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WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH,
VOL. 40,
W05207,
doi:10.1029/2003WR002381,
2004
Lateral mixing in the Mississippi River below the confluence with the Ohio River
R. E. Rathbun
U.S. Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado, USA
C. E. Rostad
U.S. Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado, USA
Abstract
Lateral dispersion coefficients for two dispersants were determined for three sections of the Mississippi River below the
confluence with the Ohio River. The dispersants were the specific conductance and an industrial organic compound (trimethyltriazinetrione).
Three models based on the stream tube concept were used, and lateral dispersion coefficients computed from these models were
comparable. Coefficients for the two dispersants also were comparable. Lateral dispersion coefficients were consistent with
expectations based on the characteristics of the river sections. Overall average values were 0.444 m2/s for a relatively straight section of river, 1.69 m2/s for a section containing two sharp bends, and 2.22 m2/s for a long section containing four sharp bends and several small islands. The lateral dispersion coefficients measured
for the Mississippi River are consistent with literature data and a water discharge relation. Results of this study provide
lateral dispersion coefficients for a water discharge not previously reported in the literature as well as new values for
the Mississippi River.
Received 5
June
2003;
accepted 22
March
2004;
published 28
May
2004.
Keywords: lateral diffusion factor;
lateral dispersion coefficient;
large rivers;
stream tube models.
Index Terms: 1871 Hydrology: Surface water quality; 1803 Hydrology: Anthropogenic effects; 1860 Hydrology: Runoff and streamflow.
Read Full Article (file size: 479161 bytes) Cited by
Citation: Rathbun, R. E., and C. E. Rostad
(2004),
Lateral mixing in the Mississippi River below the confluence with the Ohio River,
Water Resour. Res.,
40,
W05207,
doi:10.1029/2003WR002381.
This paper is not subject to U.S. copyright. Published in 2004 by the
American Geophysical Union.
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