Estimation of seasonal variation in longitudinal dispersion coefficient for a

natural stream

Coefficient of longitudinal dispersion is one of the most important parameters required to

analyze the fate of a pollutant in a natural stream. A large number of researchers have
contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms of longitudinal dispersion in rivers,
beginning with the simplest dispersion of dissolved contaminants in pipe flow. Later, the
concept of dispersion was extended to the mixing in open channels and further to natural
streams. Many theoretical and empirical formulations have been proposed to determine the
longitudinal dispersion coefficient.

This paper presents a study on estimation of seasonal variation in longitudinal dispersion

coefficient for a small stretch of a natural stream. The Paper also reviews various models
available in literature for prediction of longitudinal dispersion coefficient. From amongst the
models reviewed, four models have been compared for their performance using observed
data. Fitness of models has been tested using the observed dispersion coefficient as available
in literature. These observed dispersion coefficients have been obtained mainly through field
tests by applying a tracer element in the stream. Data corresponding to various natural
streams has been used for this purpose.

Estimates of coefficient of longitudinal dispersion at different cross-sectional locations

obtained through this study should provide a better estimate of water quality parameters at
various locations in the stretch of river Yamuna under study.