Sensitivity studies with the three-dimensional multi-level model for tidal motion

A three-dimensional multi-level hydrodynamic model has recently been developed and applied to tidal motion in Singapore’s coastal waters. This paper describes a series of numerical experiments to evaluate the sensitivity of the tidal currents and elevations to model parameters. The results show that the predicted tidal elevations are insensitive to three model parameters: horizontal eddy viscosity coefficient (Smagorinsky constant, c_h), bottom friction coefficient (c_b) and internal friction coefficient (c_v), whereas the effects of these parameters are quite different for tidal current velocities. The velocities are slightly reduced with an increase in c_h and c_b. The bottom friction effects on velocity profiles increase with water depth. The effect of c_v might be significant for the tidal velocities at all levels. The velocities at upper layers of the water column decrease with the increase in c_v, whereas the velocities at the bottom layer show the reverse trend. The effects of three model parameters on the magnitude and phase of the simulated currents are in the order (from strong to weak) of c_v, c_b and c_h.