channels with idealized and natural bathymetry where the bed friction plays a major role in the spatial development of the MI and associated large-scale turbulence. The focus is on the coherent structures forming within the MI and in its vicinity that control the momentum and mass exchange and heat transfer between the two sides of the MI. Examples include: (1) a MI developing in a flat-bed open channel downstream of a splitter wall separating two parallel fully-turbulent streams of different velocities, (2) a MI developing in a flat-bed open channel downstream of a 60 \(^{\circ }\) wedge separating two non-parallel fully turbulent streams of different velocities, (3) a MI developing downstream of a river confluence for cases with a large and, respectively, a small difference between the mean velocities of the two streams. Stratification effects due to unequal densities of the two incoming streams are also discussed, (4) a MI developing between a main rectangular straight channel and a series of shallow embayments present at one of the channel banks. Besides using available experimental data to demonstrate that eddy resolving techniques can accurately predict the structure of the MI and its development, the paper discusses new insights into the physics of these flows obtained based on the simulations. The paper also provides an overview of the main numerical approaches that can be used to simulate the unsteady dynamics of the large scale turbulence in flows containing shallow MIs.     

Spatial–temporal structure of mixing interface turbulence at two large river confluences

Converging flows at stream confluences often produce highly turbulent conditions. The shear layer/mixing interface that develops within the confluence hydrodynamic zone (CHZ) is characterized by complex patterns of three-dimensional flow that vary both spatially and temporally. Previous research has examined in detail characteristics of mean flow and turbulence along mixing interfaces at small stream confluences and laboratory junctions; however few, if any, studies have examined these characteristics within mixing interfaces at large river confluences. This study investigates the structure of mean velocity profiles as well as spatial and temporal variations in velocity, backscatter intensity, and temperature within the mixing interfaces of two large river confluences. Velocity, temperature, and backscatter intensity data were obtained at stationary locations within the mixing interfaces and at several cross sections within the CHZ using acoustic Doppler current profilers. Results show that mean flow within the mixing interfaces accelerates over distance from the junction apex. Turbulent kinetic energy initially increases rapidly over distance, but the rate of increase diminishes downstream. Hilbert–Huang transform analysis of time series data at the stationary locations shows that multiple dominant modes of fluctuations exist within the original signals of velocity, backscatter intensity, and temperature. Frequencies of the largest dominant modes correspond well with predicted frequencies for shallow wake flows, suggesting that mixing-interface dynamics include wake vortex shedding—a finding consistent with spatial patterns of depth-averaged velocities at measured cross sections. Spatial patterns of temperature and backscatter intensity show that the converging flows at both confluences do not mix substantially, indicating that turbulent structures within the mixing interfaces are relatively ineffective at producing mixing of the flows in the CHZ.     

Evaluating the dimensionality and significance of “active periods” in turbulent environmental flows defined using Lipshitz/Hölder regularity

Active periods within perturbed boundary-layer flows are considered in terms of the local roughness of measured velocity time series and defined in terms of Hölder/Lipshitz exponents. Such events are associated with the passage of energetic, coherent flow structures and are responsible for exerting high turbulent stresses because of the rapid changes in velocity that occur at such times. A method is proposed for assessing the effective dimensionality of such active periods, as well as their significance to the flow field, for a particular choice of flow metric. The method is applied to the turbulent flow through a confluence flow geometry, with velocity samples acquired close to the bed of the channel in a zone of complex mixing. The dimensionality of the active periods is consistent with the observed patterns of sediment entrainment from the bed, with the significance of the active periods decaying away from the erosional zone.     

Methodological approaches for delimitating mixing zones in rivers: establishing admissibility criteria and flow regime representation

The present paper addresses defining the extent of the mixing zones of effluents discharged into rivers, which is a problem that should be analyzed based on probabilistic terms, as it is governed by several random processes. A river’s flow regime is one of the main variables, and it has a high dependence on hydrological processes. Additionally, after calculating the extent of the mixing zone, it is necessary to determine if the resulting dimensions are admissible or not. Common practice includes the admissibility criteria associated with the geometry of the river. However, this practice does not consider the environmental characteristics of the river that make it capable of absorbing the impact of the effluent (the biological and hydromorphological status of the river and the presence of structures that can change the river flow conditions, ecologically sensitive area or threatened species). This paper presents work on two important topics: on the one hand, the development of a methodology to establish the admissible extent of the mixing zone as a function of the environmental vulnerability of the river to the discharged effluent and, on the other hand, the proposal of a procedure to perform the calculations of the effluent mixing considering the variability of the river’s flow regime. The proposed methodological approaches are illustrated with an application to a real case, including a numerical simulation of the hydrodynamic and effluent evolution of the river during a year, to test the proposed methodology’s suitability and demonstrate the important savings in computational effort that can be achieved.     

Influence of Downstream Control and Limited Depth on Flow Hydrodynamics of Impinging Buoyant Jets

Much study has been performed on the mixing properties of submerged, turbulent buoyant jets. It is safe to say that the problem of estimating dilution rates in vertical buoyant jets spreading in an `infinitely deep' ambient water has been more than adequately resolved by previous researchers. However, the majority of environmental applications involve discharges into ambient waters of finite depths in which a bounding surface serves to re-direct the impinging buoyant jet horizontally into a radial spreading layer. Previous research indicates that this impinging jet undergoes additional mixing before buoyancy stabilizes vertical mixing and confines the spreading layer to the vicinity of the bounding surface. Unfortunately, the conceptualization and subsequent mathematical modeling of this additional mixing phenomenon is surrounded by considerable amount of disagreement between researchers. The purpose of this study is to provide, by means of velocity and concentration profile measurements, independent experimental evidence for the existence of a critical flow state immediately downstream of the active mixing zone in the horizontally flowing, radial flow that forms after impingement. It is further shown that this critical flow state must be expressed in terms of a composite Froude Number that takes into account the possibility of a non-zero exchange layer flow. Finally, the influence of the presence of a sill-like topographic downstream control on the criticality of the radial flow immediately downstream of the active mixing zone is also investigated.     

Biogeochemical zonation of sulfur during the discharge of groundwater to lake in desert plateau (Dakebo Lake,NW China)

As one of the important elements of controlling the redox system within the hyporheic and hypolentic zone, sulfur is involved in a series of complex biogeochemical processes such as carbon cycle, water acidification, formation of iron and manganese minerals, redox processes of trace metal elements and a series of important ecological processes. Previous studies on biogeochemistry of the hyporheic and hypolentic zones mostly concentrated on nutrients of nitrogen and phosphorus, heavy metals and other pollutants. Systematic study of biogeochemical behavior of sulfur and its main controlling factors within the lake hypolentic zone is very urgent and important. In this paper, a typical desert plateau lake, Dakebo Lake in northwestern China, was taken for example within which redox zonation and biogeochemical characteristics of sulfur affected by hydrodynamic conditions were studied based on not only traditional hydrochemical analysis, but also environmental isotope evidence. In the lake hypolentic zone of the study area, due to the different hydrodynamic conditions, vertical profile of sulfur species and environmental parameters differ at the two sites of the lake (western side and center). Reduction of sulfate, deposition and oxidation of sulfide, dissolution and precipitation of sulfur-bearing minerals occurred are responded well to Eh, dissolved oxygen, pH, organic carbon and microorganism according to which the lake hypolentic zone can be divided into reduced zone containing H₂S, reduced zone containing no H₂S, transition zone and oxidized zone. The results of this study provide valuable insights for understanding sulfur conversion processes and sulfur biogeochemical zonation within a lake hypolentic zone in an extreme plateau arid environment and for protecting the lake–wetland ecosystem in arid and semiarid regions.     

Scalar mixing in an urban canyon

The scalar dynamics within a unit-aspect-ratio street canyon are studied using large-eddy simulation. The key processes of ventilation and mixing are analysed with the canyon-averaged concentration, mean tracer age and variance. The results are sensitive to the source location and can be classified according to the streamline geometry. The canyon-averaged concentrations for the corner vortices, vortex sea and central vortex do not converge to the same value at large times, though the mean decay rates do. The variance measured with respect to the canyon average shows two distinct decay regimes: the early regime reflects large-scale straining and enhanced diffusion across streamlines, while the late regime is associated with escape from the canyon, i.e., ventilation. Analytical predictions for the variance-decay or mixing time scales are verified for the early regime. It is argued that the presence of an open boundary at the roof level suppresses rapid mixing of the scalar field and is responsible for differences with respect to scalar dynamics within closed domains.

     

Hydrodynamics and contaminant transport on a degraded bed at a 90-degree channel confluence

Channel confluences at which two channels merge have an important effect on momentum exchange and contaminant diffusion in both natural rivers and artificial canals. In this study, a three-dimensional numerical model, which is based on the Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes equations and Reynolds Stress Turbulence model, is applied to simulate and compare flow patterns and contaminant transport processes for different bed morphologies. The results clearly show that the distribution of contaminant concentrations is mainly controlled by the shear layer and two counter-rotating helical cells, which in turn are affected by the discharge ratio and the bed morphology. As the discharge ratio increases, the shear flow moves to the outer bank and the counter-clockwise tributary helical cell caused by flow deflection is enlarged, leading the mixing happens near the outer bank and the mixing layer distorted. The bed morphology can induce shrinkage of the separation zone and increase of the clockwise main channel helical cell, which is initiated by the interaction between the tributary helical cell and the main channel flow and strengthened by the deep scour hole. The bed morphology can also affect the distortion direction of the mixing layer. Both a large discharge ratio and the bed morphology could lead to an increase in mixing intensity.     

Mixing layer in open-channel junction flows

When two open-channel flows merge in a three-branch subcritical junction, a mixing layer appears at the interface between the two inflows. If the width of the downstream channel is equal to the width of each inlet channel, this mixing layer is accelerated and is curved due to the junction geometry. The present work is dedicated to simplified geometries, considering a flat bed and a \(90^{\circ }\) angle where two configurations with different momentum ratios are tested. Due to the complex flow pattern in the junction, the so-called Serret–Frenet frame-axis based on the local direction of the velocity must be employed to characterize the flow pattern and the mixing layer as Cartesian and cylindrical frame-axes are not adapted. The analysis reveals that the centerline of the mixing layer, defined as the location of maximum Reynolds stress and velocity gradient, fairly fits the streamline separating at the upstream corner, even though a slight shift of the mixing layer towards the center of curvature is observed. The shape of the mixing layer appears to be strongly affected by the streamwise acceleration and the complex lateral confinement due to the side walls and the corners of the junction, leading to a streamwise increase of the mean velocity along the centerline and a decrease of the velocity difference. This results in a specific streamwise evolution of the mixing layer width, which reaches a plateau in the downstream region of the junction. Finally, the evaluation of the terms in the Reynolds-Averaged-Navier–Stokes equations reveals that the streamwise and normal acceleration and the pressure gradient remain dominant, which is typical of accelerated and rotational flows.     

Blockage of saline intrusions in restricted,two-layer exchange flows across a submerged sill obstruction

Results are presented from a series of large-scale experiments investigating the internal and near-bed dynamics of bi-directional stratified flows with a net-barotropic component across a submerged, trapezoidal, sill obstruction. High-resolution velocity and density profiles are obtained in the vicinity of the obstruction to observe internal-flow dynamics under a range of parametric forcing conditions (i.e. variable saline and fresh water volume fluxes; density differences; sill obstruction submergence depths). Detailed synoptic velocity fields are measured across the sill crest using 2D particle image velocimetry, while the density structure of the two-layer exchange flows is measured using micro-conductivity probes at several sill locations. These measurements are designed to aid qualitative and quantitative interpretation of the internal-flow processes associated with the lower saline intrusion layer blockage conditions, and indicate that the primary mechanism for this blockage is mass exchange from the saline intrusion layer due to significant interfacial mixing and entrainment under dominant, net-barotropic, flow conditions in the upper freshwater layer. This interfacial mixing is quantified by considering both the isopycnal separation of vertically-sorted density profiles across the sill, as well as calculation of corresponding Thorpe overturning length scales. Analysis of the synoptic velocity fields and density profiles also indicates that the net exchange flow conditions remain subcritical (G < 1) across the sill for all parametric conditions tested. An analytical two-layer exchange flow model is then developed to include frictional and entrainment effects, both of which are needed to account for turbulent stresses and saline entrainment into the upper freshwater layer. The experimental results are used to validate two key model parameters: (1) the internal-flow head loss associated with boundary friction and interfacial shear; and (2) the mass exchange from the lower saline layer into the upper fresh layer due to entrainment.     

Estimating river flow effects on water ages by hydrodynamic modeling in Little Manatee River estuary, Florida, USA

The water age in a tidal river in Florida, Little Manatee River, has been investigated in this study by the application of a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model. In response to a pulse dye release in the upper end of the river boundary, the hydrodynamic model determines the water age for a given location by recording the time for the dye to reach the given river location. The hydrodynamic model uses horizontal curvilinear orthogonal grids to represent the complex river system that includes several bayous and tributaries. The model has was calibrated and verified in previous study by using two continuous data sets for a 6 month period. Satisfactory model verifications indicate that the hydrodynamic model is capable of quantifying the mixing and transport process for calculating the water age in the tidal river. For 17 freshwater inflow scenarios in the Little Manatee River, the hydrodynamic model was applied to simulate water ages along the main channel of the river at 2-km interval. Flow rates in the 17 scenarios varying from 0.26 to 76.56 m³/s cover the range of the observed flows in the Little Manatee River. Water ages from model predictions range from the minimum 1.2 days under the maximum 76.56 m³/s inflow condition to the 50 days under the minimum 0.26 m³/s inflow condition. Empirical regression equations at three selected stations, with the correlation coefficient R² above 0.96, were derived from numerical model simulations to correlate water ages to freshwater inflows. The empirical water-age equation derived from hydrodynamic model simulations can be used to provide quick and low-cost estimations of water ages in response to various inflow scenarios for studying physical–chemical and biological processes in the river.     

Compound channel flow with a longitudinal transition in hydraulic roughness over the floodplains

Flows in a compound open-channel (two-stage geometry with a main channel and adjacent floodplains) with a longitudinal transition in roughness over the floodplains are experimentally investigated in an 18 m long and 3 m wide flume. Transitions from submerged dense vegetation (meadow) to emergent rigid vegetation (wood) and vice versa are modelled using plastic grass and vertical wooden cylinders. For a given roughness transition, the upstream discharge distribution between main channel and floodplain (called subsections) is also varied, keeping the total flow rate constant. The flows with a roughness transition are compared to flows with a uniformly distributed roughness over the whole length of the flume. Besides the influence of the downstream boundary condition, the longitudinal profiles of water depth are controlled by the upstream discharge distribution. The latter also strongly influences the magnitude of the lateral net mass exchanges between subsections, especially upstream from the roughness transition. Irrespective of flow conditions, the inflection point in the mean velocity profile across the mixing layer is always observed at the interface between subsections. The longitudinal velocity at the main channel/floodplain interface, denoted \(U_{int}\), appeared to be a key parameter for characterising the flows. First, the mean velocity profiles across the mixing layer, normalised using \(U_{int}\), are superimposed irrespective of downstream position, flow depth, floodplain roughness type and lateral mass transfers. However, the profiles of turbulence quantities do not coincide, indicating that the flows are not fully self-similar and that the eddy viscosity assumption is not valid in this case. Second, the depth-averaged turbulent intensities and Reynolds stresses, when scaled by the depth-averaged velocity \(U_{d,int}\) exhibit two plateau values, each related to a roughness type, meadow or wood. Lastly, the same results hold when scaling by \(U_{d,int}\) the depth-averaged lateral flux of momentum due to secondary currents. Turbulence production and magnitude of secondary currents are increased by the presence of emergent rigid elements over the floodplains. The autocorrelation functions show that the length of the coherent structures scales with the mixing layer width for all flow cases. It is suggested that coherent structures tend to a state where the magnitude of velocity fluctuations (of both horizontal vortices and secondary currents) and the spatial extension of the structures are in equilibrium.     

Experimental investigation of bubbly flow and turbulence in hydraulic jumps

Many environmental problems are linked to multiphase flows encompassing ecological issues, chemical processes and mixing or diffusion, with applications in different engineering fields. The transition from a supercritical flow to a subcritical motion constitutes a hydraulic jump. This flow regime is characterised by strong interactions between turbulence, free surface and air–water mixing. Although a hydraulic jump contributes to some dissipation of the flow kinetic energy, it is also associated with increases of turbulent shear stresses and the development of turbulent eddies with implications in terms of scour, erosion and sediment transport. Despite a number of experimental, theoretical and numerical studies, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the physical mechanisms involved in the diffusion and air–water mixing processes within hydraulic jumps, as well as on the interaction between the free-surface and turbulence. New experimental investigations were undertaken in hydraulic jumps with Froude numbers up to Fr = 8.3. Two-phase flow measurements were performed with phase-detection conductivity probes. Basic results related to the distributions of void fraction, bubble frequency and mean bubble chord length are presented. New developments are discussed for the interfacial bubble velocities and their fluctuations, characterizing the turbulence level and integral time scales of turbulence representing a “lifetime” of the longitudinal bubbly flow structures. The analyses show good agreement with previous studies in terms of the vertical profiles of void fraction, bubble frequency and mean bubble chord length. The dimensionless distributions of interfacial velocities compared favourably with wall-jet equations. Measurements showed high turbulence levels. Turbulence time scales were found to be dependent on the distance downstream of the toe as well as on the distance to the bottom showing the importance of the lower (channel bed) and upper (free surface) boundary conditions on the turbulence structure.     

Mass exchange in a shallow channel flow with a series of groynes: LES study and comparison with laboratory and field experiments

The exchange of dissolved matter between a straight open channel and a series of shallow embayments present at one of its sides is investigated using large eddy simulation (LES). The direct link between the mechanism of mass exchange and the dynamics of coherent structures is demonstrated. It is shown that for the geometrical configuration considered in the present study, the mass exchange process is very non-uniform over the depth in the vicinity of the channel–embayment interface. Most of the contaminant is ejected from the embayments close to the free surface. The amount of contaminant re-entrained into the embayments situated downstream of the one in which contaminant was introduced is quantified. The mass exchange coefficient predicted by LES does not vary significantly with the embayment rank and is in very good agreement with the one predicted by the model proposed by Weitbrecht et al. (J Hydraul Eng 134(2):173–183, 2008) based on the value of a dimensionless morphometric groyne-field parameter. Field experiments were purposely performed in a natural stream with embayments whose length over width ratios were close to the ratio in the LES study. The concentration fields predicted by LES are compared with video-records of colored dye used to visualize the mass exchange in the field experiment. It is shown that, for both LES and the field experiment, the dominant passage frequency of the eddies inside the interfacial mixing layer is well predicted by the analytical model of Sukhodolov and Sukhodolova (in: Cowen et al (eds) Hydraulic measurements & experimental methods. Proceedings of international conference, Lake Placid, USA, pp 172–177, 2007). The model is then used to scale the time in the LES animations and field video-records showing the temporal evolution of the concentration field. The results of the comparison indicate several similarities in the mixing process, despite the differences in the bathymetry and the large difference in the Reynolds number between LES and the field experiment. This proves the usefulness of performing detailed LES and laboratory studies in well-controlled environments to understand mass-exchange processes around river groyne fields.     

Eddy diffusivity: a single dispersion analysis of high resolution drifters in a tidal shallow estuary

In an estuary, mixing and dispersion resulting from turbulence and small scale fluctuation has strong spatio-temporal variability which cannot be resolved in conventional hydrodynamic models while some models employs parameterizations large water bodies. This paper presents small scale diffusivity estimates from high resolution drifters sampled at 10 Hz for periods of about 4 h to resolve turbulence and shear diffusivity within a tidal shallow estuary (depth <3 m). Taylor’s diffusion theorem forms the basis of a first order estimate for the diffusivity scale. Diffusivity varied between 0.001 and 0.02 m²/s during the flood tide experiment. The diffusivity showed strong dependence (R² > 0.9) on the horizontal mean velocity within the channel. Enhanced diffusivity caused by shear dispersion resulting from the interaction of large scale flow with the boundary geometries was observed. Turbulence within the shallow channel showed some similarities with the boundary layer flow which include consistency with slope of 5/3 predicted by Kolmogorov’s similarity hypothesis within the inertial subrange. The diffusivities scale locally by 4/3 power law following Okubo’s scaling and the length scale scales as 3/2 power law of the time scale. The diffusivity scaling herein suggests that the modelling of small scale mixing within tidal shallow estuaries can be approached from classical turbulence scaling upon identifying pertinent parameters.     

Integral Model for Turbulent Buoyant Jets in Unbounded Stratified Flows Part 2: Plane Jet Dynamics Resulting from Multiport Diffuser Jets

An integral model for the plane buoyant jet dynamics resulting from the interaction of multiple buoyant jet effluxes spaced along a diffuser line is considered as an extension of the round jet formulation that was proposed in Part I. The receiving fluid is given by an unbounded ambient environment with uniform density or stable density stratification and under stagnant or steady sheared current conditions. Applications for this situation are primarily for submerged multiport diffusers for discharges of liquid effluents into ambient water bodies, but also for multiple cooling tower plumes and building air-conditioning. The CorJet model formulation describes the conservation of mass, momentum, buoyancy and scalar quantities in the turbulent jet flow in the plane jet geometry. It employs an entrainment closure approach that distinguishes between the separate contributions of transverse shear and of internal instability mechanisms, and contains a quadratic law turbulent pressure force mechanism. But the model formulation also includes several significant three-dimensional effects that distinguish actual diffuser installations in the water environment. These relate to local merging processes from the individual multiple jets, to overall finite length effects affecting the plume geometry, and to bottom proximity effects given by a “leakage factor” that measures the combined affect of port height and spacing in allowing the ambient flow to pass through the diffuser line in order to provide sufficient entrainment flow for the mixing downstream from the diffuser. The model is validated in several stages: First, comparison with experimental data for the asymptotic, self-similar stages of plane buoyant jet flows, i.e. the plane pure jet, the pure plume, the pure wake, the advected line puff, and the advected line thermal, support the choice of the turbulent closure coefficients contained in the entrainment formulation. Second, comparison with data for many types of non-equilibrium flows with a plane geometry support the proposed functional form of the entrainment relationship, and also the role of the pressure force in the jet deflection dynamics. Third, the observed behavior of the merging process from different types of multiport diffuser discharges in both stagnant and flowing ambient conditions and with stratification appears well predicted with the CorJet formulation. Fourth, a number of spatial limits of applicability, relating to terminal layer formation in stratification or transition to passive diffusion in a turbulent ambient shear flow, have been proposed. In sum, the CorJet integral model appears to provide a mechanistically sound, accurate and reliable representation of complex buoyant jet mixing processes, provided the condition of an unbounded receiving fluid is satisfied.     

Seasonal variation of total dissolved arsenic and arsenic speciation in a polluted surface waterway

Seasonal differences in the dissolved arsenic concentration and speciation in a contaminated urban waterway in northwest England have been determined using a coupled ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS) technique. Waters sampled in the vicinity of an industrial works during relatively dry conditions in April 2000 were found to contain total arsenic concentrations (As) of up to 132 g L^–1, more than an order magnitude greater than the 4 g L^–1 maximum found in December 2000. The difference in As between the April and December sampling periods is speculated to be largely due to the irregular anthropogenic supply of arsenic to the watercourse. For both sampling periods, the dissolved arsenic was exclusively inorganic in nature and had an As(V)/As ratio of between 0.6 and 0.8. Analysis of samples taken downstream of the industrial site, after the confluence with a relatively As-poor stream, revealed that As(III), As(V) and As concentrations were lower than would be expected from conservative mixing. The As(V)/As ratio was also observed to decrease markedly. The loss of arsenic from solution is thought to be due to adsorption on the iron oxyhydroxide-rich sediment observed to coat the riverbed downstream of the confluence. The reduction in the As(V)/As ratio is believed to be due to the more rapid adsorption of As(V) compared to that of As(III). Deviations from conservative behaviour were more marked during the relatively dry April 2000 sampling period and suggest the increased importance of adsorption processes controlling arsenic availability during this time.     

A hydrodynamic and water quality modeling study of spatial and temporal patterns of phytoplankton growth in a stratified lake with buoyant incoming flow

A three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model was applied to Lake Paldang, a lake in South Korea that is stratified by incoming flows. The spatial and temporal patterns of phytoplankton growth in this lake were determined from the model. The model was calibrated and verified using data measured under different hydrological conditions. The model results were in reasonable agreement with the field measurements, in both the calibration and verification phases. The distributions of water quality and residence time in the lake and phytoplankton response to changes in nutrient loads were examined with the model, and the influence of the hydrodynamics on phytoplankton response was analyzed. The simulation results indicated that Lake Paldang is an essentially phosphorus-limited system, but that phytoplankton growth is limited by low water temperature and short residence time during the winter and the summer monsoon period, respectively. The results of sensitivity analyses also suggested that the hydrodynamics within the lake may have an indirect influence on phytoplankton responses to changes in the limiting nutrient loads, and that reducing phosphorus loading from Kyoungan Stream should be a high priority policy for controlling algal blooms during the pre- and post-monsoon periods. From this study, it was concluded that the three-dimensional water quality model incorporating hydrodynamic processes could successfully simulate phytoplankton response to changes in nutrient loads and that it could become a useful tool for identifying the essential factors determining phytoplankton growth and for developing the best management policy for algal blooms in Lake Paldang.     

Curvature-induced secondary flow in submarine channels

The curvature-driven secondary flow in sinuous submarine channels has been a subject of considerable interest and controversy. Here, results from numerical model studies involving saline flow in laboratory-scale channels are presented. A 3D finite volume model of density and turbidity currents is used and simulations are run with different inflow discharges and channel-axis slopes. The simulation results show strong influence of bend wave length, channel gradient, confinement and cross sectional shape on the structure of secondary flow in submarine channels. Major findings are: (i) reversal of secondary flow in submarine channels is strongly associated with a tight bend characterized by a smaller wave length to width ratio or larger wave number, (ii) for the same inflow condition and planform characteristics, a trapezoidal channel cross section is more favorable to secondary flow reversal than a rectangular cross section, (iii) lateral convection resulting from the interaction between in-channel and overbank flows leads to the reversal of secondary flow in an unconfined channel at a lower channel slope than in a confined channel with the same dimensions, (iv) flow discharge has only nominal effect on the secondary flow in submarine channels.