Development and Application of a Three-Dimensional Model to Simulate Mercury Transport and Transformation Process in the Marine Environment
- Authors: Dušan Žagar
- Citation: Acta hydrotechnica, vol. 17, no. 27, pp. 5-62, 1999.
- Abstract: An upgrade of the existing three-dimensional baroclinic mathematical model PCFLOW3D is presented. Two new modules were developed to simulate processes in aquatic environment. Resuspension of bottom sediment, transport and dispersion of suspended sediment and transport and dispersion of mercury in its dissolved and particulate form was included in the model. Hydrodynamics due to wind forcing, tidal forcing and river inflow momentum can be simulated, and stratified conditions can be taken into account. A comparison with solutions of analytical equations, laboratory and field measurements, and results of a similar sediment transport model was obtained to verify the sediment transport module. A large amount of data about temperature and salinity fields in the Gulf of Trieste, wind conditions above the Gulf, Soča River discharges, suspended sediment concentrations and temperatures were collected and interpreted. The described data, together with measurements of the mercury concentrations in the water, suspended sediment, bottom sediment and pore waters in the Soča River and the Gulf of Trieste are used as input for the upgraded PCFLOW3D model. A scenario for long-term simulations on the basis of seasonally averaged parameters and values in a few shorter sequences was developed as a substitution for previous annually averaged simulations. Measurements and observation data from the years 1995, 1996 and 1997 were applied to calibrate and verify the PCFLOW3D model. A good qualitative agreement of results and measurements was achieved. Whenever a quantitative comparison was possible, an accordance of measured and computed results within a factor of two is reached.
- Keywords: mathematical model, three-dimensional model, hydrodynamics, sediment transport, suspended sediment, resuspension, Gulf of Trieste, Northern Adriatic, mercury
- Full text: Acta_27.pdf