Galveston Bay Project- Hydraulic model user's manual.

Date

1974

Authors

Hembree, L.A., Jr.
Ward, G.H., Jr.
Hays, A.J., Jr.
Chen, R.M.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Tracor, Incorporated

Abstract

The principal objective in writing this detailed user's manual is to provide both the estuarine modeling specialist and non-specialist alike with sufficient information with which to exercise the Galveston Bay Project (GBP) hydraulic or hydrodynamic model in Galveston Bay water quality management evaluations. Brief comments concerning user requirements for applying this model to other estuarine systems are also included but this aspect is not emphasized. Introductory remarks caution the reader/user of the advisability of reading this manual thoroughly, as well as supplementing this document with important information contained in other references before actually utilizing this hydraulic model and interpreting its computational results. In supplying the necessary user's information the principles and feasible applications of this two-dimensional (in the horizontal plane) dynamic model are presented and discussed. The model is based on the equations of motion and includes the effects of Coriolis forces and advection of momentum. It accounts for the influence of all major hydrologic and meteorologic influences on the Bay's hydrodynamics, such as tides, freshwater inflows, wastewater discharges, and winds. From the instantaneous velocities and water elevations are extracted the net tidal flows/velocities for the entire Bay and upper Houston Ship Channel with a resolution of one nautical mile. Velocities thus produced are subsequently employed as essential input to other GBP water quality models, viz. the salinity, temperature, biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, ammonia-N, organic-N, and nitrate-N models. These water quality models have employed the hydraulic model's output on numerous occasions and user's manuals on these models also will be completed. The GBP hydraulic model framework is actually applied in two distinct cases for: (a) the entire Bay system and (b) specific localized areas within the Bay adjacent to electrical power plant cooling water discharges (outfalls). The latter case is important due to the influence of such once-through cooling water diversions on bay hydrodynamics and on temperature structure. Hydraulics resulting from outfall investigations are subsequently used in temperature modeling of the localized outfall areas. Descriptions of the computer programs and all related subroutines are included in this manual together with listings and generalized flow charts. An example problem for both bay and outfall cases are presented, including complete listings of necessary data cards and resulting output.

Description

101 p.

Keywords

water quality, models, mathematical models, modeling

Citation