Simulation of Marine Leisure Accidents Using Random-Walk Particle Tracking on Macro-Tidal Environment

Abstract

In the west coast of Korea (WCK), macro-tidal environments with wide tidal flats yield distinctive characteristics such as recursive tidal currents and tidal asymmetry. Here, we proposed an efficient search and rescue (SAR) computation method for WCK conditions (where bottom shapes affect nearshore sticking) using a finely resolved wet–dry circulation model. A random-walk particle tracking module (PTM) was applied to an unstructured finite element model to provide the SAR information needed to mitigate the consequences of marine leisure accidents. To capture the unique external forcing characteristics affecting the nearshore SAR case, sensitivity tests, which considered the characteristics of human bodies in particle representation, were performed on an idealized basin under typical external forcing. Furthermore, the effects of surface drag were included to represent real conditions more accurately. Our simulations showed that the accuracy of initial accident times for in situ mannequin floating tests (where several initial locations and times of accidents were used) directly affected the accuracy and effectiveness of SAR missions. However, to understand and predict the missing floating person in real time, additional intensive field experiments are required that account for the local geomorphological characteristics, external real-time temporal tides, and wind forcing incorporating extreme weather conditions.