Using radiotracer techniques for coastal hydrodynamic model evaluation

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Date
2004
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier Science Ltd.
Abstract
A three-dimensional (313) water circulation and contaminant transport model of Manila Bay has been developed with the aim of better understanding the formation and movement of harmful algal blooms. Radiotracer techniques were used to evaluate the model by recording the dispersion of a tracer at depths of 2 and 15 m near the injection point. The selected tracer was Tc-99m eluted from a molybdenum/technetium medical generator. The rationale for the choice of the tracer and the location of the injection is discussed. At 2 m the transport was dominated by the prevailing winds, and at 15 m by tidally induced currents. The development of the hydrodynamic model and its experimental evaluation were iterative processes. The experimental study confirmed the need for full 3D modelling of Manila Bay; quantified the impact of the prevailing wind field on contaminant dispersion near the injection point; and allowed the calculation of transverse dispersivity to guide the selection of parameter values used in the overall model. Crown Copyright © 2004 Elsevier Ltd.
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Keywords
Molybdenum, Technetium, Dispersions, Hydrodynamics, Injection
Citation
Hughes, C.E., Airey, P.L., Duran, E.B., Miller, B.M. & Sombrito, E. (2004). Using radiotracer techniques for coastal hydrodynamic model evaluation. Paper presented to the South Pacific Environmental Radioactivity Association: 2002 Conference, Sydney, Australia, 13–17 May 2002. In Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 76 (1-2), 195-206. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2004.03.026