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Modeling the transport and distribution of lead in tidal Keelung River estuary

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Abstract

A vertical, two-dimensional heavy metal (lead) transport model incorporated into the hydrodynamic, salt, and sediment transport modules was developed to simulate the lead concentration in the tidal Keelung River estuary of northern Taiwan. We validated the developed model with measured data, including longitudinal velocity, salinity, suspended sediment, and heavy metal (lead) concentration, obtained in 1998. An exponential relationship relating the salinity and suspended-sediment concentrations was established to calculate the partition coefficient of lead in the estuary. The simulated results of dissolved, particulate, and total lead concentrations agreed well with the measured data. A model sensitivity analysis indicated that the partition coefficient plays an important role in the distribution of dissolved and particulate lead concentrations along the tidal Keelung River estuary.

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Acknowledgments

The project under which this study was conducted was supported by the National Science Council, Taiwan, under grant No. NSC 98-2625-M-239-001. The authors would like to express their appreciation to the Taiwan Water Resources Agency and the Environmental Protection Administration for providing the measured data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Disaster Prevention Engineering, National United University, 1 Lien Da, Kung-Ching Li, Miao-Li, 36003, Taiwan

    Wen-Cheng Liu

  2. Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan

    Wei-Bo Chen

  3. National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction, Sindian City, Taipei, 23143, Taiwan

    Yu-Pei Chang

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  1. Wen-Cheng Liu
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  2. Wei-Bo Chen
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  3. Yu-Pei Chang
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Correspondence to Wen-Cheng Liu.

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Liu, WC., Chen, WB. & Chang, YP. Modeling the transport and distribution of lead in tidal Keelung River estuary. Environ Earth Sci 65, 39–47 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1063-3

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