Towards A Sound Mathematical Description Of The Dispersion Of Pollutants In Mountain Rivers

This Research Will Propose A New Understanding Of Dispersion Processesin Mountain River Systems Through Comparison Of Different Dispersion Expressions, Modelling And Field Experiments. Different Morphological Units Found In Mountain Rivers (Rapids, Step-Pools, Pool-Riffle, Cascades, Coarse Riffle, Etc.) Will Be Study To Propose Dispersion Expressions Useful For A Wide Extent Of Those Morphologies Found In Mountain Reaches And Rivers. Even Though There Are Several Dispersion Studies Around The World, The Available Information For Mountain Rivers Is Scarce And Incomplete. The Study Of Mountain Rivers Is Challenging Due To Its Low Submergences, Large Roughness Elements, Large Gradients And High Turbulences. These Characteristics Leads To Complex Hydraulic Behaviour Which Cause Oscillations In The Mathematical Models Leading To Erroneous Model Results. Therefore, A Comprehensive Hydraulic Model Will Be Adapted/Transformed For Describing The Complex Hydrodynamics Of The Mountain Rivers. Dispersion Will Be Estimated With The "Routing Procedure" Which Requires The Simultaneous Use Of Sensors Upstream And Downstream In The Studied Reach. Besides, Since Dispersion Will Be Well Described, Further Work Will Be Done For Suspended Solids Modelling Considering Only Advection-Dispersion Phenomena. Bod Will Be Modelled Too Representing A Nonconservative Pollutant Where Reaction Terms Are Included.