Development of a Three Dimensional Model to Understand Modified Tidal Entrance Processes

Abstract

This paper presents results from a three-dimensional numerical simulation of flow, mixing and transport processes at the Gold Coast Seaway tidal entrance. To simulate the flow field in a realistic situation, a three-dimensional model (MIKE3) for the study area is setup. An extensive observational data set including water level variations, current, salinity, temperature, wind and atmospheric pressure measurements has been used for calibration of the model. To compare the effectiveness of a two-dimensional simulation of advection-dispersion within the Seaway against the more realistic three dimensional simulation and to better understand the benefits of the three-dimensional approach, a vertically averaged two dimensional model (MIKE 21) of the study area has also have been developed and its results been compared with the three dimensional model. The two models are run under various environmental forces to examine the relative importance of the environmental forces on the mixing and transport processes within the study area.