A common strategy for validation of Unstructured Grid Numerical
Modelling in complex domains: harbour, straits, canyons and coastal
areas

Michel Rixen and Peter Ranelli

Nato Undersea Research Center, NATO, La Spezia, Italy

The field of Ocean modelling has rapidly evolved on a wide range of
scales, from global to coastal spatial scales, from climate to
operational time scales, owing to the constant improvements in
observational networks, modelling techniques and computer power. The
management and protection of coastal resources naturally has focused
much of the research initiatives at operational level. Complex areas
such as harbours, straits and canyons still remain challenging areas for
current ocean models and have called for new numerical techniques
including unstructured grid approaches more suited to these particular
domains. The present initiative is meant to setup a common strategy for
the development, assessment and validation of current capabilities of
such models at operational level, in the framework of past and future
field experiments conducted at NURC, including a comprehensive
observational effort carried out in the mid-Adriatic in March and August
2006, and upcoming efforts in the Genova canyon and La Spezia Harbour in
2007 and Black Sea/Marmara Sea in 2008/2009.

Dr. Michel Rixen, Senior Scientist (rixen@nurc.nato.int)
NURC - NATO Undersea Research Centre
Viale San Bartolomeo 400
19126 La Spezia, ITALY
Tel: (+39) 0187 527 457
Fax: (+39) 0187 527 354