Book Description

A two-dimensional, time-dependent, open-coast, long-wave, shallow-water model is presented. The model employs an orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system with telescoping computing cells. This permits greater resolution of the wave in the nearshore coastal region where principal interest is focused rather than at the continental shelf break or at far lateral distances from the region. The model treats the coastline as a finite height barrier which is broken with bay entrances. Coastal overtopping and bay communication with the open sea provide the means for the transport of water across the nominal coastline. Mass is conserved with all water lost from the ocean during the flood stage being stored in discrete bay ponding areas. Each ponding area is described by its particular storage area curve and its particular series of coastline computing grid segments. A prediction/correction method is employed for the computation of the coastal water level. The model has been employed in 11 verification studies. Included in the studies are simulations of storm surges from five hurricanes of record and astronomical tide and pseudosurge (transient large amplitude free wave) from two hydraulic physical models. Results from the simulations are presented. In all studies, the same barrier coefficients and procedure for determining the channel discharge coefficient were used. (Author).