4.1.

MODEL COORDINATES 83
 
1 1 − σ̂ 1 − σ̂
σ =1− ln(1 + )+ (4.24)
α σ0 σ∗
where
1 1
α = ln(1 + )+ (4.25)
σ0 σ∗
The first (second) form provides a more refined resolution at the bottom (sur-
face). The extent of the logarithmic grid is set by the tunable parameter σ∗ .
Burchard & Bolding (2002) considered a formulation with refined resolu-
tions near both the bottom and surface
tanh [(dl + du )σ − dl ] + tanh dl
σ̂ = (4.26)
tanh dl + tanh du

Increasing the values of the (positive) parameters dl or du will provide a

higher resolution in respectively the bottom or surface layer at the expense
of a coarser resolution in the remaining parts of the water column.
A vertical grid is then constructed by firstly taking a series of uniformly
spaced σ-levels, i.e. σk = (k − 1)/N, k = 1, N + 1 where N is the number of
vertical layers. In the case of a non-uniform grid, the corresponding values
of σ̂k are obtained from the transformation formula. Examples are given in
Figure 4.5a-b. The first one shows that the vertical grid positions are more
densily packed and the grid spacings are smaller in the bottom (surface)
layer for a logarithmic transformation concentrated at the bottom (surface).
The Burchard & Bolding (2002) formulation (with dl = du ) has enhanced
resolutions both near the surface as near the bottom but a coarser resolution
in the middle of the water column.

4.1.4.2 generalised σ-coordinates

Instead of using the traditional σ-coordinate a generalised vertical “s” coor-
dinate can be defined by
z = F (x1 , x2 , s, t) (4.27)
with (x1 ,x2 ) = (x,y), (λ,φ) or (ξ1 ,ξ2 ) and where s = 0 at the bottom and
s = 1 at the surface so that

F (x1 , x2 , 0, t) = −h , F (x1 , x2 , 1, t) = ζ (4.28)

The vertical grid spacing now becomes

∂F
∆z = ∆s = h3 ∆s (4.29)
∂s