Simulation Databases
The Virtual Columbia River includes self-redundant long-term simulation databases of 4D (space-time) circulation, designed to characterize contemporary variability and change. Using realistic bathymetry and external forcing, these databases are the foundation for a Climatological Atlas of the Columbia River coastal margin.
Note: An asterisk in a table cell indicates there are partial results for that year. Go to the database page for details.
All databases start January 1, 1999, and all are based on unstructured grid models (currently SELFE, historically also ELCIRC). Databases differ in domain (river-to-shelf or estuary-focus) and/or modeling choices (e.g., discretization, numerical algorithms, and/or physical parameterization).
Twenty two simulation databases (numbered sequentially, with the number preceded by DB) have been started. We actively maintain at least two databases at any given time, and store results for selected others after they become inactive. Maintenance implies keeping the database current through the “present”, which is defined operationally. We recently changed the target definition to “two days ago”. We anticipate that the transition to ;meet this ambitious target will be completed during the first semester of 2010.
The following four databases are particularly noteworthy:
Simulation coverage
| Legend |
|---|
| Completed |
| In queue |
| Not available |
| Database ID | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB11 | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||||||
| DB14 | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||||
| DB16 | * | |||||||||||||
| DB22 | * | |||||||||||||
| DB26 | * | * | * | |||||||||||
| DB29 | * | * | ||||||||||||
| DB30 | * | * | ||||||||||||
| DB31 | * | * | * | * |
All databases start January 1, 1999, and all are based on unstructured grid models (currently SELFE, historically also ELCIRC). Databases differ in domain (river-to-shelf or estuary-focus) and/or modeling choices (e.g., discretization, numerical algorithms, and/or physical parameterization).
Twenty two simulation databases (numbered sequentially, with the number preceded by DB) have been started. We actively maintain at least two databases at any given time, and store results for selected others after they become inactive. Maintenance implies keeping the database current through the “present”, which is defined operationally. We recently changed the target definition to “two days ago”. We anticipate that the transition to ;meet this ambitious target will be completed during the first semester of 2010.
The following four databases are particularly noteworthy:
• DB14 (active): plume reference
• DB16 (inactive): estuary-only
• DB22 (active): targeted improved representation of temperature; will be deactivated when DB31 is completed
• DB29 (inactive): refined grid - 2012 bathymetry, river-to-shelf reference
• DB30 (active): refined grid - 2003 bathymetry
• DB31 (active): refined grid - improved 2012 bathymetry, river-to-shelf reference
• DB11 (inactive): former river-to-shelf reference; last database using ELCIRC The table above provides an inventory of simulation databases for which original output files are stored. Click on the database number for a description of that database and for access to associated products.
