COMPARISON OF TECHNIQUES FOR APPROXIMATING OCEAN BOTTOM TOPOGRAPHY IN A WAVE-REFRACTION COMPUTER MODEL

摘要

A study of the effects of using different methods for approximating bottom topography in a wave-refraction computer model was conducted. Approximation techniques involving quadratic least squares, cubic least squares, and constrained bicubic polynomial interpolation were compared for computed wave patterns and parameters in the region of Saco Bay, Maine. Although substantial local differences can be attributed to use of the different approximation techniques, results indi¬cated that overall computed wave patterns and parameter distributions were quite similar. More extensive quantitative comparison of computed results with actual wave data would be required in order to select the best approximation technique for refraction studies in which local accuracy in computed results is critical.