Effect of Bank Deformations on Pollutant Transport in Rivers in Cryolithozone: Laboratory and Mathematical Modeling

Abstract

The study is focused on pollution transport in rivers flowing in cryolithozone and takes into account possible channel deformations caused by thawing of permafrost rocks in which the channel runs. The methods used are laboratory and mathematical modeling. The mathematical model consists of four blocks: hydrodynamic, thermal, deformation, and pollutant transport. The model was validated and tested against the data of a laboratory experiment. Numerical experiments suggested conclusions regarding the propagation of pollutants entering the flow from sources in thawing bank slopes and on river floodplain.