MODELING TIDAL HYDRODYNAMICS OF SAN-DIEGO BAY, CALIFORNIA

In 1983, current data were collected by the National Oceanic and Atmos pheric Administration using mechanical current meters. During 1992 thr ough 1996, acoustic Doppler current profilers as well as mechanical cu rrent meters and tide gauges were used. These measurements not only do cument tides and tidal currents in San Diego Bay, but also provide ind ependent data sets for model calibration and verification. A high reso lution (100-m grid), depth-averaged, numerical hydrodynamic model has been implemented for San Diego Bay to describe essential tidal hydrody namic processes in the bay. The model is calibrated using the 1983 dat a set and verified using the more recent 1992-1996 data. Discrepancies between model predictions and field data in both model calibration an d verification are on the order of the magnitude of uncertainties in t he field data. The calibrated and verified numerical model has been us ed to quantify residence time and dilution and flushing of contaminant effluent into San Diego Bay. Furthermore, the numerical model has bec ome an important research tool in ongoing hydrodynamic and water quali ty studies and in guiding future field data collection programs.