Modeling of residual currents in the Gulf of California using different grid sizes

Abstract

The effect of the mesh size resolution to model residual currents produced by the tides (M2) in the Gulf of California was studied. The grid sizes used range from 14 x 14 to 2 x 2 km. The results show consistent tidal and residual currents among the different grids. In the northern gulf, a well-defined circulation pattern, aligned with the isobaths, emerged. In the archipelago area, an anticyclonic eddy was found northwest of Tiburón Island. The rest of the gulf showed no appreciable residual circulation. Maximum modeled velocities of ~18 cm s–1 were found in the archipelago; the northern gulf velocities were of the order of 1 cm s–1. The 3 x 3 km grid was considered suitable to model the residual currents in the northern gulf.