Author(s)

F. J. Saucier, J. Chasse, M. Couture, R. Dorais, A. D'Astous, D. Lefaivre, A. Gosselin

Abstract

A 3D numerical model for water levels, currents, density, and turbulent quantities is applied to the St. Lawrence Estuary under typical summer conditions. The lateral resolution is 400 m with 20 layers in the vertical. The model results were compared to 51 current-meter records, showing 15% average relative error. The simulations reproduce the strong large-scale baroclinic motions forced by the action of tides on the density field. Month-long simulations were synthesized into 108 surface current charts for nine regions of the Estuary and over 12 hourly periods through a semi- diurnal tidal cycle. Linear correction factors were derived to take into account the diurnal to fo

Keywords