Modeling of tidal and residual circulation in San Francisco Bay, California

Several numerical models have been developed and implemented to simulate tidal and residual circulation in San Francisco Bay. Because of a broad distribution in time scales, hydrodynamic models must be formulated to account for the proper time and spatial scales which dominate the transport processes. A complete current survey of the San Francisco Bay system was conducted jointly between NOS/NOAA and USGS (Patchen and Cheng, 1979). Presently, these current meter data are being processed and analyzed, and concurrently further development of tidal and residual circulation models continues. When these data become available, they will be used to calibrate the numerical models and to guide refinement of hydrodynamic models in order to maximize our understanding of the Bay system. Our modeling efforts will be extended to the northern reach of the Bay system.