To Appear: Proceedings 28th Coastal Engineering Conference, World Scientific Press, 2002.
COUPLING OF WAVE AND CIRCULATION NUMERICAL MODELS AT
GRAYS HARBOR ENTRANCE, WASHINGTON, USA
Abstract: The interaction of waves and currents at an inlet entrance can be
significant. Traditionally, numerical modelers have separated the processes of
tidal circulation and wave transformation, but the surf zone and inlet are areas
where the interactions are strong and should be numerically simulated to capture
the resulting hydrodynamics. This paper describes performance of coupled
wave and circulation models for both an idealized inlet setting and an
application for Grays Harbor, Washington, concentrating on the influence of
waves on currents. A comparison of tidal current simulations to tidal-plus-
wave-induced current simulations shows that the interactions create gyres,
longshore currents, rip currents, and "shadow zones" of relatively weak currents.
It is concluded that accurate simulation of the hydrodynamics at coastal inlets
requires coupling of wave and circulation models.
INTRODUCTION
Grays Harbor, located on the coast of southwest Washington, is one of the largest
estuaries in the continental United States and has a correspondingly large tidal prism
(Fig. 1). The entrance to Grays Harbor also experiences extreme Pacific Northwest waves.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has built and maintained two rubble-mound
jetties, a deep-draft navigation channel, and other navigational features in Grays Harbor.
The North Jetty functions to block southward transport of sediment and to protect and
maintain an entrance navigation channel; however, its effectiveness has decreased as a
result of subsidence and deterioration. Recently, the north beach (Ocean Shores) has
exhibited a tendency to erode, reversing a historic trend of advancement. Issues of concern
1. US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory,
3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199 USA.
Mary.A.Cialone@erdc.usace.army.mil.
2. Coastal Analysis LLC, 4886 Herron Rd., Eureka, CA 95503 USA. CoastalAnalysis@Cox.net.
3. US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory,
3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199 USA.
Mitch.E.Brown@erdc.usace.army.mil
4. US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory,
3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199 USA.
Nicholas.C.Kraus@erdc.usace.army.mil.
Cialone, Militello, Brown, and Kraus
1
Previous Page
