Turbulent Diffusion Coefficient Research Articles

A one-dimensional urban flow model with an eddy-diffusivity mass-flux (EDMF) scheme and refined turbulent transport (MLUCM v3.0)

Abstract. In recent years, urban canopy models (UCMs) have been used as fully coupled components of mesoscale atmospheric models as well as offline tools to estimate temperature and surface fluxes using atmospheric forcings. Examples include multi-layer urban canopy models (MLUCMs), where the vertical variability of turbulent fluxes is calculated by solving prognostic momentum and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE, k) using mixing length scale (l) and drag parameterizations. These parameterizations are based on the well-established 1.5-order k−l turbulence closure theory and are often informed by microscale fluid dynamics simulations. However, this approach can include simplifications such as assuming the same diffusion coefficient for momentum, TKE, and scalars. In addition, the dispersive stresses arising from spatially averaged flow properties have been parameterized together with the turbulent fluxes despite being controlled by different mechanisms. Both of these assumptions impact the quantification of the turbulent exchange of flow properties and subsequent air temperature predictions in urban canopies. To assess these assumptions and improve corresponding parameterization, we analyzed 49 large-eddy simulations (LES) for idealized urban arrays, encompassing variable building height distributions and a comprehensive range of urban densities (λp∈[0.0625,0.64]) seen in global cities. We find that the efficiency of turbulent transport (numerically described via diffusion coefficients) is similar for scalars and momentum but is 3.5 times higher for TKE. Additionally, parameterizing the dispersive momentum flux using the k−l closure was a source of error, while scaling with the pressure gradient and urban morphological parameters appears more appropriate. In response to these findings, we propose two changes to the previous version of MLUCM: (a) separate characterization for turbulent diffusion coefficient for momentum and TKE and (b) introduction of an explicit physics-based “mass-flux” term to represent the fraction of the dispersive momentum transport directly induced from buildings as an amendment to the existing “eddy-diffusivity” framework. The updated one-dimensional model, after being tuned for building height variability, is further compared against the original LES results and demonstrates improved performance in predicting vertical turbulent exchange in urban canopies.

Evaluation of multi-layer urban canopy model (MLUCM) for urban microclimate predictions at different urban contexts

Modeling tools are often used to obtain a better understanding of the characteristics of urban microclimates. Among the different approaches to physics-based modeling, urban canopy models tend to be computationally faster than computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. However, the evaluation of current urban canopy models for different urban characteristics is still limited, especially for wind speed. This study aims to evaluate the potential usability of the existing urban canopy model for microclimate variable prediction in different urban contexts, specifically the vertical city weather generator (VCWG) v1.4.5, which can predict microclimate variables at different vertical heights. The measurement data used in model evaluation were obtained from 248 weather stations in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The results showed that among the input parameters, a few variables had significant impact on the wind speed prediction results, namely, the turbulent coefficient during unstable conditions, the pressure gradient coefficient, and the aerodynamic roughness length. The discrepancy in wind-speed prediction tended to be lower during the summer season, with lower wind speeds at the rural weather station. Further investigations also addressed the significant parameters of wind speed prediction related to the calculation of the turbulent diffusion coefficient and pressure gradient.

Angular momentum and chemical transport by azimuthal magnetorotational instability in radiative stellar interiors

Context. The transport of angular momentum and chemical elements within evolving stars remains poorly understood. Asteroseismic and spectroscopic observations of low-mass main sequence stars and red giants reveal that their radiative cores rotate orders of magnitude slower than classical predictions from stellar evolution models and that the abundances of their surface light elements are too small. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence is considered a primary mechanism to enhance the transport in radiative stellar interiors but its efficiency is still largely uncertain. Aims. We explore the transport of angular momentum and chemical elements due to azimuthal magnetorotational instability, one of the dominant instabilities expected in differentially rotating radiative stellar interiors. Methods. We employed 3D MHD direct numerical simulations in a spherical shell of unstratified and stably stratified flows under the Boussinesq approximation. The background differential rotation was maintained by a volumetric body force. We examined the transport of chemical elements using a passive scalar. Results. We provide evidence of magnetorotational instability for purely azimuthal magnetic fields in the parameter regime expected from local and global linear stability analyses. Without stratification and when the Reynolds number Re and the background azimuthal field strength are large enough, we observed dynamo action driven by the instability at values of the magnetic Prandtl number Pm in the range 0.6 − 1, which is the smallest ever reported in a global setup. When considering stable stratification at Pm = 1, the turbulence is transitional and becomes less homogeneous and isotropic upon increasing buoyancy effects. The transport of angular momentum occurs radially outward and is dominated by the Maxwell stresses when stratification is large enough. We find that the turbulent viscosity decreases when buoyancy effects strengthen and scales with the square root of the ratio of the reference rotation rate Ωa to the Brunt–Väisälä frequency N. The chemical turbulent diffusion coefficient scales with stratification similarly to the turbulent viscosity, but is lower in amplitude so that the transport of chemicals is slower than the one of angular momentum, in agreement with recent stellar evolution models of low-mass stars. Conclusions. We show that the transport induced by azimuthal magnetorotational instability scales somewhat slowly with stratification and may enforce rigid rotations of red giant cores on a timescale of a few thousand years. In agreement with recent stellar evolution models of low-mass stars, the instability transports chemical elements less efficiently than angular momentum.

Simplified models of aerosol collision and deposition for disease transmission

Fluid-mechanics research has focused primarily on droplets/aerosols being expelled from infected individuals and transmission of well-mixed aerosols indoors. However, aerosol collisions with susceptible hosts earlier in the spread, as well as aerosol deposition in the nasal cavity, have been relatively overlooked. In this paper, two simple fluid models are presented to gain a better understanding of the collision and deposition between a human and aerosols. The first model is based on the impact of turbulent diffusion coefficients and air flow in a room on the collisions between aerosols and humans. Infection rates can be determined based on factors such as air circulation and geometry as an infection zone expands from an infected host. The second model clarifies how aerosols of different sizes adhere to different parts of the respiratory tract. Based on the inhalation rate and the nasal cavity shape, the critical particle size and the deposition location can be determined. Our study offers simple fluid models to understand the effects of geometric factors and air flows on the aerosol transmission and deposition.

Comprehensive evaluation of typical planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization schemes in China – Part 1: Understanding expressiveness of schemes for different regions from the mechanism perspective

Abstract. The optimal choice of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization scheme is of particular interest and urgency to a wide range of scholars, especially for many works involving models. At present, there have been many works to evaluate the PBL schemes. However, little research has been conducted into a more comprehensive and systematic assessment of the performance capability of schemes in key regions of China, especially when it comes to the differences in the mechanisms of the schemes themselves, primarily because there is scarcely sufficient observational data, computer resources, and storage support to complete the work. In this companion paper (i.e., Part 1), four typical schemes (i.e., YSU, ACM2, BL, and MYJ) are selected to systematically analyze and evaluate near-surface meteorological parameters, PBL vertical structure, PBL height (PBLH), and turbulent diffusion coefficient (TDC) in five key regions of China (i.e., North China Plain, NCP; Yangtze River Delta, YRD; Sichuan Basin, SB; Pearl River Delta, PRD and Northwest Semi-arid region, NS) in different seasons (i.e., January, April, July, and October). The differences in the simulated 2 m temperatures between the nonlocal closure schemes are mainly affected by the downward shortwave radiation, but to compare the nonlocal closure schemes with the local closure schemes, the effect of sensible heat flux needs to be further considered. The 10 m wind speed is under the influence of factors like the momentum transfer coefficient and the integrated similarity functions at night. The wind speeds are more significantly overestimated in the plains and basin, while less overestimated or even underestimated in the mountains, as a result of the effect on topographic smoothing in the model. Moreover, the overestimation of small wind speeds at night is attributable to the inapplicability of the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (MOST) at night. The model captures the vertical structure of temperature well, while the wind speed is outstandingly overestimated below 1000 m, largely because of the TDC. The difference between the MOST and the mixing length theory, PBLH, and Prandtl number is cited as the reason for the difference between the TDC of the YSU and ACM2 schemes. The TDCs of the BL and MYJ schemes are affected by the mixing length scale, which of BL is calculated on the basis of the effect of buoyancy, while MYJ calculates it with the consideration of the effect of the total turbulent kinetic energy. The PBLH of the BL scheme is better than the other schemes because of the better simulation results of temperature. In general, to select the optimal scheme, it is necessary to offer different options for different regions with different focuses (heat or momentum). The first focus is on the temperature field. The BL scheme is recommended for January in the NCP region, especially for Beijing, and the MYJ scheme is better for the other 3 months. The ACM2 scheme would be a good match for the YRD region, where the simulation differences between the four schemes are small. The topography of the SB region is more complex, but for most of the areas in the basin, the MYJ scheme is proposed, and if more stations outside the basin are involved, the BL scheme is recommended. The MYJ scheme is applied to the PRD region in January and April, and the BL scheme in July and October. The MYJ scheme is counseled for the NS region. The second focus is the wind field. The YSU scheme is recommended if the main concern is the near-surface layer, and the BL scheme is suggested if focusing on the variation in the vertical direction. The final evaluation of the parameterization scheme and uncertainties will lay the foundation for the improvement of the modules and forecasting of the GRAPES_CUACE regional model developed independently in China.

Aeration strength analysis of overflow weir in siphon well based on numerical simulation of water–air two‐phase flow

AbstractThe phenomenon of water aeration is serious after the overflow weir in the siphon well at the cooling water circulation system of coastal power plants. At present, designing special hydraulic structures is an effective way to reduce the intensity of aeration. In this paper, three engineering structure schemes were designed, and the three‐dimensional Realizable k–ε turbulence model was used. The volume of fluid method was introduced to capture the free water surface, and the unstructured grid was used to construct the two‐phase turbulent flow field. The aeration concentration and pressure distribution, obtained by numerical simulation, were basically consistent with the physical model test results. The results showed that the flow field at the orifice plates of cases 1 and 2 changed drastically, and the turbulent kinetic energy downstream of the orifice plate decreased with the increase of the number of holes. As for case 3, it showed that the high‐speed water flow fell into the water cushion pool, tumbling and sucking up a lot of air, and the turbulent kinetic energy and Reynolds stress were significantly greater than the other two cases. The hydraulic structure changed the cavitation characteristics of the downflow water, and the sequence of aeration concentration of the horizontal section was case 3 > case 1 > case 2. The aeration concentration was only 9.18%–17.86% in case 2. The aeration concentration at stable time is expressed as a function of the relative water depth y/y90 and the turbulent diffusion coefficient D. The distribution formula of aeration concentration was established, and its validity was verified by literatures. The results of this study will provide a certain reference for in‐depth analysis of water–air mixing motion characteristics, and simultaneously, it will have a guiding significance for the design of siphon well defoaming engineering.

Transition from undular jump to breaking jump

ABSTRACTIn the present study, a one-dimensional governing equation with a vertical acceleration term is used to analyse the free surface profile of various types of jumps. Initially, the surface profile of various types of jumps are reproduced analytically by using a suitable eddy diffusivity term. The approximations of the surface profile for various jumps are then verified numerically. Based on the comparisons, an empirical relationship between the Froude number and the turbulent diffusivity coefficient is established. The proposed empirical relationship is used in the governing equation to compute the various jumps, where an implicit two dimensional flow is assumed. The obtained results are compared with the experimental data to assure the transition of flow from undular jump to breaking jump. The comparisons of numerical results of wave profiles, pressure distribution, wave length and wave amplitude with the existing experimental data for various Froude numbers indicated the suitability of the proposed empirical relationship. Finally, the transitions of flow from undular jump to breaking hydraulic jump are discussed.

Experimental study of turbulent thermal diffusion of particles in an inhomogeneous forced convective turbulence

We investigate experimentally the phenomenon of turbulent thermal diffusion of micrometer-size solid particles in an inhomogeneous convective turbulence forced by one vertically oriented oscillating grid in an air flow. This effect causes the formation of large-scale inhomogeneities in particle spatial distributions in a temperature-stratified turbulence. We perform detailed comparisons of the experimental results with those obtained in our previous experiments with an inhomogeneous and anisotropic stably stratified turbulence produced by a one oscillating grid in the air flow. Since the buoyancy increases the turbulent kinetic energy for convective turbulence and decreases it for stably stratified turbulence, the measured turbulent velocities for convective turbulence are larger than those for stably stratified turbulence. This tendency is also seen in the measured vertical integral turbulent length scales. Measurements of temperature and particle number density spatial distributions show that particles are accumulated in the vicinity of the minimum of the mean temperature due to the phenomenon of turbulent thermal diffusion. This effect is observed in both convective and stably stratified turbulence, where we find the effective turbulent thermal diffusion coefficient for micrometer-size particles. The obtained experimental results are in agreement with theoretical predictions.

Turbulent dispersion of a passive scalar in a smooth-wall turbulent boundary layer

The scalar dispersion of a ground-level point-source plume in a smooth-wall turbulent boundary layer is experimentally investigated using simultaneous particle image velocimetry and planar laser-induced fluorescence techniques. In the near-source region, the viscous sublayer is observed to trap dye, while in the far field, the half-width, vertical profiles and peak decay of the mean concentration and concentration variance exhibit self-similar behaviour and collapse with empirical relations. Full two-dimensional maps of the turbulent scalar fluxes show a net transport direction of upward and towards the incoming flow, with the vertical profiles collapsing well with Weibull-type exponential functions and the decay of peaks following power laws. Using the first-order gradient transport to model the turbulent scalar fluxes, maps of the anisotropic turbulent diffusivity tensor and an effective turbulent diffusivity coefficient are calculated. The streamwise and wall-normal turbulent scalar fluxes are driven dominantly by the wall-normal concentration gradient. The turbulent Schmidt number, relating the turbulent diffusivity and the turbulent (eddy) viscosity calculated using the Boussinesq hypothesis, varies with wall-normal position with values of the order of unity in the logarithmic layer.

Turbulent Diffusion Effect on PM2.5 Concentration above an Urban Canopy

Abstract Turbulent diffusion played a role in mixing the pollutants that caused instability in the atmospheric boundary layer by analyzing the features of turbulent transfer, diffusion coefficients of momentum (km) and heat (kh), and the shape of universal functions of PM2.5. Observation of turbulence measured by 3D ultrasonic anemometer for one week in both January and July 2016, in Baghdad, Iraq. K and PM2.5 concentrations had a strong inverse relationship under three atmospheric stabilities: unstable, neutral, and stable conditions, this indicated that turbulent diffusion’s impact was significant during the observed period. According to the comparisons between Km and Kh, the strength of the turbulent exchange of PM2.5 concentration at stations may be weaker or stronger than the strength of the turbulent momentum and heat exchange. Finally, the result shows the turbulent diffusion coefficient by heat Kh was larger than the turbulent diffusion coefficient by momentum Km.

Solute cloud evolution in channels with suspended vegetation of different configurations

Suspended vegetation's ability to handle solute accumulation in natural waters through their roots has sparked significant interest and research in using them to improve water quality. This research semi-analytically investigates the unsteady solute cloud evolution in channels with suspended vegetation after the point source release on the water surface, by solving the solute transport model with spatially variable flow field coefficients. Results show that regardless of gap ratio (the ratio of the height of the gap region to the water depth) and vegetation density, the solute cloud evolution in the preasymptotic stage (the dimensionless time ⟨Dz*⟩t*/h*2<1, where ⟨Dz*⟩ is the depth-averaged vertical turbulent diffusion coefficient. t* is the time, and h* is water depth.) can be featured by: the cloud centroid shifts upstream; the longitudinal dispersion coefficient increases; the solute cloud is positively skewed; and the solute accumulates in the vegetation layer on the upstream side and the bottom boundary layer on the downstream side. At around ⟨Dz*⟩t*/h*2∼1, the cloud centroid position and the longitudinal dispersion coefficient approach their asymptotic values, and the solute cloud is basically considered to follow the normal distribution longitudinally. In terms of the influences of configurations on the solute cloud during the whole dispersion process, the cloud centroid moves faster and reaches a farther asymptotic location due to a more serious blockage effect for a smaller gap ratio or larger vegetation density. In addition, a small gap ratio enhances the skewness and kurtosis of the cloud, while the vegetation density has little effect on them. Benefiting from the combined action of the violent velocity shear and the strong shear-scale diffusion which dominates the vertical mixing, the smallest gap ratio or highest vegetation density promotes the vertical mixing and yields the largest asymptotic longitudinal dispersion coefficient. Consequently, the vertical concentration distribution is the most uniform and the longitudinal concentration distribution is the flattest in these two cases.

The Experience in Drone Use to Evaluate the Coefficients of Turbulent Diffusion in Small Water Bodies

The Experience in Drone Use to Evaluate the Coefficients of Turbulent Diffusion in Small Water Bodies

Stabilization of trapped electron mode through effective diffusion in electron temperature gradient turbulence

Multi-scale gyrokinetic theory and simulations of a toroidal magnetized plasma have revealed the existence of cross-scale interactions of the trapped electron mode (TEM) and the electron temperature gradient (ETG) turbulence. Reduction of the TEM instability growth rate in the ETG turbulence is clearly identified, and is well represented in the form of effective diffusion. A theoretical model based on the stochastic forcing by the ETG turbulence well describes the turbulent diffusion coefficient observed in multi-scale turbulence simulations.

The Experience in Drone Use to Evaluate the Coefficients of Turbulent Diffusion in Small Water Bodies

Small lakes and reservoirs located in the zone of active technogenesis are subject to the risk of various emergency situations. The present-day computer technologies, including hydrodynamic computation modules, can be used to effectively estimate and forecast their consequences with the aim to minimize the adverse effect. These models require evaluating the coefficients of horizontal diffusion. The theoretical analysis of such processes is very difficult because of their specifics. Studies aimed at evaluating these coefficients in Russia and other countries are very few, even under the assumption of their homogeneity and isotropy. The modern measurement technologies involving the use of pilotless vehicles, make such studies much simpler. The article discusses the significance of such studies, the technology of their performance, and the results obtained for the Verkhne-Zyryansk Reservoir. A field experiment with the use of eight floats yielded an average estimate of the coefficient of horizontal turbulent diffusion equal to 0.012 m2/s. The specific features of the obtained results are discussed.

Convective and Turbulent Motions in Nonprecipitating Cu. Part III: Characteristics of Turbulence Motions

Abstract Velocity field in a nonprecipitating Cu under BOMEX conditions, simulated by SAM with 10-m resolution and spectral bin microphysics is separated into the convective part and the turbulent part, using a wavelet filtering. In Part II of the study properties of convective motions of this Cu were investigated. Here in Part III of the study, the parameters of cloud turbulence are calculated in the cloud updraft zone at different stages of cloud development. The main points of this study are (i) application of a fine-scale LES model of a single convective cloud allowed a direct estimation of turbulence parameters using the resolved flow in the cloud and (ii) the separation of the resolved flow into the turbulence flow and the nonturbulence flow allowed us to estimate different turbulent parameters with sufficient statistical accuracy. We calculated height and time dependences of the main turbulent parameters such as turbulence kinetic energy (TKE), spectra of TKE, dissipation rate, and the turbulent coefficient. It was found that the main source of turbulence in the cloud is buoyancy whose contribution is described by the buoyancy production term (BPT). The shear production term (SPT) increases with height and reaches its maximum near cloud top, and so does BPT. In agreement with the behavior of BPT and SPT, turbulence in the lower cloud part (below the inversion level) is weak and hardly affects the processes of mixing and entrainment. The fact that BPT is larger than SPT determines many properties of cloud turbulence. For instance, the turbulence is nonisotropic, so the vertical component of TKE is substantially larger than the horizontal components. Another consequence of the fact that BPT is larger than STP manifests itself in the finding that the turbulence spectrum largely obeys the −11/5 Bolgiano–Obukhov scaling. The classical Kolmogorov −5/3 scaling dominates for the low part of a cloud largely at the dissolving stage of cloud evolution. Using the spectra obtained we evaluated an “effective” dissipation rate which increases with height from nearly zero at cloud base up to 20 cm2 s−3 near cloud top. The coefficient of turbulent diffusion was found to increase with height and ranged from 5 m2 s−1 near cloud base to 25 m2 s−1 near cloud top. The possible role of turbulence in the process of lateral entrainment and mixing is discussed. Significance Statement 1) This study investigates the turbulent structure of Cu using a 10-m-resolution LES model with spectral bin microphysics, 2) the main source of turbulence is buoyancy, 3) turbulence in cumulus clouds (Cu) is nonisotropic, 4) turbulence reaches maximum intensity near cloud top, 5) turbulence spectrum obeys largely the −11/5 Bolgiano–Obukhov scaling, and 6) the main turbulent parameters are evaluated.

Turbulent heating in a stratified medium

ABSTRACT There is considerable evidence for widespread subsonic turbulence in galaxy clusters, most notably from Hitomi. Turbulence is often invoked to offset radiative losses in cluster cores, both by direct dissipation and by enabling turbulent heat diffusion. However, in a stratified medium, buoyancy forces oppose radial motions, making turbulence anisotropic. This can be quantified via the Froude number Fr, which decreases inward in clusters as stratification increases. We exploit analogies with MHD turbulence to show that wave–turbulence interactions increase cascade times and reduce dissipation rates ϵ ∝ Fr. Equivalently, for a given energy injection/dissipation rate ϵ, turbulent velocities u must be higher compared to Kolmogorov scalings. High-resolution hydrodynamic simulations show excellent agreement with the ϵ ∝ Fr scaling, which sets in for Fr ≲ 0.1. We also compare previously predicted scalings for the turbulent diffusion coefficient D ∝ Fr2 and find excellent agreement, for Fr ≲ 1. However, we find a different normalization, corresponding to stronger diffusive suppression by more than an order of magnitude. Our results imply that turbulent diffusion is more heavily suppressed by stratification, over a much wider radial range, than turbulent dissipation. Thus, the latter potentially dominates. Furthermore, this shift implies significantly higher turbulent velocities required to offset cooling, compared to previous models. These results are potentially relevant to turbulent metal diffusion in the galaxy groups and clusters (which is likewise suppressed), and to planetary atmospheres.

Экспериментальное исследование и моделирование процесса формирования взрывоопасных концентраций

Excess pressure is the main indicator characterizing the magnitude of explosive loads during emergency gas explosions. The value of this parameter and the entire accident scenario as a whole directly depend on the concentration of gas entering the room. Any typical room is characterized by the presence of two processes: laminar and turbulent diffusion. The laminar diffusion coefficient depends on the main characteristics of the gas (pressure, temperature). The laminar diffusion coefficient depends on the main characteristics of the gas (pressure, temperature). The coefficient of turbulent diffusion is determined only by the turbulent structure of the considered medium. It is established that the incomplete vortex mixing of gas with air is sufficient for flame propagation. This indicates the importance of studying the process of turbulent diffusion from the point of view of the formation of explosive gas-air mixtures. The purpose of the study is the experimental and computational determination of the coefficient of methane turbulent diffusion. This characteristic is required to assess the state of the gas-air environment in the room. It can be used in the development of explosion prevention measures, for example, in the design of a ventilation system. The study of the process of formation of explosive concentrations was carried out on the basis of an experiment and subsequent comparison of its results with a calculation model. In the course of the studies, it was established that the coefficient of turbulent diffusion, due to which explosive mixtures are formed, exceeds the coefficient of molecular diffusion by two orders of magnitude or more and is at least 4∙10–3 m2/s. The applied mathematical model and calculation scheme adequately describe the course of the experiments. Determination of the turbulent diffusion coefficient will allow assessing the state of the gas-air environment in the room and determining the required measures to prevent a possible emergency explosion.

Dependence of water drop settling speed on turbulent diffusion coefficient in oil and modeling of physical processes

Dependence of water drop settling speed on turbulent diffusion coefficient in oil and modeling of physical processes

Modeling the dynamics of fine dust fraction in the surface layer of the atmosphere

We investigated the operating conditions of excavator equipment, leading to unsteady dynamics of dust far from the pollution source. Wind transport of dust takes into account the non-uniform vertical wind profile. Diffusion movement is also determined by the inhomogeneous coefficient of turbulent diffusion with a nonmonotonic dependence on height. The Earth’s surface is given by a digital elevation model, which allows calculations for a specific area with complex topography. Vertical inhomogeneities of wind and turbulence significantly change the nature of the spatial distributions of dust particles. Our approach makes it possible to determine changes in the disperse composition of particles with distance from the dust source.

Evaluation of a random displacement model for scalar mixing in ecological channels partially covered with vegetation.

The flow structure in natural rivers may change due to the disturbance of vegetation, further affecting the transport of pollutants and sediment (Liu et al. 2020). In this paper, the random displacement model (RDM) is presented to study the material transport in the emergent vegetated flow by predicting the longitudinal dispersion coefficient (LDC), which plays an important role in the longitudinal transport of pollutants in natural rivers covered by emergent vegetation. RDM can be applied for the analysis of the vegetated flow provided that the velocity distribution and the turbulent diffusion coefficient distribution remain known. According to the experimental data on velocity and Reynolds stress, the flow field was divided into four sub-zones along the cross-sectional area where the transverse distribution of the longitudinal velocity and also transverse turbulent diffusion coefficient were determined. Moreover, the simulated results of the longitudinal dispersion coefficient were verified by using the previously measured data. In addition, the sensitivity analysis of RDM parameters was carried out. In comparison with the shear layer width and the velocity difference, the impact of vegetation zone width on the longitudinal dispersion coefficient was greater, but the model was fundamentally stable, further confirming that the analytical model can be reliable for predicting the longitudinal dispersion coefficient in the vegetated open-channel flow. Accurately estimating the longitudinal dispersion coefficient is useful for understanding the transport and fate of pollutants in river channels and, thereby, for exploring the sustainable development of the river ecological environment, as well as optimizing the planning and design of river course.