Dispersion of Pollutants in the Strait of Canso1

Abstract

By using the method of successive approximations, the one‐dimensional diffusion equation was solved for the distribution of pollutant from an instantaneous point source in a semi‐infinite body of water under the influence of wind‐generated waves. The solution was obtained with the aid of an expression developed in this study to relate the dispersion coefficient to wind speed, characteristics of a wind‐generated wave, and drift current velocities. The results indicate that the wave causes the local concentration to oscillate with respect to time around a mean concentration distribution curve. The period of the oscillation is about that of the wave, and its amplitude is always less than 7 percent of the mean. The effect of a chemical reaction is to reduce the level of pollutant concentration, the magnitude of the reduction being dependent upon both the rate constant and the order of reaction. The case of simultaneous dumping of one pollutant at different sites was also considered.