Beletsky, D. ., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, dima.beletsky@noaa.gov
Schwab, D. J., NOAA/GLERL, Ann Arbor, USA, david.schwab@noaa.gov
McCormick, M. J., NOAA/GLERL, Ann Arbor, USA, michael.mccormick@noaa.gov

EVALUATION OF A 3D CIRCULATION MODEL TO PREDICT BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION AT GREAT LAKES BEACHES

We are developing and testing (through carefully designed field experiments) techniques for simulating and forecasting the impact of point source pollutants on near shore water quality in the Great Lakes. A nested grid version of the Princeton Ocean Model for the Great Lakes was applied to the coastal area in southern Lake Michigan. The model uses 3D boundary conditions derived from the whole-lake hydrodynamic model to simulate circulation in a small coastal area at very high (100 m) horizontal resolution in 2005. Model results are tested with current observations and data from tracer release experiment in the vicinity of Burns Ditch, Indiana. This tributary to Lake Michigan is known to contain high levels of coliform bacteria and is adjacent to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. In the tracer experiment, the inert gas sulfur hexafluoride was introduced into the tributary and the plume was tracked using a shipboard-based gas chromatography system for several days after the release, and also with a 3D particle transport model applied during the same period.

Oral presentation

Presentation is given by student: No
Session #:120
Date: 03-03-2008
Time: 16:30