Behavior Characteristics of Density Currents Due to Salinity Differences in a 2-D Water Tank

Abstract

In this study, a hydraulic model test, to which Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system applied, was used to determine the hydrodynamic characteristics of the advection-diffusion of saltwater according to bottom conditions (impermeable/permeability, diameter, and inclination) and the difference of the initial salt. Considering quantitative and qualitative results from the experiment, the characteristics of the density current were discussed. As an experimental result, the advection-diffusion mechanism of salinity was examined by the shape of saltwater wedge and the flow structure of density currents with various bottom conditions. The vertical salt concentration obtained from the experiment was used as quantitative data to calculate the diffusion coefficient that was used in the numerical model of the advection-diffusion of saltwater.

Keywords

• Density current
• Advection-diffusion
• Salinity difference
• Particle image velocimetry
• Hydraulic model test