Hydrodynamic Modeling Workshop

A joint CCMP, CSDMS, CBP, and U.S. IOOS Modeling Testbed Hydrodynamic Modeling Workshop will be convened at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, June 9-10, 2011.  The purpose of this workshop will be to review state-of-the-art coastal and estuarine hydrodynamic modeling and compare the strengths and weaknesses of different model grids and their ability to simulate physical properties such as temperature and salinity variability and stratification.  A strong emphasis will be placed on how well these models perform in Chesapeake Bay with goals of informing simulations of water quality parameters (such as light, nutrients, chlorophyll, and oxygen concentrations).  These modeled attributes plus accurate circulation computations obviously have important implications for other critical components of the tidal bay and tributaries such as larval and juvenile transport, habitat, inundation, and climate change.  Quantitative comparisons of model performance in Chesapeake Bay will draw heavily from the on-going U.S. IOOS Modeling Testbed model intercomparison project.  The overarching goals of this workshop will be to 1) review, summarize, and finalize the results from the U.S. IOOS Modeling Testbed model intercomparison project and 2) provide input to the Chesapeake Bay modeling workgroup that can be used to inform selection of a future hydrodynamic model or model ensemble for assessing water quality and living resource management impacts.