We use numerical simulations to study the possible spatiotemporal effects of brine release from five desalination plants, located along the Israeli Mediterranean coastline. It is commonly believed that salinity anomalies, associated with brine discharge from desalination plants, causes effects which are confined to an area of several hundreds of meters from the discharge outfall. We show that discharging brine using diffusers produces small but robust salinity anomalies that propagate tens of kilometers as density currents (DCs). In contrast, premixing the brine with power plant cooling water compensates the negative buoyancy and prevents their generation. The propagating DCs can impact coastal water dynamics by increasing the velocities and transports in alongshore and downslope directions. The spreading and trajectories of the DCs was strongly influenced by seasonal stratification. In winter, due to a mixed water column, the DCs were relatively focused and propagate downslope. While in the summer they are confined to a narrow band along the coastline. Our model results highlight the possibility that brine discharge might have a large scale, non-negligible effect on shelf circulation than previously considered. Further studies are needed to assess the environmental, dynamical and ecological effects of desalination brine propagation, especially in the far field.

中文翻译：

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模拟以色列地中海沿岸多个来源的淡化盐水的分布。

我们使用数值模拟研究了位于以色列地中海沿岸的五个海水淡化厂释放盐水的可能时空效应。通常认为，与从海水淡化厂排放盐水有关的盐度异常会导致影响，其影响仅限于距排放口数百米的区域。我们表明，使用扩散器排放盐水会产生小而健壮的盐度异常，其会以密度流（DC）的形式传播数十公里。相反，将盐水与发电厂冷却水预混合可补偿负浮力并防止其产生。传播中的DC可以通过增加沿沿海和下坡方向的速度和运输来影响沿海水动力学。DC的分布和轨迹受到季节分层的强烈影响。在冬季，由于水柱混合，DC相对集中并传播下坡。在夏季，它们被限制在沿海岸线的狭窄范围内。我们的模型结果突显了盐水排放可能比以前考虑的对货架循环产生大规模，不可忽略的影响的可能性。需要进一步的研究来评估海水淡化盐水传播的环境，动力学和生态影响，尤其是在远场。我们的模型结果突显了盐水排放可能比以前考虑的对货架循环产生大规模，不可忽略的影响的可能性。需要进一步的研究来评估海水淡化盐水传播的环境，动力学和生态影响，尤其是在远场。我们的模型结果突显了盐水排放可能比以前考虑的对货架循环产生大规模，不可忽略的影响的可能性。需要进一步的研究来评估海水淡化盐水传播的环境，动力学和生态影响，尤其是在远场。