Simulation of Large-Scale Circulation in Harbors

A numerical model capable of simulating vertically-integrated tidal circulations in a harbor area for a substantial long period of time has been applied to the Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor. The computed results show that the large gyre structures, which have also been observed in the field, correlate closely with those found in a hydraulic model. In the difference equations, the non-linear advective terms and the local acceleration terms are arranged on the same time level in order to improve the numerical stability. The numerical scheme is efficient for the hydrodynamic computation of tidal motion in a complicated harbor geometry.