Prediction of Glossosoma biomass spatial distribution in Valley Creek by field measurements and a three‐dimensional turbulent open‐channel flow model. Issue 3 (12th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morris, M.; Mohammadi, M. Haji; Day, S.; Hondzo, M.; Sotiropoulos, F.
• Is Part Of: Water resources research. Volume 51:Issue 3(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 1457
• Page End: 1471
• Publication Date: 2015-03-12
• Subjects: Hydrology -- Periodicals; 333.91
• DOI: 10.1002/2014WR015887
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1397

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The fluid flow environment associated with high <italic>Glossosoma</italic> abundance is predicted by large‐eddy simulation of a natural turbulent open‐channel flow. The spatial distribution of <italic>Glossosoma</italic> was depicted by high resolution physical variables described by fluid flow and streambed topography. Variogram analysis of the streambed topography revealed a characteristic length scale of the streambed of the order 0.2 m over which bed roughness height was correlated. Flow simulation output was spatially and temporally averaged over the streambed characteristic length scale and linked to <italic>Glossosoma</italic> spatial density. A dimensionless scaling relationship between <italic>Glossosoma</italic> spatial distribution and streamwise velocity averaged in the longitudinal and transverse direction, spatial velocity fluctuation, and spanwise vorticity from the computational fluid dynamics simulation output explained 79% of the variation in observed dimensionless <italic>Glossosoma</italic> spatial density. The analysis demonstrated that computational fluid mechanics and high resolution bed topography could be instrumental in predicting benthic macroinvertebrate spatial distribution in streams and rivers.</p> </abstract>