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Determination of reaeration-rate coefficients of the Wabash River, Indiana, by the modified tracer technique

Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4290
Indiana State Board of Health
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/wri854290

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Abstract

The modified tracer technique was used to determine reaeration-rate coefficients in the Wabash River in reaches near Lafayette and Terre Haute, Indiana, at streamflows ranging from 2,310 to 7,400 cu ft/sec. Chemically pure (CP grade) ethylene was used as the tracer gas, and rhodamine-WT dye was used as the dispersion-dilution tracer. Reaeration coefficients determined for a 13.5-mi reach near Terre Haute, Indiana, at streamflows of 3,360 and 7,400 cu ft/sec (71% and 43% flow duration) were 1.4/day and 1.1/day at 20 C, respectively. Reaeration-rate coefficients determined for a 18.4-mile reach near Lafayette, Indiana, at streamflows of 2,310 and 3,420 cu ft/sec (70% and 53 % flow duration), were 1.2/day and 0.8/day at 20 C, respectively. None of the commonly used equations found in the literature predicted reaeration-rate coefficients similar to those measured for reaches of the Wabash River near Lafayette and Terre Haute. The average absolute prediction error for 10 commonly used reaeration equations ranged from 22% to 154%. Prediction error was much smaller in the reach near Terre Haute than in the reach near Lafayette. The overall average of the absolute prediction error for all 10 equations was 22% for the reach near Terre Haute and 128% for the reach near Lafayette. Confidence limits of results obtained from the modified tracer technique were smaller than those obtained from the equations in the literature. 

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Determination of reaeration-rate coefficients of the Wabash River, Indiana, by the modified tracer technique
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 85-4290
DOI 10.3133/wri854290
Year Published 1985
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Indianapolis, IN
Contributing office(s) Indiana Water Science Center
Description vii, 71 p.
Country United States
State Indiana
Other Geospatial Wabash River
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details