Date of Award
May 2014
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Mathematics
First Advisor
Istvan G. Lauko
Committee Members
Gabriella A. Pinter, Bruce Wade
Keywords
Bacteria, Beach, Finite Volume Method, Mathematical Model, Porous Medium, Richards Equation
Abstract
Bacterial growth in sand is of concern in regard to the health of beaches. A mathematical model is presented that represents the movement of moisture and the growth of bacteria through a beach. Simulations were run by numerically solving Richards Equation using a Finite Volume Method in order to track moisture movement. A model of moisture-dependent bacterial growth was then implemented. These simulations show that elevated bacteria counts following rain events do not necessarily result from bacteria in the body of water, but can also be sourced from the sand. Additionally, four different moisture-dependent bacterial growth models are compared to computationally investigate the relationship between relative moisture level in the sand and bacterial growth.
Recommended Citation
TeWinkel, Rachel Elizabeth, "A Mathematical Model of Moisture Movement and Bacterial Growth in Two-Dimensional Porous Medium" (2014). Theses and Dissertations. 431.
https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/431
Included in
Biology Commons, Environmental Sciences Commons, Mathematics Commons