Storm Surge in the Gulf of Thailand Generated by Typhoon Linda in 1997 Using Princeton Ocean Model (POM)

Abstract

Princeton Ocean Model (POM) was applied to simulate tidal circulation in the Gulf of Thailand. The model grid space was 0.1° × 0.1° (11×11 km²). The model was forced by eight tidal components (M2, K1, O1, S2, Q1, P1, K2, and N2) at the open boundary. The model results were verified using tidal
data from 23 tide gauges in the Gulf of Thailand. The results showed that the calculated values from POM corresponded well with the observed ones. Then, the model was used to simulate sea level fluctuation in response to typhoon Linda which entered the Gulf in November 1997. In addition to tidal forcing at the open boundary, 12-hours predicted atmospheric pressure and wind field from Navy Operational Global Atmosphere Prediction System (NOGAPS) were forced above the model surface. The model results showed that POM can simulate Linda’s storm-surge even though the model underestimated the peak rise and sea level fluctuation was out of phase by approximately 1 hour sometimes. The reason for this might be that coarse grid, average atmospheric and wind fields were used in this study. In addition, the unreal of land-sea boundary and depth value from ETOPO5 might give rise to abnormal high sea level at some area in the model.