Drift and dispersion studies of ocean-dumped waste using Landsat imagery and current drogues
The drift and dispersion of industrial acid wastes dumped 64 km off the Delaware coast were investigated using 16 Landsat images. Waste plume drift velocities and spread rates were obtained, and principal component analysis was performed to discriminate the acid waste from other pollutants. Waste plumes averaged drifting rates from 0.59 km/hr to 3.39 km/hr into the southwest quadrant, and remained above the thermocline, which formed at depths ranging from 13 m to 24 m. Rapid waste movement toward shore occurred primarily during storms, although plumes were rapidly dispersed and diluted at spread rates in excess of 4 cm/sec. Landsat data analysis also indicates plume width increase of about 1.5 cm/sec during calm sea conditions, which is also in agreement with Falk's (1974) estimates of plume dilution.