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Editorial

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8 pages, 224 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Tracers and Timescales: Tools for Distilling and Simplifying Complex Fluid Mechanical Problems

by Lisa V. Lucas and Eric Deleersnijder

Water 2021, 13(19), 2796; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13192796 - 08 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1364

Abstract

The last several decades have seen significant advances in fluid–mechanical, water-quality, and ecological observation systems, as well as in related scientific computing capabilities [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

21 pages, 4088 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Wave-Induced Processes in a Coupled Wave–Ocean Model on Particle Transport Simulations

by Joanna Staneva, Marcel Ricker, Ruben Carrasco Alvarez, Øyvind Breivik and Corinna Schrum

Water 2021, 13(4), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13040415 - 05 Feb 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3004

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of wind–wave processes in a coupled wave–ocean circulation model on Lagrangian transport simulations. Drifters deployed in the southern North Sea from May to June 2015 are used. The Eulerian currents are obtained by simulation from the coupled circulation [...] Read more.

This study investigates the effects of wind–wave processes in a coupled wave–ocean circulation model on Lagrangian transport simulations. Drifters deployed in the southern North Sea from May to June 2015 are used. The Eulerian currents are obtained by simulation from the coupled circulation model (NEMO) and the wave model (WAM), as well as a stand-alone NEMO circulation model. The wave–current interaction processes are the momentum and energy sea state dependent fluxes, wave-induced mixing and Stokes–Coriolis forcing. The Lagrangian transport model sensitivity to these wave-induced processes in NEMO is quantified using a particle drift model. Wind waves act as a reservoir for energy and momentum. In the coupled wave–ocean circulation model, the momentum that is transferred into the ocean model is considered as a fraction of the total flux that goes directly to the currents plus the momentum lost from wave dissipation. Additional sensitivity studies are performed to assess the potential contribution of windage on the Lagrangian model performance. Wave-induced drift is found to significantly affect the particle transport in the upper ocean. The skill of particle transport simulations depends on wave–ocean circulation interaction processes. The model simulations were assessed using drifter and high-frequency (HF) radar observations. The analysis of the model reveals that Eulerian currents produced by introducing wave-induced parameterization into the ocean model are essential for improving particle transport simulations. The results show that coupled wave–circulation models may improve transport simulations of marine litter, oil spills, larval drift or transport of biological materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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18 pages, 2542 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Age of Water Particles as a Diagnosis of Steady-State Flows in Shallow Rectangular Reservoirs

by Benjamin Dewals, Pierre Archambeau, Martin Bruwier, Sebastien Erpicum, Michel Pirotton, Tom Adam, Eric Delhez and Eric Deleersnijder

Water 2020, 12(10), 2819; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12102819 - 11 Oct 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1930

Abstract

The age of a water particle in a shallow man-made reservoir is defined as the time elapsed since it entered it. Analyzing this diagnostic timescale provides valuable information for optimally sizing and operating such structures. Here, the constituent-oriented age and residence time theory [...] Read more.

The age of a water particle in a shallow man-made reservoir is defined as the time elapsed since it entered it. Analyzing this diagnostic timescale provides valuable information for optimally sizing and operating such structures. Here, the constituent-oriented age and residence time theory (CART) is used to obtain not only the mean age, but also the water age distribution function at each location. The method is applied to 10 different shallow reservoirs of simple geometry (rectangular), in a steady-state framework. The results show that complex, multimodal water age distributions are found, implying that focusing solely on simple statistics (e.g., mean or median age) fails to reflect the complexity of the actual distribution of water age. The latter relates to the fast or slow pathways that water particles may take for traveling from the inlet to the outlet of the reservoirs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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29 pages, 1608 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Consistent Boundary Conditions for Age Calculations

by Eric Deleersnijder, Insaf Draoui, Jonathan Lambrechts, Vincent Legat and Anne Mouchet

Water 2020, 12(5), 1274; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051274 - 30 Apr 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2975

Abstract

Age can be evaluated at any time and position to understand transport processes taking place in the aquatic environment, including for reactive tracers. In the framework of the Constituent-oriented Age and Residence time Theory (CART), the age of a constituent or an aggregate [...] Read more.

Age can be evaluated at any time and position to understand transport processes taking place in the aquatic environment, including for reactive tracers. In the framework of the Constituent-oriented Age and Residence time Theory (CART), the age of a constituent or an aggregate of constituents, including the water itself, is usually defined as the time elapsed since leaving the boundary where the age is set or reset to zero. The age is evaluated as the ratio of the age concentration to the concentration, which are the solution of partial differential equations. The boundary conditions for the concentration and age concentration cannot be prescribed independently of each other. Instead, they must be derived from boundary conditions designed beforehand for the age distribution function (the histogram of the ages, the age theory core variable), even when this variable is not calculated explicitly. Consistent boundary conditions are established for insulating, departure and arrival boundaries. Gas exchanges through the water–air interface are also considered. Age fields ensuing from consistent boundary conditions and, occasionally, non-consistent ones are discussed, suggesting that the methodology advocated herein can be utilized by most age calculations, be they used for diagnosing the results of idealised models or realistic ones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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17 pages, 4431 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wind Effects on the Water Age in a Large Shallow Lake

by Sien Liu, Qinghua Ye, Shiqiang Wu and Marcel J. F. Stive

Water 2020, 12(5), 1246; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051246 - 27 Apr 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3125

Abstract

As the third largest fresh water lake in China, Taihu Lake is suffering from serious eutrophication, where nutrient loading from tributary and surrounding river networks is one of the main contributors. In this study, water age is used to investigate the impacts of [...] Read more.

As the third largest fresh water lake in China, Taihu Lake is suffering from serious eutrophication, where nutrient loading from tributary and surrounding river networks is one of the main contributors. In this study, water age is used to investigate the impacts of tributary discharge and wind influence on nutrient status in Taihu Lake, quantitatively. On the base of sub-basins of upstream catchments and boundary conditions of the lake, multiple inflow tributaries are categorized into three groups. For each group, the water age has been computed accordingly. A well-calibrated and validated three-dimensional Delft3D model is used to investigate both spatial and temporal heterogeneity of water age. Changes in wind direction lead to changes in both the average value and spatial pattern of water age, while the impact of wind speed differs in each tributary group. Water age decreases with higher inflow discharge from tributaries; however, discharge effects are less significant than that of wind. Wind speed decline, such as that induced by climate change, has negative effects on both internal and external nutrient source release, and results in water quality deterioration. Water age is proved to be an effective indicator of water exchange efficiency, which may help decision-makers to carry out integrated water management at a complex basin scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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20 pages, 7122 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Transport of Terrestrial Dissolved Substances in the Pearl River Estuary Using Passive Tracers

by Bo Hong, Guangyu Wang, Hongzhou Xu and Dongxiao Wang

Water 2020, 12(5), 1235; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051235 - 26 Apr 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2588

Abstract

Highly populated river deltas are experiencing marine environment degradation resulting from the tremendous input of terrestrial dissolved substances (TeDS). The Pearl River Delta is one of the deltas with degradation of the water quality and ecological condition. The Pearl River Estuary (PRE) was [...] Read more.

Highly populated river deltas are experiencing marine environment degradation resulting from the tremendous input of terrestrial dissolved substances (TeDS). The Pearl River Delta is one of the deltas with degradation of the water quality and ecological condition. The Pearl River Estuary (PRE) was investigated to reveal the fate and transport timescales of TeDS in order to provide guidance on water resource management and pollutant transport prediction. By using passive tracers in a calibrated 3D numerical model, the TeDS transports from five different outlet groups were investigated systematically. The TeDS transport time was computed by using the concept of water age, which is a measure of the time that has elapsed since the tracer was transported from the upstream boundary to the downstream concerned area. The tracer impacted area was defined by the area with tracer concentrations > 0.2 (arbitrary unit). The domains that were impacted by the tracer coming from each outlet group were identified separately. In the wet season, the impacted area was larger than in other seasons. The most prominent variations appeared in the Jiaomen–Hengmen–Hongqili (JHH) and Modaomen (MD) outlets. The hydrodynamic conditions controlled the offshore spreading of the TeDS. Assuming the TeDS were conservative, it took approximately 10–20 days for the TeDS to be transported from the head water to the entrance of the outlet. For the TeDS coming from the head water of the Humen outlet, it took approximately 40 (80) days for the TeDS to be transported out of the mouth of the Lingding Bay during the wet (dry) season. For the case of the TeDS coming from the head water of the JHH outlets, it took approximately 20 (40) days for the TeDS to be transported out of the Lingding Bay during the wet (dry) season. For the MD, Jiti and Yamen–Hutiao outlets, it usually took approximately 10 days for the TeDS to be transported from the head water to the inner shelf. The correlation coefficient between the river flow and tracer concentrations was 0.78, and between the river flow and transport time it was −0.70 at a station in the lower Lingding Bay. At the estuary mouth, the impacts of other forcing fields got stronger. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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20 pages, 5774 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Removing Wave Bias from Velocity Measurements for Tracer Transport: The Harmonic Analysis Approach

by Sangdon So, Arnoldo Valle-Levinson, Jorge Armando Laurel-Castillo, Junyong Ahn and Mohammad Al-Khaldi

Water 2020, 12(4), 1138; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12041138 - 16 Apr 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2636

Abstract

Estimates of turbulence properties with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements can be muddled by the influence of wave orbital velocities. Previous methods—Variance Fit, Vertical Adaptive Filtering (VAF), and Cospectra Fit (CF)—have tried to eliminate wave-induced contamination. However, those methods may not perform [...] Read more.

Estimates of turbulence properties with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements can be muddled by the influence of wave orbital velocities. Previous methods—Variance Fit, Vertical Adaptive Filtering (VAF), and Cospectra Fit (CF)—have tried to eliminate wave-induced contamination. However, those methods may not perform well in relatively energetic surface gravity wave or internal wave conditions. The Harmonic Analysis (HA) method proposed here uses power spectral density to identify waves and least squares fits to reconstruct the identified wave signals in current velocity measurements. Then, those reconstructed wave signals are eliminated from the original measurements. Datasets from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and Cape Canaveral, Florida, are used to test this approach and compare it with the VAF method. Reynolds stress estimates from the HA method agree with the VAF method in the lower half of the water column because wave energy decays with depth. The HA method performs better than the VAF method near the surface during pulses of increased surface gravity wave energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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16 pages, 4538 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Source Water Apportionment of a River Network: Comparing Field Isotopes to Hydrodynamically Modeled Tracers

by Lily A. Tomkovic, Edward S. Gross, Bobby Nakamoto, Marilyn L. Fogel and Carson Jeffres

Water 2020, 12(4), 1128; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12041128 - 15 Apr 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3056

Abstract

Tributary source water provenance is a primary control on water quality and ecological characteristics in branching tidal river systems. Source water provenance can be estimated both from field observations of chemical characteristics of water and from numerical modeling approaches. This paper highlights the [...] Read more.

Tributary source water provenance is a primary control on water quality and ecological characteristics in branching tidal river systems. Source water provenance can be estimated both from field observations of chemical characteristics of water and from numerical modeling approaches. This paper highlights the strengths and shortcomings of two methods. One method uses stable isotope compositions of oxygen and hydrogen from water in field-collected samples to build a mixing model. The second method uses a calibrated hydrodynamic model with numerical tracers released from upstream reaches to estimate source-water fraction throughout the model domain. Both methods were applied to our study area in the eastern Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, a freshwater tidal system which is dominated by fluvial processes during the flood season. In this paper, we show that both methods produce similar source water fraction values, implying the usefulness of both despite their shortcomings, and fortifying the use of hydrodynamic tracers to model transport in a natural system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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20 pages, 8732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation of Water Renewal Timescales in the Mahakam Delta, Indonesia

by Chien Pham Van, Benjamin De Brye, Anouk De Brauwere, A.J.F. (Ton) Hoitink, Sandra Soares-Frazao and Eric Deleersnijder

Water 2020, 12(4), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12041017 - 02 Apr 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3137

Abstract

Water renewal timescales, namely age, residence time, and exposure time, which are defined in accordance with the Constituent-oriented Age and Residence time Theory (CART), are computed by means of the unstructured-mesh, finite element model Second-generation Louvain-la-Neuve Ice-ocean Model (SLIM) in the Mahakam Delta [...] Read more.

Water renewal timescales, namely age, residence time, and exposure time, which are defined in accordance with the Constituent-oriented Age and Residence time Theory (CART), are computed by means of the unstructured-mesh, finite element model Second-generation Louvain-la-Neuve Ice-ocean Model (SLIM) in the Mahakam Delta (Borneo Island, Indonesia). Two renewing water types, i.e., water from the upstream boundary of the delta and water from both the upstream and the downstream boundaries, are considered, and their age is calculated as the time elapsed since entering the delta. The residence time of the water originally in the domain (i.e., the time needed to hit an open boundary for the first time) and the exposure time (i.e., the total time spent in the domain of interest) are then computed. Simulations are performed for both low and high flow conditions, revealing that (i) age, residence time, and exposure time are clearly related to the river volumetric flow rate, and (ii) those timescales are of the order of one spring-neap tidal cycle. In the main deltaic channels, the variation of the diagnostic timescales caused by the tide is about 35% of their averaged value. The age of renewing water from the upstream boundary of the delta monotonically increases from the river mouth to the delta front, while the age of renewing water from both the upstream and the downstream boundaries monotonically increases from the river mouth and the delta front to the middle delta. Variations of the residence and the exposure times coincide with the changes of the flow velocity, and these timescales are more sensitive to the change of flow dynamics than the age. The return coefficient, which measures the propensity of water to re-enter the domain of interest after leaving it for the first time, is of about 0.3 in the middle region of the delta. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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17 pages, 6178 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of Stable Isotope-Based Water Age to Evaluate a Hydrodynamic Model

by Edward Gross, Stephen Andrews, Brian Bergamaschi, Bryan Downing, Rusty Holleman, Scott Burdick and John Durand

Water 2019, 11(11), 2207; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11112207 - 23 Oct 2019

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3552

Abstract

Transport time scales are common metrics of the strength of transport processes. Water age is the time elapsed since water from a specific source has entered a study area. An observational method to estimate water age relies on the progressive concentration of the [...] Read more.

Transport time scales are common metrics of the strength of transport processes. Water age is the time elapsed since water from a specific source has entered a study area. An observational method to estimate water age relies on the progressive concentration of the heavier isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in water that occurs during evaporation. The isotopic composition is used to derive the fraction of water evaporated, and then translated into a transport time scale by applying assumptions of representative water depth and evaporation rate. Water age can also be estimated by a hydrodynamic model using tracer transport equations. Water age calculated by each approach is compared in the Cache Slough Complex, located in the northern San Francisco Estuary, during summer conditions in which this region receives minimal direct freshwater inflow. The model’s representation of tidal dispersion of Sacramento River water into this backwater region is evaluated. In order to compare directly to isotopic estimates of the fraction of water evaporated (“fractional evaporation”) in addition to age, a hydrodynamic model-based property tracking approach analogous to the water age estimation approach is proposed. The age and fractional evaporation model results are analyzed to evaluate assumptions applied in the field-based age estimates. The generally good correspondence between the water age results from both approaches provides confidence in applying the modeling approach to predict age through broader spatial and temporal scales than are practical to assess using the field method, and discrepancies between the two methods suggest aspects of both approaches that may be improved. Model skill in predicting water age is compared to skill in predicting salinity. Compared to water age, salinity observations are shown to be a less useful diagnostic of transport in this low salinity region in which salt inputs are poorly constrained. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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23 pages, 5432 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterisation of the Water Renewal in a Macro-Tidal Marina Using Several Transport Timescales

by Jean-Rémy Huguet, Isabelle Brenon and Thibault Coulombier

Water 2019, 11(10), 2050; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11102050 - 30 Sep 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3721

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the water renewal of a highly populated marina, located in the south-west of France, and subjected to a macro-tidal regime. With the use of a 3D-numerical model (TELEMAC-3D), three water transport timescales were studied and compared to provide [...] Read more.

In this paper, we investigate the water renewal of a highly populated marina, located in the south-west of France, and subjected to a macro-tidal regime. With the use of a 3D-numerical model (TELEMAC-3D), three water transport timescales were studied and compared to provide a fully detailed description of the physical processes occurring in the marina. Integrated Flushing times (IFT) were computed through a Eulerian way while a Lagrangian method allowed to estimate Residence Times (RT) and Exposure Times (ET). From these timescales, the return-flow (the fraction of water that re-enters the marina at flood after leaving the domain at ebb) was quantified via the Return-flow Factor (RFF) and the Return Coefficient (RC) parameters. The intrinsic information contained in these parameters is thoroughly analysed, and their relevance is discussed. A wide range of weather-marine conditions was tested to provide the most exhaustive information about the processes occurring in the marina. The results highlight the significant influence of the tide and the wind as well as the smaller influence of the Floating Structures (FS) on the renewal. Besides, this study provides the first investigation of the water exchange processes of La Rochelle marina. It offers some content that interest researchers and environmental managers in the monitoring of pollutants as well as biological/ecological applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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14 pages, 4054 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Water Residence Time in a Typical Tributary Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir

by Yao Cheng, Zheng Mu, Haiyan Wang, Fengxia Zhao, Yu Li and Lei Lin

Water 2019, 11(8), 1585; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11081585 - 31 Jul 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3155

Abstract

Tributary bays of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) are suffering from environmental problems, e.g., eutrophication and algae bloom, which could be related to the limited water exchange capacity of the tributary bays. To understand and quantify the water exchange capacity of a tributary [...] Read more.

Tributary bays of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) are suffering from environmental problems, e.g., eutrophication and algae bloom, which could be related to the limited water exchange capacity of the tributary bays. To understand and quantify the water exchange capacity of a tributary bay, this study investigated the water residence time (RT) in a typical tributary bay of TGR, i.e., the Zhuyi Bay (ZB), using numerical simulation and the adjoint method to obtain the RT. The results show that RT of ZB with an annual mean of 16.7 days increases from the bay mouth to the bay top where the maximum can reach 50 days. There is a significant seasonal variation in RT, with higher RT (average 20 days) in spring and autumn and lower RT (average < 5 days) in the summer. The sensitivity experiments show that the TGR water level regulation has a strong influence on RT. The increase in the water level could increase RT of ZB to some extent. Density currents induced by the temperature difference between the mainstream and tributaries play an important role in the water exchange of ZB, while the impacts of the river discharges and winds on RT are insignificant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

65 pages, 19075 KiB

Open AccessReview

Timescale Methods for Simplifying, Understanding and Modeling Biophysical and Water Quality Processes in Coastal Aquatic Ecosystems: A Review

by Lisa V. Lucas and Eric Deleersnijder

Water 2020, 12(10), 2717; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12102717 - 29 Sep 2020

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5894

Abstract

In this article, we describe the use of diagnostic timescales as simple tools for illuminating how aquatic ecosystems work, with a focus on coastal systems such as estuaries, lagoons, tidal rivers, reefs, deltas, gulfs, and continental shelves. Intending this as a tutorial as [...] Read more.

In this article, we describe the use of diagnostic timescales as simple tools for illuminating how aquatic ecosystems work, with a focus on coastal systems such as estuaries, lagoons, tidal rivers, reefs, deltas, gulfs, and continental shelves. Intending this as a tutorial as well as a review, we discuss relevant fundamental concepts (e.g., Lagrangian and Eulerian perspectives and methods, parcels, particles, and tracers), and describe many of the most commonly used diagnostic timescales and definitions. Citing field-based, model-based, and simple algebraic methods, we describe how physical timescales (e.g., residence time, flushing time, age, transit time) and biogeochemical timescales (e.g., for growth, decay, uptake, turnover, or consumption) are estimated and implemented (sometimes together) to illuminate coupled physical-biogeochemical systems. Multiple application examples are then provided to demonstrate how timescales have proven useful in simplifying, understanding, and modeling complex coastal aquatic systems. We discuss timescales from the perspective of “holism”, the degree of process richness incorporated into them, and the value of clarity in defining timescales used and in describing how they were estimated. Our objective is to provide context, new applications and methodological ideas and, for those new to timescale methods, a starting place for implementing them in their own work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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38 pages, 3283 KiB

Open AccessReview

Dissolved Radiotracers and Numerical Modeling in North European Continental Shelf Dispersion Studies (1982–2016): Databases, Methods and Applications

by Pascal Bailly du Bois, Franck Dumas, Claire Voiseux, Mehdi Morillon, Pierre-Emmanuel Oms and Luc Solier

Water 2020, 12(6), 1667; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12061667 - 10 Jun 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2792

Abstract

Significant amounts of anthropogenic radionuclides were introduced in ocean waters following nuclear atmospheric tests and development of the nuclear industry. Dispersion of artificial dissolved radionuclides has been extensively measured for decades over the North-European continental shelf. In this area, the radionuclide measurement and [...] Read more.

Significant amounts of anthropogenic radionuclides were introduced in ocean waters following nuclear atmospheric tests and development of the nuclear industry. Dispersion of artificial dissolved radionuclides has been extensively measured for decades over the North-European continental shelf. In this area, the radionuclide measurement and release fluxes databases provided here between 1982 and 2016 represent an exceptional opportunity to validate dispersion hydrodynamic models. This work gives accessibility to these data in a comprehensive database. The MARS hydrodynamic model has been applied at different scales to reproduce the measured dispersion in realistic conditions. Specific methods have been developed to obtain qualitative and quantitative results and perform model/measurement comparisons. Model validation concerns short to large scales with dedicated surveys following the dispersion: it was performed within a two- and three-dimensional framework and from minutes and hours following a release up to several years. Results are presented concerning the dispersion of radionuclides in marine systems deduced from standalone measurements, or according to model comparisons. It allows characterizing dispersion over the continental shelf, pathways, transit times, budgets and source terms. This review presents the main approaches developed and types of information derived from studies of artificial radiotracers using observations, hydrodynamic models or a combination of the two, based primarily on the new featured datasets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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21 pages, 1620 KiB

Open AccessReview

Solute Reactive Tracers for Hydrogeological Applications: A Short Review and Future Prospects

by Viet Cao, Mario Schaffer, Reza Taherdangkoo and Tobias Licha

Water 2020, 12(3), 653; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12030653 - 28 Feb 2020

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5299

Abstract

Tracer testing is a mature technology used for characterizing aquatic flow systems. To gain more insights from tracer tests a combination of conservative (non-reactive) tracers together with at least one reactive tracer is commonly applied. The reactive tracers can provide unique information about [...] Read more.

Tracer testing is a mature technology used for characterizing aquatic flow systems. To gain more insights from tracer tests a combination of conservative (non-reactive) tracers together with at least one reactive tracer is commonly applied. The reactive tracers can provide unique information about physical, chemical, and/or biological properties of aquatic systems. Although, previous review papers provide a wide coverage on conservative tracer compounds there is no systematic review on reactive tracers yet, despite their extensive development during the past decades. This review paper summarizes the recent development in compounds and compound classes that are exploitable and/or have been used as reactive tracers, including their systematization based on the underlying process types to be investigated. Reactive tracers can generally be categorized into three groups: (1) partitioning tracers, (2) kinetic tracers, and (3) reactive tracers for partitioning. The work also highlights the potential for future research directions. The recent advances from the development of new tailor-made tracers might overcome existing limitations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tracer and Timescale Methods for Passive and Reactive Transport in Fluid Flows)

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