Computational Fluid Dynamics Model of Thermal Microenvironments of Corals

Abstract: We present a model which allows the surface temperature of corals to be predicted, based on environmental factors. The simulation uses specially developed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models which incorporate the coupled dynamics of water flow in porous media, heat transfer, and spec-tral irradiance. These models were validated against measurements taken under controlled laboratory conditions, for both massive and branching corals. The results of our CFD simulations agree very well with previously reported experimental results and heat transfer theory. The strong agreement between our modelled results and laboratory observations demonstrates the applicability of CFD, to the study of coral bleaching