Numerical simulation of the transport and diffusion of dissolved pollutants in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary

Based on a coupled hydrodynamic–ecological model for regional and shelf seas (COHERENS), a three-dimensional baroclinic model for the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary and the adjacent sea area was established using the sigma-coordinate in the vertical direction and spherical coordinate in the horizontal direction. In the study, changing-grid technology and the "dry-wet" method were designed to deal with the moving boundary. The minimum water depth limit condition was introduced for numerical simulation stability and to avoid producing negative depths in the shallow water areas. Using the Eulerian transport approaches included in COHERENS for the advection and dispersion of dissolved pollutants, numerical simulation of dissolved pollutant transport and diffusion in the Changjiang River estuary were carried out. The mass centre track of dissolved pollutants released from outlets in the south branch of the Changjiang River estuary water course has the characteristic of reverse current motion in the inner water course and clockwise motion offshore. In the transition area, water transport is a combination of the two types of motion. In a sewage-discharge numerical experiment, it is found that there are mainly two kinds of pollution distribution forms: one is a single nuclear structure and the other is a double nuclear (dinuclear) structure in the turbid zone of the Changjiang River estuary. The rate of expansion of the dissolved pollutant distribution decreased gradually. The results of the numerical experiment indicate that the maximum turbid zone of the Changjiang River estuary is also the zone enriched with pollutants. Backward pollutant flow occurs in the north branch of the estuary, which is similar to the backward salt water flow, and the backward flow of pollutants released upstream is more obvious.

Numerical Simulation of Pollutant Transport and Accumulation Areas in the Hangzhou Bay

Based on the COHERENS model (a coupled hydrodynamic ecological model for regional and shelf seas), a numerical hydrodynamic model of the Hangzhou Bay, influenced by tide, regional winds and freshwater from the Yangtze River and the Qiantangjiang River was established. The Lagrangian particle tracking was simulated to provide tracer trajectories. For convenience, the modeling area was divided into 8 subdomains and the modeling focused on March (dry season) and July (wet season). Numerical simulation and analysis indicate that the tracer trajectories originated in different subdomains are quite different. Most particles released in the mouth of the bay move outside the bay quickly and reach the farthest place at 122.5°E; while particles released in the inner part of the bay mostly remain in the same subdomain, with only minor migrations in two opposite directions along the shore. The tracer experiments also indicate that the northwest region of the bay is an area where pollutant can easily accumulate in both wet and dry seasons, and that the southeast region of the bay is another area for pollutant to accumulate in dry season because it is the main path for the contaminant.

A numerical simulation case study of the coastal currents and upwelling in the western Persian Gulf

The present study employed COHERENS model as a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model to address the coastal currents in the western Persian Gulf with a horizontal resolution of 2-minutes of latitude and longitude.The obtained results suggested that Iranian northwestward coastal currents developed from January to April and experienced their maximum intensity from June to August when the rate of the surface inflow current increases through the Strait of Hormuz and the stability of the seasonal thermocline becomes gradually stronger.The simulation results reflected that expansions of the thermocline area began by the arrival of the warm season.Under such circumstances,some stronger coastal currents were generated in summer.The strong coastal surface current in the vicinity of the western part of Iranian coasts flew southeastward,while the reverse current flew with a northwestern direction in the seabed.The obtained results suggested that a consequence of the influence of salinity flux,especially on the Iranian coasts,the speed of currents increases.The findings of this study showed that more kinetic energy was accumulated along Iranian coasts.Moreover,the current vectors on Iranian coasts were greater than those on Arabian coasts,which in turn resulted in the creation of the upwelling currents along western Iranian coasts.