scholarly journals Thermodynamics of Saline and Fresh Water Mixing in Estuaries

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhilin Zhang ◽  
Hubert H. G. Savenije
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Maximum Power ◽  
Gradual Transition ◽  
Mixing Processes ◽  
Advection Dispersion ◽  
Alluvial Estuaries ◽  
New Equation ◽  
A Minor

Abstract. Mixing of saline and fresh water is a process of energy dissipation. The fresh water flow that enters an estuary from the river contains potential energy with respect to the saline ocean water. This potential energy is able to perform work. Looking from the ocean to the river, there is a gradual transition from saline to fresh water and an associated rise of the water level in accordance with the increase of potential energy. Alluvial estuaries are systems that are free to adjust dissipation processes to the energy sources that drive them, primarily the kinetic energy of the tide and the potential energy of the river flow, and to a minor extent the energy in wind and waves. Mixing is the process that dissipates the potential energy of the fresh water. The Maximum Power (MP) concept assumes that this dissipation takes place at maximum power, whereby the different mixing mechanisms of the estuary jointly perform the work. In this paper, the power is maximized with respect to the dispersion coefficient that reflects the combined mixing processes. The resulting equation is an additional differential equation that can be solved in combination with the advection-dispersion equation, requiring only two boundary conditions for the salinity and the dispersion. The new equation has been confronted with 52 salinity distributions observed in 23 estuaries in different parts of the world and performed very well, even better than the well-tested empirical Van der Burgh equation that required a calibration parameter, which with this equation is no longer needed.

scholarly journals Thermodynamics of saline and fresh water mixing in estuaries

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 241-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhilin Zhang ◽  
Hubert H. G. Savenije
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Maximum Power ◽  
Gradual Transition ◽  
Mixing Processes ◽  
Advection Dispersion ◽  
Alluvial Estuaries ◽  
New Equation ◽  
A Minor

Abstract. The mixing of saline and fresh water is a process of energy dissipation. The freshwater flow that enters an estuary from the river contains potential energy with respect to the saline ocean water. This potential energy is able to perform work. Looking from the ocean to the river, there is a gradual transition from saline to fresh water and an associated rise in the water level in accordance with the increase in potential energy. Alluvial estuaries are systems that are free to adjust dissipation processes to the energy sources that drive them, primarily the kinetic energy of the tide and the potential energy of the river flow and to a minor extent the energy in wind and waves. Mixing is the process that dissipates the potential energy of the fresh water. The maximum power (MP) concept assumes that this dissipation takes place at maximum power, whereby the different mixing mechanisms of the estuary jointly perform the work. In this paper, the power is maximized with respect to the dispersion coefficient that reflects the combined mixing processes. The resulting equation is an additional differential equation that can be solved in combination with the advection–dispersion equation, requiring only two boundary conditions for the salinity and the dispersion. The new equation has been confronted with 52 salinity distributions observed in 23 estuaries in different parts of the world and performs very well.

scholarly journals Maximum power of saline and fresh water mixing in estuaries

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 667-684
Author(s):  
Zhilin Zhang ◽  
Hubert Savenije
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
Dispersion Coefficient ◽  
Saline Water ◽  
Maximum Power ◽  
Estuarine System ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Gravitational Circulation ◽  
Advection Dispersion ◽  
Physically Based ◽  
Alluvial Estuaries

Abstract. According to Kleidon (2016), natural systems evolve towards a state of maximum power, leading to higher levels of entropy production by different mechanisms, including gravitational circulation in alluvial estuaries. Gravitational circulation is driven by the potential energy of fresh water. Due to the density difference between seawater and river water, the water level on the riverside is higher. The hydrostatic forces on both sides are equal but have different lines of action. This triggers an angular moment, providing rotational kinetic energy to the system, part of which drives mixing by gravitational circulation, lifting up heavier saline water from the bottom and pushing down relatively fresh water from the surface against gravity; the remainder is dissipated by friction while mixing. With a constant freshwater discharge over a tidal cycle, it is assumed that the gravitational circulation in the estuarine system performs work at maximum power. This rotational flow causes the spread of salinity inland, which is mathematically represented by the dispersion coefficient. In this paper, a new equation is derived for the dispersion coefficient related to density-driven mixing, also called gravitational circulation. Together with the steady-state advection–dispersion equation, this results in a new analytical model for density-driven salinity intrusion. The simulated longitudinal salinity profiles have been confronted with observations in a myriad of estuaries worldwide. It shows that the performance is promising in 18 out of 23 estuaries that have relatively large convergence length. Finally, a predictive equation is presented to estimate the dispersion coefficient at the downstream boundary. Overall, the maximum power concept has provided a new physically based alternative for existing empirical descriptions of the dispersion coefficient for gravitational circulation in alluvial estuaries.

scholarly journals Maximum power of saline and fresh water mixing in estuaries

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhilin Zhang ◽  
Hubert Savenije
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
Dispersion Coefficient ◽  
Saline Water ◽  
Maximum Power ◽  
Dissipated Energy ◽  
Estuarine System ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Gravitational Circulation ◽  
Advection Dispersion ◽  
Alluvial Estuaries

Abstract. Natural systems evolve towards a state of maximum power (Kleidon, 2016), leading to higher levels of entropy production by different mechanisms, including the gravitational circulation in alluvial estuaries. Gravitational circulation is driven by the potential energy of the fresh water. Due to the density difference between seawater and riverwater, the water level on the river side is higher. The hydrostatic forces on both sides are equal, but have different working lines. This triggers an (accelerating) angular moment, providing rotational kinetic energy into the system, part of which drives mixing by gravitational circulation mixing; the remainder is transferred into dissipated energy by friction while mixing. With a constant discharge over a tidal cycle, the density-driven gravitational circulation in the estuarine system performs work at maximum power, lifting up saline water and bringing down fresh water against gravity. The rotational flow causes the spread of salinity, which is mathematically represented by the dispersion coefficient. Accordingly, a new equation for the dispersion coefficient due to the density-driven mechanism has been derived. Together with the steady state advection-dispersion equation, this resulted in a new analytical model for gravitational salinity intrusion. The simulated longitudinal salinity profiles have been confronted with observations in a myriad of estuaries worldwide. It shows that the performance is promising in eighteen out of twenty-three estuaries, with relatively large convergence length. Finally, a predictive equation is presented for the dispersion coefficient at the boundary. Overall, the maximum power concept has provided an alternative for describing the dispersion coefficient due to gravitational circulation in alluvial estuaries.

scholarly journals Analytical approach for determining the mean water level profile in an estuary with substantial fresh water discharge

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 1177-1195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huayang Cai ◽  
Hubert H. G. Savenije ◽  
Chenjuan Jiang ◽  
Lili Zhao ◽  
Qingshu Yang
Keyword(s):  
Water Level ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
River Discharge ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Value Theory ◽  
Velocity Amplitude ◽  
Mean Water Level ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Fresh Water Discharge

Abstract. The mean water level in estuaries rises in the landward direction due to a combination of the density gradient, the tidal asymmetry, and the backwater effect. This phenomenon is more prominent under an increase of the fresh water discharge, which strongly intensifies both the tidal asymmetry and the backwater effect. However, the interactions between tide and river flow and their individual contributions to the rise of the mean water level along the estuary are not yet completely understood. In this study, we adopt an analytical approach to describe the tidal wave propagation under the influence of substantial fresh water discharge, where the analytical solutions are obtained by solving a set of four implicit equations for the tidal damping, the velocity amplitude, the wave celerity, and the phase lag. The analytical model is used to quantify the contributions made by tide, river, and tide–river interaction to the water level slope along the estuary, which sheds new light on the generation of backwater due to tide–river interaction. Subsequently, the method is applied to the Yangtze estuary under a wide range of river discharge conditions where the influence of both tidal amplitude and fresh water discharge on the longitudinal variation of the mean tidal water level is explored. Analytical model results show that in the tide-dominated region the mean water level is mainly controlled by the tide–river interaction, while it is primarily determined by the river flow in the river-dominated region, which is in agreement with previous studies. Interestingly, we demonstrate that the effect of the tide alone is most important in the transitional zone, where the ratio of velocity amplitude to river flow velocity approaches unity. This has to do with the fact that the contribution of tidal flow, river flow, and tide–river interaction to the residual water level slope are all proportional to the square of the velocity scale. Finally, we show that, in combination with extreme-value theory (e.g. generalized extreme-value theory), the method may be used to obtain a first-order estimation of the frequency of extreme water levels relevant for water management and flood control. By presenting these analytical relations, we provide direct insight into the interaction between tide and river flow, which will be useful for the study of other estuaries that experience substantial river discharge in a tidal region.

Invasion and upstream migration by glass-eels of Anguilla australis australis Richardson and A. reinhardtii Steindachner in Tasmanian Freshwater Streams

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD Sloane
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Condition Factor ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Upstream Migration ◽  
Larval Life ◽  
Freshwater Streams ◽  
Anguilla Australis ◽  
Glass Eels ◽  
High River Flow

The recruitment of glass-eels into fresh water was investigated by hand-netting and electrofishing at the lowest permanent freshwater riffle on several streams in eastern Tasmania. Measurements of the forward extent of the dorsal fin distinguished the short-finned eel, A. a. australis, from the long-finned eel, A. reinhardtii; this separation was verified by vertebral counts and A. a, australis glass-eels were found to be larger than A. reinhardtii. A. a. australis glass-eels were collected at the first riffle during all seasons of the year except mid-summer. Numbers in the catch declined during mid-winter, probably as a result of an effective seaward movement of the freshwater-estuarine interface during periods of high river flow; A. a. australis glass-eels were still found to be abundant near estuary mouths at such times. A. reinhardtii glass-eels exhibited a more restricted movement into fresh water during late summer and autumn with no collections recorded after mid-winter. For both species, the stage of pigmentation was found to advance as the season progressed, and length, weight and condition factor declined with advancing pigmentation. The otoliths of invading glass-eels of both species appeared similar with a single summer ring, suggesting a larval life of 1-1½ years. The restricted invasion period of A. reinhardtii and the similar size throughout the species range suggests a short and precise larval life. The length of larval life of A. a. australis is probably quite variable, resulting in a more substantial and prolonged influx of glass-eels into Tasmanian waters.

Mechanisms for nitrogen supply to the Australian North West Shelf

1985 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 753 ◽  
Author(s):  
PE Holloway ◽  
SE Humphries ◽  
M Atkinson ◽  
J Imberger
Keyword(s):  
River Flow ◽  
Tidal Flow ◽  
Vertical Mixing ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Mixing Processes ◽  
North West ◽  
Tidal Motion ◽  
The North

An upper bound for the rate of supply of new nitrate required to maintain the observed primary production on the North West Shelf is estimated to be 0.1 g N m-2 day -1. Nitrate concentrations over the shelf and slope regions are high ( > 100 mg N m-3, in water deeper than - 100 m and usually low (~10 mg N m-3), on the shelf. River flow is weak and carries little nutrient into the shelf waters and so it remains for ocean physical processes to advect and mix the nutrient-rich deep waters onto the shallower shelf regions to meet the nutrient demand. Several mechanisms are reviewed to determine their potential in carrying out the required transport processes. Estimates of the advection of nitrate onto the shelf show that both semi-diurnal tidal flow and low-frequency (periods > 35 h) upwelling events can each contribute approximately half the required demand, providing there is rapid use of nutrients. The upwelling events occur in summer and are associated with reversals of the south-west-flowing Leeuwin Current. Tropical cyclones are also shown to be capable of meeting a small, but significant, portion of the demand through enrichment of the surface layers in the offshelf waters by upwelling and vertical mixing. The enriched water can then be advected onto the shelf. Both tidal and internal tidal motion have the potential to transport nitrate onto the shelf from deeper water through vertical and horizontal mixing processes. However, these processes are difficult to quantify accurately. It is concluded that nitrogen is supplied to this shelf ecosystem by physical processes that are regular throughout the year, as opposed to large sporadic events that occur only once or twice a year.

Effects of different hydraulic models on predicting longitudinal profiles of reactive pollutants in activated sludge reactors

2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 555-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Zima ◽  
J. Makinia ◽  
M. Swinarski ◽  
K. Czerwionka
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Ammonia Concentration ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Nitrification Rate ◽  
Concentration Profiles ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Advection Dispersion ◽  
In Series ◽  
The One ◽  
A Minor

This paper presents effects of dispersion on predicting longitudinal ammonia concentration profiles in activated sludge bioreactor located at “Wschod” WWTP in Gdansk. The aim of this study was to use the one-dimensional advection-dispersion Equation (ADE) to simulate the flow conditions (based on the inert tracer concentrations in selected points) and longitudinal profile of reactive pollutant (based on the ammonia concentration profiles in selected points). The simulation results were compared with the predictions obtained using a traditional “tanks-in-series” (TIS) approach, commonly used in designing biological reactors. The use of dispersion coefficient calculated from an empirical formula resulted in substantial differences in the tracer concentration distributions in two sampling points in the bioreactor. Simulations using the one-dimensional ADE and TIS model, with the nitrification rate incorporated as the source term, revealed that the hydraulic model plays a minor role compared to the biochemical transformations in predicting the longitudinal ammonia concentration profiles.

Does the quantity and timing of fresh water flowing into a dry tropical estuary affect year-class strength of barramundi (Lates calcarifer)?

2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Staunton-Smith ◽  
Julie B. Robins ◽  
David G. Mayer ◽  
Michelle J. Sellin ◽  
Ian A. Halliday
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
Relative Strength ◽  
Estuarine Fish ◽  
Causal Mechanism ◽  
Lates Calcarifer ◽  
Nursery Habitats ◽  
Class Strength

The influence of fresh water flowing into estuaries on biological processes, such as recruitment of juvenile fish, is poorly understood, but important if freshwater resources are to be managed sustainably. Typically, lagged correlations between freshwater flows and fisheries production (i.e. catch) are used to support speculation that flows affect the survival of fish (and thus year-class strength) during their first year of life. The present study compares the relative strength of year classes in an estuarine fish population with two indices of fresh water flowing into the estuary, river flow and coastal rainfall. Year-class strength was estimated from a subset of the age structure of commercially caught adult barramundi (Lates calcarifer), which were sampled at seafood processors for three consecutive years. Strong and coherent fluctuations in year-class strength were observed. Positive correlations were found between the abundance of year classes (accounting for age) and quantity of fresh water flowing into the estuary during spring and summer, when barramundi spawn and young-of-the-year recruit to nursery habitats. Regression analysis was used to explore the relationships between year-class strength and environmental variables. A possible, but unproven, causal mechanism for the relationship is that the quantity of fresh water flowing into the estuary during spring and summer influences the survival of early life-history stages of barramundi (i.e. juvenile recruitment) by altering accessibility, productivity and or carrying capacity of nursery habitats.

scholarly journals HYDROGEOLOGICAL BREAKING CHARACTERISTICS OF WAVES ABOVE FRESH WATER SUBAQUEOUS SOURCES

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Agatino D'Arrigo
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
Wave Motion ◽  
Vertical Wall ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Circular Motion ◽  
Compressed Air

After a short review of the usefulness of maritime structures, particularly vertical wall breakwaters, long term observations of hydrogeological breaking on the bottom of Italy's Seas, as caused by the subaqueous source of fresh water, are discussed. The correlation between hydrogeological breaking and wave motion perturbation produced by compressed air or by oil is presented. These considerations are related to the observations of Admiral Alessandro Cialdi on the morphological breaking of waves above sand banks, thus producing calmness in the upper water. Therefore, it appears possible to establish a very suggestive analogy between the atomic disintegration of the transformation of potential energy of the oscillatory tide wave into kinematic energy of its components (because of breaking), in accordance with the disintegration of the circular motion.

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