Hydrodynamic Modeling of Diego Garcia Lagoon

Author:

P. F. Wang   C. N. Katz   D. B. Chadwick  

Issue Date:

2014

Abstract(summary):

A modeling and field study was conducted to better understand the hydrodynamic characteristics of the Diego Garcia Lagoon. The study included model data comparisons for several key variables, including water surface elevation, currents, salinity, and temperature. The predictive capability of the hydrodynamic Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) model was applied to prediction of flushing time and vertical mixing characteristics of the different regions of the lagoon. It was estimated that only 3.5% of the total discharge mass ends up to the bottom layer for the continuous discharge scenario for a surface discharge. If discharge were to take place only during slack high tide, which conceptually would tend to flush out of the lagoon by the subsequent ebbing tide, only 2.4% of the total discharge mass ends up to the bottom layer, a reduction of 1% of the total discharge mass from the continuous discharge scenario. For releases to the surface water of the outer lagoon, strong tidal flushing tends to disperse and discharge the majority of the mass release prior to completeing vertical mixing.

Page:

66