ADCIRC: An advanced three-dimensional circulation model for shelves, coasts, and estuaries. Report 3. Development of a tidal constituent database for the western north Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Technical report

This report describes the application of model ADCIRC-2DDI, a two-dimensional, depth-integrated, finite-element-based hydrodynamic circulation code, to the western North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea in order to develop a tidal constituent database. Issues that are emphasized in the development of the Western North Atlantic Tidal (WNAT) model include the definition of hydrodynamically simple open ocean boundaries; the use of large domains; the importance of a high degree of grid resolution in coastal regions; and the use of finite element meshes with highly varying nodal densities in order to minimize the size of the discrete problem. The development of an optimal graded finite element mesh is based on regular and graded grid convergence studies using an M2 tidal forcing function on the boundary and within the domain. The optimal graded mesh is then forced for eight diurnal and semidiurnal astronomical tidal constituents (K1, O1, PI, Ql, M2, S2, N2, and K2) on the open ocean boundary by coupling to Schwiderski's (1979; 1981 a-g) global model results as well as within the interior domain using a tidal potential forcing function. The structure of the various tides is examined and results are compared to field data at 77 stations.... Bottom stress,more » Finite element method, Three-dimensional model, Circulation model, Hydrodynamic model, Two-dimensional model, Direct stress solution, Numerical model.« less