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A note on diffusion from a continuous line source in a time varying flow
Author(s) -
Wilson Robert E.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr015i006p01636
Subject(s) - superposition principle , diffusion , line source , flow (mathematics) , mechanics , transient (computer programming) , field (mathematics) , transient flow , mathematics , mathematical analysis , physics , computer science , meteorology , acoustics , thermodynamics , surge , pure mathematics , operating system
This note describes approximate techniques for calculating the transient concentration field resulting from horizontal diffusion from a continuous source in a time varying flow. Using these techniques, calculations could be performed either by hand or very economically by machine. The analyses are based on a model for two‐dimensional horizontal diffusion in which the field for a continuous source is represented as the superposition of the fields for instantaneous patches; the spread of an instantaneous patch is characterized by a diffusion velocity. The specific case considered is an oscillating flow characteristic of a tidal estuary, but the techniques should be of practical value in the description of concentration fields of passive quantities introduced into a variety of time varying flows.