title: Using radiotracer techniques for coastal hydrodynamic model evaluation.
abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) water circulation and contaminant transport model of Manila Bay has been developed with the aim of better understanding the formation and movement of harmful algal blooms. Radiotracer techniques were used to evaluate the model by recording the dispersion of a tracer at depths of 2 and 15 m near the injection point. The selected tracer was 99mTc eluted from a molybdenum/technetium medical generator. The rationale for the choice of the tracer and the location of the injection is discussed. At 2 m the transport was dominated by the prevailing winds, and at 15 m by tidally induced currents. The development of the hydrodynamic model and its experimental evaluation were iterative processes. The experimental study confirmed the need for full 3D modelling of Manila Bay; quantified the impact of the prevailing wind field on contaminant dispersion near the injection point; and allowed the calculation of transverse dispersivity to guide the selection of parameter values used in the overall model.
authors.affiliation: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia. ceh@ansto.gov.au
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Airey
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sombrito
mesh_terms: D005068:Eutrophication; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012623:Seawater; D013667:Technetium / Q000032:analysis; D014872:Water Movements
chemical_list: D013667:Technetium