Coupling of Wave and Circulation Models for Predicting Storm-Induced Waves, Surges, and Coastal Inundation
Date
2010
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to apply coupled systems for wave-current
interaction for use in simulating and predicting storm-induced surges, waves and coastal
inundation. Two coupled systems are used. One includes model components: ROMS (a
three-dimensional ocean model) and SWAN (a third-generation numerical wave model).
The other system is NearCoM (a nearshore community model) which couples SWAN and
SHORECIRC (a quasi-3D nearshore circulation model).
A coupled model system including ROMS and SWAN is based on MCT
implementation. It is applied to Delaware Bay for wave and current simulation. The
computational domain is a regional ocean scale domain covering the entire Delaware Bay
and adjacent shelf region. Numerical results from the coupled system are compared with
available wave and current data obtained from Delaware Bay Observing System (DBOS).
Comparisons show good agreement between model results and observations. Strong tidal
modulations of surface waves are identified in both model results and measured data.
A nearshore community model system NearCoM couples SWAN and
SHORECIRC models based on the Master Program implementation. The system is used
in a series of numerical experiments that are carried out in an idealized, alongshore
uniform domain, which includes a planar beach, land and shelf with constant slopes, in
order to explore the response of storm-induced inundation, storm surges as well as waves to wave forcing and to different cyclone parameters through atmospheric forcing. Four
sets of experiments are conducted to investigate four factors, radium of maximum wind,
track of tropical cyclone, maximum wind speed as well as translation speed, respectively,
in affecting storm surges and coastal inundation. Each experiment is conducted twice
(with and without wave effect in the model system) to examine the wave setup effect.
Coastal inundation, storm surge and wave are sensitive to all four factors. Wave setup
always results in larger storm surge and inundation area.