Real Time Nowcast/Forecast of Surface Salinity and Temperature in Chesapeake Bay

A real time nowcast and forecast system of Chesapeake Bay has been implemented using CH3D (a Curvilinear Hydrodynamic 3D Model) to generate the distribution of surface salinity and temperature. The model will be used to determine distributions of sea nettle in Chesapeake Bay, which are thought to be controlled by surface salinity and temperature. The real time acquisition of the boundary forcing data, such as river discharge, is through a database, which proves to be more efficient to execute in an operational mode. The time varying tidal elevation at the outer boundary are extrapolated according to observed water level data at Wachapreague, VA and Duck, NC. The modeled physical parameters, e.g. water level, salinity, temperature, velocity, along with sea nettle distribution are examined based on 1999 and 2000's simulations.