USGS · 70232250
Solute transport and modeling of water quality in a small stream
Abstract
An injection of chloride, sodium, and stable strontium was made at a constant rate for 3 hours into Uvas Creek, Santa Clara County, Calif., to determine the mass transport processes in a small stream. Five observation points were selected within a 610-metre reach of the stream below the injection site. Water samples were collected at the observation points during and immediately after the injection. A mathematical model of the stream was obtained by solving analytically and optimally the one-dimensional mass transport equation of the solutes in the stream. Comparison of field results with a simplified mathematical model indicates the dominance of convection in the behavior of sodium and chloride. The concentration of chloride and sodium can be closely simulated by the model. However, strontium cannot be well represented by the simplified model, which contains a first-order decay-type sink.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
S. M. Zand, V. C. Kennedy, G. W. Zellweger, R.J. Avanzino. 1976. Solute transport and modeling of water quality in a small stream. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70232250
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
Discover connections
Connections use source metadata and explicit phrase matches, not verified experimental comparisons.