TIDAL FLOW MODELING USING A DIRECT MINIMIZATION METHOD

An operational model based on an inverse method is developed for the s tudy of tidal flow in coastal areas. Models based on inverse methods c an accommodate large quantities of measured data within the model doma in and do not require initial or boundary data in the state variables. These are benefits that overcome the weaknesses in conventional direc t models which can be ill-posed because of inadequate boundary data wh ich cannot make use of extensive survey data. The method described in the paper uses a direct minimisation technique, and the governing equa tions are included as a weak constraint on the solution. This allows t he relative influences of data and equations on the final solution to be defined. The model is validated using idealised topographies in ter ms of data assimilation, flow diversion by topography and tidal floodi ng and drying over a shoal. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.