Environment Canada recently developed a coupled lake–atmosphere–hydrological modelling system for the Laurentian Great Lakes. This modelling system consists of the Canadian Regional Deterministic Prediction System (RDPS), which is based on the Global Environmental Multiscale model (GEM), the MESH (Modélisation Environnementale Surface et Hydrologie) surface and river routing model, and a hydrodynamic model based on the three-dimensional global ocean model Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean (NEMO). This paper describes the performance of the NEMO model in the Great Lakes. The model was run from 2004 to 2009 with atmospheric forcing from GEM and river forcing from the MESH modelling system for the Great Lakes region and compared with available observations in selected lakes. The NEMO model is able to produce observed variations of lake levels, ice concentrations, lake surface temperatures, surface currents and vertical thermal structure reasonably well in most of the Great Lakes. However, the model produced a diffused thermocline in the central basin of Lake Erie. The model predicted evaporation is relatively strong in the upper lakes. Preliminary results of the modelling system indicate that the model needs further improvements in atmospheric–lake exchange bulk formulae and surface mixed layer physics.
Skip Nav Destination
Close
Close
Article navigation
Research Article|
August 01 2012
Assessment of a NEMO-based hydrodynamic modelling system for the Great Lakes
Frederic Dupont;
Frederic Dupont
1Canadian Meteorological Centre (CMC), Environment Canada, Dorval, QC, Canada E-mail: Frederic.Dupont@ec.gc.ca
Search for other works by this author on:
Padala Chittibabu;
Padala Chittibabu
3National Water Research Institute (CCIW), Environment Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Vincent Fortin;
Vincent Fortin
2Recherche en prévision numérique environnementale, Environnement Canada, Dorval, QC, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Yerubandi R. Rao;
Yerubandi R. Rao
3National Water Research Institute (CCIW), Environment Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Youyu Lu
Youyu Lu
4Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Quality Research Journal (2012) 47 (3-4): 198–214.
Article history
Received:
February 28 2012
Accepted:
July 05 2012
Citation
Frederic Dupont, Padala Chittibabu, Vincent Fortin, Yerubandi R. Rao, Youyu Lu; Assessment of a NEMO-based hydrodynamic modelling system for the Great Lakes. Water Quality Research Journal 1 August 2012; 47 (3-4): 198–214. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wqrjc.2012.014
Download citation file:
Close
Citation
Frederic Dupont, Padala Chittibabu, Vincent Fortin, Yerubandi R. Rao, Youyu Lu; Assessment of a NEMO-based hydrodynamic modelling system for the Great Lakes. Water Quality Research Journal 1 August 2012; 47 (3-4): 198–214. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wqrjc.2012.014
Download citation file:
Close
Impact Factor 0.643
CiteScore 1.5 • Q3