Numerical Simulation of Regional Circulation in the Monterey Bay Region

Numerical Simulation of Regional Circulation in the Monterey Bay Region
Author: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 26
Release: 2018-06-21
Genre:
ISBN: 9781721632466

The objective of this study is to produce a high-resolution numerical model of Mon- terey Bay area in which the dynamics are determined by the complex geometry of the coastline, steep bathymetry, and the in uence of the water masses that constitute the CCS. Our goal is to simulate the regional-scale ocean response with realistic dynamics (annual cycle), forcing, and domain. In particular, we focus on non-hydrostatic e ects (by comparing the results of hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic models) and the role of complex geometry, i.e. the bay and submarine canyon, on the nearshore circulation. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the rst to simulate the regional circulation in the vicinity of Monterey Bay using a non-hydrostatic model. Section 2 introduces the high resolution Monterey Bay area regional model (MBARM). Section 3 provides the results and veri cation with mooring and satellite data. Section 4 compares the results of hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic models. Tseng, Y. H. and Dietrich, D. E. and Ferziger, J. H. Ames Research Center

Numerical Simulation of Regional Circulation in the Monterey Bay Region

Numerical Simulation of Regional Circulation in the Monterey Bay Region
Author: Y. H. Tseng
Publisher:
Total Pages: 12
Release: 2003
Genre:
ISBN:

Monterey Bay is located 100 km south of San Francisco and is one of several large bays on the West Coast of the United States. This area is important due to the abundance of marine life. The regional circulation in the Monterey Bay area is tightly coupled to the California Current System (CCS) and highly correlated to the coastal upwelling. In the offshore region, flow is dominated by a broad, weak, equatorward flowing current, the California Current (CC). The CC extends offshore to a distance of 900 - 1000 km and flows year-round. Within about 100 km of the coast, two narrow poleward flowing boundary currents have been found, the Inshore Countercurrent (IC) and the California Undercurrent (CU). The IC is a weak current that varies seasonally, appearing in fall and winter, and transports shallow, upper layer water. The CU is a narrow (10-50 km) relatively weak subsurface flow and transports warm, saline equatorial water. The CU is strongest at around 100 - 300 m depth and has a mean speed of approximately 15 cm/s (Pierce et al. 2000) at all latitudes on the West Coast throughout the year.

Numerical Simulation of Currents in Monterey Bay

Numerical Simulation of Currents in Monterey Bay
Author: Roland Albert Garcia
Publisher:
Total Pages: 151
Release: 1971
Genre: Currents
ISBN:

Recent interest in pollution control and the proximity of Monterey Bay to the Naval Postgraduate School prompted an investigation of the circulation in the bay. The first phase of the study consists of solving the simple cavity flow problem. A vorticity-stream function relationship is solved using an explicit, time dependent, finite difference scheme. Solutions for selected Reynolds' numbers and length to width ratios of the cavity are obtained. Values are chosen to give an indication of the flow patterns occurring over a wide range of these parameters. Equations for a refined model are derived to include the effects of the bottom topography, frictional forces and the Coriolis force. A numerical procedure similar to the one applied to the simple cavity flow problem is used on the refined equations. The topography of Monterey Bay is used in this study. (Author).

A Numerical Study of Baroclinic Circulation in Monterey Bay

A Numerical Study of Baroclinic Circulation in Monterey Bay
Author: Barry L. Bruner
Publisher:
Total Pages: 60
Release: 1988
Genre: California Current
ISBN:

The circulation of Monterey Bay is both variable and complex, and is likely to be significantly influenced by circulation in the adjacent California current. To study this circulation a two-layer, numerical model was used. The model was forced by inflow and outflow at an open boundary that connected the Pacific Ocean with the bay. Topography representing Monterey Canyon was included in the lower layer of the model. The effects of wind and tidal forcing were not considered. Results indicate that surface circulation is strongly constrained by topography when the lower layer flow is 5 cm/sec or larger and that the flows within the bay are consistent with geostrophic, vorticity-conserving flow over bottom topography. The sensitivity of the model to the distribution and strength of inflow and outflow forcing location was investigated. The model was found to be sensitive to the location of inflow and outflow forcing and also to the inflow and outflow vertical structure. Keywords: Ocean currents; Mathematical models; Submarine canyons; Bay bottom topography; Two layer ocean model.

Observations and Modeling of the Shelf Circulation North of the Monterey Bay During August 2006

Observations and Modeling of the Shelf Circulation North of the Monterey Bay During August 2006
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 105
Release: 2007
Genre: Mathematical models
ISBN:

In August of 2006 the Adaptive Sampling and Prediction (ASAP) experiment was conducted near the northern Monterey Bay. Multiple assets including aircraft, autonomous vehicles, moorings, and numerical models were used to gain a better understanding of three-dimensional upwelling centers. Data were collected at two separate mooring locations using Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) during the experiment. The focus of this thesis is to determine the effects of local wind forcing on the ocean circulation and provide a comparison between the data collected at the mooring locations and numerical predictions for the region. Upwelling and relaxation events are used as the basis for understanding the local wind forcing. Upwelling typically results in equatorward flow while relaxation events typically result in poleward flow. Several different types of analyses were used to determine the effects of the local wind forcing. A visual analysis was performed with stick vector plots and component plots of the rotated time series that compared the wind with the data from the water column. Two methods of cross correlation, component correlations and vector correlations, were exploited as well as a spectral analysis of the wind and ADCP data. Finally the coherence and phase between the wind and currents were examined. Based on the analysis it became evident that the currents were forced by both wind and non-local events such as eddies, meanders, and the large-scale alongshelf pressure gradient. Associated with the ASAP experiment, the Harvard Ocean Prediction System (HOPS), the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS), and the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) provided nowcasts that were compared with the mooring data to determine their accuracy and precision. Overall, in the beginning of August the models provided reasonable representations of the flow patterns at the mooring locations. The prediction error increased towards the end of August which was possibly related to data assimilation techniques and more non-local forcing at that time. The military application of this thesis is that accurate current prediction by ocean models will benefit amphibious operations, special warfare operations, and mine warfare in the littoral zone.

Oil Spill Risk Management

Oil Spill Risk Management
Author: David E. Dietrich
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 229
Release: 2014-09-10
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1119027918

This book is designed to help scientifically astute non-specialists understand basic geophysical and computational fluid dynamics concepts relating to oil spill simulations, and related modeling issues and challenges. A valuable asset to the engineer or manager working off-shore in the oil and gas industry, the authors, a team of renowned geologists and engineers, offer practical applications to mitigate any offshore spill risks, using research never before published.

A Model for Tidal Circulation Adapted to Monterey Bay, California

A Model for Tidal Circulation Adapted to Monterey Bay, California
Author: Christine W. Schomaker
Publisher:
Total Pages: 212
Release: 1983
Genre: Tidal currents
ISBN:

An implicit numerical model for two-dimensional hydrodynamic flow in coastal seas by Leendertse (1967), as modified by Hart (1976), was applied to Monterey Bay. The model was tested against available water-level and current observations. The responses of Monterey Bay to tidal forcing and steady-state winds were simulated. Under tidal forcing it was found to provide reasonable estimates of sa-surface elevations. Currents were not well predicted, indicating that other mechanisms such as wind, density stratification, and oceanic currents generally dominate the forcing of the circulation in Monterey Bay. The model in its present form was found to be potentially suitable for providing real-time tide correctors during a hydrographic survey, achieving an RMS error of 4.5 cm in predicting sea-surface elevations. (Author).