In most hydrodynamic models, friction and turbulent diffusion/dispersion co
efficients are the important calibration parameters affecting the calculati
on of surface elevation, velocity and salinity distribution. This paper pre
sents a rational approach to calibrate and verify a hydrodynamic model of p
artially stratified estuaries. The calibration procedures and verification
requirements are demonstrated with the application of a vertical (laterally
averaged) two-dimensional model to a branched estuarine river system. The
friction coefficient is calibrated and verified with model simulation of ba
rotropic flow, and the turbulent diffusion and dispersion coefficients are
calibrated through comparison of salinity distributions. The overall model
verification is suggested to be achieved with comparisons of Eulerian resid
ual circulation and salinity distribution. In the case of the Tanshui River
system, the available prototype current records are too short to calculate
slowly varying residual currents. The snapshots of the model-computed and
field-measured residual currents are provided to qualitatively agree with t
heoretical analysis. The overall performance of the model is verified with
an additional set of salinity data.