Hydrodynamic modelling of a dynamic inlet

This paper describes details of a 2D hydrodynamic model and its applications to a dynamic inlet. The model computes the depth-average tide and wave-driven currents, as well as wave characteristics. It forms part of a Q3D model which also includes a module to compute undertow velocity distribution through the water column at a point-in-plan in the surf zone. The 2D hydrodynamic module allows for the effects of wave diffraction and refraction, wave breaking and wave-current interaction to be included in dynamic simulations for combined tidal and wave situations. The 2D model was applied to a newly-opened dynamic inlet near Faro at southern Portugal, with conditions obtained during a four-month intensive field campaign under Project INDIA (Inlet Dynamics Initiative: Algarve) funded by EU MAST III Research Programme. The model results were compared with field data measured by a number of remote sensing instruments and showed good agreement