A Model for Prediction of the Tidal Currents in the English Channel

A model for prediction of tidal currents in the English Channel is presented. It is based on the classical harmonic description of tides deduced from the spectral development of the luni-solar tidal potential. The spatial distribution of the characteristic parameters (intensity, phase, and direction of the maximum velocity vector, ellipticity of the hodograph) for the 26 harmonic constituents introduced in the prediction procedure are deduced from a numerical simulation of 1 month’s duration for the entire English Channel. Two kinds of documents can be produced from this model : instantaneous velocity fields over a given area, and time series of the intensity and the direction of the velocity vector at a given location, over a given period. Four examples of prediction are presented, corresponding to specific areas and over periods where tidal currents have actually been observed. The comparison between predictions and observations is very satisfactory.