Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Unstructured-mesh modeling of the Congo river-to-sea continuum
Le Bars, Y.; Vallaeys, V.; Deleersnijder, E.; Hanert, E.; Carrere, L.; Channeliere, C. (2016). Unstructured-mesh modeling of the Congo river-to-sea continuum. Ocean Dynamics 66(4): 589-603. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10236-016-0939-x
In: Ocean Dynamics. Springer-Verlag: Berlin; Heidelberg; New York. ISSN 1616-7341; e-ISSN 1616-7228, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Multi-scale modelling; Congo river-to-sea continuum; Tides; Water age;Satellite altimetry

Authors  Top 
  • Hanert, E., more
  • Carrere, L.
  • Channeliere, C.

Abstract
    With the second largest outflow in the world and one of the widest hydrological basins, the Congo River is of a major importance both locally and globally. However, relatively few studies have been conducted on its hydrology, as compared to other great rivers such as the Amazon, Nile, Yangtze, or Mississippi. The goal of this study is therefore to help fill this gap and provide the first high-resolution simulation of the Congo river-estuary-coastal sea continuum. To this end, we are using a discontinuous-Galerkin finite element marine model that solves the two-dimensional depth-averaged shallow water equations on an unstructured mesh. To ensure a smooth transition from river to coastal sea, we have considered a model that encompasses both hydrological and coastal ocean processes. An important difficulty in setting up this model was to find data to parameterize and validate it, as it is a rather remote and understudied area. Therefore, an important effort in this study has been to establish a methodology to take advantage of all the data sources available including nautical charts that had to be digitalized. The model surface elevation has then been validated with respect to an altimetric database. Model results suggest the existence of gyres in the vicinity of the river mouth that have never been documented before. The effect of those gyres on the Congo River dynamics has been further investigated by simulating the transport of Lagrangian particles and computing the water age.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors