SOUTHEAST FLORIDA OUTFALL EXPERIMENT (SEFLOE)
Principal Investigator:
DR JOHN PRONI
Collaborating scientist(s):
PAUL DAMMANN
JULES CRAYNOCK
ULISES RIVERO
ALEJANDRA LORENZO
JEFF BUFKIN
JACK STAMATES
Objective:
Measurement of the transport and dispersion of
sewage effluent plumes discharged into the western boundary region of the
Florida Current in the coastal ocean off Miami, Florida. (see Figure one)
Rationale:
The scientific basis for regulatory rule making governing
effluent discharge relies on understanding plume transport and dispersion.
(see Figure two)
Method:
Acoustical backscatter measurements, current measurements,
and biological and chemical sample measurements are used to
determine plume characteristics.
Accomplishment:
Behavior of an effluent plume discharged into the
western boundary region of the Florida Current has been determined.
Rates of plume dilution with distance in the presence of the Florida
Current, during a western meander, and in the absence of the Florida
current, during an offshore movement, have been determined. Discovery of
short period, e.g., 3-8 hour rotary currents (possible supra-tidal
periods), controlling plume transport and dilution has been made.
Spatial and temporal bacterial count measurements have been made and
compared with physical plume dilution. Scientific basis for potential
regulatory "mixing zones" has been established. Acoustically guided
chemical and biological sampling of effluent plumes has been shown to be
highly effective.
Key reference:
Dammann, W.P., Proni, J.R., Craynock, J.F., Fergen, R. Ocean
Wastewater Outfall Plume Characterisics Measured Acoustically.
Chemistry and Ecology, Vol. 5, pp75-84, 1991
Proni, J.R., Huang, H., Dammann, W.P. Initial Dilution of
Southeast Florida Ocean Outfalls. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering,
Vol. 120, No. 12, December 1994. pp 1409-1425
Proni, J.R., Williams, R. Acoustic Measurement of Currents and
Effluent Plume Dilutions in the Western Edge of the Florida Current.
Acoustic Remote Sensing and Application S.P. Singal Ed., 1995
Huang, H., Fergen, R., Proni, J.R., and Tsai, J. Probabilistic
Analysis of Ocean Outfall Mixing Zones. Journal of Environmental
Engineering, accepted for publication, 1995.
Proni, J.R. and Williams, R. Short-Period Current Variations in
the Western Boundary of the Florida Current, to be submitted to
Continental Shelf Research, 1995
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