AN INVERSE METHOD OF KINEMATIC FLOW MODELING BASED ON MEASURED CURRENTS

The development of flow and dispersion models for sea outfall design i s reviewed briefly in order to point out the rift between held measure ments and the modelling process. Conventional models are unable to mak e use of measurements made within the model area except for calibratio n, while new remote sensing equipment is able to gather large quantiti es of current data located in a regular grid. It is suggested that new modelling methods are required which incorporate large amounts of mea sured flow data and offer a method of interpolation so that simulation s of dispersion (for example) can be made. Such techniques are known a s inverse methods. The Paper describes one such inverse method which i s based on the requirement of continuity of mass flux (i.e. a kinemati c how model). This is combined with a particle tracking simulation in a case study of dispersion from a proposed outfall location. The combi nation of the kinematic method and particle tracking will allow, after further development, rapid and economic studies to be performed, whic h will use multiple model runs in order to provide probabilistic inter pretations of predictions in line with the terms of water quality legi slation.