Application of the Image Processing Method and the Beer-Lambert Law for Assessing Sea Water Intrusion in Rivers

This paper presents an innovative approach integrating the Image Processing Method and the Beer-Lambert Law to study Sea Water Intrusion in riverine systems. Using an experimental setup, this study characterizes the dynamics between saline and fresh waters, providing detailed spatial and temporal salinity distribution analyses. The Beer-Lambert Law using Python is employed to convert image pixel data to accurate concentration measurements, essential for understanding the diffusion and mixing processes of saline wedges. Results showed that the concentration of the salt water is decreased when it flows upstream horizontally. also, the concentration of the saline water is decreased vertically, due to the salt and fresh water mixing. The Max Concentration Profile graph shows a sharp peak at the start, reaching approximately 1000 g/cm³, marking the point of saline introduction. Within the first 10 cm, the concentration rapidly decreases to about 600 g/cm³, indicating swift diffusion and dilution. Beyond this point, the concentration gradually decreases, stabilizing around 200 g/cm³ past the 100 cm mark, reflecting ongoing diffusion and mixing processes. The Concentration Contour graph shows high salinity concentrations near the bottom 10 cm of the flume. Salinity concentration decreases moving vertically up the flume, indicated by cooler colors. From approximately 30 cm in height, salinity remains low and uniform, suggesting that denser saline water settles at the bottom due to gravity.