Developing a high-resolution climatology for the Central California coastal region

This work presents a procedure for developing a high-resolution, regional climatology estimate, named RClimo, off the coast of central California. This high-resolution climatology may provide an alternative way to initialize numerical nowcast/forecast exercises in coastal regions. The methodology includes two primary steps: (1) averaging available data on a high-resolution grid and (2) objective interpolating the resulting average profiles onto a regular grid. The first step involves the computation of averages over density layers in the vertical and allowing for data gaps in the horizontal if data are unavailable at a high resolution. The OA in the second step uses anisotropic correlation length scales derived from the data themselves and an averaging radius to preserve the scales and variability of the synoptic fields.     

Response of large-scale coastal basins to wind forcing: influence of topography

Because wind is one of the main forcings in storm surge, we present an idealised process-based model to study the influence of topographic variations on the frequency response of large-scale coastal basins subject to time-periodic wind forcing. Coastal basins are represented by a semi-enclosed rectangular inner region forced by wind. It is connected to an outer region (represented as an infinitely long channel) without wind forcing, which allows waves to freely propagate outward. The model solves the three-dimensional linearised shallow water equations on the f plane, forced by a spatially uniform wind field that has an arbitrary angle with respect to the along-basin direction. Turbulence is represented using a spatially uniform vertical eddy viscosity, combined with a partial slip condition at the bed. The surface elevation amplitudes, and hence the vertical profiles of the velocity, are obtained using the finite element method (FEM), extended to account for the connection to the outer region. The results are then evaluated in terms of the elevation amplitude averaged over the basin’s landward end, as a function of the wind forcing frequency. In general, the results point out that adding topographic elements in the inner region (such as a topographic step, a linearly sloping bed or a parabolic cross-basin profile), causes the resonance peaks to shift in the frequency domain, through their effect on local wave speed. The Coriolis effect causes the resonance peaks associated with cross-basin modes (which without rotation only appear in the response to cross-basin wind) to emerge also in the response to along-basin wind and vice versa.     

Numerical modelling of stratified flow: a spectral approach

A numerical formulation is developed to solve the three-dimensional hydrodynamic equations which describe flow in a stratified sea.Arbitrary continuous physically realistic variations of density and eddy viscosity can be included in the model, which is sufficiently flexible to be applicable to sea areas of any horizontal extent and depth. A continuous current profile from sea surface to sea bed, is computed with the model. A method for expanding computed current profiles in terms of vertical modes is proposed and the contribution of these modes to the current profiles is considered.The time variation of the wind-induced circulation of a stratified lake in response to a suddenly imposed and maintained wind stress is examined. Calculations show that the wind-driven surface current is modulated by the internal seiche motion of the lake.     

On the sensitivity of computed higher tidal harmonics to mesh size in a finite element model

A finite element model of the Irish and Celtic Sea regions with a range of grid resolutions is used to examine the influence of resolution upon the higher harmonics of the tide in the region. Comparisons are also made with published results from finite difference models of the area, and observations. Calculations using fine near-shore elements with non-zero water depths in coastal regions were found to be more accurate and less time consuming than those using a zero coastal water depth. A detailed examination of the spatial variability of the higher harmonics in near-shore regions of the eastern Irish Sea particularly the Solway and Morecambe Bay showed significant small-scale variability. This together with the variation in higher harmonics in the eastern Irish Sea and adjacent estuaries, clearly shows the need for an unstructured grid model of the region that can include the estuaries. To match the high resolution of the model in near-shore regions accurate high-resolution topography is required.     

A three-dimensional model for tides and salinity in the Bristol Channel

A three-dimensional hydrodynamic numerical model is applied to the simulation of tides, salinity and density currents in the Bristol Channel. The model incorporates a sigma coordinate transformation through the vertical and a grid ☐ system throughout.A suitable formulation is chosen for vertical eddy viscosity by comparing elevations and currents from the model with observations. Two simulations of salinity are made, for February and July 1978. The resulting density current patterns for July 1978 are presented at various levels through the vertical.     

On the sensitivity of tidal residuals off the west coast of Britain to mesh resolution

An irregular mesh model of the west coast of Britain is used to examine the sensitivity of tidal residuals to mesh resolution in the region. Computed residuals are compared with earlier published results determined with a high resolution (1 km grid) finite difference model of the eastern Irish Sea. Initial calculations show that tidal residuals are largest in nearshore regions particularly in the vicinity of headlands. Local refinement of the mesh in these regions leads to a more detailed picture of the flow field, particularly adjacent to the coast. Although large scale offshore features of the flow can be resolved using the high resolution finite difference model, such an approach leads to a “stair case” representation of the coastal boundary with an adjacent near coastal region of spurious tidal residuals. By using an irregular mesh that follows the coast, this effect is removed. In the Mersey river region the tidal residual is resolved with a mesh resolution of 120 m, although calculations show that its distribution is particularly sensitive to small scale features of the topography. A variable mesh that can accurately represent the lateral variations in river width and details of topography in both the nearshore and estuarine environment appears essential in modelling the coastal spread of freshwater plumes from rivers and pollutants discharged into the near coastal environment.     

A model study of spin-down and circulation in a cold water dome

A three-dimensional prognostic hydrodynamic model in cross sectional form is used to examine the influence of bottom friction, mixing and topography upon the spin-down and steady-state circulation in a cold water bottom-dome. Parameters characteristic of the Irish Sea or Yellow Sea cold water domes are used. In all calculations, motion is induced by specifying an initial temperature distribution characteristic of the dome, and an associated along frontal flow. The spin-down of the dome is found to be influenced by the coefficient of bottom friction, with a typical time scale of order 10 days, and in general to be independent of the chosen initial vertical profile of along frontal flow. However, in the case in which the along frontal flow is such that the near bed velocity is zero, then bottom stress is also zero, and there is no appreciable spin-down. Calculations showed that the formulation of viscosity and diffusivity had a greater effect upon the steady-state circulation than topography, suggesting that background mixing of tidal origin is important. The lack of topographic influence was due mainly to the formulation of the initial conditions which were taken to be independent of topography. The steady-state circulation was characterized by a cyclonic flow in the surface region, with an anti-cyclonic current near the bed, where frictional effects produced a bottom Ekman layer and an across frontal flow. This gave rise to vertical circulation cells in the frontal region of the dome with prevailing downwelling motion inside the dome. A detailed analysis of the dynamic balance of the various terms in the hydrodynamic equations yielded insight into the processes controlling the steady-state circulation in cold water domes. Responsible Editor: Phil Dyke     

Investigation of three-dimensional circulation and hydrography over the Pearl River Estuary of China using a nested-grid coastal circulation model

The Pearl River Estuary (PRE) in South China's Guangdong Province is a subtropical estuary with highly irregular topography and dynamically complicated circulations. A nested-grid coastal circulation modelling system is used in this study to examine dynamic responses of the PRE to tides, meteorological forcing and buoyancy forcing. The nested-grid modelling system is based on the Princeton Ocean Model and consists of three downscaling subcomponents: including an outer-most model with a coarse horizontal resolution of ~7 km for simulating tidally forced and wind-driven surface elevations and depth-mean currents over the China Seas from Bohai Sea to the northern South China Sea and an innermost model with a fine resolution of ~1.2 km for simulating the 3D coastal circulation and hydrography over the PRE and adjacent coastal waters. Model results during the winter northeast monsoon surge in January and super typhoon Koryn in June of 1993 are used to demonstrate that the 3D coastal circulation and hydrographic distributions in the PRE are affected by tides, winds and buoyancy forcing associated with river discharge from the Pearl River with significant seasonal and synoptic variabilities.     

On the general character of coastal flow

It is well-known that some coastal currents such as the Florida Current have a recirculating region on their coastal side, while other currents such as the East Australian Current have no such region. Under the hypothesis that the form drag on a coastal current by an irregular coastal topography reduces the momentum transport of the current to a minimum for the given flow within the current, the hydraulic theory of coastal currents is used to explain this behaviour.     

Storm surge computations for the west coast of Britain using a finite element model (TELEMAC)

An unstructured mesh finite element model of the sea region off the west coast of Britain is used to examine the storm surge event of November 1977. This period is chosen because accurate meteorological data to drive the model and coastal observations for validation purposes are available. In addition, previous published results from a coarse-grid (resolution 7 km) finite difference model of the region and high-resolution (1 km) limited area (namely eastern Irish Sea) model are available for comparison purposes. To enable a “like with like” comparison to be made, the finite element model covers the same domain and has the same meteorological forcing as these earlier finite difference models. In addition, the mesh is based on an identical set of water depths. Calculations show that the finite element model can reproduce both the “external” and “internal” components of the surge in the region. This shows that the “far field” (external) component of the surge can accurately propagate through the irregular mesh, and the model responds accurately, without over- or under-damping, to local wind forcing. Calculations show significant temporal and spatial variability in the surge in close agreement with that found in earlier finite difference calculations. In addition, root mean square errors between computed and observed surge are comparable to those found in previous finite different calculations. The ability to vary the mesh in nearshore regions reveals appreciable small-scale variability that was not found in the previous finite difference solutions. However, the requirement to perform a “like with like” comparison using the same water depths means that the full potential of the unstructured grid model to improve resolution in the nearshore region is inhibited. This is clearly evident in the Mersey estuary region where a higher resolution unstructured mesh model, forced with uniform winds, had shown high topographic variability due to small-scale variations in topography that are not resolved here. Despite the lack of high resolution in the nearshore region, the model showed results that were consistent with the previous storm surge models of the region. Calculations suggest that to improve on these earlier results, a finer nearshore mesh is required based upon accurate nearshore topography.     

Processes contributing to the evolution and destruction of stratification in the Liverpool Bay ROFI

Liverpool Bay, a region of freshwater influence subject to semi-diurnal and enduring periods of stratification, is home to a long-term coastal observatory. The observatory provides a new array of data which include vertical profiles of velocity from an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler and a high frequency radar system (which provides measurements of surface currents). Using this dataset in conjunction with an analytical potential energy model that uses advances in the formulation of a freshwater buoyancy term, the processes controlling stratification can be assessed. The results indicate that a depth-resolving freshwater buoyancy term should be used for the calculation stratification. Advection, in addition to depth-mean straining, is an important process affecting the stratification in Liverpool Bay. Specifically, when semi-diurnal stratification occurs, the two terms are in phase whilst when enduring stratification occurs, they are out of phase. The phase of the advective component, and thus its influence relative to depth-mean straining, was found to be a function of the vertical variation of the horizontal density gradient.     

Improvement of surface run‐off in the hydrological model ParFlow by a scale‐consistent river parameterization

We propose an improvement of the overland‐flow parameterization in a distributed hydrological model, which uses a constant horizontal grid resolution and employs the kinematic wave approximation for both hillslope and river channel flow. The standard parameterization lacks any channel flow characteristics for rivers, which results in reduced river flow velocities for streams narrower than the horizontal grid resolution. Moreover, the surface areas, through which these wider model rivers may exchange water with the subsurface, are larger than the real river channels potentially leading to unrealistic vertical flows. We propose an approximation of the subscale channel flow by scaling Manning's roughness in the kinematic wave formulation via a relationship between river width and grid cell size, following a simplified version of the Barré de Saint‐Venant equations (Manning–Strickler equations). The too large exchange areas between model rivers and the subsurface are compensated by a grid resolution‐dependent scaling of the infiltration/exfiltration rate across river beds. We test both scaling approaches in the integrated hydrological model ParFlow. An empirical relation is used for estimating the true river width from the mean annual discharge. Our simulations show that the scaling of the roughness coefficient and the hydraulic conductivity effectively corrects overland flow velocities calculated on the coarse grid leading to a better representation of flood waves in the river channels.     

Analytical modelling of wintertime coastal jets in the Adriatic Sea

Two diagnostic models, reproducing circulation generated in a marginal sea by variable density, have been developed. The models’ domain is a 2D transverse section for which analytical solutions have been obtained. They describe the winter situation in the northern Adriatic, with a strong vertical mixing present and the density maximum dominating the centre of the basin. Both models employ Boussinesq-type parametrisation of friction and linear slip at the bottom. The first model allows for frictional departure from hydrostatic equilibrium and includes vertical friction only. The second one is hydrostatic but allows for lateral friction as well. The results obtained by the two models are similar and to some extent dependent on the vertical and bottom friction. They reproduce several well known characteristics of the Adriatic circulation (cyclonic surface flow, downwelling in the central and larger part of the basin compensated by upwelling in the coastal zone) but also predict some phenomena that are still not well understood. A conspicuous feature of the model results are coastal jets, which were observed in the Adriatic on several occasions. The present models show that the distance of jets from the coasts depends on lateral friction: it is found to vary from 1 up to 10 km on the Italian side and between 2 and 15 km on the Croatian side. Both models reproduce the west–east asymmetry, with the wider current on the east side of the basin. The asymmetry is a subject on which conflicting empirical results exist in the Adriatic. In the two models cyclonic flow occupies the whole water column, which disagrees with some recent theoretical findings of the near-bottom anticyclonic flow and thus leaves the issue open.     

Numerical modeling of the Patos Lagoon coastal plume,Brazil

The Southern Brazilian Shelf (SBS) is a freshwater-influenced region, but studies on the dynamics of coastal plumes are sparse and lack in space-time resolution. Studies on the dynamics of the Patos Lagoon plume are even more limited. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of the principal physical forcing for the formation and behavior of the Patos Lagoon coastal plume. The study is carried out through 3D numerical modeling experiments and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. Results showed that the amount of freshwater is the principal physical forcing controlling the plume formation. The Coriolis effect enhances the northward transport over the shelf, while the tidal effects contribute to intensify horizontal and vertical mixing, which are responsible for spreading the freshwater over the shelf. The wind effect, on the other hand, is the main mechanism controlling the behavior of the Patos Lagoon coastal plume over the inner SBS in synoptic time scales. Southeasterly and southwesterly winds contribute to the northeastward displacement of the plume, breaking the vertical stratification of the inner continental shelf. Northeasterly and northwesterly winds favor ebb conditions in the Patos Lagoon, contributing to the southwestward displacement of the plume enhancing the vertical stratification along and across-shore. The EOF analysis reveals two modes controlling the variability of the plume on the surface. The first mode (explaining 70% of the variability) is associated to the southwestward transportation of the plume due to the dominance of north quadrant winds, while the second mode (explaining 19% of the variability) is associated to the intermittent migration of the plume northeastward due to the passage of frontal systems over the area. Large scale plumes can be expected during winter and spring months, and are enhanced during El Niño events.     

Application of a sigma coordinate sea model to the calculation of wind-induced currents

A three-dimensional numerical sea model is formulated in terms of sigma coordinates in the vertical. The vertical grid spacing in the model is arbitrary and can be refined to give enhanced resolution in high shear regions (e.g., close to the sea surface in wind-driven flows, and/or across the thermocline in stratified flows). A method of accurately determining surface currents and indicating how fine a grid is required in the surface layer is described.The problem of determining a suitable formulation of vertical eddy viscosity to use in a model of wind-induced flow in a tidal sea is considered in detail. A formulation in which surface eddy viscosity depends upon the roughness of the sea surface and the transfer of momentum to depth by surface waves appears reasonable. Below the surface layer turbulence is related to the current at depth.Idealized calculations are performed to demonstrate the accuracy and stability of the sigma coordinate model. Results of these calculations indicate that the formulation of eddy viscosity developed in this paper can explain the high surface shears reported in lake measurements of wind-induced surface currents, and the lack of shear under strong wind conditions in the open sea (GORDON, 1982, Journal of Geophysical Research, 87, 1939–1951).Surface current to surface wind ratio are also computed.     

Oceanic upwelling and downwelling processes in waters off the west coast of India

A three-dimensional model based on the Princeton Ocean Model (POM) has been implemented to study the circulation of the west coast of India. The model uses a curvilinear orthogonal horizontal grid with higher resolution near the coast (3–9 km) and a terrain following sigma coordinate in the vertical. The model is able to simulate Lakshadweep High and Lakshadweep Low (LL) during the winter and summer monsoons, respectively. During winter, the downwelling processes noticed along the coast help in the formation of temperature inversions. The inversions can be seen even up to the depths of ～50 m, which agrees with the available ARGO data in the region. Model simulations show that coastal upwelling off Kerala is at its peak in July. The intensity of upwelling reduces along the coast towards north. During the existence of LL, there is a cyclonic eddy in the sub-surface waters over the South-Eastern Arabian Sea, with vertical extent up to the depths of 100–150 m and it is strengthened due to the presence of northward counter current in the shelf region. The southerly coastal jet formed along the southern coast as a result of upwelling is noticed a westward shift along with LL. The location of the eddy off Kerala is tilted towards the open ocean with depth and our experiments suggest that this flow can be understood as a first baroclinic mode.     

The predictability of near-coastal currents using a baroclinic unstructured grid model

A limited domain, coastal ocean forecast system consisting of an unstructured grid model, a meteorological model, a regional ocean model, and a global tidal database is designed to be globally relocatable. For such a system to be viable, the predictability of coastal currents must be well understood with error sources clearly identified. To this end, the coastal forecast system is applied at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay in response to a Navy exercise. Two-day forecasts are produced for a 10-day period from 4 to 14 June 2010 and compared to real-time observations. Interplay between the temporal frequency of the regional model boundary forcing and the application of external tides to the coastal model impacts the tidal characteristics of the coastal current, even contributing a small phase error. Frequencies of at least 3 h are needed to resolve the tidal signal within the regional model; otherwise, externally applied tides from a database are needed to capture the tidal variability. Spatial resolution of the regional model (3 vs 1 km) does not impact skill of the current prediction. Tidal response of the system indicates excellent representation of the dominant M ₂ tide for water level and currents. Diurnal tides, especially K ₁, are amplified unrealistically with the application of coarse 27-km winds. Higher-resolution winds reduce current forecast error with the exception of wind originating from the SSW, SSE, and E. These winds run shore parallel and are subject to strong interaction with the shoreline that is poorly represented even by the 3-km wind fields. The vertical distribution of currents is also well predicted by the coastal model. Spatial and temporal resolution of the wind forcing including areas close to the shoreline is the most critical component for accurate current forecasts. Additionally, it is demonstrated that wind resolution plays a large role in establishing realistic thermal and density structures in upwelling prone regions.     

On the generation of coastline-following grids for ocean models—trade-off between orthogonality and alignment to coastlines

Regional ocean models usually utilize orthogonal curvilinear grids that are fit to the coastline of the modeled regions. While the orthogonality of the grid is required from the perspective of the numerical algorithms, the alignment to the irregular coastlines improves the characterization of the land-sea distribution and the ocean simulation. In this article, we carry out fractal analysis of two representative coastal regions and discuss the trade-offs between the orthogonality and coastline alignment during the grid generation of these regions. A new grid generation method based on Schwarz-Christoffel conformal mappings is proposed, with automatic coastal boundary retrieval algorithm that generates resolution dependent boundary for grid generation and alleviates the human efforts involved in traditional methods. We show that for the southeastern Pacific region, the coastline is smooth with low fractal dimension and there exists effective trade-off with a coastline boundary that adjusts to the desired grid resolution. On the contrary, there is no effective trade-off for southeast China seas where the coastline is of higher fractal dimension, and a coarser coastline boundary is recommended for better orthogonality with little loss in coastline alignment. Further numerical study of coastal trapped Kelvin waves for the typical regions demonstrate that the new coastline-fitting grids achieve smaller error in numerical dispersion and higher accuracy. Through analysis, we conclude that for grid generation for regional ocean modeling, modelers should bring into consideration of the multi-scale fractal characteristics of the coastline.     

华北克拉通岩石圈三维密度结构

显生宙以来华北克拉通岩石圈遭到破坏,这一现象的科学问题已受到世界地学家广泛关注.本文首先将地震层析成像反演得到的P波速度扰动转化为密度扰动,以此作为初始密度模型,然后利用布格重力异常反演得到了华北克拉通岩石圈高分辨三维密度结构.为了避开大型稀疏矩阵求逆计算,提高计算效率,我们将代数重构技术用于密度反演解算.反演结果表明:华北克拉通岩石圈密度在横向和纵向上均存在明显的不均匀性,密度分布形态与地表构造格局有很好的相关性;研究区地壳整体表现为低密度异常,地壳以下岩石圈部分则以高密度异常为主;鄂尔多斯块体地壳范围内以低密度异常为主,80~120 km深度上为呈南北两端集中分布的高密度异常,并分别与秦岭造山带和阴山造山带的高密度异常分布相连,这暗示了鄂尔多斯块体可能受到了来自其南北两端造山带深部动力学过程的影响;80~120 km深度上,华北克拉通东部地区呈现出显著的南北向非均匀的高密度异常,这表明遭到破坏后该地区上地幔物质分布具有强烈的南北向非均匀性.