A 3D hydrodynamic numerical model of the Río de la Plata and Montevideo’s coastal zone

• Published in: Applied mathematical modelling Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 1310 - 1332
• Main Authors: Fossati, M., Piedra-Cueva, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-02-2013
• Subjects: 3D hydrodynamic modeling; Astronomical bodies; Calibration; Coastal; Computational fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Hydrodynamics; Mathematical models; MOHID model; Residual currents; Río de la Plata; Three dimensional models; PSW, South America, Rio de la Plata; ASW, Uruguay, Montevideo; 3D hydrodynamic modeling; MOHID model; Río de la Plata; Residual currents
• ISSN: 0307-904X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apm.2012.04.010

The 3D hydrodynamic numerical model MOHID was applied in the Río de la Plata and Montevideo coastal zone in order to represent the main dynamics and to study its complex circulation pattern. The hydrodynamic model was calibrated and validated considering the following main forces: fresh water flow, astronomical and meteorological tides in the oceanic boundary, and wind acting on the water surface. A series of water levels measured at six coastal stations and vertical profiles of current velocity measured at four different locations in the estuarine zone of the Río de la Plata were used for calibrating and validating the hydrodynamic model. The calibration process was carried out in two steps. First the astronomical waves propagation was calibrated comparing harmonic constants of observed and computed sea surface elevation data. Next, both the astronomical and meteorological wave propagation was calibrated. Direct comparison of scatter plot and root-mean square errors of model results and field data were used when evaluating the calibration quality. The calibrated model shows good agreement with the measured water surface level in the entire domain with mean error values being minor than 20% of the measured data and correlation factors higher than 0.74. Also, the intensity and velocity direction observed in the currents data are well represented by the model in both bottom and surface levels with errors similar to 30% of the currents data components. Using the 3D calibrated model the bottom and surface residual circulation for a four month period of time was analyzed.