Premium
Modeling the Fate and Transport of Plunging Inflows to Onondaga Lake
Author(s) -
Owens Emmet M.,
Effler Steven W.,
O'Donnell David M.,
Matthews David A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/jawr.12130
Subject(s) - tributary , hydrology (agriculture) , inflow , sediment transport , geology , environmental science , seiche , estuary , freshwater inflow , surface runoff , sediment , geomorphology , oceanography , geotechnical engineering , ecology , cartography , geography , biology
The transport and fate of two plunging tributaries, Onondaga and Ninemile Creeks, in Onondaga Lake, New York, are quantified based on application of hydrodynamic/transport models. Short‐term transport is simulated with a three‐dimensional Estuary Lake and Coastal Ocean Model ( ELCOM ), while the longer term fate is represented by a previously validated one‐dimensional model ( UFILS 4). The validation of ELCOM for the vertical distribution of tributary inflow into the lake's water column is demonstrated for four dye tracer experiments. The models are applied for three years to represent the dynamics of transport and fate for the two tributaries, with ELCOM predictions serving as input for UFILS 4. The models together quantify the distribution of these inflows between the upper mixed layer ( UML ) and stratified depths, and the subsequent transport from stratified depths to the UML by vertical mixing. Substantial short‐term variations are predicted for both tributaries in response to variability in hydrology and weather. Increased inflow to the UML is predicted for high runoff periods. The fraction of Ninemile Creek's inflow directly entering the UML is predicted to be 50% greater than for Onondaga Creek due to Ninemile's lower negative buoyancy. The plunging phenomenon has important water quality implications, by reducing the effective loading to the UML , particularly for constituents with large rates of loss/transformation relative to the rate of vertical transport from stratified depths.