INTERFACING DATA ANALYSIS AND NUMERICAL MODELING FOR TIDAL HYDRODYNAMIC PHENOMENA Ralph T. Cheng, Jon R. Burau, and Jeff W. Gartner USS. Geological Survey Menlo Park, CA, USA ABSTRACT Recent advances in computing hardware have profoundly affected research on tidal hydrodynamic phenomena. Large-scale numerical models, after careful calibration and verification, have been used successfully to accurately reproduce tidal hydrodynamic processes. As the complexity of the computer model increases, the required number of computational points increases exponentially. Thus, the major effort in tal hydrodynamic modeling has shilted from equation solving to pre-processing model input, post-processing model results, and interfacing field data with numerical models for calibration and verification. To meet the needs of a complex modeling effort in San Francisco Bay, a modeling system has been developed at the U. S. Geological Survey (USCS). The ‘modeling system includes a bathymetry data base, a variety of models, and a field data archival system. Computer graphics are used extensively in model calibration and verification. With the aid of a modeling system, new model calibration procedures have been explored and developed. Several models of San Francisco Bay, California, involving on the order of 10 to 20 thousand grid points have been successfully calibrated and verified against astronomical tidal data. Without the aid of a modeling system, these modeling tasks would have ‘been much more difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish 1. INTRODUCTION Estuarine tidal hydrodynamics is one of the most complex topics ia environmental fluid mechanics. Flows and circulation in estuaries are driven ‘mainly by astronomical tides, river inflows, and wind forcings. Within 3 few 201ENOMENA ON SHELVES AND IN EMBAYMENTS tidal periods, the flows in estuaries are always transient. Tidal hydrodynamic processes mask many important flow properties which ultimately determine, directly or indirectly, the mixing and solute transport characteristics, residual circulation, and long-term transport processes in tidally driven embayment. In contrast to oceanic circulation, tidal circulation in estuaries is profoundly affected by the interactions between the fluid flows and basin bathymetry, by the degree of density straification, and by the extent of mixing between fresh water and oceanic water. Rapid and continuing improvements in computing hardware afford researchers an unprecedented opportunity to study tidal hydrodynamic Phenomena using numerical models. Many numerical models are well developed and have essentially replaced most functions of traditional hydraulic models, Practical estuarine numerical models often include on the order of tens of thousands of grid points. As advancements in computing power continue, the tendency toward! developing even larger scale, finer resolution, longer simulation estuarine models is anticipated. Consequently, research into accurate and efficient numerical solutions of the governing equations is even ‘more demanding because of the greatly increased total number of computing operations. A the resolution and length of model simulations increase, the amount of data that must be transferred in and out of estuatine models increases, exponentially. This situation has led naturally to considerations of efficient and effective treatment of pre-processing of model inputs, and post-processing of ‘model results. Therefore, in a comprehensive large scale estuarine modeling effort, it is essential to recognize the importance of the pre- and post: Processing procedures. Streamlined and effective pre- and post-processing provides easy implementation of modeling alternatives, and allows efficient ‘model calibration and verification. Over the years, in meeting the needs of research on tidal hydrodynamic phenomena in San Francisco Bay, a modeling system has been developed and gradually evolved to its present form. This modeling system includes a bathymetry data base, a variety of models, and a field data archival system. In the following sections, the organization of this modeling system will be discussed in detail along with a summary of the numerical models used in San Francisco Bay. Particular emphases are given to mode calibration procedures and model applications. Instead of comparing time-series between model results and data, a satisfactory calibration is judged by comparison of the amplitudes and phases of the tides and tidal currents. Finally, discussions elaborate on the use of computer graphics as a necessary element in successful numerical modeling research in tidal hydrodynamic phenomena.INTERFACING DATA ANALYSIS AND NUMERICAL MODELING 2. AMODELING SYSTEM FOR SAN FRANCISCO BAY RESEARCH San Francisco Bay, Califomia is a complex estuary which consists of inter-connected embayments, sloughs, marshes, channels, and rivers. Among the many factors that affect the flow properties in the Bay, the basin bathymetry is probably the most important factor controlling the spatial Variability in Luth the magnitude and direction of tidal and residual currents. The tidally induced residual currents are a direct result of the nonlinear interaction among tides, tidal currents and basin bathymetry. Thus, bathymetry deieiwines the disivioution of residual currents. A’ review and summary of the physical and hydrodynamic properties of San Francisco Bay is given by Walters etal. (1985). Generally and invariably, the available field data in tidal basins are sparse in both space and time. Besides, feld data alone are not sufficient to quant temporal and spatial variability of tidal variables. Paucity of field date necessitates the use of numerical models to fill the voids in field data, and to assist further understanding of estuarine processes, Numerical models can be Viewed as research tools for interpolation between available field data Conversely, it is equally important to recognize that meaningful and realistic modeling results cannot be obtained without adequate supporting data. The integrity of any numerical model in the absence of data’ is greatly compromised, Once a numerical model is carefully calibrated and verfied, Computer model simulation can be used for prediction of field variables in both space and in time. Because of the complex physical setting of San Francisco Bay and the intricate nature of estuarine hydrodynamic processes, the hydrodynamic models used in this system must have sufficient spatial and. temporal Fesolution, Models used for this research include both finite-element and frite- difference models, whose total number of computational grid-points are Benerally very large. For a large scale modeling task, a good portion of the actual work involves the preparation of model input data, and the management of model output files. “In connection with these tasks, it is necessary to dlevelop a modeling system in which computers are used, not only for equation solving, but also for pre- and post-processing data in numerical modeling research. This concept might be appropriately referred to as Computer-Akiegs Modeling (CAM). for the hydrodynamic research of San Francisco Bay, a modeling system which integrates all of its related components is shown schematically in Figure 1. This system consists of a bathymetry data basa, a field-data archival system and a collection of many pre-processing and post. Processing computer programs. Hot MSRARY, Ai, ORLANDGA Fin 326 ———— ee