Dissolved Solids‐Discharge Relationships: 1. Mixing Models

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Abstract
With the increasing interest in the relationships between dissolved constituents and discharge in streams a reasonable basis is needed for the selection of possible models that might aid in analyzing the data. A series of simple mixing models based on mass balance calculations is presented along with derivations and solutions for certain assumptions about the mixing volumes and the storage volume‐discharge relationship. If concentration and discharge data show a hysteresis or loop relationship with time, then the commonly assumed direct relationship between total volume of water in the stream channel and stream discharge is probably not valid. The relationship of the constants in the derived equations to physical or chemical factors is masked at the present time by the nature of the initial assumptions and the method of derivation.
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