A numerical simulation of the seasonal cycle of temperature, salinity and velocity fields in Tokyo Bay

To understand when oxygen-depleted waters occur, how they develop and when they dissipate in inner Tokyo Bay, realistic simulations were attempted wit h fine spatial and temporal resolution by applying realistic time dependent external forcing. A 3D hydrodynamic model was driven by time-dependent ext ernal forcing factors/parameters such as solar radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, wind velocity, and fluvial discharge, under the open bou ndary conditions of 1995. A simulated time series of salinity and temperatu re agreed fairly well with observed data, except in summer. The model faile d to reproduce the development of the surface mixed layer in summer. Severa l sensitivity analyses on the external forcing parameters such as wind velo city and vertical diffusivity were conducted to reproduce the mixed laver. However, changing these parameter values did not improve the model results. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.