Numerical Prediction of Thermal-Regime of Rivers

Abstract

The one-dimensional form of the unsteady convection-diffusion equation adequately describes the thermal-regime of rivers for fully mixed flow conditions. In general, it is not easy to develop closed-form solutions of this nonlinear partial parabolic equation. Thus, a numerical solution, based on a predictor-corrector scheme, is developed for this equation, which can be applied for predicting the thermal response of natural and heated rivers under variable meteorological factors and transient thermal discharge and flow conditions. Results of a field investigation conducted in the Mississippi River near Cordova, Ill. during winter are presented, along with a comparison of the measured and predicted steady-state temperature distributions in the river.