Numerical simulations of the tidal- and wind-driven circulation in Narragansett Bay

Abstract

A three-dimensional numerical hydrodynamic model was used to study the tides and certain aspects of the wind-forced flow in Narragansett Bay. The governing equations are solved using the Galerkin-spectral method in the vertical and explicit finite differences in the horizontal and time. A split-mode formulation is used to minimize computational time. Simulations of the M 2 tide gave average errors of less than 2% in amplitude and 2° in phase when compared with observations at 12 tidal-height stations within the Bay. An investigation of the Bay's response to steady, spatially uniform wind forcing indicated that the non-linear interaction between the tidal and wind induced motions strongly affected the predicted steady state current pattern. Calculation of the steady-state wind-induced transports showed that a significant exchange exists between the West Passage, East Passage and Sakonnet River. The dependence of the exchange on the wind magnitude and direction and on the choice of vertical eddy viscosity was investigated. A comparison between modeled results and measurements of current at three locations in the Bay indicated that the model is capable of reproducing some of the features of the wind-induced flow.