Computation of Long-Term Three-Dimensional Hydrodynamics of New York Bight

A time-varying three-dimensional (3D) numerical hydrodynamic model has been applied to the New York Bight to provide flow fields to a 3D water quality model. The spatial computational domain extends from Cape May, New Jersey at its south-west end and Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, at the north-east end and seaward to the shelf-break. As illustrated below, the numerical model has more than 2500 active horizontal cells and ten vertical layers. Features of the hydrodynamic model include coupling of temperature grids to better represent geometric features, and an algebraic vertical turbulence model based upon the assumption that turbulence production and dissipation are in equilibrium. Using historical forcing data, flow fields for the period of September 1975 - October 1976 have been computed. These results demonstrate that the numerical model is able to accurately reproduce the observed salinity field