A three-dimensional semi-implicit unstructured grid finite volume ocean model

Abstract

A new three-dimensional semi-implicit finite-volume ocean model has been developed for simulating the coastal ocean circulation, which is based on the staggered C-unstructured non-orthogonal grid in the horizontal direction and z -level grid in the vertical direction. The three-dimensional model is discretized by the semi-implicit finite-volumemethod, in that the free-surface and the vertical diffusion are semi-implicit, thereby removing stability limitations associated with the surface gravity wave and vertical diffusion terms. The remaining terms in the momentum equations are discretized explicitly by an integral method. The partial cell method is used for resolving topography, which enables the model to better represent irregular topography. The model has been tested against analytical cases for wind and tidal oscillation circulation, and is applied to simulating the tidal flow in the Bohai Sea. The results are in good agreement both with the analytical solutions andmeasurement results.