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Experimental Galveston Bay/Houston Ship Channel
Nowcasting/Forecasting System
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration installed a Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS) in June 1996 to monitor Galveston Bay. Water surface elevation, currents at prediction depth (4.6m), temperature, salinity, and meteorological information are available at six-minute intervals. To complement the PORTS, a nowcast/forecast system is being developed based on the National Ocean Service (NOS) Galveston Bay three-dimensional hydrodynamic model. To simulate currents within the Houston Ship Channel (HSC), a finer resolution three-dimensional HSC model has been developed. The Galveston Bay model is used to provide bay-wide water level and near entrance current forecasts as well as to directly provide water levels, density, and turbulence quantities to the HSC model for use in a one-way coupling. Each day an experimental 24 hour nowcast and 36 hour forecast of water level, currents, salinity, and temperature is performed. Experimental nowcasts and forecasts are made with both the Bay and HSC models driven by: 1) observed (PORTS) and forecasted (NWS Extra-Tropical Storm Surge model) subtidal water level at Galveston Pleasure Pier, 2) observed streamflow (USGS) and forecasted streamflow (NWS Western Gulf River Forecast Center), and 3) analyzed (PORTS meteorological stations) and forecast (NWS Aviation model) wind and pressure fields.
| SYSTEM DESCRIPTION |
SYSTEM EVALUATION |
SEPTEMBER 1999 HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL SURVEY |
For the latest information on system development, please contact:
Dr. Richard A. Schmalz, JrNOAA/NOS/Coast Survey Development Laboratory
Tel: (301) 713-2809 ext. 104
Fax: (301) 713-4501
