Author(s): Mengyun Wang; Adhemar Romero; Rita F. Carvalho; Mario Morales-Hernandez; Pilar Brufau; Pilar Garcia-Navarro
Linked Author(s): Pilar García-Navarro, Maria Rita L. M. F. Carvalho
Keywords: Estuarine model; Hydro-thermodynamic; Mixing layer; OpenFOAM®; Shallow water; Water quality
Abstract: Understanding the spatio-temporal variability of water temperature and salinity in estuarine and coastal systems is essential for evaluating hydrodynamic and ecological processes. This study develops two numerical approaches to simulate the hydro-thermodynamic behaviour of the Mondego River estuary and its adjacent coastal area. A depth-averaged two-dimensional (2D) model was implemented using a self-developed finite-volume framework, while a three-dimensional (3D) model was established using the finite-volume method within open-source CFD library OpenFOAM®. Both models were forced with identical boundary and meteorological conditions. Results of these two models highlight the trade-off between computational efficiency and physical realism. The results provide insights into the applicability of 2D versus 3D modelling frameworks for estuarine hydrodynamics and thermohaline studies, supporting more informed model selection for both scientific and management purposes.
Year: 2026