Conjunction of 2D and 3D modified flow solvers for simulating spatio-temporal wind induced hydrodynamics in the Caspian Sea

• Published in: Ocean science journal 2010, 45(2), , pp.113-128
• Main Authors: Zounemat-Kermani, Mohammad, Sabbagh-Yazdi, Saeed-Reza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Hydrodynamics; Marine; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Oceanography; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; 해양학
• ISSN: 1738-5261; 2005-7172
• DOI: 10.1007/s12601-010-0010-7

The main objective of this study is the simulation of flow dynamics in the deep parts of the Caspian Sea, in which the southern and middle deep regions are surrounded by considerable areas of shallow zones. To simulate spatio-temporal wind induced hydrodynamics in deep waters, a conjunctive numerical model consisting of a 2D depth average model and a 3D pseudo compressible model is proposed. The 2D model is applied to determine time dependent free surface oscillations as well as the surface velocity patterns and is conjunct to the 3D flow solver for computing three-dimensional velocity and pressure fields which coverage to steady state for the top boundary condition. The modified 2D and 3D sets of equations are conjunct considering interface shear stresses. Both sets of 2D and 3D equations are solved on unstructured triangular and tetrahedral meshes using the Galerkin Finite Volume Method. The conjunctive model is utilized to investigate the deep currents affected by wind, Coriolis forces and the river inflow conditions of the Caspian Sea. In this study, the simulation of flow field due to major winds as well as transient winds in the Caspian Sea during a period of 6 hours in the winter season has been conducted and the numerical results for water surface level are then compared to the 2D numerical results.