WHOI PO
Hojung You, WHOI - Laboratory-scale Investigations of Particle Transport Dynamics in Aquatic Ecosystems
| Date |
Time |
Location |
| April 22nd, 2025 |
3:05pm-4:05pm |
Clark 201 |
Title: Laboratory-scaleinvestigations of particle transport dynamics in aquatic ecosystems
Abstract: Aquatic ecosystemtransport various types of particulate matter, from plant seeds, fish eggs, anddrifting invertebrates, to particles that can be harmful for aquatic biota,such as plastic debris, including macro-, meso-, and microplastics. Commonobstacles in natural flow such as branches, logs and hydraulic structures areidentified as local hotspots of various types of particles. Hydrodynamicanalysis of these locations will provide a more efficient approach to captureand redirect particles in aquatic systems by predicting particle trajectoriesunder varying flow conditions.
In this talk, we identify flow characteristics thatcreate hotspots of particles, and study the interaction between flow andparticles with various obstacle configurations and particle characteristics ina laboratory setting. The transport mechanisms of particles are analyzed as afunction of spacing between neighboring obstacles, submergence ratio andporosity of obstacles, as well as particle diameter and particle density.Laboratory experiments were conducted on a closed-loop racetrack flume, usingLagrangian Particle Tracking (LPT) to track the transport of particles andParticle Image Velocimetry (PIV) to identify specific mean and turbulentconditions that determine particle retention or redirection. In the final partof the presentation, we briefly introduce ongoing research aimed at extendingthese findings to more ecologically relevant scenarios, including themicroplastic transport in response to flow and feeding currents of Semibalanusbalanoides larvae at varying food conditions.