Tides in the English Channel and Southern North Sea. A frequency domain analysis using model TEA-NL

The frequency-time finite element model TEA-NL is used to investigate tidal propagation and circulation in the English Channel and the southern North Sea, in the context of the Tidal Flow Forum benchmark. Quality of TEA-NL simulations, relative to both field data and simulations by other numerical models is discussed. Sensitivity analyses are performed with regard to the effect on accuracy of bottom friction, and the effect on computational cost of the strategy used to harmonically decompose and iterate non-linear loading terms in the shallow water equations.