Effects and Fates of Hazardous Chemicals Released to the Environment - Module 2

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Surface Waters Processes

This module contains 6 separate lectures that briefly review specific surface water processes that are relevant to spills involving hazardous materials. The following main topics are covered: transport and mixing in rivers and lake, tracer experiments, lake stratification, concentration decreases after end of discharge due to flushing and decay, effects of duration of releases on concentrations, air-water exchange, particle settling, volatilization, acid-base chemistry, energy flow in aquatic ecosystems, redox reactions, biodegradation, bioaccumulation, photodegradation, and hydrolysis. A number of selected example problems illustrate how these processes affect the fates and effects of discharged materials.

The next two modules examine processes unique to subsurface waters and to the atmosphere. The final set of modules contain case histories and specific methods for examining effects of some hazardous materials.

Physical Transport in Surface Waters

Movement of Pollutants in Rivers

Movement of Pollutants in Lakes

Movement of Particulates (and Air-Water Exchange)

Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Surface Waters

Biological, Photolysis and Hydrolisis Reactions in Surface Waters