Open AccessAn analytical solution for stratified tidal lagoons: Application to the validation of a numerical open boundary condition
Author(s) -
Eliason Donald E.,
Bourgeois Alfred J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2000jc000388
Subject(s) - boundary value problem , work (physics) , convergence (economics) , finite difference , numerical analysis , finite difference method , boundary (topology) , mechanics , mathematics , geology , mathematical analysis , physics , thermodynamics , economics , economic growth
An analytical solution is presented for the case of a stratified, tidally forced lagoon. This solution, especially its energy and mass balances, is useful for the validation of numerical shallow water models under stratified, tidally forced conditions. The utility of the analytical solution for validation is demonstrated for a simple finite difference numerical model. The energy, mass, and their balances from the numerical model are shown to converge to the analytical solution with a power law dependence as spatial and temporal resolution are increased. The power law convergence of the numerical results to the analytical solution validates both the finite difference scheme and the open boundary conditions used for the tidal forcing. The open boundary conditions work well because they are consistent with the characteristics of the analytical solution.