Procedure to calibrate and verify numerical models of estuarine hydrodynamics

Citation
Mh. Hsu et al., Procedure to calibrate and verify numerical models of estuarine hydrodynamics, J HYDR ENG, 125(2), 1999, pp. 166-182
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Civil Engineering
Journal title
JOURNAL OF HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING-ASCE
ISSN journal
07339429 → ACNP
Volume
125
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
166 - 182
Database
ISI
SICI code
0733-9429(199902)125:2<166:PTCAVN>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
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.