Application of Grid‐Nesting Technique on Sandwaves Migration Simulation II— Sandwaves Migration in Northern South China Sea

Abstract

AbstractThis paper developed a numerical model applicable to the simulation of small‐scale sandwaves migration in northern South China Sea. The model is composed of ultra‐high resolution 3D ocean environment module and sediment transport module, considering the impact of terrain, tides, temperature, salinity and wind stresses on the bottom flow field and the sandwaves migration. The study found that sandwaves migrations with opposite direction on the two sides of the sand ridge resulted from the joint effects of terrain, tide, temperature and salinity. Among them, the density current induced by temperature and salinity distribution is one of the factors that cannot be ignored in the sandwave migration. Comparing with measurement results, the simulation results are better than the previous 2DV model and the Q3D model; the model can simulate the phenomenon of sandwaves migration direction flip on the two sides of the sand ridge.