Simulating Wave-Tide Induced Circulation in Bay St. Louis, MS with a Coupled Hydrodynamic-Wave Model
Abstract
This study focuses on modeling the 2D, depth-averaged circulation of Bay St. Louis in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico that is driven by waves and tides using a coupled hydrodynamic-wave model. The wave-tide coupled circulation within the inlet is examined during the flood, slack, and ebb phases of the tidal cycle. The wave height field, current velocity and sea surface elevation are analyzed to determine the effects of wave-current interaction. The influence of the various forcings on bay/inlet circulation is further investigated by the introduction of Lagrangian tracers. Lagrangian tracers are a reasonable indicator of how circulation patterns affect the motion of sediment particles or passive biological organisms such as fish larvae. Wave-current interaction is simulated by iteratively coupling the depth-integrated ADCIRC-2DDI hydrodynamic model to the phase-averaged spectral wave model SWAN. ADCIRC-2DDI is a fully developed, 2-dimensional, finite element, barotropic hydrodynamic model capable of including wind, wave, and tidal forcing as well as river flux into the domain. The wave-hydrodynamic model coupling i captured through the following approach. First, radiation stress gradients, determined from the SWAN wave field, serve as surface stress forcin in ADCIRC. Elevation and currents com uted from ADCIRC are subse uentl in ut into the SWAN model.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA413725
Entities
People
- Cheryl A. Blain
- Mark Cobb
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory