Negatively Buoyant Flow in Diverging Channel. III: Onset of Underflow

Abstract

If they are negatively buoyant (denser than ambient water), inflows to lakes and reservoirs sink (plunge) below the water surface after entering. The location of the plunge line or maximum penetration into the lake or reservoir is related to the ratio of inertial to buoyant forces, and lake or reservoir geometry. Experiments have been conducted in diverging horizontal laboratory channels, and the plunging phenomenon has been reproduced. For flows separating from the channel wall the relationship