Heat exchange and transport in the environment. Report No. 14

Abstract

Man's thermal discharges are discussed in the context of earth's overall heat balance. Field data from about 20 lakes, rivers and estuaries are analyzed to demonstrate the validity of a simplified and refined theory of surface heat exchange that combines the heat dissipation roles of evaporation, conduction and back-radiation into a single exchange coefficient. The equilibrium temperature concept is used to permit excess temperatures due to thermal discharges to be identified and analyzed. Manual techniques for estimating diurnal and seasonal fluctuations in water temperatures, including effects of ice cover, are exemplified. The role of longitudinal mixing in recirculated cooling lakes is analyzed and discussed. Various theoretical and empirical formulations for thermal plume shapes and trajectories are analyzed and summarized in terms of a general classification of hydrothermal problems and a unifying characterization of temperature distributions.