Modeling of Wave Driven Circulation and Water Quality in Nearshore Environments
Publication: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008: Ahupua'A
Abstract
In order to investigate the effects of nearshore discharges of water quality degrading substances and bacteria in coastal environments, models capable of predicting nearshore circulation due to local wave and tide conditions are required. One of the larger challenges to nearshore coastal modeling is accurately reproducing nearshore circulation due to wave action. Local wave action not only drives circulation through processes such as longshore transport and rip currents, but also contributes significantly to the mixing of water quality constituents. In the present work, a wave model was used to calculate radiation shear stresses and dissipation due to wave action. The shear stresses and dissipation were incorporated into a hydrodynamic model to force circulation in the nearshore environment. The model was applied to a site in Santa Cruz, CA where site specific current data was available. The model reproduces the nearshore current structure observed in the region and was used to study the transport of dredge disposal plumes in the region which could have deleterious effects on local beaches. This presentation will outline the nearshore circulation model development and application.
Get full access to this chapter
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2008 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Apr 26, 2012
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Coastal engineering
- Coasts, oceans, ports, and waterways engineering
- Engineering fundamentals
- Environmental engineering
- Fluid mechanics
- Hydrologic engineering
- Hydrologic properties
- Hydrology
- Model accuracy
- Models (by type)
- Nearshore
- Ocean waves
- Shear stress
- Shores
- Stress (by type)
- Structural analysis
- Structural engineering
- Water and water resources
- Water circulation
- Water discharge
- Water quality
- Water treatment
- Water waves
- Wave action
- Waves (fluid mechanics)
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.