A 3D Numerical Model of Tides and Surges in Coastal Seas with Tidal Flats

A system is described, based on finite-difference discretisations of the governing hydrodynamic equations, which determines the three-dimensional motions in well mixed coastal seas, produced by tidal and meteorological influences. It has been thoroughly tested and has been found to be very robust and accurate.

Closure of the system of equations is achieved using forms of the Boussinesq approximation to determine the coefficients in the turbulent eddy viscosity terms. A method of calibrating the model is also described.