A vertically moving grid finite‐element modelling of tidal flow in the Changjiang Estuary,China

An estuarine two‐dimensional vertical finite‐element model of tidal flow has been established by laterally integrating Navier–Stokes equation. To this end, a moving grid finite‐element method has been used. An arbitrarily shaped quadrilateral element has been selected. This model has been validated by using field data from two monitoring stations at the North Passage of the Changjiang Estuary. Using this numerical model, two types of modelled results were obtained: (1) vertical distributions of tidal current velocities at the North Passage of the Changjiang Estuary; (2) longitudinal distributions of tidal current velocities at maximum flood tide, at high slack water, at maximum ebb tide and at low slack water tide at the North Passage of the Changjiang Estuary. The conclusion is that the model provides a reasonable agreement with observed data. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.