A COMPARISON OF MODELS FOR COASTAL CIRCULATION

A comparative study of coastal circulation by means of two depth-avera ged numerical models, a finite difference and a finite element model, is undertaken. From the application of the models to Amvrakikos Gulf, a nearly enclosed coastal water body of particular ecological interest in Western Greece, me following conclusions are drawn. (i) Circulatio n patterns calculated for the same eddy viscosity coefficient with bot h models are essentially identical. (ii) Increasing the value of eddy viscosity coefficient results in a significant reduction of the magnit ude of the flow velocities with no major changes on the general flow p attern. (iii) Preliminary calculations with the finite difference mode l show that the incorporation of the k-epsilon turbulence model has mi nor effects on the results, but it improves the rate of convergence. ( iv) Calculations with both models using alternative conditions in the open sea boundary show only minor differences in the proximity of the boundary.