Implementation and assessment of hydrodynamic, salt and heat transport models: The case of Ria de Aveiro Lagoon (Portugal)

Ria de Aveiro is a shallow coastal lagoon located in the Northwest coast of Portugal. The implementation and the assessment (calibration and validation) of the hydrodynamic, salt and heat transport models for Ria de Aveiro lagoon is presented. During the calibration the models parameters were adjusted to give the best fit of the model results to the field data. The hydrodynamic model calibration was carried out by comparing measured and predicted time series of sea surface elevation for 22 stations. The root-mean square of the difference between those values was determined and harmonic analysis was performed in order to evaluate the model ability to reproduce the tide propagation along the main channels of Ria de Aveiro. Validation of the hydrodynamic model was performed comparing measured and predicted sea surface elevation values for 11 stations, as well as velocities in the main flow direction for 10 stations and water flows for 6 stations. The salt and the heat transport models were calibrated comparing measured and predicted time series of salinity and water temperature for 7 stations. These models were validated comparing the model results with an independent field data set. Results indicate that the hydrodynamic, the salt and the heat transport models for Ria de Aveiro were successfully calibrated and validated.