New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
Evidence of a significant wind-driven circulation in Akaroa Harbour.
Part 2: Results from the application of a width averaged hydrodynamic numerical
model (CE-QUAL-W2)
Darlene N. Heuff
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
Robert H. Spigel
Alex H. Ross
National Institute for Water and Atmospheric
Research Limited
P.O. Box 8602
Christchurch, New Zealand
Abstract Results from the application of the two-dimensional,
laterally-averaged hydrodynamic model, CE-QUAL-W2 to Akaroa Harbour, New
Zealand were compared with 3 months of temperature and current data to investigate
the connection between significant wind-driven circulation and vertical mixing.
Results indicate that in general, CE-QUAL-W2 reproduced realistic values
for width-averaged along-Harbour current speeds and water column temperature
structure. However, during periods of strong winds, the mixed layer depth
was predicted to be shallower than observed; c. one-third as compared to
c. one-half. Simulations of tidally-driven flow highlighted the restrictions
of the two-dimensionality imposed by the model, though this type of flow
was not found to result in appreciable mixing of the water column. Data from
an independent field survey supported the validity of the use of CE-QUAL-W2
under (at least) light-to-moderate sea-breeze conditions.
Keywords Akaroa; Harbour; Banks Peninsula; CE-QUAL-W2;
hydrodynamics; numerical modelling; vertical mixing
M04066; Online publication date 16 August 2005 Received 22 March 2004;
accepted 13 April 2005
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2005, Vol. 39:
1111–1127
0028-8330/05/3905-1111 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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