Evaluations of Lagrangian egg drift models: From a laboratory flume to large channelized rivers

Ecological Modelling
By: , and 

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Abstract

To help better interpret computational models in predicting drift of carp eggs in rivers, we present a series of model assessments for the longitudinal egg dispersion. Two three-dimensional Lagrangian particle tracking models, SDrift and FluEgg, are evaluated in a series of channels with increasing complexity. The model evaluation demonstrates that both models are able to accommodate channel complexity and provide a wide range of dispersion coefficients: Kl=0(1 − 100)Hu with H being water depth and u being shear velocity. In a straight channel with Kl=0(1)Hu SDrift predicts weaker longitudinal dispersion than FluEgg in the early stage as a result of weak vertical mixing associated with smooth wall turbulence. With sufficient time, SDrift and FluEgg predict similar egg dispersion, accounting for the differential advection due to the vertical velocity profile. In an idealized curved channel with Kl=0(10)Hu, dispersion is driven by both vertical and transverse velocity profiles. SDrift yields slightly larger dispersion coefficients than FluEgg. In a real river with channel-training structures and having Kl=0(100)Hu SDrift predicts a stronger longitudinal dispersion than FluEgg due to substantial local turbulent eddies and velocity gradients. To summarize, FluEgg shows good performance in capturing dispersion due to vertical velocity profiles and cross-channel velocity gradients. SDrift shows excellent model capabilities of revealing various dispersion mechanisms in addition to the vertical and cross-channel velocity variations. They include the initial turbulent diffusion stage with growing dispersion coefficients and strong dispersion due to in-stream hydraulic structures and localized turbulence.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Evaluations of Lagrangian egg drift models: From a laboratory flume to large channelized rivers
Series title Ecological Modelling
DOI 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.110200
Volume 475
Year Published 2023
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Columbia Environmental Research Center
Description 110200, 11 p.
Country United States
State Missouri
City Lexington
Other Geospatial Missouri River
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