Thermal modeling of the Four Mile Creek delta using April 6, 1984 daytime thermal infrared imagery

Cooling water effluent from nuclear reactors may be discharged into water bodies and streams. The thermal effluent gradually cools as it progresses through the hydrologic system. It is important to know the spatial distribution of the thermal effluent, as-well-as the rate at which the thermal effluent is cooling. In addition, it is important to model the spatial distribution of the thermal effluent, so that various predictions of effects can be tested theoretically without having to attempt realtime modifications in the release of thermal effleunts. Thermal information is very difficult to acquire over large areas using in situ (ground based) techniques. Therefore, a remote sensing approach is often used. This study reports on the results of such an investigation for the Four Mile Creek delta located on the Savannah River Plant (SRP) near Aiken, South Carolina