Verification of the numerical hydrodynamic model of the Kola bay

Introduction. This manuscript discusses the verification of wind fields from the NCEP-CFSR reanalysis data and the COASTOX model for calculating the fields of coastal currents, which is part of the hydrodynamic model of currents and wind waves in the Kola Bay. Materials and methods. The comparison of the calculation results with the measurement data was carried out based on both a graphical comparison of the time curves of the analyzed parameters, and in the form of statistical processing results, with the construction of regression relationships between the measured and calculated wind and current characteristics. Results. The correctness of the results obtained in the calculations using numerical models has been evaluated. To verify the wind fields from the NCEP-CFSR reanalysis, they were compared with the wind measurement data obtained from the HMS Murmansk, Polyarnoe, and Teriberka. High values of the correlation coefficient were obtained, which confirm the validity of using the NCEP-CFSR reanalysis data as the input data of the hydrodynamic model. For comparison with observations, the COASTOX model simulated currents in the Kola Bay under the influence of tidal forces and atmospheric forcing for a period of 195 days, from August 1, 2015 to February 11, 2016. The results obtained demonstrate that the current model correctly reproduces the reversal character currents in the middle knee of the Kola Bay and predicts changes in sea level quite accurately. Conclusions. The study shows that the hydrodynamic model of the Kola Bay solves the problem of a reliable forecast of the wave and current regime in the design of port facilities.