Flow and transport in a natural water body commonly interact with dens
ity stratification and in some cases the stratification may be charact
erized as a two-layered system. A rigorous, two-layered, two-dimension
al (2D) finite difference numerical model for eutrophication dynamics
in coastal waters, based on the numerically generated, boundary-fitted
, orthogonal curvilinear grid system as well as a grid ''block'' techn
ique, is proposed here. The model simulates the transport and transfor
mation of up to nine water quality constituents associated with eutrop
hication. The structure of the model is based on a generally accepted
framework with the exception of the interaction between the two layers
via vertical advection and turbulent diffusion. Some kinetic coeffici
ents are calibrated with field data specifically for the scenario in T
olo Harbour, Hong Kong. The pollution sources are unsteady and hourly
solar radiation is imposed. Sediment oxygen demand (SOD) and nutrient
releases from sediment are incorporated in the model based on the rele
vant in-situ sampling analysis. The hydrodynamic variables are predict
ed simultaneously with a hydrodynamic model previously developed. The
computed results show that the present model successfully reproduces t
he stratification tendency in all the water quality constituents, show
ing an obvious bottom water anoxic condition during the summer, which
is consistent with the density stratification and the unsteady layer-a
veraged 2D eutrophication processes in Tolo Harbour.