Tidal effect on chemical dispersion in San Diego Bay

Abstract

A coupled hydrodynamic-chemical spill model is used to investigate the chemical spill in the San Diego Bay. The hydrodynamic model shows that the San Diego Bay is tidally dominated. Two different patterns of chemical spill were found with pollutants (methanol, benzene, liquefied ammonia, etc.) released at 0.5 m depth in the northern bay (32 degrees 43’N, 117 degrees 13.05’ W) and in the southern bay (32 degrees 39’N, 117 degrees 07.92’ W). For the north-bay release, the chemical pollutants spreading in the whole basin with a fast speed of spill in the northern part (12 hours) and a slow speed of spill in the southern part (20 days) with very small concentration. For the south-bay release, the chemical pollutants are kept in the southern part. Very few pollutants reach 32 degrees 41’N parallel (the boundary between the north and south bays).