HR: 1330h
AN: OS32B-0246    [PDF]
TI: Calibration and Validation of a Hydrodynamic Model of the Tidal Hudson River
AU: * Zahakos, H A
EM: haz2001@columbia.edu
AF: Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027 United States
AU: Schlosser, P
EM: peters@ldeo.columbia.edu
AF: Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027 United States
AU: Schlosser, P
EM: peters@ldeo.columbia.edu
AF: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027 United States
AU: Schlosser, P
EM: peters@ldeo.columbia.edu
AF: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964 United States
AB: A three dimensional model of the Hudson River Estuary has been constructed using the Estuarine, Coastal and Ocean Model (ECOM) framework. The model domain covers the entire tidal portion of the Hudson River from the Fedaral Dam in Troy, NY to the mouth at the Battery, New York City, nearly 250 km. The model grid is orthogonal and curvilinear with transverse and lateral resolution of approximately 200 and 500 m, respectively, for most of the river. Model inputs include water surface elevations, salinity, and temperature at the open boundary (Battery) and the freshwater inflows from the major upstream and tributary sources representing 80% of the watershed. Model calibration was performed over a two week period of average tide and flow in June 2001 and focuses on accurately reproducing water surface elevations at four stations and surface salinity at five stations along the river. Additional model calibration was performed using a survey of vertical salinity profiles measured at 28 locations along the river during this time. Model validation was performed over a six week period of average to low flow during the same summer and consist of comparisons of water elevations, surface salinity, and a deliberate SF$_{6}$ tracer release. Volatilization kinetics were included to simulate gas exchange across the air water interface due to the volatile nature of the tracer. The accuracy of the model in reproducing the hydrodynamics throughout the tidal Hudson River over these short time scales shows that the model can be used with confidence to simulate the short term transport of accidental or intentional releases of pollutants to the river and can assist as a tool for managing the impacts of such releases.
DE: 4235 Estuarine processes
DE: 4255 Numerical modeling
DE: 4299 General or miscellaneous
DE: 4808 Chemical tracers
DE: 4842 Modeling
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting