A Numerical Study on the Spread of a Pollutant in a Coastal Environment

Abstract

The movement of pollutants in a coastal environment can be represented with a numerical model that solves the advection-diffusion-reaction equation using a split operator technique. The advection portion of the equation is solved using second-order wave equation method for advective calculation, and the diffusion portion is solved using a three-level locally implicit scheme. The accuracy of the model is verified by applying it to a simple but significant problem. The results produced by the model agree with available analytical solutions. The model is finally applied to a contaminant dispersed in a real coastal environment.

Keywords:

• advection
• diffusion
• second-order wave equation method for advective calculation
• split operator
• three-level implicit scheme