Numerical Tidal Model of Chesapeake Bay

A two-dimensional plan view numerical model based upon the shallow water equations is developed to simulate the tidal dynamics of complex estuaries, rivers, and bays. The finite difference technique conserves mass, momentum (with no dissipation) and energy. The technique also allows for easy employment of boundary conditions and uses little computer time. The model is applied to the Chesapeake Bay with its varying bathymetry and many tributaries, showing the simulations to accurately predict available observations. The presence of residual eddies were detected. Numerical simulations of the Bay demonstrate that a bottom friction coefficient of K = 0.0025 (C = approx. 63) is appropriate.