Ocean Modeling: the Gulf of Alaska
and Simpler Problems
by
Kate Hedstrom
ARSC
UAF
ABSTRACT
We aim to have the best possible simulations of the Gulf of Alaska and other coastal Alaskan waters. Traditionally, we have developed and used a class of finite difference models computed on a structured mesh. There are newer models available using unstructured meshes which follow the coastline more faithfully. We are in the process of evaluating several ocean models using idealized test problems for which analytic solutions are available. Each model has different strengths and weaknesses, which will make deciding on a model quite interesting.