Multi-Dimensional Error Analysis of Nearshore Wave Modeling Tools, with Application Toward Data-Driven Boundary Correction

As the forecasting models become more sophisticated in their physics and possible depictions of the nearshore hydrodynamics, they also become increasingly sensitive to errors in the inputs. These input errors include: mis-specification of the input parameters (bottom friction, eddy viscosity, etc.); errors in input fields and errors in the specification of boundary information (lateral boundary conditions, etc.). Errors in input parameters can be addressed with fairly straightforward parameter estimation techniques, while errors in input fields can be somewhat ameliorated by physical linkage between the scales of the bathymetric information and the associated model response. Evaluation of the errors on the boundary is less straightforward, and is the subject of this thesis. The model under investigation herein is the Delft3D modeling suite, developed at Deltares (formerly Delft Hydraulics) in Delft, the Netherlands. Coupling of the wave (SWAN) and hydrodynamic (FLOW) model requires care at the lateral boundaries in order to balance run time and error growth. To this extent, we use perturbation method and spatio-temporal analysis method such as Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis to determine the various scales of motion in the flow field and the extent of their response to imposed boundary errors. From the Swirl Strength examinations, we find that the higher EOF modes are affected more by the lateral boundary errors than the lower ones.