Investigations Exploring the Use of an Unstructured-Grid, Finite-Volume Modelling Approach to Simulate Coastal Circulation in Remote Island Settings-Case Study Region, Vanuatu/New Caledonia

Serena Blyth Lee; Fan Zhang; Charles James Lemckert; Rodger Tomlinson

doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.697741

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Investigations Exploring the Use of an Unstructured-Grid, Finite-Volume Modelling Approach to Simulate Coastal Circulation in Remote Island Settings-Case Study Region, Vanuatu/New Caledonia

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Investigations Exploring the Use of an Unstructured-Grid, Finite-Volume Modelling Approach to Simulate Coastal Circulation in Remote Island Settings-Case Study Region, Vanuatu/New Caledonia

Serena Blyth Lee, Fan Zhang, Charles James Lemckert and Rodger Tomlinson

Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol.8, pp.1-25

07/09/2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.697741

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Abstract

Environmental Sciences

Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Marine & Freshwater Biology

Science & Technology

sea level rise

residual

circulation

tidal

constituents

Understanding coastal circulation and how it may alter in the future is important in island settings, especially in the South West Pacific, where communities rely heavily upon marine resources, and where sea level rise (SLR) is higher than the global average. In this study we explore the use of an unstructured-mesh finite-volume modelling approach to assist in filling the knowledge gaps with respect to coastal circulation in remote island locations-selecting the Vanuatu and New Caledonia archipelagos as our example study site. Past limited observations and modelling studies are leveraged to construct and verify a regional/coastal ocean model based on the Finite-Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM). Following verification with respect to tidal behaviour, we investigate how changes in wind speed and direction, and SLR, alter coastal water levels and coastal currents. Results showed tidal residual circulation was typically associated with flow separation at headlands and islands. Trade winds had negligible effect on water levels at the coast, however, wind-residual circulation was sensitive to both wind speed and direction. Wind-residual currents were typically strongest close to coastlines. Wind residual circulation patterns were strongly influenced by Ekman flow, while island blocking, topographic steering and geostrophic currents also appear to influence current patterns. Tidal amplitudes and phases were unchanged due to SLR of up to 2 m, while maximum current speeds altered by as much as 20 cm/s within some coastal embayments. Non-linear relationships between SLR and maximum current speeds were seen at some coastal reef platform sites. Under higher sea levels, tidal residual currents altered by less than +/- 2 cm/s which is relatively significant given maximum tidal residual current speeds are typically below 10 cm/s. Our findings indicate that under higher sea levels, coastal processes governing sediment transport, pollutant dispersal and larval transport are likely to alter, which may have implications for coastal environments and ecosystems. Given winds influence coastal circulation and subsequent coastal processes, changes in trade winds due to climate change may act to further alter coastal processes. It is felt that the current modelling approach can be applied to other regions to help fill critical knowledge gaps.

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Title: Investigations Exploring the Use of an Unstructured-Grid, Finite-Volume Modelling Approach to Simulate Coastal Circulation in Remote Island Settings-Case Study Region, Vanuatu/New Caledonia
Creators: Serena Blyth Lee - Griffith University
Fan Zhang - Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou)
Charles James Lemckert - Griffith University
Rodger Tomlinson - Griffith University
Publication Details: Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol.8, pp.1-25
Publisher: Frontiers Media Sa
Number of pages: 25
Grant note: Australian Government, through Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation (QCIF); Australian Government
Identifiers: 991013056611402368
Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Lee, Zhang, Lemckert and Tomlinson. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Investigations Exploring the Use of an Unstructured-Grid, Finite-Volume Modelling Approach to Simulate Coastal Circulation in Remote Island Settings-Case Study Region, Vanuatu/New Caledonia

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