Author(s)

A. Oliveira, A.M. Baptista and A.B. Fortunate

Abstract

We examine the generation of mass errors in depth-averaged finite element hydrodynamic simulations in coastal systems, and their impact on the mass con- servation of Eulerian-Lagrangian transport solutions. The analysis is conducted both with a controlled syntheic test and a complex estuary. We find bathymetric gradients and complex boundaries, typical features of most estuaries, to be the primary sources of local flow mass errors. There is a strong correlation between flow and transport mass errors, which leads to very severe transport mass imbalances for typical horizonta

Keywords