Validation of a coupled wave‐flow model in a high‐energy setting: The mouth of the Columbia River

Abstract

[1] A monthlong time series of wave, current, salinity, and suspended-sediment measurements was made at five sites on a transect across the Mouth of Columbia River (MCR). These data were used to calibrate and evaluate the performance of a coupled hydrodynamic and wave model for the MCR based on the Delft3D modeling system. The MCR is a dynamic estuary inlet in which tidal currents, river discharge, and wave-driven currents are all important. Model tuning consisted primarily of spatial adjustments to bottom drag coefficients. In combination with (near-) default parameter settings, the MCR model application is able to simulate the dominant features in the tidal flow, salinity and wavefields observed in field measurements. The wave-orbital averaged method for representing the current velocity profile in the wave model is considered the most realistic for the MCR. The hydrodynamic model is particularly effective in reproducing the observed vertical residual and temporal variations in current structure. Density gradients introduce the observed and modeled reversal of the mean flow at the bed and augment mean and peak flow in the upper half of the water column. This implies that sediment transport during calmer summer conditions is controlled by density stratification and is likely net landward due to the reversal of flow near the bed. The correspondence between observed and modeled hydrodynamics makes this application a tool to investigate hydrodynamics and associated sediment transport.Citation: Elias, E. P. L., G. Gelfenbaum, and A. J. Van der Westhuysen (2012), Validation of a coupled wave-flow model in a high-energy setting: The mouth of the Columbia River,

Morphological and sedimentological response of a mixed-energy barrier island tidal inlet to storm and fair-weather conditions

“…The model system Delft3D has been widely tested in morphodynamic modeling studies for various environments (e.g., Dissanayake et al, 2009;Lesser et al, 2004;Van der Wegen and Roelvink, 2012), yet it has been verified in comparably few morphological studies on nonidealized tidal inlets that take into account a real-world bathymetry (e.g., Elias and Hansen, 2013;Elias and van der Spek, 2006;Elias et al, 2012). The validation of simulated morphodynamics by field observations is generally difficult as in situ data are scarce and only available for very limited areas, if at all.…”

A survey of benthic sediment contaminants in reaches of the Columbia River Estuary based on channel sedimentation characteristics

“…The model used in this study is based on a Delft3D hydrodynamic and sediment transport model originally developed specifically for the mouth of the Columbia River and which has been validated for waves and currents against field data (Elias et al, 2012). World-wide case studies indicate that Delft3D is applicable to a wide range of coastal and fluvial environments including ocean, estuary and river settings (Grunnet et al, 2004;Van Maren, 2004;Elias et al, 2006;Lesser et al, 2004;Mulligan et al, 2010).…”

“…For detailed patterns of fine sediment dispersal, this resolution is however not sufficient and higher resolution modeling was performed within the three study reaches of interest. For a complete description of the estuary hydrodynamic model, validation procedures, and limitations see Elias et al (2012).…”

Analytical and numerical study of the salinity intrusion in the Sebou river estuary (Morocco) – effect of the “Super Blood Moon” (total lunar eclipse) of 2015

“…Two kinds of models are typically used: numerical models and analytical models. Presently, numerical models are more popular especially two-dimensional (2-D) and 3-D models (Kärnä et al, 2015;Elias et al, 2012;Zhao et al, 2012;Li et al, 2012;Jeong et al, 2010;Wu and Zhu, 2010;Xue et al, 2009;An et al, 2009, etc. ) because they can provide more spatial and temporal detail.…”