Since the computing revolution, modelling has become the most important way in which we further our knowledge about how the sea moves and how the processes in the sea operate. The coast and the continental shelf are two of the most important areas of the sea to understand. Coastal and Shelf Sea Modelling is therefore very timely and important. In this text, modelling the processes that occur in the sea is motivated continually through real life examples. Sometimes these are incorporated naturally within the text, but there are also a number of case studies taken from the recent research literature. These will be particularly valuable to students as they are presented in a style more readily accessible than that found in a typical research journal. The motivation for modelling is care for the environment. The well publicised problem of global warming, the phenomenon of El Niño, more localised pollution scares caused by tanker accidents and even smaller scale coastal erosion caused by storms all provide motivation for modelling and all get coverage in this text. Particularly novel features of the book include a systematic treatment of the modelling process in a marine context, the inclusion of diffusion in some detail, ecosystems modelling and a brief foray into wave prediction. The final chapter provides the reader with the opportunity to do some modelling; there are many worked examples followed by exercises that readers can try themselves. All answers are provided. Throughout, the style is informal and the technicalities in term of mathematics are kept to a minimum. Coastal and Shelf Sea Modelling is particularly suitable for graduate marine and oceanographic modelling courses, but will also prove useful to coastal engineers and students at any level interested in the quantitative modelling of marine processes. It is stressed that only a minimal level of mathematics (first year calculus or less) is required; the style and content is introductory.

This book provides a thorough treatment of both theoretical and observational aspects of the interaction between the sea-floor and the near-sea-floor dynamics; the effect this has on the distribution of internal and seabed stress; and the relevance of the associated dynamics to sedimentation processes. The theoretical work described involved both analytical and numerical modelling studies of a wide range of near-shore and shelf processes. These provide a valuable store of information on the interaction between the sea-floor and the dynamics of the overlying water. The book also includes an account of tidal analysis techniques and how these are being applied in the analysis of tidal current measurements. The observational studies relate to measurements of near-sea-floor turbulence and sand-transport in the littoral zone.

Provides a quantitative, accessible approach to the fundamental physics and biology of the coastal ocean, for undergraduate and graduate students.

Modelling of marine ecosystems is a rapidly developing branch of interdisciplinary oceanographic research. Introduction to the Modelling of Marine Ecosystems is the first consistent and comprehensive introduction to the development of models of marine ecosystems. It begins with simple first steps of modelling and develops more and more complex models. This step-by-step approach to increasing the complexity of the models is intended to allow students of biological oceanography and interested scientists with only limited experience in mathematical modelling to explore the theoretical framework and familiarize oneself with the methods. The book describes how biological model components can be integrated into three dimensional circulation models and how such models can be used for 'numerical experiments'. The book illustrates the mathematical aspects of modelling and gives application examples. The tutorial aspect of the book is supported by a set of MATLAB programs, which are provided on an accompanying CD-Rom and which can be used to reproduce many of the results presented in the book. Also available in paperback, ISBN 0-444-51704-9

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Coastal and Estuarine Sciences, Volume 4. The AGU Monograph Series on Coastal and Estuarine Regimes provides timely summaries and reviews of major process and regional studies, both observational and theoretical, and of theoretical and numerical models. It grew out of an IAPSO/SCOR/ECOR working group initiative several years ago intended to enhance scientific communications on this topic. The series' authors and editors are drawn from the international community. The ultimate goal is to stimulate bringing the theory, observations, and modeling of coastal and estuarine regimes together on the global scale.

In this wide-ranging and comprehensive review of the historical development and current status of ocean circulation models, the analysis extends from simple analytical approaches to the latest high-resolution numerical models with data assimilation. The authors, both of whom are pioneer scientists in ocean and shelf sea modelling, look back at the evolution of Western and Eastern modelling methodologies during the second half of the last century. They also present the very latest information on ocean climate modelling and offer examples for a number of oceans and shelf seas. The book includes a critical analysis of literature on ocean climate variability modelling, as well as assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the best-known modelling techniques. It also anticipates future developments in the field, focusing on models based on a synthesis of numerical simulation and field observation, and on nonlinear thermodynamic model data synthesis.

Modelling is now an accepted part in the understanding, prediction and planning of environmental strategies. Perfect for undergraduate students and non-specialist readers, Modelling Coastal and Marine Processes (2nd Edition) offers an introduction into how coastal and marine models are constructed and used.The mathematics, statistics and numerical techniques used are explained in the first few chapters, making this book accessible to those without a high-level maths background. Later chapters cover modelling sea bed friction, tides, shallow sea dynamics, and ecosystem dynamics. Importantly, there is also a chapter on modelling the impact of climate change on coastal and near shore processes.New to this revised edition is a chapter on tides, tsunamis and the prediction of sea level, and additional material on the new application of the numerical techniques: flux corrected transport, finite volumes and adaptive grids to coastal and marine modelling.

Recent Trends in Estuarine and Coastal Dynamics: Observations and Modelling is a thorough reference guide on the most recent trends and developments in observing and modelling of estuaries and coastal oceans. The coasts cover a diverse range of ecosystems within marine, estuarine, and freshwater environments. They are some of the most heavily populated and visited areas and are also some of the most threatened natural habitats. Human activities like sewage discharge, overfishing, navigation channel dredging, land reclamation, the construction of shipping ports and marine plastics are also responsible for coastal pollution and degradation. This book focuses on current studies on sediment transport dynamics and hydrodynamics of these environments and presents thorough case studies that aim to help students and researchers working in the field. - Includes worldwide contributions from experts in the field of ocean modelling and coastal management - Contains real-life case studies to guide students and researchers - Covers the latest studies on recent developments in observing and modelling estuaries and coastal oceans

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Coastal and Estuarine Studies, Volume 47. There can be little doubt that estuarine, coastal and shelf circulation modeling will assume increasing importance in the immediate future, as we work through the implications of industrialization for oceanic systems. These issues will place new and serious operational demands on available models, and the rapid increase in computational power we now enjoy makes it possible to respond with detailed simulations in many categories. As a result, we are witnessing an explosive growth in the quantity of model-generated information. Lacking, however, is a concomitant increase in its quality or even in quality control procedures. A single simulation exercise is easily capable of generating gigabytes of output in a matter of hours. Most of the data will necessarily go unexamined by its progenitors. Yet it is highly likely that disks full of simulation output will be used extensively as learning tools for students and researchers, as criteria for engineering design, as a basis for operational decision?]making, and in the formulation of public policy. The purpose of this volume is to assemble and present what is known about the intrinsic quality of simulation output: its "correctness" for various purposes. We have operated on the twin premises that (1) every simulation has some intrinsic value and (2) every simulation has serious drawbacks. Between these two extremes lies a vast gulf of uncertainty and potential error, which must be bridged in a professional way if modeling is to achieve its potential in the coastal ocean. This is the basic challenge put to the authors of this volume. Essentially we seek to describe and consolidate approaches, theories, and practices for extracting information from models, and to understand the limits of their proper use.