Can longitudinal solute transport parameters be transferred to different flow rates?

Longitudinal solute transport modeling requires knowledge of the transport parameters involved. At best, these parameters have been estimated from stream tracer experiments, usually conducted, however, at flow rates different from those characterizing the intended application. Thus, the mathematical simulation of breakthrough curves invariably rests on a transfer of parameters, resulting in errors of an a priori unknown magnitude. In the research reported here, data from nine stream tracer experiments performed on the same channel reach have been used to find out, up to which ratio of respective flow rates transport parameter transfer will still yield acceptable modeling accuracy. The results of the study (obtained with the transient storage model of longitudinal solute transport) suggest that parameter transfer across a range of flow rates not exceeding a ratio of 1:2 will be associated with errors in peak concentrations below the 40% mark.