A finite-element, multi-scale model of the Scheldt tributaries, river, estuary and ROFI

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• 作者：Benjamin de Brye ; Anouk de Brauwere ; Olivier Gourgue ; Tuomas Kä ; rnä ; Jonathan Lambrechts ; Richard Comblen ; Eric Deleersnijder
• 关键词：Finite-element ; Model ; Scheldt Estuary ; Tide ; Hydrodynamics ; Multi-scale ; Salinity ; Lagrangian residual velocity
• 刊名：Coastal Engineering
• 出版年：2010
• 出版时间：September 2010
• 年：2010
• 卷：57
• 期：9
• 页码：850-863
• 全文大小：1365 K

文摘

We report on the development and validation of a coupled two- and one-dimensional finite-element model for the Scheldt tributaries, river, estuary and region of fresh water influence (ROFI). The hydrodynamic equations are solved on a single, unstructured, multi-scale mesh stretching from the shelf break to the Scheldt tributaries. The tide is forced on the shelf break and propagates upstream in the riverine network. Upstream boundaries lie on sluices or outside of the region of tidal dominance where daily averaged discharges are imposed. Two-dimensional, depth-averaged shallow water equations are solved by means of the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method over the marine and estuarine parts of the computational domain. In the rivers, however, one-dimensional equations are dealt with using the DG method with the addition of a technique to cope with confluence points. Model parameters are carefully calibrated, leading to the simulation of wind- and tide-forced flows that are in excellent agreement with available data. The diffusivity in the transport equation is calibrated using time series of salinity at various locations in the estuary. Finally, the Lagrangian residual transport in the estuary and the adjacent coastal zone is investigated. This work is a major step towards an integrated model for studying the dynamics of waterborne contaminants and the water renewal timescales in the Scheldt land-sea continuum.