A TWO-DIMENSIONAL PARTICLE TRACKING ESTUARINE TRANSPORT MODEL

A two-dimensional particle tracking model is developed for estuarine water quality investigation. The method requires only the solution of a two-dimensional hydrodynamics model and, therefore, is more economical to use than conventional multi-dimensional estuarine transport models. The present model does not consider turbulent diffusion, and it handles only conservative constituents. The model was applied to Humboldt Bay, California, where the flushing of sewage effluent was simulated. The model was applied to evaluate the present release plan, and to determine alternative release plans for limiting the transport of sewage effluent into shellfish producing areas within the Bay.