Geographia Polonica (2007) vol. 80, iss. 2

Application of Hydrodynamic Model of the Baltic Sea to Storm Surge Representation along the Polish Baltic Coast

Halina Kowalewska-Kalkowska, Marek Kowalewski, Bernard Wiśniewski

Geographia Polonica (2007) vol. 80, iss. 2, pp. 181-190 | Full text

Abstract

A hydrodynamic model of the Baltic Sea based on the Princeton Ocean Model was appliedin analyses of extreme storm surges along the Polish Baltic coast. When the applicability ofthe model in cases of high-amplitude and rapid water level fluctuations, such as those observedat the beginning of November 2006, was tested a good fit was obtained between observed andcomputed data. The model correctly predicted the hydrodynamic situation; it also generatedrelatively good simulations of water-level variations. The best fit between the numerical calculationsand readings from the sea-level gauges was obtained for Gdańsk Nowy Port, while onlyslightly worse agreement characterized Świnoujscie and Ustka.

Keywords: numerical modelling, storm surges, low-pressure systems, southern Baltic Sea

Halina Kowalewska-Kalkowska, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Szczecin, Wąska 13, 71-415 Szczecin, Poland
Marek Kowalewski, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Al. Marszałka J. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
Bernard Wiśniewski, Maritime University of Szczecin, Wały Chrobrego 1, 70-500 Szczecin, Poland