Pv. Sucsy et al., COMPARISON OF 2-DIMENSIONAL AND 3-DIMENSIONAL MODEL SIMULATION OF THEEFFECT OF A TIDAL BARRIER ON THE GULF OF MAINE TIDES, Journal of physical oceanography, 23(6), 1993, pp. 1231-1248
Two-dimensional and three-dimensional tide models were used to simulat
e the M2 tide in the Gulf of Maine. Model estimates of changes to the
tide caused by a tidal barrier in the upper Bay of Fundy were made and
compared. Tidal amplitudes in the presence of a barrier increased 30-
50 cm for both models, corroborating the results of previous studies b
y Greenberg and by Duff. The three-dimensional model uniformly produce
d postbarrier elevations of 3.5 cm less than the two-dimensional model
in the Gulf of Maine. A comparison of model amplitudes and velocities
with data for the existing M2 tide is provided for both models. Total
frictional dissipation is also calculated for each model and compared
. Finally, the postbarrier amplitudes as predicted by each model are c
ompared. Root-mean-square errors of M2 tidal amplitude and phase at 45
locations in the Gulf of Maine were 7.9 cm and 6-degrees for the two-
dimensional model and 5.7 cm and 7-degrees for the three-dimensional m
odel. Both models predicted essentially identical frictional dissipati
ons for the Gulf of Maine of 4.8-4.9 X 10(10) watts. Spatial differenc
es in dissipation did not alter model predictions of well-mixed region
s in the gulf based on a vertical mixing parameter used by Garrett et
al. for the same region.