Zemlys, P., Dailidienė, I., Zaboras, J.
An operational model for Lithuania’s coastal zone
The results of testing (hindcast) an operational
hydrodynamic model HIROMB_LT for Lithuania’s coastal zone are presented and
analysed in this paper. A model is developed using the program code of an
operational hydrodynamic model of the Baltic Sea HIROMB (Swedish Meteorological
and Hydrological Institute). The model grid (horizontal resolution 300m,
vertical resolution 25 layers) covers the Baltic Sea coastal area until the
Gdansk Bay in the West and Latvian border in the North and the Curonian Lagoon.
The model simulated water levels, surface water temperature surface water
salinity and ice cover variables were tested against measurements for the year
2009. The model shows satisfactory performance on water level and temperature
and rather weak performance on salinity at stations where good reproduction of
the mixing of fresh and saline water is critical (Juodkrantėand Klaipėa seaside
stations). The model performance on ice thickness is still problematic because
of too coarse spatial resolution of westerly winds. Despite of these
shortcomings, the model can be used for operational forecasts already; however,
data assimilation may be necessary for salinity and ice thickness.