NearCoM: Circulation Modules

The circulation module in NearCoM is used to compute a velocity field resulting from nearshore wave activity. In a wave-averaged setting, where wave forcing is provided by a wave module, the circulation module computes the wave-averaged nearshore current field. Modules in this category which have been integrated to date include SHORECIRC, Curvilinear SHORECIRC, and Nearshore POM. In a wave resolving setting, where no distinction is made between time scales associated with wave activity and current processes, the combined flow fields are computed together and viewed as a nearshore circulation pattern as opposed to a wave field; i.e., the hydrodynamic calculations are performed in a circulation module as opposed to a wave module. The Boussinesq model FUNWAVE has been integrated in NearCoM following this convention. Users of the system are welcomed and encouraged to provide versions of other candidate circulation modules for future inclusion in the system. The documentation for the Master Program provides instructions on how to modify an existing code to provide compatibility with the system. Following is a list of circulation modules which have been tested with the NearCoM system.

• Nearshore POM: A version of the Princeton Ocean Model (POM) tailored to the nearshore processes setting.

• SHORECIRC: A quasi-3D nearshore circulation model in Cartesian horizontal coordinates.

• Curvilinear-SHORECIRC: A quasi-3D nearshore circulation model in generalized curvilinear horizontal coordinates.

• FUNWAVE: A Boussinesq wave-current model in Cartesian horizontal coordinates.