Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Marchesiello Patrick, Benshila R., Almar Rafaël, Uchiyama Y., McWilliams J. C., Shchepetkin A. (2015). On tridimensional rip current modeling. Ocean Modelling, 96 (1), p. 36-48. ISSN 1463-5003.

Titre du document
On tridimensional rip current modeling
Année de publication
2015
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000366058400004
Auteurs
Marchesiello Patrick, Benshila R., Almar Rafaël, Uchiyama Y., McWilliams J. C., Shchepetkin A.
Source
Ocean Modelling, 2015, 96 (1), p. 36-48 ISSN 1463-5003
Do lateral shear instabilities of nearshore circulation account for a substantial part of Very Low-Frequency (VLF) variability? If yes, it would promote stirring and mixing of coastal waters and surf-shelf exchanges. Another question is whether tridimensional transient processes are important for instability generation. An innovative modeling system with tridimensional wave-current interactions was designed to investigate transient nearshore currents and interactions between nearshore and innershelf circulations. We present here some validation of rip current modeling for the Aquitanian coast of France, using in-situ and remote video sensing. We then proceed to show the benefits of 3D versus 2D (depth-mean flow) modeling of rip currents and their low-frequency variability. It appears that a large part of VLF motions is due to intrinsic variability of the tridimensional flow. 3D models may thus provide a valuable, only marginally more expensive alternative to conventional 2D approaches that miss the vertical flow structure and its nonlinear interaction with the depth-averaged flow.
Plan de classement
Limnologie physique / Océanographie physique [032]
Description Géographique
FRANCE ; ATLANTIQUE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010065535]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010065535
Contact