388
Camarinal Sill, respectively, are well represented. Nevertheless, there is not transition
from subcritical to supercritical. As mentioned above, the model can not simulate
supercritical outflows. In order to eliminate this difficulty, a larger domain must be
considered to ensure the subcritical state of the flow near the boundaries. Finally,
figures 13 and 14 show the velocity field for the upper layer when a 10m/5 eastern or
western wind, respectively, is considered
The simulated elevation field (7]) in the Strait area (not shown) is also in good
agreement with observations. The zonal structure of the elevation of the sea surface
and the interface depends on the winds. A higher elevation in the western part of the
Strait is obtained when no wind or eastern wind is considered. The opposite situation
appears when eastern wind is imposed. The meridional structure always shows a slope
from a higher sea surface and deeper interface at the African coast and lower sea surface
and shallower interface at the Spanish coast, reflecting the effects of Coriolis and pressure
forces.
5 Conclusions
The dynamics of the Alboran Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar are subjects extremely
complex. No simple forcing mechanism is responsible for the observed variability. Models can be a tool to understand this complexity and a way to study the response of the
water masses to different forcings.
The model case studies done so far has been carried out under idealized wind forcing in order to study stationary states corresponding to characteristic constant winds.
However, even with these limitations the model does generate realistic simulations of
the variations of the Alboran gyres.
The numerical method also gives the finite element method advantages, as automatic
mesh generation, refinement or boundary condition treatments. An interface for HYPACK digitalization code and automatic mesh generators have been developed. They
allow to automatize mesh constructions and their associated bathymetries.
We expect that the proposed method will became a realistic numerical simulation
tool for the zone under study and other marine basins. The completion of the present
model requires to comprehend some modelization aspects strongly related with the physical characteristics of the flux as suitable constant determinations, choice of appropriate
boundary conditions, etc... These modelization aspects are questions under present
investigation.
Many applications of this model are foreseeable due to its adaptability. Applications
not only to different coastal systems but also to different models that have been classically used for the numerical modelling of marine fluxes as one active layer, reduced
gravity models, or two active layer, reduce gravity models, or two layer finite depth
models, three layer finite depth models or the general n layer finite depth model.
Camarinal Sill, respectively, are well represented. Nevertheless, there is not transition
from subcritical to supercritical. As mentioned above, the model can not simulate
supercritical outflows. In order to eliminate this difficulty, a larger domain must be
considered to ensure the subcritical state of the flow near the boundaries. Finally,
figures 13 and 14 show the velocity field for the upper layer when a 10m/5 eastern or
western wind, respectively, is considered
The simulated elevation field (7]) in the Strait area (not shown) is also in good
agreement with observations. The zonal structure of the elevation of the sea surface
and the interface depends on the winds. A higher elevation in the western part of the
Strait is obtained when no wind or eastern wind is considered. The opposite situation
appears when eastern wind is imposed. The meridional structure always shows a slope
from a higher sea surface and deeper interface at the African coast and lower sea surface
and shallower interface at the Spanish coast, reflecting the effects of Coriolis and pressure
forces.
5 Conclusions
The dynamics of the Alboran Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar are subjects extremely
complex. No simple forcing mechanism is responsible for the observed variability. Models can be a tool to understand this complexity and a way to study the response of the
water masses to different forcings.
The model case studies done so far has been carried out under idealized wind forcing in order to study stationary states corresponding to characteristic constant winds.
However, even with these limitations the model does generate realistic simulations of
the variations of the Alboran gyres.
The numerical method also gives the finite element method advantages, as automatic
mesh generation, refinement or boundary condition treatments. An interface for HYPACK digitalization code and automatic mesh generators have been developed. They
allow to automatize mesh constructions and their associated bathymetries.
We expect that the proposed method will became a realistic numerical simulation
tool for the zone under study and other marine basins. The completion of the present
model requires to comprehend some modelization aspects strongly related with the physical characteristics of the flux as suitable constant determinations, choice of appropriate
boundary conditions, etc... These modelization aspects are questions under present
investigation.
Many applications of this model are foreseeable due to its adaptability. Applications
not only to different coastal systems but also to different models that have been classically used for the numerical modelling of marine fluxes as one active layer, reduced
gravity models, or two active layer, reduce gravity models, or two layer finite depth
models, three layer finite depth models or the general n layer finite depth model.