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GLERL HYDRODYNAMIC MODELING RESEARCH PROGRAM
General Background
The Hydrodynamics and Physical Processes program combines process-based observational studies with numerical modeling of hydrodynamic processes. The main goals of the hydrodynamic modeling facet of this program are:
- to develop and implement a system of computer-based models that can simulate and predict the 3-D structure of currents, temperature, water levels, wind-waves, and sediment transport in the Great Lakes;
- to integrate these models with real-time observations to produce timely forecast products; and,
- to apply these models to practical problems of coastal environmental management and planning.
Meteorological and oceanographic conditions in coastal areas can sometimes become dangerous and cause significant damage to property, loss of human life, and social or economic disruption. One of the primary factors responsible for hazardous conditions in coastal areas is the marine surface wind. Wind is a hazard by itself for boats, ships, and other structures, but the danger increases in aquatic systems due to wind-generated large waves, storm surges, and currents. High and low water levels, heavy snowfalls, ice, and shoreline erosion all pose serious threats in the Great Lakes and coastal marine areas, as do human-caused hazards, especially spills of petroleum products and chemicals. A principal NOAA mission objective is to develop and deliver hazard mitigation products consisting of data, warnings, predictions, and advice to users of the coastal ocean and Great Lakes.
The safe and wise use of coastal waters requires knowledge of the physical characteristics of these waters and a method to anticipate changes in these characteristics. Typically these include the three-dimensional distributions of temperature and currents, water levels, and surface wave fields. According to the 1989 National Research Council Report on Opportunities to Improve Marine Forecasting, "There exists a common national interest in, and need for, nowcasts and forecasts of oceanic velocity, thermal structure, and related fields. Significant and sustainable benefits to a variety of commercial, military, and recreational oceanic activities are identifiable and are now, for the first time, feasible based on existing ocean science and technology." GLERL's Hydrodynamic Modeling Program addresses this need in the Great Lakes, and has already been responsible for development of trajectory, wind-wave, and seiche prediction models that are used on the Great Lakes in support of the missions of the National Weather Service, state emergency management agencies, and the Coast Guard.
Last updated: 2004-03-25 mbl