Determination of reaeration coefficients for Ohio streams

The hydrocarbon-gas tracer technique was used to determine reaeration coefficients on 30 reaches of Ohio streams. The studies were done from September 1979 through August 1982 to determine the reaeration coefficients for the individual reaches and to develop general equation that could be used to estimate the coefficients.

Multiple linear regression was used to determine relationships among the reaeration coefficients and physical stream characteristics. Four special equation based on the general equation were developed from various combinations of discharge, slope, width, depth, measured velocity, and estimated velocity. The standard errors of estimate for these equations ranged from 37 to 47 percent. The variables that resulted in the lowest standard error of estimate were discharge, slope, width, depth, and measured velocity. The most significant variables were depth and velocity.