Prediction of Near Field Plume Characteristics Using Far Field Circulation Model

Abstract

3-D numerical models are being used more commonly to predict changes in coastal water quality associated with point discharges such as sewage outfalls. Because these “far field” models use grid sizes which are orders of magnitude larger than the scale of near field entrainment processes, it is of interest to compare their predictive capability with that of initial mixing models and to identify ways in which the two model types can be coupled. Comparisons between the 3-D circulation model ECOMsi and the Environmental Protection Agency's mixing model RSB suggest that the former does a reasonable job predicting plume trap height and volumetric dilution but often overpredicts plume width. Results are sensitive to source representation and parameterization of horizontal and vertical diffusion. The success results from the fact that initial dilution is governed in part by gravitational exchange flow (a large-scale phenomenon that can be resolved in a far field model) in addition to plume entrainment (which is clearly subgrid scale), as well as the self-regulating relationship between plume trap height and initial dilution. Overprediction of plume width is attributed to numerical diffusive effects. Several procedures for improving predictions by coupling near and far field models are explored, ranging from the use of the near field model to dynamically adjust far field mixing parameters, so that the far field model simulates the correct trap height, to simply using the near field model to assign source location and dimension for the far field.