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Articles

1979: Vol. LVI, No. 2

Numerical Modeling of Tidal Propagation in the St. Lawrence Estuary

Submitted
August 7, 2015
Published
2015-07-10

Abstract

A two-dimensional numerical model is developed to study the tidal propagation in the St. Lawrence Estuary. Linearized vertically integrated equations of motion and continuity are used. Central finite difference scheme is used both in space and time (forward differences for the dissipative term) and conjugate Richardson lattice scheme is used to ensure computational stability. In this model, the independent tides as well as water level variations due to meteorological causes are omitted. Hence the direct tidal forcing term is set to zero, and the observed tidal constituent is specified at the mouth of the estuary. Separate runs are made for each of the five important tidal constituents in the estuary, namely M2, S2, N2, K1 and O1 and also for the total tide. Co-amplitude, co-phase lines and tidal current ellipses are constructed for each of the five tidal harmonics. Comparison of the model results with previous work and shore based gauge observations shows that the model gives good agreement and can be used to interpret tidal propagation in the St. Lawrence Estuary.