Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Estimation Of Drag Coefficient In James River Estuary Using Tidal Velocity Data From A Vessel-Towed Adcp, Chunyan Li, Arnoldo Valle-Levinson, Larry P. Atkinson, Kuo Chuin Wong, Kamazima M. M. Lwiza

CCPO Publications

[1] A phase-matching method is introduced to calculate the bottom drag coefficient in tidal channels with significant lateral variation of depth. The method is based on the fact that the bottom friction in a tidal channel causes tidal velocity to have a phase difference across the channel. The calculation involves a few steps. First, the observed horizontal velocity components are analyzed to obtain the amplitude and phase of the velocity at the major tidal frequency. The phase of the longitudinal velocity is then fitted to a relationship derived from the linearized momentum balance. The drag coefficient is then calculated. This …