Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed

The Use of SF<sub>6</sub> and GIS to Study Farfield Modeling of Ocean Outfall Plumes in Florida

¹ Florida Atlantic University, Civil Engineering Department, Boca Raton, FL, USA
² Florida Atlantic University, Civil Engineering Department, Boca Raton, FL, USA
³ Florida Atlantic University, Civil Engineering Department, Boca Raton, FL, USA
⁴ Florida Atlantic University, Civil Engineering Department, Boca Raton, FL, USA
⁵ Florida Atlantic University, Civil Engineering Department, Boca Raton, FL, USA
⁶ Florida Atlantic University, Civil Engineering Department, Boca Raton, FL, USA
⁷ Florida Atlantic University, Civil Engineering Department, Boca Raton, FL, USA
⁸ Florida Atlantic University, Civil Engineering Department, Boca Raton, FL, USA
⁹ Florida Atlantic University, Civil Engineering Department, Boca Raton, FL, USA
¹⁰ Florida Atlantic University, Civil Engineering Department, Boca Raton, FL, USA
¹¹ Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Ocean Chemistry Division, Miami, FL, USA
¹² Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Ocean Chemistry Division, Miami, FL, USA
¹³ Applied Research Center (ARC), Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

Journal of Environmental Protection·Volume 05 (2014)·Pages 1037–1052·Published 18 August 2014·DOI10.4236/jep.2014.511103

Abstract

In June, 2004 and February, 2007, in field tracer studies were conducted on the Hollywood and South Central outfalls, using sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) as a tracer. The objective of these studies was to determine if the tracer could be detected in the farfield at significant distance, and if so, could this data be used to construct a model of the farfield plume. Prior models for farfield plume movement do not appear to comport well with the conditions in southeast Florida. Extensive research was conducted in southeast Florida on 4 outfalls, which led to the development of nearfield dilution equations for same. However farfield modeling of outfall plumes was difficult to accomplish because the tracers used are not detectable for significant distances. The SF 6 resolved that problem and as a result the Hollywood outfall was used to construct a model. Two methods were investigated for modeling the plume, 1) the Eureqa formulation method and 2) the Gamma-Curve method. The concentrations in the x-y plane were first found by using the Eureqa formulation to calculate the concentration at each grid point given its depth and the concentration of the centerline at the same latitude. The plume models were generated using MATLAB that matched with the results actually seen in the field.

KeywordsOcean OutfallTreated SewageEffluent DisposalFarfield ModelingSulfur Hexafluoride

Bloetscher, F. and Muniz, A. (2012) Where Is the Power to Treat All the Water? Potential Utility Driven Solutions to the Coming Power-Water Conflict. Florida Water Resource Journal, 64, 32-46.
Johns, G., Leeworthy, V.R., Bell, F.W. and Bonn, M.A. (2003) Socioeconomic Study of Reefs in Southeast Florida. Final Report. Hazen and Sawyer, Hollywood.
Lapointe, B.E. and Bedford, B.J. (2010) Ecology and Nutrition of Invasive Caulerpa brachypus f. parvifolia blOoms on Coral Reefs off Southeast Florida, USA. Harmful Algae, 9, 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2009.06.001
Lapointe, B.E. (1997) Nutrient Thresholds for Bottom-Up Control of Macroalgal Blooms on Coral Reefs in Jamaica and Southeast Florida. Limnol. Oceanogr, 42, 1119-1131. http://dx.doi.org/10.4319/lo.1997.42.5_part_2.1119
Lapointe, B.E., Barile, P.J., Littler, M.M., Littler, D.S., Bedford, B.J. and Gasque, C. (2005) Macroalgal Blooms on Southeast Florida Coral Reefs. I. Nutrient Stoichiometry of the Invasive Green Alga Codium isthmocladum in the Wider Caribbean Indicates Nutrient Enrichment. Harmful Algae, 4, 1092-1105. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2005.06.004
LaPointe, B.E., Barile, P.J., Littler, M.M. and Littler, D.S. (2005) Macroalgal Blooms on Southeast Florida Coral Reefs II. Cross-shelf Discrimination of Nitrogen Sources Indicates Widespread Assimilation of Sewage Nitrogen. Harmful Algae, 4, 1106-1122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2005.06.002
Paul, V.J., Thacker, R., Banks, K. and Golubic, S. (2005) Benthic Cyanobacterial Bloom Impacts on the Reefs of South Florida (Broward County, USA). Coral Reefs, 24, 693-697. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00338-005-0061-x
Banks, K.W., Riegl, B.M., Shinn, E.A., Piller, W.E. and Dodge, R.E. (2007) Geomorphology of the Southeast Florida Continental Reef Track (Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, USA). Coral Reefs, 26, 617-633. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00338-007-0231-0
Lapointe B.E. and Bedford, B.J. (2010) Ecology and Nutrition of Invasive Caulerpa brachypus f. parvifolia Blooms on Coral Reefs off Southeast Florida, USA. Harmful Algae, 9, 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2009.06.001
Zhang, J-Z., Kelble, C.R., Fischer, C.J. and Moore, L. (2008) Hurricane Katrina Induced Nutrient Runoff from an Agricultural Area to Coastal Waters in Biscayne Bay, Florida. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 84, 209-218. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272771409002960

Menu

Menu

Menu

The Use of SF<sub>6</sub> and GIS to Study Farfield Modeling of Ocean Outfall Plumes in Florida

Abstract

References (95)