A Set of 3-D Nested Models for Tidal Propagation from the Argentinean Continental Shelf to the Río de la Plata Estuary—Part I. M2

Abstract

Abstract As a contribution to the UNDP/GEF project ‘Environmental Protection of the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front’, the three-dimensional primitive equation Hamburg Shelf Ocean Model is being implemented for forecasting purposes. As a first step a study of the tidal propagation was done. Data for the estuary were gained through a set of three one-way nested models. Simulations were started with a large-scale model covering the Argentinean and Uruguayan and part of the Brazilian continental shelves. This model provides boundary conditions to a smaller scale model of the Rio de la Plata and adjacent continental shelf, which in turn is used to force a small-scale high-resolution model of the Rio de la Plata estuary. Model sensitivity to different boundary conditions and to model parameters was investigated. Solutions are not sensitive to the two different boundary conditions tested, derived from global data assimilating models. It results also not sensitive to lateral diffusion but to bottom frictio...