Frontal Structures and Surface Signatures Revealed by Non-Hydrostatic Eddy Resolving Numerical Simulations
Abstract
Flow structures in estuaries and river mouths are among the most dynamic due to highstratification, energetic river outflows, tides"", and complex bathymetry. Within the energeticfrontal zones and the shear layer at the plume interface, internal waves and shear in""stabilities arecommon. These flow structures can enhance mixing. Moreover, large mixing can further result inhigh turbidity due to" suspended particulate matter (SPM) that can scatter light and affect waterclarity. Some of these intense flow structures may impac"t navigation safety, and can leave uniquesurface signatures to be detected by remote sensing imagery. In such environments, sheari"nstabilities are ubiquitous and are responsible for the major turbulent dissipation and verticalmixing particularly in the frontal" zone. The long term goal of the proposed work is to understandflow structures, turbulence and their surface signatures in the fron"tal regions of stratifiedenvironments through an integrated approach combining eddy-resolving non-hydrostaticnumerical simulations", in-situ data and remote sensing imagery. Specific objective for theproposed three year study include: 1) To carry out eddy-resolv"ing non-hydrostatic numericalsimulations of several key frontal feature in river mouths and estuaries and compare simulationresults with in-situ measurement and remote sensing imagery. 2) To Focus on several classicnon-hydrostatic problems on resolving frontal" zone dynamics, and work collaboratively withother researchers in the observational campaign of Connecticut River plume, Puget Soun"d andbeyond. 3) To develop a robust dynamic procedure for sub-grid dissipation/diffusion appropriatefor the present regional-scale eddy-resolving simulation through comprehensive modelvalidation with in-situ measured turbulence statistics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141712796
Entities
People
- Tian‐Jian Hsu
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Delaware