Modelling tides in the western North Atlantic using unstructured graded grids ...

• Main Authors: MUCCINO, J.C., WESTERINK, J.J., LUETTICH, R.A., JR.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries 1994
• Subjects: North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17615/ga4e-2w14; https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/concern/articles/sx61dw69s

This paper describes grid convergence studies for a finite‐element‐based tidal model of the western North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. The very large computational domain used for this tidal model encompasses both the coastal and the deep ocean and facilitates the specification of boundary conditions. Due to the large variability in depths as well as scale content of the tides within the model domain, an optimal unstructured graded grid with highly variable finite element areas is developed which significantly reduces the size of the discrete problem while improving the accuracy of the computations. The convergence studies include computations for a sequence of regularly discretized grids ranging from a very coarse 1.6° × 1.6° mesh to a very fine 6′ × 6′ to 12′ × 12′ mesh as well as unstructured graded grids with resolutions varying between 1.6° and 5′ within each mesh. Resolution requirements are related to depth, gradients in topography as well as the resolution of the coastal boundary. The ...