Bottom Velocity Research Articles

Textural characteristics and facies of sand‐rich contourite depositional systems

AbstractThis work presents a detailed study of CONTOURIBER and Integrated Ocean Drilling Program 339 sediment data targeting sand‐rich contourites in the Eastern Gulf of Cadiz. All of the collected sediments are interpreted as contourites (deposited or reworked by bottom currents) on the basis of oceanographic setting, seismic and morphometric features, and facies characteristics. A variety of sandy and associated facies are found across the study area including: (i) bioturbated muddy contourites; (ii) mottled silty contourites; (iii) very fine mottled and fine‐grained bioturbated sandy contourites; (iv) massive and laminated sandy contourites; and (v) coarse sandy/gravel contourites. The thickest sands occur within contourite channels and there is a marked reduction in sand content laterally away from channels. Complementary to the facies descriptions, grain‐size analysis of 675 samples reveals distinctive trends in textural properties linked to depositional processes under the action of bottom currents. The finest muddy contourites (<20 μm) show normal grain‐size distributions, poor to very poor sorting, and zero or low skewness. These are deposited by settling from weak bottom currents with a fine suspension load. Muddy to fine sandy contourites (20 to 200 μm) trend towards better sorting and initially finer and then coarser skew. These are typical depositional trends for contourites. As current velocity and carrying capacity increase, more of the finest fraction remains in suspension and bedload transport becomes more important. Clean sandy contourites (>200 μm) are better sorted. They result from the action of dominant bedload transport and winnowing at high current speeds. The results highlight the importance of bottom current velocity, sediment supply and bioturbational mixing in controlling contourite facies. Despite growing interest in their hydrocarbon exploration potential, contourite sands have remained poorly understood. This research therefore has important implications for developing current understanding of these deposits and aiding the correct interpretation of deep marine sands and depositional processes.

Three‐Dimensional Sediment Dynamics in Well‐Mixed Estuaries: Importance of the Internally Generated Overtide, Spatial Settling Lag, and Gravitational Circulation

AbstractTo investigate the dominant sediment transport and trapping mechanisms, a semi‐analytical three‐dimensional model is developed resolving the dynamic effects of salt intrusion on sediment in well‐mixed estuaries in morphodynamic equilibrium. As a study case, a schematized estuary with a converging width and a channel‐shoal structure representative for the Delaware estuary is considered. When neglecting Coriolis effects, sediment downstream of the estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) is imported into the estuary through the deeper channel and exported over the shoals. Within the ETM region, sediment is transported seaward through the deeper channel and transported landward over the shoals. The largest contribution to the cross‐sectionally integrated seaward residual sediment transport is attributed to the advection of tidally averaged sediment concentrations by river‐induced flow and tidal return flow. This contribution is mainly balanced by the residual landward sediment transport due to temporal correlations between the suspended sediment concentrations and velocities at the M2 tidal frequency. The M2 sediment concentration mainly results from spatial settling lag effects and asymmetric bed shear stresses due to interactions of M2 bottom velocities and the internally generated M4 tidal velocities, as well as the salinity‐induced residual currents. Residual advection of tidally averaged sediment concentrations also plays an important role in the landward sediment transport. Including Coriolis effects hardly changes the cross‐sectionally integrated sediment balance, but results in a landward (seaward) sediment transport on the right (left) side of the estuary looking seaward, consistent with observations from literature. The sediment transport/trapping mechanisms change significantly when varying the settling velocity and river discharge.

Update on the Global Energy Dissipation Rate of Deep-Ocean Low-Frequency Flows by Bottom Boundary Layer

AbstractThe global dissipation caused by bottom boundary layer drag is one of the major pathways for the consumption of kinetic energy in the deep ocean. However, the spatial distribution and global integral of the drag dissipation are still debatable. This paper presents an updated estimate of the dissipation rate, using the barotropic component of surface geostrophic currents and 632 in situ velocity measurements. Also, the seafloor roughness is proposed as a parameter of drag efficiency in the parameterized method. The results provide a map of the drag dissipation rate with a global integral of ~0.26 TW. Approximately 66% of this dissipation occurs in the Southern Ocean, which is consistent with the proportion of wind power input into this region. Building upon the work in previous studies on the bottom boundary layer drag, more long-period observations are used, eliminating the influence of the baroclinic contribution to the surface geostrophic currents in the construction of the bottom velocity, and taking topographic roughness into account. The estimates have implications for the maintenance of density structure in the deep ocean and understanding of the kinetic energy budget.

Structure Analysis on Artificial Reefs

Most of the artificial reefs that have been developed in the world are the concrete structure. Regarding economical and practical consideration of artificial reefs, Indonesian government - Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries - has proposed a new material to make an artificial habitats including artificial reefs made from polypropylene plastics (PP). However, diminishing approximately 80% of the weight structure compare to concrete structure has created new challenges to maintain the underwater structure with similar function. Moreover, the use of less weight material for artificial reefs structure will have impact on the structure responses.The structure responses due to sea bottom current and tidal stream velocity have been evaluated at several conditions. Dynamic pressure calculation was applied gradually as external load from a simple part to whole complex structure. Stresses and strains occur at some nodes as the structure critical area, within the same time frame, displacement of its elements describe physical characteristic response. Boundary conditions was encastred the sinker- bottom structure (U1 = U2 = U3 = UR1 = UR2 = UR3 = 0). In conclusion, for input of sea bottom current velocity u = 0.2 m/s the results for maximum stress are below the material’s yield stress hence its elasticity is relatively adequate to prevent permanent deformation. The result also showed some critical part of the structure that has high value on stress should be consider as the current velocity increase. Moreover increasing input and frontal area will significantly affect the drag force which will add load on the structure.

Hydraulic Regimes and Downstream Scour at the Kama Hydropower Plant

The article gives the results of investigating the hydraulic regime downstream of the concrete armoring of the lower pool combined with the surface spillways of the powerhouse of the Kama HPP. The investigations were carried out on physical and mathematical models as well as directly on-site. The investigations established the conditions under which occur the most unfavorable effects on elements of the riprap riverbed armor beyond the apron cutoff wall, at the base of the foundation slab of the right-bank abutment, and in the base of the right-bank slope of the tailrace channel, highest near- bottom flow velocities and wave heights during idle discharges, and characteristics of the eddy zone near the right bank. Recommendations on providing further safe operation of the HPP are given.

Laboratory Study on Cross Shore Sediment Budget over Submerged Breakwaters

The objective of this study is to understand the characteristics of the cross-shore sediment transport over the submerged breakwater through quantitative observations of wave breaking, undertow, and the characteristics of near bottom velocity profiles such as skewness, asymmetry around the permeable or impermeable submerged breakwaters. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted in a 2D wave flume with uniformly sloping 1/20 movable bed of uniform sand grains (D50 =0.15 mm). Either permeable or impermeable breakwaters was installed and four regular incident wave conditions were selected so that generated waves cover both daily or stormy wave conditions. Boundary detection technique was used to obtain the temporal and spatial variation of bed profile and then to calculate cross shore sediment transport rate, CTR, from the images captured by multiple high speed and normal video cameras. Tracer particles were used in the experiment and PIV was applied to capture the velocity field around the submerged breakwater. The experimental results indicate that the impermeable breakwater is generally more effective than the permeable breakwater in terms of the reduction of the seaward CTR over the submerged breakwater but the amount of CTR was very sensitive to the breaking point especially in the case of impermeable breakwater. Increase in acceleration skewness caused low CTR in impermeable breakwater case even with a relatively high wave action on the lee of the breakwater.

Analysis of Hydraulic Characteristics and Reduction of Bottom Velocity of Second Stilling Basin

Analysis of Hydraulic Characteristics and Reduction of Bottom Velocity of Second Stilling Basin

An Enhanced Depth-integrated Model for Flows over a Negative Step with Hydraulic Jump

Depth-integrated models play an important role of predicting flows for several practical problems. There are many contributions to develop an enhanced depth-integrated model to have the ability of evaluating vertical flow structures. However, it is still challenging for the depth integrated models to calculate flows over a negative step accompanying a hydraulic jump, because the separation zone behind the step and the pattern of the hydraulic jump depend on the several hydraulic conditions such as Froude number, step height and downstream water depth. In this study, assuming gravel bed rivers in which the bed is covered with relatively large roughness, an enhanced depth integrated model is developed to calculate various hydraulic jump patterns generated downstream from the negative step. The present method is based on General Bottom Velocity Computation method employing Dynamic Wall Law with 4th degree polynomial velocity distribution (GBVC4-DWL). The model with the virtual bed slope behind the negative step and the critical slope of wave breaking is validated through the comparisons with the experimental results on flows over a negative step for submerged jet. weak jump and undular jump conditions. Then the essential terms of equations which compose the present method to calculate the flow downstream of the negative step are investigated.

Numerical simulation of large bubble-rising behavior in nuclear reactor using diffuse interface method

Bubble rising process is a complex and important phenomenon on the nuclear energy safety. Based on the interface diffusion and the finite element method, the shape and velocity of the large bubble rising behavior are simulated. The results agree well with the experiments of the references. It is indicated that the diffuse interface method can correctly simulate the motion characteristics of the bubble. By using this model, the shape, velocity, and oscillation of bubbles with different initial diameters are analyzed during the rising process. Moreover, when the bubble diameter is 15 mm, the variations of shape and velocity during the rising process in different sizes of the channel are also studied. The results show that with the increase of the initial diameter, it takes more time to get the stable shape of the bubble from the ellipsoid to the cap type. The larger initial diameter bubble is, the greater velocity at the top of the bubble. The velocity at the bottom of the bubble increases rapidly at very beginning so that the bottom of the bubble inward depression. Then, the bottom velocity falls back and shocks around the top velocity of the bubble. When the bubble rises in a smaller size channel, the top velocity of the bubble is reduced. The height/width ratio is increased, and it needs more time to get the stable shape.

A multi-proxy analysis of Late Quaternary ocean and climate variability for the Maldives, Inner Sea

Abstract. As a natural sediment trap, the marine sediments of the sheltered central part of the Maldives Inner Sea represent an exceptional archive for paleoenvironmental and climate changes in the equatorial Indian Ocean. To evaluate the complex interplay between high-latitude and monsoonal climate variability, related dust fluxes, and regional oceanographic responses, we focused on Fe ∕ Al, Ti ∕ Al and Si ∕ Ca ratios as proxies for terrigenous sediment delivery and total organic carbon (TOC) and Br XRF counts as proxies for marine productivity. Benthic foraminiferal fauna distributions, grain size and stable δ18O and δ13C data were used for evaluating changes in the benthic ecosystem and changes in the intermediate water circulation, bottom water current velocity and oxygenation. Our multi-proxy data record reveals an enhanced dust supply during the glacial intervals, causing elevated Fe ∕ Al and Si ∕ Ca ratios, an overall coarsening of the sediment and an increasing amount of agglutinated benthic foraminifera. The enhanced dust fluxes can be attributed to higher dust availability in the Asian desert and loess areas and its transport by intensified winter monsoon winds during glacial conditions. These combined effects of wind-induced mixing of surface waters and dust fertilization during the cold phases resulted in an increased surface water productivity and related organic carbon fluxes. Thus, the development of highly diverse benthic foraminiferal faunas with certain detritus and suspension feeders was fostered. The difference in the δ13C signal between epifaunal and deep infaunal benthic foraminifera reveals intermediate water oxygen concentrations between approximately 40 and 100 µmol kg−1 during this time. The precessional fluctuation pattern of oxygen changes resembles that from the deep Arabian Sea, suggesting an expansion of the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) from the Arabian Sea into the tropical Indian Ocean with a probable regional signal of strengthened winter-monsoon-induced organic matter fluxes and oxygen consumption further controlled by the varying inflow intensity of the Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW). In addition, the bottom water oxygenation pattern of the Maldives Inner Sea reveals a long phase of reduced ventilation during the last glacial period. This process is likely linked to the combined effects of generally enhanced oxygen consumption rates during high-productivity phases, reduced AAIW production and the restriction of upper bathyal environments in the Inner Sea during sea-level lowstands. Thus, our multi-proxy record reflects a close linkage between the Indian monsoon oscillation, intermediate water circulation, productivity and sea-level changes on orbital timescale.

CH4 concentrations and fluxes in a subtropical metropolitan river network: Watershed urbanization impacts and environmental controls

Urbanization and greenhouse gas emissions are of great global concern, especially in developing countries such as China. However, little is known about the relationship between the two. In this study, we examined the influences of the urbanization of Chongqing Municipality, which covers an area of 5494km2, in China, on the CH4 emissions of in its metropolitan river network. The results from 84 sampling locations showed an overall mean CH4 concentration of 0.69±1.37μmol·L−1 and a CH4 flux from the river network of 1.40±2.53mmolCH4m−2d−1. The CH4 concentrations and fluxes presented a clear seasonal pattern, with the highest value in the spring and the lowest in the summer. Such seasonal variations were probably co-regulated by the dilution effect, temperature and supply of fresh organic matter by algal blooms. Another important result was that the CH4 concentrations and fluxes increased with the degree of urbanization or the proportion of urban land use, being approximately 3–13 times higher in urban and suburban areas than in rural ones. The total nitrogen, dissolved oxygen (O%) and possible sewage discharge, which could affect the in situ CH4 production and exogenous CH4 input respectively, were important factors that influenced the spatial patterns of CH4 in human-dominated river networks, while the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) could be good predictors of the CH4 emissions in urban watersheds. Hydrologic drivers, including bottom sediment type, flow velocity and river width, were strongly correlated with the CH4 concentrations and could also affect the spatial variance and predict the CH4 hotspots in such metropolitan river networks. With increasing urbanization, we should pay more attention to the increasing greenhouse gas emissions associated with urbanization.

The Prevalence of Oceanic Surface Modes

AbstractSatellite observations have revolutionized oceanography, capturing diverse phenomena over much of the globe. However, it remains to understand how surface fields, like sea surface height, reflect the motion occurring at depth. The vertical structure of ocean eddies is often expressed in terms of “baroclinic modes,” which are basis functions derived assuming a flat ocean bottom. Bathymetry alters the modes though, weakening the bottom velocities. Using analytical solutions, we demonstrate that with realistic bathymetry and/or bottom friction, the bottom velocities are nearly zero. The resulting “surface modes” should be ubiquitous in the ocean. This would explain the dominant mode of variability obtained from globally distributed current meter data and is consistent with energy spectra derived from sea surface height data. The results yield a simple way to infer subsurface velocities from satellite data and suggest that ocean analyses should be made in terms of surface modes and topographic waves.

Extreme bottom velocities induced by wind wave and currents in the Gulf of Gda\u0144sk

The principal goal of this study is to get some preliminary insights about the intensity of water movement generated by wind waves, and due to the currents in the bottom waters of Gulf of Gdańsk, during severe storms. The Gulf of Gdańsk is located in the southern Baltic Sea. This paper presents the results of analysis of wave and current-induced velocities during extreme wind conditions, which are determined based on long-term historical records. The bottom velocity fields originated from wind wave and wind currents, during analysed extreme wind events, are computed independently of each other. The long-term wind wave parameters for the Baltic Sea region are derived from the 44-year hindcast wave database generated in the framework of the project HIPOCAS funded by the European Union. The output from the numerical wave model WAM provides the boundary conditions for the model SWAN operating in high-resolution grid covering the area of the Gulf of Gdańsk. Wind current velocities are calculated with the M3D hydrodynamic model developed in the Institute of Oceanography of the University of Gdańsk based on the POM model. The three dimensional current fields together with trajectories of particle tracers spreading out of bottom boundary layer are modelled, and the calculated fields of bottom velocities are presented in the form of 2D maps. During northerly winds, causing in the Gulf of Gdańsk extreme waves and most significant wind-driven circulation, the wave-induced bottom velocities are greater than velocities due to currents. The current velocities in the bottom layer appeared to be smaller by an order of magnitude than the wave-induced bottom orbital velocities. Namely, during most severe northerly storms analysed, current bottom velocities ranged about 0.1–0.15 m/s, while the root mean square of wave-induced near-seabed velocities reached maximum values of up to 1.4 m/s in the southern part of Gulf of Gdańsk.

Density-driven sinking dynamics of a granular ring in sheared granular flows

This study reports experimental findings on the sinking dynamics of a heavy granular ring caused by the density-driven segregation effect in sheared granular flows. Specifically, this study systematically investigates the influences of the density ratio, shear rate, and solid fraction of the granular material on the sinking behavior of a heavy granular ring. The parameters of the dimensionless sinking depth and sinking rate, respectively, describe the change in the granular ring position and quantify the particle sinking speed. Experimental results show that both the dimensionless sinking depth and the sinking rate increase as the bottom wall velocity (shear rate) and solid fraction increase. The dimensionless sinking depth and the sinking rate also exhibit a linear relation. The dimensionless sinking depth does not increase monotonically as the density ratio increases. The sinking rate increases linearly with the final steady-state sinking depth for the same heavy granular ring structure, regardless of the wall velocity (shear rate), solid fraction, and density ratio.

Preference by juvenile Chinese sucker Myxocyprinus asiaticus, for substrate colour in zero versus slow velocity regimes suggest a change in habitat preference of wild juveniles after damming the Yangtze river

AbstractHabitat preference of benthic riverine juvenile Chinese sucker, Myxocyprinus asiaticus, a protected species in China, is poorly understood. This situation makes it difficult to evaluate the potential impacts on juveniles after river alteration. To better understand the impact of damming, we studied preference of cultured juvenile Chinese sucker (7.90–8.55 cm, standard length) for dark versus light substrate colours in 2 velocity regimes: zero velocity (like on a reservoir bottom) and in a slow water current of 0.15–0.19 cm/s (like on the bottom of a slow flowing stream). In the slow current regime, juveniles chose black substrate during the day and night. This likely represents the natural substrate preference by wild suckers in a river. However, in the zero velocity regime, juveniles chose a black substrate during the day, but switched preference to a white substrate at night. The results suggest wild juveniles in the natural Yangtze River have evolved a preference for a black substrate during the day and night. However, after the river was impounded by the Three Gorges Dam and bottom velocity changed to a static regime, juveniles in the reservoir changed substrate colour preference and now prefer a light‐coloured substrate colour at night. Thus, damming likely caused a major behavioural change by juveniles. The adaptive significance and effect on fitness of this change in habitat preference is not known but should be investigated as wild Chinese sucker continue to decline in abundance.

Doppler sonar measurements of bedload transport: Evaluations using computer models and lab trials

Studies have demonstrated that bottom velocity measurements from Doppler sonar systems are proportional to bedload transport rates. Given the complexity of acoustic backscatter and sidelobe interactions near the bottom boundary, the exact source of this signal is not obvious. We explore this measurement using a computer simulation and a series of laboratory trials. The system that we have developed for these studies, MFDop, is a multi-frequency (1.2-2.2 MHz), bistatic Doppler sonar that provides 3-component velocity profiles over a ~ 30 cm profile with ~5 mm resolution at a rate of 50 profiles/sec. Model simulations show that side-lobe contamination biases the velocity measurements above the bottom but that effect is reduced in the bedload layer itself. We report on tests of our system in field conditions at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL). The SAFL facility provides a 1.8 m deep, 2.75 m wide flume tank. In our trials, we used a 1 m depth flow of about 1 m/s over a mobile bed of sand with median grain size d50 = 0.4 mm. We find agreement between transport estimates determined using the MFDop, the sediment trap system integrated in the SAFL flume, and estimates based on bedform migrations.

Modeling and Observations of Sand Ripple Formation and Evolution During TREX13

Ripples on the seafloor affect acoustic scattering and transmission loss, wave attenuation, and the amount of sediment transported in shallow water. Historically, seafloor roughness (a function of ripples, bedforms, sediment type, and size) is assumed to be spatially homogeneous and temporally static in hydrodynamic and acoustic models despite the often dynamic nature of the seafloor in the nearshore region. We present a spectral ripple model, Navy Seafloor Evolution Archetype (NSEA), which simulates the variations in seafloor roughness given measured or predicted wave conditions in sandy environments. NSEA simulates sand ripple formation and evolution based on bottom velocities either measured or predicted by a wave model. The time dependency is a function of equilibrium ripple geometries and the amount of sediment transport needed to reach an equilibrium state, which is dependent on the relict ripples. Spectral decay due to bioturbation is incorporated as a diffusive process. NSEA was validated with time series observations obtained in water depths of 7.5 and 20 m from April 20, 2013 to May 23, 2013 during the 2013 Target and Reverberation Experiment (TREX13) offshore of Panama City, FL, USA. The model predicted spectral ripple wavelengths that were in good agreement with observed spectral ripple wavelengths obtained using a fixed platform, high-frequency (2.25 MHz) sector scanning sonar. Likewise, the variations in the predicted normalized ripple heights and orientations were similar to the normalized spectral decay and orientations estimated from the sector scanning sonar imagery.

Taxonomy and Stratigraphic Changes of Diatom Resting Spores from DSDP Leg 41, Offshore Northwest African Margin, Based on Nannofossil Biostratigraphy

We reinvestigated the standard calcareous nannofossil and diatom biostratigraphy zonations from Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Leg 41 Holes 366 and 369A in the eastern equatorial Atlantic Ocean in order to determine the geologic ages for the low-latitude diatom zonation. Applying the ages of nannofossil zonations to diatom ones, the ages of several diatom bioevents (first occurrence, FO) which determine the biozones of DSDP Holes 366 and 369A are evaluated as follows; FOs of Baxteriopsis brunii (ca. 38.1 Ma), Coscinodiscus excavatus (ca. 33.6 Ma), Cestodiscus reticulatus (ca. 32.9 Ma), Rocella vigilans (ca. 29.8 Ma), Rossiella symmetrica (ca. 29.5 Ma) and Bogorovia veniamini (ca. 28.3 Ma). These ages may be applicable not only for these holes but also for biostratigraphic studies of other holes which contain Paleogene diatoms. Moreover, this paper describes the taxonomy and stratigraphic ranges of marine diatom Chaetoceros resting spores from DSDP Holes 366 and 369A, including two new morpho-species (Vallodiscus truncatuhis Suto sp. nov. and Xanthioisthmus fortii Suto sp. nov.) and its allied species with synonymy lists, light microscopic observations and several key references for each taxon. As the results of counting of each diatom taxon, it was clear that the sedimentation rate and Chaetoceros resting spore abundances and diversities changed abruptly in the earliest Oligocene (ca. 32 Ma). During the separation of the South American and African continents from the Late Cretaceous to earliest Oligocene, a passage arose that acted for the transfer of Antarctic Bottom Water and modulated the bottom current velocities. The southward bottom water and the passage influenced the sedimentation rate and upwelling of nutrient-rich deeper waters stimulated marine productivity and ecology of Chaetoceros across the late Eocene to early Oligocene.

Contourite identification along Italian margins: The case of the Portofino drift (Ligurian Sea)

A brief review of the published evidence of current deposits around Italy is the occasion to test the robustness of matching bottom current velocity models and seafloor morphologies to identify contourite drifts not yet documented. We present the result of the regional hydrodynamic model MARS3D in the Northern Tyrrhenian and Ligurian Sea with horizontal resolution of 1.2 km and 60 levels with focus on bottom current: data are integrated over summer and winter 2013 as representative of low and high intensity current conditions.The Eastern Ligurian margin is impacted by the Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) with modeled mean velocity of bottom current up to 20 cm s−1 in winter 2013 and calculated bottom shear stress exceeding 0.2 N m−2 in water depth of 400–800 m. By crossing this information with seafloor morphology and geometry of seismic reflections, we identify a sediment drift formerly overlooked at ca 1000 m water depth. The Portofino separated mounded drift has a maximum thickness of at least 150 m and occurs in an area of mean current velocity minimum. Independent evidence to support the interpretation include bottom current modelling, seafloor morphology, seismic reflection geometry and sediment core facies. The adjacent areas impacted by stronger bottom currents present features likely resulted from bottom current erosion such as a marine terrace and elongated pockmarks.Compared to former interpretation of seafloor morphology in the study area, our results have an impact on the assessment of marine geohazards: submarine landslides offshore Portofino are small in size and coexist with sediment erosion and preferential accumulation features (sediment drifts) originated by current-dominated sedimentary processes. Furthermore, our results propel a more general discussion about contourite identification in the Italian seas and possible implications.

Modeling study of three-phase low liquid loading flow in horizontal pipes

A theoretical study is conducted to model the flow characteristics of three-phase stratified wavy flow in horizontal pipelines with a focus on the low liquid loading condition, which is commonly observed in wet gas pipelines. The model predictions are compared to the experimental data of Karami et al. (2016a, b). These experiments were conducted with water or 51 wt% of MEG in the aqueous phase, and inlet aqueous phase fraction values from 0 to100%.Modeling of three-phase flow can be described as a combination of two-phase gas-liquid flow modeling, and a liquid phase oil-water mixing modeling. A mechanistic model is proposed to predict flow characteristics of three-phase stratified wavy flow in pipeline. For the gas-liquid interactions, Watson's (1989) combined momentum balance equation derivation was applied. However, the calculation procedure was reversed, and the wave celerity was assumed as an input, while interfacial friction factor was one of the model's outputs. The liquid-liquid interactions were modeled using a simple energy balance equation and shift in liquid phase center of gravity calculations. The liquid phases can be separated, partially mixed, or fully mixed. The bottom aqueous film velocity was calculated using the law of the wall formulation, and was used to calculate the flowing aqueous phase fraction.The model predictions of different flow characteristics for two and/or three-phase flows were compared with available experimental data. The pressure gradient, wave amplitude, and aqueous phase fraction predictions were in good agreement with the experimental data. However, the liquid holdup predictions were slightly under-predicted by the model. Overall, an acceptable agreement was observed for all cases.Most of the common multiphase stratified flow models are developed with the assumption of steady-state conditions and with constant interfacial friction factor value. This study proposes a novel method to model stratified flow. The predictions are in acceptable agreement with experimental data conducted under stratified wavy flow pattern conditions.