Accuracy of a finite-difference method for computing lake currents
type: Item
instance of: scholarly article
title: Accuracy of a finite-difference method for computing lake currents
zbMATH Open document ID: 0607.76109
DOI: 10.1016/0021-9991(87)90057-X
author: John R. Bennett
author: Joan E. Campbell
published in: Journal of Computational Physics
publication date: 1987-01-01T00:00:00Z
review text: A semi-analytic model is used to assess the accuracy of a finite- difference model for computing lake currents. Both models solve the vorticity equation for two-dimensional, time-dependent flow to compute currents in a circular lake with a parabolic depth profile. The semi-analytic solution is obtained by using separation of variables to remove the azimuthal dependence and reduce the equations in cylindrical coordinates to a single equation in two variables, time and radius. This equation is then solved by a finite-difference technique for grid sizes small enough that the solution appears to converge. Comparison with the rectangular finite-difference solution shows a strong improvement in accuracy with decreasing grid size. It is found that about 20 grid points across a lake basin are required to adequately resolve wind-driven flow.
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 76U05
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 86A05
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 76B15
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 76M99
zbMATH DE Number: 3982833
zbMATH Keywords: semi-analytic model
zbMATH Keywords: accuracy
zbMATH Keywords: finite-difference model
zbMATH Keywords: lake currents
zbMATH Keywords: vorticity equation
zbMATH Keywords: two-dimensional, time-dependent flow
zbMATH Keywords: circular lake
zbMATH Keywords: parabolic depth profile
zbMATH Keywords: semi-analytic solution
zbMATH Keywords: separation of variables
zbMATH Keywords: finite-difference solution
zbMATH Keywords: wind-driven flow
MaRDI profile type: Publication
cites work: Calculation of the rotational normal modes of oceans and lakes with general orthogonal coordinates
full work available at URL: 0021-9991(87)90057-x
OpenAlex ID: W2040496744
description: scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3982833