A finite element numerical study of the ocean circulation off the Newfoundland and Labrador shelf

Lu, Zhaoshi (2008) A finite element numerical study of the ocean circulation off the Newfoundland and Labrador shelf. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

QUODDY, a 3-D finite element numerical ocean model, is used to study the ocean circulation variability over the Labrador Shelf and Newfoundland Shelf, and the evolution patterns of the model temperature, salinity and currents. The effects of two different nudging schemes on the model solution are examined. One approach is to restore the model temperature and salinity toward their initial values (for the first M₂ cycle) or toward evolving immediately preceding M₂ cycle mean values (for the second and subsequent M₂ cycle). The other approach is to fix the density but allow dynamical evolution of temperature and salinity. The moored measurements are used to evaluate the model circulation results and harmonic tidal analysis is used to analyze the simulated tidal results. The model simulated circulations are generally consistent with observations. The current comparison statistics indicate good qualitative agreement and approximate quantitative agreement with moored measurements. The comparison of two different schemes shows that the nudging approach of T/S is conceptually and dynamically more realistic than the pure diagnostic one. Tidal model results are consistent with those from previous studies.

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